The unique Bainton Heath nature reserve is to be managed by Langdyke Countryside Trust for at least another ten years.
A new lease has been signed with landowner National Grid.
Trustee Chris Topper, who oversees work on the reserve, said: “With the lease renewed for another ten years we are looking forward to working with National Grid’s conservation team to continue to improve the reserve.”
Sadly there is no public access to the site. Visits are arranged by the Trust for members from time to time.
The site was a former tip for waste fly ash from power stations in the north of England, but has since been colonised by a fascinating variety of flowers, mosses, lichens, insects and birds.
It also hosts strong breeding populations of summer migrants, including chiffchaff, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, and willow, sedge, reed and grasshopper warblers. Cuckoos call from the trees and hobbies hunt overhead.
Chris Topper reported in the Trust’s Winter newsletter that recent moth trapping sessions undertaken at Bainton have resulted in 15 new species being added to invertebrate list which now stands at 1025, of which 155 are butterflies and moths.
He recorded thanks to Malcolm Hillier who has been inspirational in leading the mothing sessions and Stuart Irons for maintaining the invertebrate records which are staggering for such relatively small reserves.
If you are not a Langdyke member and would like to receive a copy of the newsletter – just one of a number of member benefits which also include free admission to events and activities – then please email membership@langdyke.org.uk