The Temple Balsall Nature reserve is owned and managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. The trust covers the whole of Warwickshire including the metropolitan boroughs of Coventry and Solihull.
Size and Area.
The Temple Balsall Nature reserve covers an area of 3 hectares (approximately 6 1/2 acres). It was formerly part of the ornamentals gardens of the spectacular and imposing Springfield House, now Springfield House School.
Dogs.
Entry is FREE for all with dogs being permitted. Being a nature reserve, dogs should be kept under control, any mess picked-up and disposed of properly. Naturally wildlife should not be disturbed or agitated.
Walking Trails.
The walking trails are relatively flat but can get rather muddy at certain times of the year. Good footwear is advised. There are kissing gates into and out of the reserve to allowing people in and livestock out.
Opening Times.
Temple Balsall Nature reserve is open all year round; Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. The full range of seasonal colours can be enjoyed with no restrictions. There are certain times that can take your breath away. January and February is beautiful and stark. It can be wet or snowing! The summer is simply stunning with trees in full bloom and woodland flowers looking their best.
The Reserve.
The original Wildlife Trust was set-up in 1957. Temple Balsall Nature reserve fits in perfectly with their ideals and goals. It has a very diverse set of wildlife from badgers, muntjac deer to woodpeckers and a lot more.
The nature reserve is bisected by Cuttle Brook Wood a 16.93 acre woodland. The land is marshy as the River Blythe flows through it. Temple Fields backs on to Cuttle Brook Wood. Springfield House had an artificial lake. The lake no longer exists as a lake as it was destroyed during the late 1940's.
The whole area has a rich tapestry of English native flowers with swathes of beautiful snowdrops and ramsons (allium ursinum) also known as wild garlic, wood garlic and even Bear's garlic in the spring.
On the wetter areas, Common reeds (Phragmites) and sedges (Carex) can be seen. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) create a glorious show of overlarge, umbrella-size leaves during the summer months. Very impressive and spectacular. The nature reserve also boast some rarer or scarcer species such as large bittercress (Cardamine amara) - a relative of the mustard and allies family; a white flowered perennial growing to around 70cm tall.
Back to Temple Fields Natural Burial Ground