River walks offer chance to discover Cotswold waterways (From Cotswold Journal)

River walks offer chance to discover Cotswold waterways

10:30am Sunday 29th August 2010 in News

COTSWOLD residents and visitors are being offered the chance to discover more about the area’s local waterways next month.

The Cotswolds Conservation Board will be holding its first Cotswolds Rivers Week, starting Saturday, September 4.

The event, is designed to give people the opportunity to find out more about the rich habitats and special features of the rivers in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) uring the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

The rivers “week” runs from Saturday, September 4 until Sunday, September 12 and will feature a series of river walks aimed at providing a unique opportunity for people to explore some of the area’s most beautiful rivers, including the Windrush, Evenlode, Coln, Eye and Isbourne.

Among the walks during this week, there will be the chance to follow the River Windrush to discover the lost village of Widford in Oxfordshire; learn more about the Bristol to Bath Navigation Scheme on the River Avon; and explore some Roman archaeological features along the River Coln.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is also holding a “Tales from the River Bank” event with water vole officer, John Field, at Greystones Farm Nature Reserve near Bourton, where can learn about water voles, otters, dragonflies and the plight of our native crayfish.

The walks, which vary in length from three to 10 miles, form part of the Conservation Board’s year-round programme of free guided walks across the AONB.

All walks are organised and led by the Board’s voluntary arm, the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens.

Full details of all events are available from the Cotswolds AONB website: http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/events.