Get a glimpse of our fantastic wildlife and enjoy the fresh air at one of the many nature reserves and country parks. Please ensure you help to safeguard our wildlife by keeping dogs on leads and staying on official paths.
Photograph by Gary Solomon
Barnes Meadow
The three meadows along the Nene include a wide range of grassland and wetland, recently created to broaden the range of habitats. There are many species of birds such as snipe, herons, kingfishers, great crested grebes and terns.
Ditchford Lakes and Meadows Nature Reserve
Part of the upper Nene valley floodplain, this complex of gravel pits, grassland and scrub is important for breeding and wintering birds. In spring and summer the meadows have a rich collection of wet meadow plants.
Titchmarsh Nature Reserve
The 73 hectares of lakes, woodland, river bank, grass and scrub are a result of gravel extraction and an ideal venue for bird watching. A walk round the reserve will take about 2 hours. In winter there are large numbers of wildfowl including goosander, wigeon and gadwall.
Old Sulehay Nature Reserve
Old Sulehay is a picturesque mosaic of limestone quarries, grassland, woodland and wetland providing a home for many different invertebrates, such as green tiger beetle. Many of the wild flowers are rare in Northamptonshire and attract a wide range of butterflies. In May look out for the grizzled skipper butterfly in Stonepit Close.
Stanground Wash
Cut off from the rest of the washes by a busy railway line and enclosed by parallel floodbanks, this reserve has its own distinct habitat. This area of washland is flooded each winter providing a winter refuge for waterfowl and nesting space for waders. In the summer, it is grazed.
Summer Leys Nature Reserve
This wetland is made up of flooded gravel pits, flood meadows, species-rich neutral grassland and mature hedges. Oystercatcher, ringed plover and redshank stay to breed, whilst whimbrel, turnstone and common sandpiper pass through during migration. Discover a wide variety of ducks, including teal, wigeon, shoveler, pochard and golden plover.
Wellingborough 3 miles
01604 405285
northamptonshire@wildlifebcn.org
Summer Leys
Photo: Michel Kerrou
Stanwick Lakes
Stanwick Lakes has an abundance of species within its 750 acres, and is particularly known for wintering waterfowl. It has one of the largest reedbeds in Northamptonshire which is home to a variety of birds and invertebrates. Wildflower meadows support a wealth of butterflies and bees whilst Kingfishers are regularly spotted along the river banks.
Twywell Hills and Dales
There are a number of different waymarked trails within the site. Free car parking, picnic meadow, wheelchair access to picnic area and viewpoint, permanent orienteering course and countryside walks to local villages
Higham Ferrers Pits
Higham Ferrers Pits is a narrow strip of grassland fringed with areas of maturing willow, reedbed and open water. At A45/A6 junction exit to Higham Ferrers. At Market Square turn into Wharf Road. Cross large footbridge over A45 to entrance.
Lings Nature Reserve
Discover woodland, scrub, ponds and acid grassland. Woodland areas range from plantations of mature sweet chestnut, douglas fir and larch to areas which are returning to more native woodland with naturally regenerating birch, rowan, oak and holly. Dragonflies, damselflies, frogs and newts all breed in the ponds on the reserve.
A4500 Wellingborough Road
Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows
A wonderful stretch of rare grazing marsh and flooded gravel pits, now a hugely valuable wetland for birds and other wildlife. The site is home to wintering golden plover, wigeon and gadwall. In summer a huge variety of birds come here to breed, including many declining species such as grasshopper warblers and cuckoos.
Located 5 miles from Wellingborough
01604 774039
ian.wilson@wildlifebcn.org
Lakes and Meadows
Wilson’s Pits Nature Reserve
Wilson’s Pits are three disused gravel pits with areas of scrub, grassland and the newly created ‘scrape’ areas. The older pit has developed into a sheltered area surrounded by maturing willows and reedbeds that are very important for invertebrates.
At roundabout where the A45 meets the B465 and Crown Way, turn left into minor road. Turn right into parking area at reserve entrance.
01604 405285
northamptonshire@wildlifebcn.org
Wilson’s Pits