Community nature reserve
This tranquil woodland and large pond used to belong to celebrated Oxford author CS Lewis. It was said he enjoyed wandering here while writing his children's book series which includes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. With the A40 nearby and surrounded by houses, it is a surprise that the reserve has kept its sense of stillness.
Fun for children
It is not just the literary associations which have brought countless children back here time and time again. This BBOWT community nature reserve has been used for field study trips and pond dipping by young people since 1969.
Wildlife highlights
The pond, a flooded Victorian clay pit, is full of aquatic plants. Toads migrate here to spawn in spring and there are fascinating displays of dragonflies and damselflies in summer. Moorhens and coots regularly nest here. The steeply rising woodland has a canopy of beech, oak, birch, alder, ash and hawthorn. In spring, the reserve is full of birdsong. Look out for large boulders known as 'sandstone doggers' on slopes in the trees. Where springs arise, giant horsetail grows in the wet ground.
Things to do
- Download our Children's nature trail leaflet
- Join the local work party for this reserve
- Help us manage this reserve by supporting us
- Tweet your wildlife sightings to @BBOWT
- Sign up to our e-newsletter