OUR BEST AUTUMN RESERVES
More Cumbria Wildlife Trust nature reserves for a great autumn day out
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Eycot Hill Nature Reserve
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Why now? † See the nature reserve and surrounding landscape change into amazing autumn colours. † Explore the beautiful bogs. † Spot the mysterious short-eared owl.
Know before you go Location: Near Berrier, Penrith, CA11 0XD. Open: Unrestricted access. No surfaced paths, uneven and wet ground. Wildlife to spot: Round-leaved sundew, marsh cinquefoil, waxcap fungi, wheatear, short-eared owl. Find out more:
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.
org.uk/nature-reserves/eycott-hill
2 2 1 South Walney Nature Reserve Brown Robin Nature Reserve
Why now? † Enjoy autumn colour as the leaves change and fall. † Look out for fabulous fungi. † Be in with a chance of spotting elusive hawfinch.
Know before you go Location: Grange-over-Sands. Open: Unrestricted access. Some steep ground and pedestrian gates.
Wildlife to spot: Green woodpecker, waxcap fungi, hawfinch, yew trees, nuthatch. Find out more:
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.
org.uk/nature-reserves/brown-robin
Crimson waxcap 12 Cumbrian Wildlife | September 2019
Limestone woodland and colourful grassland This nature reserve offers a peaceful walk with plenty of opportunity for spotting woodland birds, such as hawfinch, nuthatch and chaffinch. Ash and hazel dominate, though stands of ancient yew and ferns growing on the limestone pavement add to the enchanting atmosphere. As well as the woodland, areas of open grassland complement the surrounding trees. Here, summer blooms are soon replaced by colourful waxcap fungi, including golden waxcap, crimson waxcap and the lovely ballerina waxcap, which resembles a ballerina’s tutu. The best place to see fungi is Merlewood Bank.
View from the summit
A peaceful upland with wonderful views Eycott Hill Nature Reserve is the perfect place for a low-level walk, family picnic, or wildlife adventure! Following the waymarked route you’ll spot the array of bog species, such as devil’s-bit scabious, grass-of- Parnassus and marsh cinquefoil. By the end of October, the grassy banks should start to show a wide range of waxcap fungi – look out for meadow waxcap, golden spindle and parrot waxcap. Keep an eye on the sky to see wheatears passing through on migration, and you might even catch a glimpse of the day-flying short-eared owl as it hunts for voles over the bogs and moorland.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has funded a 5-year project to restore the land for wildlife and make the nature reserve more accessible for visitors.
MIKE HALL
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