Our Avon Valley Walk led by @RobCrewsHole for @briswalkfest20 was due today.
Instead a thread with photos from previous walks to show some of the highlights - part of #virtualwalkfest
Proposed route - http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/AvonValley/index.htm
This was the Hill yesterday (thanks Chilla) 1/

The 1st time we led an ‘Avon Valley Walk’ was in September 2006. The idea came from work we did in 2004 when new information was being produced for the #RiverAvonTrail http://www.riveravontrail.org.uk/ 
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In 2006 the walk started from the car park at Conham and set off up Conham Vale to visit Dundridge Park, followed by Troopers Hill. Then we walked back along the river to catch the ferry to @Beeses and Eastwood Farm
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2007 was the 1st time that we followed a version of our now regular route crossing the footbridge to St Anne’s Woods & Nightingale Valley (& the fantastic plane tree) before Eastwood Farm. Finishing @Beeses to catch the ferry back to Conham
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The 2008 walk in October was shortened & restricted to our side of the river due to rain. As with all these early walks it was supported by @mrsmarjoram as part of the ‘Bristol Living Rivers Project’
Historic photos: http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/history/oilboom.htm
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2009 was the last time the walk started at Conham & the first Spring walk allowing a break in the sun by St Anne’s Well which is one of the features of the walk that always surprises people. …https://friendsofbrislingtonbrook.wordpress.com/the-holy-well-and-the-chapel-of-st-anne-in-the-wood-brislington-bristol-by-ken-taylor/
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In 2010 a large group were joined by the Brislington Community Archaeology Project & @Locallearning for the Brislington Brook section of the walk.
Explore more about the history of the area on the @KYPBristol maps
https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?edition=bristol&layer=Community%20layer&x=362926.26&y=173157.62&extent=575.07
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Starting at Troopers Hill means that we can have lunch at @Beeses before catching their ferry back across to Conham. We have had a mixture of weather over the years 2011 was windy but dry.
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In 2012 we moved the walk to the autumn & had a very wet day. There was a good flow of water at the concrete structure that lets diverted flood water from Brislington Brook flow into the Avon near the rowing club.
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For a change in 2013 we ran the walk in December staying our side of the river. On some of these walks we are able to visit the Bath House dating from the mid-1700s that is hidden on private land in the woodland.
http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/bristolvideosolutions/bathhousebroadband.html
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After skipping a year, 2015 was the first time we held walk as part of @briswalkfest20 - we were joined by @BristolAvonRT
The yellow broom and white hawthorn blossom on Troopers Hill were at their peak & the Hill really looked its best as we approached
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In 2016 we again included Brislington Brook and Eastwood Farm. In Conham we looked at the monkey puzzle tree and also the ruins that are a reminder of the importance of this area for #Bristol’s copper & brass industry.
http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/history.htm#copper
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May 2017 brought us sunshine all the way and a chance to admire a new interpretation board at Dundridge Park before climbing back up Troopers Hill at the end of the walk.
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In 2018 a very heavy thunderstorm in the half-hour before the walk was due to start reduced our numbers. The photos are ours at Eastwood Farm but we were joined by @Avon_Stories who took some much better ones.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/knautia/albums/72157669726888228
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Last year the rain hit us at lunchtime after a sunny morning but it eased off by the time we were back on the Hill and looking back at where we had walked.
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So no Avon Valley Walk this year but we will be back running events on & around the Hill again as soon as we can. Check out our website for photos of all past events & walks + info on the wildlife and history of the Hill.
http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/events.htm 
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And if this thread has inspired you then there is still time to enter our Art Competition which is celebrating 25 years since Troopers Hill was designated as a Local Nature Reserve
http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/art25/index.htm 
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