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29/03/2008 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FARMER GIFTS A WILDFLOWER MEADOW
	Retired farmer, Mr Eric Standen of Yarwell near Oundle, is a lifelong supporter of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough. He wanted the meadow to be restored and preserved to benefit wildlife. The Wildlife Trust is preparing the new nature reserve with a grant of £4,800 from the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP). Standen’s Pasture, as it is now known, is a key location for the Trust, lying between 2 important nature reserves. It adjacent to Wansford Pasture Site of Scientific Interest, a species-rich remnant of limestone grassland, and only 2 fields away from Old Sulehay nature reserve, a fragment of the ancient Rockingham Forest and one of the Trust’s largest reserves in Northamptonshire. This puts Standen’s Pasture in a strategic location for one of the Trust’s key objectives to expand and link reserves. These large area reserves will provide lots of linked habitats for species to move within and adapt to forthcoming changes in climate. Historically, the meadow used to grow arable crops like wheat, and was recently grazed by horses and cattle. Species-rich neutral grassland like this is a rare habitat in Northants and across in the UK. With careful management and monitoring by Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers, the pasture can be restored to benefit many species, such as Bladder Campion, Common Spotted Orchid, invertebrates, such as dragonflies and birds, such as warblers. It will be exciting to observe which species colonise under optimum conditions, maybe even some rarities will return, such as skylarks! As the site is now officially a Wildlife Trust nature reserve, visitors will be able to explore it for the first time. Four local volunteers have already started improvements, and the Trust is keen for more people to help care for the reserve. Thanks to the RNRP grant, volunteers will be given training and protective equipment and will develop skills and experience in conservation management. A new welcome board will be also be designed and installed to welcome visitors. Jane Pearman, Reserves Manager, said “This is a wonderful gift from a local landowner and we are very grateful to Mr Standen. The pasture is a key site for the Trust as it will form a green corridor for wildlife between two special nature reserves. It’s great to get a grant from RNRP to harness the enthusiasm of local people to restore the meadow”. Mr Standen said, “I’m very familiar with the local countryside and used to enjoy walking around looking for wildlife in the early mornings. I’m delighted that the Wildlife Trust will care for this meadow to benefit wildlife and local people”. If you are interested to find out more about Standen’s Pasure or other Wildlife Trust nature reserves in the north of the county, or how you can get involved in the work of the Trust please visit the Wildlife Trust website

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