About the reserve

This site comprises two areas, north and south of Trent Lane. The northern end comprises three distinct habitat types; open water with islands, reedbeds and shingle. South of Trent Lane are two traditional Trent Valley wildflower meadows. The hides are available for watching the birds that frequent the pool in the southern area.

Mons Pool is an area of open water, new reed-bed and wet grassland. Features of interest include an unusual inland colony of nesting cormorants and an ancient heronry. Young herons have been counted and ringed here for many years and caused great concern when it was found that many were dying because of brittle bones. Determined work by the North Nottinghamshire Ringing Group and support by the Environment Agency eventually located the cause as pollution which has now been stopped. Monitoring is ongoing.

History of the reserve

During January 2012, the final phase of Besthorpe Nature Reserve was completed.

To mark the final phase of the habitat creation project at Besthorpe near Newark, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust opened the sluice gate to allow millions of litres of water to flow into the new network of reedbeds and ponds.

Co funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund's Trent Vale Landscape Partnership, the Besthorpe South nature reserve increased the amount of wetland habitat in the area.

Despite rain, the event was well attended by The BBC, ITV and The Newark Advertiser. Following a thank you speech by John Everitt, Executive Director of Notts Wildlife Trust, Andrew Hindmarsh, long term volunteer, gave a history of the site and opened the sluice gate.

The water was transferred to the new 70 hectare Besthorpe nature reserve to attract rare species such as bittern, marsh harrier and otter. As part of the project, thousands of reeds were planted by staff, volunteers and BTCV students.

The event was also attended by The RSPB, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, NWT Trustee Andy Wickham, Trent Vale Landscape Partnership, Collingham Parish Council and Lafarge.