Description: The reserve comprises two fields divided by a traditional Manx sod hedge that is lined with hawthorn. The fields are lower lying than the surrounding land and this, together with a ditch, is sufficient to maintain quite a high water table and create the right conditions for the growth of common reed that occurs as a strip around the northern edge of the two fields. This type of habitat is very rare on the Island (covering just 0.03% of the land area) as it is very susceptible to drainage. Reedbeds are a valuable habitat for wildlife supporting a number of specialist birds including willow warbler, sedge warbler and reed bunting, as well as insects, other invertebrates and frogs.

Grassland occupies the remainder of the fields, the more westerly is fairly dry but the other quite wet. It is here that large quantities of false fox sedge can be found, unusual as it is normally found near the coast. The meadow and wetland are rich in wildflowers including ragged robin, greater bird's-foot-trefoil, vetches, red clover, meadow vetchling, marsh woundwort, marsh cinquefoil, meadowsweet and wild angelica.

Management: In 1998, the Trust obtained a grant from the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund enabling the reserve to be fenced, a small parking area created and a hedge of native shrubs planted. The reserve will be managed to maintain and enhance this valuable and rare habitat. This will include an annual cut of the grassland in the drier of the two fields.

How to get to Ballalough Reedbeds: The reserve is readily accessible from the Castletown by-pass (A5), which forms the southern boundary of the reserve.