Thorley WashNature Reserve

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Herts and Middlesex

To make the most of your visit

please...

Bring your binoculars and wear

suitable clothing/footwear

Keep to the footpaths

Keep dogs on leads

Take your litter away with you

Explore the Sculpture Trail!

Watch out for...Kingfishers darting along the StortWarblers and wildflowers in summerWading birds in winter

Protecting Thorley WashMany of Hertfordshire’s wetland habitats have beendestroyed – drained for farming or development. Theserare habitats you see at Thorley Wash are protected bythe Wildlife Trust. We need your help to continue tomanage them.

How you can help us We need your support to continue to protect local wildlife.

Why not:

n Join as a member – the majority of our incomecomes from our membership. We need you!

n Volunteer – work parties take place in winter months,please contact us if you would like to get involved.

n Fundraise – get your workplace or school involvedand have fun raising money at the same time.

Visit our website to find out more

www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SN01727 858901 • info@hmwt.org Registered in England: 816710Registered Charity: 239863

Designed by Wildcat Design (wildcat1@ntlworld.com)

Photos by Matt Berry: southern marsh orchid (front cover); Tim Hill: marsh marigold, snipe; Steve Chilton: ragged robin; i-stock/Megan Lorenz: barn owl. Dragonfly sculpture and photo by Dan Cordell. Meadowsweet illustration by Alasdair Bright.Location map base by Location Maps Ltd PU100029016/ (0800) 731 4084. Site map by Mindworx Graphics, © Crown copyrightand database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100048466. ref. 05/13

Watch out for...n Kingfishers darting along the Stortn Warblers and wildflowers in summern Wading birds in winter

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Spellbrook Lane East

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De l LaneDell Lane

1Ten minutes walk ( /2 mile) to The Three Horse Shoes pub,

Spellbrook Lane East, a great place to re-fuel

before or after your walk.

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30 minutes walk (1 /2 miles) to Bishop’s Stortford.

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Welcome to Thorley WashNature ReserveExplore Thorley Wash and discoverwhat makes this nature reserve sospecial.

Before Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trusttook on Thorley Wash Nature Reserve it was used as a flood storage pound. This was designed to store flood waterfrom the River Stort, to prevent it fromreaching the River Lea.

Explore Thorley Wash – the trail takes youaround the boundary of the former floodpound and provides a great panoramicview into and across the nature reserve.

Did you know? In the 16th century Bishop’sStortford supplied London breweries withmalt. The canalisation of the Stort in thelate 1700s made transporting malt toLondon much quicker than using a horseand cart.

The original course of the Stort can still beseen as it meanders around Thorley WashNature Reserve. It is an ideal habitat fordragonflies and wetland birds. Listen outfor the ‘piping’ call of a kingfisher and youmight have a chance to see a flash of azureblue as a bird races along the river.

n Getting aroundSize: 13 hectares (32 acres).Wildlife Walk: Flat, gentle slopes.

½ mile in length.Surfaces: Grass and bare mud.

Uneven in places. Slippery in winterand after rain.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

n Wildflowers Thorley Wash is a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI) becauseof the range of wildflowersfound here. In late spring tosummer look out for the goldenyellow of marsh marigold,amethyst spikes of purpleloosestrife and the bright pinks of ragged robin. If you lookclosely at the white flower head of meadowsweet you will seemany types of insects attracted by its sweet scent.

n WadersThe marshy habitats attractsnipe, a wading bird whichuses its long bill to probefor insects in the mud.You are most likely to seethese birds flying awaywhen they are disturbed.If disturbed they areidentified by a zig-zagflight and a raspy call.

n Barn owlsIf you’re walking around the trail at dusk, you might see a barn owlhunting over the grass land for mice or voles. Specially designedboxes have been provided for the owls to nest.

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Public Footpath

Wildlife Sculpture Trail /2 mile

Public Bridleway

Information

CAUTION TRAINS

Foot Bridge

Seat

PubRailway Line

River/Stream

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Meadowsweet withpeacock butterfly andbanded demoiselle

damselfly

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