What joy it is when communities come together for a greater good! Here, the kind generosity of local communities in Bedfordshire saved a former farm that became home to endangered wildlife species. The likes of nightingales, turtle-doves, warblers, orchids and butterflies all have a new lease of life, thanks to a crowdfunding appeal that raised £1.5m.
A brief history
The farm called Strawberry Hill is in Bedfordshire. It was used for the production of wheat until 1988 when the owner, Hugh White, ‘set aside’ the whole farm in protest against the government’s agricultural policies. The land soon went wild, which marked the beginning of a preservation of nature for generations to come. White was overjoyed by the sight of the rough grasslands that propagated his wheat fields. This became a haven for barn-owls and other wildlife instead.
In 2022, the Wildlife Trust BCN – covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire – together with a group of conservation-minded lenders, We Have The Power, and Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation, leased the site in order to hold on to it temporarily. Then, in 2023, the area was purchased by Biffa Award, and The Wildlife Trusts launched an appeal for £1.5m to buy the remaining half.
The public’s amazing generosity
A whopping half a million pounds was raised by more than 3,800 individual donations from members of the public. The remaining one million pounds was raised by a substantial private donation, and large contributions from trusts and funds.
Brian Eversham, CEO of Wildlife Trust BCN said:
The public’s response to this appeal has been simply unprecedented. I have never seen such an outpouring of support, passion and generosity from people in our region and across the UK who love wildlife and want to see it protected. We knew Strawberry Hill was a special place when we first began our fight to save it more than two years ago, but we had no idea it would capture people’s imagination in the way it has”.
The donations by the public were made over the course of months, offering whatever they could in time and money. This outpouring of support has touched many hearts, including that of the Trust CEO, who said:
I want to say a huge thank you to every single person who donated. From the two young brothers who sold lemonade from their own homemade stand, to the people who gave a little each month when they could afford it, right up to the large donations from those fortunate enough to be able to make a significant contribution to a cause close to their hearts. We are all humbled and very proud, and we promise to care for this special place on your behalf for years to come.
An area of great variety
It is now one of the largest areas of scrub and young woodland in central England, including hawthorn and blackthorn, field maple, ash, elm, and towering oak trees. There is also open grassland and many wet loving plants like meadowsweet, wild angelica, common fleabane and yellow-wort. The latter flower hints at Strawberry Hill’s position on the Yardley and Whittlewood Ridge, a Natural England National Character Area (NCA) which is defined by rich limestone rising above low- lying claylands. This supports abundant flowers, adding to the charm of the wild and wonderful grassland.
It is just 35 years since the farm was allowed to go wild, and it is already home to a vast range of wildlife.
What are the plans for Strawberry Hill?
The Wildlife Trust BCN is now in full ownership of Strawberry Hill. While continuing to manage and monitor the site, they are also planning for the future. This includes a conservation management plan, and creating the right access infrastructure that will allow people to experience the site without disturbing wildlife.
The area is currently open to the public. Wanderers can venture into fields of open grasslands and corridors of scrublands; they can explore the ponds and ancient hedgerows — all of which contribute to the continued natural progression of wildlife in the English countryside.
Exploring the area
Follow the footpaths and bridleways that join the hamlets of Knotting and Knotting Green, and venture through wonderful meadows with flower rich edges that attract butterfly species like the ringlet, meadow brown and the speckled wood butterflies.
You will be able to discover the immense variety of wildlife from the rare scrub loving birds like the willow warbler, blackcaps, and whitethroats, to the kestrels, buzzards, and red kites that fly across the high forests; and the woodland venturers like the roe deer, foxes, badgers and hares; even the tiniest of species like the cinnabar moth caterpillar and the common green grasshopper in the meadow weeds.
There is something to see in every corner, which makes for a fantastic day out, whatever the season, to learn about this natural haven.
A virtual tour of the site is available. To follow the story of Strawberry Hill, and to see how the public can play a vital part in the continual growth of this remarkable site, visit their website.
