Withymead Nature Reserve - a special place for nature

Withymead is a tranquil oasis of riverside wilderness, where remarkably varied habitats support a rich profusion of flora and fauna.

It is renowned for its birds, woodland, fenland reeds, mammals, reptiles, insects and its signature flower, the Loddon Lily, which carpets the wetland in spring.

Conserving the remnants of a lost landscape

Before the growth of agriculture, settlement and industry, much of the Thames riverside would have looked like Withymead today. Wet woodland, reed fen and water meadows typified the floodplains of the meandering river.

The aims of the Trust are to enhance the reserve for wildlife and keep it safe and accessible for visitors to enjoy these exceptional habitats.

Discover Withymead’s hidden boat-building past

Once a scene of industry in the late 1800s/early 1900s, the area of Withymead was once a thriving boatyard, employing a local workforce of over 30 people.

See the remnants of Sam Saunders’ Springfield Works boatyard from the slipway with its rails and shed foundations, to the winch and blacksmith’s forge, now a winter maternity roost for bats.

A beautiful place to learn about nature

Our renovated orchard and copse provide a dedicated outdoor space for local schools to use for Forest School teaching. The Withymead Study Centre offers facilities for talks, special interest groups, nature studies and surveys.

A place for life-long learning, contact us to find out how you can visit this special site by the Thames.

Withymead Nature Reserve -
a special place for nature

Withymead is a tranquil oasis of riverside wilderness, where remarkably varied habitats support a rich profusion of flora and fauna.

It is renowned for its birds, woodland, fenland reeds, mammals, reptiles, insects and its signature flower, the Loddon Lily, which carpets the wetland in spring.