Crown Meadow

Crown Meadow sits just outside Evesham and delivers exactly what a nature reserve should - proper open grassland where you can actually see birds and butterflies without fighting through woodland scrub. It's a straightforward spot: walk the perimeter, scan for wildlife, move on. The meadow itself is unremarkable from a landscape perspective, but that's rather the point. This is working conservation land, not a manicured tourist attraction.

Birdwatchers will find it worthwhile, particularly spring and autumn when migrating species pass through. You're looking at lapwings, skylarks, and if you're lucky, barn owls at dusk. Families with young children might struggle to hold their attention for long - there's no playground, no cafe, nowhere to hide from the weather. Serious walkers treating it as a pit stop between Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping or Orchard Blossom will appreciate the two-mile circuit and the absence of crowds.

Timing matters here. Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best chance of seeing anything alive. Wet weather turns it into a squelch, so go after a dry spell. There's no entrance fee that we can establish, and no fixed hours - it's the sort of place you simply arrive at. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're genuinely into twitching.

If you're staying at any of the holiday parks within a few miles - Plum Tree Glamping or Cotswold Woodland offer the most comfort - Crown Meadow works as a morning constitutional before breakfast. Don't make it your main event though.