Manor Farm

A 25-hectare nature reserve transformed from a former market garden into a biodiverse habitat featuring wet meadows and riverbanks.

Manor Farm, part of the River Wey floodplain near Byfleet, is a diverse lowland reserve combining meadows, wetlands, and riverbank habitats. Now managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust, this site was historically farmland and has been rewilded into a mosaic of habitats teeming with life. From red kites gliding overhead to reed buntings darting between sedges, Manor Farm is an excellent site for both casual and committed wildlife photographers. Featured in FeatherFrame’s wetland and farmland birding collection, it offers great accessibility and consistent seasonal activity.

River Reeds, Meadows, and Hidden Moments

The reserve presents multiple microhabitats ideal for photography: damp meadows with pollinators, hedgerows filled with songbirds, and reedbeds alive with warblers. It’s also a hotspot for dragonflies and damselflies in summer, while winter brings in redwings and fieldfares. For landscape shots, the winding watercourses and distant tree lines give strong compositional structure, especially during golden hour. FeatherFrame recommends Manor Farm for soft, observational photography and for building species portfolios with accessible viewing points.

Best Times to Visit:

  • Spring: Nesting activity, warblers arrive, flowers begin to bloom

  • Summer: Peak insect life, reedbeds active with birds and pollinators

  • Autumn: Migrant thrushes, warm afternoon light, and textural contrasts

  • Winter: Strong silhouettes, frost across meadows, and flocking birds

Plan Your Visit

  • Car parking available at the SWT access point off Manor Farm Lane

  • Flat gravel and grass paths—ideal for low tripods and quiet observation

  • Recommended gear: 300–500mm lens for birds, macro for insects, and wide-angle for habitat shots

  • FeatherFrame tip: Use early morning light along the water’s edge for layered compositions and bird silhouettes

Did you know?

Manor Farm is part of the wider River Wey Living Landscape—a rewilded agricultural zone restored for biodiversity. It now supports key wetland species, including water rail and the rare Desmoulin’s whorl snail. FeatherFrame showcases this site to demonstrate the power of habitat restoration in creating accessible, photogenic biodiversity hotspots.