THIS short and very easy walk explores both banks of the River Teme just to the west of Worcester. At this point the Teme, a major tributary of the Severn, is close to the end of its 75-mile journey from its source in the Kerry Hills of mid-Wales and is a typical example of a river in its lower reaches, as it meanders in large, willow-fringed loops across a wide, flat floodplain.

The Teme is less polluted than many rivers, and remains relatively rich in wildlife. On warm days in September there might still be some dragonflies or damselflies about and you are likely to see a variety of bird species, including swans and herons.

Mammals are less visible, with the exception of the ever-active squirrels living in the riverside trees. Rabbits and foxes are present but usually prefer not to venture out until dusk.

The same is true of otters, which are among the most secretive and elusive of all British mammals.

Once common on the Teme, they declined dramatically in the 1960s and 70s due to pesticide poisoning, but have since re-colonised the river from remnant populations which survived in Wales. You're highly unlikely to see one, but it can be fun searching the river banks for signs of their presence in the form of tracks, spraints and holts - you'll find there are plenty of field guides available in libraries or bookshops to help with identification of these.

Powick Hams provide a chance to explore the river valley without the need to stick to footpaths. The hams have always been regarded as common land open to the public and those traditional rights of access are now enshrined in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000.

It's unusual to find lowland meadows regarded as common land but the explanation seems to be that these were once what are known as Lammas meadows. We tend to use the word meadow quite loosely but, strictly speaking, it refers specifically to any grassland from which an annual hay crop is taken.

Riverside fields subject to winter flooding produce the best hay crops and traditionally they were divided into long, narrow strips which were cultivated by commoners, though the land itself normally belonged to the lord of the manor.

The commoners were forbidden from grazing animals in the meadows from Candlemas (February 2) to Lammas Day (August 1), hence the term Lammas meadows. Such meadows are now scarce - perhaps the most extensive and famous to survive are the Lugg Meadows at Hereford - and even where they do exist they are rarely managed in the traditional way, which means they no longer have a rich flora. That's true at Powick, where the meadows were drained long ago.

But even though most of the flowers have gone, the presence of the River Teme and the frequent winter floods mean that the hams still retain some value for wildlife.

The first footpath of the walk crosses land belonging to Bransford Court Farm, where an RSPB survey by Mike Stephens in 2006 recorded an impressive 56 species of birds, ranging from raptors to small species such as warblers, tits and finches; from familiar garden birds to more exotic-looking species such as kingfishers and woodpeckers.

FACTFILE

Start: Bransford Bridge on A4103; grid ref SO803532. (Alternatively, start at Powick Old Bridge.) Length: Approximately 4 miles/7.2km depending on exact route across Powick Hams.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Flat, low-lying meadows close to the River Teme.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: Nine.

Parking: Lay-by near Bransford Bridge (or near Old Powick Bridge).

Buses: Worcester-Ledbury service 417 to Bransford Bridge, Mon-Sat, or Worcester-Malvern service 44a to Powick Bridge, daily; Traveline 0871 200 2233 or www.worcester shire.gov.uk /bustimetables Refreshments: The Fox Inn at Bransford is currently closed due to flood damage but should reopen in October.

DIRECTIONS1 Cross Bransford Bridge then turn left on a lane just before the Fox Inn. Take a footpath on the left after about half-a-mile, just past the driveway to Bransford Court. The waymarked path takes a different route than that shown on Ordnance Survey maps but is easily followed until you come to an anglers' car park. Go straight through this to find a sign directing you to the right at a fork, away from the river Teme. The path then leads to Powick Hams.

2 Once on the Hams you may take any route you like, though it's pleasantest to follow the river as it meanders downstream. If you choose another route you may find the chimney at Powick Mills a useful landmark to aim for. After you've gone under the bypass you'll find a well-trodden path leading to Old Powick Bridge.

3 Cross the old bridge and turn left on a track just before Powick Mills. It soon leads into a field where you go straight on. After crossing a stream, keep straight on to go under the bypass again. Bear right across the next field to the far right corner then follow a well-trodden path to a footbridge into an orchard. The path remains obvious all the way through the orchard, finally passing free-range poultry enclosures to meet a lane.

4 Turn left and keep straight on past Upper Wick Farm and Upper Wick Lane. Pass a green-painted barn and then turn right on a track. Follow it to a junction and turn left along a field edge. The path is easily followed through more fields and then across the railway, after which you descend left into the Teme valley. Follow the river to the road near Bransford Bridge.