Avon Valley Nature Reserve - I took the path less travelled by....*

Now that the groundwater has drained away and the paths have dried out along the walking route from Stratford sub Castle to Five Rivers Leisure Centre through the eastern part of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve, the route is walkable without wellingtons!

Some of the scrub-land has been cleared by volunteers from the Salisbury Wildlife Group who manage the Reserve, leaving open areas where swathes of bluebells and cowslips are in flower. Using the material from the clearance, 'dead hedges' have been formed to deter walkers and dogs from getting too close to the bird nesting sites amongst the reed beds.

To visit this area:

From Stratford Road, just past Castle Keep, take the joint cycleway/footway past the 'horse field' and after the allotments on the right, turn immediately right onto the Avon Valley Reserve land where a riverside path extends along to the Leisure Centre. On reaching the Leisure Centre the walk can be extended by crossing over the pedestrian bridge (and the Avon), then turn right and follow the new Riverside Park boardwalks, continuing onto the 'old' boardwalk and onwards to Mill Lane bridge and back to Stratford Road. This circular walk is approximately 2.5 miles.

The images below were taken on 16 April.

(*with apologies to Robert Frost)

A guided walk through the Avon Valley Reserve is planned for 29 June - details are in an earlier newspost. Click the hashtag nature news below for a link to the details.

Swans have returned to the same site where a nest was built in 2025 and here is their 2026 nest, viewed from the boardwalk (west bank). Image KMOC