The ceremonial county of Somerset consists of a non-metropolitan county, administered by Somerset County Council, which is divided into five districts, and two unitary authorities. The districts of Somerset are West Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, Mendip and Sedgemoor. The two administratively independent unitary authorities, which were established on 1 April 1996 following the breakup of the County of Avon, are North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. These unitary authorities include areas that were once part of Somerset before the creation of Avon in 1974.[1]
Local nature reserves (LNRs) are designated by local authorities under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The local authority must have a legal control over the site, by owning or leasing it or having an agreement with the owner. LNRs are sites which have a special local interest either biologically or geologically, and local authorities have a duty to care for them. They can apply local bye-laws to manage and protect LNRs.[2][3]
There are 40 local nature reserves in Somerset recognised by Natural England. The smallest is Wellington Basins, which covers 0.53 hectares (1.3 acres) of small ponds and surrounding grassland and woodland. This provides a habitat for grey wagtail, dipper and reed bunting. The largest, covering 129.56 hectares (320.1 acres), is Weston Woods on Worlebury Hill, which includes Worlebury Camp Iron Age hill fort. The woodland provides a habitat for mammals including deer, badgers, foxes and bats. Birds include woodpeckers, buzzards and treecreepers. Several of the sites are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The list includes sites owned or managed by both Avon Wildlife Trust and Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Sites
| Site | Photograph | Area[a] | Location[b] | Map[c] | Details[d] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Priors Common |  | 20.78 hectares (51.3 acres) | Ash Priors 51°03′10″N 3°12′38″W / 51.0527°N 3.2105°W ST152288 | Map | Details | This reserve covers unimproved neutral grassland, semi-natural deciduous woodland, wet heath, scrub, carr, stream, ponds and hedgerows. The plants to be found at the site include early marsh-orchid and twayblade orchid while the animals include the eurasian harvest mouse, viviparous lizard and tree pipit.[5] It was the first and is the largest local nature reserve run by Taunton Deane Borough Council.[6] |
| Berrow Dunes | .jpg) | 16.7 hectares (41 acres) | Berrow 51°16′39″N 3°00′57″W / 51.2776°N 3.0157°W ST292536 | Map | Details | The dunes, west of the village of Berrow, have a golf course, and is a noted site for various unusual plants, including a strong colony of lizard orchids. A 200 hectares (490 acres) area, which includes the reserve, was designated in 1952 as a SSSI.[7] Berrow Marsh, contained within the dunes between the village and the beach, is a mixture of reedbed and salt marsh.[8] Birds found here include many wetland species such as reed and sedge warbler and in winter occasional jack snipe among large numbers of common snipe.[7] |
| Bickenhall Orchard | – | 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) | Bickenhall 50°57′37″N 3°00′16″W / 50.9603°N 3.0045°W ST295183 | Map | Details | Apple trees with mistletoe in a grass orchard with herbs and orchids.[9] |
| Bincombe Beeches |  | 5.36 hectares (13.2 acres) | Crewkerne 50°53′14″N 2°47′33″W / 50.8872°N 2.7925°W ST443100 | Map | Details | The site has beech trees up to 200 years old, oaks and hazels. Birds include blackbirds, woodpeckers, goldcrests and jackdaws, and there are small mammals such as badgers and foxes.[10] |
| Bucklands Pool/Backwell Lake |  | 5.52 hectares (13.6 acres) | Backwell 51°25′18″N 2°45′10″W / 51.4216°N 2.7528°W ST477694 | Map | Details | The lake, which is also known as Buckland's Pool is next to the road between Nailsea and Backwell at Buckland's Batch. The lake was built as a balancing pond in the mid-1970s. It has now become a wildlife haven for birds, bats and dragonflies, which are attracted by the open water and surrounding vegetation.[11] Bird species include gadwall, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, grey heron and mute swans.[12] |
| Cadbury Hill/Henley Quarry |  | 20.84 hectares (51.5 acres) | Yatton 51°22′54″N 2°48′14″W / 51.3817°N 2.8039°W ST441650 | Map | Details | This site comprises ancient semi-natural woodland, scrub and unimproved grassland. Species of interest include marsh tit, noctule bat, slow worm, wood anemone, bluebell, betony, small scabious, rock rose and small leaved lime. On the northern limestone slope grow hundreds of common spotted orchids. The Iron Age hill fort[13] has many ant hills, which are visited by green woodpeckers.[14] The grassy plateau of the hill fort is owned and managed by Yatton and Congresbury Parish Councils.[15] |
| Camerton Batch |  | 2.02 hectares (5.0 acres) | Camerton 51°19′11″N 2°27′25″W / 51.3198°N 2.4570°W ST682579 | Map | Details | The spoil heap or batch is a result of coal mining on the Somerset Coalfield in the 19th century. Camerton New Pit survived to be nationalised, eventually closing in 1950. In the centre of the village is Camerton Batch which is now covered with conifer. It is important for geology.[16] |
| Carrs Woodland |  | 21.1 hectares (52 acres) | Twerton 51°23′05″N 2°24′26″W / 51.3847°N 2.4073°W ST717651 | Map | Detail | A woodland area in the valley of Newton Brook.[17] Plants include the bath asparagus.[18] |
| Chard Reservoir |  | 37.05 hectares (91.6 acres) | Chard 50°53′04″N 2°56′34″W / 50.8844°N 2.9428°W ST338098 | Map | Detail | A 36.97-hectare (91.4-acre) reservoir which is owned and managed by South Somerset District Council.[19] It is a recipient of the Green Flag Award.[20] The reservoir was built on the river Isle in 1842 to provide water for the Chard Canal which closed in 1868.[19] The site is used for dog walking, fishing and birdwatching, with a bird hide having been installed.[21] Birds which are spotted regularly include herons, egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, grebes, gulls, ducks and also a wide range of woodland birds including nuthatch, treecreeper and woodpeckers. Rarities have included ring-necked duck, great white egret, cattle egret and yellow-browed warbler. The water is stocked with carp.[20][22] |
| Cheddar Valley Railway Walk |  | 28.6 hectares (71 acres) | Yatton to Winscombe 51°20′44″N 2°50′00″W / 51.3456°N 2.8334°W ST420610 | Map | Detail | Following the route of the Cheddar Valley Line, this linear reserve passes through the Biddle Street SSSI. The site supports birds, bats, amphibians and reptiles.[23] |
| Children's Wood/Riverside | .jpg) | 19.53 hectares (48.3 acres) | Taunton 51°01′31″N 3°04′48″W / 51.0252°N 3.0800°W ST243256 | Map | Detail | Alongside the River Tone, this reserve provides a habitat corridor for animals. Birds recorded include the kingfisher and grey wagtail. The site is also important for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.[24] |
| Church and Wains Hill (Poets Walk) | .jpg) | 8.95 hectares (22.1 acres) | Clevedon 51°25′57″N 2°52′21″W / 51.4325°N 2.8724°W ST394707 | Map | Detail | This reserve includes a hill fort dating from the Iron Age on Wain's Hill and Church Hill. It has calcareous grassland, coastal scrub and woodland.[25] |
| Eastfield, Sedgemoor Hill |  | 7.42 hectares (18.3 acres) | High Ham 51°04′17″N 2°48′15″W / 51.0715°N 2.8042°W ST437305 | Map | Detail | Grassland with orchids and butterflies.[26] |
| Eastwood and Battery Point | .jpg) | 11.68 hectares (28.9 acres) | Portishead 51°29′40″N 2°46′01″W / 51.4944°N 2.7670°W ST468775 | Map | Detail | The Eastwood area is broadleaf woodland on a coastal limestone ridge which leads to Battery Point which had a defensive gun position and Portishead Point Lighthouse is on the promontory.[27] There is also geological interest in the fossils, folds and faults found in the area.[28] |
| Felton Common | .jpg) | 40.37 hectares (99.8 acres) | Winford 51°23′00″N 2°41′41″W / 51.3833°N 2.6947°W ST517651 | Map | Detail | Open calcareous grassland with scrub and bracken. There are birds including kestrel, sky lark, song thrush, willow warbler, spotted flycatcher and several species of invertebrates.[29][30] |
| Folly Farm |  | 98.49 hectares (243.4 acres) | Stowey 51°20′34″N 2°33′54″W / 51.3427°N 2.5649°W ST607605 | Map | Detail | Folly Farm is a traditionally managed visitable farm and nature reserve run by the Avon Wildlife Trust. The farmhouse is 17th century and the surrounding land includes neutral grassland, flowery meadows and woodlands. The 250 acres (100 ha) nature reserve includes the Folly Oak which is over 400 years old.[31][32] |
| Frieze Hill Community Orchard | _(geograph_4466944).jpg) | 1.39 hectares (3.4 acres) | Taunton 51°01′26″N 3°07′17″W / 51.0239°N 3.1214°W ST214255 | Map | Detail | This site has been converted from allotments to rough grassland and an orchard. The kingston black and yarlington mill varieties of apples are among those grown.[33] |
| Gadds Valley | .jpg) | 3.69 hectares (9.1 acres) | Cheddon Fitzpaine 51°03′23″N 3°05′47″W / 51.0565°N 3.0965°W ST232291 | Map | Detail | Open grassland and woodland.[34] |
| Hurstone Farm Woodlands |  | 9.78 hectares (24.2 acres) | Waterrow 51°00′55″N 3°21′03″W / 51.0152°N 3.3507°W ST053248 | Map | Detail | Woodland on the banks of the River Tone. The woodland, hedgerows and open grassland provide a habitat for dormice, otter and several bat species. Bryophyte species include black spleenwort.[35] |
| Kensington Meadows |  | 2.12 hectares (5.2 acres) | Bath 51°23′32″N 2°20′39″W / 51.3921°N 2.3442°W ST761659 | Map | Detail | Mixed woodland and open meadow next to the River Avon.[36] |
| Manor Road Community Woodland |  | 20.93 hectares (51.7 acres) | Keynsham 51°24′15″N 2°28′51″W / 51.4042°N 2.4808°W ST666673 | Map | Detail | Woodland and grassland that supports a range of bird species.[37] |
| Middle Hill Common |  | 1.49 hectares (3.7 acres) | Weston in Gordano 51°28′02″N 2°47′54″W / 51.4672°N 2.7982°W ST446745 | Map | Detail | Grassland and wild flower meadow,[38] which supports invertebrates and butterflies.[39] |
| Moldrums Ground |  | 2.55 hectares (6.3 acres) | Penselwood 51°05′04″N 2°21′22″W / 51.0845°N 2.3562°W ST751317 | Map | Detail | The site includes a dry woodland surrounding unimproved grassland. Ponds on the site provide a habitat for northern crested newt.[40][41] |
| Netherclay Community Woodland | .jpg) | 3.91 hectares (9.7 acres) | Bishop's Hull 51°01′13″N 3°08′03″W / 51.0202°N 3.1341°W ST205251 | Map | Detail | A woodland with oak, ash, black poplar, dogwood and hazel.[42] |
| Norton Hillfort |  | 2.04 hectares (5.0 acres) | Norton Fitzwarren 51°01′51″N 3°08′50″W / 51.0308°N 3.1472°W ST196263 | Map | Detail | The site surrounds the Iron Age hill fort of Norton Camp. It consists of woodland of oak, ash, and sycamore trees with an underlying flora of bluebell, wood anemone and moschatel.[43] |
| Otterhead Lakes |  | 21.53 hectares (53.2 acres) | Otterford 50°55′02″N 3°06′11″W / 50.9171°N 3.1031°W ST225136 | Map | Detail | A pair of reservoirs fed by the River Otter and managed by the Otterhead Estate Trust Company Limited, working with the Somerset Wildlife Trust on behalf of Wessex Water.[44] The lakes are the centrepiece of the one mile long nature reserve.[45] It includes dry woodland which has a ground flora including common bluebell, dogs mercury and twayblade. More moist areas are home to marsh penywart, royal fern rhododendron and sycamore. There are dormice, badgers and bats in the woods and bird species include kingfisher, dipper and wagtail.[46] |
| Screech Owl | .jpg) | 11.7 hectares (29 acres) | Huntworth 51°06′42″N 2°58′40″W / 51.1116°N 2.9778°W ST316351 | Map | Detail | A wetland area which supports a variety of birds, bats and small mammals.[47] |
| Silk Mills Park and Ride |  | 7.08 hectares (17.5 acres) | Taunton 51°01′23″N 3°07′37″W / 51.0230°N 3.1270°W ST210254 | Map | Detail | Landscaping and ponds in three areas next to the River Tone created when the park and ride was created. The woodland and grassland supports aquatic and marginal vegetation.[48] There are also a variety of birds, bats, reptiles and invertebrates.[49] |
| Silver Street |  | 2.12 hectares (5.2 acres) | Midsomer Norton 51°16′52″N 2°29′07″W / 51.2810°N 2.4853°W ST662536 | Map | Detail | An ancient woodland, next to Midsomer Norton railway station, including ash, beech, field maple, hazel, hawthorn, oak, holly, sycamore and wild cherry.[50] There is also a pond and some adjacent grassland.[51] |
| Slader's Leigh | .jpg) | 0.66 hectares (1.6 acres) | Winscombe 51°18′09″N 2°49′52″W / 51.3024°N 2.8312°W ST421562 | Map | Detail | A wildflower meadow with plants including devil's-bit scabious, cowslip, betony, common spotted orchid and tormentil which provide a habitat for a range of butterflies.[52] |
| South Taunton Streams (Mill, Galmington, Blackbrook 1&2) | .jpg) | 8.24 hectares (20.4 acres) | Taunton 51°00′52″N 3°04′27″W / 51.0145°N 3.0741°W ST247244 | Map | Detail | Four sites providing a range of flora which support water voles, otters, kingfisher, sand martin, dippers and bats.[53] |
| St George's Flower Bank | – | 1.48 hectares (3.7 acres) | Easton in Gordano 51°09′03″N 2°42′12″W / 51.1509°N 2.7033°W ST512752 | Map | Detail | Flower meadow alongside a main road.[54][55] |
| Street Heath | .jpg) | 8.18 hectares (20.2 acres) | Glastonbury 51°28′27″N 2°46′06″W / 51.4741°N 2.7684°W ST463393 | Map | Detail | The heath is a biological SSSI.[56] The nature reserve is managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust, with examples of plant communities that were once common on the Somerset Levels. It possesses a vegetation consisting of wet and dry heath, species-rich bog and carr woodland, with transitions between all these habitats. Rare ferns present include marsh fern and royal fern. Old peat workings and rhynes have a wetland community which includes bulrush, yellow flag iris, cyperus-like sedge and lesser bur-reed. Insects recorded include 33 species of butterflies, 200 moths and 12 grasshoppers and crickets, with several notable rarities. Birds breeding in the carr woodland include the local willow tit.[56] |
| Swains | – | 0.67 hectares (1.7 acres) | Wellington 50°58′15″N 3°13′57″W / 50.9707°N 3.2326°W ST135197 | Map | Detail | A meadow with cuckoo flower, meadowsweet, and dove's-foot crane's-bill. There is also a pond which provides a habitat for amphibians including great crested newt, palmate newt and toad.[57] |
| Twerton Roundhill | .jpg) | 4.66 hectares (11.5 acres) | Twerton 51°22′07″N 2°23′50″W / 51.3685°N 2.3971°W ST724633 | Map | Detail | Grassland with a range of wildflowers including greater knapweed and agrimony.[58] |
| Uphill Hill |  | 17 hectares (42 acres)[e] | Uphill 51°19′03″N 2°58′56″W / 51.3174°N 2.9821°W ST316580 | Map | Detail | Open grassland around a disused quarry.[59] There are a range of flowers including cowslip, primrose and green-winged orchid.[60] This site is adjacent to Walborough Common and together they cover 38.14 hectares (94.2 acres), which is partly coterminous with Uphill Cliff SSSI.[61] |
| Walborough Common |  | 21 hectares (52 acres)[e] | Uphill 51°19′03″N 2°58′56″W / 51.3174°N 2.9821°W ST316580 | Map | Detail | Salt marsh with sea barley, slender hare's-ear and sea clover and limestone grassland with Somerset hair-grass, honewort, green-winged and early purple orchids. These attract redshank, dunlin, shelduck, black-tailed godwit, skylark, linnet, rock and meadow pipit.[62] This site is adjacent to Uphill Hill and together they cover 38.14 hectares (94.2 acres), which is partly coterminous with Uphill Cliff SSSI.[61] |
| Weirfield Riverside | .jpg) | 0.88 hectares (2.2 acres) | Taunton 51°01′13″N 3°06′56″W / 51.0204°N 3.1156°W ST218251 | Map | Detail | A linear nature reserve along the bank of the River Tone providing alder and willow woodland, bramble, scrub and rough grassland. The wetter areas which are sometimes flooded include hemlock water dropwort, and yellow flag.[63] |
| Wellington Basins | .jpg) | 0.53 hectares (1.3 acres) | Wellington 50°58′47″N 3°14′24″W / 50.9796°N 3.2399°W ST130207 | Map | Detail | Small ponds and surrounding grassland and woodland which provide a habitat for grey wagtail, dipper and reed bunting.[64] |
| Weston Woods | .jpg) | 129.56 hectares (320.1 acres) | Weston-super-Mare 51°21′35″N 2°58′18″W / 51.3598°N 2.9716°W ST324627 | Map | Detail | A wooded area on Worlebury Hill which includes Worlebury Camp Iron Age hill fort. The woodland provides a habitat for mammals including deer, badgers, foxes and bats. Birds include woodpeckers, buzzards and treecreepers.[65] |
See also
Notes
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Local Nature Reserves in Somerset.
References
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