(Posted on behalf of Doug Edworthy)
Delighted to say that I’m now fit enough to start the walks again.
I’m sorry that we’ve missed the most photogenic season in the forest. The leaves are now pumped-up with chlorophyll and in their dark green summer colour, and the bluebells are long gone. But there’s still plenty to see and enjoy in dazzling Dallington Forest.
I’m reinstating the walk schedule for 2026 as follows: –
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- July 12th (Sunday)
- September 12th (Saturday)
- November 15th (Sunday)
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Please contact me directly to book your place(s) on each walk. By return, I’ll let you know where and at what time we’ll meet for each walk (they aren’t necessarily the same place or time).
We try to limit the numbers to around 12 people, and the walks are free. There is no payment requested, or donation expected but if you care to donate to the Ancient Tree Forum https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/support-us/ or to the Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/donations/ who host the Ancient Tree Inventory, the charities and I would be very grateful.
The duration of each walk is of the order of 2-3 hours, longer if you let me talk too much, and each walk involves rough surfaces, lots of hills, and some scrambles up banks. Good mobility is essential.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead providing owners clear up after them and take the poo out of the forest – I’ll explain why this is important. Well-behaved owners are a bonus. 😉
As we all know, the weather is sometimes unfriendly (we’ll only cancel for really atrocious weather, letting you know by email a day or two before), the forest paths can be wet, muddy, slippery and trippery, and the weather can range from freezing through wet to sweltering. So, footwear, water, and clothing appropriate for the time of year is advised.
Ticks are present in the forest and surrounding countryside. So, long, light-coloured trousers tucked into socks are advised. Having said that, in summer weather you will see me in shorts as I check myself carefully after each walk and remove any of the little blighters that have hitched a ride for a meal. I also smother myself with ‘Avon Skin So Soft’ as a repellent – favoured by the SAS, I’m told. I usually have a bottle with me if you’d like to use it.
I hope you can come on one or more walks, and I’m looking forward to walking with you.
Doug Edworthy Tree Warden, Brightling and Dallington parishes
treewarden@dallington.org.uk
07711 090 925