Moorend Spout  (ST466715) is well known for its natural beauty, provided by the Alder carr, and with the additional attraction of a constantly flowing waterfall. This is a particularly valuable wildlife habitat: low lying and water logged, which is traversed by a well-used public foot path. The ‘Spout’ now appears to be ducted in a large field drain at about 3m below soil level that runs from the east with access at intervals, flowing into the western rhyne and providing the waterfall. The land is in the flood plain, well below the level of the river Land Yeo that forms the north boundary, while the rhyne to the south joins the river Middle Yeo, both flowing westwards towards Clevedon. To the north, the Tickenham Ridge forms a very attractive setting for this idyllic area. The designated Regional Wildlife Site (formerly known as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, SNCI) of particular interest occupies about 1.5 ha (c.3 acres) and is bordered to the east by the (unmarked) north/south boundary about half way across the field, and to the west by a small rhyne.

The rhynes to the west of the site are part of the Tickenham & Nailsea Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (see attached file below). Part of this is incorporated into the banks of the rhyne just to the south of the waterfall (Natural England, SSSI areas 3 and 9). Access to the site from Nailsea is adjacent to one of the ditches having the SSSI designation and part of this is within the area of importance. The citation gives the following description ‘Low lying agricultural land with associated rhynes and ditches that support rich plant and invertebrate communities’.  The present owners have respected the status of the site and it has been well preserved for its wildlife.

A botanical survey was made by the late Eric Smith and described in his account ‘The Botany of Nailsea’ in 1983. He said -

“A mass of Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) grows near the pool; a grass, Water Whorl Grass (Catabrosa aquatica) and Great Pond Sedge, also Distant Flowered Sedge (Carex remota). In the water here, two pondweeds (Potamogeton natans and P. compressus) and Canadian Pondweed (Elodea canadensis) grow. A plant of Hemlock (Conium maculatum) grew several years ago near the footbridge leading to Stone-edge Batch and Brookweed (Samolus valerana) was seen in the stream between the track from Pound Lane and Moorend Spout.

Sadly some of the plants that he recorded no longer appear to grow here. Recently we were unable to find Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), although Catabrosa is still to be found in the rhyne adjacent to the footpath that accesses the site from Pound Lane. Moreover, the Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) has not been seen recently. However, about two years ago an orchid (not fully identified, but possibly the Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), since the flowers were very pale) was found in the centre of the site. This area is now covered with brambles. Lesser Water Parsnip (Berula erecta) and Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata) are still present. The marshy area has Lesser Pond Sedge (Carex acutiformis) and the Greater Pond Sedge (Carex riparia), Brooklime (Veronica becca-bunga) and Hemlock Water Dropwort (Oenanthe crocata).

Two years ago the unusual Amber Snail (Succinea putris) with an almost spherical shell was found in large numbers climbing up the vegetation in the damp areas, and the Mullein Moth (Shargacucullia verbasci) caterpillar was feeding on the Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), a close relation of the Mullein that is its more usual food plant. The Banded Demoiselle damselflies in the rhynes are especially attractive. Many wet-woodland plants grow amongst the Alder trees in the area between the two rivers and the site is particularly favourable for Willows. This area could be expected to support Otters and Water Voles, though neither of these has yet been sighted with certainty to my knowledge. It seems likely that there are American Mink here and these aggressive predators could prevent the establishment of Water Voles. 

There is now a biodiversity action plan for the management of wet woodland and this is being promoted by North Somerset Council. Alder carr is now rare and supports a variety of invertebrate species not found elsewhere, and it is now on the UK List of Priority Habitats. Much of this habitat type has been lost due to the drainage of land, but where it still exists it is very important that it should be conserved. The site is clearly of great value for its biodiversity and for its aesthetic qualities.


NEWT purchased the land in 2009, with the aim of managing it as a nature reserve, in order to protect and expand the biodiversity of the site. We hope to plant hedges and trees and remove bramble to restore the orchids. We have been successful in achieving planning permission for ponds, and provision of these new habitats will hopefully encourage a new range of species onto the site.