Blake's Pools Nature Reserve is a wetland near Kingston Seymour, Somerset, on the banks of the Congresbury Yeo close to its mouth. About 4.5 miles from The York Hotel, the reserve is known for its freshwater and brackish pools and the birds that use them.
- Setting: by the Congresbury Yeo near its mouth
- Size: 4 hectares
- Access: by permit for Avon Wildlife Trust members
- Habitat: pools, reeds and a tidal lagoon
About Blake's Pools Nature Reserve
Blake's Pools is a small wetland reserve formed around three pools dug to attract wildlife between 1983 and 1987. The publicly owned land is leased to Avon Wildlife Trust, which manages it as a nature reserve.
The pools include freshwater and brackish water, with sluice gates fitted to the two shallow pools to control water levels. Reeds have been planted around the largest pool. The reserve forms part of the Severn Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Ramsar site.
If you're planning a town-focused day as well, a practical Weston-super-Mare itinerary gives you another way to shape your time in the area.
Wildlife and habitats
Blake's Pools supports waterbirds, with shallow water and exposed mud providing different feeding and nesting areas. Redshank, lapwing and shelduck have been thought to attempt breeding on the freshwater part of the reserve.
At low tide, exposed mud attracts birds including little grebe and little egret. The shallower pools draw waders such as green sandpiper and common sandpiper. More than 100 bird species have visited the reserve.
Paths, access and seasonal conditions
Access to Blake's Pools is by permit for Avon Wildlife Trust members, so check the official site before you go. Before setting out, confirm the current access arrangements with the Trust.
From the river mouth, walk approximately 200 metres along the estuary to reach a wooden farm gate marking the entrance. You can follow a restricted network of paths and use observation hides around waterbird habitat. In one area, a willow screen and constructed hide separate path users from waterbirds, with no wider access.
Responsible visiting
Keep to permitted paths and use the observation hide where access is restricted. By staying on the routes provided, you help maintain separation between people and the birds using the pools.
For a different local outing, Clarence Park's paths and facilities offer a contrast to the reserve's wetland setting.
FAQs
Where is Blake's Pools Nature Reserve?
It is near Kingston Seymour in Somerset, on the Congresbury Yeo close to where the river reaches the Severn Estuary.
Can anyone visit Blake's Pools?
Access is by permit for Avon Wildlife Trust members. Check the Trust's official site before travelling.
What birds might you see at Blake's Pools?
Birds reported at the reserve include redshank, lapwing, shelduck, little grebe, little egret, green sandpiper and common sandpiper.