Eakring Flash is the largest and most recently formed area of water and become more widely known to the birding fraternity, after the occurrence of the Spotted Crake there in 2001. Much smaller ponds can be found elsewhere however, but Eakring Flash provides the focal point for much of the bird watching here. The Beck represents the only moving water, running through the valley in an east-west direction and feeding Eakring Flash. At it's widest point near Kersall, The Beck measures just eight feet across.

Most of the farmland lies on a clay-based soil, which years of agriculture has gone some way to improving.

It stands on what was agricultural farmland. The original meadows that were once here, have long since fallen under the plough.

Now that the area is undisturbed, several species which once flowered in profusion, have begun recolonising the site. Cowslip, Ragged Robin and Common Fleabane, can now be found flowering once again, among the various mix of Rushes and Sedges which cover much of the site. Previously small areas of Bulrush, have now totally circumferenced the southern end and a section of the western side.

Lack of any permanent shoreline since 1998 was caused by both the healthy growth of marginal plants and a slight rise in water levels, possibly due to a narrowing and some restricting plant growth along The Beck at a point just north-east of Eakring Flash. Greater Willowherb spread so quickly along the shoreline, that thinning work was carried out the following year, to try and relieve the situation. Only at the southern end, is the water level regularly low enough to create any suitable wader habitat.

Completing the site are two hedgerows (known as the old and new hedges) Running alongside The Beck, the old hedge regularly attracts good numbers of passage birds. Consisting mainly of Hawthorn, Elder and occasional Oak and Ash trees, it is little suprise that migrant warblers find it particularly attractive, especially during the Autumn. Interestingly, all the area's Reed Warbler records have come from the old hedge, with birds showing a particular fondness for Elders. The new hedge was planted in 1998, the Hawthorn rapidly becoming established and after just two years was providing additional nesting habitat for several species. It's also regularly used by Whichats and more recently by migrant Stonechats.

Site importance Eakring Flash is of considerable importance locally, representing the largest body of water in the area, with surrounding rank vegetation habitat.

Two areas of cover are provided by a mature Hawthorn copse and small numbers of mature Oak and Sycamore trees. That left today, is just a fraction of that which once stood here until the 1970's, when a large section along the western-side was covered by dense Hawthorn scrubland. Today's remaining hedges are used as a migration route by a variety of birds. Rarities have included Red Kite, Honey Buzzard, Kittiwake and Twite. It is often used as a stop-off point for migrant Redstarts, but more especially Wheatears in the Autumn.

Red Hill is also the most productive site, from which to record migrating Red Admiral butterflies in Autumn. Studies in 2000, produced a total of 120 migrant Red Admirals through the area. Included in this was a three hour total of 82 butterflies moving south on September 30th.

Bordered on most parts by a series of very old hedges, sections of which are maintained by using the traditional "Laying" method. Over many years these hedges have become dense in places, creating habitat for a varied range of wildlife. Hedges break up the reserve into a series of varying sized meadows, many of which differ distinctly in the amount and variety of flora. Eakring Meadows is bordered on it's northern edge by The Beck which runs from west-east through the reserve. Several copses of mainly Willow and Hawthorn exsist, these helping to enhance the reserve's attraction to birds.

At the western-most end of Eakring Meadows, lies an area of "common" land. Known as Penny Pasture Common, this is the most attractive part of the reserve for birds and is an important site locally for species such as Snipe and regular migrants like Redstart and Whinchat.

Penny Pasture Common is undoubtably more attractive when comparisons are made to the rest of the reserve. The scattered Hawthorn scrub (a vital aspect to maintain in future years) is favoured by many migrants during the Autumn. The north-east corner creates a warm sun-trap, where scattered Elder bushes along the old hedgerow, attract Warblers and newly arrived Winter Thrushes, more-so than perhaps other hedgerow plants. Migrating birds can be tracked moving from east to west throughout the reserve, but often make prolonged stays here.

The dividing hedgerow between Penny Pasture Common and the adjacent meadow has remained uncut for many years and appears to be dense mature Hawthorn scrub rather than actual hedgerow. This of course creates plenty of cover which many birds prefer.

Site importance Eakring Meadows is of considerable Nottinghamshire importance, representing one of few remaining areas of neutral grassland in the county.

A small field in the centre of the village makes it slightly more unusual and in time is most likely to be built on. Increasing amounts of building renovations and new housing have taken place in the last two years.

Much of this new building work has taken place in the larger gardens within the village and has seen the removal of some useful garden habitat.

It has also been proposed to recommence oil-drilling in the future and to site four wind turbines just west of the village.

Site importance Is an area that is distictly worthy of protection on both a local and county basis. Because of it's location within Eakring village, the area is deemed threatened by future building work.

It is the largest of the two sections, which provides much of the fauna interest throughout the year and species' breed at highest densities in the section growing on the south-facing slope of the hill. Despite being an identical habitat to the rest of the wood, birds presumably find the warmer micro-climate created here beneficial. Breeding birds include all the commoner warbler species and scarcer birds like Marsh Tit.

It is understood that there are plans by the estate to clear-fell a section of the eastern part of the wood at some time in the future. This would initially have a detrimental effect, but may present species like Woodlark with a breeding opportunity if felling does occur. It may be more likely that this section of Hare Hill Wood will be thinned in much the same way as has took place in other parts.

The fact that many of Hare Hill Wood's butterflies are increasing, is undoubtably due to the thinning work that was carried out within the wood during the early part of 1999. This greatly opened up some sections of the wood which were previously overgrown and allowed much of the wood's understorey to become re-established. Although this thinning was primarily conducted for the rearing of the Pheasants, the work was carried out with other wildlife in mind, creating more suitable habitat for breeding warblers and other species.

Site importance Represents the largest area of deciduous woodland.

Lound Wood is positioned very similar geographically, to Hare Hill Wood, with much of it on a south-facing slope. It is however, greatly different in it's flora. Certainly, the site has been woodland for many years, judging by the healthy carpet of Bluebells and Wood Anemones which grow on the woodland floor in early Spring.

It has though in the past, undergone some clear-felling as most of the trees in the south-facing section are only just reaching anywhere near the level of maturity, as trees elsewhere in the wood. This new section is also largely coniferous, containing large amounts of Scot's Pine,some Larch, Ash and Oak.

Originally planted thickly, on-going thinning work is slow and some recent, strange understorey planting, has seen a mixture of both native and non-native plants growing. Lound Wood holds similar breeding birds to Hare Hill Wood, but the coniferous sections of the wood, means that it is the only regular breeding site for tiny and vulnerable populations of Goldcrest and Coal Tit.

Site importance Sections of Lound Wood represent the largest area of coniferous woodland, with a traditional woodland under-storey of Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Wood Anemome Anemone nemorosa.