16/05/2015
On Thursday 14th May 2015, Wiltshire Walks had the pleasure in guiding twenty-five Year 4/5 pupils from St. Katherine’s School, Savernake, around the southern parts of Savernake Forest. The pupils are working in groups of three, and have chosen something geographical, scientific or historical which interests them, with the Walk aiding their research in producing a tourist information leaflet and short advertisement. These are to be presented to the parents in June.
We visited, amongst other ‘Points of Interest’ - The Ailesbury Column, the Cunetio to Wi******er Roman Road, the only remaining WW2 Ammunition Store and two gun emplacements, several ancient ponds, the mysterious “Other Monument” and The Gallops. No tour of Savernake is complete without seeing some of the ‘Named’ oak trees, and during the day we visited - The Savernake Ancestral Cluster Oak, The Queen, New Queen, Replacement King, Spider, Pointing, and Crockmere Oaks, and finally the magnificent King of Limbs. Much of the Walk followed the ancient boundaries of Savernake, Preshute, Minal, and Little & Great Bedwyn.
The weather was appalling during the second half of thee Walk, with over 12mm of rain (half an inch) falling in two hours. However, throughout the whole Walk the children’s behaviour was exemplary, and were a delight to guide around the 7 mile ramble.
