Tear the kids away from their technology and gadgets and get them out for some fresh air.
This park follows the path of a river (actually it’s The Duke of Northumberland’s Crane river, Mill stream and Yeading Brook) which runs from Richmond, Twickenham and Whitton and through to Hounslow, Hanworth and Feltham with numerous access points along the way. In parts the park is narrow with tended grass verges but for the most part it is hidden behind lush vegetation and foresty woodlands.
You can simply enjoy a pleasant meandering walk – on the hard paved paths where you will meet joggers and cyclists or on the muddier riverbank where you will inevitably meet local dog walkers as you dodge the brambles and stinging nettles. And somewhere in the park is the largest crack willow in the country.
You might try a spot of bird watching – we used to love the Kingfishers using the river like a high speed tunnel – or watch the herons pluck small fish and frogs from the water.
The famous shot tower looks like a land-based lighthouse but was part of the huge gunpowder works during the 18th and 19th century. At weekends it is open to the public and contains displays about the local wildlife and you can climb all the way to the top to see the impressive views of West London.
Nearby is a wildlife area (The Crane Corridor Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and contains two statutory Local Nature Reserves at Pevensey Road Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and Crane Park Island Local Nature Reserve (LNR)). You can cross a small wooden bridge over a gushing sluice gate - which is perfect for a game of Pooh Sticks – to an island.
This has reeds and small ponds where you might see tadpoles in the Spring. I’ve caught frogs here for my kids to look at (of course they were returned unharmed to the water afterwards). In the past we’ve also done some paddling/wading and pond dipping with nets from a low concrete platform (accessible for buggies and wheelchairs). We caught tiny sticklebacks and minnows as well as a variety of other water creatures. We’ve even seen water voles and, on one occasion, something that looked like a snake – he was swimming along quite happily.
And if you have a Thames Water fishing licence (you can get them for a day, week or year) you might catch some of the chub, roach, perch and carp. My son caught his first reasonably-sized chub here years back. We were both very proud.
Also by the shot tower is a wide open meadow – perfect for a kick-about with a ball or for picnics in the sun when it’s out or the shade provided by the enormous trees all around.
Recent uplift funds led to some restoration of the river, the addition of some fun stepping stones and some beautifully carved sculptural benches – in the shapes of dragonflies and beetles. Kingfisher’s and Grey Wagtails. There are also some teaching resources and outdoor class rooms which local schools use.
Friends of the River Crane Environment ((FORCE) organise volunteer days and – in the past - bat walks.
http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=170
http://www.hounslow.info/parks-open-spaces/find-your-park/crane-valley-park/
Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE) at www.force.org.uk
