Short birdwatching visit · Shropshire Ornithological Society
Venus Pool Nature Reserve
- Tier
- Local green space
- Best season
- Individual seasons are not specified for the listed birds
- Headline birds
- Great Spotted Woodpecker · Sparrowhawk · Nuthatch
- Parking
- Park just inside the entrance gate; it is normally locked after nightfall.
- Hides
- Public hides are available; North and Memorial Hides are members-only.
- Step-free
- The main public hide is wheelchair accessible; closer disabled parking is restricted to eligible society members.
Upper Cound lane near Cross Houses, south-east of Shrewsbury
Venus Pool is the county ornithological society’s managed wetland reserve south-east of Shrewsbury. Its shallow pool, shoreline and willow scrub can be watched from public hides, with Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch specifically named in the society’s account of the feeding-station area. Begin at the main car park and follow the path down to the available public hides. North and Memorial Hides remain restricted to society members, so choose the public facilities shown on the current site map. The nearby trout fishery is private and is viewed only from the reserve’s permitted route.
Birds and seasons
- Great Spotted Woodpecker · Headline bird — Season not stated Source for Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Sparrowhawk · Headline bird — Season not stated Source for Sparrowhawk
- Nuthatch · Headline bird — Season not stated Source for Nuthatch
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Public hides are available; North and Memorial Hides are members-only.
- Paths
- A path links the main parking area to the public watching facilities.
- Toilets
- There are no toilets on site.
- Parking
- Park just inside the entrance gate; it is normally locked after nightfall.
- Dogs
- Dogs are not allowed.
- Access notes
- The main public hide is wheelchair accessible; closer disabled parking is restricted to eligible society members.
- Step-free access
- The main public hide is wheelchair accessible; closer disabled parking is restricted to eligible society members.
Getting there: From the A458 beyond Cross Houses, use the society’s signed Upper Cound lane approach and main reserve entrance. The pin comes from its published car-park gate grid square, rather than a bird location. Leave time to return before the gate is locked after dark.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Stiperstones National Nature Reserve · 12.9 straight-line miles
- Aqualate Mere National Nature Reserve · 17.3 straight-line miles
- Coed Cilygroeslwyd Nature Reserve · 40.2 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: Sandwell Valley, 31.3 miles away in a straight line.
- Haughmond Hill · 5.4 miles in a straight line
- Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd · 9.6 miles in a straight line
- Stiperstones National Nature Reserve · 12.9 miles in a straight line