An introduction to the site

Christ’s College Pits is made up of  22 acres (8.9 hectares) of restored gravel pits, surrounded by new planting of native trees and shrubs. 

It lies on the northern boundary of Helpston parish with Maxey just across the adjacent Maxey Cut, a key flood defence channel that protects the settlements of the Deepings. 

Helpston  lies half a mile to the south, a short walk or bike ride along the road; while Maxey can be reached through footpaths along the Cut and then up Woodgate Lane. Etton is also a short walk away.

Prior to gravel extraction in the early 2000s the land was arable and would have been farmed as such for many years.  Historically, however, it was part of the much larger Westings Meadow, an area of damp meadows and marshland that was a vital source of grazing for the adjacent villages and would have been rich in biodiversity.  

The Helpston-born poet John Clare would have known the area well and it is probable he would have been describing the area in such poems as The Mores and  The Snipe.

The boundaries of the land are formed by the road between Helpston and Maxey; by the south bank of the Maxey Cut to the north – which has a well-used footpath along the top – currently offering views over the entire site; and by a public footpath to the east.  A public footpath along South Drain enables viewing from the south. 

As a result of gravel extraction and subsequent restoration the land now comprises two large water-filled  pits providing feeding habitat for ducks and wading birds. 

The surrounding land has been planted with native species, including wayfaring tree, ash, willow and guelder rose.  Although the planting is extensive there are also open areas of grassland with populations of wildflowers.

Three large, ancient oaks sit along the southern boundary. There is a small area of woodland on the northern boundary with the Cut and the shelter belt along the western boundary.

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About Langdyke

The Langdyke Countryside Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and a charity registered in England and Wales, 1180626. It has 216 household members, each paying an annual subscription to support the charity’s work.  It has more than 60 active volunteers, supporting its conservation activities (it holds two weekly work parties) governance, administration, events and community engagement. 

The Trust owns or manages eight reserves in the countryside between Peterborough and Stamford.  More details on the website here

As well as the development of its own reserves, a key part of the Trust’s work  in recent years has been the launch of the John Clare Countryside Vision, www.johnclarecountryside.co.uk a landscape scale programme of nature recovery, which sits within the framework of the overall vision to Double Nature, created by Natural Cambridgeshire, the local nature partnership – https://naturalcambridgeshire.org.uk/priority-landscapes 

Of particular relevance to the future of Christ’s College Pits are the Trust’s existing reserves at Etton Maxey Pits, High Meadow and Vergette Wood Meadow.   The Trust has also recently entered into agreements with landowners between these reserves and Christ’s College Pits in order to manage two other areas for nature which would link Christ’s Pits to Vergette High Meadow, creating a block of land under management for nature and for people from the road between Helpston and Maxey to the road between Etton and Maxey.