Arlesey Old Moat and Glebe Meadows is a 4.3 hectare

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

west of

Arlesey Arlesey ( ) is a town and civil parish in Bedfordshire. It is near the border with Hertfordshire, about three miles north-west of Letchworth Garden City, four miles north of Hitchin and six miles south of Biggleswade. Arlesey railway station pr ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council wa ...

. It is managed by the

Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (WTBCN) is a registered charity which manages 126 nature reserves covering . It has over 35,000 members, and 95% of people in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshi ...

. The site is a long narrow strip between the River Hiz and the

East Coast Main Line The East Coast Main Line (ECML) is a electrified railway between London and Edinburgh via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle. The line is a key transport artery on the eastern side of Great Britain running broa ...

, with the entrance to Glebe Meadows immediately west of

Arlesey railway station Arlesey railway station serves the town of Arlesey in Bedfordshire, England. It is from on the East Coast Main Line. Arlesey is managed by Great Northern, but from December 2019 all services to the station have been operated by Thameslink, ...

, and Arlesey Old Moat south of the Meadows. The Hicca Way footpath goes through the site. Frogs, toads and newts spawn in the moat, and dragonflies lay their eggs in it. The meadows have a range of wild flowers, and woodland, which is managed by coppicing, provides a habitat for nesting warblers. The Glebe Meadows were purchased, by raising funds, by Arlesey Conservation for Nature (ACORN) for the public to enjoy in perpetuity for quiet recreation and for wildlife. The Wildlife Trust agreed to hold the title of the land on their behalf. The Town Council also agreed to financially support the upkeep of the meadows. This project was to commemorate the new Millennium. The day to day upkeep of the reserves is undertaken by ACORN volunteers.

References

External links

Arlesey Walks website
{{Authority control Nature reserves in Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire reserves Meadows in Bedfordshire