Walkaround Swallows Meadow, the new country park in Lower Earley

Swallows Meadow is a country park that opened in Lower Earley in November 2024, offering people a new place to get into the great outdoors.

The entrances to Swallows Meadow are off Meldreth Way and Chatteris Way, with kissing gates and signage in place. Car parking is available on the street of Chatteris Way, with no restrictions currently in place, although there is an unmarked bus lane.

The land is owned by the University of Reading and was developed in consultation with Earley Environmental Group and Earley Town Council.

Swallows Meadow is part of a green corridor through to the Showcase Roundabout, and the River Loddon. This in turn links up to Dinton Pastures. 

Currently it is a bit rough and ready, with the pathways cut through the land with the grass trampled down and the land uneven. It’s not a pavement, and ramblers will need to keep their wits about them in case of trips.

The university is promising a consistent mowing regime to ensure these pathways never get too overgrown.

There are several paths to follow, and the area is larger than it appears from the outside.

While you are in the great outdoors, but the hum from the Lower Earley Way is there in the background, and neighbouring houses overlook the area. This means that while it feels isolated, civilisation is very close.

In the late autumn drizzle, with nature starting to hibernate, it doesn’t look at its best. That will be a different proposition come the spring, not least as Earley Environmental Group will be keeping an eye on it.

And before the spring, the team from agricultural charity Freely Fruity will be planting between a dozen and 20 fruit trees.

An official opening event was held on Saturday, November 2, with walking tours and family friendly activities.

There was also an opportunity to suggest further improvements they would like to see to enhance biodiversity and access.

Molli Cleaver, community engagement manager at the University of Reading, said: “We have spent a lot of time making improvements to Swallows Meadow for the benefit of both residents and local wildlife.

“We are grateful for all the support we have received from Earley Environmental Group and look forward to working with them in the future.”

The opening ceremony was attended by Earley and Woodley MP Yuan Yang, Wokingham MP Clive Jones, the mayor of Earley Mike Smith, and the vice chancellor of the University of Reading Professor Robert Van de Noort.

Along with Bob Collis from Earley Environmental Group, they gave speeches to those who gathered, before inviting people into the Meadows for guided tours.

It is not a place to go for rambles or, at the moment, picnics but this will be a place that develops.