About the reserve

This reserve was created in 1996 to provide additional flood relief for the A46 Bathampton bypass, these wet meadows and the oxbow lake have proved particularly attractive to a number of migrant birds.   The site is good for migrant water birds, with waders such as dunlin, ringed and little ringed plover, and green and common sandpiper which are attracted to the muddy margins in spring and autumn. Sand martin and kingfisher have been seen regularly by the oxbow, and other migrant birds include yellow wagtail, whinchat and hobby. Small blue butterfly has been recorded here. The site provides an ideal environment for a range of dragonfly and damselfly visiting in high numbers.