Histon’s County Wildlife Site
Many who have spent time at Croft Close Set-aside will appreciate its excellence as a refuge for wildlife; not for nothing is it considered a jewel in our midst. That’s why we are pleased that its wildlife value has received external recognition through being awarded County Wildlife Site status.
What does this mean? A specialist from the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has independently assessed the Set-aside’s value to wildlife and determined that it meets the qualifying criteria.
In particular the 2.8 ha of scrub with its diversity of species was the standout feature as something really unusual in Cambridgeshire. The county has far more woodland than scrub although of course it has relatively little of either.
Contrary to what you might expect from the name scrub is really a very important habitat. It represents the boundary zone between fully developed woodland (which has a closed canopy) and open grassland. It contains grassy areas dotted around with brambles, pioneer tree species like hawthorn and blackthorn, tree seedlings and young saplings – a mosaic of mini habitats. This is the feature that has attracted turtle doves and much more, including a nightingale glimpsed in August, to the site.
The Wildlife Trust will periodically resurvey the site to check if it remains in good condition and will also provide management advice. The County Wildlife Site qualification may also open up future financial support for managing the habitat.
So we have been set a challenge to keep the Set-aside in a suitable condition but this is a challenge we surely are up to!