Snipe Dales
Peace and Tranquility in the Heart of Lincolnshire
Snipe Dales is my new favourite place. I have just returned from three hours of walking across the beautiful Nature Reserve and Country Park with the added joy of not seeing another human being for the entire duration.
Situated on the A158 between Horncastle and Skegness it is split into two parts; the Nature Reserve and the Country Park. The Nature Reserve opens out into a grassland full of wild flowers, grasses and scrub dotted with trees and small streams. Walking across it brought back memories of living in Cumbria and the feeling of finding somewhere special off the beaten track.
Climbing slightly higher up into Country Park alongside huge trees of pine, beech and oak I crossed the line of the Greenwich Meridien before coming back around to a marsh area called Central Flushes. The whole area is full of wildlife, I would love to be able to catch sight of a snipe but settled instead for sightings of jays, a kestrel and the obligatory wood pigeons.
This is a place to visit at any time of the year but I am glad to have found it now as autumn approaches and the landscape changes to its glorious golden hue.
Walking back to the car I came across large open fields and at the edge of one a sign commemorating the Battle of Winceby which was fought during the English Civil War of 1643. I couldn’t help but wonder how many lives must have been lost and how lucky I was to be able to visit this beautiful place in much happier times.
Miles,
Never heard of this place. Thank you for telling us about it. What a great area. I feel a walk coming on. Perhaps we will meet there one day. I shall look out for a fine young man with a large camera.
September 15, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Elsie,
You’re right about the camera if nothing else!
Miles
September 15, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Miles,
Next time you should include Elsie and I … chaperoned, I reckon you’d be safe! Only you must tell me in advance Miles, I don’t want to be seen in my usual gear which is a boiler suit and some attractive twigs through the hair. Something also tells me you might lope … loping probably runs in the family … either way I can’t speak for Elsie but Snipe Dales can seem more like Mt Everest for some of us. Of course it might be a drag for you, after all you probably like the devine isolation once in a while.
As a point of interest, I ought to tell you Snipe Dales is famous as a bat haven and they say, on a good day, you can spot the odd witch out and about
Cid
September 15, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Cid,
Now there’s an offer! From ball gowns to boiler suits in one day, that’s a lot for anyone to take in!
Interesting about the bats, I have been told that barn owls frequent the reserve but I want to see (and cook and eat) a snipe. Look out for a fine young man with a large gun!
Miles
September 15, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Miles,
Haven’t knowingly seen a Snipe so will do some homework. On second thoughts perhaps we should leave you to your shooting - since my fishing days I haven’t changed much, the Snipes will instinctively know this and hide!
Besides, in my new shoes there isn’t a hope in hell that I could a) go unnoticed by the wildlife and b) make it beyond 15 yards without a rope and a skateboard
Cid
p.s. the women round here are partial to Ray Mears so that gun of yours might be necessary to ward off unwanted attention…
September 15, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Cid,
No need for a gun, I cannot possibly compete with Mr. Mears, I haven’t got the will (or the shoes) to try.
Good luck to him, that’s what I say.
Yours, in devine isolation,
Miles
September 15, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
Miles,
Ray, it is said, will travel the world’s far flung places with extreme climates and rugged terrain, yet lives in mortal fear of Snipe Dales
Now then back to business … the Snipe. Did some research and found out that he is a ’skulking wader’, long beak, mottled plumage. I shall keep watch and let you know if I see one skulking around.
Cid
September 16, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Miles
I to have never heard of this place - looks like I’m heading for it though !
Re the battle, about 300 Royalists were killed by the Parliamentarians. Most of the plot centres around Horncastle and Bolingbroke.
If only Lincolnshire had won !
September 16, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Cid,
If it’s a test of mental spirits then driving in Lincoln on a Friday has to be up there with Ray’s finest moments. The Branston to Fitness First gym on Tritton Road is akin to rush hour in Bangkok except nobody is rushing anywhere.
Let me know how you get on looking for the illustrious snipe!
Miles
September 16, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Rod,
Thanks for the extra info, Old Bolinbroke brings back memories-not as far back as that though!
Miles
September 16, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Arthur Chappell has kindly taken the time to inform me that the Battle of Winceby claimed 300 Loyalist lives, mostly by drowning in the gravel pits whilst trying to escape. In contrast, Parliament lost no fewer than 10 lives.
Thanks for the information Arthur, much appreciated.
Miles
September 16, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Miles & cid,
We will take some of this Schnaps with us to propel us through the Dale. Miles, you will be in good company with two old bats!
September 18, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Elsie,
I am sure neither Cid or yourself are old!!!
Miles
September 18, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Elsie,
I shall look forward to our schnaps fuelled meander around the Dales … Miles can carry the picnic hamper and the marquee (just so he knows what stylish women he’s dealing with)! Don’t tell him but our role will be to create enough of a distraction to save the poor little snipes.
Plan A … I’m off to bag a pigeon and tell him it’s an aged grey feathered snipe, (doubt he’ll notice the difference) or we’ll never hear the last of it
Cid
September 18, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
Cid,
Anyone who can shoot a rocket driven snipe deserves to eat it! Not so sure about the Oxford set invading my peace and quiet at Snipe Dales, please tell me you’re not going to wear Adidas tracksuits!
Miles
September 18, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Miles,
Addidas tracksuits indeed! I shall be wearing my ‘out of Africa’ ensemble and carrying a snipe decoy under one arm and a Lincolnshire outback survival kit under the other (can of mozzy spray and some plumb bread). Don’t worry though, we’ll be easy to spot because we never leave home without our stripy deckchairs. Oh and by the way, thinking of you we’ve bought a mobile snipe hide … looks like a luxury marquee but it’s definitely a snipe hide
Cid
September 19, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Cid,
Oh God!
Miles
September 19, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
cid,
What larks - I can’t wait! I shall be in kaki gear to avoid being spotted by the Snipes. We shall fool them into false security.
September 21, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Elsie,
That’s sorted then … you’re in the khaki, I’m in the sombrero and suede poncho (for reasons too complicated to go into here, suffice to say it follows my new rock chick image but more importantly seems like excellent snipe spotting gear!) and Miles is the fine young man with a gun.
The jury is out on the mozzy spray and plumb bread but I’ll pack both plus my Ray Mears guide to whittling a basting brush from an old tree trunk because you never know if Miles is going to spring that one on us!
My hopes are not high with regard to said snipe so I might pop to Tesco to see if they’ve got one ready plucked just in case. Will there be enough meat on this bird for three of us? Miles strikes me and the sort of bloke who eats a couple of snipes on toast for breakfast
Have a good weekend Elsie.
Cid
September 21, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Cid,
Re Tesco-The snipes are on the fourth aisle, next to the Bernard Matthews ‘2 for 1′ on turkey sizzlers.
Miles (knackered after a 12 hour shift and a workout with Mr. Great Britain)
September 21, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
How interesting! A snipe hunt. As teenagers (a coon’s age ago), we often went on youth group retreats with our church. One of our favorite pasttimes consisted of taking the uninitiated out on on late night snipe hunts. The goal was to convince the person that snipes were terribly illusive creatures that only came out at night. We, of course, “knew” there was no real snipe; it was mythical. Out we would go, armed with burlap bag, flashlights (torches, to you), and the “stupid” newcomer in tow. We would position this unsuspecting fool in a “likely spot for the fleeing snipe to emerge.” and we would then leave to flush the creature out of its hiding place, and into the waiting burlap bag. Of course, we then proceded to return to our cabin, where we would wait for the youngster to return, or sometimes we would high-tail it into the woods, and would make creepy noises designed to make the bag-man wet his or her pants with fear. The next year, we again had a fresh supply of innocents to taunt, and the whole snipe hunt season would begin anew. Never, ever did we think there were real snipes.
January 13, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Annie,
Funny you should say that…. Miles believes in them (and the tooth fairy!) and Elsie and I had offered to take him out on a hunt…. he’s still there under the camouflage bless him
Cid
January 13, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
Annie,
Sounds like the sort of thing my brother would have done to me in our younger days!
Miles
January 13, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Cid,
You’ve shattered my dreams! I had the recipe sorted and everything!
Miles
January 13, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
Miles,
I cooked free range guinea fowl today and have already made the stock… not only that but I’ve made a pate from free range chicken livers which turned out to be a winner…. anyone want that recipe? Now I’m looking forward to a huge bubble bath and an extra tall Collins, having exhausted all my creativity for one day
Cid
January 13, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
Cid,
Good for you on the guinea fowl front (try saying that after a Collins or two) and particularly with the stock which offers many possibilities.
I am sure the pate recipe would be as warmly received as it would be eaten by a certain someone on a certain tuesday!
Miles
January 13, 2008 @ 10:59 pm
Here’s goes Free Range Chicken Liver Pate…
1 tablespoon ex.v. olive oil
1 or 2 shallots sliced
1 pack free range chicken livers (mine came from Waitrose chill counter)
4 tablespoons dry sherry
3 tablespoons creme fraiche
1 garlic clove, crushed
pinch salt and pepper
In a frying pan add oil, liver, garlic and shallots, fry on medium to low heat for about 5mins. Add sherry and continue to cook until liquid has reduced by half. Add salt and pepper and creme fraiche and then tip into a blender and blend until smooth. Cool in a bowl and refridgerate. I imagine this should be eaten fairly quickly but I am going to attempt to freeze some. For those who don’t like the high fat content in most pate, this could be the answer. This free range liver was inexpensive and tasted really good… I tried some before blending. For those who wish, a little chilli can be added while the liver cooks.
Cid
January 14, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
Cid,
Thanks for that, it sounds great and a bit more practical than my gut busting butter, wallet blowing port, brandy and red wine recipe!
thanks again,
Miles
January 15, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Dear Miles and CId,
Aaah, the snipe hunt was literally the beginning of a lifetime of practical jokes that led me to do such things as place a cow in a colleague’s classroom, hide all of the student desks in another colleague’s room, put a school up for sale, toilet paper my principal’s house, and to create an April Fools’ Day issue of the school newspaper for which I served as advisor. I was holy hell on wheels back in the day. Care to share any of your exploits?
January 15, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
Annie,
My natural English reserve would prevent any such antics…. or perhaps it’s just the weather as only yesterday I contemplated ‘papering’ Miles new polytunnel…. the resultant papier mache might have been just what he needed as a winter mulch
I look forward to hearing more about your exploits Annie.
Cid
January 15, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Annie,
I’m glad you live in California otherwise I’d be watching my back every day!
To think you went on to be a pillar of the community
Great stuff!
Miles
January 15, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
Cid,
It will be a while before the tunnel goes back up, a small matter of the weather, you understand.
Taking one apart is a sight easier than putting one up!
Miles
January 15, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
Oh Cid,
I wish I could tell you more, but then I might have to do away with you. My life as a super spy would curl your toes!!!
There was the time as a teenager when we put a lot of aspirin in our friend’s swimming pool because we heard that if someone pee’d in it, it would turn purple. Another urban myth shot down!
January 18, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
Miles,
I am afraid I haven’t been so much the pillar, as the millstone on the neck of the community. There is a reason that many of my students thought I had been a wild-child. truth be told, I was a bit of a prude. I just tried to play it off and seem more with it. Perhaps I over compensated.
January 18, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Annie,
It sounds like it!
Miles
January 19, 2008 @ 8:41 am