Rushall Manor Farm is the centre of the John Simonds' Trust, which hosts thousands of children each year learning about the countryside. It is close to Stanford Dingley, one of Berkshire’s most beautiful villages. The village church of St Denys has probably been in existence for over a thousand years: the font is
Norman and there are relics of the original Saxon church within the inner walls. The main structure is 12th century with a 15th century, white, wooden bell tower and a 18th century brick east end. The
Bull, one of two inns in the village, dates from the 15th century. Stanford derives from Saxon “stony ford”
of the River Pang, now crossed by a bridge in the village. The River Pang is an excellent example of a chalk stream. It is home to a diverse population of wildlife and plants, with its source in the high chalk down at East Ilsley. It can be dry at the head of the valley for lengthy periods, but below the Blue Pool near
Stanford Dingley, the river never fails.

Our walk starts from the Black Barn, Rushall Manor Farm, and crosses fields to the village of Stanford Dingley entering the village close to the church. The route is then downstream by the Pang, passing a small version of the Blue Pool where springs bubble up from the sandy bottom; the Blue Pool itself is no longer accessible. Rotten Row is reached and then there is a steep uphill road to reach a footpath into Stanford Wood. Later, there is a downhill section to a Bradfield College playing field; the College buildings and the tower of Bradfield church can be seen on the right. We take a pleasant stroll up the river and then alongside a wood. When the river is crossed again, a look upstream will reveal two channels, one of which may be dry, but the other is the flow from the Blue Pool. A gentle uphill walk leads us back to the Black Barn.