Halwill Junction. Photo, David Chamberlain
Halwill Junction
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 this site 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 join our FREE e-news and to support our work visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/support-us
Location
OS Map Reference
SS 443 003
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoGrazing animals
NoWalking trails
Cycle trail leads to Cookworthy Forest. Wooded branch leads to a dead end. Allow 30 minutes to explore this site.
Access
Cycle track suitable for wheelchairs.
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
The life of Halwill Junction changed when Dr Beeching decided, with a stroke of his red pen, to close the branch lines of North Devon. The last trains ran to the station here in the late 1960s - from that point on the bustle of steam engines was replaced by the buzz of wildlife.
Habitat
Contact us
Location map
Halwill Junction. Photo, Simon Williams
Halwill Junction became a Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve in 1990. It's small, but its 2.5 hectares follow the course of old platforms and railway lines. Today a cycle/easy path makes this one of our more accessible reserves. The path also links the site into the nearby Cookworthy Forest.
Woodland edge
On your visit you'll see goat willow, ferns and broadleaved helleborines on the edges of the former railway line edges. Birds include the green woodpecker and in the spring/summer warblers.
Halwill Junction is also a good place to see butterflies including wood whites. Look along the edges of the cycle way for this slow flying species.
Photo, P W Gray
Halwill Junction. Photo, Dave Chamberlain