Carymoor

The Carymoor area comprises of two former open fill sites. What used to be the Dimmer 1 open land-fill site, is now managed by the Carymoor Environmental Centre and this area has developed in to a mix of diverse habitats in several compartments, each managed in different ways for different species of wildlife. The more recently closed Dimmer 2 site, has had less time to rejuvenate after being covered in 2020, and whilst this area is not managed for wildlife is does have good habitat which attracts a good range of species. To the south of the CEC-managed area, is the privately owned Carymarsh Nature Reserve site, together these 3 adjacent areas form a single block of relatively varied habitat which is surrounded by farmland. The whole area attracts a range of species of birds, fish, amphibians and insects as well as less common plants. Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mute Swans, egrets and herons are some of the more easily seen water birds, but more unusual species like Kingfisher, Water Rail and other species of waterfowl can occasionally be seen. Beside a young woodland plantation, winter bird forage is annually planted and this attracts species such as Redwing and Chaffinches, with other farmland birds mixed in, such as the odd Reed Bunting, Brambling or Yellowhammer; sadly Tree Sparrows, which used to breed on the Carymarsh Reserve, were last recorded in 2014. The Carymarsh hide overlooks a small pond and is a lovely quite spot for observation and bird photography. Since use of the open landfill site ended and Dimmer 2 was covered over, large numbers of crows, starlings and gulls no longer visit the site in large numbers, though in the past both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls have been recorded.

The CEC management plan has sought to develop habitats which not only retain particular species, such as Great-crested Newt, Dormice, Grass Snake and Slowworms, but grants have also been received to plant areas which will hopefully attract Nightingale. Grasslands are predominant but woodland and wetland creation projects have also been successful. A variety of birds visit these sites over the course of a year and many remain to breed.

Despite the relatively small size of the nature reserve and the capped landfill, the area attracts more than its share of rarities: Purple Heron, Marsh Harrier and Corn Bunting are just a few of the birds to have visited. Jack Snipe appear each winter and a number of owls and raptors breed here.

Grass-snakes, dragonflies, and butterflies are easily seen from spring though to autumn.