THE MOUTH

On Monday 9th August 19 us bowled up to the Mouth Chinese Restaurant in Dunstable for an excellent eat as much as you like meal. The starters and 2nd course were nearly a meal in themselves and then we could order as much as we liked from their full menu. It was well cooked, the staff were friendly and a good time was had by all. We are not all about walking, most of us do walk, some more than others, but some members do just come to the socials, be it the local pub, meals or a picnic on the Downs. We are always happy to see new (and not so new) faces on walks or socials.

Indeed if you would like to see something in one our our programmes we are always open to suggestions. Better still anyone can volunteer to organise an activity or walk they would like to do!

BARTON HILL FARM VISIT

At the End of June we were treated to a visit to Barton Hill Farm between Streatley and Lilley. The Shaw family, invite people to a conducted tour of their property, showing them what it means to be a conservation farm and giving an insight into modern farming and the flora, fauna, birds and beautiful wild flowers. They have been accepted into two significant environmental schemes: Natural England Entry and Higher Level Stewardship. They actively encourage and manage areas of chalk downland.

Here we are (23 of us) before starting the walk learning about the huge machines and what they can do.

This one of their amazing views, this is Sharpenhoe Clappers
This view is overlooking Barton le Clay
Here are Wizz and Brian explaining to us just what we are looking at.
This is what we were looking at, Barton Springs.

This is vipers bugloss. They have a large part of their land where it grows wild.


This is the sort of flora you get on the verges of your fields if you let nature take its course rather than swamp it in herbicides. These are pyramid orchids amongst other things.

The Shaws take round the visitors giving information and answering questions and then provide them with refreshments asking the participants to give a donation to charity at the end if they so wish. For those of you that missed it, perhaps we can do it again next year as everyone said they thoroughly enjoyed it. The sunset there was something to behold in 1999!

Short Chiltern Way Walk

On Wednesday 6th June we decided to join in the Chiltern Way Walking Festival by running a short circular walk from Dunstable Downs visitor Centre.

Several of the Bogrotters went, joined by a few people from the Chiltern Society.

This is a lane which is part of the Chiltern Way going towards Whipsnade.

This is a field very close to Studham



Here we are on the Common at Studham having a break with the usual dilema of whether or not to go in the pub for coffee, or something stronger. We do suggest you bring at least some water and something to eat in case we don't find somewhere appropriate to stop.

Here we are in Whipsnade heading towards the Hunters Lodge. Even though this was a short walk some of the walkers decided to catch the bus back from here, some dropped in for lunch, others a quick drink, and others were in a hurry and walked straight back. Provided the leader knows what you are doing so we don't lose anyone this is OK.

As you can see there were a good number for a weekday walk. We are now putting on several short, and also some longer midweek walks in the region of 15 miles which are obviously taken at a faster pace. However, if you contact the walk leader he should be able to tell you whether it is feasible to only do part of the walk, meet them along the way and/or catch the bus back. (some people have been known to arrange for their other halves to meet them at the pub so they get a lift back!)

THE BEST ANSWER IS IF IN DOUBT ASK, we will try to tell you if we know the walk is going to be particularly difficult with lots of stiles, huge hills etc. or not suitable for taking a dog on. It is only polite to ask before bringing your dog anyway.

Helping the Friends of Studham Common

Last January we decided to help the Friends of Studham Common with their annual Big Bash to do lots of planting, shrub clearance and other jobs necessary to maintain Studham Common(s) at their best for flora, fauna, and indeed visitors who want to see the great diversity of plant and animal life there.Their aim is to conserve, maintain, improve and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place to be enjoyed and appreciated by all.

They have less intensive work days virtually every month and 13 bogtrotters decided to join in and help again in June.

Here we are unloading the tools ready to start clearing brambles and braken.


This is some of the bracken which grows so thick and tall it doesn't allow other grasses and plants to thrive.

Here are some of us strimming and clearing the offending bracken from one small area

Here is the area once we have cleared it all away so that the natural flora can flourish

Then Charles kindly took us for a walk round the common showing us what they were trying to achieve and pointing out some of the hundreds of species of plants there.

After a few hours graft the Friends kindly provided a good lunch for the workers out of the back of a car!


This is the glorious hay meadow which is part of the Studham common full of wild flowers.


This is one of the wild orchids amongst the other flowers to be found in June.


We even had 2 new members who had never seen us before, let alone been on a walk with us, who kindly decided it was a great idea to spend their Saturday morning helping, and of course they had to come to the pub in Studham with some of us for a quick drink (or in some cases several which lasted the rest of the afternoon!!) We are now looking forward to seeing Tony and Ester on a walk. If you want to learn more about the Friends of Studham Common you can visit www.foscomm.org/
There are also some more photos on their site.

We have also been on lots of of other walks

We have increased the number of local walks we do by popular demand, especially the shorter ones, I am going to give you an idea of just some of them.....
They are on Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays as well, check our website.
More photos on the http://picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters

A 10 mile linear meander from Fenny Stratford through Bow Brickhill, across Woburn Golf Course and woods, through Battlesden and Potsgrove to Hockliffe, from where some of us caught the bus whilst others walked home.

The Grand Union at Fenny Stratford
A Lake at Fenny Stratford


A 6.5 mile walk through Woburn Park and Milton Bryan calling at Battlesden with its lovely church.
The Farmers Market at Woburn, a lucky find.

We even found St. George on our visit to Woburn

Lots of us went to Lilley at the end of March.A fairly easy 6 mile walk but some good views of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A cosy pub in Lilley

A trip on the train for a day trip to London for a walk along the Regents Canal area

This was a midweek walk from Markyate to Redbourne, stopping for a break at Flamstead Church.


Yes you usually may bring your well behaved dog, but only if you check with the walk leader if the walk is suitable first! Again some of the more adventurous walked back rather than caught the bus. If you don't want to do a whole walk, want to avoid catching a bus or would rather make it longer, check with the walk leader whether it can be done.

Anyway a taste of only a few of the March April walks

Lake District Easter 2010

Sorry we have been so busy there have been no posts recently.........

A group of members went to the Lake District over Easter.

Just one of the amzing views. To see more go to the Photo Albums http://picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters.



The iconic Black Sale Hut is a legend, famous for being a remote and isolated shepherd’s bothy at the head of Ennerdale, accessible only on foot.

This is Wastwater Youth Hostel.

There were magnificent views, and some dramatic weather. They stayed at Ennerdale, Wastwater, Eskdale and Black Sail Hostels whilst enjoying some of Cumbrias very finest countryside. Great company, walking and a thoroughly good time were reported.

A short London Walk

On Bank Holiday Saturday 13 boggies jumped on a train in Luton and met one of our members friends at St. Pancras, then hopped on the tube to Paddington where we walked down to the Regents Canal. (There are still 10 members enjoying the Lake District, photos when they return)

Here we are enjoying John Betjemen's company at St. Pancras.

We were rather taken by this solid gentleman and his friend next to the canal.

We were just walking along the Canal minding our own business, honest officer!

The wildfowl reserve next to Regents Canal Basin. An amazing number of varied sizes and shapes of ducks were to be seen as we ate our lunch.

Little Venice, an colourful peaceful spot in Central London.


Queen Mary's Gardens, part of Regents Park, a beautiful spot.

We found a really good cafe in a floating canal barge next to the bridge.

Regents Canal Basin

The top of Primrose Hill, thinking of the walkers in Cumbria who probably wouldn't have realised they has walked up a hill, except for the views of London.

From the hill we could see St. Paul's, the Post Office Tower , Peter Snow Avery, and the London Eye, worth getting a little breathless for.

The sun was shining, lots to look and and plenty of people to chat to.

Regents Canal Basin where you can get boat rides along the Canal.

We were just wondering what it costs to have a house like this overlooking the canal.

A nice gentle meander which although not our usual sort of walk, could have been anywhere, it was very hard to believe it was central London
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