The river is not always gently flowing between its banks, heavy rains can cause extensive flooding of the surrounding meadows and so this land is unsuitable for building. Turn right over the bridge and head along the Redway towards the gap in the hedge. Hay meadows themselves are becoming very uncommon mainly due to changes in agricultural practice. This area is now managed by MK parks trust who allow many of the species to set seed before hay cutting. Chiffchaffs , song-thrushes and wrens are common in this area and are often heard singing.
Foxes also breed here and cubs can sometimes be spotted playing early on summer mornings.
While walking through the meadow one evening, writing the nature trail, I heard a beer can making strange noises. It turned out to be a shrew trapped inside which I released but many animals are killed by thoughtlessly discarded litter. Bear left keeping on the Redway 6 . In early summer the air is filled with the loud 'tuc-tuc' of sedge warblers. Later in the autumn these small brown birds migrate across Europe, the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert in one single flight.