Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 07

“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 Great West Way, 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 Great West Way, 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.
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