The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has embarked on an ambitious project to save one of the most important sites for wildlife in lowland England.
Strawberry Hill near Knotting Green, Bedfordshire, was left to go wild over 35 years ago – long before the idea of rewilding captured the public imagination. It has resulted in one of the highest concentrations of rare nightingales, turtle doves, warblers and other threatened species anywhere in the country.
At 150hectares (377 acres), Strawberry Hill is the largest area of shrubland and young woodland in central England. Ecologists undertaking studies have been stunned by the diversity and abundance of species found.
Despite its value for wildlife, Strawberry Hill has no official designations or protections. Today, The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants is launching a £1.5m appeal to secure the whole of Strawberry Hill and protect habitats there forever.
Brian Eversham, chief executive of Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust, says:
“Strawberry Hill is a magical place: when I first stepped foot there, I knew we had to save it. Nowhere else can you hear dozens of nightingales, calling cuckoos, purring turtle doves and hundreds of warblers all on one short walk. We’re asking nature lovers in Bedfordshire and beyond to help us protect this oasis of wildness forever.
“Many years before anyone had heard of projects like Knepp or the concept of rewilding, a farmer decided to leave his land to nature. What has emerged is a unique area of meadow and shrubland which is ideal for a range of threatened species. Creating a reserve like this now would mean buying a large area of farmland and leaving it for more than three decades – but here we have a ready-made habitat full of nature. All we have to do is raise the money to save it.
“There is so much potential for wildlife to spread out from this site and recolonise the surrounding countryside – it truly is a beacon of hope in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.”
Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery for The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Strawberry Hill is world-class example of rewilding and further proof that letting nature recover naturally can produce fantastic results. The abundance and density of wildlife is unrivalled across England’s lowlands, with cuckoos, warblers and whitethroats joining in a chorus of song. It is so important that the place is protected for nature in perpetuity.
“Nature recovery is reliant on restoring at least 30% of land by 2030. Crucially, when we have brilliant wild areas like Strawberry Hill, we need to protect them and work out ways to join them together. A nature network is fundamental to reversing declines in wildlife, while also benefitting farming and providing myriad of benefits to people.”
The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants has leased Strawberry Hill since 2022. It has raised £1million to buy the southern part of the site and now needs to raise a further £1.5million to secure the remaining land and start planning for Strawberry Hill’s future.
Nightingales in the UK have declined by 90% and are in danger of disappearing from the English countryside entirely. Changes in woodland and a lack of the dense shrubland favoured by the species has led to its catastrophic decline. Famed for its strong and beautiful song, this summer migrant is red listed as a species of the highest conservation concern.
Its story and song has fascinated artists and writers for generations. Nightingales are celebrated in Homer’s Odessey, Shakespeare’s sonnets, and poems by Milton, T.S Elliot and Keats, as well inspiring music by Beethoven and Stravinsky. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was one of the most popular wartime era songs, and 100 years ago the sound of cellist Beatrice Harrison duetting live with a nightingale on the airwaves became a defining moment in the early history of the BBC.
Bedfordshire is one of the most intensively farmed counties in the UK. Just 1.2% of the county is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).