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Sandy
Smith Nature Reserve
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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River
Flit
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Cow
Parsley
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Reed
Bed
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Owl's
Oak
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With thanks to
Malcolm Willis (Volunteer Warden) these
stunning photographs.
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Red
Clover
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Jock
tests the bridge
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2009
BIRD RINGING AT
SANDY SMITH NATURE RESERVE
Thursday 16th July,
6.00-9.00pm Bird Ringing. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Booking is essential and the cost is £1 per person. To book and
for further information please contact Liz Milbank on 07964 310348 or
01234 743666.
WILDLIFE WEEK AT SANDY SMITH NATURE RESERVE
Come and visit your local nature reserve and join in with one, some or
all of these events:
Tuesday 26th May 2.00-4.00pm Bumble Bees
Wednesday 27th May 10.30-12.30 Flowers
Thursday 28th May 10.30-12.30 Butterflies
Friday 29th May 8.30pm onwards Moth Trapping. Please bring a torch
Saturday 30th May 9.00-11.00am Birds
Due to the very limited parking at the site anyone wishing to attend is
asked to walk or cycle if possible or car share. Please note there are
no toilets or refresh-ments available but you are welcome to bring a
picnic. Booking is essential and the cost is £1.00 per person.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please con-tact Liz Millbank
on 01234 743666 or email Liz.Millbank@greensandtrust.org
More details
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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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