Short birdwatching visit · Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust
Lashford Lane Fen
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- Summer for Reed Warbler and Water Rail; winter for Reed Bunting
- Headline birds
- Water Rail · Reed Warbler · Reed Bunting
- Parking
- An unsurfaced car park is on Lashford Lane, north of Dry Sandford, about 200 metres before Besselsleigh Road.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- BBOWT describes wet ground and says the reserve is unsuitable for pushchairs; no accessible route is established.
Dry Sandford
Lashford Lane Fen occupies a wet limestone valley threaded by Sandford Brook. BBOWT highlights Reed Warbler and Water Rail in summer and Reed Bunting in winter, giving this small reserve a clear wetland birding focus. Fen and reedbed sit beside grassland, scrub and woodland, but the full circular route through the fen and woods is currently closed because of damaged infrastructure and ash dieback. Public visits must follow the remaining waymarked paths and closure signs. This is a partial route restriction, so plan a visit around the available access rather than expecting the former circuit.
Birds and seasons
- Water Rail · Headline bird — Summer Source for Water Rail
- Reed Warbler · Headline bird — Summer Source for Reed Warbler
- Reed Bunting · Headline bird — Winter Source for Reed Bunting
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- The circular fen-and-woodland route is closed. Follow open waymarked paths and all closure signs; wet ground, bridges and boardwalks affect access.
- Toilets
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Parking
- An unsurfaced car park is on Lashford Lane, north of Dry Sandford, about 200 metres before Besselsleigh Road.
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only.
- Access notes
- BBOWT describes wet ground and says the reserve is unsuitable for pushchairs; no accessible route is established.
- Step-free access
- BBOWT describes wet ground and says the reserve is unsuitable for pushchairs; no accessible route is established.
Getting there: Use BBOWT’s Lashford Lane car-park directions. The map pin is the operator’s reserve reference; check current signs to see which short routes remain available beyond the car park.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Snelsmore Common Country Park · 18.7 straight-line miles
- Greenham and Crookham Commons · 22.4 straight-line miles
- Padworth Common · 24.4 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Otmoor, 9.6 miles away in a straight line.
- Farmoor Reservoir · 3.5 miles in a straight line
- Chimney Meadows · 7.1 miles in a straight line
- Sydlings Copse · 7.7 miles in a straight line