The former clay pit is home to bee, pyramidal and common spotted orchids, grey club-rush, southern hawker dragonflies, white letter hairstreak butterflies, grass snakes, little egrets, greenshanks, and common sandpipers.

The pit's attractiveness to wildlife was discovered while Hanson Brick were still working at the site, and 63 species of water beetle were found in a series of shallow, salty pools that occurred while water was being pumped out.

After the site closed, water levels rose and the pit floor flooded. The Wildlife Trust took ownership of the site in 1997, and from this point, water was pumped out to bring back the all-important shallow pools.

There are footpaths around the different habitats.

Across the road from the pit is Little Wood, which is an area of ancient woodland with large pollarded oaks and a carpet of beautiful bluebells.

Eye Green's unassuming entrance gives way quickly to a large picturesque lake, fringed in places by reeds or bushes at this former pit.

In the shallow water of the lake's inlets are dense beds of reedmace and common reed.

The finger lakes at the back of the site are isolated pools which provide refuge for many invertebrates away from the fish in the main lake.

Eye Green also contains a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest – geologists can see exposures of the March gravels on the east side of the reserve.

WHERE: On the A47 Eye going east, turn left on to White Post Road at the roundabout with the A1139.

Park near the right turn in to Hodney Road.

Enter the reserve via the Green Wheel cycle path. For Eye Green, continue along the A47 and turn left at the roundabout, on to the A1073 towards Crowland.

Turn right at the mini roundabout and park in the car park on the left on edge of the reserve.

By bus, go to Eye and walk half a mile to either reserve. Both reserves are accessible via the Peterborough Green Wheel cycle network.

WHEN: Spring to see bluebells and little ringed plovers.

Summer to spot bee, pyramidal and common spotted orchids, grey club-rush, southern hawker dragonflies, white letter hairstreak butterflies, grass snakes, little egrets, greenshanks, and common sandpipers.

Autumn to spot migrant waders and water voles

Winter to see snipes and long-eared owls.

» Discover and explore more green spaces around Peterborough