Besthorpe Nature Reserve

Wetland view with cormorants on an island

Image credit Sophie Bell

Besthorpe Nature Reserve Notts WT cpt Graham Roberts
Wetland with wildflowers and blue skies

Image credit Sophie Bell

A view across the wetlands at Besthorpe

Besthorpe Nature Reserve © Graham Roberts

besthorpe 034 Notts WT cpt Michelle Naysmith
Part of a major gravel extraction site; home to a variety of birds. A great example of how former industrial sites can have a new lease of life as havens for wildlife.

Location

Trent Lane
Besthorpe
Nottinghamshire
NG23 7HL

View on What3Words

A static map of Besthorpe Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
68 hectares
z

Entry fee

Free access
P

Parking information

From the A1133, turn into Besthorpe village (south side) and then follow Trent Lane. The car park is signposted off Trent Lane.

Walking trails

Paths, boardwalks and viewing hides are available for walkers and birdwatchers.

Access

Access to the reserve is open at all times.

A track leading around the reserve is wheelchair and pushchair friendly with new radar kissing gates and a disabled friendly raised viewing screen overlooking Mons pool. Contact the Trust for more information.

Dogs

On a lead

Dogs are allowed if under effective control on a lead at all times.

i

Facilities

Bird hides
Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

This site comprises two areas, north and south of Trent Lane. The northern end comprises three distinct habitat types; open water with islands, reedbeds and shingle. South of Trent Lane are two traditional Trent Valley wildflower meadows. The hides are available for watching the birds that frequent the pool in the southern area.

Mons Pool is an area of open water, new reed-bed and wet grassland. Features of interest include an unusual inland colony of nesting cormorants and an ancient heronry. Young herons have been counted and ringed here for many years and caused great concern when it was found that many were dying because of brittle bones. Determined work by the North Nottinghamshire Ringing Group and support by the Environment Agency eventually located the cause as pollution which has now been stopped. Monitoring is ongoing.

History of the reserve

During January 2012, the final phase of Besthorpe Nature Reserve was completed.

To mark the final phase of the habitat creation project at Besthorpe near Newark, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust opened the sluice gate to allow millions of litres of water to flow into the new network of reedbeds and ponds.

Co funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund's Trent Vale Landscape Partnership, the Besthorpe South nature reserve increased the amount of wetland habitat in the area.

Despite rain, the event was well attended by The BBC, ITV and The Newark Advertiser. Following a thank you speech by John Everitt, Executive Director of Notts Wildlife Trust, Andrew Hindmarsh, long term volunteer, gave a history of the site and opened the sluice gate.

The water was transferred to the new 70 hectare Besthorpe nature reserve to attract rare species such as bittern, marsh harrier and otter. As part of the project, thousands of reeds were planted by staff, volunteers and BTCV students.

The event was also attended by The RSPB, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, NWT Trustee Andy Wickham, Trent Vale Landscape Partnership, Collingham Parish Council and Lafarge.

Contact us

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 0115 958 8242
Contact email: info@nottswt.co.uk

Environmental designation

Local Wildlife Site (LWS)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Connecting along the River Trent

There are walking trails along the River Trent connecting with Besthorpe Nature Reserve.

More information can be found on the TrentValeTrail.org website.