The sun came out after a couple of weeks of gloomy cloudy cover. I took the East Yorkshire bus 24 to the village of Skirlaugh and then walk eastwards towards Benningholme along the Lamwath stream. Skirlaugh sits on a rise, about 13 m OSL. The meandering course of the stream runs through the north side of the village, lined with trees and bushes, and forming a wider flat bottom course as it leaves the village. So far, the stream had followed its natural course, and due to the incline of the land and the depth of the bed of the stream it was not embanked, however, it has very steep banks, and looks heavily deepened (top shot). A couple of Rabbits groom and sun themselves on the edge of a field, whilst a Fieldfare calls from atop a bare ash.
At Benningholme, at about 4 m OSL, banks appear on the sides of the at times straightened stream course. It is here that the Lambwath leaves its well defined valley and as the pattern of drainage becomes less clear. The monks of Meaux, the Lords of the Manor of Sutton and the Nunnery of Swine contributed to the drainage of the area by cutting ditches and drains. As early as 1210-1220, a channel was cut from the Lambwath between Arnold and Benningholme to Meaux Abbey. This, so called the Monkdyke, was navigable and also fed a water mill, and directly communicated the Lambwath with the river Hull. This drainage appears to have led to the disappearance of Lambwath Mere upstream.
From then onwards I walk quickly on the busy road towards the village of Wawne. It's a relief to leave it and take a public right of way shortcut to the village. I'm getting hungry and this was the end of my walk, but instead of getting the bus here I walk to the river by Greens Lane and sit on the river bank to have my lunch in the sunshine.
A young nursery web spider basking