Portholme

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Portholme
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Portholme Meadow 7.jpg
Area of Search Cambridgeshire
Grid reference TL 236 708 [1]
InterestBiological
Area106.0 hectares [1]
Notification 1984 [1]
Location map Magic Map

Portholme (or Port Holme on Ordnance Survey mapping) [2] is a 106-hectare (260-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Huntingdon and Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire, England. [1] [3] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, [4] and a Special Area of Conservation. [5]

The site is an alluvial flood meadow, and one of the largest areas of grassland which is still traditionally managed as a Lammas meadow. Watercourses have some unusual invertebrates, including the nationally restricted dragonfly Libellula fulva. The meadow is managed by cutting followed by grazing, and it is flooded in winter and early spring. [4]

There is access from footpaths and roads including Mill Common. [2]

Between April and October 1918, the meadow was used as a Training Depot Station (designated No. 211 TDS) by the Royal Air Force. Aircraft were moved to RAF Scopwick in October 1918. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Portholme". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "225" (Map). Huntingdon & St Ives. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2015. ISBN   9780319244180.
  3. "Map of Portholme". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Portholme citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. "Portholme". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. Delve, Ken (2008). The military airfields of Britain; East Midlands. Marlborough: Crowded Press. p. 344. ISBN   978-1-86126-995-9.

Coordinates: 52°19′16″N0°11′17″W / 52.321°N 0.188°W / 52.321; -0.188