Imagine walking along beside a river on a lovely sunny day. What treats would be in store for us? In the background we would hear the gurgling of the river as it makes its way to the sea. Perhaps we'd hear the sharp note of a coot or a moorhen as they go about their business. Often enough we would hear the harsh cry of the heron as we disturb its quiet vigil on the bank.
In spring and summer we would certainly hear little warblers who have travelled so far to Britain to mate and bring up a family. A tiny reed warbler may be building its perfect nest between the reeds. Perhaps swallows and house martins are skimming above the water looking for insects. We will certainly hear the buzz of bees as they busy themselves collecting nectar and pollen. If we are lucky we may hear the "plop" of a water vole diving into the water to get out of our way.
Soundless beauties to be discovered are the wildflowers. So many flowers love the water's edge and one, in particular, likes to be right in the water! We have included three lovely flowers for you the Great Willowherb, the Yellow Flag Iris and the Yellow Water-lily.
The reader on the audio guide describes these wild flowers and many others in her walk in the Brecon Beacons; first along the River Usk then on the shores of Llangorse Lake, where she finds the water-lily glowing yellow in the still water.
If you are walking near water you would be unlikely to hear the high pitched squeals of the otter. Otters are mainly nocturnal creatures and it is only rarely that they are seen during the day. However, we may find their tracks, either footprints on a muddy bank or their spraints, that is, their droppings.
Peter Boex's original carving of the tactile picture perfectly captures the sinuous beauty of the otter as it dives after an unfortunate fish. Otters are supreme hunters. We have also included a moulding of an otter's footprint.