Castor Hanglands
National Nature Reserve
In an area of less than 90 hectares, Castor Hanglands contains a remarkable variety of plant and animal life. The Reserve has four distinct habitats - woodland, scrub, grassland and wetland, which are closely intermingled.
Entering the hanglands from the Ailsworth-Helpston roadGrassland
The areas of open grassland on the reserve are known locally as "heath". This is common land which for several hundred years was grazed by sheep and cattle belonging to villagers from the Parish of Ailsworth. This traditional management allowed numerous grasses and wild flowers to flourish on ground that has never been chemically sprayed or re-seeded.
Common grazing had ended by the 1930's and today's management seeks to re-create those conditions. Much of the heath is grazed by sheep in the autumn, removing the dense growth of grasses and allowing the more delicate wildflowers to survive. Plants such as rock-rose, man-orchid, purple milk-vetch and adder's tongue fern benefit under these conditions. Elsewhere the heath is cut for hay whilst some areas are grazed more lightly by cattle to produce a patchwork of short turf, longer grass and small shrubs.
Adders tongue fern
Pond and wetlands
In some parts of the reserve the water table is only just below ground level, leaving the land boggy and waterlogged for much of the year. This marshy ground or wetland has its own special flora including marsh orchids, water mint, marsh marigold and fleabane.
Within the wetland several ponds have been dug over the years, in addition to the main pond which dates from medieval times. These ponds provide an ideal habitat for many aquatic plants and invertebrates. Eighteen species of dragonfly have been recorded, as well as all three British newts. In early spring the main pond sees a gathering of several thousand common toads.
Great crested newt
Scrub
Scrub habitat is a mixture of low shrubs, bushes and young trees which may be in scattered groups or dense, impenetrable thickets.
Species like hawthorn, blackthorn, wild privet, wild rose and guelder rose provide both shelter and a range of fruits and flowers throughout the year. This is an excellent nesting and feeding habitat for birds. In most years nightingale, whitethroat, garden warbler, grasshopper warbler, long-eared owls and many other species breed on the reserve.
WhitethroatThe scrub also supports numerous insects. Best know of these is the rare black hairstreak butterfly. The caterpillar feeds on blackthorn leaves and the adult butterfly is seen only occasionally on very warm still days in late June.
Black hairstreak
Woodlands
The woodland at Castor Hangland is a relic of the historic hunting forest of Nassaburgh which has covered this area for at least 1,000 years. Ancient woodland such as this is especially rich in plant and animal species.
About 40 years ago nearly all the large trees here were felled for timber. In the reserve the native oak, ash, field maple and birch trees have been allowed to regrow. Amongst them are rarer trees such as wild service, and shrubs like hazel, dogwood and spindle. In spring the woodland flora includes a colourful mixture of bluebell, wood anemone, primrose, violet, wild strawberry and other plants.
Large numbers of fallow deer may be seen here. Browsing by the deer damages shrub growth and kills new tree seedlings. Certain parts of the woodlands are now enclosed by electric or wire fencing to keep the deer out and allow the shrubs and saplings to survive and form a dense understorey within the woodland.
English Nature
English Nature looks after Castor Hanglands and Ailsworth Heath, one of the most important Nature Reserves in the Country. For further information on this and other National Nature Reserves, contact English Nature, Ham Lane House, Ham Lane, Orton Waterville, Peterborough PE2 5UR Telephone (01733) 391100
The reserve is open to the public all year round. Access is on foot only, via the bridleway off the Ailsworth-Helpston road..
