KING'S MEAD SITE GUIDE

Text and photos by Alan Reynolds

Kings Mead, between Ware and Hertford, is the largest remaining grazed riverside flood meadow in Hertfordshire. The combination of ditches, floodwater and regular grazing has created a rich wetland habitat that is excellent for a range of flora and fauna.

Overview

The site is bounded to the north by the River Lea Navigation and to the south by the A119 Ware Road. The Meads are bisected from north to south by the A10, which crosses the floodplain by means of a viaduct and, incidentally, affords excellent views of the site. The railway line that runs from Ware to Hertford East crosses the Meads from east to west.

The whole of the water meadows between Hertford and Ware are often known as King's Mead, but this is actually only one of a number of Meads, including Park Mead, Lady's Mead, Widow's Mead, Chadwell Mead and Mill Mead. King's Mead itself lies centrally on the site under the viaduct and to the east and west of it.

Click map for larger version

One of the key objectives in managing the Meads is to raise the water levels and maintain wet ditches throughout the summer. This has being achieved by the installation of a series of sluices on the site. Regular sluice maintenance and the exceptional rainfall recently has meant that the Meads are wetter than they have been for over twenty years.

Access and the birds

Access is from the A119 between Hertford and Ware [Map here]. Either park on the paving under the flyover at TL347136, or in the car park in front of the business units at TL348137. Walk 150 metres east towards Ware and enter the Meads through the kissing gate opposite the golf club. Follow the track down to the start of the causeway that takes you across the Meads.

The best viewing point is from the chalk grassland on Chadwell Bank, which is the grassy bank next to the road. From here, you get commanding views of Chadwell Mead (the flashes either side of the causeway). Despite being deceptively shallow (see cows walk across them and you will be convinced), they attract a wide variety of wildfowl including Little Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and, on migration, Garganey.

Waders include good numbers of Snipe and Lapwing, with Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper on passage. Also look out for the occasional Little Egret.

Crossing the causeway brings you to the White House Sluice. This is a good point to ponder as, apart from being an excellent place to see Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher and the now uncommon Water Vole, it is the first opportunity to look over the grasslands for which the Meads is so well-known. It is here that you may well encounter Reed Bunting and, during the summer and autumn migration, Sedge Warbler, Stonechat and Whinchat. Hobbies are present during the summer months and in Spring and Autumn, look out for Osprey.

Continuing to the left of the sluice, you come to a kissing gate and a stile, which takes you over the railway. You now head west along the bank of the New River. Once again, look out for Kingfisher as this is one of their favourite stretches. Also, over the grasslands to the north, watch out for Stonechat, Whinchat and Meadow Pipit and in the reed-bed which runs parallel to the railway for Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler. Grasshopper Warbler was also present here in 2001. Apart from the above, the Meads holds a wide range of the commoner species and, with regular visits throughout the year, it is possible to record up to ninety species.