Welcome to the second in a series of pictorial guides showcasing Warden Mike’s top ten favourite viewpoints, all selected from our ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ directory.
This is the beautiful view of Chertsey Bridge from the Thameside bank of Chertsey Meads. The bridge is a Grade 2 listed building. Made of white stone, with seven arches. Click on the image for the full size version.
The bridge opened in 1785 and replaced a wooden bridge that had spanned the River Thames since 1410.
The meads have a long history as a floodplain meadow on the banks of the River Thames.
Chertsey Meads is a 100-acre Local Nature Reserve owned and managed by Runnymede Borough Council. Over 400 plant species have been recorded here…
…including, in a reed bed, the locally uncommon meadow-rue.
It is in the reed bed where you’re likely to see (or hear!) a reed warbler – one of 108 bird species recorded in the meads.
If you’re a ‘minibeast’ fan, bring your magnifying glass for a close-up view of some of the 789 recorded invertebrates – including the rare four-spotted nephus ladybird!
For directions, information and more photographs, go to the Chertsey Meads entry in ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’.
Warden Mike
Picture credits: Summer meadow © Surrey Wildlife Trust, common meadow-rue © Dave, reed warbler © Steven Schulting, four-spotted nephus © Gilles San Martin.
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