The Wetlands.

Newport Wetland Reserve.

The May Day Bank Holiday dawned grey and cold - typical! Miss A and I had planned a trip to the Wetlands, situated on the northern shore of the Severn Estuary and just 4 miles from where I live. We decided to go as planned, despite the weather, because if you wait for the weather to be right in this corner of the world you could be waiting a long time.



It was well worth the trip. The wind was bitterly cold in this exposed, remote part of the marshes and even though the rain kept threatening, we bravely strode out. There are nature trails, reed beds to explore, Hides to watch the wildlife on the water and if you are very quiet you can hear the bearded tits pinging in the reeds. It was magical.

I managed to get some photographs, but the light was not good, so I shall have to go back on a brighter day. The Wetlands Reserve is free entry so that won't be a problem. There was a swan, unaccompanied by his family, strolling along the path taking food out of people's hands. I haven't seen that since I lived on the river Ouse in Cambridgeshire, where a family living close to our jetty used to come for the remains of the breakfast toast.

We decided that the Reserve probably has something different to offer season by season which makes it a beautiful place to visit any time of the year and I will certainly be going again. What started as a damp and disappointing day weather wise turned out to be a real joy.