Minet Country Park
Nature Trail
This Nature Trail was prepared in the summer of 2000.
This was before any development by Hillingdon Council.
Welcome to the Minet site. If you drive along the A312 northwards from the M4 junction 3, or southwards from the A40 Northolt or Ruislip, you will see a large area of open and wooded land to the east, between the road and the Southall gas works.
The Minet site from Hayes By Pass, Looking north-east.
The Grand Union Canal at Bulls Bridge, where the Paddington branch joins the main canal.
The Paddington branch runs past the nature reserve area.
Turn off the A312 onto the A4020 towards Southall and take the first right to the south, along Springfield Road. Park near the bend near other cars.
This map shows the walk around the Minet area.
Allow about two hours. Wellies or stout boots or shoes are recommended. Take with you binoculars, camera, recognition books, mobile phone, etc. Antiseptic wipes, snacks, drinks, etc are helpful. There are no facilities on the site. The area is unsuitable for small children or people with any walking difficulty.
You may contact the author if you are planning to make this virtual walk on foot rather than by mouse.
Disclaimer:
The area is rough and rutted, and swampy in places, so please take care at all times.
No responsibility can be taken by the author or A Rocha for any accidents or incidents resulting from the use of this information.
A kestrel often hovers above the verge.
1. Take the footpath west towards Hayes. Walk between the abandoned allotments to the north and the verge and ditch. Ignore the vast car boot sale area, and notice the flowers, insects and birds. Kestrels, sparrow hawks, herons, and skylarks may be seen.
Look for butterflies and other insects on the flowers.
The dyke, looking north
2. When you reach a bridge immediately before the by-pass, approach cautiously. You are likely to see herons, kingfishers and moorhens on the dyke.
The area around the dyke is carpeted with ox-eye daisies.
3, Turn back, and go through the broken fence to the south onto a rough path. Take the left fork, and then the right path and you will he walking between tall flowers, with a series of ponds in a deep dry ditch on your left. This ditch has many willows and wild flowers. For the rest of the walk, tread carefully to avoid turning your ankle in the ruts left by motor cycle scramblers.
Oak trees are dying
4. Look up to see the dead and dying oak trees which often have woodpeckers and other birds using the branches as a vantage point.
The pond as it was.
5. Cross the ditch by the concrete bridge, and cautiously descend to the waterside to look for dragonflies and damselflies around the reed mace (bulrushes.)
Beyond the bridge is the barren car-boot sale area.
The pond (to the left of the bridge) is steep sided, and rubbish accumulates.
6. At this point you may end the walk by returning to your starting point across the car boot sale area. (Item 15.) The total time is about 30 minutes.
