Much as I would like to make it happen, it just isn't practical to head up to Shetland every Friday - however it is practical to spend every Friday away from a desk, so these posts will very often be a wee bit late appearing.
One of the bonuses of living where we do on the edge of Oxford is that there are a variety of walks from the house which while not having the 'wild' feel that Shetland might offer, do give the opportunity to get away from the traffic and into trees and green spaces. The regular walk to the C S Lewis Reserve is mostly along lanes until you get into the reserve. The not-quite-so regular walk up to Sydlings Copse starts through housing development before emerging into agricultural land then into woodland (although like so much of Oxfordshire that is under threat - in this case of new housing developments rather than the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway).
Even when we do need to head into the centre of Oxford ('down the hill') there are routes that lead you to believe that you are out in the country - or at least in semi-wild parkland.
The river Cherwell snakes it's way round the east side of Oxford until it joins the Thames just south of the city - but before it gets to do that it goes along the edge of the University Parks (a pretty well-tamed mix of sports field and parkland) and through Mesopotamia, a narrow twist of land caught between two strands of the Cherwell.
This strip of land - actually still part of the University Parks, so well protected from any further development - is a splendid place for spotting wildlife. I have seen both kingfisher and heron along here recently, as well as numerous other birds both on the water and in the trees. In the summer it's busy with insects, and just occasionally a fox will patrol the banks.
Between the houses and lanes of Headington and the buildings and crowds of central Oxford, it's good to be able to get, just a hint of wildness.
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| Mesopotamia - Between the Rivers |
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| Paths, Trees and Water |
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| The Weir at Parson's Pleasure |
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