POST TWO

Stop to see what creatures you can find hidden in the patterns in the sides of the bridge. If you look carefully you may see the shapes of a dragonfly, a frog, a spider and her web, a flower, and an oak leaf. Take a few minutes to look at the brook as it passes beneath: look for butterflies, or fish in the water, or even a water vole if you are lucky.

Do not cross the brook here, but from the blue bridge head down the path, keeping the brook on your left hand side. As you leave the bridge the path crosses the leat – this is an artificial channel that feeds the ponds in the Nature Park.  Its level is controlled by wooden sluices. The path winds through the trees, passing a small pond.  Here you may well see a Moorhen family, or other birds.

​

Soon you will reach Malcom’s Scrape, another little shallow pond - a great breeding ground for frogs, and many of the tiny creatures that live in wild pools.  Look for Marsh Marigolds in flower in Spring and Rosebay Willowherb  and Red Campion along the path verges.