MBRA Summer Newsletter 2025
Hello Everyone!
Welcome to our Summer newsletter. Hopefully the worst of the heatwave is over by the time you read this, and the gardens have been resuscitated with a spot of welcome rain … but not too much!!
Membership
Mid Berkshire membership in July 2025 was 180, which is a fall from 182 in the previous quarter, mainly due to lapsed membership and a resignation but we have managed to gain another member as well. The overall trend is a slow decline unfortunately.
Mid Berks Website
Our Mid Berks website, www.mbra.org.uk, shows activities and our current walks programme plus all imminent walks in the Berkshire area. There you will also see members’ photographs from walks and holidays and additionally slide shows from our group holidays from 2020 onwards compiled by Terry Pritchard. There is also an archive which shows some maps from previous walks. We will be grateful for any walk map contributions that you would like to share, to increase our archive and make it easier for members and walk leaders to plan walks.
If you would like to submit an interesting photograph from one of your walks, just forward to Brian H or the walk leader, but please ensure that anyone in the photo, or whose name is mentioned, doesn’t mind it being published on the website / in the newsletter. There is a consent form for any project, particularly involving children, on the National website. These are part of the General Data Protection Regulation – an Act of Parliament.
Mid Berkshire Walks Programme
Our walks programme is struggling, although hopefully it will improve. We do not have sufficient active walk leaders at present to fulfil a full walk programme, but thanks to the efforts of our few remaining walk leaders, our programme will continue, albeit in a restricted way. We are trying to extend the programme to some months in advance, to make planning easier than posting walks just a week or two in advance, and some of our walks share the venues with strolls, so more of us can enjoy social activities (coffee/lunch/tea) together.
If you find that there is no walk published by our group, then you can always attend a walk from another group in our area which should be on our website or, if you are away from home, from anywhere in the country.
There is now a growing section of our archived group walks on the MBRA website, showing details of walks, in addition to the archived holiday walks. These can be used by new walk leaders or anyone new to the district.
Footpaths
All public footpaths between Finchampstead Road, Gipsy Lane and Luckley Road in Wokingham town are unlikely to reopen until mid-2026 or later, while Balfour Beatty work on the South Wokingham Distribution Road; the area is now a building site and isn’t safe for the public.
The eastern end of the private Ludgrove School track is closed until autumn 2025, so construction traffic can cross it using a temporary road; the footpath east of Finchampstead Road, between Heathlands Road junction and the Waterloo Road roundabout, will also be closed for a few months.
There’ll be lots of new planting and landscaping as part of the road project, which will more than replace any trees or hedges lost during construction, with additional green space to follow as part of the new community at South Wokingham.
A barrier is planned for the Stag Meadow car park, Windsor Great Park, by Windsor and Eton Football Club. This barrier would restrict public parking during match days and club events (from 1pm to 5pm every other Saturday and occasionally on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm until the end of the game) in the football season, to alleviate pressure on local streets. It will be open free to use, as usual, for the other 99% of the time for everyone - residents, dog walkers, and visitors - to access Windsor Great Park.
You can report footpath problems anywhere in England and Wales through the National Ramblers or locally to the Mid Berks Footpath secretary, with details, for onward forwarding to the relevant authority.
Health and Safety
Walking is a low-risk activity generally and providing sensible clothing and footwear is used and you carry sufficient water and snacks especially in warm weather, you shouldn’t come to any harm.
At the beginning of the walk, the walk leader will brief you on any specific hazards of the walk so pay attention at this time.
Weather can be a hazard and if extreme weather conditions exist, the walk may be cancelled so keep your eye on the website for any updates.
Statistics indicate that the main hazard on country walks are slip and trip hazards so pay particular attention to the terrain avoiding roots and ruts, as well as exercising great care on muddy ground.
Have you had your daily dose of nature today?
It’s no secret that nature has a way of lifting our spirits. Almost 9 in 10 people in the UK say spending time in nature has a positive effect on their mental health. A group of scientists in Germany looked at the link between walking pace and 28 different types of cancer and they discovered that walking briskly reduced the risk of 5 cancer types, including lung and liver.
Summer is a busy time for fire and rescue services. In July and August of 2022, one of the most severe periods for wildfires in the UK, the service responded to 258 fires in the open in Berkshire. There have already been dozens of countryside fires in Berkshire this year, so please encourage people to do their part to prevent fire and reduce unnecessary strain on their Fire and Rescue services.
Holidays
The group holidays are held in Spring and Autumn and have been magnificently managed by Maggie H. These residential holidays are well appreciated, not only for the chance to have extended social interactions in pleasant surroundings, but to experience the landscape in totally different places. Sometimes the weather is wet but underneath the wet weather gear we enjoy the warm atmosphere and satisfaction of yet another walk together in the countryside.
Generally, we arrange walks for most abilities, but even if you do not want to walk, there are many other activities and places to visit.
Our Autumn holiday in 2025 will be at Warners (below) Cricket St Thomas, Somerset for 4 nights (Monday 6th October to Friday 10th). The hotel is just over 100 miles away from Reading and we have 31 people going.
The scene of much of the famous TV comedy, “To the Manor Born”, Cricket St. Thomas was also frequently visited by Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton in earlier times. This classic 18th century Georgian manor house is set in splendid parkland, with colourful gardens (designed by Capability Brown), lakes, and a unique woodland area. There is an indoor pool, sauna and steam room. It even has its own church dedicated to St Thomas.
For more information see: Cricket St Thomas in Somerset | Warner Leisure Hotels
The holiday will include dinner, bed and breakfast with evening entertainment for four nights and the usual activities for non-walkers. We plan to offer a selection of long and medium walks, and there are plenty of sight-seeing options in the area including: Longleat House and Safari Park, Forde Abbey and Gardens, Lyme Regis, Wells, Beer Beach, Exeter, Yeovil Country Park, Barrington Court and Montacute House. The entertainment package is Midweek Variety, with visiting artists, the Warner Theatre Company.
Next Spring (2026) we will be staying in the Bembridge Coast Hotel, Fisherman’s Walk, Bembridge PO35 5TH on the Isle of Wight (Tel: 01983 873931), during Monday 23rd March to 27th March 2026. This is a magnificent beachside hotel, ideal for exploring the Isle of Wight with stunning views of the Solent. The original building dates from 1905 and has royal connections, having often been visited by Queen Mary, as well as the late Queen Mother.
See more details at www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk. Prices are from £266 to £376 pp for 4 nights half board, including evening entertainment, daytime activities and the walk leaders’ expense levy. We currently have 33 people booked and deposits have been collected, but there are still rooms available for sharing.
NB. There are steps to the beach from the hotel grounds and the ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne costs £45 return per car (including up to car's capacity passengers), payable with the final balance to Maggie.
Please look at the details on the Spring Holiday 2026“ page of the MBRA website and if you are interested, e-mail
If you have never been on one of our breaks you will be made to feel most welcome, but they book up quickly, so contact Maggie asap for more information.
Recent Local Walks
Ramblers walk leaders help thousands to enjoy the outdoors together. Their passion and commitment are what make Ramblers walks so special.
For our walks programme, see our website, https://www.mbra.org.uk/walks/walks-programme.html
You will also see all imminent walks in the Berkshire area listed on the main page.
We began May with a 5.5 mile circular walk around Woodcote and Crays Pond led by Robert, walking along the edge of the Chiltern Hills, taking in woodland and fields, with views over the Thames Valley and passing through the Elvendon valley. Bluebells and other flora were there to enjoy, and optional refreshments were available at the Stoke Row café afterwards.
Later in May we enjoyed an easy steady slow-paced stroll of 2.5mi / 4km from Rotherfield Peppard led by Thelma and Monica around the Kingwood Common area.
At the same time a medium paced moderate circular walk of 5mi / 8km in the Chilterns led by Paul left from Peppard Common walking in the Kingwood Common area
Further into May we held a moderate, flat 6-mile valley walk from Tyle Mill to Aldermaston Wharf (and back) led by Robert, initially following the Kennet and Avon Canal with a half-way refreshment stop at the Aldermaston Wharf tea rooms, then back past Padworth Mill and through fields above the River Kennet. There was an opportunity by Aldermaston lock to watch the boating activity, but more were interested in the coffee and chat at the tea rooms.
A bus walk was held in the Hambleden Valley on 22nd May led by Kathy and Jean.
Eventually, the walk started, joining the patient walkers who had come by car, which was a 4-mile leisurely, circular walk from Mill End to Hambleden Village and Hambleden Valley. We walked alongside a flowing stream through mown meadows. Coffee and toilets were available in the village before we walked through the churchyard and joined the meadows and pathways in Hambleden Valley carefully avoiding the Mr Men people eater on the way. We headed back to the café in Hambleden for a coffee, then retraced our steps back to Mill End for the bus (without incident) to Reading. Where did the day go?
A 7-mile walk on Sunday 15th June led by Ann started from the car park in Theale and proceeded at a brisk pace up Pierces Hill ending up in Pangbourne for a cafe/lunch stop. We then returned via the Pang, which was remarkably dry compared to the winter months, and Sulham Valley. This interesting walk had some hills and thus wonderful views. It was nice to have a Sunday Walk which attracted several new faces.
Heading south from Hurley on 19th June led by Robert, we climbed up to have views over the Thames and headed through land managed by the Berkshire College of Agriculture. Passing around the north side of Ashley Hill, by the Dew Drop Inn, we turned back north and finished the last mile along the Thames Path back to Hurley.
On 19th June from Simons Wood in Finchampstead, there were two walks: a stroll led by Thelma and Monica and a 6 mile-ish walk by Paul around the lake, River Blackwater and Ridges. It was a warm day but fortunately much of the walk was in shade with a welcome coffee/lunch break halfway round at a lakeside café, watching the Lake activities on a busy school day. The strollers got back in good time, but the other walk worked out slightly longer than expected and we were late back to the cars. However, an enjoyable day and a good walk, even though we were exhausted at the end.
On 26th June we embarked on a Reading Walk led by Mike which started in the Oracle by the river and followed the Kennet to Southcote. We then headed north then east to pick up the path following the old goods railway track and then heading off to meet the Holy Brook towards Reading. However, we had to make a small diversion to avoid cattle on the path and then followed a rarely frequented path by the Holy Brook and the houses which backed on to the river until we reached the IDR and went through communal gardens at Coley into the town centre and a café in the Broad Street Mall.
On the 10th July we were led by Robert on a 6 mile leisurely walk through the beautiful village of Sonning up the hill to Binfield Heath and through a huge field growing what we later researched to be Quinoa! There are still some poppy seed heads showing from a previous interesting crop. We had to walk through a welcome shower from a crop irrigation contraption down to Shiplake and past the church to the riverside and the seemingly long route back along a mainly shaded riverside to welcome refreshment at the café in Sonning village.
On 17th July, we were led on a delightful 4.5 mile leisurely circular walk by Kaye, past the beautiful ancient Boveney church, along the shady Thames riverside adjacent to Dorney Lake, taking time to sample the ripe Mirabelle plums on the way. We turned off at the top of the lake for a slight detour to the Orchid café at Dorney Court for a welcome break. Suitably rejuvenated, we wended our way through a refreshing summer shower back to the car park.
Fancy becoming a walk leader?
We would like to thank our Mid Berks Walk Leaders for all the time and effort they have spent putting on walks for our group. If you would like to consider becoming a walk leader, you would get all the help and mentoring support needed to do so. Contact Mike Ryall at
Walks for Wellbeing
More than 90,000 Ramblers walks take place across Britain every year, providing a setting for social connections to be made. More than half of these group walks are Ramblers Well-being Walks. These short, free guided walks are often prescribed by healthcare professionals to improve physical health but increasingly as a powerful way to combat loneliness and isolation.
National News
Make the most of your membership – access your benefits on ramblers.org.uk/my-account.
The National Body is asking all walk leaders over the coming months to share with them their experience or take part in Ramblers Walk Leader training. Leaders will be receiving an email with clear instructions on the actions they need to take.
Since May 2024, all new walk leaders have been required to read the Walk Leader Handbook and complete online training before leading their first walk. If you're an existing walk leader who has not yet completed the training since it was updated last May, the National Body will be in touch to share links to training modules and a simple online form, if you would rather record your experience or qualifications.
If you need any assistance or guidance regarding accessing and completing these online courses, please contact Mike Ryall (Walks Programme Co-ordinator). There are some printed ‘Walk Leader Handbooks’ available; if you would like one, please contact Mike Ryall, although you can also access the handbook online.
You can find all the resources, training and key links you need on the Walk Leadership page of the Ramblers website.
Other news for your diary
Ever fancied being a conservation volunteer? Econet is a wildlife conservation group that undertakes a wide range of activities relating to the conservation of the natural environment in public open spaces and other sites in and around Reading. By volunteering with Econet, you can learn and apply new conservation skills, such as coppicing, hedge laying, scrub clearance, control of non-native species, path creation and maintenance and willow harvesting. Volunteers can take part as often as it suits them. For more information, see https://www.econetreading.org.uk
In June I enjoyed a thought-provoking guided tour around Heath Lake, Wokingham.
Heath Lake is a 6-hectare (15-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an area of woodland and heathland in the parish of Wokingham Without. The SSSI is part of the 22.3-hectare (55-acre) Heathlake Local Nature Reserve. Most of this 2.8-hectare (7-acre) lake is less than 1-metre (3-foot) deep. It is the only example of an acid lake in Berkshire, with a naturally low pH, which retains its characteristic rare plants, such as alternate water milfoil and six-stemmed waterwort/crowfoot. The banks are peaty and marshy in some areas. There are also small areas of woodland, dry heath and acid grassland. Coniferous woodland and scrub birch are being actively managed to restore the lowland heath; most practical work is carried out along with the local friends’ groups and voluntary conservationists.
It takes an average of 23 minutes to complete a circuit of the lake, although on this occasion, with the fascinating information imparted to us by our guide from Wokingham Borough Council, it took over one-and-a-half hours! There is a free car park to the site, accessed from Nine Mile Ride.
The creation of the Covid Memorial Woodland (to the north of California Country Park) has been made possible with the support of The Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund and should be open to woodland later this year, giving people a place to come and pay their respects to those they lost during the pandemic. Around 6,700 trees have been planted at the site, about 1,000 of these planted during community sessions, which more than 150 residents joined, to help our countryside services team. Wildflower seeding has taken place this spring and summer; also, footpaths and signage to help residents visit the woodland are being installed.
Next time you're at Dinton Pastures Country Park, look out for a striking new addition on Black Swan Island – the Swift Tower! Swifts are sadly on the red list for conservation, with numbers down 62 per cent since 1995. Providing safe, tall – which they prefer - nesting spaces is crucial to their survival. The tower includes a built-in caller that plays at dawn and dusk to attract returning swifts and encourage colony-building over time.
A vast new nature reserve spanning 2,765 hectares has been created in Surrey, extending into Hampshire and West Sussex. Natural England has declared the creation of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR). Part of the King's Series of NNRs, it will safeguard green spaces near Guildford, Haslemere, Godalming and Farnham. The reserve includes the National Trust’s land at Hindhead Commons, Fresham Little Pond, Milford and Witley Common and Ludshott Common. They are among the largest remaining fragments of Wealden heathland, which once stretched across much of Surrey and neighbouring counties.
When you go out and about in summer, be on the lookout for oak processionary moth (OPM). OPM caterpillars are a tree pest and are dangerous to the health of people and animals. They are most active from June to August, especially in London and the southeast of England. You will only find OPM caterpillars and their nests on oak trees or on the ground near infested oak trees. Next time when you’re walking in areas where there are oak trees, beware, and keep children and pets away.
The caterpillars have thousands of tiny hairs, which can be blown about by the wind and cause itchy skin rashes, eye and throat irritations and occasionally, breathing difficulties in people and animals. If you’ve seen any OPM in your area, report to the Forestry Commission online. You can also email
The decline in bumblebee numbers last year, due to the unseasonable cold and wet weather, (can’t complain of that recently!), compared to the previous figures is 22.5%. Letting wildflowers grow, planting flowers, particularly small-petalled ones, and avoiding pesticides help the species survive.
As July brings International Meadows Day, it’s the perfect time to celebrate butterflies – but butterflies aren’t just beautiful to look at. They play a vital role in the health of the environment, pollinating plants, supporting the food chain and serving as indicators of a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem.
Many fluffy fledglings have now graduated from nest nursery and are ready to fly off into the big wide world. It's a dangerous time for baby birds meaning that Mum and Dad will be on high alert keeping an eye on their brood while continuing to bring them tasty snacks. You can help these frazzled parents by putting out high protein bird food like fat balls and meal worms and making sure your bird bath is filled with some nice fresh water. If you see a baby bird on the ground, then it's usually best to leave it alone as its parents are likely to be nearby ready to help.
This summer, gardeners are being urged to do something to help frogs and toads survive through hot summer days (and the wet ones too). Gardeners are being told they should put a bucket of water in their garden this July and August. The bigger the bucket the better, such as a large tub you would normally use for gathering cuttings - because it will give you much better chances of handing your garden a boost for wildlife. Not only will attracting more frogs to your garden be good for the world, but they also take on a task that gardeners everywhere will appreciate, as they eat slugs and snails for breakfast (and lunch and dinner).
Your best chance of seeing a grass snake is by water, where they hunt fish, frogs, toads and newts. Surprisingly, grass snakes are excellent swimmers and can often be spotted gliding through the water. Like all reptiles, grass snakes rely on the heat of the sun to generate energy so you may see them sunbathing on a flat rock. If you disturb a grass snake and it speeds off, try returning to the same spot later. Grass snakes often go back to their favourite basking spots repeatedly. Of the three native British snake species, the grass snake is the longest growing up to 1.8 metres.
There’s a day for everything: …... Monday 2 June was World Bog Day!!!!
Please note:
Would you like to share your experience or views about a walk related subject or share a photo in the next edition of our Newsletter? Please send them to
Additionally, if anyone who has been on or led one of our walks, would like to share your experience or just give a brief overview of the walk with a photo or two, we would be extremely grateful to give more specific information on ‘recent walks’ section of the Newsletter. Thank you for reading.