G6. At the T-junction turn left into Leafy Grove. Go straight across at the next cross track. Shortly after, at the next cross track there is a bench on your left.

Map

Look to the left to see the Gorses area. Gorse has bright yellow flowers throughout most of the year. In the 1800s the whole area between the Gorse paths was shown as Broad Field. It is believed that Gorse was then planted as a fuel for the limekilns in Farley and gives the paths their present names (East, West and Middle Gorse). When the demand for Gorse dwindled, trees were planted or grew back. In the late 1960s a plot of Larch was part of the replanting plan. This in turn was felled in 2009, which allowed hundreds of dormant Gorse seeds to spring up. Over the next 7 years the gorse got very leggy and in 2016/17 FSW used our workdays to cut it right back in the sure knowledge that it would quickly regrow.

At the corner by The Gorses sign is a large Silver Birch with distinctive silvery bark and slender green twigs which may have tiny catkins at the ends in spring. There are several large Ash in this area. Note the keys still attached throughout most of the winter in the high branches and the grey bark with orange lichen growing on it. The winter buds are black and in opposite pairs with a single large bud at the end of the twig.

Continue by turning right into West Gorse.


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