Local Nature Reserve
Icknield Ways and the Chilterns. the and Ways Icknield Local Nature Reserve
Contact CMS for more information more for CMS Contact
Footpath links with Hambridge and Hambridge with links Footpath
Supported by Supported
for wheelchair users and the less mobile. less the and users wheelchair for Meet like-minded people like-minded Meet •
walks. Extensive surfaced paths suitable paths surfaced Extensive walks. Learn new skills skills new Learn •
www.hertsdirect.org/CMS Tel: 01462 459395 01462 Tel: www.hertsdirect.org/CMS
Enjoy a choice of River and Commons and River of choice a Enjoy Help maintain & improve the nature reserve reserve nature the improve & maintain Help • environment. For more information contact us at: at: us contact information more For environment.
Why Volunteer? Why communities in Hertfordshire to help them care for and enjoy the enjoy and for care them help to Hertfordshire in communities
The Countryside Management Service (CMS) works with works (CMS) Service Management Countryside The
01462 474000 01462 Tel:
www.north-herts.gov.uk
protection of the environment. Contact us at: us Contact environment. the of protection
to balance the need for sustainable development with the with development sustainable for need the balance to
managed by North Hertfordshire District Council. The Council seeks Council The Council. District Hertfordshire North by managed
Oughtonhead Common Local Nature Reserve is owned and owned is Reserve Nature Local Common Oughtonhead
Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or www.intalink.org.uk or 2233 200 0871 on Traveline
and Burford Way/Swinburne Ave. For travel details contact Intalink contact details travel For Ave. Way/Swinburne Burford and
By Public Transport: Public By Nearest bus stops are on Bedford Rd Bedford on are stops bus Nearest
Path clearance Path • the site via Redhill Rd/Oughtonhead Lane but parking is limited. is parking but Lane Rd/Oughtonhead Redhill via site the
Gate and seat installation seat and Gate • at Swinburne Ave playing fields car park. Access also available to available also Access park. car fields playing Ave Swinburne at
Burford Way which runs into Swinburne Ave. Parking is available is Parking Ave. Swinburne into runs which Way Burford Wet ditch and river bank maintenance bank river and ditch Wet •
Bedford. Approximately 1 mile from the town centre turn left into left turn centre town the from mile 1 Approximately Bedford.
Hedgelaying and hedgerow planting planting hedgerow and Hedgelaying •
By Road: By From the centre of Hitchin follow the A600 towards A600 the follow Hitchin of centre the From and add to diversity of habitat of diversity to add and
Produced byFitzpatrickWoolmerDesign-01634711771
Coppicing scrub to encourage re-growth encourage to scrub Coppicing •
0.5 miles (approx) miles 0.5
2
A
0 5
6
0
6
5 5
To Luton To A 6
tasks includes: tasks
B
Stevenage
O
F
F
To A1(M) & A1(M) To L
and make it welcoming for visitors. Typical management Typical visitors. for welcoming it make and
E
Y
2
R A D O
Bus Stop Bus 0
=
6
in the best condition, attract a diversity of wildlife wildlife of diversity a attract condition, best the in
A P
Car Park Car
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O
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regularly to carry out conservation tasks to: keep the site site the keep to: tasks conservation out carry to regularly
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2 miles of the centre of Hitchin of centre the of miles 2 D
Friends of Oughtonhead Common Oughtonhead of Friends The get together get
REDHILL ROAD REDHILL
A
5
A 5
5
0
5 O SWINBURNE AVENUE AVENUE SWINBURNE 6
B
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ancient grazing Common within Common grazing ancient Volunteering Opportunities: Volunteering
A
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• Hitchin • 5
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5 •
P
O
To Barton To D
F •
A Unwind in the tranquillity of this of tranquillity the in Unwind B
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Oughtonhead
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To Bedford To Oughtonhead How to get there get to How
Oughtonhead Common HITCHIN
Welcome to Oughtonhead Common The Reed and Sedge Beds: These are permanently wet Hedgerows and Bushes: Mainly around Local Nature Reserve. areas, except in the driest of summers. Frogs may start the edge of the Common, these provide mating as early as February but by March frog spawn and important food and shelter The site, to the west of Hitchin (see directions map), hatched tadpoles will be present. In summer they are alive for wildlife. In spring comprises the Grazing Common and the River Oughton with bird activity with Reed and Sedge Warblers Blackthorn, Hawthorn and running along its northern edge. nesting here. Elder provide a profusion of • A surfaced path follows the river and provides white blossom to be the River Walk. Wet Grassland and Wet Ditches: followed by late summer • The Commons Walk follows a grassy path around the These wet areas are what most of and autumn fruit. edge of the Common (see centre map page for full the Common used to be like. Male Orange Tip Along with Buckthorn description of these walks). Plants, like the delicate Ladies and Ivy berries, these attract many winter birds to the Ladies Smock Smock flowering in early spring What you might see in different parts of the site: Common including Fieldfare and Redwing. In early spring, and the Southern Marsh Orchid flowering in early summer, bright yellow Lesser Celandine flowers under the The River: The clear waters prefer these wetter areas. In summer bare bushes taking arise from chalk springs you may see various species of advantage of plentiful running out of the Chiltern Dragonfly and Damselfly and the sunlight. Spring butterflies Hills to the west. The river has colourful Burnet Moth which include Orange Tip, the yellow a rich plant community which Water Crowfoot often feeds on the flowers of Brimstone and Speckled Wood thrives in the pure water. Summer Marsh Thistle. Throughout which prefers the dappled shade flowering and one of the most attractive is the year you should see English around the Common’s edges. Stream Water Crowfoot, a relative of Longhorn cattle grazing in Speckled Wood the buttercup. Woven fences have the grassland. Woodland: Trees around the site and Burnet Moth been erected in some places woodland to the north of the river are along the river bank to protect Dry Grassland: In winter, large flocks of Finches feed on seed home to many birds. In early spring these plants, which can easily in the grassland and adjacent farmland. In summer, the Chiffchaff, a bird that sings its be damaged by dogs. At any wildflowers attract many grassland species of butterfly such name, will be heard setting up its time of the year, if you are as Meadow Brown and Ringlet and you may hear a Green territory and Great Spotted quiet, you may see a flash of Woodpecker with its unmistakable “yaffle”. Woodpecker can often be seen or turquoise as a Kingfisher heard in the tops of trees darts by. Photos courtesy of Terry Cavner, Gert Ellstrom, drumming for insects. Kingfisher Phil Lumley, Nick Upton and N. Herts Museum Service. Great Spotted Woodpecker
Local Nature Reserve
Icknield Ways and the Chilterns. the and Ways Icknield Local Nature Reserve
Contact CMS for more information more for CMS Contact
Footpath links with Hambridge and Hambridge with links Footpath
Supported by Supported
for wheelchair users and the less mobile. less the and users wheelchair for Meet like-minded people like-minded Meet •
walks. Extensive surfaced paths suitable paths surfaced Extensive walks. Learn new skills skills new Learn •
www.hertsdirect.org/CMS Tel: 01462 459395 01462 Tel: www.hertsdirect.org/CMS
Enjoy a choice of River and Commons and River of choice a Enjoy Help maintain & improve the nature reserve reserve nature the improve & maintain Help • environment. For more information contact us at: at: us contact information more For environment.
Why Volunteer? Why communities in Hertfordshire to help them care for and enjoy the enjoy and for care them help to Hertfordshire in communities
The Countryside Management Service (CMS) works with works (CMS) Service Management Countryside The
01462 474000 01462 Tel:
www.north-herts.gov.uk
protection of the environment. Contact us at: us Contact environment. the of protection
to balance the need for sustainable development with the with development sustainable for need the balance to
managed by North Hertfordshire District Council. The Council seeks Council The Council. District Hertfordshire North by managed
Oughtonhead Common Local Nature Reserve is owned and owned is Reserve Nature Local Common Oughtonhead
Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or www.intalink.org.uk or 2233 200 0871 on Traveline
and Burford Way/Swinburne Ave. For travel details contact Intalink contact details travel For Ave. Way/Swinburne Burford and
By Public Transport: Public By Nearest bus stops are on Bedford Rd Bedford on are stops bus Nearest
Path clearance Path • the site via Redhill Rd/Oughtonhead Lane but parking is limited. is parking but Lane Rd/Oughtonhead Redhill via site the
Gate and seat installation seat and Gate • at Swinburne Ave playing fields car park. Access also available to available also Access park. car fields playing Ave Swinburne at
Burford Way which runs into Swinburne Ave. Parking is available is Parking Ave. Swinburne into runs which Way Burford Wet ditch and river bank maintenance bank river and ditch Wet •
Bedford. Approximately 1 mile from the town centre turn left into left turn centre town the from mile 1 Approximately Bedford.
Hedgelaying and hedgerow planting planting hedgerow and Hedgelaying •
By Road: By From the centre of Hitchin follow the A600 towards A600 the follow Hitchin of centre the From and add to diversity of habitat of diversity to add and
Produced byFitzpatrickWoolmerDesign-01634711771
Coppicing scrub to encourage re-growth encourage to scrub Coppicing •
0.5 miles (approx) miles 0.5
2
A
0 5
6
0
6
5 5
To Luton To A 6
tasks includes: tasks
B
Stevenage
O
F
F
To A1(M) & A1(M) To L
and make it welcoming for visitors. Typical management Typical visitors. for welcoming it make and
E
Y
2
R A D O
Bus Stop Bus 0
=
6
in the best condition, attract a diversity of wildlife wildlife of diversity a attract condition, best the in
A P
Car Park Car
D
A
O
R
N
O
T Key
R
I
regularly to carry out conservation tasks to: keep the site site the keep to: tasks conservation out carry to regularly
P
2 miles of the centre of Hitchin of centre the of miles 2 D
get together get Common Oughtonhead of Friends The
REDHILL ROAD REDHILL
A
5
A 5
5
0
5 O SWINBURNE AVENUE AVENUE SWINBURNE 6
B
R
ancient grazing Common within Common grazing ancient Volunteering Opportunities: Volunteering
A
D •
• Hitchin • 5
R 0
5 •
P
O
To Barton To D
F •
A Unwind in the tranquillity of this of tranquillity the in Unwind B
D U O R
F
R
E O
R
D
B W
N A
Y Common
O
W
T
E
=
S
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R
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I
I
L
L
Oughtonhead
L
P
A
N
E
0
HITCHIN 0
• Ickleford • 6
A • Pirton •
Common
N
To Bedford To Oughtonhead How to get there get to How
Oughtonhead Common HITCHIN
Welcome to Oughtonhead Common The Reed and Sedge Beds: These are permanently wet Hedgerows and Bushes: Mainly around Local Nature Reserve. areas, except in the driest of summers. Frogs may start the edge of the Common, these provide mating as early as February but by March frog spawn and important food and shelter The site, to the west of Hitchin (see directions map), hatched tadpoles will be present. In summer they are alive for wildlife. In spring comprises the Grazing Common and the River Oughton with bird activity with Reed and Sedge Warblers Blackthorn, Hawthorn and running along its northern edge. nesting here. Elder provide a profusion of • A surfaced path follows the river and provides white blossom to be the River Walk. Wet Grassland and Wet Ditches: followed by late summer • The Commons Walk follows a grassy path around the These wet areas are what most of and autumn fruit. edge of the Common (see centre map page for full the Common used to be like. Male Orange Tip Along with Buckthorn description of these walks). Plants, like the delicate Ladies and Ivy berries, these attract many winter birds to the Ladies Smock Smock flowering in early spring What you might see in different parts of the site: Common including Fieldfare and Redwing. In early spring, and the Southern Marsh Orchid flowering in early summer, bright yellow Lesser Celandine flowers under the The River: The clear waters prefer these wetter areas. In summer bare bushes taking arise from chalk springs you may see various species of advantage of plentiful running out of the Chiltern Dragonfly and Damselfly and the sunlight. Spring butterflies Hills to the west. The river has colourful Burnet Moth which include Orange Tip, the yellow a rich plant community which Water Crowfoot often feeds on the flowers of Brimstone and Speckled Wood thrives in the pure water. Summer Marsh Thistle. Throughout which prefers the dappled shade flowering and one of the most attractive is the year you should see English around the Common’s edges. Stream Water Crowfoot, a relative of Longhorn cattle grazing in Speckled Wood the buttercup. Woven fences have the grassland. Woodland: Trees around the site and Burnet Moth been erected in some places woodland to the north of the river are along the river bank to protect Dry Grassland: In winter, large flocks of Finches feed on seed home to many birds. In early spring these plants, which can easily in the grassland and adjacent farmland. In summer, the Chiffchaff, a bird that sings its be damaged by dogs. At any wildflowers attract many grassland species of butterfly such name, will be heard setting up its time of the year, if you are as Meadow Brown and Ringlet and you may hear a Green territory and Great Spotted quiet, you may see a flash of Woodpecker with its unmistakable “yaffle”. Woodpecker can often be seen or turquoise as a Kingfisher heard in the tops of trees darts by. Photos courtesy of Terry Cavner, Gert Ellstrom, drumming for insects. Kingfisher Phil Lumley, Nick Upton and N. Herts Museum Service. Great Spotted Woodpecker A working corn mill once The Ordnance Survey mapping included in this leaflet is provided by Hertfordshire County Industry and Agriculture. Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to provide stood at Westmill Farm (c1600 -c1900, see photo). information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice should they wish to license Ordnance Survey Creation of the deep, straight Mill Stream, which powered mapping for their own use. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council 100019606 2010. the mill, altered the course of the original river. North of To Westmill Lane, Icknield Way To Bedford the river is a wet area where willow, reed and rush were & Hambridge Way once grown and harvested. The area fell into neglect in Burford Ray River Oughton the 1920s when demand for these products dwindled. It is 1 now Oughtonhead Nature Reserve run by Herts & TheThe OldOld MillMill c1930.c1930. DestroyedDestroyed byby firefire 19601960 Old Westmill Farm Millstream Middlesex Wildlife Trust (not accessible to the public).
BEDFORD ROAD Burford Allotments 2
W E v e S e r T s M e IL L FORD WAY L BUR R A N Reed Beds E e
r Y D WA FOR u BUR To Hitchin t a N 3 Sedge d Beds a Grazing. The site was Wet Grassland
n originally a medieval “cow common”
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g Cattle Pond where Hitchin “commoners” grazed their cattle. Of
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r 4 e little use as agricultural land due to its wetness and winter iv R 6 flooding, this was one of the few uses the land could be put to. Oughtonhe Grazing Grazing maintained a rich diversity of plant and bird life for which the site Common was renowned in times past. The cessation of grazing (c1914) led to scrub & & 5 & invasion and threatened the grassland habitat. In 1996, grazing with
The Chalky & Car Park English Longhorn cattle was re-introduced, thus restoring an ancient To Swinburne Ave, English Longhorn grazing To The Springhead & Burford Way & tradition and controlling further scrub invasion. 500m & Pirton Road & Redhill Rd
&
&
&Swinburne Ave River Walk - Bedford Rd to The Chalky (2km). Surfaced Commons Walk - Long (1.5km); short (0.75km). Grassy Playing Fields
& path; suitable for all users. paths, can be slippery in winter.
& The path can be accessed from the Bedford Rd entrance or any of The path can be accessed from the River Walk, the Car Park at
& the three surfaced side-paths running off Burford Way. All have Swinburne Ave or from Redhill Rd via Oughtonhead Lane. Kissing
& kissing gate access suitable for wheelchairs (Westmill Lane has gate access is not suitable for wheelchairs.
& Beech access for large mobility vehicles (RADAR gate)). Dry Spinney 8 5 The path skirts around the three Grazing Compartments; English Grassland 7 At 1 note Alder trees with small cones and the arching stems of Longhorn cattle, an ancient breed, usually graze all year round. 6 Pendulous Sedge; both like wet conditions. 2 The overflow for the Take a short detour to view the Cattle Pond where toads and newts Mill Stream is known locally as “Hitchin Waterfall”. Here the river breed in the spring. Once back on the main path, a turning off to N divides for a while forming a small island. 3 Opening to the west is the left provides the short route back to the Car Park which passes the ancient Grazing Common, now grazed by English Longhorn between the Grazing Compartments. 7 The towering Beech trees in cattle. 4 Across the river is Oughtonhead Nature Reserve (not open The Spinney were planted in 1842 by the Lucas family who lived at 200 metres (approx) To The Springhead Oughtonhead Lane & Pirton Road leading to Redhill Road to the public) an area of wet woodland dominated by Alder and Old Westmill farmhouse. 8 This part of the site is the driest, the Silver Birch. The walk finishes at The Chalky a popular picnic site grassland here being very different from that nearer the river. but can be extended a further 500m to take in the Springhead, the However, springs are still active here, feeding a wet ditch system Key source of the River Oughton. running through the middle of the meadow. The walk ends when it meets the River Walk at 3. Surfaced Path Grazing compartment fence-line
River Walk/Restricted Byway (permitted Commons Walk users: pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, Please follow the Countryside Code: If you have a dog with you please keep it We hope you enjoy your visit. For more Contact CMS at The Old Dairy, Bedford horse-drawn carriages) Large mobility vehicle access gate (RADAR) • Be thoughtful to other users under control to avoid disturbing the information on this and other sites in Road, Ickleford, Hitchin, Herts SG5 3RR. • Take your litter home cattle and the birds, especially during the N. Herts and other walks in the area visit e-mail: [email protected] Wet Ditches Wheelchair Access • Leave the wildlife site as you found it. nesting season. Dog bins are provided at www.hertsdirect.org/CMS. tel: 01462 459395 most entrances to the site. Thank you.