Local Volunteer Event: Discovering Flexford Nature Reserve

Join local resident and natural history lover Barbara Hillier for the morning on a woodland walk through Ramalley Copse and into Flexford nature reserve. Upper and Lower Flexford cover 18 hectares and the reserve is managed by the Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust. It is a small part of what was once a widespread habitat that was divided up by housing development. The reserve is a mixture of ancient woodland and wet meadows which support a great variety of birds and plant life. We will listen out for the great spotted woodpecker and watch tree creepers and nuthatches as they spiral up and down the trees. The Monks Brook flows through the reserve and in the springtime there is an impressive display of wild garlic on its banks along with splashes of bright yellow marsh marigolds. We may see orange tip butterflies on the wing. Barbara will tell us about the long history of the area as she guides us through these beautiful woodlands and grazing meadows, pointing out all the colourful spring time flowers and the variety of birds that can be seen here.

Meeting point: At the far end of Ramalley Lane, Chandler's Ford opposite the scout hut.