Who knew Uxbridge was once connected to what is now the Chiltern Line? Anyway this long defunct railway line and its either side margins, squeezed in between the Shire Ditch and the river is now a delightful linear nature reserve. Maturing trees shelter glades of wild flowers & grasses. Feeling uplifted as you walk along the path? Join the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and even volunteer to improve this and other H&MWT managed reserves.
Permaculture
The paths were rather overgrown when I visited, but walking along the River Fray there is a clear wide gravel path that afforded close views of beautifully clear water. Uxbridge Alderglade is an area of wet woodland and marshland along an old disused railway embankment. The trees are dominated by mature crack willow, hawthorn scrub and alder. Along the railway, bank species such as birds-foot trefoil and small toadflax can be found. Mammals such as stoats, weasels, moles and foxes have been recorded on the reserve as well as several species of bat, including the uncommon Brandt’s bat. The alder trees support flocks of siskins as winter visitors and both kestrel and sparrowhawk are frequently seen. Visit the reserve in spring to enjoy a chorus of birds such as chiffchaff, blackcap and song thrush. The sheltered central track is hot in the summer and a good place to see butterflies such as speckled wood and orange tip. If you are lucky you may see signs of the elusive water vole.
Swizzy Smith
Lovely place for summer walk
Lukas Borkowski
Nice place to relax
John Michael
Loads of trees.
Marcel Dinca
The nature is beautiful, it is on us and everything that surround us "people"
Doug Neilson2 years ago
Start in Braybourne Close, Uxbridge. Follow path north to an abandoned railway line. This leads into an area of trees, shrubs, water and the Frays River. Some wildlife too. It's also accessible via the path beside the old, demolished Abrook pub, now a block of flats, on Harefield Road. Beyond the reserve, footpaths can take you under the A40 and into Denham Country Park and along the Grand Union Canal
Uxbridge Alderglade is an area of wet woodland and marshland along an old disused railway embankment. The trees are dominated by mature crack willow, hawthorn scrub and alder. Along the railway, bank species such as birds-foot trefoil and small toadflax can be found.
Mammals such as stoats, weasels, moles and foxes have been recorded on the reserve as well as several species of bat, including the uncommon Brandt’s bat. The alder trees support flocks of siskins as winter visitors and both kestrel and sparrowhawk are frequently seen.
Visit the reserve in spring to enjoy a chorus of birds such as chiffchaff, blackcap and song thrush. The sheltered central track is hot in the summer and a good place to see butterflies such as speckled wood and orange tip. If you are lucky you may see signs of the elusive water vole.