LemsfordSpringsNature Reserve
Watch out for...
Protecting Wildlife for the Future Protecting Wildlife for the
Future
Herts and Middlesex
Respect wildlife.
Keep dogs under strict control.
Take care to avoid injury or harm
from
any natural hazards.
Bring your binoculars and wear
suitable
clothing for watching wildlife.
Take your litteraway with you.
Keep to the footpaths and resp
ect other
users on shared paths.
Enjoying our nature reservesTo enjoy your visit please…
Watch out for...■ Kingfishers■ Sandpipers■ Freshwater
shrimps
Protecting Lemsford SpringsMany of Hertfordshire’s wetlands have
been destroyed –drained, built on or become farmland. Lemsford
Springsis cared for by the Wildlife Trust but we can’t do this
onour own. Clearing the lagoons, pollarding the willowsand mowing
the meadow all take time and money.
How you can help us We need your support to continue to protect
local wildlife.
Why not:
■ Join as a member – The majority of our incomecomes from our
membership. We need you!
■ Volunteer – work parties take place at LemsfordSprings on the
first Sunday morning of every month.
■ Fundraise – get your workplace or school involvedand have fun
raising money at the same time.
Visit our website to find out more about how you can get
involved.
www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Grebe House, St Michael’s
Street, St Albans, AL3 4SN01727 858901 • [email protected] Registered
in England: 816710Registered Charity: 239863
Designed by Wildcat Design ([email protected])
Online version. Where printed:printed by BPC Litho on 100%
recycled fibre
Photos by Tim Hill: little egret (front cover), shrimps; Tim
Hill: green sandpiper, kingfisher, kestrel; Paul Moss: River Lea;
Paul Thrush: comma butterfly. Location map base by Location Maps
Ltd PU100029016/ (0800) 731 4084. ref. 03/12
K
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To Hertford andEast London
Lea Valley walkLea Valley walkcontinues tocontinues to
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GreatGreatNorthNorthRoadRoadB197B197
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To Stevenageand the North
To StanboruoghTo Stanboruoghand Hatfieldand Hatfield
To Stanboroughand Hatfield
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IslandIslandWoodWoodIslandWood
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TheMarsh
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100 Yards
Lea Valley Walk
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Welcome to LemsfordSprings Nature Reserve
The reserve is locked to minimisedisturbance to the wildlife. To
visitcollect the key for the gate and hides from the warden’s house
at 11 Lemsford Village (adjacent toReserve gate) 01707 335517; or
contact the Wildlife Trust.
Explore Lemsford Springs and discoveran old watercress bed
surrounded bywoodland, meadow and marsh, thattogether attract a
wonderful varietyof wildlife.
This used to be a watercress farm andmarket garden. From 1860
until 1966,watercress was harvested all year roundand sold at
Covent Garden in Londonand at local markets. Watercress stillgrows
in the lagoons today.
In the marshy areas you can find plantssuch as meadowsweet,
yellow flag irisand ragged robin.
■ Getting around
Size: 4.5 ha (11 acres).Wildlife Walk: Gentle slopes. A
short
steeper slope.Surfaces: Grass and earth. Uneven in
places. Slippery in winter and afterrain – particularly the
bridges andboardwalk. Ramp to hide.
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
■ South Lagoon
The shallow lagoons filledwith fresh, clean waterfrom
underground springsare an ideal place forwatercress to grow andfor
shrimps, snails andfish to live. The millionsof shrimps are a
bountifulfood supply for birdsincluding green sandpiperand water
rail.
■ Butterflies
In summerbutterflies areabundant andseven types ofdragonfly
havebeen seen.
■ The hides
Visit the hides for goodviews and to find outmore about the
birdshere. You may see akingfisher perched on a stick in the lagoon
orhear its ‘peep’ call.
■ Kestrel nest box
Look out for kestrels that sometimesnest in a box on a telegraph
pole.They have reared more than 30young over the years.
Public footpath
Other footpaths
Wildlife Walk ½ mile
Hide suitable for wheelchair users
Hide suitable for w
Information
Kestrel nest box
Artesian well
K
Picnic site
Information
