Loddon Nature Reserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loddon Nature Reserve
Type	Nature reserve
Location	Twyford, Berkshire
OS grid	SU 785 757
Area	14 hectares (35 acres)
Managed by	Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

Loddon Nature Reserve is a special natural area near Twyford in Berkshire, England. It covers about 14 hectares (which is like 35 football fields!). This amazing place is looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. They work hard to protect the animals and plants that live here.

What is Loddon Nature Reserve?

Loddon Nature Reserve used to be a big hole where people dug out gravel. Now, it's filled with water, creating a lovely lake. This lake has several small islands, which are perfect safe spots for wildlife. The area around the lake is covered in trees and bushes, making it a great home for many creatures.

Meet the Animals of Loddon

This nature reserve is a fantastic spot for watching wildlife. Lots of different animals, especially birds, call Loddon home. You can often see them on the water or hiding in the trees.

Birds You Might Spot

Loddon Nature Reserve is a birdwatcher's paradise! Many types of birds visit or live here. Some come for the winter, while others stay all year round.

• Ducks and Waterfowl: Keep an eye out for ducks like the Tufted duck with its cool crest, the Pochard with its reddish head, and the shy Gadwall. You might also see the Smew, a small, striking duck, or the Common goldeneye with its bright yellow eyes.
• Wading Birds: Look for birds that walk in shallow water, like the Snipe with its long beak, or the Common redshank with its bright red legs. The Green sandpiper and Common sandpiper also visit the reserve.
• Birds of Prey: If you're lucky, you might spot a Eurasian sparrowhawk swooping through the trees, or a Common kestrel hovering in the sky. At night, you might hear or even see a Tawny owl or a Barn owl.
• Other Interesting Birds: You could see a Great Crested Grebe doing its amazing courtship dance on the water. The Grey Heron stands tall and still, waiting to catch fish. You might also spot a Common swift flying fast overhead in summer, or a Lesser spotted woodpecker tapping on trees.

More Birds of Loddon

Here are some other birds that have been seen at the reserve:

• Common teal
• Northern Shoveler
• Water rail
• Common merganser
• Little grebe
• Common tern
• Eurasian coot
• Common moorhen
• Eurasian oystercatcher
• Eurasian stonechat
• Willow warbler
• Common whitethroat
• Blackcap
• Eurasian wigeon
• Little owl
• European green woodpecker
• Great spotted woodpecker

Plants of Loddon

The plants at Loddon Nature Reserve are just as important as the animals. They provide food and shelter for many creatures.

Beautiful Wetland Plants

The wet areas around the lake are home to some lovely plants.

• Purple Loosestrife: This plant has tall spikes covered in bright purple flowers. It loves wet places and adds a splash of color to the reserve in summer.
• Yellow Iris: Also known as Yellow Flag, this plant has bright yellow flowers that look like flags. It grows well in the shallow water and along the edges of the lake.

Images for kids

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  Loddon Nature Reserve, a former gravel pit now a haven for wildlife.