Text contributed by Christina
Glen could not have chosen a better day for his walk: the sun beamed from a clear blue sky, and it felt warm for this time of year. 26 people came along. We had a good mix of existing members and newer members and we counted three new people. We started from Bourne Park and proceeded through Stoke Park Wood Nature Reserve before traversing Ellenbrook recreation ground.
We spotted a buzzard in the sky as well as a couple of Canada Geese, a moorhen and the inevitable ducks at the pond on Stone Lodge Park.
After Stone Lodge Park we then paused at beautiful Chantry Park for lunch, enjoying the sunshine near stately Chantry Mansion and the bowling green. Sufficiently refreshed, we made our way towards and through Gippeswyk Park’s sumptuous green spaces before heading towards Oak Hill Lane, skirting Maidenhall allotments en route back to our start point. The stroll ended with a wonderfully panoramic view of the Orwell Bridge from the highest point of Bourne Park.
A few members joined Glen for a drink at the Belstead Brook Hotel. I thought it felt rather strange to visit this place in broad daylight, having been there at the end of numerous evening ambles in summer. The walk contained several undulations and a surprisingly high amount of green spaces in urban Ipswich.
There will be a second Ipswich Intrigue walk exploring offbeat green links in December.