Amwell Quarry

Amwell Quarry is a 37-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire. It sits within the Lee Valley Ramsar Site and Special Protection Area. The land was once a gravel pit, now restored as a wetland nature reserve with two lakes. Great Hardmead Lake and Hollycross Lake form the heart of the site. The reserve is owned and managed by the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. The site is internationally important for wintering wildfowl and Britain’s most significant location for dragonflies. It supports large communities of damselflies and breeding birds. Rare plants such as marsh dock and hairlike pondweed grow here. Amwell holds a quarter of all British mollusc species. Its ecological value has earned it national recognition. Visitors find well-maintained paths winding around the lakes and through wetland areas. The reserve offers quiet spots for birdwatching and wildlife observation. Interpretive signs explain the site’s conservation work. The open landscape provides clear views of the water and surrounding countryside. Access is straightforward from Amwell Lane at any time.