Wildlife Meadow Willingham Action Group
Work at the Wildlife Meadow has formed part of NLOW’s aim to create natural stepping stones between the Wicken Fen and Ouse Fen wetland nature reserves to enhance ecological resilience and biodiversity.
The Meadow, about 2.25 ha in size, is in a mainly arable farmland area with depleted wildlife and so provides a haven for wildlife, including numerous bird, mammal and insect species as well as plants. The northern half is managed as a wildflower meadow supporting a variety of wildflowers with around 30 oak saplings plus various other more mature trees. The southern half is largely untouched and supports rough grasses with a wide variety of flowers, and scattered scrub, mostly hawthorn. The two halves are divided by a bund of spoil thickly covered with a range of plants and home to a range of mammals such as foxes, badgers, rabbits and other species. The whole site is surrounded by a native hedge.
The meadow had been a traveller’s site, and WPC leased it in 2014 from CCC on a 175-year lease and then spent several years clearing the substantial amount of debris left behind. Councillor Ray Manning planted an avenue of oak trees in 2020 to commemorate Willingham residents killed in the two world wars. Sadly, some were lost during the following very dry spring. Subsequently, with help from the Woodland Trust and SCDC, over 400 whips and several trees were planted, mainly by volunteer labour.
NLOW became involved in 2023, and following a survey, an agreement was signed with WPC whereby NLOW fully funded the creation of a pond, bat boxes, a bug hotel and a hibernaculum, with ongoing management and maintenance by WPC, using a plan set out by NLOW. A series of four ponds was dug in 2024, and they were substantially remodelled in 2025 to provide better landscaping and more variety. Due to clay content in the soil, all ponds are unlined, and because of their nature and local climate, there will be years when shallower areas will dry up, but many pond-dwelling species have evolved alongside temporary ponds, so this does not reduce their value as a wildlife habitat. They will be left to colonise naturally, though this is a slow process. NLOW have also helped with ideas on habitat and some joint working parties. This autumn, we will also receive, via ACRE, trees and hedging to replace those lost this dry spring.
In 2024, volunteers from the Environment section of Willingham Action Group became involved and are playing an active role in management plus future plans. They are applying for a grant from the SCDC Community Chest to make the whole area around the ponds more biodiverse by establishing a wetland and aquatic native plants and a butterfly bank on the south-facing slope of the central bund. Other improvements could include seats and picnic tables; establishing dry firm pathways with brash wood or bark where it is very muddy, nature trails around the edge and across the site in a few places, a wildlife camera and a signboard detailing the habitat, flora, and wildlife to be found.
Overall, this will create new aquatic and marginal wet habitats for plants and wildlife, including aquatic plants, aquatic beetles, aquatic invertebrate groups, such as mayflies and dragonflies, as well as a number of amphibians and birds. The species to benefit will include the highly threatened turtle dove, a thirsty bird found in the area, which will be able to access the shallow banked pond for drinking water. Amphibians and reptiles to benefit will include the common toad, common frog, grass snake and potentially great crested newt.
The main problems that we have encountered stem from the remoteness of the site, such as fly tipping. Lack of water to irrigate newly planted trees and shrubs is also a big problem. While there was water to the original traveller site we have been unable as yet to re-establish the connection.
