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Sandy
Smith Nature Reserve
March 2010 Info sheet
We are very fortunate to have in the parish 230 acres of land
as a dedicated nature reserve, owned by The Greensands Trust. The
area was donated to the trust by a local business man and is totally peaceful
with wild flowers flourishing, such as Bee Orchids which are becoming rare,
and unusual birds skimming the hedge tops.
The Sandy Smith Nature Reserve (dedicated to the donor's wife) is available
for walkers and nature lovers, but there are no facilities. No car
parking, no toilets, no cafes! Just natural countryside, being controlled
to provide wet madow land, a reed bed area (which is a very rare habitat
for the Bedforshire area, a new pit has been dug to provide a new sandy habitat
to attract invertebrates.
Currently the site can be accessed via a private road (bridleway) near
Speedsdiary Farm, but eventually there will be pedestrian access from the
Chicksands area.
If you are interested in learning more about the Sandy Smith Nature
Reserve, please contact Liz Millbank for further information. Her
telephone number is 01234 743666. The Greensands Trust does welcome
volunteers to assist with work. They also welcome pedestrian users
of the public footpaths and permissive footpaths, so long as any dogs are
kept on leads, and walkers arrive at the site on foot or by bicycle as there
are no car parking facilities.
Click here for map containing public
footpaths and rights of way
The land lies in the Flit Valley in mid Bedfordshire, since 2006 it
is been owned by The Greensand Trust and is being developed and managed as
a nature reserve. This 93-hectare site consists of a mixture of habitats.
The base of the valley, consist of 23 hectares of wet woodland, reed bed,
river, marsh and grazing meadow on peaty soil and is known as Upper Alders,
a County Wildlife Site. The remaining 70 hectares on the side of the valley
consists of an extensive area of ex-arable farmland on sand and clay soils
and a small area of woodland.
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To enable access footpaths
have been converted into wide green lanes with hedgerows planted either
side of them. About 2,500m or 14,700 plants of mixed native hedging have
been planted.
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Stands of spruces (0.6ha)
have been felled and the timber removed to restore native wet woodland and
open marshland
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The ponds, marsh and reed
beds are being restored by grazing and cutting, and water levels are being
managed to encourage the spread of wetland species both in the wet woodland
and open wetland areas.
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New woodland is being created
to link the existing woodland to the north of the site with the wet woodland
in the base of the valley. At the moment we are allowing this area to naturally
regenerate and depending on how this works out we may undertake some planting
in the future. |
The ex-arable areas have
been fenced (5000m) to enable grazing to help re-create acid and neutral
grassland. Part of the land will not be grazed in the first few years to
allow the development of scattered scrub to encourage bird and invertebrate
species.’
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As part of the Heathland’s
of the Greensand Ridge project, trial heathland plots have also been established
to assess the potential for heathland restoration here and at other sites
along the Ridge.
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About £73,000 has
been received from WREN, the former Mid Beds District Council and Breathing
Places. Further funding has been received from EWGS (English Woodland Grant
Scheme) and Natural England via their Environmental Stewardship Agreement.
The work is being undertaken
via a combination of Greensand Trust staff and volunteers and contractors.
If you require any further information please contact the Greensand Trust
www.greensandtrust.org
01234 743666
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Bluebells
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Broom
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Common Field Speedwell
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Snowdrops
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Common Toad
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Cowslips
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Otter Holt
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Views of the Sandy Smith
Nature Reserve
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Volunteers Rest
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Reed Bed
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Lizard
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An unidentified nest
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Bird Ringing - Juvenile
Kingfisher
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Marbled White
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Five spot Burnet
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Adonis Blue
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Bee Orchid
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Cinnaber
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Common Spotted Orchid
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Large Skipper
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Marbled White - underside
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Pyrimidal Orchid
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River Flit
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Cow Parsley
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With thanks to
Malcolm Willis (Volunteer Warden) these stunning photographs.
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Red Clover
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Reed Bed
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Owl's Oak
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Jock tests the bridge
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A (rather muddy) Jock after a hard days graft.
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The Greensand Trust is an independent environmental charity that works
with local communities and landowners to conserve and enhance the
distinctive landscape, wildlife and history of Mid & South Bedfordshire,
improving access, understanding and enjoyment for the benefit of
everyone. For more information please visit our website
www.greensandtrust.org
Charity number: 1077055
Company limited by guarantee.Registered in England: 3702419
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