Jones's Mill the Vera Jeans Reserve

Jones Mill

Jones Mill nature reserve in Wiltshire. Credit: Ralph Harvey

Jones's Mill the Vera Jeans Reserve

A fen, made up of wet woodland, ponds and wet grassland.

Location

Pewsey
Wiltshire
SN9 5JN

OS Map Reference

SU169611

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A static map of Jones's Mill the Vera Jeans Reserve

Know before you go

Size
33 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

From Pewsey centre, take High Street (B3087) towards Milton Lilbourne and Burbage. Drive through Pewsey and turn left down Dursden Lane, just before a white cottage. Cross over railway bridge and reserve entrance is on left close to small parking area.

Bicycle parking

None. Leave National Cycle Route 4 and follow signs for Pewsey. A local route runs through Pewsey and will take you to Dursden Lane.

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

There is a short fen loop and a longer orchard loop, marked out with way markers on the site.
The fen loop is 0.9 miles.
The orchard loop is 1.5 miles.

Access

Not suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
In the wet areas it’s best to stick to the boardwalks as water bubbles and shimmers at your feet. Paths through the rest of the reserve can be a little uneven.

Dogs

On a lead

See our FAQ's for more information

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Spring and summer. Nearby attractions include Fyfield Down National Nature Reserve (6 miles), West Kennet Longbarrow (6 miles), Silbury Hill and Avebury (7 miles).

About the reserve

Jones’s Mill is a fen, made up of wet woodland (called alder carr), ponds and wet grassland. Its peaty soils are fed by natural springs and the Salisbury Avon flows through its centre.

A Coronation Meadow lies to the west of the reserve, where yellow rattle seed and green hay were taken and spread from Clattinger Farm. 

In the past a watermill was believed to have been built on the site but more recently the land was grazed by cattle to supply milk. Watercress was also grown here for markets in London. The central part of the reserve was given to us in 1980 by local resident Miss Vera Jeans.

The reserve has ditches, ridges and furrows - evidence of its past use as water meadows. It is home to wildlife that thrives in wet conditions - water voles, dragonflies, the elusive water shrew and birds such as kingfisher, snipe and heron. Great horsetail grows in the alder carr; their bristles have a high silica content making them look like bottle brushes. The alder carr leads to the tussock sedge fen. As the plant grows, the dying leaves build up around the base making little ‘tussocks’.

In spring and summer it bursts into colour with yellow flag iris, lady’s smock and water avens, southern marsh and common spotted orchid. Rare plants include the bog bean, bog pimpernel and flea sedge. If it wasn’t grazed the fen would turn into woodland. By keeping vegetation in check the cattle help to maintain a rich diversity of plants.

Contact us

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01380 725670

Environmental designation

County Wildlife Site
SAC SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Map of Jones's Mill

Map of Jones's Mill
Great place, lovely views and fab walks for all the family, one of my favourite places to go at anytime.
Sally from Devizes
Nice walk but take your wellies!
Andy from Pewsey