26 Jan 2024
A new initiative highlights a Harpenden nature reserve’s national importance and sets out a vision for its future development.
A management plan agreed by the town council for 2024 to 2027 aims to ensure Batford Springs Nature Reserve’s importance to biodiversity and wildlife is maintained and enhanced while conserving its historical aspects.
The plan also emphasises HTC’s commitment to establishing and sustaining ecological links with adjacent green spaces and its work to ensure that this scenic, open space also provides a safe, accessible and welcoming area to visitors.
The Reserve is an integral part of the River Lea ecological corridor and provides the opportunity for wildlife to thrive in a diverse and unique environment. It boasts a unique mosaic of habitats including its reed fen, wet woodland, ancient meadow and hedgerows but it is the rare, chalk fed stream that is both unique and carries huge ecological importance worldwide.
The UK is home to 85 per cent of the world’s 200 chalk streams: naturally clear, nutrient-rich waters which filters through chalk and supports an array of species, including aquatic vertebrates, small fish and amphibians, many of which would not thrive in polluted waters.
Used for watercress farming until 1950, the stream was left to deteriorate until 2012 when the Reserve was acquired by HTC and a programme of investment began to deal with the aged infrastructure and recover the dried up stream.
In 2021 the Town Council opened a new 216m boardwalk, foot bridge and reed fen allowing greater access to wet woodland and other parts of the Nature Reserve, while protecting sensitive habitats.
Cllr Eileen Washington, chair of HTC’s community services committee said “We are incredibly proud of Batford Springs Nature Reserve and our continued work to converse its diversity and ecological importance.
“It is vital that the area is carefully managed to ensure this important, beautiful open space continues to thrive. The town council’s management plan not only benefits the important habitats and wildlife but also the community it serves. The area is very popular and accessible to the public at all times; it is a joy to see people of all ages spending time here, enjoying its beauty.”
The management plan also includes plans to introduce water voles to the area. Once a common sight in UK streams and rivers these much-loved British mammals are sadly now absent across much of the country. Water voles play an important part of river ecosystems; their burrowing, feeding and movements create conditions for other animals and plants to thrive.
