Houghton Meadows
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A nostalgic look back at the glorious hay meadows that were once common across the country |
Houghton Meadows is actually three ancient hay meadows and a pasture. The meadows are covered from spring to summer in a sea of flowers, from the yellow cowslips to the pink spears of orchids and purple of knapweed. Once the hay is cut in July the ridges and furrows left behind when the oxen ploughed fields of the middle ages are revealed. Surrounding the meadows are ancient hedgerows, currently undergoing rejuvenation using traditional methods.
Almost hidden at the back of the reserve is a tiny brook, which joins the ox-bow of the Ouse towards Hemingford Grey. It is a refuge for an array of aquatic plants and domain of the distinctive hairy dragonfly. On its bank there are a series of venerable old gnarled and twisted willows which are home to green woodpecker and numerous insects.
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Plants: Cowslip, green-winged orchid, willows Birds: Green woodpecker Amphibians: Frogs, toads and newts |
Plants: Yellow rattle, salad burnet, pepper-saxifrage, meadow crane’s-bill Insects: Scarce chaser dragonfly, banded demoiselle damselfly |
Fungi: Waxcaps |