Wednesday 27th July 2022- BALCOMBE CIRCULAR VIA ARDINGLEY RESERVOIR AND WAKEHURST PLACE (KEW GARDENS IN SUSSEX) - 9 miles - Leader: Sue E

At a moderate pace with some shortish steep ups via woodlands, Ardingley Reservoir and Church for the lunch stop at Wakehurst Place. Garden entrance free to NT and Kew members or £7.50 with proof of rail ticket. There should be buses to Haywards Heath station should anyone want to stay longer than the lunch hour but check.

Lunch: Picnic/cafes at Wakehurst. Entrance fee not required for a very limited cafe.

· Ardingly reservoir: yachting practice

· View above the reservoir – the clear-eyed might just spot the viaduct

· Advertised nature reserve resident

· Ardingly church and the Culpepper brasses: two heiress sisters allegedly forced to wed gold-digger abductor brothers. Elizabeth had 18 children

· Through nettles brambles and giant grasses

· Wakehurst Place (1) pond

· Wakehurst Place (2): flora defying the drought

· Feeling the redwood

- Enjoying Wakehurst Gardens

· Catching our breath after one of the steep inclines

· Final descent past the lake into Balcombe

 Photos: Ruth, Sue E