Twywell Hills and Dales
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A fascinating haven for wildlife next to the busy A14 trunk road |
The deep gullet along the length of reserve was formed by ironstone extraction, which exposed limestone banks. Where these are damp they provide an ideal home for hart’s-tongue-fern, while the clearer slopes have typical limestone flowers and occasional knapweed broomrape.
The large pond on the reserve is unusual as it lies over contrasting acid and calcareous soils, and supports a wide range of plant and insect life. Kingfishers are often seen here.
The northern area known as Whitestones was formed from limestone spoil, and the young invading scrub makes an ideal habitat for a wide range of invertebrates including green hairstreak butterfly and ground beetles. Red kite is an increasingly common visitor that can be seen circling overhead.
The woodland is mainly conifer plantation over spoil, but the rides support a range of plants, and the wetter patches are rich in reeds and rushes. The large pond has an extensive reed bed and is home to a large colony of great crested newts.
Birds: Red kite, redwing, fieldfare |
Plants: Wild strawberry Birds: Red kite, warblers, tits Mammals: Rabbit, fox |
Plants: Field scabious, hound's-tongue, knapweed broomrape Insects: Butterflies, ground beetles, dragonflies, damselflies Birds: Red kite, green woodpecker |
Birds: Red kite Plants: Hart's-tongue fern |