Wildmoor Heath

 

Unusual variety

Round-leaved sundew

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
91.00
Short Description: 
Wildmoor Heath is a precious survival of rare heathland habitat and home to a rich, but fragile, community of fungi, insects, reptiles, birds, mosses and flowering plants.
Smartphone Description: 
Wildmoor Heath is situated on a slope and offers a wonderful range of habitats and views. Ranging from wet and dry lowland heath and valley bog to mature pine and broadleaved woodland, the varied habitats attract a range of birds, three types of heather, heath-spotted orchid and even common lizards and adders.
Location
Address: 
On Crowthorne Road, 1 mile north of Sandhurst Station
Town: 
Crowthorne
County: 
Berkshire
Postcode: 
RG45 7PW
Grid ref: 
SU 838 630
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Surfaced car park
Walking information: 
Variable, mainly firm, gently sloping, sandy paths, some boggy peat, some rough underfoot, can be very muddy in winter; gates, stiles, boardwalks
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01628 829574
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Wildmoor Heath
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
December
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Whitecross Green Wood

Ancient woodland

Lady's bedstraw

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
63.00
Short Description: 
A dynamic yet fragile woodland habitat renowned for its beautiful butterflies and wild flowers along the wide, grassy rides
Smartphone Description: 
Whitecross Green Wood is an ancient woodland, and although it has been wooded since 1600 it has undergone a lot of change in recent years. BBOWT is encouraging the return of the native broadleaved species that were removed and replaced with conifers in the 1960s. Cleared areas are already regenerating with shrubs and trees such as oak, attracting birds such as bullfinch, blackcap and willow warbler. Careful management by BBOWT is helping to ensure the survival of the rare and protected black and brown hairstreak butterflies.
Location
Address: 
5 miles south of
Town: 
Bicester
County: 
Buckinghamshire
Postcode: 
OX5 2RF
Grid ref: 
SP 600 150
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
On Boarstall to Murcott road, 0.25 miles north of turn to Arncott, take the track opposite the cottage; go through second gate to surfaced car park 150 metres from reserve; please close gates behind you. Please do not park on access track or neighbour's land.
Walking information: 
Mainly flat, sloping at southern end, flat rides bumpy paths, some roots, bench
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01442 826774
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Whitecross Green Wood
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
December
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Westwell Gorse

Prickly past

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
2.50
Short Description: 
A pocket of limestone grassland within the surrounding farmland where wild flowers and insects thrive.
Smartphone Description: 
A limestone grassland and scrub area, Westwell Gorse remained a haven for many botanical species while surrounding land became intensively-farmed arable fields. Extensive amounts of lichen grow on the blackthorn, and sheltered open areas cut through the scrub attract a variety of butterflies. Nesting and roosting birds also inhabit the scrub.
Location
Address: 
0.75 miles north of Westwell
Town: 
2.5 miles south-west of Burford
County: 
Oxfordshire
Postcode: 
OX18 4LY
Grid ref: 
SP 221 114
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
On A40 west of Burford turn left onto B4425; after 1 mile, park on soft verge between dry stone wall and farm track on right 20m from reserve
Walking information: 
Flat; rough ground; steps
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01865 775476
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Westwell Gorse
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Weston Turville Reservoir

Due to health and safety concerns, we have unfortunately had to close the main bird hide. Please do not attempt to access this hide, as the structure is unsafe. We apologise for the inconvenience and any disruption to your visit.

For further information, please contact the Buckinghamshire Reserves Team on 01442 826774.

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
19.50
Short Description: 
Wetland plants and wildfowl are among the many attractions of this former reservoir nestling amongst woodland, close to the Chilterns
Smartphone Description: 
Weston Turville Reservoir, with its associated marshy fen and reedbeds, is a good place to see winter wildfowl such as teal, shoveler, and tufted duck. There are also good breeding colonies of reed warblers. The reserve is the only regular Buckinghamshire breeding site of the water rail, whose distinctive 'piglet squealing' can be heard regularly all the year round.
Location
Address: 
3.5 miles south-east of
Town: 
Aylesbury
County: 
Buckinghamshire
Postcode: 
HP22 5PS
Grid ref: 
SP 859 097
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times.
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
0.5 miles south of Weston Turville. 0.25 miles east of A413/B4009 roundabout, turn right onto World's End Lane opposite The Village Gate pub; park in lay-by on right after 500m
Walking information: 
Flat; variable, 60% surfaced paths, one steep ramp, soft patches, many roots in wooded section; kissing gates, steps
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01442 826774
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Weston Turville Reservoir
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Wells Farm

Wildlife margins

At Wells Farm BBOWT is striking a balance between farming wheat and barley and creating a thriving habitat for wildlife.

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
64.00
Short Description: 
A working farm run in harmony with wildlife - home to lowland farmland birds including corn bunting, yellowhammer and partridge.
Smartphone Description: 
A working farm run in harmony with wildlife, Wells Farm is home to lowland farmland birds including corn bunting, yellowhammer and partridge. Open fields are edged by six-metre wide margins which have been sown with a colourful wildflower seed mixture. These margins now attract nectaring butterflies, while retained winter stubble and seed-bearing crops provide food and shelter for mixed flocks of finches in the colder months.
Location
Address: 
8 miles south-east of
Town: 
Oxford
County: 
Oxfordshire
Postcode: 
OX44 7PP
Grid ref: 
SP 621 008
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access info: 
Contact the Trust for disabled access information
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Off the A329 at Little Milton village, take road opposite The Lamb Pub; take track on left by phone box to surfaced car park in farmyard. </p>
Walking information: 
Gently sloping; soft in valley bottom, bridleway flat; kissing gates, boardwalk
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01865 775476
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Wells Farm
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
November
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Watts Bank

Wildflowers

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
1.50
Short Description: 
Watts Bank is a sunny, chalk grassland slope that provides ideal conditions for wild flowers and at least 16 different species of grass.
Smartphone Description: 
This sunny chalk grassland hillside provides ideal conditions for wildflowers and at least 16 different species of grass. It is very attractive to butterflies, with an impressive 32 species recorded, including chalkhill blue, green hairstreak and dingy skipper.
Location
Address: 
Just south of Lambourn
Town: 
8 miles south-west of Wantage
County: 
Berkshire
Postcode: 
RG17 7LE
Grid ref: 
SU 3308 7717
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Park near to Lambourn school just south of Lambourn on the hard verge, 1 mile from reserve
Walking information: 
Steep slope; rough, sloping ground, no paths; stile, gate
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01628 829574
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Watts Bank
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Warren Bank

Amazing flowers

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
3.00
Short Description: 
The approach to the flowery chalk grassland of Warren Bank offers stunning panoramic views taking in the Thames and Berkshire Downs
Smartphone Description: 
The approach to this small relic of grasslands offers panoramic views that take in the Thames and Berkshire Downs. Wild flowers such as the clustered bellflower, large thyme and deadly nightshade flourish here. The insect-mimicking bee orchid is found here. Butterflies are plentiful, and the striking machine-gun call of the great green bush-cricket can be heard from June onwards.
Location
Address: 
4 miles south-east of
Town: 
Wallingford
County: 
Oxfordshire
Postcode: 
OX10 6AD
Grid ref: 
SU 653 857
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Park at Hailey on hard verge 0.5 miles from reserve. Take the bridleway uphill and continue on the track which goes into Bixmoor Wood. The track bends left at the end of Bixmoor Wood. At this point there is a short track on the right which leads to a metal gate at the entrance to a field, which may have sheep or cattle in. Cross the field, going south, heading towards woodland. Skirt the woodland edge for approximately 100m until you reach the entrance gate to the reserve. Alternative route from Homer Farm, Ipsden Heath. Follow the track from Homer Farm. This takes you along the edge of a wood, on your right. At the point where the track bears right and into Bixmoor Wood, there is a short track on the left which leads to a metal gate at the entrance to a field, which may have sheep or cattle in. Cross the field, going south, heading towards woodland. Skirt the woodland edge for approximately 100m until you reach the entrance gate to the reserve.
Walking information: 
Sloping; sloping rough ground, no paths; stiles
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01865 775476
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Warren Bank
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Warburg Nature Reserve

 

Stunning scenery

Silver-washed fritillary by Andy FairbairnHigh up in the Chiltern hills, Warburg Nature Reserve is a remote and magnificent place, rich in exciting plants and animals all through the year.

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
106.50
Short Description: 
A hidden wildlife gem nestling in the Chilterns hills, rich in wildlife that will lift your spirits whatever the season.
Smartphone Description: 
Warburg is a magnificent reserve with flower-rich grasslands in the valley bottom and grand woodlands rising up the valley sides. It is BBOWT's best reserve for orchids, with 15 species recorded here. There is something interesting to experience in each season, from a carpet of bluebells in the spring to atmospheric frost in the winter. An amazing 900 species of fungi have been recorded at this site.
Location
Address: 
4 miles north-west of
Town: 
Henley-on-Thames
County: 
Oxfordshire
Postcode: 
RG9 6BJ
Grid ref: 
SU 721 878
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
Vistor centre?
Shop: 
No shop
CafĂ© / Refreshments: 
No
Picnic Area: 
Picnic area
Opening hours: 
<em>Reserve</em> open at all times<br /> <em>Toilets</em> open at all times<br /> <em>Interpretation Centre</em> open daily 9am - 5pm <br /><strong>(There is no cafe at this centre)</strong><br><br>
Toilets: 
Yes Toilets
Disabled toilet: 
Disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
Baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access info: 
Mobility vehicle available - please contact us before visiting on 01491 642001 or warburg@bbowt.org.uk
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
From the A4130 turn into Bix Village. Take a left turn into Rectory Lane. Go down the steep hill and turn left at the bottom, signposted Bix Bottom. Continue for about 1 mile until reaching the car park at the end of the lane on the right. The lane has some potholes so please drive carefully. <strong>For sat-nav please use RG9 6BJ, then continue driving carefully up the valley to the car park.<br/>
Walking information: 
Variable, mostly steep paths and loose flint, flat grassy path; muddy in valley bottom after rain; benches. Warburg Nature Reserve can be accessed on foot from Maidensgrove and also Nettlebed. Download the Henley Wild Walk leaflet (left).
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01491 642001
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Warburg Nature Reserve. Photo by Jim Asher
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
December
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Upper Ray Meadows

Wet meadows

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
181.00
Short Description: 
The River Ray is one of the best areas in central England for locally scarce wading birds. The first curlew usually return to the Upper Ray Meadows in late February, and by early spring lapwing and curlew can be seen displaying across the reserve.
Smartphone Description: 
The Upper Ray Meadows Nature Reserve is made up of a patchwork of wet and wildflower-rich meadows. It is a core part of BBOWT's Upper River Ray project area, one of our Living Landscapes schemes. These meadows are an important breeding site for wetland birds that were once common but now are facing serious decline, including lapwing and curlew. In the summer the drier meadows are ablaze with wild flowers such as black knapweed, yellow rattle, great burnet, tubular water dropwort, tufted vetch and lesser trefoil attracting large numbers of butterflies and other insects.
Location
Address: 
4 miles south-east of
Town: 
Bicester
County: 
Buckinghamshire
Grid ref: 
SP 669 200
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Cow Leys, Grange Meadow, Long Herdon Meadow, Leaches Farm - access all year. Dorothy Bolton Meadow - access July-September. Leaches Meadow, Three Points Meadow - no access . Gallows Bridge Farm - no access except to bird hide. Meadow Farm - open for pre-booked groups and events.
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
For Cow Leys, from Bicester take A41 towards Aylesbury; after railway bridge take right turn signed for Piddington, reserve immediately on your left, park on soft verge on left. For Dorothy Bolton Meadow go along the A41 from Bicester to Aylesbury, take second road on left signed to Marsh Gibbon and park on soft verge 100 m on right. For Long Herdon and Grange Meadows continue for 0.75 miles and park on verge 500 m from reserve. For Leaches Farm continue on A41 and park in layby on left just past Leaches Farm Business Centre, access reserve over the stile on the public footpath. For Gallows Bridge Farm continue 1.5 miles and take road on left signed Grendon Underwood, after 100 m turn left and park at end of track. For Meadow Farm take A41 from Bicester towards Aylesbury; take B4011 right turn signed for Blackthorn, go past Blackthorn village, and entrance to Meadow Farm on left, park beyond the farmhouse.
Walking information: 
Flat; uneven ground, floods in winter; soft after rain; gates
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01442 826774
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Leaches Farm
Flickr group URL: 
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bbowt/pool/tags/Upper%20Ray%20Meadows
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve

Tuckmill Meadow

Fine views

Reserve details
Trust Website: 
http://www.bbowt.org.uk
Size: 
5.50
Short Description: 
An equisite combination of streamside fen and meadow, woodland, hedgerows and flower-rich limestone grassland.
Smartphone Description: 
A peaceful Oxfordshire reserve, Tuckmill Meadow has a stream and a small woodland copse. The limestone grassland on the upper slopes is rich in wild flowers and from here beautiful views of the wet meadow can be enjoyed. Kingfishers can sometimes be spotted by the stream and dragonflies and damselflies are plentiful in wetter areas.
Location
Address: 
5 miles south-west of
Town: 
Faringdon
County: 
Oxfordshire
Grid ref: 
SU 240 900
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Take Faringdon Road through Watchfield, past the military college; approaching Shrivenham, as road bends sharp left, turn right onto Pennyhooks Lane; 100 m past Shrivenham Park Golf Club turn into surfaced car park.
Walking information: 
Sloping; bumpy, waterlogged in winter; kissing gate
Grazing animals: 
Yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Reserve phone number: 
01865 775476
Reserve email address: 
info@bbowt.org.uk
Photos
Photo: 
Tuckmill Meadow
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve