Holywell Pond

A pretty pond surrounded by grassland, used by over-wintering migrant birds which are attracted by the pond's proximity to the coast.

Location

North of Holywell Village

Holywell

Northumberland

NE25 0LB

OS Map Reference

NZ 913 752

Know before you go

Size

14 hectares

Entry fee

Parking information

Park in the nearby housing estate without obstructing residents' access

Grazing animals

There are sheep occasionally in the field.

Walking trails

Paths lead to the members' hide and along the southern boundary to the public hide. There is initially a wide tarmac path which narrows slightly before becoming a gravel path leading to the reserve entrance.

Access

The main access to the reserve is via a public footpath, which leads between the houses at the northern end of East Grange, at the eastern edge of the housing estate. Entrance to the reserve is via a wide 5-bar gate. Parking is limited on the roadside in the housing estate. Terrain is a level, well-surfaced public footpath along the southern perimeter leading to the public hide. A level grass track leads to the locked member-only hide.

Dogs

On a lead

Facilities

Bird hides

When to visit

Opening times

24/7/365

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

The site consists of a large subsidence pond surrounded by grassland and some mature and semi-mature areas of woodland and scrub. The pond margins to the west and north are well vegetated with reed mace dominating and the surrounding grassland supports populations of common spotted and northern marsh orchids.

Breeding species include little grebe, pochard, greylag goose and sedge warbler. In winter, widgeon, goldeneye and tufted duck are joined by greenshank, green sandpiper, amongst other rarities.

There are two hides on site, including a public hide 200m right from the gate which is open at all times and a member only hide for which keys can be purchased for £10 from NWT Head Quarters in Gosforth.