Swanwick Lakes features
Habitats
- 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. Old English breeds of cattle 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
Summer
- 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
