Canadian visitors who are looking for something off the beaten track can travel to the River Wye to find a surprising slice of Canadian history.

In a quiet, sleepy churchyard in the village of Whitchurch near Symonds Yat West, there is an unexpected reference to one of Canada’s early founders. John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Canada — not to mention founder of Toronto — is commemorated on a plaque near the family mausoleum of his beloved wife, Elizabeth Gwillim. Elizabeth came from a prominent local land-owning family. They occupied a grand house, Old Court, now a hotel. They were great supporters of St. Dubricius Church.

There is a second, familial Canadian connection here: Elizabeth’s father, Lieutenant Thomas Gwillim, served under General Wolfe at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham! Tragically he died before his daughter was born, so he was never to know that she would occupy a prominent position in the new British colony of Upper Canada!

Photo by David Slater

Any fan of BBC Springwatch will remember their programme about the reclusive Forest of Dean wild boar. It was rare to spot them, but they left tell-tale signs of activity — grass verges on the roadside all dug up, not to mention gardens! They are now becoming somewhat more tame. It is not unusual to see a large sow picnicking near the road with her little piglets. If you experience gridlock on a road now, don’t assume there has been an accident. Drivers are known to stop, whip out their mobile phones and start taking photos! Sometimes the boar families are bold enough to stride across the road and hold up the traffic. And why not? Two words of caution if you run into them while out walking: 1) DO NOT feed them; 2) keep your dog under strict control. They are rarely bothered by humans, but dogs spook them!

Tags: wild boar