HUNT'S
HUNT'S MEADOW
NATURE RESERVE
Introduction
The reserve comprises two adjacent area of grassland separated by a fence. Totalling 0.69 hectares this small site slopes very gently from north to south. A stream known as The Beck runs west to east immediately adjacent to the southern boundary
About the reserve.
Being in a valley bottom, much of the site is damp for most of the year, and the wettest areas are frequently waterlogged. However, incidence of flooding is not high, because The Beck was over-deepened in the past and excavated material has been used to build up the banks.
Today the western compartment holds much nettle and thistle, with other more desirable species just hanging on, such as cowslip, meadowsweet, meadow vetchling, cuckooflower and yellow oat-grass. Plicate sweet-grass occurs in the internal ditch/stream. The eastern compartment supports small numbers of early marsh-orchids as well as a wide range of other plants typical of botanically-rich unimproved neutral grassland, including lady's mantle, yellow rattle, ragged-robin, common knapweed, bird's-foot trefoil and carnation sedge.
Conservation management
Management is aimed at restoring the species-rich sward and this is being achieved by the creation of a grazing regime using the Trust’s flock of Hebridean sheep over a number of years.
How to get there
From Eakring take the Newark Road in the direction of Maplebeck, pass the Trust’s Eakring Meadows Reserve on the left then take the first left turn towards Kersall and the reserve is the first field on the right once you have crossed the Beck at SK 713618.
Further Information
If you would like further details about the reserve, or if you are interested in getting involved in the management of the site, please call the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Office on 0115 958 8242