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 create the River of Life II.
The Earth Trust, which looks after these meadows and Wittenham Clumps, created this wetland to make more diverse wildlife habitats, and store floodwater from the river.
From May to September the colourful meadows are constantly changing from a sea of golden buttercups to creamy-white meadowsweet, purple knapweed, lilac-coloured teasels, and sky-blue of meadow crane’s-bill. Watch the swallows and house martins swooping across the wildflowers to feed on flying insects.
The backwater channels with their bankside reedbeds are perfect places in the summer for dragonflies and damselflies to bask, mate and lay their eggs.
In winter months the ponds are busy with migratory birds such as widgeon and teal. Swans are seen on the larger ponds. When the river is in flood, the backwater channels provide refuge for small fish.
Spot the posts alongside the Thames Path with information about the different wildlife you can expect to see here.
These wildflower-rich meadows are grazed by cattle to help manage the habitats. Thames Path volunteers helped the Earth Trust by putting in new gates along the Trail.
Discover the River of Life II, including aerial photos, on the Earth Trust website: https://earthtrust.org.uk/restoring-wetlands-reviving-wildlife/
