VISITORS to a nature reserve will have to pay to park from this week.

The income from car park fees at Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve, near Glastonbury, will go towards managing the site.

It is also hoped it will deter anti-social behaviour in the car park, which has increased in recent years.

Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) announced before Christmas it would be charging a £3 parking fee to all visitors, including members.

An SWT spokesperson said: "With the cost of managing our nature reserves continuing to increase year on year, Somerset Wildlife Trust has taken the decision to introduce a car parking charge at our Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve."

"The modest amount of income we believe the charges will generate here is really important to us and will help us carry out crucial conservation work that is needed on this very special reserve that is loved by so many," added the spokesperson.

Park with Ease, which has been awarded a three-year contract to deliver the service, will install the ticketing machine at the car park.

The car park surface at Westhay was upgraded in 2021 and SWT wants to ensure it is able to maintain the car park across all seasons.

The spokesperson said: "Since we have upgraded the car parking surface for members’ and visitors’ benefit, we have experienced an uptick in instances of anti-social behaviour, including car theft and the car park being used a little like a race track.

"The surface was not introduced with this use in mind and therefore is deteriorating more rapidly than it should be.

"The introduction of an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) based system will deter those using the vehicles in this manner and will also deter other anti-social behaviour such as car break-ins."

The £3 fee applies to each visit, so if you leave and return the same day, you will be charged a second time.

Parking season tickets will be available at £65 for a year or £40 for six months.

Westhay Moor is a mecca for wildlife, with booming bittern in the spring, while tens of thousands of overwintering birds make it their home.