British Travel Journal | Autumn/Winter 2022

Cornwall. I’d go so far as to say this nature reserve is the
highlight of the Lizard Peninsula, with a mosaic of arable
crops, heathland and boggy patches sustaining marsh
fritillary butterflies, swallows and woodcock. There is
even a 17th-century windmill – once the hideout of one of
Cornwall’s most notorious gangs – to connect you to the
local history.
SOUTH EAST AND LONDON
The South East of England has a special kind of magic,
and not always in the way you’d expect. The celebrated
white cliffs and purple heathlands overshadow overlooked
gems that shine just as brightly when handed the spotlight.
Tring Reservoirs (plural – four reservoirs in fact) form one of
the best birdwatching spots in the South of England. Visiting
them all to look for reed warblers, sedge warblers and teal
will take around five hours, but if you’re pushed for time,
head to Wilstone Reservoir. It hosts a fantastic heronry, and
as the waters recede on the mudflats in autumn, you’ll find a
hidden treasure: the rare plant, mudwort.
Even London safeguards green escapes from the hustle
and bustle. Camley Street Natural Park is a hop, skip and
a jump from St Pancras and King’s Cross, yet transports
you to another place entirely. A place where bees and
butterflies fight for the best seat at the nectar buffet,
fungi hide in the cool wood, and floating reedbeds help to
68 BritishTravelJournal.com