Page 47 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 2006 47
Unveiling Clifford Meadow in Priory Vale
A special place in need of community respect
To help North Swindon residents understand the unique wildlife on their doorstep, interpretation boards are being erected in Oakhurst,
next to a nationally recognised site of special scientific interest.
Called Clifford Meadow, after for future generations. "We're ab-
the family who own and have pre- solutely delighted that there is so
served the field in its original state, ______ _"t^ — much interest in the field. It has
the field is one of the few in Britain ',,.:, ' been farmed in the same way for
where the green winged orchid, t y over three generations; my hus-
Orchis Moreo, is to be found. band is very pleased that the way
y
In May the meadow was co - , he has looked after the land is ap-
eredwithhundredsofrareorchids / ^", preciated."
and is home to other colourful I , The interpretation boards have
meadow plants, brown hares and }" ) , . been produced by Wiltshire Wild-
great crested newts. Bullfinches' r ( ^ ,, .v h•. . >, life Trust with funding from the
q
4.^.
nd yellowhammers can be seen
and North Swindon Development
in the surrounding hedgerows and h i. t Company. One can be found at the
kestrels hovering over prey. :`^^;__ end of Southwold Close to the
Neil Pullen of the Wiltshire south, a second will be put up when
Wildlife Trust said, "Clifford an observation mound has been
Meadow is an example of a tradi- Caryl Clifford launching the Clifford Meadow lea flet and interpretation board, completed on the George Wimpey
tional farmed hay meadow where with left, Stephanie Exell, Neil Pullen, Paul Exell, and site to the north of Clifford
cows are only allowed to graze in Patrick Cashman of English Nature, right, and Oakhurst residents Meadow in July.
late June after the orchids have set Resident volunteers have dis-
seed. It's a haven for wildlife that North Swindon Development We would appeal to all resi- tributed the information leaflet to
has almost disappeared from the Company and housing develop- dents, the field is not for walking 1,500 houses closest to the site. For
English countryside." ers to ensure long term protection the dog or playing games. It's still a copy visit the Priory Vale visitor
Residents Stephanie and Paul of Clifford Field. Paul said, "we're privately owned and is a sensitive centre or call Neil Pullen at WWT
Exell have been campaigning for pleased that fencing has been im- environment." on 526228.
two years to accelerate the agree- proved, boards put up and leaflets Caryl Clifford from Haydon Information on Clifford
mentbetweenthelandowner,Eng- distributed telling people about Farm said her family are happy Meadow can also be found at:
lish Nature, Swindon Council, the this special environment, that the meadow is to be preserved www.prioryvale.com

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