A wildlife-themed mural at Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve has been enhanced with a new identification board to help visitors recognise species found on site.
The artwork, painted on a shipping container in the nature reserve car park, was created by local artists Tanya Hinton and Nick Andrew and finished in July last year.
A newly installed board, designed by Nick Andrew, now features 40 animals and insects linked to the mural, including Canada goose, roe deer, coot and Adonis blue butterfly.
“Everything on the board is featured in the mural and everything in the mural can be found on Smallbrook Nature Reserve,” said Tanya Hinton.
The mural was supported by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Sustainable Warminster, Warminster Lions Club, The Fudge Trust and donations from local people.
Smallbrook Meadows is a 50-acre nature reserve which extends for over a mile on the south side of Warminster along the River Wylye and its small tributary the River Were. It’s comprised of six small water meadows, wet woodland, marsh, ponds, chalk rivers, hedgerows and ditches.
Bordering the Warminster Lake Pleasure Grounds, it’s a popular place for walking, picnics and birdwatching with over two miles of paths.
Run by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, it’s a precious wetland habitat, home to iconic species such as kingfishers, water rails, water voles, bats, rare moths and dragonflies, along with a wide range of wild flowers including white and pink cuckooflowers, ragged robin, water avens, marsh marigold, yellow iris and marsh-orchid.
