Chimney Meadows

In the south western part of Oxfordshire, Chimney Meadows is one of the Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust's largest reserves which it has been maintaining since 2003.

Set on the river Thames, it is an important habitat for wetland creatures, and the Thames Path National Trail goes through the reserve.

There are two hides at Chimney meadow, with one overlooking a wetland area where you may see heron, swans and egrets. The other hide looks over pond which is surrounded by woodland, which is an excellent place to look out for many different species of bird such are various types of tit, finches, woodpecker and maybe even kingfishers for the lucky.

As well as the wetland habitat, there are many fields and meadows which are just as important for the local wildlife. In these it may be possible to see barn owls hunting in the long grass, muntjac deer and cuckoo can be heard calling across the fields.

The car park for the site is approximately a mile (1.6km) away from the main parts of the reserve. The route is flat and smooth making it easily traversable, but much of it does require you to walk along the road which leads to the hamlet of Chimney.

Animals may be grazing the fields, so dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times.