The Christmas break is a good time to reflect on the past year and get ready for what the following year has to offer. It is fair to say 2019 has been another busy year for Huntingdonshire District Council’s Countryside Service which looks after sites including Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Barford Road Pocket Park, Holt Island Nature Reserve and the Huntingdonshire Community Plant and Tree Nursery.
Volunteers have done a phenomenal amount of work totalling over 3,500 days over the year.
Both Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and Hinchingbrooke Country Park received Green Flag Awards for a second year. Hinchingbrooke also received the regional biodiversity award from Anglia in Bloom.
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| Paxton Pits |
Wildlife is thriving in the area. Highlights in 2019 include sightings at Paxton Pits of otters throughout the year including adults with young, and an abundance of dragonflies with a new record of Leaf Emerald Damselfly. At Hinchingbrooke Country Park wildlife highlights include Wasp Spiders and the damp autumn weather resulted in a wide variety of fungi.
One key attraction at Hinchingbrooke Country Park is the apiary run by Huntingdon Beekeepers where 18 hives can now be viewed - a major difference from the original 2 hives that were established in 1998.
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| Hinchingbrooke Country Park. |
Many well supported events have taken place around the Countryside sites in 2019, with more planned for 2020. A major expansion of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is also being planned including the building of new bird hides and the creation of a large reedbed.
With so much planned there will be lots of opportunities for people to get involved in the Countryside sites whether it be helping with the practical work, serving refreshments in our visitor centre, surveying and monitoring the wildlife or helping out at events. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator, Robyn Staddon via email Robyn.Staddon@huntingdonshire.gov.uk or pick up a volunteering leaflet at Hinchingbrooke Country Park or Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. We would love to hear from you!
Further information about Countryside Services can be found in the parks and nature reserves section of Huntingdonshire District Council’s website, and Paxton Pits, Hinchingbrooke and Hot Island also have Facebook pages for up to date news and events information.
https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/leisure/parks-nature-reserves-and-green-spaces/
