Thorncombe Village Trust

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Chard Junction Nature Reserve

There is a colony of sand-martins nesting in the reserve, last year a pair of ringed plovers nested there and the record book in the hide makes interesting reading.

A butterfly survey was carried out in 2009, noting a total number of 209 butterflies between July and September. The most common were the Meadow Brown and the Gatekeeper

                                                          Where is it?     Grid ref: ST345045,

From Thorncombe drive towards the Quarry, past Heward and the turning to Holditch along Headstock Road. Near the end where it bends round to the right there is a Public Footpath sign by a stile on the right, and a lay by for parking on the left soon after. Cross the stile and the little bridge, lift the "electric fence" gate and head off diagonally to the top left corner of the field.  Go through the gate, keep going straight to the opposite side of the second field to the stile. Follow the footpath to the entrance gate. (approx 7 mins easy walk from the road)

There is another entrance further along this same footpath, and following this path will lead you to the road between Chard Junction and Forde Abbey.

            more pictures here….

         

  Thorncombe Village Trust - caring for Thorncombe's  environment

Joy Wallis, People and Wildlife Co-ordinator at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: "The reserve is just beginning to become established, so it is an exciting time.  It is a fantastic amenity for local people  and we hope that the community will enjoy watching the wildlife move in over the next few years."


The bird hide at the Reserve

 The reserve opened in May 2009 and shortly afterwards everyone was devastated to learn that vandals had burnt down and completely   destroyed one of the two bird hides. The remaining hide still stands, (see above)  although it has been damaged, and a viewing platform has    been built to replace the other hide, giving clear views over the lakes.( See below)


Look at the new Butterfly page                     

 Butterfly survey 2012 click here

Look at the new Butterfly page                     

 Butterfly survey 2012 click here


Thorncombe Village Trust