ONE of the things that always surprises me is just how much wildlife can be found even in a small nature reserve.

Blake Marsh Local Nature Reserve being only five hectares, or 12 acres, in size has to be one of the smallest reserves looked after by the Wyre Forest District Council Ranger Service.

Houses, allotments and an expanse of football and cricket pitches that form the White Wickets playing fields surround it. Blake Marsh, as its name suggests, was declared a nature reserve for the marshland and wetland wildlife it contains. However, when the playing fields were created a few decades ago, most of what was an extensive area of marshland was filled in leaving a small patch, which now forms part of the reserve. The rest of the reserve is ironically composed of old football pitches that proved too wet to play on and are now managed as meadows.

As well as a welcome array of wetland flora, which these days is quite rare. Blake Marsh provides a refuge for a surprisingly large wealth of animal life including specialised wetland fauna. In spring, the volume of frogs and toads that meet up on this reserve is awe-inspiring.

During February the shallow pools seem to boil with the frantic scrabbling of frogs and toads. I've not seen a newt here yet, but I would be very surprised if the reserve did not have a healthy population lurking in the vast tangles of marshland vegetation.

Reptile-wise, Blake Marsh is also favoured by a large and active grass snake population, which hunt in and around the wetland slakes. Wetland birds are also represented. Both snipe and water rails have been recorded on these reserves although I don't think either has bred here. Grey herons are also frequent visitors.

These days, wetland mammals are generally something of a national rarity. Water voles, which were once so common, are on the verge of extinction. I have not seen one at Blake Marsh, but I always hold onto a ray of hope that a place such as this may provide them with a safe refuge. Water shrews are also far from common.

On the face of it, Blake Marsh would provide an ideal habitat and indeed these animals could well be present, but they are highly secretive and at first glance look like any other shrew. Away from wetland species, Blake Marsh helps support many other wild mammal and bird species such as foxes, all three species of woodpecker and not forgetting the rare breed cattle that help manage the wetland flora.

I find it very uplifting that this tiny corner of the district is treasured by the people who live near it. A large number of residents turned out to hold a vigil to see what bat life this reserve was holding.