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CBN 010 - Thorndon Countryside Park Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Erz-n-Myn: Thank you to all who enjoyed these walks.
A 100 000 finds on this account (top 10 in the UK Dec 2015).
Time for someone else to enjoy.

More
Hidden : 11/11/2011
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Series


Placed with the kind permission of Essex Waterways. Please refer to the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation (GC37P3P) cache for more information on this walk along the canal.

Few areas offer such variety as Thorndon Country Park and its surroundings. Ancient woodland and historic deer parks lie close alongside recently planted woodland and a landscape of small pastures, while nearby is the high forest of Hartswood and former common land.

Thorndon Country Park is in two parts, the northern section on a gravel ridge and the southern part on clay soil lower down. The two parts are now linked by Old Thorndon Pastures, which is farmland that has been restored to a traditional farming landscape with small hedged fields, grazed by cattle.

Thorndon Country Park offers a variety of habitats including ancient woodland, parkland, ponds, a marsh and meadow. There are some stunning ancient trees including Giant Oak and Hornbeam pollards, that are reminders that this was once a deer park. Parts of it used to be heathland, now a scarce habitat in Essex, and to restore it parts of the park, both north and south, are being grazed by goats and sheep.

The park attracts a large number of woodland birds and sees more than its fair share of passage migrants and winter visitors. For example, large flocks of Siskins and Redpolls often gather in the birches, and bramblings can be seen near to the centre feeding on beech mast. There are many butterflies to be enjoyed including the uncommon Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qverpgyl haqre gur cvcr ntnvafg gur jnyy ng tebhaq yriry.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)