Earlham Marsh to Bowthorpe

Yet another Fringe project site. Starting at Earlham and running through to Bowthorpe, this riverside walk is notable for its wild flowers. The main dragonfly interest is the "butterfly ponds" in the Bowthorpe Southern Park. There are four sections to this walk: Earlham Millennium Green is a small park consisting of a wildflower meadow and pond; Earlham marsh, which fades into Bowthorpe marsh; and finally Bowthorpe Southern Park, an area of open heath with ponds.

Directions

Parking is available at both ends of the walk. At Earlham you may park for up to 2 hours on the layby in front of St Mary's Church, Earlham Road, just opposite Earlham Park. At Bowthorpe there is a dedicated car park, off the roundabout on Chapel Break Road.

Tour

Entering through the Earlham Road enterence brings us to a short path beside the river, good for butterflies and wildflowers as well as small birds in the trees. At the end of the meadow turn left to reach the pond. There was once a dragonfly sculpture in here, but persistent vandelism caused its removal. There are however common blue, large red and blue-tailed damselflies here along with common darters and the odd migrant hawker. The dyke which marks the end of the milennium green has recently been dredged, which might improve it for dragonflies, for it previously held only shopping trolleys.

Passing through the gate brings us to Earlham marsh, a flood meadow with a number of shallow scrapes bounded by dykes. This area is noted for its wildflowers and, in winter, snipe and teal along with passing migrants such as sandpipers. Again the dykes have been recently cleared and deepened here and we would welcome reports of sightings.

At the end of the meadow you can follow the river, but it's worth detouring down to the exit to your right, because of the exceptional bank of flowers here. Turn left down the lane and you can shortly rejoin the walk at the Bowthorpe marshes. The lane is good for butterflies, and there is usually a Southern Hawker patrolling here.

Walk down to the river again and follow it under the bridge to emerge at Bowthorpe Southern Park. You will immediately spot the swallows, swifts and house martins that hunt these meadows - indicative of the wealth of insect life here. There are two ponds here, each designed to resemble a butterfly from the air. The first you reach has Emperor, Brown and Southern Hawkers, Common and Ruddy darters as well as the usual damselflies. The second lacks these larger species but has black-tailed skimmers by virtue of its bare banks.

Continuing along the path to your right will bring you to the car park for the green and the end of the walk.

2006 Update

The drought resulted in the second of these ponds completely drying out, however the first clung on, although much reduced in level. No Emperors were seen this year and Black-tailed skimmers were much reduced. However the first city record of Small red-eyed damselfly was made here.

Next

If you end at Bowthorpe the only option is to walk through Bowthorpe to Mile Cross and join the Marriott Way back to Norwich. If you end at Earlham, crossing the road will bring you to Earlham Park.