STAINES MOOR
An ancient floodplain grassland with rivers, pools, ponds, scrub and woodland
Staines Moor is a remnant ancient alluvial grassland situated between Heathrow and the M25 on the floodplain of the River Colne. This 107-hectare site comprises neutral semi-improved grassland, marshy grassland, swamp and scrub, bordered by narrow strips of woodland and hedges and bisected by the River Colne. Grazed by cattle and horses since at least 1065, this Site of Special Scientific Interest has not been ploughed for at least 1,000 years and supports a rich floral diversity, as well as the oldest anthills of the Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus) in Britain. Staines Moor has a long birdwatching history and 200 bird species have now been recorded. Within the last 10 years, Britain’s seventh Brown Shrike, London’s sixth Black Stork and London’s eleventh Barred Warbler have all been discovered here. Resident birds include Little Egret, Kingfisher, Little Owl, Kestrel, Red Kite and Cetti’s Warbler. The grassland supports a good population of breeding Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting, as well as one or two pairs of Redshank, and is a good place to see Hobby in summer. During spring and autumn, the scrub and grassland are good for passage migrants, with Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat, Wheatear and Spotted Flycatcher recorded most years. The river attracts passage waders and Yellow Wagtails often stop over to feed around the livestock. In winter, the River Colne here is a reliable spot for Water Pipit and Shorteared Owls often overwinter.