The Sandbach Woodland and Wildlife Group has launched its latest free Nature Trail Guide around the Sandbach town area.

And the Trail itself, on paths partly built by enthusiastic and hard-working SWWG members, is ready for walking!

SWWG already makes available several local Nature Trail Guides, covering walks in Brook Wood and the Arclid Brook valley, Dingle Wood, and the Sandbach Park area.

All of these can all be downloaded free. All are available in two versions, either ready to print as a handy booklet, or in an easily readable mobile or tablet version.

Each Guide provides a commentary of what you are likely to see as you follow the trails by reference to numbered locations on the easy-to-follow maps.

The commentaries draw your attention to and describe the flora and fauna that you will encounter on the way, as well as landmarks that will remind you of our industrial heritage.

The guides mostly follow woodland beside Arclid Brook, which quietly threads its way all the way through the town from Sandbach Heath to Wheelock.

SWWG has also published its new walk, the Offley Wood and Filter Bed Wood Trail Guide, available free in the same way from https://swwgblog1.blogspot.com/p/trail-guides-free-download.html

The new guide's author, George Hill, said: "This new Trail Guide describes a walk that starts near the traffic lights and follows the Arclid Brook valley up the Sandbach Wildlife Corridor on the east side of Old Mill Road.

"It also gives names to several previously unnamed areas that are based on ancient field names. First, it explores the newly opened area of Hamletts Marsh, where many wild flowers of damp ground will start to appear soon close to the path partially completed by Persimmon.

"Then it follows a path and steps, newly created by SWWG, across Filter Bed Wood. This joins with the older SWWG path following Arclid Brook beside the bypass.

"The trail then turns onto the new Barratts path across Offley Wood. In former times, part of this Wood was known to older Sandbachians as 'Bluebell Dell'.

"There are views of the lower swampy part of Offley Wood where carpets of Marsh Marigolds will appear in spring.

"A brand-new boardwalk built by Barratts then leads across to a woodland edge walk. The walk is not a circular one, but a return route following public footways is identified.

"The path is not designed for wheelchairs but parts of it are surfaced. Illustrations include attractive wildlife photographs by Roger Foden or by George, who has also drawn the map for walkers. "

SWWG would like to thank its members and many others who have helped with this lovely project.

Fancy joining the group? SWWG chair Jonathan Granger and secretary Lance Thackray would love to hear from you either by contact through their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/666350534041143/?locale=en_GB or their blog https://swwgblog1.blogspot.com/p/contact.html