At the end of May we spent a week at Thorney Lakes near Mulchenley in Somerset in our camper van. We wanted to see how Tilly would cope in the van and also we wanted to have a break. Tilly was fine and I’m sure it gave her a little more confidence in herself and us although she is not a great traveller, but the journey only takes just over an hour so it was just right.

We enjoy visiting the Thorney Lakes for the campsite, quiet in school term time, also the walks around the lakes and the woodland and pond adjoining Thorney Lakes owned by the local potter John Leach. It’s nice that people are allowed access to his land and are welcome to walk in the woods which of course I did. Thorney Lakes is more managed with the paths mown for fisherman and the lakes kept for the large Carp that inhabit them. But John Leach’s land although cared for has a more wild feel. 

Tilly and I enjoyed early morning walks around the lakes and also in the evening we walked down with Rod just before sunset and enjoyed the wildlife that the water attracted. There were the family of Canada Geese and  ducks, we saw a Kingfisher and there were at least two Greater Spotted Woodpecker nests in use. The resident Heron that always patrols the lake was there morning and evening and of course all the other birds including Nightingales. The flowers were also beautiful. Honeysuckle and Dog Roses rambling over the bushes and the Yellow flag Iris were at their best around the lakes.

The water also attracts lots of insects including Damsel flies and Dragonflies.

The Guinea fowl are guardians of the lakes always making a din when we arrive.

On the final morning of our trip I walked along the side of the River Parrett from Thorney to Midelney pumping station built in the 1960’s and helps to reduce the the flood risk, although in the winter of 2013/14 this area was one of the worst affected for flooding, the rainfall was just too much for the stations to cope with. The Levels with the farming and wildlife appear to have bounced back and hopefully there are measures in place to stop it happening again. It was really lovely week and our days were spent at RSPB Ham Wall, more on that in my Photo Blog shortly.