Ash Moor. Photo, Harry Barton
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Access to this Devon Wildlife Trust managed nature reserve/site
We recognise access to nature is hugely important to wellbeing, but at this difficult time, we need to have the health of our staff and the community at the forefront of our mind - including neighbours to our nature reserves. Nature reserve car parks are therefore temporarily closed, and we are asking people not to drive/travel to our sites. For those who live locally and may be accessing sites for the purposes of their daily exercise, we ask that everyone observe government restrictions on outdoor access and ensure guidelines on social distancing are always followed.
Please be aware that key staff will be accessing this site for regular livestock and health and safety checks.
Advice and rules on public access may change. Please keep up to date on the status of access to our sites and also to benefit from lots of great information about our work, about wildlife and about how you can take action for Devon’s stunning natural environment, by visiting www.devonwildlifetrust.org and by following us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
Our work for local wildlife continues and remains as important as ever. To find out more about ways in which you can help and enjoy wildlife at home and how to support our work visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/support-us
Location
OS Map Reference
SS 530 089
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoParking information
Parking at Meeth QuarryGrazing animals
YesWalking trails
A walk around this reserve will take about half an hour
Access
The terrain is wet and challenging in places, visitors are advised to wear wellies or boots. Pushchair and wheelchair users are unlikely to be able to pass the boardwalk at present.
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
May to September, November to FebruaryAbout the reserve
A troubled past has given way to today's beauty. In 2002, at the height of the terrible foot and mouth crisis, Ash Moor was chosen to be a vast burial site for infected cattle. Plans were made and the landscape was hollowed out in preparation.
Transformed for nature
Fortunately, the burial site was never used. Today Devon Wildlife Trust cares for what has been transformed into a wonderful network of meadows, ponds and wetlands. This is now a top spot for wildlife.
Contact us
Location map
How to get to Ash Moor
Wood white butterfly. Photo, Chris Root
Summer gets the place buzzing
Summer brings out butterflies across Ash Moor including a colony of the rare wood white butterfly.
Dragonflies, damselflies, swallows and sand martins also buzz across the nature reserve's ponds. Look out for the occasional visit of hobbies. These little falcons chase down their prey over the water.
In winter, the going gets wet underfoot. This attracts long-billed birds including snipe and woodcock who probe the mud looking for juicy worms to feed on.
Ash Moor is easy to visit by bike and on foot. It lays on the Tarka Trail cycle path, while our own Meeth Quarry nature reserve is next door. Together Ash Moor and Meeth make a great day out!
Comma at Ash Moor
Ash Moor
Wood white butterfly. Photo, Chris Root