Why is landscape-scale Unknown by many, beneath your feet the porous conservation important? greensand rocks store vital supplies of water which are then extracted for use by people, whilst The varied geology of the Ridge has created a core areas for biodiversity are still vital they cannot woodland and farmland management provide distinctive mosaic of habitats and land uses. conserve wildlife into the future. There is a need to essential habitats for wildlife and provide valuable However, this character has been eroded over time enable species to move across the landscape and timber and food supplies. Wetlands help clean by changes in agricultural and forestry practices find new places as the climate changes. and filter water, whilst trees reduce the sights and and the impact of people. Although core biodiversity hotspots still exist, they have become The NIA still has rich wildlife sites with many sounds of roads, railways and towns. increasingly smaller and more fragmented. Small opportunities to expand, buffer and connect The isolated populations are more vulnerable to local them across the landscape. Its designation as an To find out more about the NIA, or to join in with extinction than larger, well-connected ones. If sites NIA means that together we can focus on making this exciting initiative, I encourage you to contact are larger or connected to other sites in the vicinity, this happen. species extinctions are less likely to occur. The one of the lead partners. findings from the Lawton Report:Making Space for Nature Nature recognise that the required step-change for Professor Paul Leinster CBE nature is only possible if wildlife is connected on a Chairman, Bedfordshire Local Nature Partnership landscape scale. Whilst nature reserves and other Improvement Area

Why is the Greensand Ridge so important?

Wander into one of the Greensand Ridge ancient woodlands on a sunny day in late April and you’ll encounter bright blue drifts of bluebells. Listen closely and you might hear the insistent buzz of bees and hoverflies, and the songs of woodland birds freshly arrived from winters spent far to the south. Woodlands are a special feature of the NIA, which also supports an intimate mosaic of flower rich meadows, acid grasslands and heathland. At Woburn the magnificent parkland supports ancient trees, extensive grasslands and some of the only major lakes in the area. Green tiger beetle An Introduction This is one of the few places in Central England where thin, sandy soils support lowland heathland The steep scarp slopes to the north of the Ridge Bedfordshire and acid grassland. Visit one of these special places contrast with the gently-folded slopes to the south. Cambridgeshire in summer and your eye is sure to be caught by the All along the shallow valleys small seepages and Northamptonshire vibrant colours of sand wasps and green tiger springs feed streams which carry acidic water down beetles. In recent years major effort has gone into to the valley of the River Flit. In the valley the river, UK Headquarters, The Wildlife Trust for The Working Woodland Centre, Central Bedfordshire Council The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire Maulden Wood, Haynes West Priory House, Monks Walk, restoring and expanding heathland and if you’re lined by pollard willows and small patches of Bedfordshire SG19 2DL and Northamptonshire End, Bedfordshire MK45 3QT Chicksands, Shefford Tel: 01767 680551 The Manor House, Tel: 01234 743666 Bedfordshire SG17 5TQ lucky you may encounter tree pipits, woodlarks or swampy woodland, meanders through Flitwick Broad Street, rspb.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0300 300 8301 even nightjars. Moor, a unique peatland of national significance. Great Cambourne, greensandtrust.org The RSPB is a registered Cambridge CB23 6DH centralbedfordshire.gov.uk In summer the wetlands teem with bees and charity in England and wildlifebcn.org Registered charity no. 1077055 Wales 207076, in Scotland dragonflies, whilst in winter noisy flocks of siskins SC037654. Registered in England : 2534145. Registered Charity and redpolls hunt through the tops of the alder trees. No. 1000412

Images: all images by Gwen Hitchcock. The production of this leaflet has been funded by Central Bedfordshire Council, as part of their support for the development of the Greensand Ridge Nature Improvement Area project. LGE-1259-13-14 A6 A421 A428 A1 Bedford

Sandy A509 A422 Why is landscape-scale M1 Key conservation important? Biggleswade Greensand Ridge boundary The varied geology of the Ridge has created a core areas for biodiversity are still vital they cannot A421 Bedfordshire distinctive mosaic of habitats and land uses. conserve wildlife into the future. There is a need to County However, this character has been eroded over time enable species to move across the landscape and Milton Shefford boundary by changes in agricultural and forestry practices find new places as the climate changes. Keynes A507 A5 Amphill and the impact of people. Although core A507 biodiversity hotspots still exist, they have become The NIA still has rich wildlife sites with many Flitwick increasingly smaller and more fragmented. Small opportunities to expand, buffer and connect isolated populations are more vulnerable to local them across the landscape. Its designation as an A421 extinction than larger, well-connected ones. If sites NIA means that together we can focus on making A4012 Letchworth are larger or connected to other sites in the vicinity, this happen. species extinctions are less likely to occur. The Hitchin findings from the Lawton Report:Making Space for Nature recognise that the required step-change for

A1M nature is only possible if wildlife is connected on a

A6 landscape scale. Whilst nature reserves and other A4146 Leighton M1 0 5 Buzzard Stevenage A5 Luton kilometeres

Why is the Greensand Ridge What is the so important?

Wander into one of the Greensand Ridge ancient Greensand Ridge? woodlands on a sunny day in late April and you’ll encounter bright blue drifts of bluebells. Listen closely and you might hear the insistent buzz of “ The historic and biologically distinctive The Greensand Ridge is a distinctive “island” of bees and hoverflies, and the songs of woodland Greensand Ridge ‘Nature Improvement significantly wooded sands and sandstone that birds freshly arrived from winters spent far to the Area’ or NIA is an excellent opportunity for rises prominently above the surrounding clay vales. south. Woodlands are a special feature of the NIA, With a toehold in both Buckinghamshire and which also supports an intimate mosaic of flower landscape-scale conservation to make a big Cambridgeshire, and stretching over 45 km, the rich meadows, acid grasslands and heathland. At difference in an area on the doorstep of vast majority of the 273 km2 of this attractive Woburn the magnificent parkland supports ancient millions of people. The seeds are being landscape is in Bedfordshire. trees, extensive grasslands and some of the only sown for conservation organisations, major lakes in the area. Green tiger beetle public authorities, private individuals and Historically considered “marginal” much of the area companies to work together to protect was owned by monastic institutions. Following the This is one of the few places in Central England

Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th Century where thin, sandy soils support lowland heathland The steep scarp slopes to the north of the Ridge

and enhance this wonderful area for “ the lands became the estates of aristocrats. Their and acid grassland. Visit one of these special places contrast with the gently-folded slopes to the south. future generations. I wish the partnership influence remains to the present day, with large in summer and your eye is sure to be caught by the All along the shallow valleys small seepages and every success. country estates preserving parkland landscapes, vibrant colours of sand wasps and green tiger springs feed streams which carry acidic water down while significant areas have been planted with beetles. In recent years major effort has gone into to the valley of the River Flit. In the valley the river, Baroness Young of Old Scone conifers in recent centuries. In places, the sand is restoring and expanding heathland and if you’re lined by pollard willows and small patches of President of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, overlain by large areas of impervious boulder clay, lucky you may encounter tree pipits, woodlarks or swampy woodland, meanders through Flitwick Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. which made farming difficult and large ancient even nightjars. Moor, a unique peatland of national significance. woodlands survive here. Elsewhere, the extensive In summer the wetlands teem with bees and grazing of heaths had disappeared by the early 20th dragonflies, whilst in winter noisy flocks of siskins Century, with just a scattering of core heathland and and redpolls hunt through the tops of the alder trees. acid grassland areas now remaining. A6 A421 A428 A1 Bedford

Sandy A509 A422 Challenges and Taking the NIA M1 Key Biggleswade Greensand Opportunities forward Ridge boundary

A421 Bedfordshire There are many opportunities for the lead NIA County Ensuring growth and development Protecting farmland birds partners, along with the local authorities, Milton Shefford boundary have a net beneficial effect Towards the centre and eastern end of the NIA businesses, companies and others across the Keynes A507 A5 Amphill The geographical location of the NIA, with Milton productive arable farming dominates the rolling area – to co-ordinate promotion and develop A507 Keynes, Bedford and Luton within a few miles, countryside. The area still supports populations of better public awareness of the wonderful places Flitwick means there will always be growth and development skylarks, grey partridges and corn buntings, joined across the NIA. pressure. It is important that developers, planners in summer by yellow wagtails. Yellowhammers A421 and other key decision makers are aware of how and linnets can still be found in hedges and field The lead partners have committed to working A4012 Letchworth important and fragile the Ridge and its habitats are. margins and all benefit from a range of measures together with others to achieve a real and lasting Development should not prejudice either current or introduced by landowners and farmers to ensure difference to the habitats, species and landscape Hitchin future ecological networks, but should contribute to food, shelter and safe breeding sites remain for of the NIA. Our main objectives are to: their future. these iconic farmland species. Bloody nosed beetle

A1M † Strengthen the ecological networks of the NIA

A6 in line with Biodiversity Action Plans for the A4146 Leighton M1 0 5 Integrating recreation and nature Life after minerals key habitats through improving, enhancing Buzzard Stevenage A5 Luton and buffering existing sites and working with kilometeres conservation Quarrying continues to significantly impact the landowners and managers to “join the dots” The well-wooded, mature and attractive landscape landscape of the NIA, particularly at its eastern in the wider countryside; of the NIA contains a network of places to visit, and western extremities. There are some exciting such as Rushmere Country Park, the RSPB’s nature opportunities to enhance the network of important † Bring invasive and non-native species reserve at The Lodge near Sandy, and the popular wildlife sites in collaboration with both local populations under control where these pose Greensand Ridge Walk running right through it. planning authorities and aggregate companies. a threat to important species or habitats; Events programmes offer a range of walks, visits With careful planning and design of after-use, What is the and activities for all the family. Giving people the important new habitats can be created and linked † Achieve “Good” ecological status for the rivers opportunity to experience wildlife in “their own to existing networks. and streams within the NIA, working with the Marsh woundwort back yard” is vital to ensuring it is valued and Environment Agency and others through protected. But the recreational pressures Catchment Partnerships; Greensand Ridge? experienced within the NIA mean that small and Green economy isolated wildlife populations are placed under † Enhance public awareness of the NIA, its additional pressure. It is vital that those managing With renewable energy becoming increasingly biodiversity and the wider benefits it brings; “ The historic and biologically distinctive The Greensand Ridge is a distinctive “island” of recreation work closely with those seeking to important, there may be opportunities to enhance Greensand Ridge ‘Nature Improvement significantly wooded sands and sandstone that conserve and enhance the natural environment. the natural environment. More woodland could be † Provide opportunities for people to access and Area’ or NIA is an excellent opportunity for rises prominently above the surrounding clay vales. planted to provide woodfuel and materials, while experience the best the NIA has to offer in With a toehold in both Buckinghamshire and solar farms potentially offer the opportunity to create terms of its wildlife, habitats and landscape, landscape-scale conservation to make a big Cambridgeshire, and stretching over 45 km, the Creating habitat networks within and link areas of habitat, such as acid grassland. in a sympathetic and sustainable way; difference in an area on the doorstep of vast majority of the 273 km2 of this attractive thriving agriculture and forestry millions of people. The seeds are being landscape is in Bedfordshire. † Ensure that growth and development in and sown for conservation organisations, Forestry and agriculture remain significant and Climate change adaptation around the NIA makes a real and lasting Common darter public authorities, private individuals and Historically considered “marginal” much of the area important land uses, and only by working closely contribution, supporting, valuing and benefiting companies to work together to protect was owned by monastic institutions. Following the with foresters and farmers collectively at a The process of climate change will pose challenges the natural environment and achieving a net gain

Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th Century landscape scale, identifying and creating for a range of species and habitats across the NIA. in biodiversity by 2020.

and enhance this wonderful area for “ the lands became the estates of aristocrats. Their opportunities to link up and enhance important As the climate changes the need to consider nature future generations. I wish the partnership influence remains to the present day, with large habitats, will we be successful in achieving a true on a larger scale becomes ever more important. every success. country estates preserving parkland landscapes, step-change in nature conservation within the NIA. Individual sites may alter dramatically and there is a while significant areas have been planted with need to allow species to move across the landscape Baroness Young of Old Scone conifers in recent centuries. In places, the sand is so that they can find new places where there are the President of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, overlain by large areas of impervious boulder clay, correct conditions for them to flourish. Increasing Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. which made farming difficult and large ancient Natterjack toad and linking up fragile and fragmented habitats, such woodlands survive here. Elsewhere, the extensive as heathland, across the NIA will create larger areas grazing of heaths had disappeared by the early 20th for nature and will provide benefits to people, from Century, with just a scattering of core heathland and increased access to a richer countryside. acid grassland areas now remaining.