Lemsford Springs
Lemsford Springs is a small nature reserve and contains an old watercress bed which is a valuable habitat - particularly for wa
Hunsdon and Eastwick Meads
An area of common land between the River Stort and the Stort Navigation, this is one of the finest surviving unimproved grassland sites in the county. In April and May it is yellow with cowslips and marsh marigolds, followed by yellow rattle, ragged robin and lady's smock. Green-winged orchids grow here and skylarks breed.
Hilfield Park Reservoir
Hilfield Park Reservoir consists of a large expanse of open water surrounded by large areas of grassland, scrub, woodland and reedbeds. The private aspect of the site means that visitor numbers are very low, keeping disturbance to wildlife to a minimum and providing a rare refuge. The site is popular with wildfowl species, particularly migrating species over winter, such as wigeons, tufted duck and gadwall, as well as summer moulting species, including pochard and gadwall. The site supports the only colony of breeding black-necked grebes in the south of the country.
Hexton Chalk Pit
This reserve is almost unique, an old chalk pit with good quality herb-rich grassland. The bare chalk has been colonised naturally by fine-leaved fescue grasses and chalk-loving plants such as horseshoe vetch, yellow-wort, milkwort and rockrose.
Hertford Heath
A rare Hertfordshire open heathland, this reserve also contains woodland, two large ponds and several smaller heathy pools. Plants such as heather, heath bedstraw, tormentil and gorse are amongst some of the heathland species. The ponds are home to good numbers of great crested and smooth newts, and the heath is also home to grass snakes and slow worms.
Hawkins Wood
This wood is shown on maps dating from 1766, but is thought to be much older; documents from 1676 mention the wood and link it to a man by the name of John Hawkins. It is separated into North, South and Central compartments by what are thought to be medieval banks and ditches. The hedgerows, open fields and small woodlands around Hawkins Wood provide habitat for several of these species including bullfinch, linnet, yellowhammer, corn bunting, song thrush and grey partridge. Woodcock are known to use the wood in winter.
Gobions Wood
This reserve is a rich site that is primarily woodland but includes grassland, hedges, ponds and other wetland areas. Much of the woodland is ancient. It also contains remnants of a landscaped 18th Century 'Pleasure Gardens'. The woodland is renowned locally for its display of bluebells in May. The reserve is particularly good for fungi.
Frogmore Meadow
This meadow lies beside the River Chess and supports typical plants such as marsh marigold, greater bird's foot trefoil, ragged robin and the rare marsh valerian. Sedges abound and there are six different species. The drier areas support plants such as betony. Butterflies include skippers, meadow browns, ringlets and marbled whites.
Fox Covert
Fox Covert is of quite recent origin, being planted in the late nineteenth century with beech. The woodland is frequented by deer and many species of birds. During winter the reserve attracts visiting birds such as fieldfare and redwing, while meadow pipits and skylarks are present all year.
Fir and Pond Woods
This is widely thought to be the best remaining part of the ancient Enfield Chase with diverse woodland, meadow and wetland habitats which support an abundance of wildlife. The woods are rich in birdlife including woodpeckers, sparrowhawks, warblers and tits. At the southern end of Pond Wood there is an ancient meadow with woodland on three sides and Turkey Brook on the fourth. The meadow is rich in invertebrates, including butterflies, grasshoppers and large numbers of old ant hills.
