Rushy Common Nature Reserve

About

Rushy Common and neighbouring Tar Lakes is a 30 hectare site with three lakes, left after gravel extraction in the Lower Windrush Valley, that are being managed for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Tar Lakes is an eight hectare area of open space for local people to enjoy, with a walk around two lakes, an amenity lake and a conservation lake, using footpaths accessible to people of all levels of mobility. The amenity lake has been designed to be enjoyed by people with a 650 metres surfaced path suitable for wheelchair users, two main seating areas and perch posts every 100 metres. The conservation lake has been designed for wildlife and provides a more informal, quiet area with mown paths meandering through longer grass.

Rushy Common Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife and so public access is not permitted across the reserve. However, the bird hide on the southern shore offers good views across the site and is accessible to wheelchair users. Keys for the hide can be purchased from Witney Visitor Information Centre (for £10) and enable you to visit this and the two bird hides at Standlake Nature Reserve.

Circular Walks from Rushy Common
Rushy Common car park provides a good starting point for circular walks in the wider area. Follow a three mile circuit south for a gentle walk beside the River Windrush or a three mile circuit north to South Leigh to see the wall paintings in the parish church of St James the Great.

Both Tar Lakes and Rushy Common are being managed by Smiths Bletchington, a gravel extraction company working in the Lower Windrush Valley.

Visiting the sites
Rushy Common and Tar Lakes are found to the south east of Witney, on Cogges Lane, a single track road that runs from Cogges to Stanton Harcourt. The Ordnance Survey grid reference is SP 380 075.
Rushy Common and Tar Lakes map (1Mb pdf)

The car park at Rushy Common has space for roughly 20 cars and is open at all times. A height barrier restricts vehicles over 2.1 metres. There are two parking spaces designated for use by disabled visitors.