A Guide to the County of Berkshire, Naturally
Windsor castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle on earth, overlooking the River Thames. Walk through Great Park to see ancient oak trees and herds of red deer. The Long Walk, a straight path lined with trees leading to the castle, offers some of the best views in the county.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. Dogs must be well-trained and kept under control, and away from resident deer and other wildlife.
There have been recent reports of blue-green algae on Obelisk Ponds, so the council says to keep dogs away (and don’t let dogs drink the water either) until further notice.
There are many horse tracks here (identified by orange/red sand) so stay off these and keep dogs on lead, if not good on recall. Read this guide for dog guardians and horse riders to safely share space.
The Savill Garden in Windsor is England’s finest ornamental garden, with beech woodlands that lead down to the River Thames. Contrast this with Windsor’s other famous tourist attraction:
Legoland is as far away from taking children on a nature walk as you can get. Not only has the company reverted back to using oil to make the plastic bricks (only flirting briefly with recycled plastic bottles – one company makes bamboo bricks showing there are alternatives).
Reviews are not hot either, with complaints of hugely over-inflated prices for junk food, and lots of litter.
The town of Windsor is also nice, with cobbled streets and riverside walks, though you likely have to be very rich to live there!
Controversy Over Dog Walking Exclusions
For many years, Windsor residents have happily walked their dogs here. Although they can still do so, there is now a huge exclusion zone of over 2 miles, to protect the privacy of new residents at Windsor Great Park, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Obviously they need privacy, but when they could have chosen many other homes, the exclusion zone has meant that many people now have to change their routes, which is difficult for some without cars. One local said:
Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years. We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it. They’ve only given us a few days’ notice to say this section of forest is closing for ever. Now I’ll need to get in my car to drive further afield to take my dog for a walk.
The Berkshire Downs: Home to Ancient Woodlands
The Berkshire Downs bring together rolling hills, open fields and wide skies. This chalk downland is perfect for hiking, horse riding or just enjoying a picnic. They stretch not just over West Berkshire, but also Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.Keep dogs away from bluebells and other spring bulbs.
This is home to Ridgeway Trail (one of England’s oldest pathways), it also contains chalk landscapes with beech woods, and crucial water sources (aquifers). Along with Neolithic tombs and Iron age forts.
Here also you’ll find Uffington White Horse, one of England’s oldest chalk carvings. However, the skeletal look, long back and distinctive eye and ear, make some question if it was even meant to be a horse!
Eton Swan Sanctuary (in the Thames Valley)
Eton is known for its posh school (past alumni include Royal Family sons and former Prime Ministers. Along with actors (Damian Lewis, Dominic West and Hugh Laurie). But the town is also home to one of England’s swan sanctuaries, which gives advice to help our graceful swans.
The seven-acre site on the River Thames houses Cuckoo Weir Island, a tranquil and peaceful location. It has 10 outdoor pens to house up to 180 swans needing help, with each one containing a pond, for a constant flow of river water.
The intensive care unit has 10 heated indoor pens for poorly swans, and a treatment room with various medical supplies, including a specialist ‘swan bath’ for swans covered in oil.
An easy way to raise funds is to sign up with easyfundraising (nominate Swan Lifeline, then anytime you buy things with shops or services, it donates a portion of profits, at no cost to you). You can if preferred donate anonymously, set up a giving account at Charities Aid Foundation.
Exploring Cookham’s Artistic Village
Just a few miles away is the village of Cookham, which has inspired artists for centuries, including Stanley Spencer. Walk the same lanes and riverside paths that appear in his paintings.
The village’s riverbank is a great spot for summer picnics, paddling or watching boats pass. Walk to the nearby commons and discover meadows full of wildflowers and birds.
True Food Co-op (A Low-Cost Berkshire Supermarket)
Despite its ‘posh image’, some people in Berkshire struggle financially. True Food Co-op is a zero-waste supermarket, where members pay a one-off £5 fee for exclusive discounts (volunteers earn up to 15% discount off food).
The shop has a refill station, organic alcohol and orange stickers for value basics, to help people on tight budgets. These are not ‘cheap inferior products’ but organic foods that still work out cheaper than brands in major supermarkets.
As members have shares in the shop, you can order in anything you like. So if you want say a couple of cans of organic soda, they’ll order in wholesale, and then just sell the rest of the cans in the shop to other customers.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. Indie shops can learn which plants and flowers are unsafe near pets, to know what not to sell to people with animal friends.
