Wonderful Wildlife seen on our Walks

With so much countryside surrounding Guildford, it is not surprising that we often see cattle, horses and sheep on our Walkfest walks – just one of the reasons for keeping dogs on leads.  But we also come across so much more wildlife.  Whilst route checking one of our 2025 walks recently, it got me thinking about some of the things that we have seen in recent years.  So here goes….

Alpaca at Merrist Wood

One animal that would have been a rarity a decade ago is the alpaca.  These are now turning up quite frequently – either as a herd or mixed in with sheep.  Two such locations are Chilworth Manor and Merrist Wood.  Goats are not uncommon – at Wildcroft on the North Downs Way at Puttenham is what is stated to be the largest herd of critically endangered English Goats – and we have seen goats grazing elsewhere, for example on our Pirbright / Sheets Heath walk.

Rather more unusual are the Mangalitsa pigs – those photogenic “woolly” pigs which we found on a sponsored walk from the borough along the Greensand Way and past Gatestreet Farm.

Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Of course, with such varied countryside we are bound to come across lots of insect life.  All sorts of habitats have butterflies but a walk through the chalk grasslands will invariably give sighting of lots of these plus other flying insects.  To support them, there are a growing number of locations with “bug hotels”.  Two memorable ones are at the Rosamund Community Garden and the extremely large and well appointed one in Chilworth Vineyard.

Talking of insects naturally brings me to one of our most popular walks from last year (and scheduled for a repeat this year).  We were privileged to have a Bat Walk under the guidance of Surrey Bat Group.  For those of us who have often seen bats but never heard them on the wing and catching their prey, this was a fascinating experience.

RSPB Birdwatching Walk

The other obvious group of flying creatures are, of course, the birds.  We have hosted several bird watching walks but whenever we are out, walkers will invariably stop and listen (and look) when skylarks are heard overhead or when the local population of buzzards or kites starts to make its presence known.

I could go on, but I suspect that this gives a flavour of how varied our walks can be and that they are about far more than just getting from start to finish.  Why not join us on some of this year’s events.

Water Testing Walk 2024

PS:  Slightly tongue-in-cheek I ought also to mention the “drowned rats”.  Those intrepid walkers who have got soaked to the skin on a few walks – including our 2024 North Downs Way walk from Dorking to Guildford and our appropriately themed Water Testing walk organised by Carbon Zero.  Surprisingly few folk fail to turn up for walks even in inclement weather!