The River Pang Series - Stanford Dingley Revisited Traditional Cache

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)

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From the village of Bucklebury, the Pang flows east to Stanford Dingley.  In the centre of the village stands The Bull public house and opposite there is a diminutive village green from which a footpath leads to the back of the brick and weatherboarded mill.  Standing on the bridge over the rushing water as it disappears beneath the building, there is a delightful view upstream of the tree-hung Pang (this has nothing to do with the cache, but is worth a look).  

This cache replaces the previous one in Stanford Dingley which got muggled. The location was proving troublesome, so we've chosen a new spot in a completely different place, hence the new listing.

Recommended parking is adjacent to St Denys Church, coordinates N51:26:468 W001:10:406. Following the public footpath, hop over the stile on the opposite side of the road to the church. Cross the meadow to the far corner. Go through the kissing gate and follow the path through a wooded area. At next kissing gate, head to the left of the field and follow your GPS to the cache. If you are lucky, you may see a drop of water in The Pang. Distance from recommended parking to the cache site is just under half a mile.

You are looking for a small klip lock plastic container. Please take care to replace the cache as you found it and well covered.