Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 07

Take your time on the Kennet & Avon Canal

“Among more than 400 plants you’ll find bee orchids, pyramidal orchids and even monkey orchids, which are extremely rare in the UK.” Jones’s Mill Boardwalks traverse this enchanting fen in Pewsey, flooded through by the Salisbury Avon. Once farmed for watercress, it’s now a haven for animals who like getting wet such as water voles and occasionally water shrews. It’s also a prime place to spot blue-green kingfishers swooping low over the water to find fish to feed on. You’re also likely to see heron, with their long legs and beaks. For the most colourful displays of flora and fauna, visit in spring and summer – see if you can identify water avens, sometimes referred to as chocolate root. Their purply-orange, nodding flowers attract a flurry of dragonflies, bumble bees and butterflies. Hartslock Reserve As well as terrific River Thames views, the chalk grasslands of this reserve near Reading are fertile ground for a diverse collection of wild orchids. Among more than 400 plants you’ll find bee orchids, pyramidal orchids and even monkey orchids, which are extremely rare in the UK. Seen on a summer’s day, with chalkhill blue and green hairstreak butterflies fluttering among them, it’s hard to imagine a prettier site. Other highlights: watch magnificent red kites overhead and visit in July to see meadows full of marjoram. Richmond Park If you’re visiting Kew Gardens, don’t miss nearby Richmond Park. It’s the largest of the eight Royal Parks, a National Nature Reserve and one of London’s most scenic spots. It’s most famous for its hundreds of red and fallow deer that roam the parkland, but it has plenty more to recommend it. Ancient oak trees, for one – some thought to date back to the time of the Magna Carta. Precious species of bats, birds and beetles are also found here, including the endangered stag beetle. Stop at the park’s highest point, Pembroke Lodge, for Thames Valley views and a delicious cream tea. Winterbourne Downs A little south of the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong>, near Salisbury, you’ll find Winterbourne Downs, an RSPB site that seasoned birders as well as beginners will love. Linnets, corn buntings, yellowhammers and stone curlews are frequently spotted here. If you visit early on a spring morning you might hear the mesmerising dawn chorus of the skylarks. In summer, take a picnic and feast on views of wildflower meadows and gently rolling Wiltshire hills. Winter meanwhile is a fine time for some serious bird watching, as fluffed-up feathers are more visible on bare branches, plus buzzards, red kites and possibly peregrine falcons often fly into view. Folly Farm Just south of the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong>, in between Bristol and Bath, lies Avon Valley Wildlife Trust’s 250-acre reserve. It’s an ideal spot for a nature walk, with timeless Somerset views of the Mendips, Chew Valley Lake and traditionally-managed meadows. Its wooded paths also make it a great place to watch the leaves turn auburn and gold in the autumn (and there might be some plump blackberries ready for picking on the brambles too). There’s also an access-for-all trail, complete with badger-viewing platform. <strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk 29