Last weekend we had the first session of our new Weekend Walking Group. Here is how it went…

Week 1 – 11/04/26

After a morning of April showers, the group were fortunate for the weather to clear up long enough for them to have a dry walk, which although started out a bit cloudy ended with the sunshine starting to break through.

The group started out from Burton library, enjoying a steady walk around the new boardwalks & through the Garden of Remembrance to the Marketplace, then onwards

past the college towards Peels Cut, where a swan was spotted, stranded in the Fleet Street carpark. After agreement between the group, Anthea, Lesley & a participant went to investigate with a plan of herding the swan back towards the washlands, whilst the rest of the group with Zainera & Gemma watched from the benches, taking a quick break for refreshments. Unfortunately, the swan could not stand & looked to be quite distressed. Anthea quickly telephoned Linjoy Wildlife Rescue, who, after reviewing a video of the swan, agreed to send out a volunteer to collect it.

Once the group had finished their break, it was time for the walk to continue, in the safe knowledge that Lesley had offered to stay on ‘Swan Watch’ until the wildlife volunteer arrived. The group said farewell to Lesley & the swan, whom we named ‘Hope’ & made their way along the pedestrian viaduct over the Ferry Bridge & enjoyed the flowers at Stapenhill Gardens before crossing over St Peter’s Bridge to head along the paths by the River Trent. This was until Lesley telephoned with the good news that the volunteer from Linjoy (name checked by Lesley for Hope’s security) had safely collected Hope & was taking her to the sanctuary to be looked after. The group then about turned, following the same path back towards the pedestrian viaduct to meet back up with Lesley. In a slight alteration to the original planned route the group then walked back towards the library, stopping off for a short break at a picnic bench, shaded by the trees behind the market place where they discussed what else they might have been doing with their Saturday morning had they not come to the walk, with some participants stating they would have just stayed in bed. The group also discussed things they were appreciative of throughout the walk, including ‘giggling more than usual, having walked over 5000 steps, special trees, the new blossom on the trees & biscuits!’. After the short break, the group reconvened the walk back through to the library & chatted briefly about what they had enjoyed about the walk before everyone went about the rest of their day.

It appeared that everyone enjoyed the first weekend walk, even with the unplanned swan rescue mission, which the group agreed it felt the right thing to intervene & help.

Later in the evening, Anthea messaged Linjoy to check on the swan’s welfare, receiving the response that she was ok, she was an ex bird flu swan with neurological issues & that she would hopefully join the sanctuary flock once out of isolation.

I hope everyone enjoyed the walk as much as I did & wish Hope a speedy recovery.

If you’d like to sign up for our Weekend Walking Group you can do so through our Sign Up form here -> https://burtonmind.co.uk/contact-us/