The Shakespeare's Avon Way - Ryton On Dunsmore, Bubbenhall & Wappenbury (8)

Another lovely early Autumn day and we are back on the Shakespeare' Avon Way. Starting point is the village of Ryton on Dunsmore. 

Leaving a residential area we quickly moved into a more familiar and rural environment. Walking in an anti-clockwise direction we were on a shared path with the Centenary Way and the Coventry Way. 

Nice open fields, a farmer is busy in his Tractor, flanked by numerous Gulls. We are headed in the direction of Bubbenhall.  

As part of a giving something back to a greener environment I will be randomly planting about two dozen conkers at suitable points on the walk.

Bubbenhall wood has been here since at least 1600 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 listed as 2 furlongs long and two furlongs wide (approximately 16 hectares which is about 12 football pitches)We won't be exploring it today though.

It's a beautiful quiet little village with a Church that has two 'Green Men' dating from the 13th Century. Would have liked to have seen those but sadly as is the way these days, the doors were firmly locked

Passing a smallholding with Goats and Donkeys I plant the first of my Horse Chestnuts (Conkers). Hopefully at least some of them will grow up be strong trees and help the environment. 

A very friendly Donkey comes to the gate to say hello. It must be his lucky day as he is the grateful recipient of a large carrott!

We pass a field full of Lavender bushes. There is a lady out with a wheelbarrow cutting the flowers by hand. 

 Warwickshire Lavender Farm is a beautiful farm on the edge of countryside, close to Bubbenhall. This land was about to be sold to a housing developer, but the new owners managed to grab the land last minute to protect it, giving this unproductive farm a new lease of life growing and processing lavender into natural products.

 

Our next port of call is Weston Under Wetherley. The most notable building is the Church of Saint Michael, there is an absence of a shop or pub .....One other notable absentee today would seem to be the River Avon! Nowhere to be seen anywhere. Well nowhere obvious anyway? I did hear some water a while back, perhaps that was it hiding?

Our next stop is Wappenbury, another great sounding name. Wappenbury is almost entirely inside the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort.  

There are rich pickings to be had of the masses of ripe Damsons. We pick a large bag full in between mouthfuls for making Damson Gin. Just in the nick of time too as the hedge trimming machine is only yards behind. They will make an alternative to the usual 'Sloe Gin'.  

Not the Avon, the River Leam

We had just missed at wedding at St John the Baptist Church Wappenbury. We had though caught up with a large group of Ramblers... 

One of which suggested that I must look at the memorial dedicated to 'William Lyons' in the churchyard.

 

 

Who is 'William Lyons' I hear you ask? Known as 'Mr Jaguar' he was the founder of Jaguar Cars after WWII . In 1956, Lyons was knighted for his services to British industry and for the fine export performance of the company.

In 1966 Jaguar was bought by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and in 1967 Lyons retired as managing director but remained as chairman of Jaguar Cars. He finally retired in 1972.

He retired completely to Wappenbury Hall in 1972, and continued in a consultative role to Jaguar until shortly before his death. Lyons died on 8 February 1985 at Wappenbury Hall,

His wife Greta, Lady Lyons, died the following year; they were both buried in St. John the Baptist churchyard close to their home.

It's a pity in a way that the memorial isn't in the shape of a Jaguar car, or even the Big Cat Jaguar logo. 

The lady Verger who I had been speaking to earlier pointed out Wappenbury Hall, a fine looking property opposite the church.

The house is pictured left and a fine abode it appears too. The Ramblers have re-assembled and are soon marching off into the distance. We give them a few minutes to get ahead of us. Ironically the first car we see coming along the road is a rather nice Jaguar XJF!

I spot a nice and iconic Toadstool growing on the grass by the church. The 'Fly Agaric' or 'Fly Amanita'. Although classified as poisonous, human deaths are very rare. 

They are very striking though with their white spotted red caps. We were to see several more as we progressed through Wappenbury Woods.       

It's an uphill climb to the wood which is a large semi-natural ancient woodland. It is rich in plants, butterflies and birds.

By the end of the 15th Century, the wood was known by its present name and provided a source of fuel, building materials and hunting opportunities for the local community.  

I plant a few more 'Conkers' in a few gaps around the wood. Bizarrely the Ramblers have disappeared completely? Still no sign of the River Avon today though.  

It's a nice place to visit with different footpaths veering off in different directions. 

Historically, an impressive 88 species of birds have been recorded, with plentiful sightings of warblers, woodpeckers and tawny owl. On a sunny Summer's day you may spot butterflies like white admiral and purple hair-streak.

 

The path leads into Ryton Wood and Country Park. Although part of Ryton Wood was lost to sand and gravel extraction in the 1960s, the wood has been returned to its present excellence though traditional management practices, and is one of the county's largest surviving semi-natural ancient woodlands.    
Parts of Ryton Wood date back to the 11th century, so the land may have been wooded since the end of last ice age. Finding coppiced, small-leaved lime stools is evidence to support this. Once the most common tree 5,000 years ago, the species is no longer so common.

As we leave the greenery of the woodlands and head back towards the start, we pass two other points of interest. Firstly Ryton on Dunsmore Police Training College. A little further on is a different kind of training ground for Coventry City FC. 

The last of the 'Conkers' planted, not on the Roundabout as suggested, and we are back to the starting point. A great walk with plenty of interest. A total distance of 11.25 miles! Never did see the River Avon ...