Walks around Stortford. Walk 1 from Thorley church

Not to scale, just a rough sketch map.

I have been requested by members of Stortford Nature FB pages to give details of local walks, with comments on parking, disability access and for those with mobility issues. I'll try and post a few a day on here and link to FB. Hope they help. I am doing these from memory, so a local Ordnance Survey map may be advisable. Explorer series, Sheet 194

Parking is fine at Thorley church for all vehicles, St James the Great. The cemetery here is a little wild life haven with several bird species about. Check the cedars and conifers for tiny goldcrests, the pond for moorhen and pied wagtail etc and the fields behind for yellow wagtail
Take the path through to the right of the church and you'll come to a wide concrete track. Turn right and head towards the large black barns. (Moor Hall barns) The verge along here can be good for several species of wild flower: red campion, Greater stitchwort plus, at present, hawthorn blossom. Check latter for insects whilst also looking on the heads of the hedge and cow parsley for pollen eating beetles and bugs. Try for a photo and forward it to me and I can add these to the details of the walk. At the barns there are several paths, one to the right takes you to Southern Country park but today, carry on straight towards the woods about half a mile away. Swallows and house martins may be overhead along with Red kites and Common buzzards. At the wood there is a bit of an issue getting through the gap. There used to be a stile or gate but not sure if this is still there. If access is not possible for mobility scooters etc, turn back and take the path over to Southern Country Park
Once in Matthams Wood there are good stands of wild flowers. Hazel and hornbeam trees here.
The path eventually leaves the wood on to a wide concrete track. Take a left around the wood until you come to a gate and Private signs. Do not enter here, please. Scan the fishing lake, checking the island and the water's edge for Little ringed plovers that have bred here in the past. Usually cormorants here, too.
Retrace your steps back along the track, checking for butterflies, and eventually you'll arrive at Parsonage Lane near a WW2 pill box. Here either turn back for the church or carry on. There is a footpath the other side of the road (on the right) after a few yards that follows the boundary fence of the farm.
Follow this track until you come to a house on a lane, Sacombs Ash.
Follow the lane until you come to a junction. Good grass verge and trees along here so look out for butterflies and dragonflies.
Turn left and walk, carefully along the lane back towards the wood. Turn left at the T junction and pick up the original track into Matthams Wood and head back to the church.

Comments: the first part of this wander is on concrete so suitable for all. The path through the wood, whilst presently dry and flat, can get muddy after rain. Alternatively, drive and park in Parsonage Lane to access the concrete track into Matthams Wood. Park near the pill box but not so the entrance gate to the track is blocked.

Do let me know a.) what you see and b.) if there are issues with access, uneven surfaces that may limit motor scooter accessibility etc.  Hope this helps.

Small tortoiseshell butterfly

Coot