Upwood Meadows

Notice the numerous ant hills in this picture of Great Bentley Meadow

Upwood Meadows - Introduction

These meadows are amongst the most important wildlife sites in Cambridgeshire. This is reflected in their designation as a National Nature Reserve by Natural England. The reserve is owned and managed by Natural England and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Peterborough.

Caption: Entrance to the reserve, Helen's Close field.

Description

The reserve consists of three meadows growing on poorly drained boulder clay which have been grassland for at least 280 years, although the ridge and furrow left by the ancient ploughs shows that they were once arable land. The surviving meadows are relicts of older agricultural practices and are of considerable importance.

Biodiversity

The three old meadows, which make up the site have been subject to different levels of agricultural use. This is reflected in the plant species diversity of the swards. Great Bentley Meadow, the largest of the three fields, has never been ‘improved’; in spring it is covered with the yellow of thousands of cowslips. Briza media/Alopecurus pratensis/Festuca rubra with herbs like cowslip Primula veris, greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis and dropwort Filipendula vulgaris are some of the grassland species. Later in mid-May there are hundreds of green-winged orchids Orchis morio and many of the over 180 species typical of ancient grassland which grow in this field. Numerous anthills (visible in the picture above) of the yellow meadow ant are another feature of this superb meadow. Little Bentley Meadow was also partly ‘improved’, but a rich meadow flora still survives in the northwest corner. Helen’s Close is the field closest to the car park. In the past it was both sprayed and fertilised, as a result of which the sward is dominated by grasses with very few herbs. The hedges and ponds also support a wide variety of wildlife, adding to the interest of the site.

Management

Management consists of summer cattle grazing with localised control of scrub thistles and ragwort. In one field where the botanical interest has been damaged, experiments have been carried out in re-seeding the grassland to encourage recolonisation by old meadow herbs and grasses. Currently the 'condition' of the fields has been assessed by English Nature as "Unfavourable recovering" leaving some room for improving the management regime.

Location and access

From Ramsey take the road to Upwood and Great Raveley, and take the last turning on the right into Upwood village. Where the road turns sharply right continue straight ahead on the rough lane to Meadow Farm. Park in the grass car park and please close all the gates. There is no public right of access to the meadow itself although a footpath passes through the northern part of the site. See map opposite. Access is permitted to Trust members and there are numerous stiles to the different meadows.

Contacts

The reserve has a voluntary warden but please make all requests for further information through the Trust Reserve Manager, Lorna Parker email

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