Maldon u3a community group have enjoyed a busy start to the Summer months, as members explore new ideas and skills through the range of interest groups available.

The Strollers

The Strollers group enjoyed a walk in Terling in May. 

It happened to coincide with Terling's Open Gardens so we were somewhat concerned that it would be manic. However, as we ventured out before the Open Gardens start time, we were ok and we also arrived back at the pub before the crowds. 

We were lucky with the weather after all the inclement conditions prior to the walk. We were concerned that some areas would still be very muddy but fortunately most of the mud had dried up quite considerably. 

Our circular walk took us across the countryside and partly alongside the river Ter. One of the fields we walked across was covered in purple along with, and more of interest, a blaze of red. With the help of our phones, we discovered that this was Crimson Clover which none of us had ever seen before. 

Towards the end of our walk we passed Terling windmill, a grade II listed Smock Mill which has been converted to residential use. It was here that a kindly resident, who was a Chippendale lookalike, took our group photo.

Who knows what surprises there may be on our next walk - come and join us. To finish off a very pleasant morning we had a lovely lunch at the Rayleigh Arms pub.

The Garden Group

On May 14th, the Garden Group enjoyed a visit to Furzelea in Danbury. It was a morning rather like the curate's egg—good in parts, but it didn't detract from the beautiful array of late Spring flowers, shrubs and manicured lawns.

(Photo: Brigitte Whiteing)

 A relatively small garden its winding paths and lawns create the illusion of something a great deal larger. 

Our host, Avril Cole-Jones provided information about the renovations of the house and the formation of the garden, and we noticed several unusual small metal sculptures placed around the garden, which turned out to be one of her husband's hobbies.

 Another is cake making, and we were able to sample some of his excellent bakes along with our tea at the end of a very enjoyable visit. 

Our garden visits in June and July are now fully booked. We will have a visit in September to 59 East Street in Coggeshall. 

Details for this will be advised in later editions. Our thanks, again, to Brigitte Whiteing for her excellent photographs.

The Bird Watching Group

Flaming June roared in with an Easterly wind which made it feel more like Autumn than the first day of meteorological summer as 12 hardy members set out to explore Minsmere. 

The groups perseverance was rewarded with a myriad of sightings most of which were what we all expected to see but in amongst the 100s of Avocet, many of which were sitting on eggs, flocks of Shelduck, some pairs with flotillas of ducklings, there were Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis), one of what is known as the three black geese The sighting was a first at Minsmere for many of the group.

 At this time of the year the great attraction at Minsmere are the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) with its mottled buff plumage streaked and barred with dark brown and black. 

Their famous boom is described as a cross between a lowing cow and a distant foghorn. The birds are confined to the reedbeds of the reserve and are very secretive although most of the group were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a Bittern in flight. 

Whilst waiting for the Bittern to make an appearance the smallest of the Raptors, a Hobby (Falco subbuteo), with its slate grey back, white breast and underparts streaked with black, a black moustache and red thighs obligingly decided to sit in an adjacent tree affording the group a closeup of this beautiful bird.

The Petanque Group

The group meets Thursday afternoons, start time 2.00 p.m. until around 4.00 p.m. We play on the Petanque pitch opposite the Marine Lake at the Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon CM9 5JQ. 

No charge is made to play but you must be a member of Maldon & District u3a or one of the Maldon u3a cluster groups. 

New players are always welcome to come and give it a try, so why not come along and have a go.

Sent in by Maldon u3a Publicity Representative, Irina Vahonina.