I am continuing from yesterday the second half of our walk around Monkton Farleigh with my walking group.
Our walk continued past the folly and we climbed down into the disused quarry.
This area as I mentioned yesterday is managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. There was little to see at this time of year but there are a large number of flora which grow here including 9 species of orchid and a variety of ferns and fungi.
Many of the old mines are also the habitat for the greater horseshoe bat. It is for these reasons that it has been designated as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).
When we left the quarry we walked back through woodland before emerging onto a path that crossed over to another area of historical interest which unfortunately I didn't take a picture of. A lot of the mines were used during WW2 by the ministry of defence as a massive ammunition store. It was one of three CADs (Central Ammunition Stores) in Britain. It even had a railway running into it to transport the ammunition. All that was really visible to us as we walked were mounds and vents in the fields.
We finally returned to the village passing the village pub. The Kings Arms is a 17th Century pub which according to the villagers has recently reopened.
Unaware that it was open we had already booked into another local pub for lunch.
Interesting walk. I am not keen on bats & some of our species of bat carry rabies, but still I know they are necessary to the environment & in our region eat misquotes. Saw your reply to my comment about the SPSH.
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