Batford Springs Nature Reserve

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Batford Springs Nature Reserve

Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve is owned and managed by Harpenden Town Council.

The majority of the conservation and maintenance work on the site is undertaken by Batford Springs Volunteers with assistance from the Council and other contractors.

25/03/2021

*Fishing Close Season underway*

The close season for fishing started on the 15th March and runs to the 15th June. During this time, it is illegal to fish on rivers even if you have a rod license. The close season is to allow fish to spawn without disturbance. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3w1PxIv and https://bit.ly/3lRQI92

Those who suspect illegal fishing should report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Please note that fishing on the chalk stream at Batford Springs is never allowed, even during open season. Additionally, during open fishing season, a rod license is required in order to fish on the river.

19/01/2021

Important Announcement:
Please be aware that we have closed the area around the weir due to safety concerns. There has been a breech in the side wall of the weir which is allowing river water to flow through. We will be looking at what action we need to take, if any, to ensure it remains structurally sound. In the meantime, please obey the signs and stay away from the weir area.

Water is incredibly dangerous and 6” of water can sweep an adult off their feet.

18/01/2021

Tomorrow, a third of the reed bed at Batford Springs will be scythed and the reeds will be removed. This is completed every year – it removes old growth of reeds, allowing for fresh growth to come through, while keeping other areas of mature reeds uncut for wildlife to use as a shelter.

The third that is cut is moved each year, to ensure no one area gets too mature – if it is left uncut, old reeds collapse and rot down, causing an increase in nutrients which can allow nettles to dominate and the reeds to suffer. Reedbeds are a great habitat for wildlife as a transitional habitat between water and land. Small mammals, insects and wading birds all populate reedbeds, and they act as a carbon sink and filter chemicals found in watercourses, such as chemicals from sewage treatment. Traditionally, reeds can also be used to thatch roofs and create baskets, as well as part of woodwind instruments.

The scythe, a tool with a long handle and a large curved blade (often associated with the grim reaper!), can be dated back almost as far as 5000BC, though it was introduced to Europe in the 12th Century, where it was predominately used for cutting hay. It is the perfect tool for delicate habitats – it doesn’t require any fuel, it’s quiet and the cut left behind by any well-trained user is clean and neat, with long lengths of reeds left to utilise. It is also thought to be quite therapeutic to carry out!

14/01/2021

Due to today's heavy rain, Batford Springs may experience flooding in some areas.

If you visit, please be cautious. Avoid flooded paths, do not use the stepping stones at the weirs, and don't enter flood waters, which can be deeper than expected with very strong currents.

09/12/2020

Join Heidi, Harpenden Town Council's People & Wildlife Officer, on a tour of Batford Springs Nature Reserve to learn more about the different habitats that can be found on the Reserve and the variety of wildlife that each habitat supports!

10/11/2020

Batford Springs Nature Reserve FAQs

Please see below for answers to some commonly asked questions!

🍃 Where can I park?

Marquis Lane has a free car park as well as on-street parking. There are a limited number of parking bays on Lower Luton Road, as well as another free car park on the corner of Lower Luton Road and Southview Road. Please see photos for details. A Google map with parking areas marked can be found here: https://bit.ly/2Ucf5B9

🍃 Are dogs allowed?

Dogs are allowed in the reserve but we ask that they are kept under control for the duration of your visit.

🍃 When is the reserve open?

The whole of the reserve is open at all times, though there will be some areas best visited during the day. There are also other areas that the public are discouraged from visiting to protect the habitats from regular disturbance.

🍃 Is fishing allowed?

Fishing is allowed on the River Lea -- the main river channel -- provided fishermen have a valid rod licence. We do not allow fishing to take place on the chalk streams, as these a filled with much younger fish, and the wildlife found in the streams will be much more adversely affected. Fishing is NOT allowed from 15th March to 15th June (both dates inclusive), even with a rod license.

🍃 Are there bathrooms?

There are no public toilets at the reserve.

🍃 Are picnics or BBQs allowed?

BBQs are not allowed because of the fire risk and damage caused by portable BBQs. Picnics are allowed, and there are several picnic tables in the meadow area of the reserve, nearest to Marquis Lane.

🍃 What are the Batford Springs Volunteers and how can I get involved?

The Batford Springs Volunteers, in consultation with Harpenden Town Council, play a key role in maintaining and managing the reserve. Working parties are held once a month where various conservation activities are undertaken, including restoration works to the chalk streams, scrub clearance to protect the meadows, and projects to improve the habitats on the reserve. The group can be contacted by visiting their page, Batford Springs Volunteers - BSV or keep an eye on the noticeboards outside the Batford HQ for upcoming working party dates.

23/09/2020

The fencing at Batford Springs has been installed along the Lower Luton Road. There are still some bollards due to be installed in the next month to fill in the remaining gaps which could be accessed by cars at present.

14/09/2020

This week, knee-rail fencing will be installed along the roadside at Batford Springs. This is to prevent the illegal parking that has taken place throughout the summer on the roadside verges of the Lower Luton Road.

27/08/2020

Batford Springs Nature Reserve is a lovely and very popular nature reserve in Harpenden, with diverse habitats including chalk stream, woodland, meadow and reedbed. And the Batford Springs Volunteers group was the deserving recipient of our 2019 Environment Award for their ongoing conservation work. Their monthly work parties are currently on hold due to the pandemic, but we wish them well and hope they can resume their activities soon.

12/08/2020

Due to heavy rain today and more rain forecast over the coming days, it is likely that Batford Springs will experience flooding in some sections of the reserve.

If you visit Batford Springs, please be very careful and avoid flooded paths, do not use the stepping stones at the weirs, and don't enter flood waters.

19/06/2020

Following recent heavy rain, the river Lea at Batford Springs Nature Reserve has burst its banks and flooded sections of the reserve. Please take extreme care and stick to the paths which aren't flooded, avoid walking across the stepping stones at both weirs, and don't enter flood waters.

Though the water may look shallow, it can be deeper than expected and the currents can be very strong. After the flood waters recede, officers will inspect the site for any damage the flooding may have caused.

(photo from November 2019)

04/03/2020

If you’ve noticed some patches of bare ground on the hayfield, it’s part of a project to try and improve the diversity of the hayfield and introduce some native wildflowers which are suitable for the habitat 🌸

Thank you to the Batford Springs volunteers for their hard work over the weekend!

Address

Lower Luton Road
Harpenden
AL55AQ

Telephone

+441582768278

Website

http://www.harpenden.gov.uk/batford-springs-local-nature-reserve

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