Didcot Nature Trail

Located just a short walk the Orchard Centre, Didcot Nature Trail is for everyone to enjoy and explore the local area, become more active and learn more about the diverse natural world around us.

Click here to download the Didcot Nature Trail information leaflet and map.

From 17 December 2024, you can also a pick up a copy of trail leaflet from Cornerstone, Didcot Library and Didcot Community Centre.

An image showing a section of the Didcot Nature Trail Map

Following the Trail

Follow the leaf signs and you will be able to discover an array of animals, birds, bugs, flowers and trees.

Why not make a list of the things that you recognise along the way and share these with your friends – did you see the same things? Try walking the route at a different time of year and see what’s changed.

An outdoor wooden bench with intricate carvings of various animals and patterns along its top edge, set against a backdrop of lush green trees and a clear sky, offering a peaceful seating area in a park setting.

Along the trail you will also see rubbing plates on some of our marker posts. Look out for the different plates including a blackbird, a fox, a buttercup, an acorn and a bumblebee, to name just a few.

A rubbing plate on a wooden pole with the image of bumble bee

The Trail includes the Local Nature Reserve at Mowbray Fields, which is managed by Earth Trust, and the Sustrans Cycle path along the disused Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway Line, which opened in the early 1880s and was closed around 1961.

A large, weathered tree trunk lies on its side in a field of tall grass, surrounded by greenery under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The trunk’s detailed texture tells a story of age and the natural environment it once stood in.

Keeping active along the trail

This trail is 3.1 miles (5km)… and provides somewhere for both you and your dog (if you have one) to explore and be active!

A black dog sits on the grass, attentively facing the camera. Behind the dog, three vertical wooden beams with unique shapes stand against a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy sky, creating a serene outdoor scene.

It’s also the perfect length for anyone wanting to train for a couch to 5k and there are apps that you can download to help you build up your activity and to motivate you along the way.

Look out for the children’s pavement play near the fallen tree, close to Sandringham Road. Here you will spot bees, ladybirds and frogs all encouraging active play along the route.

Three pictures of the Didcot Nature Trail: A section of a pathway is enlivened with a playful painting of a large, yellow and black bee with white wings and friendly blue eyes. Below the bee, the word ‘RUN’ is painted in bold capital letters, surrounded by smaller symbols like arrows and footprints, creating an inviting track for running or walking that promotes physical activity in an engaging manner. A vibrant hopscotch game painted on a park pathway, featuring numbered squares from 1 to 10 in various colours. The word ‘STRETCH’ is prominently displayed in an orange semicircle at the start, accompanied by an icon of a person stretching, suggesting a fun and active play area. Two playful green frog illustrations adorn a concrete pathway, connected by an orange zigzag line. The larger frog at the bottom greets passersby with wide, happy eyes, while the smaller frog at the top shares the same cheerful expression, creating an inviting and fun atmosphere along the walkway

Join a community walk

Please see our Active Communities pages for information about our community walks, which offer friendly group walks, designed to keep people active within their local community.

Contact us - Active Communities

01235 422422
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)

active.communities@southandvale.gov.uk

South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE