Natural England - Thursley NNR
Thursley NNR
Thursley NNR is one of the largest remaining fragments of Surrey heath and includes areas of lowland heath, mire and woodland.
County: Surrey
Main habitats: Lowland Heath
Area: 326 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map.
The site supports a range of typical heathland wildlife including large invertebrate populations.
The best time to visit the reserve is between May and September to see birds, dragonflies and flowers.
Please note. In the past parts of the reserve were used for military training. Visitors are warned not to touch any suspicious objects but to report them to the Police.
How to get there
The reserve is immediately north of the village of Thursley, 5 km south west of Milford and 8 km south west of Godalming.
To the east the reserve is bounded by the A3 and to the south by a minor road from the A3 to Thursley village. The reserve's western boundary is the minor road from Thursley to the town of Elstead. By car, access to the reserve is from these minor roads.
There is a car park at The Moat, an area in the north west section of the reserve accessed via the Elstead road. There is also limited parking in Thursley village.
The nearest train station is in Milford served by South West Trains and regular bus services from Godalming to Thursley via Milford are provided by Countryliner.
Thursley is near the route of a major trail, the Greensand Way.
Accommodation
There are hotels and hostelries in Godalming.
What to see
The reserve's mixture of mire and wet heath is one of the finest examples of its type in southern England. The site contains bog pools, sphagnum lawns and, in drier areas, tracts of cross-leaved heath on the sandy soils.
Damp areas support carnivorous plants such as sundew and bladderwort, and bog asphodel and marsh orchid may also be seen.
Large populations of silver-studded blue, grayling and purple emperor butterflies can be seen here alongside 26 recorded dragonfly species. Sandier sites on the reserve provide homes for many species of solitary bees and wasps.
Notable birds seen at the site include woodlark, nightjar, hobby and Dartford warbler. The reserve is the only regular curlew breeding site in Surrey and in the winter the great grey shrike is a regular visitor. Merlin, peregrine and short-eared owl have also been recorded at the site.
Facilities
An extensive network of bridleways and paths crosses the reserve with a system of boardwalks giving access to the wetter areas.
There are picnic tables at The Moat car park and limited disabled access from the car park to other parts of the reserve.
Information panels and leaflets are available on-site for visitor information.
Toilet and refreshment facilities are available in local towns and villages. Additional facilities are offered by the National Trust's Whitley Visitor Centre, 3 km to the east, on the opposite side of the A3.