West Midlands 2022
Leats
Have a close look around this field and you'll see it's more than just a flat meadow. Reaching south are a network of bendy dips like a stream used to be here. These are ancient artificial water courses - you may meet straight leats near millraces, but here the leats are more complex as the purpose is different. Reaching north, these dips become suspiciously straight and regular.
This field used to have the 'Staffordshire Water Meadows' system that is still present on Willows Farm (see GC9VZTQ). Water would have been pulled from the River Dove into the straight 'panes', irrigating the lands, and returning any surplus water to the ditches in the south, and then via the Picknall Brook into the river again.
When you look at the satelite image of the field you may see these lines and ridges better than on the ground.
Only the land forms remain - all brickwork and sluice gates are gone, though some are preserved underground on Willows Farm.
This geocaching trail was laid in conjunction with the landowners along the route, the local councils, the "Transforming the Trent Valley" organisation, and the West Midlands Mega Crew. It was placed by the SOS group of Staffordshire Cachers.
For more information on the West Midlands 2022 event, August 1-8 2022,
visit our website, or join us on social media on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
Stay with us all week for the best experience!
"As the geocache owner, I ensure that this links to a local geocaching group that is active in the community and contributing to geocaching in positive ways. This link has not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer."