Blake Marsh Nature Reserve

Muddy boots are essential kit for Blake Marsh Nature Reserve, a proper wetland sanctuary just outside Bewdley that rewards the dedicated wildlife watcher. The boardwalks and footpaths wind through reed beds and marshy pools where herons stand motionless for hours, waiting for the perfect fishing moment.

Birdwatchers will have a field day here, particularly during spring migration when warblers fill the air with song and kingfishers flash blue along the waterways. The reserve feels genuinely wild - not manicured like some nature spots - with tangled vegetation and proper boggy bits that make spotting wildlife all the more rewarding.

Families with young children might find it a bit challenging since the paths can get waterlogged and there's no visitor centre to retreat to when enthusiasm wanes. Serious nature lovers, however, will appreciate the unspoilt character and the chance to see species that have vanished from more developed areas.

Allow at least two hours if you're planning to walk the full circuit and bring waterproofs whatever the weather forecast says. The reserve makes an excellent morning excursion when staying at nearby holiday parks like Wolverley Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Hopleys Family Camping, giving you time to dry off and warm up back at base afterwards.