Eaton to UEA
A gentle stroll along the riverbank leading to one of the best spots for dragonflies in Norwich. This is a little gem of a walk, ideal for dogs and children, though it can be muddy.
Directions
Starting from Eaton, there is a free car park for this walk but it's hard to spot. Coming from Norwich drive into the village; when you cross the lights the car park is next to the electricity sub-station on the right, just after the entrance to Waitrose’s car park. If you want to start at UEA, there is a free car park at the junction of Bluebell Lane and South Park Avenue. This however is frequently full at weekends. You can also park at Earlham Park - turn right just after entering the UEA from Earlham Road.
Tour
From the Eaton car park head to the river by either of the two paths. These lead you around a field full of giant hogweed - lovely to look at, dangerous to handle as the sap can cause blisters. Look for goldfinches feeding on the seed heads later in the year. Migrant and Brown Hawkers can be seen hunting here.
The river itself here is interesting, as the Yare is actually higher than the stream that joins it, falling a couple of feet here at the old mill. This area is good for Banded Demoiselles. Continuing along to your right, you should pick up Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red damselflies in the reeds along the bank.
Once under the flyover and across the metal bridge (loads of banded by the bridge), you begin the walk along the riverbank. Check the field on your right, especially the ditch furthest from you, as there is frequently a heron to be seen here. (Along with magpies, rooks, pheasants and moorhens).
There now follows a section notable mostly for its birdlife - warblers abound here - particularly reed warblers in the ditches. and there is a good selection of tits and finches overhead. Your next landmark is the large fallen Chestnut - still alive despite its horizontal state - which has an irresistible appeal for children as a climbing frame.
The next stage can be extremely muddy, but it's short and gets you as far as the spot where the path has a right hand fork. This doesn't really go anywhere but it's worth strolling up it as the ditch on your right is extremely good for Large Reds early in the season - in fact traditionally it's where the first Norwich damselfly of the year is spotted, usually in the last week of April. (But with Global Warming?)
If you didn't see the heron in the field then it'll be around here. The river does a zigzag here and the increased bankside vegetation is always worth checking for damselflies. Hairy dragonflies have been seen here on occasions. Look too for bracket fungi on the fallen trees on the landwards side of the path. Once you reach the boardwalk, start to look for Red-eyed damselfly on the floating leaves in the river.
Finally you will see the dragonfly pond on your left. For such a small pool it hosts a respectable array of species. A Brown hawker usually patrols the centre, with Four-spotted Chasers occupying the rear portion. Later, Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers take their place. Norfolk Hawker has been seen here (but will wait till the Brown is absent before turning up) You may also get Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor and Southern Hawkers passing through.
Continuing along will bring you to the UEA Broad, and if you still haven't seen the heron it might be here. This is where you will definitely see the Black-tailed Skimmers. Any unoccupied fishing bay will likely turn one up basking on the boards, and you'll see them dashing around the edge of the broad. Southerns and Migrants are here too.
You now have a choice. Turn right around the Broad and you can pick up the footpath that will lead you to the car park at the junction of Bluebell Lane and South Park Avenue, and return to your car via Bluebell Lane, or you can continue to your left and walk through to Earlham Park, or nip up to the University to catch the bus. We'll continue to Earlham Park.
Walking along the Broad, don't neglect the river to your left - this is a very good spot for warblers. When you reach the bridge it's probably a good idea to cross and continue down the river on the far bank until the next bridge- the path on the right hand bank is frequently flooded.
You are now at the start of Earlham Wood, and it's worth detouring into the wood even though there's no dragonflies. What it does offer is the best bluebells in the city in spring, and a wide variety of fungi in autumn. It also has some of the tamest rabbits (assuming no dogs are about), so is ideal for small children. On the other side of the wood is Earlham Park, with a cafe for tea and buns, and a paddling area for (well-supervised) children.