All walks start and finish at Silverdale Green by the parish notice board.

A long walk to a Nature Reserve

This is of a traditional Field Barn that we pass on our way

Such barns are common in the Norh of England, most particularly in the Yorkshire dales. They are used both for stock and fodder

Eventually this brings us to Haweswater, an important Nature Reserve, especially for birdie folk

The reeds used to be used for thatching, I don't think that happens here any more - over in Norfolk they still cut reeds for use on house roofs

I approve of this, felling and replanting, or regeneration is all part of the cycle of country life

I puzzled about this building for a long time. It has one main floor and an undercroft.

I walked around the area wondering what on earth it was used for, then it struck me! It was a permanent shelter for the charcoal burners.

On an earlier walk we passed through a coppice woodland, well that is where the charcoal burners worked, although normally they made temporary shelters out of poles and turf. Here they built themselves something rather more sustantial.

The charcoal burners would stack their wood prior to use - it dried it out and helped the burning process.

If you really don't know what i am talking about find a child or a dog or something and read them 'Swallowdale' by Arthur Ransome, my favourite childrens' author, for a great description of charcoal burning.

There is so much pleasure to be had in recognising the little things in nature

Join the road and soon after passing a farmstead take a footpath to your right. This takes you ove the railway line and through a small group of houses. The path wil lead you to the bottom of Eaves Wood, and so to home.

And that concludes WALK TWELVE