Tewin Orchard and Hopkyns Wood
Tewin Orchard represents an almost extinct feature of the English countryside: that of small village orchards with varied and often local fruit trees. Today not only is the orchard good for apples and pears but many forms of wildlife.
Stocking Springs Wood
At Stocking Springs Wood gnarled and twisted trees throw a dense shade. Recently coppiced trees can be seen and here the light can get to the ground, encouraging many wildflowers. In spring the woodland floor is a carpet of bluebells and wild daffodils. Other plants such as wood anemones, wood violets, early purple orchids and yellow archangel indicate that this is an ancient woodland. Among the coppiced hornbeam there are tall oak standards and these provide nesting sites for birds such as the nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and treecreepers, among many others.
Stanborough Reedmarsh
The reserve is composed of willow woodland, river bank and fine reed marsh. In summer you may see water figwort, common meadow rue and water chickweed along the river bank. On the far side of the river the reed marsh is clearly visible and this is an important habitat for large numbers of reed and sedge warblers, which nest here in summer. In winter, water rails are heard and reed and corn buntings gather to roost in the evening.
Ridlins Mire
This small area of wetland has developed where water appears in the form of a spring. The permanently wet conditions have allowed the development of peat, slowly growing over many years into a domed structure. This unusual habitat is technically called 'rheotrophic hangmire' and is only one of four in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. The top of the peat dome supports unusual spring-line fen and mire vegetation with prominent tussock sedge and marsh marigold.
Purwell Ninesprings
The open water at this reserve attracts moorhen, mallard and in winter, teal. The reedbed is home to reed warblers, as well as water rails. Look for water voles near the reed margins in summer. The wet ground condition encourages tussock sedge, yellow iris and water forget-me-not. In winter, buntings roost among the reeds, snipe feed in the meadow and siskins feed on alder seeds.
Patmore Heath
Patmore Heath is an outstanding example of grass heathland, now a scarce habitat in the south east. With its ponds, the reserve is rich in flora and insects. The heath is typified by wavy hair grass, red and sheep's fescue grasses and sweet vernal grass, with characteristic summer herbs such as heath bedstraw and sheep's sorrel. In damper areas the locally rare heath rush and galingale can be found. The ponds support all three native newts, including the locally rare palmate newt, plus plants such as creeping jenny and lesser spearwort.
Oughtonhead
Oughtonhead is one of the larger fen woodlands in Hertfordshire. For such a small reserve the diversity of habitats is surprisingly large, comprising wet and dry woodland, fen, aquatic and water margin areas. In addition there are several ditches which are important for certain fen species. The reserve is an important habitat for birds such as kingfishers, water rail and woodcock, whilst mammals such as the water shrew may be seen.
Old Park Wood
The highlight of the wood is the abundance of flowers in spring. Bluebells form a stunning carpet, along with yellow archangel, lesser celandine, wood anemone and the uncommon coralroot bittercress. Golden saxifrage and marsh marigolds grow on stream banks and around the pond. The pond is also important for dragonflies and amphibians. The wood is rich in invertebrates and birds, including all three British species of woodpecker.
Longspring Wood
In spring the reserve has masses of bluebells but offers a quiet refuge at any time of year. It is a good example of Hertfordshire woodland with oak, ash and hazel. Warblers can be seen and heard in spring. In winter, flocks of tits and finches move through the wood feeding on seeds and berries. Badgers and foxes are regularly seen in and around the reserve.
Long Deans
Long Deans Nature Reserve is noted for its grassland floral communities, butterflies, birds and other invertebrates. The site is home to UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species - common linnet, common bullfinch and song thrush. Long Deans is also noted for veteran trees, which provide habitat for fungi, invertebrates, hole-nesting birds and bats.
