Eye Green Nature Reserve – Gallery

Eye Nature Reserve contains a wide range of flora and fauna. According to a map developed by Forest Research tree cover across the Eye, Newborough and Thorney ward is just 1.7%, one of the lowest figures in the Peterborough area which is why havens such as this are extremely important this side of Peterborough.

The reserve provides a habitat for wetland birds including ducks, coots, geese and moorhens. The best time to see wetland wildfowl is during the winter months as they escape the harsh winters of their more northerly breeding grounds. The reed beds and finger lakes to the northern side of the reserve provide important habitats for amphibians, invertebrates and small mammals. The areas around the lake provide a wide range of plant species and during the summer months you will spot various species of butterflies and dragonflies. The trees and shrubs support other birdlife such as the more common starlings, sparrows and finches as well as dunnocks, willow warblers and fieldfares. In the winter you may even catch Canada Geese and seagulls on the lake.

Below you will find photos and further information of just a few of the plants and wildlife that inhabit the reserve. Click on any of the images to read more about them.

Wildlife

Coots – the two parents have just dived beneath the surface in the search for food.

You may even spot one of our more domesticated predators (Felis catus)…

Plants

The footpath around the north end of the reserve

: Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)

: Dog Rose (Rosa canina)

: Dogwood rose hips provide winter food for birds

: Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). Its non-native relative Giant Hogweed is toxic to humans.

: Foxglove (Digitalis). While very beautiful with its trumpet like blossoms, foxgloves are very poisonous to dogs, cats, and humans.

: Nettles (Urtica dioica), there are always plenty of them around.

: Fire Thorn (Pyracantha). Masses of berries in the autumn.

: The blue flowers of Wood forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) growing amongst the grasses.

: Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) forms dense stands of bright pink flower spikes up to 1.5m tall.

: Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) Provides autumn food for many wild birds

: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) although it can be seen as an invasive non-native species the large blooms provide lots of nectar for butterflies and bees.

: Goat Willow (Salix caprea)

: Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica)

: Beech trees are capable of reaching 50m (160 ft) tall. The Beech Trees in the reserve are probably around 70 years old.

: Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)

: Duckweed (Lemnoideae)

: Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

: Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)

: Knapweed is a favourite of our pollinating insects, being a source of good quality nectar. And as well as supporting our bee, butterflies and beetles its seeds provide food for many birds