Visit Waltham Brooks

This is the place to go if you like a big open sky! Waltham Brooks is a grazing marsh which becomes a huge lake after periods of heavy winter rainfall.  

The riverbanks of the nearby River Arun have been built up to form a flood defence, creating an elevated walkway from which to view the reserve. Wildfowl, such as Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and Pintail, take advantage of the sanctuary and feeding opportunities offered by the flood waters. In summer, the lake can almost dry out, leaving muddy margins important for breed­ing waders, such as Lapwing and Redshank. 

There’s a network of ditches throughout, which support a variety of water plants and insects. The variety of flora varies depending on season and the density of grazing, so the landscape is constantly changing colour, and in some years the reserve turns purple with Purple Loosestrife or yellow with Yellow Iris. 

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