CHARD MANAGEMENT LOCATION RESERVOIR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE Chard Reservoir Local Nature Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve is a special site that Reserve is situated on the North requires a range of management East of Chard Town Centre.The techniques. The habitats on site Car Park is situated at the end of vary from native woodlands Oaklands Avenue which is off the to wildflower meadows,open A30 Chard to Crewkerne Road. water to reed beds. Each area has very different management

l l i H requirements and the ranger y r u b e is kept busy conserving this s e Lan n b r m o o H c f important array of species. In f

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the woodlands we have greatly

reduced the exotic species (Laurel 8 T 5 o 3 uc Chard A h e

and Rhododendron) in an effort to s

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woodland. The meadows are cut d hsyes R a ish oad d v o A GRASSHOPPER a R

annually and no chemical fertilisers o m R

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are used. This approach has left us with an impressive display of F k a

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ast St E re A e marsh orchids in the summer months. The reed beds are helped to 3 t

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d Floating rafts have been added to the open water of the reservoir to l O provide resting and nesting places for birds, cormorants will often

A be seen hanging their wings out to dry. 3 5 F 8 o rt on R oa The meadows in Summer are alive with wildlife. d Visit the buttercup meadow in June to see a carpet of Marsh Orchids. In July these unimproved meadows support healthy populations of Marbled White butterflies, plus Skipper butterflies and THE some Blues. Throughout the Summer both dragon and damselflies can be seen zooming over the COUNTRYSIDE grasslands and water. SERVICE Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve is owned and managed by South Somerset District Council. A countryside ranger works from the Nature Reserve and will be pleased to help and advise visitors. A series of events and walks run across South Somerset’s countryside sites each year; to receive more information about these, or any other aspect of the countryside service please call 01935 462462 or email countryside @southsomerset.gov.uk SSDC,The Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2HT

SANDPIPER WWW.SOUTHSOMERSETCOUNTRYSIDE.COM A. WOODLAND The woodlands support 4 WILDLIFE a varied range of wildlife including many birds. 1 Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Tree 2 Creeper are just a few of the birds you should find while 7 9 walking through the woods. Spring is always a good time for bird watching with the 6 migrant species present. 8 Pick up a copy of the Chard 3 D Reservoir bird watching leaflet for more information. In the 5 summer the unimproved meadows are well worth a A B C visit; ox eye daisies, marsh orchids and yarrow all make for a beautiful floral display. C. MARGINAL MUD B. REED BEDS When the water is lowered in the 1. Nuthatch late summer it’s worth looking 2. Tree Creeper During the breeding season out for birds returning south after 3. Roe Deer reed beds can shelter several breeding, especially wading birds. 4. Barn Swallow pairs of Reed Warblers. As we It’s important for migrating birds 5. Southern Hawker Dragonfly improve these habitats (by like Green Sandpiper and Common 6. Reed Warbler expanding their area) we hope Sandpiper to fuel up for their long 7. Little Egret that other species will visit. On journeys to their wintering grounds. 8. Common Sandpiper hot summer night’s bats fly These birds will feed on small 9. Great-crested Grebe over the reeds catching their crustacea and worms in the mud at prey. Reed beds are threatened the edge of the reservoir. habitats in the UK and because of this we prioritise their D. OPEN WATER conservation at the reservoir. On open water you should see some birds all year round; including Swallows and Martins in the spring. During winter cold snaps you may see large numbers of wildfowl. Look out for Little Egret and Grebes which have become much more common in the last few years. Access to Sustrans Cycleway CHARD Chaffcombe depot Old recycling centre

Anglers’ Car Park Ranger’s Base Reed Dam Wall RESERVOIR Eco Loo (composting toliet)

C ha ffc om be Ro ad No dogs NUTHATCH PRIVATE beyond this point

Black Bench Drove A358 PRIVATE Reed bed

Farm Drive

Chaffcombe Road Boat House PRIVATE

) iles (4 m ay lew Cyc er Disused Railway nst lmi to I rd ha – C ay” Conservation Area – NO PUBLIC ACCESS W line op “St ns tra Paintmoor Lane LOCAL Sus NATURE RESERVE EXPLORING THE SITE The reserve is an excellent place to see wildlife at close quarters. Watch PRIVATE Conservation Area out for orchids in the meadows and enjoy the chorus of insects throughout Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve is – NO PUBLIC ACCESS an 88 acre open water, woodland and the summer. Visit the bird hide to spot wading birds, kingfshers and great meadow site. The core of the reserve is crested grebes, or explore the woodland boardwalks to see woodpeckers Bird Hide a large reservoir that is home to a great and roe deer. There are plenty of benches to picnic from and the winding range of wildfowl and other wildlife, woodland paths, with fabulous views across the water, are great exploratory both native and visiting. walks for visitors of any age.

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The site is a haven for birdwatchers, c

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( examples of unimproved grassland P

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awash with orchids and alive with t

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r insects in the summer months. o Reed bed a We hope you enjoy exploring the habitats at Chard Reservoir on the network

d ) of surfaced and grassland paths. It is around 1.5km to walk from one end of The woodland that edges the reservoir site to the other, between the two car parks, on the woodland path. No dogs beyond this point itself is home to many species and is No dogs beyond this point All the paths within the reserve are suitable for pushchairs and the surfaced managed toKey maintain entry points that to site diversity. paths are accessible by wheelchair. Extend your walk by walking along A winding surfaced path through the Buttercup Meadow Chaffcombe Road, joining the Sustrans cycle route at point on the map woodlands,Dog with bins causeways over the and then heading left along the old railway cycle route back to Touches Lane wetter areas, is a great way to explore and Oaklands car park, a total walk length of 3.3km. the site andReed see bed wildlife. Rushy Meadow Footpath The reservoir(suitable is stocked for wheelchairs) with carp and anglers buy tickets to fsh. Events are Bridge Cycle path arranged throughout the year including HISTORY walks, talks and volunteer tasks. Rescue device Knapweed Meadow Chard Reservoir was built in 1842 to provide water for the Chard Canal. When For those that want to help manage the railway arrived the canal was abandoned. For many years the reservoir Viewing area the site an active volunteer team Chard (outskirts) was used as a sporting area (duck shooting and trout fshing) until it was runs everyApprox. Friday 100 carrying metres out tasks given to the Council in 1990 and became a Local Nature Reserve. such as reed bed management and woodland maintenance. WATER LEVELS

Key entry points to site The water levels are kept high in the spring/summer period to encourage Great Crested Grebes to nest along the margins and also to Dog bins support birds that use the reed beds. Chaffcombe Lane Reed bed The level is dropped in late summer and throughout the winter. With a low Ilminster e Footpath u n (suitable for wheelchairs) e level during the winter we are able to store water after heavy rainfall and then A358 v A

s let it go gradually, this all helps reduce flooding downstream. This is done with Cycle path d Oaklands Avenue n a Oaklands l Car Park Start here Oaklands Avenue car park CHARD k the support of the Environment Agency. Avenue a Rescue device O Honiton A30 A30 Crewkerne Viewing area ANGLING Oaklands car park to birdhide 0.5km Axminster Approx. 100 metres A358 There is fshing in certain areas under licence with Chard Angling Club by Oaklands car park to Angler’s car park 1.5km MARBLED WHITE permit only. Please see details on the notice board at the Angler’s car park. Oaklands car park full loop 3.3km

Chaffcombe Lane

Ilminster

A358

Oaklands Road CHARD Honiton A30 A30 Crewkerne

Axminster A358