This cache is one of
a series placed along the River Pang, which is a small clear
chalk river in the west of the county of Berkshire, and a
tributary of the River Thames.
"The Pang curves in a deep loop
from its source in the Berkshire Downs at Compton, through the
villages of Hampstead Norreys, Frilsham, Bucklebury, Stanford
Dingley, Bradfield and Tidmarsh, to join the Thames at
Pangbourne. Even in its upper reaches, which run dry for much
of the year, it boasts the title "River", but in truth it starts as
an intermittent chalkland "winterbourne". In its middle and
lower reaches, reinforced by fresh springs, it becomes a clear
gravel trout stream flowing through a lush and bosky valley.
The remains of seven mills and of a water powered foundry testify
to the river's vanished utilitarian past.
Recently there has been growing
concern over the lack of water in the upper reaches and pollution
lower downstream. Despite these problems and changes in
farming methods and crops, the valley retains its delight for
walkers. Unnaturally weed-free wheat fields and large scale
piggeries are still complemented by rushy water meadows and
pollarded willows, browsing cattle and grazing horses. Ducks
and moorhens and swans still swim in the Pang, and an occasional
kingfisher or heron is sighted. Primroses, bluebells and
buttercups, as well as docks, nettles, reeds and brambles still
flourish. Kingcups and yellow flag irises continue to defy
agricultural drainage, trout still rise and wild watercress can
still be gathered." (an extract from Walking Down the Pang by
John Sims and Dorcas Ward)
~ o O o
~
From the village of Bradfield, the
Pang flows north east with the Bradfield and Englefield ridges
beyond. The Pang flows under the M4 motorway near Tidmarsh,
having a little while before received its only tributary, the
Bourne, a small stream which follows a valley to the south of the
Pang from Bucklebury.
Recommended parking is in the
layby car park on the A340 next to the motorway bridge (the old
road before the motorway was built) N51:27:597 W001:05:379. There
is a BBOWT area here, but the cache is situated further along the
public footpath and not on land being cared for by the BBOWT. This
will become obvious when you see the fallen tree on the bridge and
the old washing machine underneath it! The paths around here are
very muddy so we strongly recommend bringing your wellies! Cross
the bridge and follow the footpath to the left.
The cache is a 35mm film canister
which contains a logbook and pencil.