Our usual new year/January walk along the River Chelmer, starting from Springfield’s excellent Tulip – where we are always made to feel welcome – through part of Chelmsford’s urban expanse before descending to the relative peace and quiet of the Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve.

Soon after entering the reserve we edge into the Anglia Ruskin University campus before walking past allotments and back to the Reserve. Thence to the open hearth and warmth of the Tulip.

It was the original intention to undertake a part rural and part urban walk for February unfortunately Storm Dennis had other views; thus following a further reconnaissance and risk assessment the day before the walk was cancelled due to an excess of water!!

Our March walk was in reasonable sunshine, much to our delight given recent days. We were undertaking a 4¾ mile walk around the ancient village of Felsted (mentioned in the Domesday Book). Much the village these days lies in close proximity to the public school of the same name.

Our walk started from 16th century centre of the village and around some of the school sports field before joining a bridleway which doubled back across the Chelmsford road and led down to Felsted water mill, now a private residence. Our route followed the River Chelmer and then we turned to walk around fields to join a section of the Flitch Way. From here to returned back around farmland to return through the main Felsted School grounds, past its chapel erected in the mid-1800s when the school population outgrew the parish church, to return to the village centre.

These strange old times that we live in have curtailed all our actions. However in June we were able to get out. Our numbers were limited, according to the appropriate Government guidelines and we maintained our social distancing - this did mean that conversation tended to take place at a higher volume than was usual!!

As we were limited for destination we took a walk around the fields of our home village. We started on the suburban edge of Chelmsford and very soon passed through a new housing estate to the remaining fields surrounding the village. Our walk took in the Norman Church, two of the village's older houses - Priors, originally Tudor half timbered and Scravels, a walk through the woods alongside the large district general hospital and then back out into farmland and along field paths/edges before returning (reluctantly) through yet another housing estate to our starting point.

A good walk, to renew activity, but all agreed we missed the socialising around a pint!!