Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve

Chimney Meadows is the largest nature reserve managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). Its fields form part of an ancient landscape shaped by the River Thames and centuries of traditional farming. Once a commercial farm, the site was acquired by the Trust in 2003 and has since been transformed into a thriving haven for wildlife.

Six former agricultural fields have been replanted with native wildflowers, creating bright splashes of colour in spring and summer. These flower-rich meadows are interspersed with ditches lined with a variety of reeds and grasses. The reserve is managed using traditional farming methods, including conservation grazing with rare breed livestock to maintain the delicate balance of the habitat.

Although Chimney Meadows lies on the Thames floodplain, the site remains dry for much of the year. However, in autumn and winter, rising water levels fill the ditches, ponds, and scrapes, creating ideal feeding grounds for waders and waterfowl. Look out for lapwings, redshanks, herons, snipes, and all three species of egret. On the ponds, you might spot moorhens, mallards, teals, mute swans, and greylag geese. The reedbeds provide cover for reed buntings, reed and sedge warblers, Cetti’s warblers, grasshopper warblers, and the secretive water rail. You may even catch a glimpse of a kingfisher flashing brilliant blue across the water. In winter, fieldfares and redwings arrive from their northern breeding grounds.

The meadows are also home to a variety of farmland birds, including stonechats, whinchats, yellowhammers, and goldfinches. Curlews breed here, and the woodland edges are alive with marsh tits, long-tailed tits, chiffchaffs, tree sparrows, blackcaps, and whitethroats. In spring, the distinctive call of the cuckoo can often be heard.

Birds of prey are a regular sight over the reserve, with marsh harriers, barn owls, short-eared owls, and hobbies often seen hunting across the open landscape.

Chimney Meadows is one of BBOWT’s three flagship wildflower meadows to be designated a Coronation Meadow, a project launched by King Charles III in his role as patron of the RSWT, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and Plantlife. The initiative celebrates the historical richness and ecological importance of wildflower meadows, aiming to restore and create more across the UK using seeds and green hay from these special sites. Ancient hedgerows and traditional tracks link the meadows, forming vital corridors for wildlife as important as the meadows themselves.

Visitors can enjoy two wheelchair-accessible bird hides, offering close views of wildlife without disturbance. The Trust also runs seasonal guided walks for all ages and interests, helping you discover the rich biodiversity of the reserve. There are also designated picnic areas where you’re welcome to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Bridleways and public footpaths criss-cross the reserve, which are mostly flat but potentially boggy in winter. Wellingtons are recommended for fording Great Brook and Duxford, though this may be impassable after heavy rain. Some areas are closed to the public to protect sensitive wildlife, but you can still enjoy views from the Thames Path National Trail and visit these parts on occasional guided walks.

A car park is available near the entrance to the reserve.

Please note, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the reserve, but must be kept on a lead at all times.