Mylander - Issue 83

11 Council Reports Myland Access Group It’s at times like these that I really appreciate where I live. Close enough to the town centre, with a history that is almost everywhere (if you look for it); five or ten minutes from some lovely walks, with rivers and streams; close enough to the railway station and yet not too far from Stansted for travelling a bit further afield. All in a town absolutely alive with music, theatre, restaurants and pubs. That was until this (partial) lockdown. I hadn’t given it much thought, but the currently most accessible of all these features, indeed the only one which I am able to avail myself of – are the many walks around and about the area. So these are a couple of my favourite daily “exercise” routes! Please remember to stick to the social distancing rules, and don’t go too far from home. I often enjoy going underneath the railway (via the tunnel on Footpath 26, near Tufnell Way), to Charter Wood and Cymbeline Meadows. Charter Wood was created thirty years ago to create a diversity of wildlife; be an area of rest and recreation for visitors and enhance the arrival in Colchester from the west. Whilst quite a small wooded area it has the River Colne running past it on the southern side and opens out on to the farmers fields of Cymbeline Meadows. This is a beautiful place for a stroll and also a good place to maintain your distance from other folks! From Cymbeline Meadows it is possible to extend your walk along the Colne Valley path to Ford Street, Chappel, White Colne, Halstead, and Sible Hedingham, or even as far as Gt Yeldham – (perhaps one for the future?), or toWest Bergholt via Bakers Lane and the footpath