Valley of life

The remnants of an ancient riverside meadow in Hitchin are still providing key habitats for wildlife. Countryside Management Service projects officer Andrew Taylor outlines the four key sites and works to improve them.

A CHAIN of wetland sites runs through the heart of Hitchin along the rivers Purwell and Hiz, offering a great opportunity to explore nature close to the town centre. Within a couple of miles, you can visit Purwell Meadows, Walsworth Common, Cadwell Lane Playing Field and Burymead Springs, all owned and managed by North Hertfordshire District Council.

The four sites are surviving sections of an ancient riverside meadow and are linked by chalk rivers, an internationally important habitat. They provide a valuable series of stepping stones for wildlife along the Purwell valley.

The Countryside Management Service is working in partnership with the council on several of these sites to bring about a wide range of improvements for the benefit of their diverse wildlife and visitors alike. The work is aimed at delivering the authority’s green space action plans.

PURWELL MEADOWS

Purwell Meadows is furthest south and closest to the source of the River Purwell. The clear, mineral-rich waters of the river keep the low-lying land of this Local Nature Reserve damp, creating marshy wet grassland and wet hollows that support a rich and distinctive variety of wildlife. A network of grass paths crosses the site and information boards at the entrances make it easy to find your way around.