Official Green Trail Opening on 9 April

I realised when I saw a report of the official opening of the South Swindon Parish Green Trail in the Swindon Advertiser last weekend that I hadn't written about this, or shared photos taken to remember the day. The trail is such a brilliant idea, it started as a linear walk between Shaftesbury Lake and Cambria Bridge via Coate Water, Croft Woods, Wichelstowe and the Old Town disused railway track, what you could call the 'south section'. It has now been extended to become a circular, almost 9 mile route taking in the north of the south Swindon parish as well as the south, it's not so scenic, as the south part, but takes in much of the old canal, although it's now filled in, apart from the Kingshill section.

We met at the information board at the northern end of Shaftesbury Lake at 10am, when Chris Watts, Chair of  SSPC gave an introductory speech about the trail, and thanked those who had come along to the opening ceremony. Here he is:

I am grateful to Jane Milner-Barry for this photo taken from the hill behind the lake showing the assembled group.

Here's another view of the sign showing the route, this can also be seen by clicking on the link above

Another photo of people listening to Chris, it was a wonderfully bright, sunny morning

From Shaftesbury Lake, those who wanted to walk the route set off in the direction of Coate water. Initially I'd intended to take lots of photos on the way, but in the end, just took a few. The iconic diving board at Coate Water was a must

This is the lane between the M4 and Broome Manor Golf Club where there was glorious blossom out

and further down is a seat renovated by the parish where in the recent past, people have left up to 30 empty cans of lager, the boxes it came in, and the broken bag used to carry them down there. It's a lovely place to sit, but as I approached, I had fingers crossed they hadn't been down there, it was still clear of cans, and the sign made by one of the community gardening group volunteers was still intact.

Further along, the track veers away from the M4 and into Croft Woods where we saw this heron in the middle of the pond, as if posing for walkers!

We then emerged onto Pipers Way, beside Wichelstowe by the Tiny Forest, up the concrete track to the old railway track and down along the canal to Kingshill where we came across the swans nesting where they did last year on the far bank.

We then walked along past the Cambria Bridge Community Gardens awaiting planting, through the town centre following the route of the old canal, along Fleming Way, past the Magic roundabout and along the old canal route parallel to Shrivenham Road, and along until we went under Dorcan Way, along beside the new Oakfield development to the track beside fields north of Shaftesbury Lake and onto the Richard Jefferies Museum where we sat in the garden and had a sumptuous spread. I haven't got any photos of the lunch, if anyone has photos, please could you send them to me? 

People have suggested holding a regular stomp round the Green Trail, again please contact me if you would be willing to help organise this.