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Bill Oddie Goes Wild
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Bill explores the legendary land of Avalon.
The Somerset Levels and Moors are the largest area of lowland wet grassland and grazing marsh remaining in England. This is some of the lowest, flattest land in the country that was once a great marshy sea. They are of outstanding nature conservation importance for the rich, varied mosaic of wet grasslands, reedbeds, mires and fen meadows, with 8,000km of rivers and ditches. Birds, plants, insects and mammals are here in abundance and include wintering wildfowl and waders, birds of reedbed and flood meadow, plants and insects that thrive in ditches and, of course, ancient pasture.
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When to visit and what to see |
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Where to go |
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Get more information on some of the animals featured
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Read Bill Oddie's top tips for finding wildlife
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Bill visited in early May, just as spring was getting into gear. Resident herons and grebes are well into breeding but most spring migrants have only just arrived and are singing their hearts out.
Many of the moors remain wet through spring into early summer, perfect conditions for breeding waders. By June, the richer meadows are a blaze of colour as traditional flowers reach full bloom. Pools and ditches hold large numbers of invertebrates. Look out for 59 species of water beetle, the spectacular raft spider, dragonflies, the rare marsh fritillary, grasshoppers and crickets.
Birds of prey include kestrels and barn owls and Shapwick has the largest and most spectacular pre-roosting flocks of starling in Britain.
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Swell Woods RSPB Reserve
Swell Woods has the largest heronry in the south west, with more than 100 pairs most years. A public hide in the wood (open at all times) allows visitors to watch the breeding birds.
West Sedgemoor RSPB Reserve
The large RSPB reserve at West Sedgemoor (adjacent to Swell Woods), is made up of small, low-lying fields and meadows separated by narrow water-filled ditches. It is one of the richest sites for breeding waders in southwest England. Large numbers of wintering birds visit and feed on the moor.
Shapwick Heath English Nature Reserve
This reserve includes Westhay, Catcott and Ham Wall. Since 1993, 6,000 hectares of peat workings at Shapwick have been converted back to reed bed, meadow and woodland by English Nature.
Westhay Moor NNR
An area of tall fen vegetation with scrub, marshy grassland ditches and small pools right in the heart of the peat moors.
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