follow the country code and keep dogs on a lead. of the wildlife dependant upon this site. Please Please enjoy your visit and be sensitive to the needs weather. Stout footwear is advisable. are steep and slippery, and can be muddy in wet runs North- west through the reserve. Some places the Desborough to Stoke Albany footpath, which park to the East of reserve or alternatively, via Access to the reserve is by foot through Country Access Pipeline works recreational activities. and general cleaning up after dogs example simply by sensitive to nature, for increasingly important to be visitors to the site, it is With growing numbers of dependent on these conditions. make this site important are highly plants and insects to colonise. surface providing new areas for brings rocks and poor soils to the through a similar process that beneficial. The Plens was created term such ‘disturbances’ can often be destructive in the short term, however long of the nature reserve. This may appear to be highly required that a pipeline be buried through the centre The wildflowers and animals that New housing to the North of Desborough has Common spotted orchid and . Registered charity no: 1000412 The Wildlife Trust for , , We www.wildlifebcnp.org Through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme This site is supported by: E-mail: [email protected] T NN3 8BE Billing Lings, Northampton Lings House, The Wildlife Trust Reserves Manager contact: or other reserves in Northamptonshire, please If you would like more information about this reserve voluntary contributions. Peterborough. We are a charity dependent on Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and countryside for people to enjoy in Bedfordshire, Y More Information el: 01604 405285 our local Wildlife Trust protects wildlife and

hope you enjoy your visit Market Harborough Round Table No. 618

Photograph by Nathalie Hueber, illustrations by Mike Langman W Nature Reserve The Plens W W Nature Reserve Barford Meadow Nature Reserve Barford Meadow elcome to elcome to elcome to History The name ‘The Plens’ dates from the Nineteenth Tawny owl century and probably means that the land was at a time flat and ordinary. However quarrying and the creation of a railway line have resulted in a more varied topography and diverse habitat. Remains of a Stoke Albany railway track can still be seen along the bottom of the cutting, and near the entrance is a large concrete Pipewell block, which formed the loading bay. In 1966 the site was abandoned and allowed to become overgrown until 1986 when the Wildlife N Trust took over the management of the land. Scrub

Wildflowers and shrubs Dry grassland The reserve has a range of areas at different stages Other paths of colonisation by plants; grassland, tall herbs, Reserve boundary hawthorn scrub, and areas developing into woodland are all found on this site. Road

Desborough Public footpath The grassland is dominated by the grasses false- oat grass, and red fescue but also contains many wildflowers including wild basil, which is pollinated by bees, butterflies, and sanicle, hart’s tongue and dog’s mercury. Look out for moths, common spotted- orchid, Management Moschatel in the spring which with it’s small flowers vetches, and bird’s-foot-trefoil which on four faces of a stalk resembles a town hall clock, Without management the site would soon scrub over bears fruit pod resembling the long giving rise to its common name. and lose the interesting grassland plants and toes on a bird’s foot. The uncommon associated butterflies and mammals. The Trust grass vetchling also occurs here. This therefore carries out a scrub clearance programme species can be distinguished by 1 or Fauna in order to keep some areas as open grassland. In 2 brilliant crimson flowers on long The reserve contains a range of habitats of value to doing so, a complex matrix from short grass stalks, hence the name ‘crimson wildlife. As well as supporting a good invertebrate areas to patchy and dense areas shoe’, but is often difficult to find fauna, particularly noticeable the butterflies, the of scrub is created. In amongst the dense grass foliage reserve is home to many birds and mammals. There addition paths are kept which it prefers. Clearings in the are several rabbit warrens and voles can sometimes clear and steps have scrub are filled with dense growth be heard rustling through the undergrowth. The scrub been installed to of hogweed, rose-bay willowherb, is a good place for nesting birds, especially warblers. make access hedge woundwort which as the name Willow warblers and chiffchaff are regularly sighted. around the site suggests has healing properties. The Similar to warblers, chiffchaffs can be distinguished easier and safer. woodland areas contain ground-ivy, Greater knapweed by their song which gives rise to their name. Field vole