Location: Environment and Planning » Parks and open spaces » Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves

The following information provides brief details about some of the Royal Borough's Local Nature Reserves and wildlife areas.

Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve

Where is it?

The reserve is off Stanwell Road, between the villages of Horton and Poyle. The entrance to the reserve is sign posted.

Opened in 1996, this reserve has rapidly developed into a haven for wildlife in the local area. It has been created from a series of derelict sewage sludge lagoons, that are being transformed into important wetland habitats by the management of the Royal Borough and partner organisations. It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1999.

Poyle Poplars

Where is it?

Stanwell Road, Horton The Poyle Poplars Woodland covers 6 hectares and was purchased by the Royal Borough in 2009. It gets its name from the hybrid poplar trees planted here for matchwood in the 1970's. The woodland was badly damaged by the storm of 1987, following which native trees and shrubs including black poplar, were planted to attract wildlife.

Braywick Park

Where is it?

There is a car park off Hibbert Road, which itself is off the A308 Braywick Road, in Maidenhead. There are a number of other access points for pedestrians, including from the town centre via the route of The Green Way.

Braywick Park in Maidenhead is a Local Nature Reserve rich in wildlife. Careful planning and management has developed a range of important habitats across the site, part of which is on a reclaimed landfill site, including grassland, woodland and a pond.

The result of this work is a growing diversity of wildlife that can be seen by visitors. The Cut, a flood relief ditch, runs along one side of the reserve providing more variety of wetland habitats and attracting species such as swans and coots.

Leaflets are available on the Braywick Park Trail and Braywick Tree Trail.

The Gullet

Where is it?

The site is located 5 minutes walk from Maidenhead Railway Station, off Ludlow Road. There is no off-street parking for this small site.

The Gullet is a small but valuable piece of woodland next to the main railway line in Maidenhead. With its wide range of trees and flowering plants, and its mixture of woodland, scrub and rough grassland it is an important refuge for wildlife in the urban environment of Maidenhead. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1999.

Hemwood Dell

Where is it?

By the side of Hemwood Road, off Wolf Lane in Windsor. There is no off-street parking.

Once part of Windsor Forest, this small woodland is a valuable Local Wildlife site that is being managed by the Royal Borough. The aim of the management is to improve the wildlife value of the site, which had previously been neglected, and allow it to reach its full potential as a haven for flora and fauna.

Ockwells Park

Where is it?

Ockwells Road, Maidenhead. Bus 53 stops on Shoppenhangers Road at the crossing with Cox Green Road, about 5 minutes walk from the Park. A car park and toilets can be found at the entrance to the park.

A large area of Ockwells Park is taken up by sports pitches but the rest is managed to encourage wildlife and has been designated a Local Nature Reserve. The park has a variety of habitats including woodland, open meadow, damp areas and a stream.

A nature trail, accessible to wheelchair users, has been set out in the park. A leaflet describing the trail is available from the Royal Borough.

Sutherland Grange

Where is it?

The open space is located to the west of Windsor town centre between the A308 and the River Thames. There is a car park in a large lay-by off the A308.

The field on the western side of the park is known as Sutherland Grange Hay Meadow and is a Local Nature Reserve with a huge variety of flowers and grasses. In spring and summer the meadow is alive with insects, including butterflies, beetles and moths. In turn, many of the insects are a source of food for a variety of birds which nest in the trees and hedges surrounding the site.

Allens Field

Where is it?

Liddel Way, South Ascot

Allen's Field covers 8.5 hectares and is owned by the Sunninghill Fuel Allotment Trust. Since 2009 the site has been managed by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead in partnership with Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council.

Until the early 20th century the site was part of a large marshy wooded area known as Sunninghill bog. In the mid 20th century the central part of the site was used as a household refuse tip, this was capped off in the 1960's, and the site became a public open space in the late 1970's.

The site was named after George Allen who was once Clerk to Windsor Rural District Council, and his wife was Clerk to the Parish Council and also to the Fuel Allotment Trust.

Allen's Field is designated a Local Wildlife Site and a range of birds, insects, mammals and fungi can be seen here. The woodland is especially valuable for wildlife and the grassland also has some interesting plants.

For more information about local nature reserves and wildlife areas please contact:

The Rangers on 01628 777440 or email bnc@rbwm.gov.uk.