Tower and Town, March 2024 (view the full edition)Bay MeadowsBay Meadows is Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's newest nature reserve, located on the edge of Marlborough. The River Og, a beautiful chalk stream, runs through the middle of the reserve's water meadows. Purchased in 2022, the trust saved the site from the threat of development that would have destroyed its value for wildlife. Thanks to great support from the trust's members, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Hills Group, Dyson, Fish in Need, Marlborough Area Board, the Town Council and other generous donors, the trust has completed a transformative project to improve the habitat for mammals, birds, fish and pollinators. The trust has also created a nature park which is now open for everyone to enjoy.
Shallow scrapes have been created, which will fill with water seasonally, providing ideal habitat for wading birds such as lapwing. The scrapes are also a clever way to mitigate the impact of climate change, allowing water to be released slowly during dry periods to help sustain nature. In the Og's channel, the water flow has been varied to improve fish spawning habitat. More than 6,000 trees have been planted, including hawthorn and crab apple, to provide food sources and nesting habitat for birds. Many snakeshead fritillary bulbs have also been planted to establish a beautiful, rare wildflower meadow. The nature park provides a wonderful place to explore, relax and connect with nature, easily walkable from the town of Marlborough. Along the new circular paths and connecting bridges, there's the chance to see and hear many birds, including reed bunting, and yellowhammer. You may even see the iridescent blue flash of a kingfisher darting along the channel. In summer, why not sit on the riverbank listening to the trickling waters whilst watching dragonflies? With the help of an amazing group of volunteers, the trust has created a den building area, an enchanted tunnel and a wellbeing area, whilst several chill-out areas mown into the meadow provide a place to picnic or enjoy the view. Visit: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/nature-reserves/bay-meadows. Kirstine Bowen |
Meadows is crucial in helping wildlife move seasonally through the chalk landscape along the River Og. Surveys have revealed that more than 300 species call Bay Meadows home, including otters, water voles and wild brown trout; habitat restoration in the nature reserve's wildlife refuge area has been geared toward attracting even more.