Waterford - river and bird life walk

NOTE: there is a high ladder stile en route which has one broken rung, necessitating taking a double height step - see photo.

We will start by walking south across Waterford Heath nature reserve, just touching the outskirts of Bengeo, then swinging northwards across fields, through St John’s Wood, skirting Chapmore End, through Stonyhills, Southend Farm, Hawkin’s Dell, past Ware Lodge and then taking a break at the weir and pool at Home Farm on the Woodhall Estate. After that we will turn southwards, following the River Beane all the way back, passing through Clusterbolt Wood, Stapleford, Foxley’s Wood and Bullsmill.

We could see, or hear the following birds: pheasants, kites, linnets, skylarks, starlings, crows, jackdaws, robins, long tailed tits, parakeets, chiffchaffs, woodpeckers, nuthatches, coots, wrens, buzzards, great tits, thrushes and possibly more.

There will be a section of walking along a quiet B road.