Autumn Colours at The Vyne

Hosehill Lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by meadows, ponds, and sheltered reedbeds. A great place to watch time go by, it hosts a wide variety of waterfowl in the winter, and nightingales join the butterflies and dragonflies in the spring. The meadow to the east of the lake is a visual treat throughout the spring and summer. It is cut and then grazed by wild Exmoor ponies for a short period after this in the spring and autumn. The meadow and the Butterfly Bank to the south of the lake are the best places to see a range of butterflies, day-flying moths and other insects. Look out for wetland birds including lapwings, little ring plovers, great crested grebes, and a number of more unusual visitors like the bittern. A large sand martin bank can be viewed from the other side of the lake and house martins, swifts, and swallows can be seen from March/April. 1 mile south of Theale Berkshire RG7 4BE