Twenty-two people enjoyed a lovely afternoon walk around some reserves and walkways in the Western Springs area. All but six of us met at the start of the walk, the entrance to Fowlds Park at Rocky Nook Ave.   After the usual introductions we walked through the park passing some sports fields and a children's playground.   We came out on to Malvern Rd then on to Western Springs Rd and crossed the motorway and into the Western Springs Lake reserve. The edge of Weston Springs Lake was a bird feeding paradise. There were ducks, swans, geese, and pukeko, and many of us brought along some breed to satisfy their tummies. We could see the trout and eels in the crystal clear water below the foot bridge. We saw a swan with her little children just after the foot bridge.   On we went through another children’s playground and across the zoo car park and Motions Road to the start of the Pasadena Walk. This was the walkway that almost completely circumnavigates the Pasadena Intermediate School and followed the upper reaches of the Meola Stream.

We came back out on to Motions Road over a bridge that gave us the choice of walking along a pipeline or along a footbridge beside it.

Our afternoon tea stop was near the children's playground beside the Western Springs Lake.  We could look out across the lake to MOTAT. We returned along the northern side of Western Springs Lake and had another quick stop beside the track that MOTAT’s trams run along. Fifty years ago these trams would have been running the main roads of Auckland, including Great North Road.

From there we went back across the motorway and along Western Springs Road, this time along the northern edge of Fowlds Park which had a stand of pines and other trees. We could get a couple of glimpses into the park and Mt Albert beyond.

We dropped down on a walkway into Fowlds Park and were back out at our cars by 4pm, having enjoyed a delightful and relaxing afternoon’s walk.