About the reserve

Located to the west of the Cotswold Water Park between Fairford and Lechlade, this nature reserve used to be the site of two barren gravel pits, but is now a freshwater haven for all sorts of wildlife and teeming with life.

Whelford Pools and the surrounding lakes attracts a large number of wintering wildfowl, including wigeon, red-crested pochard, goldeneye, pochard and tufted duck and little grebes, along with sedge warbler and reed bunting. Nightingale and bittern also put in occasional appearances and over the summer months. Common tern might be spotted, as well as pike, otters and clouds of dragonflies and damselflies.

In spring watch great crested grebes do their courtship 'weed dance' and as the summer comes on dragonflies and damselflies are abundant. A beautiful tranquil place, this reserve guarantees wildlife all year round.

Visitor access to parts of Whelford Pools is restricted to protect the nesting flocks of birds, but great views can be enjoyed from the hide and viewing screen, including a colony of cormorant.