Out Of The Woods

LETJOG E2W – Day 5: Thursday 18 April – THETFORD to LAKENHEATH (16.9 miles)

I mentioned yesterday the changes in the landscape as I reached the edge of Breckland (or ‘The Brecks’ as I am informed the area is known locally), several miles before I reached Thetford. Well today I completed my traverse of this distinct area of sandy heathland and conifers, with barely another soul for company all day. The sand and gravels that make up the soil are the result of deposits washed southward during the Ice Age from the melting glaciers to the north: along with the dry climate here, these conditions make the land generally unsuitable for farming. The area was inhabited in prehistoric times, when flint was mined at Grimes Graves near Thetford, and much of the natural vegetation was cleared at that time. In more recent centuries commercially farmed non-native conifers have been planted over much of the area – but some clearings remain as important and protected wildlife habitats for endangered and uncommon species, such as nightjars, woodlarks and stone curlews, as well as many rare bats, moths and specialist plantlife.

My walk itself, aside from the pavemented town sections, was entirely off-road today, on flat and easy tracks, making for a walk that was comfortable on the joints, and suited to fast progress. With no lanes, and very few other folk around, I was hoping for another show of wildlife to match that of yesterday, but in this regard the day did not quite live up to the level of its predecessor. I did see plenty more deer though, including the white rumps of fleeing roe deer, along with many squirrels and rabbits, much evidence of badgers and moles, and more of the game birds of yesterday. Woodpeckers once again, and my first cuckoo of the season, joined the caws of many crows, an occasional skylark trill, and a songbird chorus from the hedgerows, in an avian soundtrack to the day. The information board near the river at Two Mile Bottom advises of the presence of many bat boxes that support populations of five species of native bat, although these refuges are sited, presumably, well away from the walking paths. Here is my photo record of the day.

With the weather fine, and with good paths over the flat terrain and easy navigation, I made swift progress today. Having all of these things in my favour I decided to ‘over-walk’ my original destination of Brandon, where I had accommodation booked, to reach Lakenheath and so reduce my next day’s mileage. Planning a route a few days in advance is always a challenge, and although I suspected a straightforward ramble today, I could not find a suitable place to stop over in Lakenheath. Never mind – I have a comfortable room here in Brandon tonight.

My Blog heading today ‘Out Of The Woods’ is taken from the 2014 synth-pop song of that title by US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The number was released as a promotional single for Swift’s fifth studio album entitled ‘1989’ that has been praised for its ‘1980s-influenced production’ and for the ‘emotional engagement’ of the lyrics. As with most of her work the album was commercially successful, and I am told that Swift has now become the most-streamed artist on Spotify, and one of the best-selling acts of all time.