Orchids at Dews Farm Sandpitscredit Val Borrell

Dews Farm Sandpits

Butterflies

A combination of acid grassland and young woodland habitats, alive with flowers and butterflies in summer in Harefield, Hillingdon.

Location

Harvil Road, Harefield

Hillingdon

UB9 6JW

Know before you go

Size

1 hectare

Grazing animals

Access

The entrance is in Harvil Road, Harefield, 250m north of the council waste facility on New Years Green Lane, just south of the overhead power cables. The U9 bus runs from Uxbridge Station along Harvil Road; although there is not a designated bus stop, these buses run as Hail & Ride services, allowing you to leave the bus at a safe spot near the reserve entrance. The nearest station is Denham (Chiltern Line), 2.5km away, or Ickenham (Underground), 4km away.

The terrain can be difficult, particularly in poor weather, and is steep in places. The nature trail through the site includes some steps.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to August

About the reserve

This unusual nature reserve was once a mineral quarry, since reclaimed by nature. The grassland is striking, with hollows and banks providing sheltered hummocks of acid grassland which come alive in summer with insects. A colony of rabbits grazes the grassland, leading to an abundance of wildflowers that you can now see in open areas.

History of Dews Farm Sand Pits

Dews Farm was once a mineral quarry, abandoned several decades ago when sand and gravel extraction ended. Nature has reclaimed the site and now a fascinating array of wildlife is present.