Introduction

Birds, mammals, insects, wildflowers, fungi, woodland, fen, reed beds, pools, ditches and more; there’s lots to see. The easy-access boardwalk guides you through the reserve. Bird feeders and nestboxes are sited along the way and there are viewing platforms, places to sit and relax and hides for watching the wildlife. The new elevated Whitley Hide gives spectacular views over the fen and reedbed with the chance of seeing breeding marsh harriers in the summer.

The wet woodland is home to treecreeper, great and lesser-spotted woodpecker, willow tit, muntjac deer and a host of flowering plants and butterflies.

In spring and summer the pond and pools are alive with dragonflies and water beetles. Kingfisher and water voles live along the drains and barn owls hunt across the meadows where orchids and other flowers flourish.