Gorse Farm
A pocket-sized reserve with a pond and marshy grassland.
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
All year roundBest time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
Over seventy species of aquatic insects have been recorded at this little reserve, most notably the water beetle Cerycon ustulatus. A huge variety of mini-beasts include pond skaters, water ladybirds, damselflies, leaf beetle and marsh beetle to name a few. The rare and legally protected great crested newt hunts amongst the tussocks.
The wet grassland and pond margins are good places to see the colourful ragged robin, as well as the fragrant meadowsweet in high summer.
Please do not enter the pond itself
The water may only be about 2ft (60cm) deep at the pond edge but there is a lot of deep and sticky mud.