Amwell Nature Reserve is a f
ormer gravel pit that has been restored to provide a diverse wetland nature reserve, which is now internationally important to nature conservation, due to the numbers of wintering water birds which visit the reserve.
Found in Ware, Hertfordshire the nature reserve supports internationally important numbers of wintering wildfowl, along with outstanding communities of breeding birds, dragonflies and damselflies. The site includes Great Hardmead Lake and Holycross Lake (which were excavated between 1973 and 1990) and a variety of associated wetland, grassland and woodland habitats. The Reserve is of international importance for wintering Gadwall and Shoveler. The site also regularly attracts wintering bitterns - this is one of the best places to see this elusive bird. During mid-winter Smew can usually be seen.
The lakes and their habitats attract breeding birds such as Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting.
Seventeen species of dragonflies and damselflies regularly breed, including Hairy Dragonfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Ruddy and Common Darter.
The range of wetland habitats present on the site support a wide range of plants including the nationally scarce Marsh Dock. An area of power station ash, imported from elsewhere in the Lee Valley supports a colony of Early and Southern Marsh Orchids.
Amwell is one of the most important sites in Hertfordshire for Otters, following re-introduction in 1991. Reptiles and amphibians to be found here including Grass Snakes, Common Newts and Common Frogs. Molluscs are particularly well represented at Amwell, with approximately 25% of all British terrestrial and freshwater species recorded here. The Reserve is also the richest site in the county for water beetles and water bugs.