THE BYES PARK

The Sidmouth Herald has taken us through the Byes more than once.

Here’s a personal pictorial view from their photographer Alex Walton, on the lookout for ‘an elusive kingfisher in the tranquil green space in the heart of Sidmouth’:

First light is usually the ideal time to photograph wildlife as few people are around, birds and insects are just waking up and the golden sunlight after dawn often creates superb lighting conditions. For the past month I have been on the trail of a kingfisher, which I heard had been seen fishing in the River Sid in the The Byes.

Sidmouth Byes Pictures | Sidmouth Herald

Appropriately, the symbol of the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group is the kingfisher:

The group’s new logo and myths surrounding the kingfisher | Sidmouth Herald

And here’s a walk they took along the River in spring 2022:

Sidmouth Biodiversity Group update on The Byes | Sidmouth Herald

The park is well documented:

Sidmouth Town Website – The Byes Riverside Walk

And very well looked after:

Friends of The Byes / Sidmouth BEE Project

Here’s a beautiful pictorial history of the Byes:

Sidmouth historian: The history of The Byes, in pictures | Local News | News | Sidmouth Nub News

Visitors also love the Byes, as shown by the number of photos and accounts of walking along the River:

River Sid – The Byes – Picture of The Byes Riverside Park, Sidmouth – Tripadvisor

As do local photographers. 

Here’s one showing how rough the River can be by Lewis Clarke:

Sidmouth : The River Sid © Lewis Clarke cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

And another showing its calmer side:

The Byes Riverside Park The Byes Riverside Park, between the village of Sidford and The Old Tollhouse, is one of Sidmouth’s most important green spaces.

Sidmouth : The Byes & The River Sid © Lewis Clarke cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

And here’s a very ‘natural’ shot by Sarah Charlesworth:

Small Rapids in the River Sid © Sarah Charlesworth cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland