British White cattle graze the hay meadows at Winnall Moors
Focus on...
Winnall Moors
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STEVE PAGE
Ragged robin grows on the wetter parts of the site
together they form an expansive network for nature. Animals can move safely between habitats as they look for food, breeding space and shelter. A rich history Winnall Moors is a real jewel in the city’s crown, and 2021 marks 40 years since it became a nature reserve. Its journey began in 1958 when Iris and George Whitfield bought the farm and much of the land that today makes up the nature reserve. Iris was unconventional, recognising the value of wildlife on her land and rejecting many of the pesticides and chemicals that were becoming widespread at the time. By continuing with the traditional practice of haymaking and grazing with livestock, she safeguarded the site’s rare fen meadows. Over the years, the Whitfield family sold land to the Trust to manage, with additional areas bought by the Trust through the support of our members. Sections are also owned by Winchester City Council and managed by the Trust. The Council’s land was initially bought to house a ring road, which thankfully did not go ahead. The thousands of visitors and abundance of wildlife that use and value the nature reserve today
are testament to how important this place is. Much of the nature reserve is kept as a sanctuary for wildlife, so the public footpaths are restricted to the south of the site and the edges. Winnall Moors contains chalk streams, wet woodland, fen meadow, pasture and reedbed, all of which need different management approaches. It is this mosaic of habitats that led to its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Rachel Remnant has been Reserves Officer on the site for 12 years, so she knows the habitats and wildlife well. Previous wardens and others involved with the site in the last 40 years have passed on their knowledge to help her look after this dynamic wetland.
STEVE PAGE
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ature thrives at Winnall Moors Nature Reserve in the heart of Winchester, but finding a balance that works for people and wildlife isn’t always an easy task. The Winchester nature reserves of St Catherine’s Hill, Barton Meadows, Deacon Hill and Winnall Moors, and the water meadows at St Faith’s and St Cross are all managed by the Trust. These areas reach into the urban fringes of Winchester, providing residents and visitors with places to experience wildlife and get outdoors. Most importantly, the nature reserves create vital homes for wildlife, and
Treasured meadows The nature reserve contains the largest fragment of best condition fen meadow in Hampshire and is the only meadow in the upper Itchen Valley that is still cut for hay. This habitat was once common but much of it has been lost through drainage, intensive agriculture and development. Many rare wildflowers are restricted to these damp areas, including the beautiful southern marsh orchid. The traditional
Wild Life | Summer 2021
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