トレントの天然記念物・トップ7

Talking to a local chap, he told us that this tree had been struck by lightning about 5 years ago (2020), he told us that it was known locally as ‘the praying tree’ he suggested that we walk down level to it to look at it and see for ourselves.

Lovely stretch of woodland through a nature reserve between the A453 and river Trent. Has some nice sedimentary rock formations!

The Ford Green Reed Bed is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated because of the large numbers of swallows that gather there before migrating at the end of the summer.

The start of the walk is all up Hill but from then on it's a gentle stroll

For Covid-19 period, a one way (clockwise) circuit of the lake has been introduced. Please follow the signs

In the 18th century Bluebarn farm on Downs Bank grew hops for Joule's Brewery. In 1946 Joule's purchased the land from Viscount Sidmouth. The area was subject to purchase with the help of a public subscription and it was given to the National Trust by John Joule in 1950, as "an offering for victory in the 1939-45 War, and as a memorial to those who died" - apparently on the grounds that it had originally been common land, and should thus be open again to local people.

The Ford Green Reed Bed at the south end of the site is one of Stoke-on-Trent's two Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It has been designated because large numbers of swallows gather there before leaving the country at the end of the summer.

From Wikipedia: In the 18th century a farm on Downs Bank grew hops for Joule's Brewery, who rented it from Viscount Sidmouth. The area was well known to the author Mary Renault, whose parents moved to live nearby in the early 1930s. Hops growing on Downs Bank continued until the 1940s, and there was also cattle grazing until 1959. The area was subject to purchase with the help of a public subscription and it was given to the National Trust by John Joule in 1950, as... "an offering for victory in the 1939-45 War, and as a memorial to those who died" - apparently on the grounds that it had originally been common land, and should thus be open again to local people. However, after 1950 the lack of grazing caused its characteristic heathland to decline, as bracken and birch were allowed to invade. Downs Banks Toposcope There is a Millennium Viewpoint stone at one of the highest points, with a toposcope (a disc of metal sight-lines/landmarks) embedded in the top of it. The toposcope went