Whitminster Walkabout

We walked along to treat ourselves to a lunchtime snack at the Stables Bar by Sandfield Bridge. Sitting upstairs out on the balcony there is a good view all around, also we could see the boats moving between the two bridges. Afterwards we wandered along past the new Saul Marina on the arm of the Stroudwater Canal and up to Walk Bridge. This bridge will have to be raised as part of the Cotswold Canals restoration programme to allow boats to cruise along to Stroud via Stonehouse.Turning left along the road towards Whitminster, then right through a field I found Whitminster Lock and gates were still in position, in fairly good order and also in water.Peering through a gap in the hedge the weir at Whitminster had a lot of water thundering over it.On my way back I spotted these in the areas where the grass had been left uncut.  A Banded Demoiselle having a rest. A Peacock Butterfly feeding on a Teasel flower. A tiny Common Blue Butterfly, I think. This is the nearest I could get to Whitminster Church as it stands in the grounds of Whitminster House which are private. There are many lovely ancient trees here including Chestnut and Walnut.