Drive & Stroll, with RON FREETHY

FOLLOWING my description of what is left of Feniscowles Hall, I had a letter from 77-year-old Greta Finnigan, of Bombay Street, Blackburn.

Greta told me of her childhood when she enjoyed visits to Feniscowles Hall, which then had pleasure gardens with swings and see-saws.

She played on these while her grandma went to bring a jug of tea, bottles of pop and, if they could afford it, some packets of crisps.

Children walked more in those days and started off from home. Greta pointed out that strolling is now out of fashion.

She remembered walking "the yellow hills, alum scar, Butler's Delph, Pleasington and Hoghton Bottoms." They seldom left home without a supply of Spanish water, some cocoa and sugar in a paper bag and, on days of affluence, crisps or sandwiches.

Greta also remembers that the River Darwen did smell and there were lots of pollutants and sewage floating in it.

People did not worry too much about this in those days. Now that the river is clean enough to support fish, people do not walk along the banks as much as they used to.

This set me thinking. Most of us do not think that we have had a day out unless we have driven for miles.

This means that the modern generation knows about lounging in the Lakes, strolling in Spain, dallying in the Dales but very little about our local footpaths. Over the next few weeks I am going to try to redress the balance.

I LOVE walking along canal towpaths and the route taken by the Leeds and Liverpool through Blackburn is a history lesson.

I always cast my mind back to the 1820s, before the coming of the railways, when the canal was at the hub of the commercial activities.

These days the whole length of the waterway is open and British Waterways is doing a splendid job in maintaining locks, banks and buildings in good order.

On a cold, bright winter's morning I examined locks, a lock keeper's cottage and a set of warehouses now used by the local Groundwork Trust as workshops, offices and meeting rooms.

Groundwork has gone from strength to strength in recent years and have helped to ensure that our environment is maintained and has achieved a high profile.

The canal towpath cutting through the centre of Blackburn is the place to see old mills which were constructed close to the inland waterway, thus cutting the transport costs. These days there is an added bonus because the canal is a linear nature reserve and brings the wildlife of the countryside into the heart of the town. There are plenty of fish and other animals and plants in the canal, which supports bird such as wagtails, moorhen, mute swan, mallard, tufted duck and even the occasional kingfisher.

This walk and Greta Finnigan's letter prove to me that I should explore our local towns more carefully. Lancashire towns and villages have always been surrounded by exciting footpaths. There is lots of hidden history to be enjoyed by those who take the trouble to walk locally.