Norwood Road - Pat Doody
Norwood Road
A precious wildlife refuge sheltered in the heart of a fenland town.
Location
400m north of railway station
March
Cambridgeshire
March
Cambridgeshire
OS Map Reference
TL 417 980
Know before you go
Size
3 hectares
Entry fee
NoWalking trails
There is an extensive boardwalk around much of the site, which can be very wet.
Access
Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs
Dogs
On a lead
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
This reserve was originally several cottages and a railway 'borrow pit' from which ballast was removed. The pit has flooded to create a deep pool, and the gardens reverted to natural grass. A variety of wildlife habitats exist here, including marsh, open water and hawthorn scrub.
The water attracts coot, moorhen and mallard, as well as sedge and reed warblers nesting in the reeds. Newts use the cottage rubble for winter hibernation. Other species you might see include grass snake, narrow buckler-fern, adder's-tongue fern and, at dusk in summer, noctule bats.
Species
- Cetti's warbler
- Weasel
- Coot
- Goldfinch
- Green woodpecker
- Grey heron
- Kingfisher
- Mallard
- Moorhen
- Reed bunting
- Reed warbler
- Rook
- Sedge warbler
- Water rail
- Common frog
- Great crested newt
- Grass snake
- Holly blue
- Meadow brown
- Orange-tip
- Small copper
- Small tortoiseshell
- Adder's-tongue fern
- Alder buckthorn
- Blackthorn
- Common bird's-foot-trefoil
- Common hawthorn
- Common toadflax
- Tufted vetch
- Yellow iris
Habitat
Contact us
Contact number: 01954 713500
Contact email: cambridgeshire@wildlifebcn.org
Environmental designation
County Wildlife Site