Babcary Meadows Nature Reserve
Species rich hay meadow. To see the reserve at its best visit between April and mid-July before the annual hay cut.
A
Babcary walk
posted on 27/08/21 by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Last update : 27/08/21
Description
(S/E) From the Red Lion Inn car park turn right, following the road in front of the pub. Keep left at the fork, walking past the village hall, and continue along this road for approx. 400m.
(1) When you reach the ford turn right and cross the bridge into Somerset Wildlife Trust Babcary Meadows Reserve. The site is among England’s few remaining areas of traditionally managed unimproved neutral grassland.
Complete a circuit of the reserve as shown on the map overleaf. From April until the annual hay cut in mid-July, bursts of colourful wildflowers fill the fields - lookout for Cowslips and Green-Winged Orchids early on, with Yellow-Rattle, Oxeye Daisy and Salad Burnet making an appearance later, in June and July. Fungal fairy rings can be seen in the autumn, and Redwing and Fieldfare flocks arrive in winter.
(2) On exiting the reserve turn right onto the track, keeping left at the fork. Continue along the track for approx. 250 metres.
(3) Go through a wooden gate on the left onto a public footpath. Continue straight, along the edge of the field until you reach the river. Follow the river for a short while, leaving it again to exit the field through the gate halfway up the field boundary.
(4) Turn left and follow the road into Babcary. Just after the sharp bend in the road, turn left through a gate to follow the footpath. At the end of the footpath, turn right to return to the Red Lion Inn.(S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 23 m - Red Lion Inn car park
- 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 23 m - Ford
- 2 : km 2.46 - alt. 23 m - Exiting the reserve
- 3 : km 2.7 - alt. 22 m - Wooden gate
- 4 : km 3.17 - alt. 22 m - Babcary Lane
- S/E : km 3.79 - alt. 23 m - Red Lion Inn car park
Useful Information
Roads and footpaths, with ruts and standing water, very flat; can become very muddy after prolonged periods of rain. Please take care along the roads. Dogs welcome but please keep on lead.
More details : https://www.somersetwildlife.org/wildlif...
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
Marbled white
A distinctive medium-sized white butterfly, with black-chequered markings. Adults on the wing in the summer, from June to August.
Redwing
Dark brown above and white below, with a black-streaked breast, orange-red underwing and white eyebrow stripe. This medium sized thrush overwinters in the UK to feast on berry-laden bushes.
Cowslips
Tube-like, egg-yellow flowers clustered at the end of tall stems. Seen in large numbers in April and May.
