Rural Strides

Sharing the secrets of the Western Weald through walks. Pure escapism…. just one hour from London

09/11/2025

Today we remember 🕊️

02/11/2025

Seed To Sapling - this morning’s walk spent soaking up both sunshine & information about trees. Phil Hall, the manager of Hilliers tree nursery in Liss, shared with us the trails & tribulations of growing trees commercially. What a labour of love tree horticulture is! Given the complexity of the operation we certainly gained a new appreciation for the price of trees.🌳 Also proud to learn that Hilliers are the UK’s chosen supplier of disease resistant Elms - such an important British tree to be helping re-establish.

31/10/2025

A ghoulish find - Hope it was plastic! 😅
Happy Halloween
💀🎃

29/10/2025

How your views can change. I used to snigger at people that walked with umbrellas… now I’m one of them😅

28/10/2025

As a walk leader, my job of keeping people safe is made so much harder when there are dogs off the lead. Keeping dogs on leads not only protects nature & livestock but other walkers and the dogs themselves. These 4 handsome hounds recently walked 25 miles with me all on the lead, and were a joy to have along for the ride. Let’s all take the lead for responsible dog ownership 🦮

24/10/2025

John Evelyn wrote “𝒲𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑔𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇” in his 1662 book Sylva. His words reflected deep concern over widespread deforestation he witnessed in the Weald, much of it driven by the Wealden iron industry, whose furnaces consumed vast quantities of charcoal made from local woodland.

Evelyn was one of the earliest advocates of tree conservation in Britain. In the Fuel the Fire walk next week, we’ll explore how the trees of the Weald were used from the Norman Conquest through to the early 1700s, and how attitudes towards our woodlands and their management slowly began to change over this time.

See bio for walk details. This is the third of 3 walks about the Weald’s trees.

22/10/2025

Washed clean by rain, autumn shines bright 🍃🍁🍂

🍁

18/10/2025

𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿, 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝗯𝘀 & 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 🍂🍁🍺🧹🌰

We wandered through woodland, with stories to share,
Discovered the K**b, breathed the crisp autumn air.
Leaves danced around us - like snowflakes aflame - Orange & amber, no two quite the same.

We roasted sweet chestnuts, standing close to the fire,
Learning of broomsticks from the wise old broomsquire.
Then raising our glasses to friendship & cheer,
We toasted to autumn - and Langham’s fine beer.

Not sure autumn walks come more perfect than this……we had the best of everything! ☺️

15/10/2025

Why settle for a flask when the route (and the company) calls for china?!😅

12/10/2025

Trees are not only things of beauty but keepers of history. Each civilization since Mesolithic times using trees for different purposes & managing them in different ways. The Western Weald, rich in woodland, is the perfect place to explore this heritage 🌳

Rooted in History - Weds 15 Oct

08/10/2025

Step into a Sussex story this October for a fun walk from in search of the mysterious local K**b! Inspired by the classic Bedknobs & Broomsticks (filmed here in Sussex) this autumn outing blends local craft, countryside colours and the finest ales.

We’ll gather sweet chestnuts to toast over the braziers, and from midday broomsquire Chris Letchford will be demonstrating traditional besom broom-making. These are the perfect Halloween costume accompaniment 🎃 or tool for sweeping up autumn leaves 🍂 🍁

Even if you are not walking, drop by for the brooms, beer and a taste of Sussex autumn magic!

For info see link in bio

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Petersfield

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http://www.ruralstrides.co.uk/

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