Harrington Nature Reserve

Harrington Nature Reserve consists of many high quality habitats, some of them very rare and found in few other places throughout West Cumbria. There is so much more to see than the reservoir alone, known locally as 'The Rezzer'.

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The two meadows retain a diverse range of herbs, flowers and grasses. This diversity is important for many invertebrates which feed, shelter or over-winter on particular types of plant or grass. The Large Skipper butterfly for example will often be seen in rough 'unimproved' grassland during the summer. Importantly, these rough grasslands have never been 'improved' like many uniform types of grassland which have little wildlife interest.

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Running water is an important feature because it affects almost every other habitat within the reserve. The Ellerbeck transports nutrients and sediments throughout the reserve a little like food and oxygen is transported by blood around our bodies. Water is also important for bank side trees, mostly Alder, Willows and Sycamore, not to mention marginal vegetation like that found around 'The Rezzer' and on more sunny ports of the beck. The Ellerbeck is also home to many forms of wildlife including Mallards, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Sticklebacks, the larvae of dragonflies, as well as Common Toads and the occasional Kingfisher.