Topic: Greener Living Bike Ride

[Simon]

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Sorry about the short notice, but pedal--powered TS readers might like to come along to this tomorrow:

The First Swindon Greener Living Bike Ride

Organised by Swindon Climate Action Network (SCAN) and Swindon Bicycle Users Group (BUG)

Sunday 22 May, meet outside the library at the Link Centre from 10.15am. Depart 10.30 for a 12.5 mile fun ride entirely on good off road cycle tracks or roads rated as “good conditions for all abilities” on the Swindon Cycle Map. As well as visiting some of Swindon’s finest nature reserves and community sites, several householders along the route have volunteered to show us what they are doing to live a greener life. Highlights include; solar photovoltaic and hot water, natural under floor insulation, veg growing, rainwater catchment for the garden, chickens, wildlife gardening and composting.

Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, bring a bite to eat and if you have one a spare inner tube. Children under 16 must wear a cycle helmet and be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please also ensure that your bicycle is safe and roadworthy.

[Muggins]

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Yes, it was coming to see us in the Orchard, but we can't be there, but stop and partake of Seven Fields LNR.   Looking good, in fact
b*&^%*y wonderful right now.

[Simon]

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Yes, it was coming to see us in the Orchard, but we can't be there, but stop and partake of Seven Fields LNR.   Looking good, in fact
b*&^%*y wonderful right now.

I've never been to Seven Fields before today and I was quite stunned by it. Hope to see the orchard on a future ride 

We passed through quite a few quality open spaces en route, without ever actually leaving Swindon, and what with that and a guide who seems very well informed about local wildlife / conservation type projects, I could have the makings of quite a good film, once I've edited the dodgy camerawork out of the visuals and the wind noise out of the audio and married the remains back together.

In the mean time, here's a very short compilation of some of the things we saw today.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9UsA0Tmd2Ps" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/9UsA0Tmd2Ps</a>

[Muggins]

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Look forward to it Simon.  Wish we could keep hens, aye Chav!

[Simon]

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That first film looked at some of the things we saw in people's gardens and houses. This one shows the other places we stopped at - Lower Shaw Farm, Peatmoor woodland and lagoon, Shaw Forest, Seven Fields and the River Ray, all with commentary from our guide.

Probably not the best job I've ever done with a camera and windows movie maker but I think the content is great, even if I do say so myself 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/NHcfy4nnKwo" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/NHcfy4nnKwo</a>

[concerned_of_Old_Town]

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Very interesting!  Who was the guide?  Generally when I  go out on my bike tend to go towards Marlborough Avebury and the Ridgeway but I will have to dig out my swindon cycle map as not to sure where Seven Fields is!! 

Let me know if there is another session and assuming in Swindon will try and come along!

Incidently I went along the cycle path by West Swindon (just past House of Fraser)  was amazed to a new yellow bridge going over the train line to connect to a farmers field with no obvious cycle path!!  Also pleased to see the new bridge over the motorway is open!

[Simon]

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Very interesting!  Who was the guide?

He's a volunteer with SCAN who used to work for the wildlife trust.

I will have to dig out my swindon cycle map as not to sure where Seven Fields is!! 

If my sense of direction is up to scratch it's sort of between Haydon Wick, Penhill and some of the new N Swindon estates. One of the riders recorded our route with some kind of GPS device so I'll see if I can post some geographic info if I can work out what to do with the file he sent me.

Let me know if there is another session and assuming in Swindon will try and come along!

Will do.

[Muggins]

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Ride leader Simon Smith (loads of letter after name) Used (might still) to work for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and I beleive a trustee of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. 

Giving it some enthusiatic wellie, as is his wont, and just as well he does!   Shame he didn't take in the Bridge we built (twice).

If you can find a map of the cycle routes through Abbey Meads, they nearly all lead through 7F's, especially the one from Pond Lane through to Whitworth Road. At my request,  Simon led the ride on to the green path that runs parallel to it, that way you can see the meadows as they are on a rising slope towards Penhill.  They are like an elongated triangle between Penhill, Greenmeadow and Abbey Meads.

Beginning of July is best time to see them although there is something of interest all years round.   web page at www.sevenfields.org.uk

Good film 'our'  Simon.  Can't remember the OS thingy will post it up later.  Just thought, why not Google Earth it - use postcode SN2 5

[Simon]

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Seven Fields is here:

Penhill to the right, Haydon Wick to the left and above, and Rodbourne Cheney below. So my sense of direction wasn't far off, but not quite right 

I've got a .kml file which can be loaded into google earth and which shows the route of the ride. I could post it if anyone's interested?

[Simon]

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A friend shared this video with me today which shows how the northern development has ... er ... developed over the past few years.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/lvmcYvcJY2I" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/lvmcYvcJY2I</a>

Seven Fields really stands out when viewed from that perspective.

[Muggins]

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Actually Simon, I don't think 7F's is on that bit of film.

I think that shows  ASDA in the bottom right corner ,so the area covered is just Priory Vale/Haydon End. The area of green at the left hand side is the Orchids meadows that belonged to Mr Clifford.

I'm fairly sure that 7f's is off the map to the right and even further down.

Bit more frightening when you realise that's only half the development!