Barton Hills, Bedfordshire

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Barton Hills
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Barton Hills - geograph.org.uk - 1337651.jpg
Location Bedfordshire
Grid reference TL088298
InterestBiological
Area118.3 hectares (292 acres)
Notification 1985
Location map Magic Map

Barton Hills are situated southeast of the village of Barton-le-Clay in the English county of Bedfordshire. They are part of the Chilterns and hiking routes are marked on maps at the entrance to the hills. From the foot of the hillside, a spring (Barton Springs) marks the start of a chalk stream river. During the summer, Dartmoor ponies roam the hills.

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National nature reserve

Pasqueflowers Pulsatilla vulgaris-700px.jpg
Pasqueflowers

A large part of the area is managed by Natural England as a national nature reserve. [1] The reserve is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. [2]

The steep well-grazed slopes are a classic downland habitat, however there were no sheep on the hills from about 1930 until the 1980s and woodland has formed on the hillside to the west of the stream which issues from Barton Springs. The reserve is the main site in Bedfordshire for the pasqueflower ( Pulsatilla vulgaris ), and in some years over a thousand flowers are present. Other unusual plants are field fleawort and a dwarf form of hairy violet. [3]

There is no designated parking for the site. There is easy access by either Footpath 4 through the recreation ground towards the Church or Footpath 1 at the southern end of Old Road.

In the 21st century, the Hills were used as a training ground by undercover operative Morten Storm and Islamic terrorists from nearby Luton. [4]

Barton Gravel Pit

To the east of the main reserve area, near the border between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, ( 51°57′28″N0°24′11″W / 51.9577°N 0.4031°W / 51.9577; -0.4031 (Barton Gravel Pit) ) there is Barton Gravel Pit, a nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Charity in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (WTBCN) is a registered charity which manages 126 nature reserves covering 3,945 hectares. It has over 35,000 members, and 95% of people in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire live within five miles of a reserve. In the year to 31 March 2016 it employed 105 people and had an income of £5.1 million. It aims to conserve wildlife, inspire people to take action for wildlife, offer advice and share knowledge. The WTBCN is one of 36 wildlife trusts covering England, and 46 covering the whole of the United Kingdom.

Barton Gravel Pit

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Coopers Hill, Bedfordshire

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Cople Pits

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Felmersham Gravel Pits

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Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit

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Totternhoe Knolls

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Dogsthorpe Star Pit

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Eye Green Local Nature Reserve

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Totternhoe nature reserve

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Godmanchester Nature Reserve Nature reserve in Cambridgeshire, England

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Titchmarsh Nature Reserve

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Ditchford Lakes and Meadows

Ditchford Lakes and Meadows is a 31.1 hectare nature reserve Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is part of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar wetland site of international importance, and Special Protection Area under the European Communities Birds Directive.

Barford Wood and Meadows

Barford Wood and Meadows or Barford Meadow Nature Reserve is a 36 hectare nature reserve east of Rushton in Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The north-eastern end is part of the River Ise and Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Stortons Pits

Storton's Pits is a 21.9 hectare Local Nature Reserve in Northampton. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

Higham Ferrers Pits

Higham Ferrers Pits is a 10 hectare nature reserve Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is part of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar internationally important wetland site and Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive.

Wilsons Pits

Wilson's Pits is a 32 hectare nature reserve west of Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is part of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar internationally important wetland site and Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive.

References

  1. Natural England, Barton Hills NNR.
  2. Natural England, Barton Hills Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine .
  3. B.S. Nau, C. R. Boon, and J. P. Knowles, Bedfordshire Wildlife, Castlemead, 1987, ISBN   0-948555-05-X, pages 86-89.
  4. "Morten Storm: A radical life".
  5. "Barton Gravel Pit". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

Coordinates: 51°57′22″N0°25′05″W / 51.956°N 0.418°W / 51.956; -0.418