Frampton Pools is my favourite site in the county. It has been my patch since the mid-eighties. The pools are a collection of disused gravel pits at the village of Frampton-on-Severn. There are two main lakes - the Sailing Lake and the Court Lake - and a couple of smaller pools. They are skirted by public footpaths and probably the best access point for the Sailing Lake is from the top of Vicarage Lane (The left turn after you leave the road across the village green immediately before the Residential Home on the left). A new development in the last couple of years has been the natural flooding of the field adjacent and to the south of the Sailing Lake. This new natural flash is already starting to show early promise having attracted Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Gull, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover to name just a few. It does not flood every year however.

One of the nice things about Frampton Pools is the diversity of the habitats there, which helps to provide birders with a broad range of species. Aside from the lakes, there are areas of deciduous woodland, farmland, low scrub, a pine copse or two and even a Landfill Site.

A good selection of scarce and rare species has been found here over the years (some fortunately by me). This list has included Ross's Gull, Wryneck, Bittern, Bearded Tit, Velvet Scoter, Great Reed Warbler, Osprey, White-winged Black Tern, Pallas's Warbler and most of the grebes and divers.

The situation at Frampton shore is that there is no public access. I would advise people to watch the flashes north of Splatt Bridge, especially in the spring, and also the Hundred-Acre from Green Lane both of which can be done from public footpaths. The Top Flashes can be watched from the canal towpath north of Splatt Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn north up the footpath, go past the reedbed on the left and view towards the river just after here. This area tends to be dry in summer. Green Lane is south of Splatt Bridge. Cross the bridge and walk south down the towpath and go through a small gate off of the towpath just past a reedbed on your right. There is a map on the gate - go straight across two fields (through two five-bar gates) until you get to the lane (Green Lane) and walk left down the public footpath here. There is no access to the north. You can view the Hundred-Acre on your right. 

The five-bar gate just across Splatt Bridge is an excellent point to watch for owls and raptors in winter and also the evening Starling spectacular as thousands fly to roost. See pic below taken by me on 16/10/03.

Nebrow Hill at Frampton has sprung to prominence in recent years because of it's easy access and wintering Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owls although they are not annual. The directions for Nebrow Hill are as follows: When you drive down to Splatt Bridge instead of turning right and then immediately left into the car park go straight on (effectively the left fork). Drive along here past a row of cottages on your right. You will come to a five-bar gate which may or may not be open. Drive in and immediately on your right is the car park. Park here. This is Nebrow Hill Oak Wood. There is an information board here with a map and if you are lucky an information leaflet. Walk out of the car park south, along the track you drove in on (towards Cambridge). On your left after a few 100 yards you will see a large gravel mound, built to attract Sand Martins (or Bee-eaters). This gives a good view of the whole area. Basically you can walk around any of the tracks you like. The farmer is the most enlightened one I know. Do not visit between dusk and dawn due to shooting.