A Forgetful Day - by Keith Fowler

The day dawned bright for our trip to Randlay Valley. I was in a relaxed mood; the sun was shining, what could possibly go wrong? I was well ahead of schedule having prepared all my bits and pieces the night before, all I had to do on the morning of the walk was make lunch, pack my bag and make the fifteen minute trip to the meeting point.

I breakfasted leisurely, made my lunch, pottered about, packed the waterproofs into the car (rain was forecast) and set off hoping and expecting to arrive ten minutes early. After five minutes or so heading towards Telford for some inexplicable reason a little seed of doubt began to grow and after a few seconds I realised that I had forgotten to pack my bag. 

A quick about turn, drive home, embarrassing explanation, pack bag hurriedly and set off again, only this time ten minutes late. Clearly I need the adrenalin rush of having to get everything ready at the last minute so I hereby promise in future never to be ready before absolutely necessary.

I was met in the car park by six others, including Lis and Graham from the Friends of Hollinswood and Randlay Valley, who were all very polite about my lateness. For once we spent little time in the car park as it was not officially a part of the site we were visiting, which is just as well as the last member of the group was waiting at the “official” meet point wondering where we had all got to and beginning to think he was in the wrong place. Well he did have a track record for temporary displacement as witnessed on our last visit to Lea Quarry.

By now the skies had become rather grey but we pressed on with the intention of making the most of the day before rain forced a retreat. We started by combing the area of grassland by the entrance to the site. Amongst the species found were a couple of The Drinker moth caterpillars. Craneflies were abundant but mainly just one species Tricyphona immaculata. We moved on.

A little later the person, who is known as “Tray breaker” following an unfortunate incident at Earl’s Hill whilst looking for the Purse-web spider, came up to me. “Have you forgotten something?” and reunited me with my stick which I had left behind.


We ambled towards the woodland where we came across a female Orange Tip butterfly resting at the side of the path and then into the woodlands where Bluebells (which I am assured are without Spanish influence) carpeted the ground. We continued through the woods until we found a picnic table and had lunch.

Refreshed we pressed on down a bridleway which was a re-imagining of the paths across the Somerset Levels during the recent very wet weather. We saw two Chysolina polita beetles that reminded us that Spring was in the air.

It started raining – not heavy but persistent. Undeterred we pressed on getting further away from the car park. We admired the Moschatel then passed a series of clumps of Marsh marigold in full bloom. I decided to take a closer look. I put my bag and stick down for greater manoeuvrability.

Uplifted by this wonderful sight I picked up my bag and carried on. Eventually we reached the end of the wood (the rain had stopped) then headed back across grassland towards the cars and home. 

About halfway back I realised that I had lost my stick (again). I had no idea when or where I last had it. (Remember I am writing this after the event.) I retraced my steps and the “Tray breaker” kindly volunteered to help in the search. We made it all the way back to the Marsh marigolds before the stick was found by the person whose name shall now be known as “The Magnificent Stick Finder”: he is “Tray breaker” no more! Thank you Jim.


I must point out that the “stick” is not just any old stick but a walking stick purchased by my daughter, many years ago when she was about 10, in Denmark having attained the summit of Himmelbjerget, one of the country’s highest mountains at 147m. I now put it to very good use as a beating stick having found it abandoned in the garage.

We caught up with the others who had waited patiently (?) for our return. On the way back to the cars a pair of the cranefly species Tipula lateralis gave us another reminder of the time of year.

May I record my gratitude to Graham and Lis for taking us around the site and wish them all the best in the Friends quest to get the area designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

A forgetful day for me but not one to be forgotten.

Distance: about 3miles, but two of us did 4 miles!!

Keith Fowler