Harwell GeoCache Series
After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45, 47-48, 53), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46, 54-55), Chilton (cache #27-28), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39) and Milton (cache #40, 49-52, 56-57), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something new when you are caching, thank you!
Harwell #58 - Recreation Ground and Orchard No. 2
The Harwell Recreation Ground is a central area for local villagers (known as "Harwellians") to relax, play sports, have picnics and summer feasts, set off Bonfire night fireworks, and so on. We spent lots of time here watching our GeoKids play in the Jubilee playground and attend Scouts sessions in the nearby Harwell Scouts Hut. Many dog-walkers also use this field every day. Lots of great memories and experiences here.
The Harwell Community Orchard is located in the northwestern corner of the Recreation Ground, and is also open to the public.
There used to be extensive orchards in Harwell Parish. Fruit trees grew well in the Greensand soil, but most orchards had disappeared by the 1990s. This area west of the embankment was added to the Rec. in the 1990s and was for a while used for Rugby but few other formal sports.
In choosing the varieties of trees, some are known to have been grown in the Parish or wider area and there was consideration of pollination partners and whether the apples fruit early, middle or late in the season.
We sometimes visit this beautiful community orchard with GeoKids to enjoy all the different flowers and trees, which are well-maintained here, and showing their unique beauty across different seasons of the year. Diverse types of insects and bugs can also be found inside and outside of this orchard.
Information Source:
https://harwellparish.gov.uk/community-orchard/
About this GeoCache:
This is the 3rd cache placed together by marsband and eaglewantswild.
The published coordinates are very close to a car gate. If you see this car gate is open, then please do not get close to it, as many cars will be using this gate to enter or leave the ground frequently. Please be safe and careful, especially when visiting with GeoKids and/or GeoPets.
Also please do not park your car outside the gate, as the gate is often locked, and the cache will not be accessible from outside the gate. Please use the recommended car park near the Harwellian pub.
At the published coordinates, you will be standing near a yellow & green sign, which has some words on it. Firstly, how many letters are there in the second white word on the top line of this sign? Let it be A.
Secondly, there is an email address at the bottom of this sign. The number of letters in the word before the "@" symbol is B.
Finally, behind this sign there is a red dog waste bin. On the bin there is a large white sticker which has a website on it. How many letters are there in the word between "www." and ".com"? Let it be C.
The final coordinates are a short walk away at:
N51 35. ( C + ( A - B ) ) ( A / ( C - B ) + A ) ( B - A - ( A - C ) )
W001 18. ( C - A + ( B - A ) ) ( C * ( A - B ) ) ( C + ( C - B ) )
The checksum of all the digits in the final coordinates is 57.
Please also note:
Please expect muggles at some times of the day. The ground here can be muddy and slippery sometimes.
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns and stinging nettles. Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
You do not need to enter any private land or cross any fence.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to rosela for their FTF on 3 January 2026!
