About the reserve

Conigre Mead was a field of rough grass until bought by local people who set about digging ponds, clearing scrub and planting trees and wildflowers. It was given to us as a nature reserve in 1989 and is now a lovely mix of ponds, wildflower-rich grassland and shrubs. Volunteers regularly come to clear scrub and maintain ponds for wildlife.

On sunny days, watch the courtship displays of common blue damselfly, banded demoiselles and the rare white legged damselfly. In spring and summer the meadow is a pink-and-white patchwork of ragged robin and ox-eye daisy. Keep an eye out for butterflies such as the orange tip and brimstone - one of the earliest to come out in spring. There are lots of interesting insects including crickets, grasshoppers and shieldbugs, too.

Over the pond, fringed with golden marsh marigolds and yellow iris, you might see the blue flash of a kingfisher. Migrating wading birds, such as the common sandpiper, stop off here and regular visitors include moorhens, mallards and mute swans.  You may spot a grass snake sunning itself, or water vole by the river. A hidden world of runs and tunnels in the grass are used by small rodents such as voles to get about unseen. The rare water shrew is found here too. Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats can be seen on summer nights – mainly along the river, which is also a feeding ground for otters.