Welwyn Woodlands Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Come and find one of the UK's oldest caches in a pleasant
but little known part of Welwyn Garden City, Sherrardspark
Wood.
Due to the nature of the woods I have taken an extra reading to
help: N51*48.591 W000*13.451
This wood comprises ancient, managed woodland containing mainly
sessile oak and hornbeam, and is a peaceful and beautiful woodland
to walk in at any time of the year. The woodland contains several
Swallow-holes and freshwater springs can be found bubbling away off
some of the footpaths, ideal for your dog if you are taking them
for a walk on a hot day. The other end of the famous 'Nikki Line'
trawls through the wood and some of the original sleepers have been
reused on the footpaths. As the area is a registered SSSI please
respect the environment and if possible try and CITO any litter
that you find in the area to keep the woodland unspoilt.
An official nature guide says of the wood: Sherrardspark Wood
(SSSI and LNR) is located on the acidic gravel and sand Reading
Beds, which support an extensive semi-natural sessile oak/hornbeam
woodland. A large part of the woodland is dominated by mature
stands of sessile oak high forest, which is a rare habitat in
lowland England. Other species include downy birch, hairy birch,
ash, cherry and field maple. The shrub layer is dominated by
honeysuckle and holly. The underlying chalk comes to the surface in
some locations, e.g. along the line of the disused railway, and
here calcareous plant communities are supported, including spindle,
dogwood and species of helleborine.
The cache location is just off a footpath comprising of gentle
terrain, but can get muddy - wear suitable shoes! May experience
some GPS difficulties in full summer foliage, although several
cachers have proved that the basic yellow eTrex can take you right
to the spot, winter or summer.
The path is straightforward, well marked and will lead you right to
the cache, and if you use your common sense you should find the
cache hide quickly. Standard Tupperware container.
Contents when activated back in 2001:
- mobile phone,
- log book,
- sweets,
- candles+matches,
- CD-ROM of funnies,
- 2002 IEE Diary,
- Pack of wet-wipes
Parking for 2/3 cars at: N51-48.615, W00-13.612 Entrance to woods
at: N51-48.630, W00-13.599
When weather fine, the woods make a good outing and on
completion there is a nice pub across from where you've parked your
car!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebbg nebhaq n ynetr bnx gerr juvpu vf bss gur cngu. Pbzzba frafr jvyy gnxr lbh fgenvtug gb vg.