The Woodland Linkage Project
The Wildlife Trust has a vision to create a South Cambridgeshire Forest for wildlife and people. It already owns several ancient woodland reserves in this area including Gamlingay, Hayley, and Waresley and Gransden Woods, remnants of a once much larger forest. Although the woods have year-round appeal they are at their most spectacular in spring when the bluebells are in flower and in summer when the rides and glades are filled with wildflowers and butterflies.
The woods are too small and isolated to allow movement of species in the event of climate change or other destructive events so the plants and animals living there are vulnerable. To improve their chances of survival, the Wildlife Trust purchased arable fields adjacent to Gamlingay and Waresley Woods in 2000 and is now in the third year of a community project to start the process of turning the fields into woodland. Over the next 100 years, these fields – Sugley Wood adjacent to Gamlingay Wood and Browne’s Piece next to Waresley Wood – will become woodland again with the help of Wildlife Trust staff, volunteers and visitors.
During the last three years, over 430 children and their teachers have visited Gamlingay Wood to take part in special seed collecting and planting events. If you would like to bring your school class to these reserves, or for more information, please contact the community officer, Helen Moore, on 01353 664745 or e-mail helen.moore@wildlifebcnp.org. Alternatively, you can give practical help and learn new skills on a work party (see Events), visit the ancient woods on your own, or contact the Wildlife Trust to arrange a guided walk.
The Woodland Linkage Project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, RMC, English Nature, Innogy, Forestry Commission, WREN and local donors.