About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

• In winter - look out for flocks of siskin and redpoll visiting the nature reserve
• Breeding birds include bullfinch, great spotted woodpecker and goldcrest   
• Catch a glimpse of the unmistakable bright blue and orange of kingfishers as they shelter around the drainage ditch during the colder months.
• In spring - enjoy the sound of birds singing and cowslips and primrose in flower
• In summer - the best time to find flowers such as the crimson flowered marsh cinquefoil.
• At all times of year this is a really quiet, undisturbed place where roe deer can sometime be seen.

An undisturbed haven for wildlife

Next Ness nature reserve is a narrow strip of wet woodland beneath Hoad Hill and adjacent to the railway line on the edge of Ulverston. 

The main tree species you will see are alder and willow which tolerate the waterlogged conditions.

The nutrient rich soils mean that vigorous species such as nettle and meadowsweet are abundant, although you can also find species such as marsh marigold, marsh cinquefoil, forget-me-not and sedges.

The nature reserve contains no rarities, but has value as an area of relatively undisturbed habitat.

Coot, mallard, kingfisher, grey heron, little owl and great spotted woodpecker can be seen along with treecreepers. You may also see warblers such as garden warbler and willow warbler, and tits. Many of these birds breed here.

Keeping it special

The nature reserve was purchased from British Rail in 1989.

Getting here

By car:

From the A590 towards the east of Ulverston, turn off at the roundabout for Booths supermarket, and at the next small roundabout, take the second exit to pass right of the petrol station, onto Next Ness lane. Continue for around 0.4 miles, until a bridge under the railway is reached on the right hand side. Turn right under the railway bridge and the reserve entrance is immediately on the right. Unfortunately there is no parking by the reserve entrance.

By bicycle: 

The reserve is 5km/3 miles from National Route 72 Walney to Wear.

By public transport:

Trains run from Barrow in Furness, Grange over Sands and Lancaster to Ulverston. Buses run from Barrow in Furness, Grange over Sands, Kendal and Coniston to Ulverston.