STEPPING UP WISTLEY AND RAVENSGATE HILLS

Some winter exercise after all the cold depressing days to date this semester was very welcome. The first year Appraising Landscapes class set off yesterday under a pleasant blue sky and walked along the Cotswold long-distance footpath from Seven Springs up the scarp to get some very good vistas of the local landscape spoilt only by some haze over Cheltenham town restricting the views to the Malvern Hills. But for those new to the area it was a stimulating prospect.

We were met by Paul Arnold and Tricia Atkinson who talked to us about the voluntary work they do for the Woodland Trust and Butterfly Conservation. Here’s our group photo on Ravensgate Hill with Paul and Tricia at each end. According to its website, Lineover Wood’s patchwork of ancient woodland, more recent planting and limestone grassland create a diverse habitat that’s a haven for wildlife and a place where rare plants and fungi flourish. The wood lies within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now designated as a National Landscape) and offers breathtaking views across Cheltenham and the Malvern Hills. The site at Ravensgate is termed unimproved limestone grassland and management focuses on clearing invasive species to allow cowslips (Primula veris) to get established, food for the Duke of Burgundy caterpillar.