Ancells Farm Nature Reserve
Saved from development in the 1980s, Ancells Farm is an important site for its heathland and bog plants, such as bog asphodel and bog pimpernel. The grassland, fen and rush pasture meadows display spectacular wildflowers, including meadow thistle, petty whin and dyers greenweed.
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
June to September to see lizards on the boardwalk, sundews on the scrapes, dragonflies and damselflies hunting over the pond and beautiful flowering orchids.About the reserve
Enjoy a changing display of wildflowers, from the pink spikes of lousewort in spring and southern marsh orchid in summer, to the pale purple of devil’s-bit scabious in autumn. Visit between June and September to see lizards on the boardwalk, sundew on the scrapes and beautiful flowering orchids. In summer, enjoy dragonflies and damselflies zipping past. The abundance of flying insects makes this a popular feeding spot for bats.
Special features
This site is part of a much larger area of small, wet fields, which are being managed as part of the Trust’s partnership work with the Ministry of Defence. This reserve is renowned for its variety of flora and fauna. Stonechat and fragrant bog myrtle are abundant all year round.