Time: Approx 2 1/2 hours at a reasonable pace
Ascent: +-145m
We started this walk at Forestside. There is room to park near the telephone box.
The display of spring wild flowers was stunning.
1. We'd been to the Forest of Bere the previous week especially to see the bluebells. By chance the northern edge of Stansted Forest was even more spectacular and much quieter.
2. Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea amongst the bluebells. Apparently the green shoots can be chopped into salads, steamed or quickly boiled and you can eat the flower buds and flowers. Maybe when I'm a bit more confident that I can identify it properly.
3. The view as we started to drop down into West Marden
4. Cowslip, Primula varis.
5. If you're going to be the black sheep of the family this is how you should look.
6. These flowers were growing amongst the nettles. In fact, at first we thought they were nettles, except the flowers are yellow. They are Yellow Archangel, Lamium galeobdolon.
7. Lesser Periwinkle, Vinca minor.
8. The Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula. I always thought orchids were rare in the UK but this is fairly widespread.
9. This is an amazingly large area of wild garlic. Quite stunning.
