Reading
Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch.
For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...
,
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, located next to the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...
. It stretches along the north ( Caversham) side of the river, between Caversham Bridge and Reading Bridge, and is linked to the south (Reading) bank by the Christchurch Bridge, a pedestrian and cycle bridge built in 2015. The name of the meadow derives from Christ Church in Oxford, whose dean owned of farmland in Reading.
Christchurch Meadows form part of a series of riverside open spaces, managed by
Reading Borough Council
Reading Borough Council is the local authority for Reading in the county of Berkshire, England. Reading has had a council since at least 1542, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1998, the council has been a unitary authority, be ...
, that stretch along one or other side of the River Thames throughout its passage through Reading. From west to east these are Thameside Promenade, Caversham Court, Christchurch Meadows, Hills Meadow,
View Island
View Island is a small island near Caversham Lock, on the River Thames at Reading, Berkshire in England.King's Meadow.
The park takes the form of a grass meadow along the river's edge, with specimen trees and shrubs along the bank. At the eastern end there is a fenced children’s play area, with a paddling/boating pool and picnic tables, and a number of sports pitches. A distinctive line of
Lombardy poplar
''Populus nigra'', the black poplar, is a species of cottonwood poplar, the type species of section ''Aigeiros'' of the genus ''Populus'', native to Europe, southwest and central Asia, and northwest Africa.Flora Europaea''Populus nigra''/ref>
...
s edges the eastern boundary. At the western end, the Caversham War Memorial and the
Reading University Boat Club
Reading University Boat Club (RUBC, boat code RDU) is the rowing club for the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. It is based at a boat house in Christchurch Meadows on the River Thames in the Reading suburb of Caversham. The club ha ...
can be found.
A metalled footpath and cycleway runs along the river bank and provides an alternative to the formal route of the
Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble, Gloucestershire, Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 ...
long distance footpath, which runs along the built-up southern bank of the river between Reading and Caversham bridges. A second metalled footpath and cycleway connects the northern end of Christchurch Bridge with Gosbrook Road in Caversham, and intersects with the riverside path.