A small, unassuming yet
rewarding wooded nature reserve reclaimed from old gravel pits
with an extensive heath to the north.
Go through the gate and follow the
path until you reach an open glade. This area is good for Ruddy Darters
in season.
At the end of this open glade is a bird hide overlooking the upper pond
which has recently stripped of a lot of it's bank-side vegetation. This
has caused some controversy among loyal visitors but for the dragonfly
enthusiast at least allows better access to the pond.
Opposite the bird hide is a steep path leading down to the lower pond which,
due to the recent clearing work, is a lot brighter and accessible. This
pond is favoured by the Hairy Dragonfly among others.
From the bird hide continue along the
track to reach the open heath to yet more pools more suited to heathland
species. Turning left before the heath you'll find a
disused concrete yard which has been reclaimed by
nature, with Sand Lizards basking atop discarded roofing
tiles.
The back wall has been host to the finest
Downy Emerald presence I've yet encountered and all
margins should be explored. You never know what might
turn up.
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