Celebrating the Return of Chalk Grasslands at Pegsdon Hills 
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5 August 2009
Celebrating South Bedfordshire's chalk grasslands!
The return of chalk grassland at Pegsdon Hills
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough celebrated The Return of Chalk Grassland! project with a closing event at Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve on Wednesday 29 July.
The event was opened with a welcome and thank you to the project funders and supporters, followed by a walk around the reserve led by Graham Bellamy, Reserves Manager. During this walk, Graham introduced the history and wildlife of Pegsdon Hills and updated guests on the important work that the project has achieved.
The Return of Chalk Grassland! project was funded by a grant of more than £50,000 from Biffaward. This has enabled the Wildlife Trust to restore a large section of this former flower-filled grassland and improve reserve facilities to enhance the habitat for important species - including dingy and grizzled skipper butterflies and skylark - and allow people to experience once again the natural beauty of this landscape feature to its full potential.
Gillian French, Programme Manager for Biffaward commented, “Biffaward is keen to support projects which improve access to the countryside and encourage us to discover more about our natural environment. This project does both and the improvements will mean that more people will be able to enjoy the reserve throughout the year.”
Due to the considerable changes in land use over the past fifty years, the vast majority of species-rich chalk grassland has been lost in South Bedfordshire, with just a few protected areas remaining.
Graham Bellamy, Bedfordshire Reserves Manager, said, “The Pegsdon Hills grasslands are beautiful at all times of year, particularly in spring with the appearance of dingy and grizzled skipper butterflies, only found in a few places in the county. In summer, the smell of fresh herbs pervades the air, while the melodious song of the skylark echoes round the valley. The site is renowned for its rare orchids and other widlflowers and attracts large numbers of butterflies. The preservation of this habitat is vital for the amazing range of wildlife that relies on its existence, and for the thousands of people who wander around it each year to absorb the invigorating atmosphere of this truly unique environment.”
For more information please contact:
Jo Fowler, Communications Manager
Direct line: 01954 713551.
Mobile: 07540 669246