NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST
Nearest Town: Cresswell village
OS Map: NZ283944 (OS 50 000 Sheet 81)
This 20ha SSSI is a shallow brackish lagoon behind the sand dunes, fringed by saltmarsh and reedbed.
Location and access: From Cresswell follow the coast road north for 1 km. The pond is on the left. Park at the bottom of the track to Blakemoor Farm and walk up the track. The gate to the hide is on the right by the first building. Alternatively, the pond can be observed from the roadside or from the public footpath at the northern end which is also good for wheelchair viewing.
The reserve is a shallow brackish lagoon behind the sand dunes, fringed by saltmarsh and reedbed. It is managed to maintain the saltmarsh and invertebrate populations and to enhance the habitat for breeding, feeding and roosting birds, including passage waders and overwintering waterfowl. Because the pond is adjacent to and connected to the sea, it has developed into a shallow brackish lagoon, providing excellent feeding for wading birds all year round. It is particularly good during the spring and autumn passage when rarities often occur. Large numbers of waterfowl, including a flock of whooper swans often roost here, with small numbers of greylag and pinkfooted geese.