Swains Lane
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The reserve is made up of two small fields bounded by banked elm hedgerows and surrounded by housing. Both fields used to be orchards. The southern field still contains several old apple trees. The grassland is semi-improved and contains the occassional cuckoo flower, meadowsweet, and doves foot cranes bill. The southern field has a pond, which is home to an important population of amphibians including great crested newt, palmate newt and toad. The pond used to be seasonal and does not have any fish. Following the nearby development a boardwalk was built to improve access on the reserve. The reserve is managed by Taunton Deane Borough Coucnil with the help of local volunteers.
Blackdown Hills Natural Futures is supporting the volunteer group to recruit more volunteers and to secure funding for expert advice and the development of a managemernt plan for the site.
