Wildlife and nature

Nature comes to you at Hunter's Moon. Badgers visit the garden most nights, woodpeckers and nuthatches work the feeders, owls call from the woods and the carp rise in the pond. Ten miles away, the Avalon Marshes are one of the richest wetlands in Britain, home to otters, bitterns, marsh harriers and the winter starling murmurations that draw people from across the world.

The stream and woodland at the bottom of the garden — The stream at the bottom of the garden, a corridor for wildlife

Wildlife in the garden

The acre of terraced garden runs down through woodland to the stream, and the midnight wildlife-watching zone with its spotlight is set up for badger watching; put out a few peanuts at dusk and wait quietly in the pod or on the decking. Guests regularly see badgers, foxes, roe deer, bats over the pond, tawny owls and, by day, great spotted and green woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays and buzzards overhead. A pair of binoculars and a bird book are in the house. In May the wisteria hums with bees; in autumn the woods are full of fungi.

The Avalon Marshes

West of Glastonbury, the peat moors have been transformed into a mosaic of reed beds, lakes and wet woodland that make up the Avalon Marshes, one of the largest lowland wetlands in Britain. Three reserves sit side by side along a single road, with flat, easy trails and hides. Base yourself at the Avalon Marshes Centre at Shapwick for maps and a cafe. avalonmarshes.org

RSPB Ham Wall

The best place in Britain to hear bitterns booming in spring, and to see great white egrets, marsh harriers, hobbies hunting dragonflies in summer and the starling roost in winter. Miles of level paths and viewing platforms.

Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve

Across the road from Ham Wall, with the Sweet Track (the world's oldest known road) running through it, wet woodland, otters, water voles, dragonflies and the Meare Heath hide. More about Shapwick Heath

Westhay Moor

Somerset Wildlife Trust's flagship reserve, with shimmering lakes and reed beds attracting wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers and anyone who loves nature. Bearded tits, otters and some of the best murmuration viewing. somersetwildlife.org

The starling murmurations

From November to February, up to a million starlings gather over the Avalon Marshes at dusk before dropping into the reed beds to roost, swirling in vast, shape-shifting clouds against the sunset. It is one of Britain's great natural spectacles and only twenty minutes from the cottage. The roost moves between Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath and Westhay; the reserves run a starling hotline and post the current location each afternoon. Arrive an hour before sunset, dress warmly, and be back in the hot tub within the hour.

Further afield

Cheddar Gorge: peregrine falcons, feral goats and Soay sheep on the cliffs.
Ebbor Gorge and the Mendips: ancient woodland, greater horseshoe bats and dormice.
Collard Hill: the reintroduced large blue butterfly, flying in June.
Steart Marshes: a huge new salt marsh on the coast near Bridgwater, with waders and wildfowl.
Exmoor: red deer, Exmoor ponies and the autumn rut; see coast and Exmoor.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre (60 miles): Sir Peter Scott's famous reserve on the Severn estuary, worth the trip for the winter swans.

Badgers at midnight, starlings at dusk

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