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Swanwick Lakes features 

Green hairstreakHabitats

  • mixed woodland with spring flowers 
  • flower rich meadows with populations of butterflies like Marbled Whites 
  • deep blue-green lakes

Things to look out for

1. Look out for evidence of the industrial heritage of the site… 

  • brick pathways and bases of buildings 
  • concrete road 
  • parts of the old conveyor belt which transported clay around the reserve
    …..and of a former agricultural use
  • strawberry ridges, plough furrows and soft fruit bushes growing in the woods!

2. Fantastic views out over the lakes

3. Horses grazing in the meadows in late summer

Wildlife Highlights

  • Great crested newts in the ponds and lakes 
  • Purple emperor butterflies in the treetops 
  • The delicate pink flowers of grass vetchling in the meadows in June and July 
  • Tall flowering spikes of common spotted orchids in June 
  • The brilliant flash of the kingfisher over the lakes 
  • Carpets of fleabane in late summer 
  • Buzzards circling overhead 
  • Several rare invertebrate species

Seasonal specialities

Spring

  • Ducklings 
  • Great spotted woodpeckers drumming 
  • Little grebe nesting 
  • Cowslips, primroses and bluebells

Flowery meadow at Swanwick LakesSummer 

  • Carpets of common spotted orchids 
  • Flower rich meadows teeming with butterflies and other insects 
  • Dragonflies and damselflies swooping over the Lakes • If you’re lucky, a sighting of the elusive purple emperor butterfly

Autumn

  • Spectacular autumn colours reflected in the water of the lakes 
  • Rich variety of different fungi 
  • Nuthatches and treecreepers on the trees

Winter

  • look out for the kingfisher darting across Centre Lake 
  • Gadwall feeding on New Lake 
  • Flocks of goldfinch and long tailed tits 
  • Roe deer drinking from the lakes