Top reserves this year

The numbers are in! Here are this year's most popular reserves.

Wondering what reserve to explore over the holidays and beyond? We've compiled a list of our most popular reserves in the three counties.

Summer Leys - Northants

This old gravel pit is now an internationally important haven for breeding and wading birds (note: car parking charges now apply, members need to register prior to their visit to park for free)

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Brampton Wood - Cambs

Brampton Wood is Cambridgeshire's second largest ancient wood and is over 900 years old! It just re-opened after some woodland maintenance work.

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Cherry hinton chalk pits reserve spring sunlight 2020 c. Sophie Busch

Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits - Cambs

Quarrying finished in Lime Kiln Close approximately 200 years ago and nature has since reclaimed the site. These former chalk quarries that now provide a variety of habitats for wildlife, including some rare plants and insects.

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Wareseley Wood — credit

**Waresley Wood by Sarah Niemann**

Waresley & Gransden Woods - Cambs

Waresley and Gransden Woods are adjoining ancient oak-ash woods carpeted with oxlips, bluebells and violets in the spring.

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Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit nature reserve in late September 2019 - Robert Enderby

Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit - Beds

One of the jewels of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pegsdon Hills’ steep chalk hills offer some of the best views in the county.

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Beechwoods - Cambs

Beechwoods was originally planted in the 1840s, and Medieval plough terraces are still visible beneath the trees. The reserve is a small yet impressive wood of majestic beeches.

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Nene Wetlands - Northants

The Nene Wetlands nature reserve is a unique one square mile of wild and man-made habitats, managed for wildlife and people, made up of four linked reserves: Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows, Ditchford Lakes and Meadows, Higham Ferrers Pits and Wilson's Pits.

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Summer - Pitsford Water Nature Reserve — credit Sarah Gibbs

Pitsford Water - Northants

Pitsford is a gem of a reserve and one of our largest and most tranquil nature reserves. It's a haven for wildfowl and migrating waders. Note: a permit is required which is free for members.

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Hayley Wood - April 2019 — Hayley Wood - Robert Enderby

Hayley Wood - Cambs

This ancient woodland is a treasure trove of spring flowers and archaeological clues to times past. As well as the usual flowers, the wood is host to hundreds of species of fungi and thousands of insects and birds.

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Godmanchester - c. Wildlife Trust BCN — Wildlife Trust BCN

Godmanchester - Cambs

This beautiful nature reserve consists of four lakes which are former gravel pits. In winter numbers of grazing wildfowl increase as the resident population is joined by birds migrating south to avoid harsh Arctic winters.

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Titchmarsh - Northants

This is an enchanting wetland site with a good variety of birds, butterflies and a heronry. Winter is the best time to see large numbers of wildfowl; in particular, goosander, wigeon and gadwall reach nationally important numbers.

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A view across the water with trees, purple loosestrife and a white butterfly — Felmersham Gravel Pits in summer with purple loosestrife - Sophie Baker

Felmersham Gravel Pits - Beds

The reserve is a rich mosaic of woodland, grassland and open water. The lakes are one of the best places for dragonflies and damselflies in Bedfordshire, with no fewer than 18 species known to have bred.

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