About the reserve

The variety of habitats at Greywell  Moors makes this nature reserve attractive to butterflies and birds. Hear the delightful tunes of reed warbler, sedge warbler, reed bunting and marsh tit as they perfect their songs and declare their territories. The keen observer might see a spotted flycatcher darting from a bush, a snipe in the water or hear a water rail. Keep watch for powerful sparrowhawk and buzzard swooping overhead.

Discover the variety of flowering plants including hemp agrimony, purple and yellow loosestrife and marsh valerian.

Seven orchid species have been recorded on site, including southern marsh and common spotted and  marsh helleborine.

Small pockets of woodland host fabulous displays of primrose which can be seen from December all the way through to May. In spring, spectacular splashes of marsh-marigold appear, followed later in the year by marsh lousewort and yellow and purple loosestrife.

Explore the most popular trails, but care should always be taken when entering wetland sites.

Special features

• The historic disposal of lime spoil in the northern part of the reserve has led to the unusual sight of chalk downland plants living alongside moisture-loving fen plants.
• The fen is fed by a series of springs that bubble up from the aquifer below through the cracks in the chalk bedrock. These crystal-clear pools support brooklime, forget-me-not, water mint and other aquatic plants.