Tarn Sike Nature Reserve

Tarn Sike Nature Reserve

Tarn Sike, near Orton is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Areas of heath, Sphagnum moss and purple moor grass, and lime-rich flushes with black bog-rush, grass of Parnassus and bird's-eye primrose can be found here. Also found here is fragrant, early marsh and northern marsh orchid, broad-leaved cottongrass and a variety of uncommon sedges, Bogbean, round-leaved sundew, butterwort, marsh marigold, meadowsweet and marsh cinquefoil.

Mallard, redshank, curlew, snipe, meadow pipit and skylark have all probably nested on the nature reserve as they are frequently seen during the breeding season. Teal and short-eared owl may be seen in winter. Tarn Sike probably has quite a rich invertebrate fauna, although further work is needed. The lime-rich flushes are good for snails with 15 species being recorded so far.

Butterflies include common blue, green veined white and small heath. Emperor and fox moths have also been recorded. There are incidental records of fox, hare, stoat and short-tailed vole on the nature reserve.

More details on Tarn Sike Nature Reserve can be found on the Cumbria Wildlife Trust website.