To get to the Reserve, when coming from Moffat, proceed along
Beattock Road (towards the A74 motorway) for one mile. The
access to the Reserve is on your left just as you come within
sight of the motorway - you will see the signs for the 'Community.Nature
Reserve'
Coming from the motorway, go towards Moffat for about 500
metres. The access to the Reserve is on your right at the
first bend - you will see the signs for the 'Community Nature
Reserve'.
Visitors to our reserve should park their cars at the top
of the road alongside the 'new' fence (there is a small sign
on the fence indicating that this is a car park), walk some
100 metres down the Dyke Farm road and then enter the adjacent
field via the red painted gate on the left. You may alternatively
follow the signs for the Community Nature Reserve and park
in the car park located there and then walk back up to the
red painted gate (also an opportunity to visit both reserves).
Once in the field, follow the fence side (marked by red posts)
to reach the gate into the Reserve - please do not take
a shortcut across the field - and avoid unnecessary disturbance
to farm animals in the field. Ensure that all gates are securely
closed behind you.
There is no charge for entry to the Reserve but donations
are, of course, very much appreciated and go entirely towards
the cost of running and maintaining the Reserve. Visitors
may wander freely throughout the Reserve but, to avoid disturbance
to the wildlife, please keep to the pathways. This is especially
important during the nesting season. Nest boxes should be
left strictly alone.
The main ('Jock Dicerbo') hide is now permanently open. This
hide contains a considerable amount of bird watching information,
a visitors book and some birdwatching aids. From this hide
you can see most of the wetland area and view the numerous
waterfowl as well as many small birds coming to the adjacent
feeders. The other hide, beside the woodland pond, is also
open at all times.
The Reserve, extending to some 8 acres, has undergone extensive
work to create viable wetland and woodland habitats. There
are now three ponds, two hides and a circular woodland walk
with bench seats placed at frequent intervals where visitors
can stop and relax while they watch. There is an extensive
range of bird nesting boxes and regular feeding brings the
more popular birds close to the observer. Although primarily
intended as a haven for birds, the Reserve has a very wide
range of other interesting things to offer. Common wildflowers
include Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigold, Bugle, Common Valerian,
Greater Tussock Sedge (locally rare) Teasel and much more
(see Lists page for full details). Peacock, Painted Lady and
Small Copper butterflies are common and there are numerous
moths which are being assessed over time. Dragonflies, Damselflies
and Darters are seen regularly during summer. Mammals include
Roe Deer, Fox and Badger as well as the occasional Mink in
addition to the inevitable collection of small mammals such
as Voles and Wood mice. Pipistrelle and Noctule Bats can be
seen at dusk. The damper areas of the Reserve produce an autumnal
crop of interesting fungi, including the Alder Bracket fungus
which is locally rare.
The
main pond, recently extended, has been dredged to provide
a variety of water depths to suit different kinds of waterfowl
with sticklebacks and minnows introduced as an additional
food source. The pond banks have a varied mixture of reeds
and long grasses to provide cover and suitable nesting sites
for the various species. Willow and alder provide additional
cover. A bank on the far side has become popular for Sandmartins.
The main hide, named the 'Jock Dicerbo Hide' in honour of
the Club President, is located conveniently beside the main
entrance and gives spectacular views over the wetland area.
Throughout the year you can expect to see the resident population
of Mallardand Moorhen while other waterfowl such as Teal,
Little Grebe, Canada Geese and Wigeon visit on occasion. Various
waders such as Snipe, Jack Snipe and Sandpiper are also frequently
seen. During summer, many nesting Sandmartins are present
and later in the year a Kingfisher often visits in the hope
of catching some of the small fish. Feeders beside the hide
ensure a fair collection of small birds will always be seen.
The middle pond lies approximately in the middle of the reserve
and is used more sparsely by the wildfowl. Reeds and tall
grasses cover the margins and various water plants grow within
the pond itself to give an ideal habitat for insects and amphibians
that spend all or part of their lives in or on water.
The
woodland area is fairly open, has a good mix of trees and
shrubs. Birch, beech, alder, etc, underpinned by bushes gives
a good habitat for tits, chaffinches, robin, dunnock, etc.
Some of the prolific alder trees are being removed to open
up 'flight paths' to the ponds and some of the cleared areas
are being replanted with suitable trees. A new pond has been
created within the woodland area and, in its first year, tempted
Moorhen to nest. The small hide gives excellent viewing over
the pond and adjacent woodland.
A 'plant-a tree' scheme, in conjunction with MacMillan Cancer
Relief, has significantly extended the number and variety
of tree species on the reserve. As well as yielding valuable
funds for the club, this should also provide both food in
the form of fruit & berries and as additional habitat
for insects that should attract more birds to the area.
A variety of 'planters' have been placed near the paths.
These have been planted up using, mainly, flowering plants
intended to attract butterflies and other insects. Natural
resources have been used wherever possible, the planter shown
here makes an interesting feature. A 'leisure area" where
visitors can sit and talk or picnic lies near the woodland
hide. We hope to enhance this area in due course.
As a measure of its success, well over 100 species of bird
have been recorded on the Reserve since its creation. While
many are common and resident, quite a few are transient visitors,
some quite unusual, that have obviously been attracted by
what this area has to offer. A full listing of birds recorded
on the Reserve is on our Lists page.
Various studies are being carried out to assess the nature
and extent of the plant and insect life to be found on the
Reserve. As the results become available, details will be
published on this site and in the newsletter.
