A LEISURELY AUTUMN CRUISE WITH STOPS FOR ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES
With the dry summer we’ve had, the Autumn colours are a bit earlier than expected so this cruise has been brought forward by a week to 13th October.
Enjoy the canal in Autumn on our leisurely trip on John Pinkerton ll, which leaves at 10.30 from Colt Hill wharf going eastwards towards the Barley Mow, where we will pause for an art stop/lunch break, before returning to Colt Hill wharf around 14.45.
Our guest artist, Patricia, will give an art input, with plenty of ideas and suggestions in using a variety of media to interpret and capture the canal and the surrounding area. Patricia takes photographs on location and then works from them at home. She will have examples of her work on display and a free sheet of ideas for you to take home. Bring along your camera and art resources, to include 2/3 graphite pencils (B, 2B, 3B), A4 cartridge paper pad, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils, pens or water colours etc.
We suggest you may want to bring a packed lunch and our well-stocked galley will be open for the duration of the trip, serving hot and cold drinks and a selection of snacks.
The trip will take a little longer than a regular public trip as we are including additional stops for artistic review.
Cruise in the peaceful surroundings of the Basingstoke Canal
The canal is an SSSI, and not only serves as a local recreational amenity but is also a notable wildlife habitat.
The alkaline water from the chalk springs at Greywell and the acid water content eastward where the canal passes through heathland, has given rise to one of the largest varieties of aquatic plants and invertebrates in the United Kingdom.
As many as 25 of Britain’s 39 species of dragonflies and damselflies inhabit the canal.
You may get lucky and see a Kingfisher, it’s considered to be a lucky bird. You can also see herons swans, ducks, geese, moorhens (often with young) and various local floras.
