Ashculm Turbary
Location
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
April to SeptemberAbout the reserve
A series of freshwater springs feeds this reserve. Its wet-peatland was once common here in the Blackdown Hills but is now very rare.
The permanently wet soils mean a host of peat-loving plants still thrive here. Ashculm Turbary is also home to good numbers of dragonflies and birds.
Ash dieback
The disease ash dieback is now widespread in the UK and is present at many of our nature reserves, so we carry out tree felling across our sites in winter months. For your own safety please observe temporary path diversions and closures.
Where possible we will leave affected ash trees in place to decay naturally as an important habitat for wildlife. We plan to only fell diseased ash trees which pose a threat to people or infrastructure. Before trees are felled, we will check whether any rare or protected wildlife is present. If it is, we will postpone or avoid felling these trees. No felling will take place during the bird nesting season.
DWT’s Saving Devon’s Treescapes project are working with communities, landowners and businesses to help make Devon's precious treescapes more resilient in the face of ash dieback. Find out how you can get involved here.
NOTICE: If you are visiting our reserves, please note that there have been instances of H5N1 Avian bird flu found in birds in Devon. There is very low risk to public health, but we do ask that if you come across any unusual or unexplained bird deaths on or near our reserves, please do not touch them and avoid allowing your dog to come into contact with dead birds. Please report them to Defra here or call 03459 335577 and also report your findings to DWT by email at contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org.
Habitat
Contact us
Location map
Taking your time
Narrow and uneven paths lead you through heather and purple moor grass. The reserve's plant life may seem pretty uniform, but take the time to look and you'll also see a host of wet-loving species including oblong-leaved sundew, pale butterwort and bog asphodel.
Harvest mice find a home in tall grass stems - look for their distinctive, spherical nests about the size of a satsuma. At dusk barn owls hunt these mice and other small mammals.
Ashculm Turbary has a healthy population of dragonflies. Look for golden-ringed and emperor dragonflies among many others from late spring through to early autumn.
Move with stealth and care and you could be rewarded with the sight of an adder, grass snake or slow worm, while common frogs, toads and smooth newts can also be seen.
Combine your exploration of Ashculm Turbary with visits to our other Blackdown Hills nature reserves, Clayhidon Turbary and Lickham Common.