Reserve Descriptions

nobody@flickr.com (BobOsborn) — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:12:55 -0700

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APEX LEISURE & WILDLIFE PARK, Burnham-on-Sea
Apex was once an area of clay digging where several pits were excavated and when these were later flooded, they became lakes which are now home to many types of wildlife.

BABCARY MEADOWS NATURE RESERVE, Babcary
Babcary Meadows (Somerset Wildlife Trust) are part of an SSSI. It is a site of 12 ha (30 acres) and is a species rich, unimproved, neutral hay-meadow situated by the River Cary. Over two hundred species of flora have been recorded on the reserve, fourteen of which are classified 'notable species' in Somerset, and six of which are orchids. This outstanding Site of Special Scientific Interest is a traditional lowland hay meadow, a type of habitat that has declined dramatically since the Second World War. The habitat present on this site is not found outside Britain and northern France.

BLACK ROCK NATURE RESERVE, Cheddar
Black Rock Nature Reserve (National Trust) is a site of 181 acres (73.3 ha.) comprising woodland and limestone grassland with conifer plantations now being replaced by broadleaf trees. There is an abandoned quarry on the Drove. It is part of the Cheddar Complex SSSI.

BREAN DOWN, Brean
Brean Down is a promontory off the coast of Somerset standing 320 feet (98 m) high and extending 1.5 miles (2 km) into the Bristol Channel. Made of carboniferous limestone, it is a continuation of the Mendip Hills, and two further continuations are the small islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm. It is now owned by the National Trust, and is rich in wildlife, history and archaeology. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are steep cliffs and, at its seaward point stands Brean Down Fort built in 1865.

CATCOTT LOWS NATURE RESERVE, Catcott
Catcott Lows (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a fen community criss-crossed with ditches and sprung with wild herbs. From the large bird hide looking out over Catcott Lows you can also see Glastonbury Tor which gives a dramatic backdrop. Formerly arable land, Catcott Lows is one of the lowest points in the Brue Valley. Catcott was once an agricultural field growing crops including carrots and potatoes. It has been restored by Somerset Wildlife Trust and now welcomes nationally important wintering and passaging birds.

CHARD RESERVOIR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE, Chard
Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve includes 48 acres of open water important for migratory wildfowl, reed beds, woodland with many different tree species and hay meadows.

CHEDDAR GORGE SSSI, Cheddar
Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills and has been named as the second greatest natural wonder in Britain. The gorge is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest now called Cheddar Complex. The south side of the gorge is owned and administered by the Marquess of Bath's Longleat Estate. The cliffs on the north side of the gorge are owned by The National Trust.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE SSSI, Chew Stoke
Chew Valley Lake is a large reservoir in the Chew Valley, Somerset, and the fifth-largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom with an area of 1,200 acres (4.9 km²). The lake is an important site for wildlife and has been dedicated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). It is a national centre for birdwatching, with over 260 species recorded, including some unusual sightings. The lake has indigenous and migrant water birds throughout the year, and two nature trails have been created. The flora and fauna provide habitats for some less common plants and insects.

COLLARD HILL, Comnpton Dundon
The PR about Collard Hill (National Trust) is all about Large Blue butterflies, as it is the only place in the UK where the public have access to see this very rare butterfly during the few weeks in summmer when it is flying. Fortunately Collard Hill is much more than the Large Blue as it is an unimproved grassland hill with a steep west-facing slope and is species-rich in flora as well as a host of other butterflies.

COMPTON DUNDON RIDGE, Compton Dundon
What I have called 'Compton Dundon Ridge' comprises a series of hills that join together to the northeast of Compton Dundon and run northwest - southeast. Much of the area falls within the East Poldens Grasslands SSSI. The first hill is Collard Hill (NationalTrust - see above) an unimproved grassland hill with a steep west-facing slope where the Large Blue butterfly has been reintroduced. Next is the wooded Windmill Hill surmounted by the monument to Admiral Hood. This leads on to Hatch Hill, another expanse of species-rich unimproved grassland hill with a steep west-facing slope. The final hill is wooded Combe Hill. Just southeast are two Nature Reserves (I'm treating separately) - Gilling Down and Great Breech Woods. To the east of Compton Dundon are Lollover Hill and Dundon Hill - both Nature Reserves again treated separately.

DRAYCOTT SLEIGHTS NATURE RESERVE, Draycott
The Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve includes Draycott Sleights, 40.4 hectares (100 acres), and Draycott Housegrounds, 10.21 hectares (25.2 acres). Draycott Sleights is part of the Draycott Sleights Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Draycott Sleights supports extensive areas of traditionally managed species-rich unimproved calcareous grassland. Additional interest lies in a rich invertebrate fauna. The site is situated on steep south-west facing slopes of the Mendip Hills and ranges in altitude from 90 m (300 ft) to 270 m (890 ft). 165 species of flowering plant have been recorded. The varied topography together with the widespread scrub provide a number of locations with ideal conditions for invertebrates supporting a rich butterfly fauna typical of unimproved calcareous grassland. 32 species of resident breeding butterfly have been recorded to date.

DUNDON BEACON NATURE RESERVE, Compton Dundon
Dundon Beacon Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a small flat topped hill rising steeply from the surrounding wetlands with an early Iron age hillfort at the top and a barrow which was probably Bronze Age. Parts of the ramparts have been removed by limestone quarrying. Vegetation is very varied, ranging from semi natural ancient Oak/Ash woodland with exceptionally large Hazel and Field Maple trees, through coniferous plantations, also thickets of Dogwood, Spindle and Wayfaring-tree to open downland.

DUNSTER BEACH NATURE RESERVE, Dunster
Dunster Beach Nature Reserve (Crown Estates) includes a long section of species-rich beach and consolidated dune between Minehead and Blue Anchor and a wooded area with lake, the Hawn, behind it.

EAST HARPTREE WOODS, East Harptree
East Harptree Woods (Forestry Commission) is a small conifer woodland with historic interest, situated in the Mendip Hills. There is a short hard surfaced walking trail from the car park to the Smitham Chimney. In front of the Chimney there is a pond where you can see dragonflies in the summer months. There are also fine views of the Chew Valley from the grassland area nearby.

EBBOR GORGE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Wookey
Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve (Natural England) is a largely wooded site occupying a prominent position on the southern escarpment of the Mendip Hills and is part of the Mendip Woodlands Special Area of Conservation. The scarp is cut by two valleys: Hope Wood valley, which has an active stream; and Ebbor Gorge, a dry limestone gorge. There are two geologically important caves on the site with deposits that include the bones of ice age mammals.

EDFORD MEADOWS NATURE RESERVE, Edford
Edford Meadows Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a neutral unimproved grassland site of 16 acres (6.5ha) in the east Mendips.

GB GRUFFY NATURE RESERVE, Cheddar
GB Gruffy Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a site of 6.9 ha (17 acres) and is part of the Cheddar Complex SSSI, within the Mendip Hills AONB. The underlying caves are a geological SSSI. The site comprises two fields on the Mendip Plateau on the transition between the Old Red Sandstone, Lower Limestone Shales and Carboniferous Limestone. Where surface water runs off the sandstone and meets the limestone, a selection of nationally important karst landforms have been created, which are unrivalled on Mendip or in the South of England. There are two active swallets, one large and one very large cave system, three small caves, two of Mendip’s deepest sink holes and several smaller ones. In the southern field evidence is still very apparent of the lead that was mined from the shallow deposits of galena (lead sulphide) during the 16th to 18th Centuries. This “gruffy ground” is now rare due to agricultural improvement.

GILLING DOWN NATURE RESERVE, Compton Dundon
Gilling Down (Somerset Wildlife Trust) forms a very important part of the semi-natural habitats that are represented on the East Polden Hills. The escarpment is extremely important for wildlife, supporting unimproved species, rich limestone downland and associated scrub and broadleaved woodland. There is a rich calcareous grassland community and the reserve supports a large variety of butterflies, including the nationally notable Brown Hairstreak..

GREAT BREACH WOOD NATURE RESERVE Compton Dundon
Part of the Great Breach and Copley Woods SSSI, Great Breach Wood reserve comprises extensive woodland, predominantly mature oak and ash, with a rich scrub understorey. The wood has been very heavily influenced by humans. It was a 19th century oak plantation, some of which was subsequently clear-felled and replanted with conifers in the 1960s. The majority of the rest of the woodland originated from a plantation of the 1830s (Bunch Wood (ST 499 318), is considered to be the only ancient semi-natural woodland area within the site.) An interesting ground flora more usually associated with ancient woodland sites has developed and over 600 species of fungi have been recorded. In total there are 13 species on the British Red Data List of which two (Boletus satanus and Spathularia flavida) are also on the European Red Data List. The site is regarded as being particularly important for butterflies, including outstanding numbers of silverwashed fritillary. Amongst the many moth species which have been recorded here is the Red Data Book species Small Eggar and 30 nationally scarce species. There are also British Red Data list flies and beetles and numerous nationally scarce flies, beetles and grasshoppers.

GREYLAKE RESERVE, near Middlezoy
The fields here used to be arable farmland, but now they are being looked after so that they are ideal for wetland birds and other wildlife. Structures have been placed to keep the water levels high and have created miles of new ditches and shallow water-filled gutters. Numerous shallow pools or 'scrapes' have also been created. Good for seeing lapwings, snipe, curlews and redshanks nesting here in summer, as well as yellow wagtails, skylarks and meadow pipits. In winter, the land floods and flocks of lapwings, golden plovers and other wading birds arrive. You can also see wigeons, teals, shovelers and Bewick's swans at this time of year. There is lots of other wildlife to see here too including dragonflies, water voles, otters and roe deer. There is a boardwalk which meanders from the car park to the hide and provides excellent disabled access.

GREEN DOWN NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Charlton Mackrell
The National Nature Reserve at Green Down (Somerset Wildlife Trust), near Somerton, Somerset, England is one of the best sites in Europe to see the large blue butterfly. The species was declared extinct in Britain in 1979, but has since been reintroduced as part of a long term scientific and conservation programme. The reserve is closed to the public until mid-July, due to the fragile nature of the butterflies and their habitat.

HAM HILL COUNTRY PARK, Stoke sub Hamdon
With superb views of the south Somerset Moors, Exmoor and the Mendip Hills, Ham Hill Country Park (SSDC) has large wildflower meadows, steeply sloping Iron Age ramparts, quarries, a deserted medieval village and historically managed woodlands. It is a 400 acre, open access Country Park site and the beautiful golden Hamstone has been quarried since Roman times.

HAM WALL NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE,
Ham Wall National Nature Reserve (RSPB) lies on the Somerset Levels in the valley of the River Brue, in the area known as the Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury in Somerset, England. This new wetland habitat has been established from out peat diggings and now consists of areas of reedbed, wet scrub, open water and peripheral grassland and woodland.

HARDINGTON MOOR NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Hardington Moor
Hardington Moor National Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) comprises three meadows surrounded by established hedges. The site covers partly calcareous clay-rich soils on sloping ground. The meadows are examples of species-rich unimproved neutral grassland, which is now nationally rare. The rare French oat-grass is very abundant on the site and the fields are home to a wide variety of plant species, most notably adder's tongue, corky-fruited water-dropwort and large numbers of green-winged orchid.

HARRIDGE WOODS NATURE RESERVE, Nettlebridge
Harridge Woods Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) comprises five sites and forms a major element of the Mells Valley Prime Biodiversity Area. It has high intrinsic appeal as generally varied and interesting woodland with a wide range of unusual and impressive features, including a number of significant historical importance. The rough terrain, deep stream gullies and unmanaged nature of parts of the woodland lend a wilderness feel to the area.

HATHERSTONE WOOD, East Coker
Hatherstone Wood (Woodland Trust) lies on a north facing slope midway between the villages of West Coker, East Coker and Hardington Mandeville, Somerset England. It was planted with native mixed broadleaves in 1999 as part of the Woods on Your Doorstep Millennium project. A small clump of Scots pine was planted at the top of the hill reflecting local coniferous hill top plantings. A pond was created in a damp area in 2004 at the centre of the site. A hamstone bench and some large hamstone rocks were placed on site as features to mark the Millennium. The site is bound by mixed hedgerows, with a public highway running along the eastern boundary.

HAWKRIDGE RESERVOIR, Aisholt
This upland reservoir (Wessex Water) nestles in a small valley on the Quantock Hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hawkridge is a small reservoir with limited bank space, so unfortunately no walking around the site is permitted. However, it does lie in a particularly picturesque area and there are a number of public footpaths which link to the reservoir. The reservoir and its bird life can be viewed from the layby on Lawyers Hill and from one of the nearby public footpaths.

HORNER WOOD NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Horner
Horner Wood is an area of mixed woodland and heath ranging up from Horner Water to the slopes of Crowter Hill. Horner Wood is part of the Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve and is managed by the National Trust. Apart from the natural beauties of this area, the woods contain a number of remains from Saxon settlements.

HUNTSPILL RIVER NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Huntspill
The Huntspill River is wholly artificial, dug in 1940 to provide water for a Royal Ordnance Factory. The Huntspill River NNR (Environment Agency) covers 148 hectares. Otters use the site and artificial holts (homes) have been constructed for their benefit. Barn owls breed in the area using boxes erected by the Hawk and Owl Trust and nearby grassland is now being managed to provide a hunting ground for these birds. Willow and scrub are being planted in some areas to create a more natural-looking landscape, provide new habitats and increase diversity.

IVYTHORN HILL, Street
Ivythorn Hill (National Trust) is part of a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Street at the south-eastern end of the Polden Hills in Somerset. Ivythorn Hills supports a complex mosaic of semi-natural habitats which includes unimproved calcareous grassland, dense and scattered scrub and broadleaved woodland.

KILVE BEACH SSSI, Kilve
Kilve Beach lies within the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is a site of Special Scientific Interest. Not only does Kilve have fantastic rock formations but also a wide range of fossils, especially ammonites. Kilve Beach is a foreshore location, fossils are found exposed on the foreshore within the rocks or exposed in wave-cut platforms but, because of its SSSI status, fossil collecting and hammers are not allowed.

KING'S HILL GULLY NATURE RESERVE, East Pennard
Awaiting description

LOLLOVER HILL SSSI, Compton Dundon
The unimproved grassland of Lollover Hill forms part of the East Poldens Grasslands SSSI. The hill is access land (in private ownership but with free public access) reached by a small walk from the village of Dundon. To the west the Somerset Levels disappear into the mist; Glastonbury Tor rises up beyond the Polden Hills to the north; the ridge of Great Breach and Copley Woods are behind Dundon Hill to the east and the flat low hills of southern Somerset can be seen in the distance to the east.

LOXLEY WOODS, Shapwick
Loxley Wood (Woodland Trust) lies on a gentle north slope of the Polden Hills between Bridgwater and Street on the North side of the A39. It forms the major part of a larger area of woodland. The Poldens rise up from the Somerset Levels with Shapwick Heath NNR approximately a mile north of the wood. The wood is almost entirely an Ancient Woodland Site, coniferised in 1967. It was formerly mixed broadleaf woodland, largely oak/hazel, with records showing an actively managed past.

MANCOMBE WOOD, Crewkerne
Mancombe Wood (Woodland Trust) is within a Special Landscape Area characterised by deep cut, hidden valleys. The wood is on the north side of the Mancombe Valley and is surrounded by a mixture of permanent pasture and woodland. At the bottom of the Mancombe Valley is a small stream.

MENDIPS AONB
The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England, United Kingdom. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the Hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon valley to the north. The hills give their name to the local government district of Mendip, which covers most of the area. The hills are largely carboniferous limestone, which is quarried at several sites. The higher western part of the Hills, have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with an area of 200 km² (80 mi²), which gives it the same level of protection as a national park.

NEW HILL & TANNAGER NATURE RESERVE, Compton Dundon
New Hill & Tannager Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is one of a series of reserves, with Gilling Down immediately to the north, Great Breach Wood immediately to the east and Dundon Beacon half a mile to the west. It comprises two blocks of former limestone downland and woodland on the western escarpment of the Polden Hills. Large areas of the reserve that had been planted with conifers and beech in the 1950s have been mainly clear-felled as part of the East Poldens Downland Restoration Project. Extensive areas of woodland remain, with a large block of woodland in the eastern half of New Hill, and along sections of the lower western margins of both New Hill and Tannager.

NORTH LODGE COPSE, Dinnington
North Lodge Copse (Woodland Trust) is a small mature, mixed wood adjacent to a busy minor road near the small village of Dinnington between Ilminster and Crewkerne. Long and narrow the wood is one of a pair flanking a gatehouse. They were planted probably in the early C 19th as part of a formal parkland landscape, Hinton Park, which lies hidden to the east of the wood.

PARK COVERT, Montacute
A single path from the Montacute to Yeovil road loops high around a hill re-entry through ancient beeches and newer pines to a hollow road to the south of the village. Peaceful and with fine views.

PEN WOOD, Pendomer
Pen Wood lies on Pen Hill, Pendomer, Somerset, England. The Somerset / Dorset county boundary passes through the wood. Pen Wood once formed part of the Forestry Commission's Poorstock Forest which was made up of over 30 separate woodlands throughout south Somerset and north Dorset. In 1981 Pen Wood was sold and is now privately owned and continues to be managed as a commercial working forest. Access is allowed from 1st March to 30 September.

PERRY MEAD NATURE RESERVE, Foddington
Perry Mead (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a County Wildlife Site of 10.7ha (26.5 acres) comprising three fields, the most northerly of which is an unimproved water meadow with a species-rich neutral grassland flora. Mature deciduous hedgerows surround the fields and a short length of wet ditch bisects the northern field and discharges into the River Cary.

PRIDDY MINERIES NATURE RESERVE, Priddy
Priddy Mineries is a site of 50 ha (123 acres) and is part of the Priddy Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is mostly grassland / heather mosaic with an area of valley mire and some nutrient-poor pools. There are wide range of plant and small animal species. More than 20 species of dragonflies have been recorded, most of them breeding on site. In particular this is the only site in the Mendips for the Downy Emerald. The site was worked for lead for many centuries, probably 2000 years until 1908, and the earlier workings were obliterated by those of the Victorians which left a legacy of pools, mounds and spoil heaps.

PROSPECT FIELDS, Langport
Prospect Fields Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a site of 2.8 ha (7 acres) and is part of Aller Hill SSSI. The site comprises two fields of herb rich calcareous grassland, including many characteristic species. The entire reserve has a wide margin of rough grass and scrub including abundant Elm. Broad bands of scrub also divide the fields (deriving from former hedge boundaries). Scattered patches of scrub also occur within the fields.

QUANTOCK HILLS AONB
The Quantock Hills are a range of hills west of Bridgwater in Somerset, England. The highest point on the Quantocks is Wills Neck, at 1,261 feet (384 m). The hills are officially designated as the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the first AONB to be established, in 1957). The hills run from the Vale of Taunton Deane in the south, for about 15 miles (24 km) to the north-west, ending at East Quantoxhead and West Quantoxhead on the coast of the Bristol Channel. They form the western border of Sedgemoor and the Somerset Levels. From the top of the hills on a clear day, it is possible to see Glastonbury Tor and the Mendips to the east, Wales as far as the Gower peninsula to the north, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor to the west, and the Blackdown Hills to the south.

SHAPWICK HEATH NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Shapwick
Shapwick Heath, part of the Avalon Marshes in the Somerset Levels Wetlands, and managed as a National Nature Reserve by Natural England, is a former raised bog lying in the basin of the River Brue. The site supports a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. Shapwick Heath is a 394.0 ha (973.6 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve between Shapwick and Westhay. It is part of the Brue Valley Living Landscape conservation project that commenced in January 2009 and aims to restore, recreate and reconnect habitat to ensure that wildlife is enhanced and capable of sustaining itself in the face of climate change while guaranteeing farmers and other landowners can continue to use their land profitably. It is one of an increasing number of landscape scale conservation projects in the UK.

SOMERSET LEVELS & MOORS
The Somerset Levels (or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are called less commonly but more correctly) is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of central Somerset, England, between the Quantock and Mendip hills. The Somerset Levels consist of marine clay levels along the coast and the inland (often peat based) moors.

SOUTH HILL NATURE RESERVE, Long Sutton
This is a County Wildlife Site (Somerset Wildlife Trust) comprising a single 2.4ha (6 acre) field of species-rich, unimproved calcareous grassland with blocks of bramble / thorn scrub and mature deciduous hedgerows to two of the boundaries. South Hill nature reserve generally has an extremely shallow soil, although deeper pockets occur. The site lies on Lower Lias Limestone and was once worked for flagstones.

SPRINGFIELD PONDS, Highbridge
Awaiting description.

SUTTON BINGHAM RESERVOIR, Sutton Bingham
As well as being a reservoir managed by Wessex Water, the 142 acre site is of national importance for overwintering wildfowl and passage migrants, including osprey.

SWELL WOOD RESERVE, Fivehead
Swell Wood Reserve (RSPB) is part of West Sedgemoor. Large numbers of wading birds breed here and the winter floods attract Bewick's swans and thousands of teal, wigeon, and lapwing. Swell Wood has one of the largest heronies in the UK and is best visited between March and June.

TARR STEPS WOODLAND NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Dulverton
Tarr Steps Woodland NNR is owned and managed by the Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA). The reserve primarily consists of oak woodland growing on acid free-draining soils, but pockets of richer soil support ash, hazel and sycamore, while drier areas have been colonized by beech. The woodland is important for its moss, liverwort and lichen populations. The reserve has a small population of dormice and the River Barle, which runs through the site, is home to otters.

TEALHAM & TADHAM MOORS SSSI, Wedmore
Tealham and Tadham Moors (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is a 917.6 hectare (2267.3 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and forms part of the extensive grazing marsh and ditch systems of the Somerset Levels and Moors. The water table is high throughout the greater part of the year with winter flooding occurring annually, by over-topping of the River Brue.

THURLBEAR WOOD NATURE RESERVE, Thurlbear
Thurlbear Wood Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) is part of the Thurlbear Wood & Quarrylands SSSI, on the limestone scarp and plateau, about four miles south-east of Taunton. It consists predominantly of ancient woodland with oak and ash standards, but also has hazel and field maple coppice. Open glades and rides contribute to a diverse ground flora. The edges of the woodland offer far reaching views to the Quantock, Polden and Mendip Hills.

UBLEY WARREN, Charterhouse
With its rakes cut into the limestone and deep mine shafts, Ubley Warren (Somerset Wildlife Trust) bears the scars of an industrial past. Lead mining dates back to Roman times and continued until the late 19th century. Today, the site, which sits just south-east of Charterhouse-on-Mendip has become an important wildlife haven and is an element of the Cheddar Complex SSSI. Ubley Warren contains uncommon habitats and vegetation communities that are in national decline. A large number of county notable species have been recorded on the reserve, including many nationally scarce vascular plants, bryophytes and moths that are declining in abundance and distribution nationally.

UPHILL LOCAL NATURE RESERVE, Uphill
Uphill Hill Local Nature Reserve is a 17 hectare site owned by North Somerset Council. Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Uphill Hill is part of the Mendip Limestone Grasslands Special Area of Conservation, (SAC) supporting a diverse flora and valuable insect habitat.

WEST COKER FEN LOCAL NATURE RESERVE, West Coker
West Coker Fen is a Local Nature Reserve (Somerset Wildlife Trust) comprising 16 acres (6.5ha) of damp unimproved neutral grassland, sedgemire and pond.

WESTHAY MOOR NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, Westhay
Internationally famous as a haven for birdwatchers in particular, Somerset Wildlife Trust’s main site on the Peat Moors covers more than 100 hectares. Restored peat diggings, three miles north-west of Glastonbury have been transformed into a network of open water, reed bed and the largest surviving fragment of lowland acid mire in the South-West. Designated as a National Nature Reserve, Westhay Moor was a pioneering project by Somerset Wildlife Trust, in the early 1980s.

WILLETT HILL, Elworthy
Awaiting description.

YEOVIL COUNTRY PARK, Yeovil
Yeovil Country Park is a 127 acre urban fringe countryside site that wraps itself around the southern and eastern side of the town of Yeovil. Comprised of 5 main land units, each with a unique and defining characteristic. The country park includes the river Yeo with a population of otters, Wyndham and Summerhouse Hills with superb local views and Penn Hill Park, a more formal setting, and the Victorian Valley gardens of Ninesprings with secluded grottos and a family of kingfishers and water voles. The Country Park was established in 2002.

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Somerset's Nature Reserves

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Reserve Descriptions

Index of Somerset Nature Reserves, etc.