On a Saturday afternoon in May a group of about 40 people of all ages met at Denhead, Kennoway, to explore this dramatic area of woodland and bleachfield on the banks of the river - a joint SWT outing with the Pitcairn Society and Kennoway Den Action Group. We were welcomed by Alison Irvine, and by Councillor Brian Thacker who told us all about the den's connections with the18th century linen industry, how Napoleonic prisoners of war were held in the square cave high on the sheer sandstone cliff, and the ancient right of way across the packhorse bridge dated 1704, not to mention his own exploits there as a local lad.
If you haven't been here before, it's a magical place to visit at any time of year, but particularly in May when the trees are coming into leaf, and Fife Ranger/Woodland Faun Tony Wilson is leading the way. Drifts of wood anemones were still at their peak, also wild garlic, Jack by the hedge, violets, herb bennet and water avens. We heard how horsetail makes good brillo pads, bishopweed was introduced by the Romans as a vegetable, meadowsweet pre-dated aspirin, and how to make pan-pipes from elder and flying arrows from rushes.
Meanwhile the birds sang, including grey wagtail, chiffchaff, blackcap and wren, the rain stayed away, and Pied Piper Gordon Corbet was busy brushing the bushes with his net, closely followed by a retinue of keen bughunters, while Sue Armstrong was picking up stray beer cans in the undergrowth. So park at the Burns Tavern or along Denhead Road and plunge in.