The canal now stops at Hythe Bridge Street in Oxford city centre, but once continued to Worcester Street to a basin at Worcester Street - now an expensive car park.
The freight may have declined, but it is popular place for mooring a barge and and is an enjoyable place for an evening stroll:
.
As it has become more of a source of leisure than commerce, it has become a haven for wildlife and as the canal passes through Jericho, there are what looks like signs of water vole feeding by the canal path:
.
Further along the canal there are very obvious signs of water vole latrine
.
Although trying to catch a glimpse of them is very hard, to the far side of the canal are gardens and the habitat is more suitable for snoozing ducklings than water voles.
.
But lurking in the undergrowth, next to the canal path is the unmistakable nose of a water vole.
.
.
The water voles along this stretch are well known (if somewhat hard to see) and have caused a few problems when attempts have been made to renovate the footpath
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10099754.Voles_scupper_plans_for_towpath_revamp/
Hello, I've just read your lovely posts on water voles. It is wonderful to see them. We once had two on our pond, but that was over 10 years ago. We felt really privileged to have them.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for you kind comments. If we had water voles in our pond, I don't think I would ever go out - I would just sit and watch them.
It's a real shame they didn't stay, but as you say, it is a privilege to see them.
Richard