What’s new?
1 July 2009
Spectacular Living Landscape launched in John Clare Country
Delicate orchids dot the wildflower-rich meadows as rare butterflies flutter through the pastures feeding on nectar. Red kites and buzzards soar over-head and, as dusk falls, families of badgers shuffle out of their setts to feed.
This exciting new vision of a massive living landscape that people can enjoy and where wildlife can thrive was launched near Peterborough last week.
The limestone country to the west of Peterborough, extending through Stamford and into Northamptonshire, was home to John Clare (1793-1864), now regarded as the most important English poet of the natural world. His careful and lyrical description of the land around him, during the turmoil of the Enclosure Acts, presaged modern environmental concerns.
Now, the surviving fragments of Clare’s landscape are being protected, managed and made available to local people through this new John Clare Country Living Landscape Project. The area runs from the fringes of Peterborough into the former Rockingham Forest. It encompasses ancient woodlands which are carpeted with bluebells, anemones and clouds of garlic-scented ramsons in the spring, flower-rich woodland rides and limestone grassland full of orchids and butterflies.
The John Clare Country Living Landscape project aims to create a network of woodland, grassland and wetland habitats, safeguarding existing areas, interpreting the historical and biodiversity value of the area to local people, and enhancing the resource for the future. It aims to achieve this by enlarging existing nature reserves and working in partnership with local landowners to environmentally enhance their land. It will provide some wonderful greenspaces for the growing population of Peterborough and beyond to enjoy. It will offer great opportunities of recreation, education and training.
The Wildlife Trust has already purchased 89 hectares of woodland and grassland, and has begun a successful restoration of 12 hectares of limestone grassland on unproductive ex-arable land at Sammocks Hill, Old Sulehay. The project area also includes the Wildlife Trust’s Ring Haw Field Station, where a wide range of training events give volunteers the skills they need to support a Living Landscape through practical habitat management, wildlife monitoring and education work.
Living Landscapes is The Wildlife Trusts' vision for our countryside’s future – for people and wildlife. Living Landscapes will create bigger, better, joined up wildlife areas across the towns and countryside of Britain, connecting mosaics of habitats and green spaces. Living Landscapes is a vision that enables wildlife populations to move and expand, and gives people a better place to live.
The John Clare Country Living Landscape Project is a partnership project between The Wildlife Trust and the Langdyke Countryside Trust. It is funded through the Housing Growth Fund, supported by the Department for Communities & Local Government.
If you would like any more information about the John Clare Country Living Landscape Project, please call 01733 294543 or email Peterborough@wildlifebcnp.org
Wildlife Training Workshop - 'Beginning with wildlife'
A special event is being organised by The Wildlife Trust on Saturday 4th July from 10am to 4pm; “Beginning with Wildlife”. If you would like to find out about some of the top wildlife hotspots in the area, including Wildlife Trust nature reserves, and what makes them so special, then this is a must. The day will include presentations and a guided walk around Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve.
Local naturalists Henry Stanier and Christine Donnelly, who are leading the event, said “Whether you are new to the area, new to the Trust or just want to know more about your local wildlife, you'll enjoy this guide to birds, plants mammals and other animals of the area. You’ll find out about some of the top wildlife hotspots in your area, including Wildlife Trust nature reserves, and what makes them so special."
To book your place, contact Henry Stanier on 07734 478477 or e-mail henry.stanier@wildlifebcnp.org.