About the reserve

Nutfield Marsh lies in the vale of Holmesdale between the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge and comprises of a series wetland sites - The Moors, Spynes Mere, Holmethorpe Lagoons and Mercer Country Park. 

These areas were restored from sand workings along the Redhill Brook and now support a myriad of wetland wildlife. The Trust manages The Moors.

The Moors 

Although this reserve has no public access, a footpath transects the site. Situated along Redhill Brook, this 21 hectare wetland nature reserve floods from the Redhill Brook during winter and on occasions this creates one large lake, which the footpath crosses. When this happens you feel as if you are walking on water!

Ducks such as mallard and teal flock to feed on the winter flood, whilst moorhen and the shy water rail also creep through the waterside vegetation. Grazed grassland also provides the right habitat for skylark and lapwing to nest.

In autumn, snipe and other waders arrive for winter, whilst in summer the pools are alive with small damselflies such as the banded demoiselle and dragonflies like the southern hawker and emperor. Stickleback, washed in by the flood, provide food for kingfishers and grey herons.

Around the pools the flowers of yellow flag are followed by purple loosestrife and creamy meadowsweet, as well as sedges, rushes and bur reed - a favorite food of water voles.

On the drier meadows cowslip and trefoil, oxeye daisy and yarrow attract feeding bees and butterflies.