Upton Warren Reserve (or to give it its correct title - THE CHRISTOPHER CADBURY WETLAND RESERVE) is a large plot of land (65 acres) that lies to the east of the A38 (and M5) south of Bromsgrove and equidistant between Bromsgrove and Droitwich (both towns are served by the Birmingham to Hereford railway line). The reserve is easily accessible to those who wish to travel by car to make their visit with arterial access being provided by the M5 (Junction 5) to the south and the M42 (Junction 1) to the north.
The reserve itself is split into two distinct and diverse areas (each with their own vehicular access and car park) separated by the river Salwarpe and a large boating/fishing/outdoor recreation complex. Visitors should not be put off by this factor as the two communities have survived and lived in harmonious close proximity to one another for many years.
Access to the reserve is free to members of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (WWT) while day permits can be purchased on-site from the sailing centre or from WWT HQ,
Lower Smite Farm
Smite Hill
Hindlip
Worcester
WR3 8SZ
Phone - 01905 754919.
Email - [email protected]
The Moors Polls
The northern part of the reserve is taken up by The Moors Pools, two deep fresh water pools with extensive reed beds (SO 936677 - Landranger 150 Explorer 204) the northern one of which being AKA the Gwen Finch Wetland (around which runs a short nature trail which is superb for breeding birds in season). Being deep the Moors Pools attract most of the wildfowl, while the surrounding reed beds are excellent for a vast array of reed dwelling species.
Access to the Moors Pool is from the A38 Droitwich to Bromsgrove road about 500 metres north of the Swan Inn at Upton Warren. A lane (look for a white sign advertising poultry housing etc) with small speed bumps leads east to a small car park on the left. Parking on the lane itself, near the A38 entrance or near the houses at the bottom of the lane is not encouraged.
The Moors Pools attract a range of wildfowl (too numerous to list) but are also home to a wide variety of other bird species with:
The surrounding reed beds are excellent for reed loving species, most notably Cetti's Warbler and during the winter, Bittern.
The Flashes
South of the boating lake and along a disabled access pathway that run through reeds and alongside a small stream lie The Flashes (SO 932673 - Landranger 150 Explorer 204). This shallow area of salt water (created by land subsidence resulting from local brine extraction) is one the premier sites in Worcestershire for observing a wide variety of waders, particularly during the Spring and Autumn migratory transit periods.
Access to the Flashes is from the A38 Droitwich to Bromsgrove road off the roundabout directly opposite Webb's (of Wychbold) garden centre. This takes you straight into a large metalled car park at the Sailing complex. Access to the Flashes is gained by walking around the western and southern shores of the boating lake until a stile is encountered in the fence to the right of the perimeter path.
The Flashes are provided for the viewing waders comprising:
A feeding station attracts a wide variety of the more-common finches with the occasional Tree Sparrow (not seen in last 2 years) or Brambling. A Peregrine is present throughout the year.
Vehicular access to the two halves of the site has been outlined above. But, it should be noted that pedestrian access (with further bird watching opportunities) between the sites is also possible (although a section of the walk is along the A38). The path that runs from the Moors Pool car park to the two south-westerly Moors Pool hides extends into the wooded area. If this path (which runs alongside the Salwarpe) is taken (look out for Kingfishers), it eventually leads to a stile opposite the Swan Inn. Heading south along the A38, access to the Boating complex (and Flashes) can be gained just past the petrol station on the left, opposite Webb's garden centre.
The reserve itself is split into two distinct and diverse areas (each with their own vehicular access and car park) separated by the river Salwarpe and a large boating/fishing/outdoor recreation complex. Visitors should not be put off by this factor as the two communities have survived and lived in harmonious close proximity to one another for many years.
Access to the reserve is free to members of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (WWT) while day permits can be purchased on-site from the sailing centre or from WWT HQ,
Lower Smite Farm
Smite Hill
Hindlip
Worcester
WR3 8SZ
Phone - 01905 754919.
Email - [email protected]
The Moors Polls
The northern part of the reserve is taken up by The Moors Pools, two deep fresh water pools with extensive reed beds (SO 936677 - Landranger 150 Explorer 204) the northern one of which being AKA the Gwen Finch Wetland (around which runs a short nature trail which is superb for breeding birds in season). Being deep the Moors Pools attract most of the wildfowl, while the surrounding reed beds are excellent for a vast array of reed dwelling species.
Access to the Moors Pool is from the A38 Droitwich to Bromsgrove road about 500 metres north of the Swan Inn at Upton Warren. A lane (look for a white sign advertising poultry housing etc) with small speed bumps leads east to a small car park on the left. Parking on the lane itself, near the A38 entrance or near the houses at the bottom of the lane is not encouraged.
The Moors Pools attract a range of wildfowl (too numerous to list) but are also home to a wide variety of other bird species with:
- Common Tern
- Black-headed Gull
- Oystercatcher
- Little Ringed Plover
- Lapwing
- Redshank
The surrounding reed beds are excellent for reed loving species, most notably Cetti's Warbler and during the winter, Bittern.
The Flashes
South of the boating lake and along a disabled access pathway that run through reeds and alongside a small stream lie The Flashes (SO 932673 - Landranger 150 Explorer 204). This shallow area of salt water (created by land subsidence resulting from local brine extraction) is one the premier sites in Worcestershire for observing a wide variety of waders, particularly during the Spring and Autumn migratory transit periods.
Access to the Flashes is from the A38 Droitwich to Bromsgrove road off the roundabout directly opposite Webb's (of Wychbold) garden centre. This takes you straight into a large metalled car park at the Sailing complex. Access to the Flashes is gained by walking around the western and southern shores of the boating lake until a stile is encountered in the fence to the right of the perimeter path.
The Flashes are provided for the viewing waders comprising:
- Little Ringed Plover
- Lapwing
- Redshank
- Green Sandpipers
- Common Sandpipers
- Ringed Plover
- Dunlin
- Greenshank
Black-tailed Godwit
- Ruff
- Sanderling
- Turnstone
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Whimbrel
- Wood Sandpiper
- Spotted Redshank
- Little Stint
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Least Sandpiper
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Grey Phalarope
- Black-winged Stil,
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
A feeding station attracts a wide variety of the more-common finches with the occasional Tree Sparrow (not seen in last 2 years) or Brambling. A Peregrine is present throughout the year.
Vehicular access to the two halves of the site has been outlined above. But, it should be noted that pedestrian access (with further bird watching opportunities) between the sites is also possible (although a section of the walk is along the A38). The path that runs from the Moors Pool car park to the two south-westerly Moors Pool hides extends into the wooded area. If this path (which runs alongside the Salwarpe) is taken (look out for Kingfishers), it eventually leads to a stile opposite the Swan Inn. Heading south along the A38, access to the Boating complex (and Flashes) can be gained just past the petrol station on the left, opposite Webb's garden centre.