Senior ranger Rebecca Green tells of the Wildlife Trust’s work at Trumpington Meadows
Cambridge Edition: Tell us about the reserve at Trumpington Meadows… where is it?
Rebecca Green: It’s in the south of Cambridge, next to Byron’s Pool nature reserve. The reserve is 58 hectares, with half of the reserve over the M11, which you can access via a bridge.
Rebecca Green. Image Holly Wilkinson
CE: What’s the habitat like?
RG: The majority of the reserve is a wildflower meadow, most of which was sown in the early 2010s. Although this habitat is still very new, it’s evolving as the years go by and is already a fantastic place for a wide range of wildlife. We’re situated along the River Cam – an essential corridor for wildlife that links the green spaces in Cambridge and south Cambridgeshire.
CE: What wildlife species are protected at the reserve?
RG: We have recorded 125 species of bird, 22 species of mammal and 28 species of butterfly. We manage the habitats here to maximise biodiversity but, having said that, there are some species we focus on. Several pairs of skylarks nest on the meadows every year, and as these are ground nesting birds, they’re at risk of disturbance. Every spring, we put up temporary skylark fencing and signs to prevent people and dogs from accidentally walking through a nest.
We’re also lucky to have a population of small blue butterflies – once extinct in Cambridgeshire. The only food plant of the caterpillars is kidney vetch with its yellow flowers, so our management works to make sure this plant thrives.
CE: What work is the local Wildlife Trust doing to protect the habitat?
Small blue. Image Trevor Sawyer
RG: We’re busy throughout the year – hay cutting in the summer or working with our graziers and their Belted Galloway cattle to ensure the meadows stay in great condition: check out The Wandering Herd on social media. We’re lucky to have a fantastic group of volunteers who help out with traditional hedge laying that benefits all sorts of wildlife.
CE: Is there an end goal in sight?
RG: The Wildlife Trust BCN was involved with Grosvenor – the land developer – right from the start, advising on the best way to turn arable fields into species-rich meadow. We started managing the reserve in 2015 and now own it, ensuring this place will be a haven for wildlife for years to come.
CE: What can readers do to support this type of work?
RG: The main way people support us is by becoming a member at wildlifebcn.org/join. You can also support our work by attending events at the reserve: monthly in-depth meanders on the second Monday of the month; shorter strolls around the middle of the month; and – thanks to funding from the Community Fund at The Leys, Cambridge – there are sessions for families on Thursdays during school holidays and monthly at weekends during the warmer months. Our primary goal is to get you interested (excited, even!) about wildlife and the environment, and inspire action for a wilder future!
