Strawberry Hill - extraordinary rewilding in the local countryside

Just imagine discovering a magical wild place, the size of a whole farm, full of regenerating scrub and woodland and all the wildlife this supports. A unique oasis and vital wildlife haven in the wider agricultural landscape.

Strawberry Hill is a story of farmland rewilding free of human intervention for almost 40 years.

Megan Shersby from the Wildlife Trust will speak about how this transformation came about and why the Trust stepped in to buy this hidden gem of extraordinary biodiversity in the heart of North Bedfordshire. 

Expect stunning photographs and amazing statistics as she reveals the wealth of species now thriving at the site.

“hearing a nightingale for the first time – a truly memorable moment in nature”

It’s not just nightingales, although there were at least 30 territories in 2024, nor the other “specials” like turtle dove, cuckoo, or harvest mouse, but the overall abundance of “common” species particularly insects. Clouds of meadow brown and gatekeeper butterflies are a reminder of how meadows were before agricultural intensification.

Megan will tell us what the Trust plans for this new nature reserve. The challenges of habitat management to maintain the scrub mosaic and its species richness – introduce conservation grazing - allow areas of woodland development, create ponds and improve stream channels – the list is long. Plans too for creating visitor facilities so that in future one can experience areas of the site beyond the network of public footpaths.

For anyone familiar with our own Croft Close Nature Reserve this talk will be a fascinating look at another, albeit much bigger, rewilded site.

Doors open at 7pm.