U2 are not up there amongst my favourite groups, but I do like their song Beautiful Day, Bono sings of the damage we do to the world.

I was reflecting on this during a walk this afternoon, along the old Strawberry Line from Dulcote to Wells. You part walk alongside the old line and then rise up onto the embankment and follow the line for around a mile to the edge of the City of Wells.

Credit where credit is due, it was Jun’s idea and I readily acquiesced to it. There were other things I should be doing, but with the sun shining and clear skies it was the right thing to be doing, some exercise and a different take on our local Somerset countryside.

Close to our starting point, there is an old cattle pound from the 1860s being restored by enthusiasts. They have obviously planted tress and tidied the route. Volunteers are the hidden treasure of our country.  As we walked we saw butterflies – peacocks and brimstones fluttering their jaunty flight close to the tree line and hedgerows. Under a bridge there is some magnificent artwork, a sculpture of three figures chasing one another as dolphins would when playing in the ocean. Birds were singing, cyclists and other walkers were engaging all enjoying the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the day and location.

As we made our way back to our start point we meandered off the old track and enjoyed bluebell filled woods and different vistas. Close to the end there was a notice from the volunteer group asking for support. They wish to open up an old bridge and cutting, to enable people to have about a hundred metres of walk in the nearby town of Shepton Mallet. It was turned down by the Council, but they are seeking public support to get it available for walkers and cyclists. I know that it is one of the last bat roosts around Shepton with all the development that has taken place.

So as Bono sings “it’s a beautiful day”