Location

Lying on the northern outskirt of Castletown (Isle of Man), between the A5 Bypass main road and the steam railway line.

The entrance gate to the reserve is half way between the Southern 100 Road Race Control Centre and the A5 Bypass / Arbory Road junction – see Google Map.

BNG Reference  SC 25780 68190

Visiting

FREE. Open all year round, daylight hours.

Pedestrian access to the reserve is across the A5 Bypass main road.

PARKING:  There is no vehicle parking at the reserve nor on the A5 Bypass main road outside.  Limited parking spaces are available on the slip road at the A5 Bypass / Arbory Road junction, a short walk from the entrance to the reserve – see Google Map.

Children under the age of 16 entering the reserve must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

Dogs are not allowed in the reserve.

Accessibility

The reserve is not at present suitable for access by wheelchair or by those with significant mobility impairment.

Walking trails through the reserve are cut grass paths and uneven in places.

Suitable footwear and long trousers / leg coverings are recommended.

About the Reserve

Two low-lying fields separated by traditional Manx sod banks and hawthorn hedges, together with the high water table, have created appropriate conditions for reed beds to flourish in this small nature reserve of 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres), providing a local haven for birds, small mammals, wildflowers and invertebrates.

The reserve is owned and managed by Castletown Commissioners as a local public amenity and site of scientific and educational interest for flora and fauna.

There is a bird feeding station at the entrance to the reserve for children to identify which species are visiting. There are plans to implement bird hides within the reserve for educational use and respectful bird watching.

The management plan for the reserve also involves the annual harvesting and rejuvenating of the reed beds so that they flourish.  In time it is hoped the reserve may be able to identify a local partner for the off-take of harvested reeds for local thatching use, in turn supporting and promoting our cultural heritage.

Habitat

Wild Meadow & Scrub, Wetland, Reed Bed, Hedgerow

Birds

Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch.

Mammals

Field Mouse, Common Frog, Pipistrelle Bat, Leisler’s Bat, Whiskered Bat, Natterer’s Bat.

Two Anabat Express bat detectors were left in place from the evening of 10th September until the morning of 14th September. The results can be viewed here.

Wildflowers

Common Spotted Orchid, Yellow Iris, Red Campion, Common Vetch, Birds Foot Trefoil, Meadowsweet, Redshank, Great Willowherb, Buttercup, Tufted Vetch, Creeping Thistle, Wild Blackberry, Horseshoe Vetch, Wild Rose.

Invertebrates

Small Heath Butterfly, Meadow Brown Butterfly, White-tailed Bumblebee, Moss Carder Bumblebee, Blackneck Moth, Red Soldier Beetle, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Shaded Broad-bar Moth.