Location: The Warren, Folkestone

Date: 28th September 2023

Blog Written by: Gini (Disabled Walk Leader/Founder)

It was an autumnal harvest walk at The Warren this morning. We enjoyed foraging edibles and admiring the change of season which brings berries, fruit and seeds. The colour palette at this time of year covers reds, oranges and yellows.

Our foraged breakfast consisted of blackberries, hawthorns, rosehip and apples. We also spotted crab apple and a wild strawberry. We know which berries to avoid, as they can be poisonous. So we always advise never to eat berries unless you're 100% sure of what they are.

As it was high tide, we had alerted our group of the dangers of getting too close to the edge of the sea wall today... but mainly to protect them from getting wet from unexpected over-topping waves.

We spent some time at the water's edge admiring a firework display of waves. We echoed sounds of gasps, wows, oohs and ahhs. It was therapeutic to listen to the bangs and crashes of the waves too.

We observed the mining bees all along the cliff edge, and tried to rescue one poor bee who had a deformed wing and was being attacked by other bees (probably not its hive). So, we offered some bee rescue syrup, which she lapped up and placed her near flowers, after trying to plan to take her home to look after, but in the end we had to let nature take its course.

The bees were also feasting on the late blossoms of the Ivy. Nature provides a seasonal supply to feed insects before the winter hibernation. We also stopped to chat to a pleasant resident Buddhist with lots of great tales to tell and love to share. 

Afterwards we made a trip to Little Switzerland for lunch, as it closes on 10th October. So was a last chance for the year.

📸 Image credits: Laura