get close to nature - natural england

Get close to natureVisiting Spotlight National Nature Reserves

working today for nature tomorrow

National Nature Reserves (NNRs) arethe jewels of England’s wildlife andgeological treasures. Many of thesevery special places offer peopleunrivalled opportunities to get closeto nature – and in doing so canstimulate your mind, body and spirit.

This booklet points you towards 35‘Spotlight’ NNRs – places that offersome of the best opportunities foryou to enjoy the open air and marvelat the country’s outstanding wildlifeand geology.

England has well over 200 NNRs.They were established to protect thecountry’s most important areas ofwildlife and most significantgeological formations, and as placesfor scientific research. But this doesnot mean they are no-go areas forpeople. The Spotlight reserves in thisbooklet have been specially selectedbecause they are among the bestplaces for people to see our specialwildlife and geology withoutinadvertently disturbing or damagingthe very things they have come toenjoy. They all have their owncharacter and unique attractions, tobe enjoyed by everyone.

Most of theplacesmentioned inthis booklethave self-guidednature trailsand viewingareas that helpyou to see andlearn about theirfeatures at firsthand. A growingnumber offer easyaccess to people,including thosewho usewheelchairs.

VisitingNNRsisn’t just about spotting colourfulbirds and butterflies, fascinatingplants or beautiful scenery. They aretranquil havens where we canunwind quietly and rediscover ournatural world. Nature is foreveryone, so please come and enjoyit!

More detailed leaflets on each NNRwill be available locally. You can alsofind out more about the reservesmentioned in this booklet by visitingwww.english-nature.org.uk or byphoning the English Nature EnquiryService on 01733 455100. While wehave tried to ensure the informationin this booklet is accurate, localdetails can change. If in doubt,please check with the Enquiry Service.

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Redstart.

Juniper, a native plant that canbe found on several SpotlightNational Nature Reserves.English Nature

Juniper, a native plant that canbe found on several SpotlightNational Nature Reserves.English Nature

This booklet uses a number of symbols to provide you with a quick reference tosome of the main facilities on each NNR.

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Car parking

Bus service

Railway

Cycle parking

Admission fee

Trails

Easy access

Events/guided walks

Aston Rowant, OxfordshireAston Rowant, Oxfordshire

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Kite flying at Ainsdale. The unmistakable red kite is something you may chance upon at Aston Rowant (inset).

Part of the Sefton Coast, this is thefinest system of sand dunes on thenorth-west coast of England and ahugely popular place to walk.

With so many different habitats – fromsand flats to dunes to woods – there aremany different types of wildlife too.

Visitors might spot sand lizard,natterjack toad, great crested newt andred squirrel, as well as 460 species offlowering plants! Or you may just enjoya walk in the bracing coastal air. The

sea shore isanimportantwinterstopover forwaders andgulls.

Getting there:Ainsdale Sand Dunes are betweenAinsdale village and Freshfield, along theSouthport coast road. The nearest carpark is 2.5km (1 mile) away on Ainsdalebeach. Buses run to Liverpool Road 2.5km (1 mile). Trains run to Ainsdale andFreshfields station (10 minutes’ walk).

Trails, facilities and events:There are colour-coded paths through thedunes. Information leaflets available. Thesand and rough ground is unsuitable forwheelchairs. Toilets in Ainsdale village2.5km (1.5 miles). Toilets andrefreshments at the Victoria Road NationalTrust property 4km (2.5 miles).

When to visit:Summer for wildflowers. Spring fornatterjacks. Autumn for red squirrels.

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This beautiful area of chalk grassland,juniper and beech woods is a glimpse ofthe way much of this part of theChilterns used to look.

The reserve – with its massive blocks ofsandstone ‘sarsens’ – overlooks the Valeof Oxford. Today, the grassland, with itsmany rare chalk-loving herbs andflowers, is kept in top condition throughgrazing by rare breed sheep.

In spring, the beech woodlands arecarpeted with bluebells. There are alsomany butterflies, including the darkgreen fritillary and the silver-spottedskipper. The juniper, an evergreen thatis native to England, is home to manyextremely rare insects. And here,visitors can spot the spectacular red kite.

Getting there:Signed from Christmas Common Road (offthe A40). Visitors to the northern sectioncan park in the English Nature car parkabout 400 metres down a lane offChristmas Common Road. Visitors to thesouthern section can park in CowleazeWood.

Trails, facilities and events:Six marked walks – one of them designedfor wheelchair users. Picnic area andwoodland sculpture trail at CowleazeWood. Events such as red kite walks areorganised throughout the year.

When to visit:October to March for the red kites. Springfor bluebells and migrating birds. Springto summer for orchids and wildflowers.

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Ainsdale Sand Dunes, MerseysideAinsdale Sand Dunes, Merseyside

English Nature Enquiry Service, 01733 455100 or www.english-nature.org.uk4

Red squirrel.

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A walk on the wild side of Castle Eden Dene. Below: nuthatch, one of the woodland birds.

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Castle Eden Dene, County DurhamCastle Eden Dene, County Durham


The unique hummocky landscape of theHills and Holes was created byquarrying for limestone. The stone,known as Barnack rag, was prized byRoman builders more than 1,500 yearsago. In mediaeval times, many abbeys,including Peterborough and Ely, werebuilt from the stone. It was carried onbarges down the fenland waterways.

Today, the wildflower-coveredmeadowland is one of Britain’s mostimportant wildlife sites and one of thebest places in the region to see thestrange green lights of the glow-worm.

Getting there:The reserve is in the village of Barnack,north-west of Peterborough. Car park atWittering Road. Cycle parking is alsoprovided. Buses from Stamford andPeterborough stop close to the reserve.

Trails, facilities and events:The circular, 1.3km, Limestone Walk takesaround 30 minutes. Follow the orangearrows from the main car park. Wardenon site in the spring and summer.

When to visit:April and May for the rare pasque flower.June and July for orchids and otherwildflowers. Summer for glow-worms.The site is open all year.

Barnack Hills and Holes, CambsBarnack Hills and Holes, Cambs


Young walkers enjoy a stroll over the Hills and Holes. Top right: the rare pasque flower.

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This tangled landscape is a survivor ofthe wildwood that once covered most ofBritain. It is a magical world where adeep gorge with yew, oak, ash and dyingelm creates a home for other plants andcreatures. For thousands of years,people have been fascinated by the dene,creating legends of the Devil to explainits strange rocks and mysteriousatmosphere. The fact that melt-waterfrom the last Ice Age carved out thespectacular limestone cliffs and gorges isno less a fascinating story. Once upon atime, the Saxons called this area Yoden,meaning Yew Dene. Yoden becameEden.

Getting there:Castle Eden Dene is signposted from theA19 and from Peterlee town centre. Carpark at Oakerside Dene Lodge. For busdetails, phone 0345 124 125.

Trails, facilities and events:Two marked walks. The Yew Tree Trail is3.75km (2.5 miles) and takes up to threehours. The Red Squirrel Trail is2.75km (1.75 miles) and takesup to 2.5 hours. Toilets, babychanging and touch screeninterpretation are atOakerside Dene Lodge. Ayear-round programme ofwildlife events.

When to visit:Spring for wildflowers. Autumnfor leaves. Bad weather can causelandslips.

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Of the five limestone valleys in the PeakDistrict National Park that make up theDerbyshire Dales NNR, Lathkill is thebest to visit. With its steep, grassyslopes, meandering river and ancientwoodlands, Lathkill Dale offers a quietbeauty.

Yet this was once a place of industry,fuelled by the rush for lead. Scatteredamong the woods and slopes areremnants of the mines and workings,slowly being absorbed by nature backinto the landscape.

The limestone cliff faces and rockyoutcrops in the dale tell of another story.350 million years ago, the whole WhitePeak area was part of a tropical lagoon,with coral reefs and volcanoes. The daleis rich in fossils and its grasslands areamong the most flower-rich in Britain.

Getting there:Lathkill Dale is 3.5km (2 miles) south westof Bakewell, between the villages of OverHaddon, Monyash and Youlgreave. Carparks at Over Haddon and Moor Lane,Youlgreave.

Trails,facilities

and events:Several paths run

through or close to thereserve, including theLimestone Way and the

Monsal Trail.Leaflets and

interpretative boards. Undergroundviewing platform at Bateman’s House.

When to visit:Year-round, though some concessionarypaths may be closed occasionally.

Derbyshire Dales – LathkillDerbyshire Dales – Lathkill Duncombe Park, North YorkshireDuncombe Park, North Yorkshire

English Nature Enquiry Service, 01733 455100 or www.english-nature.org.uk8 English Nature Enquiry Service, 01733 455100 or www.english-nature.org.uk 9

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Set in beautiful parkland in thepicturesque valley of the River Rye,Duncombe is made special by itsgnarled and ancient trees. Their rot-holes and hollow trunks are a haven forrare and spectacular insects. The insectsare direct descendants of those that oncelived in the wild wood that used to coverthis part of the country.

Birds such as woodpeckers and theelusive hawfinch make their nests in therot-holes, and bats make roosts. In thespring, the woods are stunning, withbluebells, primroses and wild garlic.

A beautiful, unspoilt stretch of riverwinds through the park – home to trout,otter and birds such as kingfisher andgrey heron.

Getting there:Just south-west of Helmsley off the A170.There is a car park.

Trails, facilities and events:Parkland open daily from Easter toOctober. Circular river walk and aprogramme of events, including guidedwalks. Toilets and refreshments, shop andinterpretation centre. Admission chargeto the park, garden and house. Foropening times and events, call the estateoffice on 01439 770213.

When to visit:Spring for bluebells and beetles. Summerfor pied flycatcher and redstart.

Above: walkers near Three Castles Haddon Grovefootpath in Lathkill Dale. Left: the dipper is amongthe river residents.

One of the many old trees that give Duncombe Park its special charm.

John Robinson


The Durham coastline is a landscape ofstriking limestone cliffs, headlands andbeaches. Glacial meltwaters have carvedout gills and denes along its length. Inthe past the coast has been disturbed bya century of colliery waste dumped onthe cliff-tops and beaches. With theclosure of the coal pits in the early1990s and the cleansing action of thesea, the spoil-covered beaches haverecovered.

The reserve is of tremendous importancefor its unique grasslands. Two nationalrarities, the Durham argus butterfly andthe day-flying least minor moth, feed onthe common rock rose, which thrives onthe limestone. Sand dune flowersinclude nationally scarce species such assea barley and burnt orchid. The reserveis also important for little tern andpurple sandpiper.

Getting there:The reserve is in the Easington District andcomprises sections of coastline betweenHorden in the north and Crimdon in thesouth. Parking at Crimdon Park, BlackhallRocks and Warren House Gill. Extensivecycle route through the Heritage Coast.Regular local bus services.

Trails, facilities and events:The Durham Coastal Footpath is a 17.5km(11 miles) route from Seaham to Crimdon,through stunning clifftop scenery. Rangeof leaflets and guides available locally.

When to visit:Summer for flowers and insects. Winterfor birds.

Durham CoastDurham Coast


The Durham Coast NNR is important for birds like the little tern. Above right: flower-rich coastal grassland.

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People have worked in and shapedYarner Wood – the most accessible partof the NNR – for centuries, and todaythe place teems with birdlife.

Trails within the Wood give visitors achance to discover an old leat, awatercourse that used to carry water8km from Becky Falls to a pottery atBovey Tracey. There is also a section ofthe Haytor granite horse-drawn tramwayand, in the ruins among the trees, thedisused Yarrow copper mine.

Yarner Wood is one of threeneighbouring nature reserves that makeup the East Dartmoor Woods andHeaths.

In this beautiful area of Devon, there areinternationally rare Western oakwoodland, moorland, valley mire and thedeep valley of the River Bovey. It isimportant habitat for otter, dipper, greywagtail, salmon, sea trout and manydragonflies. The nationally rareDartford warbler nests on the heathland.

Getting there:The NNR is in Dartmoor National Park onthe B3344 from Bovey Tracy to Manaton.

Trails, facilities and events:Yarner Wood’s main visitor area and carpark opens from 8.30am to 7pm (or dusk,if earlier). Short loop – 2.5km (1.5 miles),and long loop – 3.5km (2 miles). Thesecan combine to make a 6km (3.5 miles)walk with short cuts back to car park ifneeded.

When to visit:Year-round to enjoy the changing wildlife.

East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths, DevonEast Dartmoor Woods and Heaths, Devon

Outside the site office at Yarner Wood.

Otters live on the River Bovey.

Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses, ShropshireFenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses, Shropshire


One of Europe’s mostimportant seabirdsanctuaries, thisarchipelago of smallislands off theNorthumberland coastis home to more than20 different species,including puffin, eiderduck and four speciesof tern. Many of thebirds are quiteconfident near peopleso visitors can enjoyclose views. There isalso a large colony of greyseals.

The Farne Islands are probably bestknown for their Christian associationswith the Northumbrian Saints – mostnotably St Cuthbert and St Aidan. StCuthbert died on Inner Farne in 687 ADand there is a chapel in his memory.

Getting there:The islands are in the North Sea, around2km from Seahouses. There are 15-28islands (depending on the tide), but onlyInner Farne and Staple are open to thepublic. There is parking at Seahouses. Theislands are accessible only by boat, andlocal people run trips from Seahouses.

Trails, facilities and events:A short nature trail on Inner Farne.Details in the information leaflet availableon site. Toilets on Inner Farne and inSeahouses. Refreshments and informationcentre at Seahouses. There is an admission

charge, whichdoes notinclude theboat fare.

When tovisit:Mid-April andearly Augustfor seabirds.The islandsare open allyear round,but atrestrictedtimes. Checkwith theNational Truston 01665721099 foropeningtimes.

The open landscape of Fenn's, Whixalland Bettisfield Mosses is a rarewilderness in a sea of lowlandagriculture. Here, in the largest part ofthe Meres and Mosses straddling theEnglish-Welsh border, visitors can spotcurlews and waders, dragonflies andbutterflies.

Intensive commercial peat extraction hadall but destroyed the area, but extensiverehabilitation and restoration work byEnglish Nature and its partners meansthat mire species are rapidly returning.

Protecting the fragile area is veryimportant, so visitors need to stick to thetrails for that – and their own safety.Lifetime permits that give access to allparts of the reserve are available forpeople who want to explore thespecialist wildlife further.

Getting there:6.5km (4 miles) southwest of Whitchurch,16km (10 miles) south west ofWrexham. South of theA495. Roadside parking at the entrances,and a large car park at Manor House.

Trails, facilities and events:A series of waymarked trails, informationpanels at all main entrances and aprogramme of events. Leaflets available.Refreshments and toilets are available inlocal pubs. Disabled access along the oldrailway line by prior arrangement. It isrisky to leave the marked trails.

When to visit:June and July for dragonflies andbutterflies. April for the birds. Autumnfor the colourful bog mosses.


Children view the nests of shag from a boardwalk on the Outer Farnes. Mires are a major feature of the special Mosses landscape. Right: the four spotted darter.

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Farne Islands, NorthumberlandFarne Islands, Northumberland

Puffin isanotherFarneIslandsbird.

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A fascinating mosaic of differenthabitats, Finglandrigg Wood is vital tolots of well-known wildlife, as well asmany less-common species. Keep youreyes peeled for a red squirrel, as well asroe deer, brown hare and wood mouse.Badger and otter are likely to keep wellhidden! Finglandrigg has more 40species of breeding birds includingbuzzard, tawny owl, willow tit and reedbunting.

The whole of the Solway Plain area wascarved out during the most recent IceAge, leaving a landscape of low hillswith boulders, called drumlins. Humanhands shaped the site in the late 1700sand early 1800s, when the EnclosureActs placed much of the common landat Finglandrigg into private ownership.

Getting there:The reserve is about 13km (8 miles) fromCarlisle, off the B5307, 3km (2 miles) afterFingland. Park in the Haverlands lay-byand continue on foot along marked paths.

Trails, facilities and events:Two marked walks. The 2km (1.25 miles)Chalybeate Well Trail takes 45 minutes toan hour. Little Bampton Common Trail is a3km (1.75 miles) walk that takes aroundtwo hours. Information panels around thesite. Guided walks and children’s eventsthroughout the year.

When to visit:March to July for birds. April onwards forbutterflies. All seasons – especially atdawn and dusk – for squirrels.

Gait Barrows is a maze of grikes, clintsand runnels – all features of animpressive limestone pavement that isone of the most important in Britain.This rare, water-worn limestone, laiddown in the shallow warm seas around300 million years ago, dominates the300-acre reserve, but has suffered at thehands of 20th century home-improvers.Until the site was protected, people dugup the rare stone to decorate theirgardens as rockeries.

Fascinating plants and insects thrive inthe fissures (grikes) between the blocksof stone (clints). The grikes drain intorunnels – and these gutters carry awaythe water that re-emerges in the reserve’stwo lakes. The pavement is surroundedby rich woodlandwhere more than 1,600species of fungi havebeen recorded.Watch out for800 speciesof moth too.

Getting there:Gait Barrows is 3km (2 miles) fromSilverdale. There is a small car park. ASunday bus service runs in summer.

Trails, facilities and events:Three trails – Limestone, Yew and HawesWater – cover all the reserve features.Permits available for off-trail visits. TheHawes Water Trail has good disabledaccess. Moth evenings and children’sevents.

When to visit:Spring and summer for flowering plants.All year for woodland birds.

Finglandrigg Woods, CumbriaFinglandrigg Woods, Cumbria Gait Barrows, LancashireGait Barrows, Lancashire


Finglandrigg is home to lots of wildlife, including birds like the willow tit.

Limestone pavement is a rare and outstanding feature to be enjoyed on the trails.

Hawes Water reedbeds and high brown fritillary oncommon spotted orchid.

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Golitha Falls, CornwallGolitha Falls, Cornwall


Gibraltar Point is part of an ever-changing coastline. For centuries, thedynamics of sea and land have affectedthe people who live here. The nearbytown of Wainfleet was a busy port inmedieval times, but its access to the seagradually silted up until it becamecompletely isolated. For a while,Gibraltar Point was the closest thatlarger boats could get to the town, and asmall community grew up. But by theearly part of this century, the sea hadretreated and new lines of dunes formed.

The reserve is made up of sandy andmuddy seashores, sand dunes,saltmarshes and freshwater habitatsalong three miles of the coast, from thesouthern end of Skegness to the entranceof The Wash. Among the Point’sfamous birds are little tern and it hostsmore than 200 species of migratingbirds.

Getting there:5.5km (3.5 miles) from Skegness. Wellsignposted from the town. Two pay anddisplay car parks.

Trails, facilities and events:A network of marked paths, anobservation platform at Mill Hill andpublic hides overlooking the Mere andFenland lagoon. Visitor centre near theSouth Car Park, open daily from May toOctober and on weekends and bankholidays the rest of theyear.

When to visit:All year round forbirds.

Gibraltar Point, LincolnshireGibraltar Point, Lincolnshire


One of the trails at Gibraltar Point, looking from Mill Hill.

Visitors enjoy the all-ability trail in Draynes Wood, within the Golitha Falls reserve.

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Spectacular cascades and hundreds ofyears of human history make GolithaFalls a special place. Picturesque woodsgrow on a steep-sided valley gorge,where the River Fowey cascades down aseries of waterfalls. These woods are aremnant of the ancient woodland thatcovered much of the surrounding area.

The history of managing the wood bycoppicing goes back to at least the timeof the Domesday Book. Today, small-scale coppicing has been re-started.

Although naturalists love Golitha for itsplantlife, it is the overwhelming beautyof the place that draws visitors. Here,wood, water and stone combine to createan enchanting landscape.

Getting there:5km (3 miles) northwest of Liskeard. 4km(2.5 miles) north ofDobwalls on the A38.There is a car park.

Trails, facilitiesand events:Marked trails,including easy accesstrail. Toilets in the car park. Ice cream vanduring the summer. There is a leafletavailable and an information panel.

When to visit:April to July for wildflowers. Any time ofyear for the river and falls.

Redshank is one of thebirds at Gibraltar Point.

John Robinson

Ingleborough, YorkshireIngleborough, Yorkshire


As a boy, Lord Nelson loved to explorethis stretch of coast. And it’s notsurprising. Holkham is the mostextensive, diverse and dramatic naturereserve on a coastline famous for naturereserves. There are windswept tidelines,a maze of creeks and saltings, miles ofdunes and sandpits, shady pinewoods,green pastures and marshes.

The area’s history, though, stretches backlong before Nelson. Holkham Fort datesback to around AD47 and is the remainsof an Iceni tribal settlement. Warriors ofthis tribe fought with Queen Boadiceaagainst the Romans. The only battlestoday are the skirmishes as thousands ofknot and a seasonal mix of redshank,grey plover and dunlin dibble about overthe surface of the mud to find food.

Getting there:Holkham stretches from Burnham Nortonto Blakeney and covers about 4,000hectares. There are three car parks. AtBurnham Overy, parking is free but thereis a charge for parking at Lady Ann’s Driveand Wells Beach Road.

Trails, facilities and events:The core section of the reserve, from Wellsto Holkham Bay, is criss-crossed by paths.There is a cycleway and bridleway,comprehensive leaflet and beach users’guide. Toilets and refreshments at WellsBeach Road car park.

When to visit:Winter for migrant birds and thousands ofpink-footed geese. Summer for sealavender, orchids and terns.

Holkham, NorfolkHolkham, Norfolk


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At Ingleborough, natural processes havecreated a majestic landscape ofexceptional limestone pavements,gritstone capped peaks and undergroundcaverns. The range of rock types, soilsand altitudes, together with the effects ofhuman management down the years,have created an intriguing mix of plants,insects, birds and other animals. Therocks at Ingleborough were laid downaround 300 million years ago. The hugeexpanses of Great Scar limestone rock,revealed and pressurised by glaciers,produced this giant cobbled ‘runway’.

Evidence is strong that man has farmedthis area since prehistoric times. Thereare ancient fields, traces of lost villagesand an Iron Age fort tops the summitplateau. Ingleborough Hill is one of thefamous Three Peaks in the YorkshireDales National Park.

Getting there:8km (5 miles) north of the A65. About9.5km (6 miles) from Ingleton. There arecar parks and lay-bys. Rail stations atRibblehead or Horton in Ribblesdale onthe Settle to Carlisle railway.

Trails, facilities and events:There are four marked walks of between3.5km and 15km, taking 1-1.5 hours to 5hours. One runs between rail stations.Ingleborough can be challenging, even forexperienced andwell-equippedwalkers.

When to visit:May to July forlimestonepavement plants.

Walkers at Holkham. The coastal NNR also offers shadypinewoods.

Walkers on the reserve. Below right: one of the limestone pavement plants, bloody cranesbill.

Dunlin are among the shoreline birds.

Peter Wakely/English Nature 19,551

Some of Britain’s oldest living things –ancient yews – are found in thisbeautiful, but sometimes eerie, reserve.Certainly the yew grove at twilight is noplace for the faint-hearted and it is littlewonder that legends of hauntingsabound. People have been associatedwith Kingley Vale since far beyondrecorded history. On the summit of BowHill are the tombs of ancient chieftainsof the tribes who lived here around1,000 BC. These barrows are knownlocally as the Devil’s humps. Elsewhere,there are signs of Roman, Celtic andmediaeval settlements and cultivation.

The rich downland blooms with up to 50species of flowering plants and grassesper square metre, and 39 of Britain’s 58butterfly species have been recordedhere.

Getting there:5km (3 miles) north west of Chichester.Leave the A286 at Mid Lavant, or bikefrom Chichester station. The main carpark is near the village of West Stoke. Thereserve is signed from there and is about15 minutes’ walk.

Trails, facilities and events:Small field centre with wheelchair andpushchair access. Permanent displays andinformation. A marked circular trailthrough the main habitats, starting andfinishing at the field centre.

When to visit:All year round, but May to August arerecommended.

Kingley Vale, West SussexKingley Vale, West Sussex Lindisfarne, NorthumbriaLindisfarne, Northumbria


Inspirational moments with Kingley Vale’s yews.

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In 635AD, Holy Island, much of whichsits within the Lindisfarne NNR, becamea reknowned Christian priory in the thenkingdom of Northumbria. After thedeath of the Priory’s greatest bishop,Cuthbert, in 687AD, it produced perhapsthe 7th century’s greatest work of art, theLindisfarne Gospels. These are nowhoused in the British Library, but acomputer version can be seen at theLindisfarne Heritage Centre.

The ever-changing coastline of the NNRoffers a variety of wildlife seldom seenelsewhere. Tidal mudflats, saltmarshesand dunes combine to create a home forfascinating plants and bird visitors fromthousands of miles away. Every autumn,the jet-set fly in! Six internationallyimportant species of wildfowl andwading birds overwinter here. For thepale-bellied Brent geese, this is theironly regular wintering place in Britain.

Pinkfooted and greylag geese, widgeon,grey plover and bar-tailed godwit are theother VIPs. Brought ashore by waterand wind, the sand of the dunes isgradually tamed by marram grass. Thedunes support many plants, such as theearly forget-me-nots.

Getting there:Holy Island is sign-posted from the A1south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The islandcan only be reached at low tide across along causeway. Always check the tidetimetables. Car parks at Budle Bay onHoly Island, and at Beal on the mainland.

Trails, facilities and events:The trail covers 5km (3 miles) and takes 1.5to 3 hours. Childrens activity bookletavailable.

When to visit:July and August for butterflies. Autumnfor the wildfowl and waders.

Visitors to Lindisfarne.

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Lower Derwent Valley is a series offlood meadows, pasture and woodlandteeming with fascinating plants andthousands of birds.

More than 80 species of birds have bredhere in recent years. The wildfowlinclude pintail, gargany and gadwall,and the waders include curlew, lapwing,snipe, redshank and oystercatcher.

In winter, the grasslands attract up to5,000 teal, up to 70 Bewick’s swan andas many as 10,000 widgeon. Watch out,too, for the red-eyed damselfly, whichlikes to bask on the water lilies, andother colourful dragonflies.

Getting there:Three main access points: Duffield Carrscar park is 1.5km (1 mile) east of NorthDuffield off the A163; Bank Island is 1kmsouth-east of Wheldrake off theWheldrake to Thorganby road; Wheldrakeis 1.5km (1 mile) south-east of Wheldrakeoff the Wheldrake to Thorganby road.

Trails, facilities and events:Duffield Carrs has two hides, wheelchairaccess and bike racks. Bank Island has twohides, a viewing platform and bike racks.Wheldrake has six hides. Access to thePocklington Canal, a tributary of the lowerDerwent, is available at nine locations andis ideal for walking, though not accessiblefor wheelchairs.

When to visit:December – March for waterfowl, Mayand June for breeding birds and floweringmeadows.


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Remote, dramatic and exhilarating,Moor House is a place of spectaculargeological formations, waterfalls andpanoramic views. Cauldron Snout andHigh Force waterfalls are simplyastounding, particularly after rain, andare well worth the walk to them.

One of England’s largest NNRs, it isparticularly well known for the plantsthat originally colonised the highestPennines after the Ice Age. You can alsosee outstanding rock formations such asoutcropping sugar limestone and theGreat Whin Sill.

Today in this renowned outdoorlaboratory, scientists from the Centre forEcology and Hydrology are investigatingthe effects of a changing climate onupland plants and animals.

Getting there:B6277 Alston Road out of Middleton-in-Teesdale for 11km (7 miles) to theLangdon Beck Hotel, left to the car park atCow Green Reservoir. Cumbria side of thereserve: A66 north of Appleby-in-Westmorland, then minor roads throughLong Marton and Knock.

Trails, facilities and events:Three nature trails. The 5km (3 miles)Widdybank Fell is accessible forwheelchairs and takes about 2 hours.Waterfalls and wildlife trail covers 12 km(7.5 miles) and takes about 5 hours. The'up on the ridge' trail covers 12 km (7.5miles) and takes about 5 hours.

Programme of events includes guidedwalks and story-telling. The Pennine Wayruns through the NNR.

When to visit:Spring and summer for alpine wildflowersand waders.

High Force, an exhilarating and much-visited sightwithin the NNR.

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Moor House-Upper TeesdaleMoor House-Upper Teesdale

Lapwing, above, and, below, meadowsweet in theDerwent Valley.

Lower Derwent Valley, East YorkshireLower Derwent Valley, East Yorkshire

North Meadow, Cricklade, WiltshireNorth Meadow, Cricklade, Wiltshire Old Winchester Hill, HampshireOld Winchester Hill, Hampshire


North Meadow is renowned for its snake’s head fritillary show.

The spectacular ancient hill-fort is saidto pre-date the Iron Age and gives viewsas far as the south coast and the Isle ofWight. There are many overlappinglayers of history here. Bronze Ageburial mounds for important members oflocal society were built on the crest ofthe hill between 4,500 and 3,500 yearsago. These mounds – known as barrows– can now be seen as large grassylumps.

The fort, which has never beenexcavated, is believed to have been adefended settlement for a Celticchieftain. Within the fort itself, you canstill see the site of the huts as subtlehollows. Some of the hollows, though,were created during World War II, whenthe army used the hill as a mortar firingrange!

Several types of orchids thrive here, asdo flowers like the round-headedrampion. Look out, too, for juniperbushes. Butterflies such the chalkhillblue appear in large numbers in summer.

Getting there:1.5km (1 mile) south west of Warnford,along minor roads. There is an on-site carpark, sign-posted from the A32.

Trails, facilities and events:2.5km (1.5 mile) nature trail. Leaflets, andinformation panels. Easy access trail froma dedicated car park fitted with Radarpadlock. Keep to the paths. There maybe unexploded ammunition. Picnic tablesand an ice cream van in summer.

When to visit:June and July for wildflowers. May toOctober for invertebrates.

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Time to kick off the footwear in a quiet corner of Old Winchester Hill. Right: round-headed rampion.

Once there were many meadows like thisalong the upper Thames but most havebeen destroyed by agriculturalimprovement or gravel extraction. NorthMeadow is an old, flower-rich haymeadow with a huge variety ofwildflowers – so many, in fact, that it isone of Europe’s finest. The spectacularblossoming of snake’s head fritillaryflowers brings people from all over thecountry during April. In winter, theRivers Thames and Churn frequentlyflood the meadow. This is vital to helpthe plants thrive.

The people of Cricklade have managedNorth Meadow for hundreds of years,latterly in partnership with EnglishNature which has owned most of themeadow since the early 1970s. Ancient

carved stones mark the boundariesseparating the different ‘hay lots’.

Getting there:Off the A419, 20 minutes walk north westof Cricklade town centre. Car parking andbus links in the town. Roadside parkingwithin 300 metres of the reserve.

Trails, facilities and events:Three marked trails. Leaflets andinformation panels. Toilets andrefreshments in Cricklade. Guided walks.

When to visit:April for snake’s head fritillary flowers.June and July for the meadow flowers. Allyear for birds.

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For centuries, local people dug peat forfuel, harvested reed and sedge forthatching and grazed the drier marginswith cattle. But, as these activities driedup, so did the fen. Drainage and waterabstraction dried the fen even further.

The National Trust is working torehydrate the fen and re-create itswonderful wildlife habitats. Alreadywetland species such as butterwort,marsh and fragrant orchid and birds suchas snipe have made a comeback.

Redgrave and Lopham Fen is the largestremaining river valley fen in Englandand the source of the River Waveney. Itis also one of the most importantwetlands in Europe with fantasticwildlife, including many species nowrare in Britain. The small pools arehome to the elegant fen raft spider foundin only one other area in the UK.

Getting there:From the B1113 (between Redgrave andSouth Lopham). From the A1066(between South Lopham andBressingham). The main car parks are atthe visitor centre.

Trails, facilities and events:Three nature trails, a nature trail leaflet,and information panels. The visitor centreis open 10am-5pm on Saturdays andSundays – toilets and refreshmentsavailable. Programme ofcourses and wildlifeevents. Pathsand viewingplatform fordisabled visitors.

When tovisit:Any time of year, butApril to September forwildlife.

Redgrave and Lopham Fen, SuffolkRedgrave and Lopham Fen, Suffolk Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes, LincolnshireSaltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes, Lincolnshire


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Boardwalk and (above) the fen raft spider.

Military as well as natural history makesthis 8km stretch of dunes a fascinatingplace. This constantly changingcoastline in north-east Lincolnshire wasa bombing range in the 1930s and wasfortified with pillboxes and tank traps inWorld War Two. It became a naturereserve in 1969 and is a haven forplants, insects, resident and migratorybirds and mammals such as water vole.

In the 13th century, a series of unusuallyviolent storms began to form today’sdunes. The sea threw up shingle andother beach-building material, andstrong winds blew sand to the back ofthe beach. The same processes are stillat work, creating new shingle ridges,dunes and saltmarsh.

Getting there:A short distance from the A1031 betweenSaltfleet and Mablethorpe. There areseven car parks. The main one – Rimac – issigned from the main road. Bus servicesnearby.

Trails, facilities and events:Sea View trails (three walks); ChurchillLane trails (two walks); Rimac trail(one easy access route). Publictoilets open from May toOctober. Free guided walksfrom May to September.Trails leaflet available fromthe reserve office.

When to visit:Summer for flowers, insectsand birds. Winter formigrant birds.

Sand dunes and (below) southern marsh-orchid.

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Slapton Ley is a highly unusual wetland,and is divided into two ‘leys’, orfreshwater lakes, separated from the seaby the narrowest of land bridges. It is amosaic of habitats, including reedbed,fen and woodland. These create a widevariety of ‘ecological niches’ and awonderful diversity of plants andanimals.

Slapton is famous for migrant warblersand the open water is home to manyspecies of waterfowl. The reserve alsohas more than 490 species of plants and2,000 species of fungi. Porpoises,basking sharks and grey seal canoccasionally be seen off Slapton Sandsduring the summer months.

Getting there:Alongside theA379, 13km (8miles) fromKingsbridge,9.5km (6 miles)from Dartmouth. There are three carparks. The Dartmouth to Kingsbridge busruns near the reserve.

Trails, facilities and events:Two birdwatching hides and a 2.5km (1.5miles) nature trail. Leaflets from the fieldcentre in Slapton village. Disabled access,toilets and viewing ramp. Refreshments.

When to visit:April to October for birds and wildflowers.

Shapwick Heath, SomersetShapwick Heath, Somerset Slapton Ley, DevonSlapton Ley, Devon


Enjoying a stroll through Shapwick, where it’s not hard to imagine the ancient Sweet Track.

Slapton Ley provides people with opportunities to spot birds like the great crested grebe.

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Shapwick Heath is a monument to thehistory and culture of Neolithic man,who came here 6,000 years ago andmade this his tribal homeland. Forcenturies, peat was harvested and thoseareas have been transformed into awilderness of open water, reed swampand reedbed. With green, flowerymeadows, still dark ditches, secret fensand shady wet woodlands, this is atranquil, atmospheric landscape.

Parts of the Neolithic Sweet Track – theoldest man-made route in Britain – stillexist here, preserved beneath the peat.This remarkable timber track was builtin the spring of 3,806 BC to cross thereedswamp. Many artefacts have beenfound, including a child’s toy tomahawkand pots of hazelnuts. Today, watch outfor otters, waterfowl, hairy dragonfliesand listen for the elusive bittern.

Visitors can also explore the history ofthe area in the Iron Age reconstructionvillage near the Peat Moors Centre.

Getting there:Near Shapwick, off the A39. Car parksclearly marked.

Trails, facilities and events:Marked paths, an easy access trail and aseries of hides. The Peat Moors Centre isopen all year-round and has a café andtoilets. Guided walks and events.

When to visit:December and January for wildfowl. Mayfor the hobby. Summer for warblers.

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Earliest records show that theAugustinian monks were the first to usethis land. They dug ditches to bring thefloodwater of the adjoining River Stouronto the meadows. The marsh wasexcellent grazing for mares in foal andwas known as Stud-marsh, now changedto Stodmarsh. Flood barriers andmining have been subsequent influences.

These large wetland habitats attract arich variety of wildlife. The reserve isparticularly noted for its largepopulation of breeding and winteringbirds, some of which are rare. Birds likebearded tit and the secretive bittern,breed here. Other birds, like reedbunting and sedge warbler use thereedbeds for nesting and the reserve isalso home to the endangered water vole,‘Ratty’ from The Wind in the Willows.

Getting there:Stodmarsh NNR liesbetween Stodmarshvillage and GroveFerry near the A28Canterbury to Thanetroad, about four milesfrom Canterbury citycentre.

Trails, facilities and events:Four bird hides, an observation mound,and an easy access nature trail of between0.6km (0.3 miles) and 1.1km (0.6 miles),depending on the chosen route.Information panels and leaflets. Toilets inone of the two car parks. Refreshmentsavailable locally.

When to visit:Any time of year for birds.

Stodmarsh, KentStodmarsh, Kent


Birdwatching from the Stodmarsh causeway. Right: sedge warbler.

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If the Devil can flatten the Stiperstones,all of England will perish – so says oneof the many legends inspired by thisspectacular 10km quartzite ridge. Fourcairns and a Bronze Age long barrow areevidence of human activity going back3,000 years. There is also an Iron Agehill fort, and a lost and ghostly Romanlegion is rumoured to march the ridge.

The landscape, wildlife and history haveinspired novels by Mary Webb and DHLawrence, musical works – and a beer!

Much of the area is heather heathland,created when people first cleared treesso that they could graze their animals.There are also hay meadows andwoodland. These habitats are home tolots of animal and birdlife – from thecurlew and grouse to the brown hare andemperor moth. The walking varies from

the easy to the highlystrenuous.

Getting there:Near Minsterley, Shropshire. The reserve iswell signed from the main roads. Five car parks around the reserve. TheStiperstones Shuttle bus service – summerweekends and bank holidays.

Trails, facilities and events:500 metre all-ability trail. 8km (5 miles)Stiperstones Stomp trail over exposed,rough terrain. Toilets and refreshments innearby villages and pubs.

When to visit:Late summer for the heather and gorse infull bloom. Weather can make it tricky inwinter.

Stiperstones, ShropshireStiperstones, Shropshire

The Stiperstones ridge is rough, but there is an easy access trail at its foot.

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Teesmouth is a nature reserve with adifference. In this extraordinary blendof industry and nature, you can find tensof thousands of water-birds, commonand grey seals – and a reminder thatindustry isn’t a modern phenomenon. Inmediaeval times, the salt industry hadalready begun to change the Teesestuary. You can still see the grass-covered mounds of ash from the firesthat evaporated the sea water tocrystallize the valuable salt. 18thCentury industrialists shipped rawmaterials from here and manufacturingdeveloped.

Magnificent seals became extinct in theTees estuary during the 19th Centurybecause of pollution, disturbances totheir habitats and hunting. Today, theyhave returned and are breeding again.Several hundred shelduck converge atTeesmouth, along with great flocks of

migrant birds. You may also spot merlinand peregrine hunting here.

Getting there:1.5km (1 mile) east of the A1778 andnorth of Middlesborough. Two car parksat North Gare and Cowpen Marsh. Hourlybus service.

Trails, facilities and events:Seal Sands easy access path. Twoobservation hides, information panels andleaflets. Toilets and refreshments atnearby British Energy Visitor Centre and inSeaton Carew.

When to visit:Spring and summer for dune flowers.Autumn for cormorant, curlew andredshank. Winter for flocks of knot,shelduck and sanderling.

Teesmouth, ClevelandTeesmouth, Cleveland


Teesmouth – industry makes it different but hugely interesting. Inset: grey seals are frequent visitors.

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Studland and Godlingston Heath, DorsetStudland and Godlingston Heath, Dorset

Riders take advantage of the heathland tracks. Inset: sand lizard.

Mysterious man-made hollows, barrowsand standing stones, 20th Centurybunkers and shell holes. Studland’sarchaeology is just as fascinating as itsgeology and its wildlife. Fine beachesstretch continuously for miles fromSouth Haven Point to the chalk cliffs ofHandfast Point and Old Harry Rocks.The heathland behind this beach is ahaven for many rare birds, including theDartford warbler and nightjar.

Sand dune ridges have built up over thelast 400 years to enclose the Little Sea –an acidic freshwater lake which attractswintering wildfowl. One unmissablelandmark is the Agglestone, a largeblock of iron-rich sandstone, which hasstood up to erosion by wind and water.

Getting there:On Studland Peninsula, 1.5km (1 mile)north of Studland village. Pay and displaycar parks. A bus and private ferry alsooperate to the reserve.

Trails, facilities and events:Four birdwatching hides and variousnature trails, from 400 metres to 1.5km (1mile). Leaflets and signs. The boardwalkto the beach is suitable for wheelchairs.Visitor centre, shop and café. Guidedtours and a programme of events. Toiletsat Shell Bay, Knoll and Middle Beach.

When to visit:Winter for wildfowl. Summer forheathland plants and animals.

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John Robinson

Thursley, SurreyThursley, Surrey


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TheDevilstands onthe hillsnearby andThor throws astone at him. It misses and lands in themarsh instead. This is the legend that issaid to give Thursley – in the lee ofThor’s throw – its name. Myth this maybe, but Thursley is still a colourful place.With its lowland heath, mire andwoodland, it is one of the largest areas ofheathland in Surrey.

Twenty-six species of dragonfly havebeen recorded on the reserve, along withhealthy populations of silver-studdedblue, grayling and purple emperorbutterflies. Birds to watch for includewoodlark, hobby and Dartford warbler.

Getting there:Between the villages of Elstead andThursley. The A3 runs along part of theeastern boundary. Main car park at theMoat. Limited parking in Thursley village.Bus service from Godalming.

Trails, facilities and events:Extensive network of bridleways andpaths, and boardwalks to the wetter areas.Leaflets and information. Toilets at theNational Trust’s Witley information centre.Parts of the site have been used formilitary training – suspicious objectsshould be left untouched and reported tothe police.

When to visit:May to September for birds, dragonfliesand flowers.

Walkers on a Thursleyboardwalk. Below left,

the purple emperorbutterfly.

DerekMiddleton/FLPA


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John Robinson

The Lizard peninsula’s extraordinarygeology erupted from the planet’s core400 million years ago. The rocks wereshoved and cooked by Earth-shatteringforces, and deposited in a series ofmulticoloured layers onto the mostsoutherly part of the British mainland, inCornwall. A wealth of wildlife can befound here.

Kennack is one of the finest and mostaccessible beaches on The Lizard. Insummer, the world’s second-largest fish,the plankton-eating basking shark, canoften be glimpsed close inshore.

At Goonhilly Downs, the heaths arebright with colourful plants – especiallyin July and August. Buzzards, owls andother birds of prey hunt across thedowns. With its turquoise sea in ashallow cove with islands and caves,Kynance can feel like the Mediterranean.

Getting there:The A3083 and B3293cross the area. 12 car parks at different sitesaround The Lizard.

Trails, facilities andevents:The South West Coast Path continuesaround the perimeter of the wholepeninsula. Easy access area on Goonhilly.Information panels and leaflets. Footpathand bridleway network. Visitor centre atGoonhilly.

When to visit:Lizard flowers are at their best in springand summer, but the mild climate ensuresblooms all year.

Children build a sandcastle on Kennack Sands. Marshfritillary (inset) is one of the butterflies of The Lizard,and buzzard (below) hunt across the Downs.

The Lizard, CornwallThe Lizard, Cornwall

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Wicken Fen, CambridgeshireWicken Fen, Cambridgeshire


A whole range of habitats comestogether at Walberswick. There aresome of the best remaining areas ofSandlings heathland, along withreedbeds, inter-tidal mud-flats, grazingmarsh, hay meadows, woodland and thetidal estuary of the River Blyth.

The reserve’s Westwood Marsh isprobably the largest block of freshwaterreedbed in Britain – ideal for one of itsmost secretive residents, the bittern. Thearea was reclaimed for grazing at thebeginning of the 18th Century, butflooded for defence purposes duringWorld War II. This allowed the reeds tospread back over the marsh, restoring itsformer glory.

There are otter, five kinds ofdeer, more than 240 speciesof birds and around 500different sorts of butterfliesand larger moths.

Getting there:Just south of the village of Walberswick(between Southwold and Dunwich) on theSuffolk coast. The western edge followsthe A12. Three English Nature car parksand two more in Walberswick. Hourly busfrom Lowestoft to Ipswich.

Trails, facilities and events:20 miles of footpaths. Observation hide.Guided walks in summer.

When to visit:All year, but spring for marsh harrier andbittern. Winter for avocet. Summer fornightjar and butterflies.

Walberswick, SuffolkWalberswick, Suffolk


Walkers on a sweep of coastline at Walberswick. Top: bittern.

A school party takes advantage of Wicken Fen’s facilities.

Water rail.

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Wicken Fen has been shaped bycenturies of use by man. The wetlandhas played an important role in thesocial and economic life of the area. Itprovided materials for thatching localhouses, bedding and feed for animals,fish and fowl for food, and peat for fuel.

Wicken Fen is highly unusual inlandscape terms. A remnant of the oncemassive Cambridgeshire Fens, itpreserves a true sense of wetlandwilderness.

Boardwalks take visitors into theoriginal peat fen, which supports rarefenland plants such as marsh pea, fenviolet and marsh fern. In the roughpasture, reedbeds and pools ofAdventurer's Fen, breeding wetland birdsand wintering wildfowl include teal,wigeon, shoveler, pochard and tuftedduck. The dykes, abandoned claypits

and other watercourses carry a wealth ofaquatic plants, and the rich insect-lifeincludes notable dragonflies, spiders andsnails. Charles Darwin collected beetleson the Fen in the 1820s.

Getting there:South of the A1123, 5km (3 miles) west ofSoham, 14.5km (9 miles) south of Ely. Carparking on site.

Trails, facilities and events:Three nature trails and bird hide. Visitorcentre and café open Tuesdays to Sundays.Full programme of events. Admissioncharge. More information from theNational Trust on 01353 720274.

When to visit:All year.

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What first strikes most visitors to thisreserve is the fantastic view and thespectacular landscape. Who could failto be impressed by the Devil's KneadingTrough – a steep-sided ‘coombe’ carvedinto the chalk escarpment by melt watersfrom the last Ice Age.

Turn your eyes to the ground, and youwill be looking at one of Britain’s bestexamples of chalk grassland, noted forits rich plant-life. The reserve boastsaround 4,000 different plant species. Aswell as 19 different types of orchids,there are fragrant herbs, such as wildmarjoram, basil and thyme. You onlyhave to walk on the grass in summer tosmell their presence. The steepness ofthe landscape is what saved Wye Downsfrom the plough. This reserve is nowgrazed, as it would have beentraditionally, to conserve the plant-rich

downland and itsother wildlife.

Getting there:9.5km (6 miles)from Ashford onthe North Downs,near the village ofWye. Car parking opposite the reserve.

Trails, facilities and events:Nature trail (very steep in places) – 4km(2.5 miles). Information and leaflets.Toilets and refreshments in the village ofWye.

When to visit:Summer for views over the Weald and forwildflowers and butterflies.

Wye, KentWye, Kent


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The views from Wye Downs are matchless. Right: flowers include early spider orchids.

Northumberland

Tyne & Wear

DurhamCumbria

North Yorkshire

South Yorkshire

West Yorkshire

GreaterManchester

Lancashire East Riding of Yorkshire

Lincolnshire

Norfolk

Suffolk

Essex

Cambs

Rutland

Beds

Bucks

Oxfordshire

Berkshire

Surrey Kent

East SussexWestSussex

Hampshire

Wiltshire

Avon

Somerset

Devon

Cornwall

Gloucestershire

Dorset

Herts

DerbyshireCheshire

Shropshire

Leicestershire

WorcesterHerefordNorthants

Warwickshire

WestMidlands

GreaterLondon

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9Where to findSpotlight NationalNature Reserves

1 Ainsdale Sand Dunes2 Aston Rowant3 Barnack Hills and

Holes4 Castle Eden Dene5 Derbyshire Dales

(Lathkill)6 Duncombe Park 7 Durham Coast8 East Dartmoor

Woods and Heaths(Yarner Wood)

9 Farne Islands10 Fenn’s, Whixall and

Bettisfield Mosses11 Finglandrigg Woods12 Gait Barrows13 Gibraltar Point14 Golitha Falls15 Holkham16 Ingleborough17 Kingley Vale18 Lindisfarne19 Lower Derwent

Valley

20 Moor House-UpperTeesdale

21 North Meadow, Cricklade22 Old Winchester Hill

23 Redgrave and Lopham Fen24 Saltfleetby-

Theddlethorpe Dunes25 Shapwick Heath

26 Slapton Ley27 Stiperstones

28 Stodmarsh29 Studland and

Godlingston Heath30 Teesmouth31 The Lizard

32 Thursley33 Walberswick34 Wicken Fen

35 Wye

English Nature is the Governmentagency that champions theconservation of wildlife andgeology throughout England.

This is one of a range ofpublications published byEnglish Nature, NorthminsterHouse, Peterborough PE1 1UA.

www.english-nature.org.uk

© English Nature 2005

Printed on Evolution Satin, 75%recycled post-consumer wastepaper, elemental chlorine free.

ISBN 1 85716 860 7Catalogue code ST11.6

Front cover photographs: Top left: Bee orchid. Peter Wakely/English Nature Bottom left: Tree sparrow. John RobinsonMain: A family enjoys a walk across Studland andGodlingston Heath NNR. Bob Gibbons/EnglishNature

Designed and printed by Seabury Salmon & Associates (01584 877442)

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