‘Summerground’ – a community nature reserve

Summerground, also known as Crowe Hill Meadow, has been purchased by FLiSCA, after receiving the necessary donations from local residents, in order for it to be protected in perpetuity for nature.

We are delighted to announce that Summerground, Limpley Stoke and Freshford’s first community owned Nature Reserve is now open to the community.

Of the total 2.3 acres along Crowe Hill, about 20% is classified as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (the most threatened and requiring conservation) priority habitat for its lowland calcareous grassland including nationally rare Bath Asparagus, multiple types of orchid and meadow species.

An additional native woodland copse adds to its ecological importance and part of the field is designated SSSi.

The management of this land will be undertaken in close coordination with Nature Chain’s Meadows Group, a ‘cluster’ of local landowners who work with  YoungWilders  social enterprise and local farmers to deliver biodiversity – enhancing land management plans that include a calendar of grazing, meadow growth and hay cuts.

The land will be managed to enhance and protect its biodiversity with a particular focus on restoring its endangered wildflowers. We will achieve this by allowing meadow to grow tall throughout the spring and summer to encourage insects, birds and small mammals and in late summer/early autumn local cattle will be brought in to graze the grasses down. This year the field was harrowed and volunteers hand-spread local wildflower seed. Wildlife sightings in the field include an abundance of butterflies, a hedgehog, roe deer, muntjacs, foxes and tawny owls. We will conduct ecological studies to track our progress in restoring this rare Cotswold meadow habitat.

Nature Chain will host a calendar of nature-related community events every year and it is our hope that this special place becomes a place of enjoyment and nature learning for the local community of all ages.

The gate is now signposted, and you are welcome to walk gently in the field, recording any wildlife sightings you have on i-naturalist or on the black board. Please keep the gate shut and take care as there are ticks and very steep and uneven ground including many large, raised ancient ant hills.

The field will be locked and closed annually between August-October for conservation grazing by local cattle.  We hope that the delicate ecology will be respected and particularly by adhering to the ‘no dogs permitted’ rule.

For more information and to sign-up to emails on community events visit www.naturechain.org or contact Tania Pascoe 07841 327475