Lemsford Springs

Lemsford Springs is a 4-hectare nature reserve in Lemsford, Hertfordshire, managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust since 1970. The reserve lies in the Lea valley and includes lagoons, meadows, hedgerows, marsh and willow woodland. A spring feeds the nearby River Lea, keeping the lagoons ice-free even in winter. Before becoming a reserve, the site was used as a watercress bed. The site is important for birds, especially in cold weather when the lagoons do not freeze. Two bird hides allow visitors to watch water rails, snipe and green sandpipers. A colour-ringing project has tracked the Scandinavian breeding sites of the local green sandpipers. Water shrews and about fifty species of water snail also live here. Paths lead through the reserve, past the lagoons and through the willow woodland. The marsh and hedgerows provide shelter for smaller wildlife. Access is arranged with the Wildlife Trust warden, ensuring the site remains undisturbed. The spring’s steady flow keeps the habitat alive all year round.