Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex **

 

Grid ref:  TQ528077

Nearest town: Eastbourne

 

Wildflower meadows, woodland and scrub bordering a 49 hectare reservoir. 

 

Access details

CAR: On the B2108 between Berwick and Upper Dicker, half a mile from the A27 Lewes to Eastbourne road. Pay and Display car park at TQ527075 but free parking in the adjacent lay-by.

TRAIN: Berwick station (Eastbourne 12 mins, Brighton 24 mins) is half a mile south of the reservoir - exit the station and walk north along the pavement until your reach the reserve.

The flower meadows are accessible by wheelchair in dry summer weather, although there is no hard man-made path.

 

Key species Marbled White, Clouded Yellow, Brown Argus

Other common species

Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell

 

Occasional species Arlington Reservoir boasts a butterfly list of some 37 recorded species

 

Also dragonflies, Osprey (on passage) and winter wildfowl species

 

Site description  The Osprey Trail (see leaflet available in car park) leads you on a 4km, 1hr walk right around the reservoir but you only need to walk a few minutes north of the car-park to find all the action; the grassland area on the northwest bank of the reservoir is managed as wildflower meadow and is alive with butterflies. On a warm summer day over 20 species can be seen. Woodland species can be found in the shelter and shade on the north of the reservoir. An easily accessible, well managed site with impressive numbers and variety of butterflies.

 

Author Michael Blencowe