Walking East Stoke's lanes: September 2026

Another month with only one walk, and that one took place at the start of the month - before the month got busy, but I think I can summarise this post by saying - autumn had sent signs!

While none of them were surprising, it’s good to capture the seasons as they start to change and before we’re full steam ahead in the season in front of us, plus autumn is one of my favourite seasons, but I am also rather partial to a bit of spring too!

Though I was surprised to see the blackberries and rosehips so advanced as we headed out along our usual route, and out of the village up over the A46. The seedheads looked enticing against the blue and white sky and I could have taken many more pictures trying to get just the right one, but with MOH keen to keep moving that didn’t happen this time.

Instead of continuing up to the bridge as we usually would, we went rogue. Turning off left part way along and following the footpath towards Elston, but not our usual footpath. We have been this way once before, but only when heading home from Elston one time, so it was good to walk the route in reverse.

The route took us alongside and then past the Old Chapel at Elston, one day we really should stop in and investigate inside - I need to look to see when it’s open first though.

We contemplated a quick stop at the pub, but decided against it (sadly) and set off towards our more usual route along the bridleway between our two villages. It was a glorious day and one of the horses along the route was touting for apples, or any kind of food I’m sure. Sadly for them, they got nothing more than an admiring glance from us, but we did enjoy (from a distance) seeing this beautiful and inquisitive animal closer than we had done before.

Looking up, there were more signs that autumn wasn’t that far away. Though we didn’t stop to collect any conkers on this walk I’m sure we will as the weather turns more autumnal - there’s something about picking up conkers though isn’t there?

Along the bridleway more berries and fruits were in evidence, on the hawthorn and the gorgeously blue bullards.

One day I’ll pick some bullards or sloes and add them to some gin, but not this year.

Instead it was a walk in the sun to enjoy the incoming shades of autumn, and as I write this post autumn is well and truly here and I’m not sad about it at all.

Thanks for joining me for this update, if you enjoyed this post you may also like to see all of the posts in this series.

Walking East Stoke's lanes: July 2026

I thought we’d only managed one ‘walk’ through the lanes this month, and that one a cycle at the start of the month as we headed over to the Allotment Open Day over at Elston, so it was a nice surprise to find another set of photos from later in the month. Though this was on our walk to the pub to watch the England semi-final against Argentina in the World Cup, which didn’t turn out the way any of us there watching wanted, but hey ho.

Let’s start at the beginning of the month with that cycle, and a stop at the bridge for our usual view.

As these first photos were on our way to the Open Day at the allotments in Elston, I thought I’d share a few from there too. I was quite taken with the whole site, but the polytunnels especially, particularly the two shown here. The central layout with side borders was ingenious, and very different to the usual greenhouse layout - and the second photo, for the melons - I’m sure there were larger ones in there somewhere too.

There was plenty on show on the plot, both flowers, veg and fruit - and while I was tempted to put my name down, I knew that really I’d have plenty enough to keep me busy with my own garden.

Our second walk of the month we headed out on foot in the same direction, but veering off after the bridge over the A46 to the bridle path and the pub.

There was plenty to see, especially those being constrained or climbing over the crash barriers. It was already the middle of the month, and about a month since we’d last had rain. The fields were looking dry already and harvest, like many places around us, started much earlier than usual.

As you can see the sun was out, and we were full of optimism (and dread) for the match ahead. The pub was busy, and had some extra screens outside for an extended viewing area. The atmosphere was good, especially as England scored first - but that’s when the fear kicked in, and that’s just for us spectating! Alas, though it was not to be, not this time anyway, maybe next time, who knows?

Thanks for joining me for this update, if you enjoyed this post you may also like to see all of the posts in this series.

Walking East Stoke's lanes: June 2026

Despite being away for the first part of the month we somehow managed three walks around our village’s lanes this month, and each of them in different directions.

The first of these took us down Moor Lane, making a brief stop to check in on the sheep, on a Saturday lunchtime a couple of days after arriving home from an active holiday, so I think our legs were restless and ready for action, so it would have been rude to ignore them.

We headed up across the A46 noticing that still a few wild roses remained, but they’d been joined in the hedgerows and verges by the daisies, and more surprisingly already some seedheads.

We made it as far as the bridge, our cue for turning and heading home, but noted there were some blackberry bushes along the way which may provide a fruitful stop on a later walk. It could be the year for more blackberry and lime jam if we remember in time!

Our second walk took us in the opposite direction, heading down School Lane towards the River Trent - and once again we stopped briefly to see what the sheep were up to. It’d been a hot few days so it was good to see the sheep had been shorn, but we were also out earlier than normal and as ever, they seemed surprised to see us.

Once we walked past the church the views open up on the right hand side across fields, and on this occasion a line of small fluffy clouds. The path bends around to the left and even with the warm weather there was still a wet patch or two in this shaded section.

We decided that as the temperatures were still relatively cool, we’d head along towards the Red Gutter - my first walk that way in quite a while, but definitely worth it for the views and (even more) tranquility.

And more daisies it seems, and a few arty shots of the crops.

We emerged on the banks of the Trent and turned right along the river path, stopping to admire the reflections and despite trying many times failing to catch one of the bright blue damsel flies busying themselves in the nettles.

Along the way I stopped to photograph more than I’ve shown here, but there’s thistles and poppies growing across the path from the crops. I’d seen this plant above before on our walks but wasn’t sure what it was, my plan was to look it up and find out. I forgot, obviously, but I soon found out as our District Council shared a post on Facebook about it being ‘National Invasive Non-Native Species Week’ - who knew?

But anyway the accompanying image was this plant, which is a Himalayan Balsam - a fast growing invasive plant that spreads rapidly along rivers and wetlands, out competing native plants for space and light, which leaves riverbanks bare in winter when it dies back, and so increasing erosion and impacting wildlife.

And it looked so pretty too.

There are volunteer programmes to prevent the spread of this plant, which contributes to our Local Nature Recovery Strategy here in Nottinghamshire, I had no idea about any of this when I took this photo, but it seems right that given its invasive nature it’s controlled and managed. Nature is not only wonderful, but the management that is required alongside it is truly even more wonderful.

We reached our turning point of the jetty - which was very nearly but not quite visible and turned back inland up the long stony track towards the village realising that the stones that were added to minimise the puddles a while back now where doing their job and making the track a much easier walk, and no doubt much easier for the vehicles that traverse it too.

We were back at the sheep, and this is why we check in on them whenever we walk past - they are cheeky, but can’t we all resonate with that bit over there being that little bit tastier if only we could reach it?!

Our final walk this month was along the bridleway towards Elston. As we headed down from crossing over the A46, this was the view across the fields we were about to walk past, isn’t it beautiful?

I was once again surprised to see these, what I think are, bullaces already in evidence on the bushes. It seems early, in my mind I have them this developed much later in the summer - but that could just be that that’s when I’m looking for them.

We were heading over to the pub in Elston to watch England’s second game in the World Cup, and the pub had opened to show the match - it’s not usually open on Tuesdays - so we thought we’d go along.

It was the most dreary game, but at least we were rewarded with this night time view of the path on our way home.

Thanks for joining me for this update, if you enjoyed this post you may also like to see all of the posts in this series.