Nature – Melwood

Nature

Melwood

Your Local Nature Reserve (designated)

Melbourn have an entrancing nature reserve at Stockbridge Meadows. However there is also a designated Local Nature Reserve just to the right of the footpath (No 6) leading alongside the River Mel to Topcliffe Mill in Meldreth. An introduction to the site is provided on an interpretation board (shown below) on the left of the footpath as you walk past the wood.

Comma Butterfly A Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is a protected area of land designated by a local authority because of its local special natural interest and/or educational value. This one is looked after by a group of volunteers following a management plan developed in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust.

Although a small wood (0.81 hectares, 2 acres) and Although a small wood (0.81 hectares, 2 acres) and comprising secondary (not ancient) trees it still has a surprising diversity of wild life and charming vistas that change with the seasons. There is an adjacent privately owned meadow which is also part of the LNR.

Amongst the rich range of animals visiting the wood are 15 species of mammals, 42 species of birds and a substantial total of 143 species of butterflies and moths – at the last count, but more are added every year. Full species lists can be found on the group website: www.melwood.btck.co.uk

Melwood Interpretation Board Nettle leaved bell flower

Welcome To Melwood Local Nature Reserve

Meadow Brown Butterfl y

What to look for

Animal visitors

A rich range of animals visit the wood including 15 species of mammals, 42 species of birds and a substantial total of 143 species of butterfl ies and moths. Melwood is a designated Local Nature Reserve consisting of a small area of managed woodland available for access by members of the community. Most of the Melwood area is owned by Cambridgeshire County Council and leased to Meldreth Parish Council.

The woodland on this bank of the river Mel, either side of Melwood, river Mel, either side of Melwood, is often owned by people who live is often owned by people who live on Meldreth High Street. It has on Meldreth High Street. It has therefore had a chequered history, therefore had a chequered history, some of it cultivated as vegetable gardens, some as orchards and some some of it cultivated as vegetable gardens, some as orchards and some as gardens. More recently much of the area has been left alone and an as gardens. More recently much of the area has been left alone and an assorted range of plants have developed, some introduced. assorted range of plants have developed, some introduced.

Caring for this nature reserve

The wood is managed by a group of local volunteers from the Melwood Conservation Group following a management plan developed with the Wildlife Trust. They also regularly check the area for litter and debris.

Tree management – Coppicing

Part of the site at the rear south end will be left to grow naturally. The front south west end has been coppiced to allow more light and encourage more fl oral ground cover. Tall Yews along the western boundary of the meadow have been were coppiced to form a hedge. The extra light will encourage more fl owers in the meadow. Seeding and introduction of young native plants compensates for the isolation of the site from local wild fl ower sources.

Meadow sunny side

Yew hedge

Tree to be Coppiced T e following Spring, shoots rapididly regrow from stool

Meadow

Meadow shaded side

Young tree area

Wooded area

Comma Butterfl y

Muntjac

Bluetit Banded Demoiselle

Common Morel Cut close to the base in Winter

Honey Fungus

Broad-bodied Chaser

Trees and Wild f owers

Twenty-six species of trees and bushes are present, including silver birch, ash, sycamore, beech and hawthorn. Thirty-nine species of other plants together with several fungal varieties have also been identifi ed and records are updated regularly. Nettle-leaved Bellfl ower

Meadow Geranium 7–20 years later the coppice ready for harvest

Speckled Wood Butterfl y

River Mel

The Mel river running to the west of the wood is one of only 161 chalk streams in the United Kingdom. It originates from springs at Melbourn Bury. Such streams tend to be very clear as they have been fi ltered through layers of chalk. Conservation has improved the water fl ow and the river now supports a larger population of invertebrates and hence trout have returned. The endangered water vole also lives in the banks and you may see a water shrew or a grass snake swimming in the river. If you are lucky you may spot a kingfi sher or grey wagtail fl ashing past or in the spring a troop of ducklings following their mother.

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Welcome to

Melbourn Hub offers a café with free Wi-Fi, a library access point and meeting rooms which can be used for leisure or business. We also offer a range of key community support services and aim to be a focus point for assistance and advice. Opening Hours Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 3pm

30 High Street Melbourn SG8 6DZ Telephone 01763 263303 reception@melbournhub.com

The Hub is run by the community, for the community, it is a centre with a difference. It is yours.

Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Green-veined white and Orange tip butterflies all fared well in 2014.

The management plan has compartmentalised the area so that, even with a wood of this size, there are areas with different characteristics: a meadow, a coppiced area, paths and a ‘wild’ stretch at the back.

The work party activities are varied ranging from felling large trees to clearing areas of nettles. There is a monthly rota for litter clearing and this has significantly reduced the amount of litter left on the site, including dog faeces.

An important task in late winter is clearing the several nesting boxes ready for the following year’s occupants. The timing of this task has changed as springs seem to be milder and birds are nesting earlier. It is encouraging that most boxes are used every year, although we have not yet had any success with the owl box, despite their “hoots” reverberating around the wood in the evening twilight. Maybe we need a ‘WOL’ sign as in Winne the Pooh!

In addition to wood management activities the group also organises community activities in the wood. Most years there is a bird walk in the spring with a local expert and over 40 calls have been identified on a single walk with a significant proportion of the birds also being spotted. One impressive sighting was of a buzzard on the fence at the edge of the field to the east.

In June there was a folk rock concert by the group Carnac with open mike poetry and compere: the singer song writer Tony Phillips of Cluzion. Tony also provided the environmentally friendly canopies through Greenstage (www.greenstage.uk) which supplies many local music festivals including Strawberry fair. However, this event was blessed with perfect weather and on a balmy June evening people spread out their blankets, poured their wine and settled in for a delightful three hours of relaxed entertainment.

If you are interested in finding out more about the group or contacting us please visit the website at melwood.btck.co.uk or phone Bruce Huett on 01763 232 855.treatment process, but sometimes pass through and end up in the river. It may say on the packet that these items are flushable, but in reality they are not – they readily combine with fat in the sewers and cause blockages, as recently witnessed on The Moor.

Time for relaxing!