Top reserves this year
Summer Leys - Nathalie Hueber
The numbers are in! Here are this year's most popular reserves.
Josh Hellon
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)
A ride in Brampton Wood
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beechwoods
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.
Daniel Procter
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
