Following on from our last blog post about winter bird watching on the Thames Path, we thought we would follow up with a suggested route where you may spot a good variety of feathered friends to observe. Distance: ~5.5 miles (8.8 km) Time: 2–3 hours Difficulty: Moderate (one steep incline at…
Read More
With Winter well and truly settled over the Thames Path, the river has become a haven for birdwatchers. Crisp mornings and misty waters create the perfect backdrop for spotting some of Britain’s most captivating species. What to Look For: Red Kites: These majestic birds of prey, with their…
Read More
What do we mean by ‘mindful’? In a nutshell, it is taking time to slow down and appreciate what is around us. In a busy world it is easy to get lost in the rush and hustle and bustle. Hectic lives lead to chaotic minds, which can affect our mental health. The NHS support the fact that taking some…
Read More
Kew Gardens sits on the banks of the Thames in Richmond, London, and was recently voted the UK’s favourite garden to visit, seeing off stiff competition from RHS Wisley, Wrest Park and Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh to take the top spot. It also boats the status of being London’s largest UNESCO…
Read More
For more than 900 years, Swan Upping has been an historic census of swans on the River Thames between Sunbury and Abingdon, and now plays an important role in the conservation of mute swans, the largest waterbirds on the river. Swan Upping is led by the King’s Swan Marker on behalf of the Crown…
Read More
Dragonflies and damselflies are amazing insects that bring colour and awe to the riverside. They zig-zag speedily across water, spreading or folding their colourful wings when they alight on plants. One species that favours the River Thames is the Common Clubtail Dragonfly. This insect with its…
Read More
Between Clifton Hampden and Day’s Lock the River Thames sweeps around floodplain meadows that lie at the foot of Wittenham Clumps, the two wooded hills seen in the distance. These meadows are now home to birds, dragonflies, and even fish, because new ponds and channels were dug a few years ago to…
Read More
As we finally start to enjoy some warmer days we can take pleasure in what the months of rain have given us – lush foliage and blooming fauna that have prospered in the damper conditions all along the Thames Path National Trail. Perfect conditions to house an abundance of bird life! Before I get…
Read More
Every spring the nodding bell-shaped flowers of Snake’s-head fritillary plants fill riverside flood-meadows near Cricklade and Oxford. Most flowers have purple and pink chequered flower petals, and there are pure white flowers too. This beautiful and nationally-scarce flower is named after the shape…
Read More
Do you enjoy a walk along the Thames Path? Why not make your walk even more worthwhile by becoming a #LitterHero for the Thames Path and the River Thames? Pledge to pick up a bag of litter during the Great British Spring Clean from 21 March to 6 April. Collect litter, clean up the trail and enjoy…
Read More