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A New Nature Reserve with an Ancient History

Astonbury Wood Bluebells © Frieda Rummenhohl

The Trust has taken ownership of the lease for Astonbury Wood, an ancient woodland, home to rare, threatened and treasured wildlife.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have taken ownership of the lease for Astonbury Wood – an ancient woodland with sweeping Bluebell carpets and choirs of songbirds, home to rare, threatened and treasured wildlife.

A major fundraising campaign to purchase the long-term lease from Hertfordshire County Council and to manage the woodland for wildlife and the community, has culminated in the charity taking control of the next chapter in the history of this Local Wildlife Site, where woodland has existed since at least the 1600s.

At 54-acres, Astonbury Wood, near Stevenage, provides a rich wildlife habitat and one which is unique to ancient woodland, having developed very special flora and fauna over hundreds of years. Predominantly Oak and Hornbeam, it is home to beautiful woodland flowers such as Wood Anemone, and is carpeted with Bluebells each spring, whilst in autumn, it is nationally recognised for the many hundreds of species of fungi that can be found here.

Sulphur tuft fungi growing together on a woodland edge

Butterflies, mammals, amphibians and woodland birds also abound, such as Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. The Trust plans to provide new information to help visitors learn about the wildlife, as they follow a network of established walking routes that run through the woodland. It is also urging visitors to stay on pathways to ensure the protection of vulnerable species, particularly at this time of year when Bluebells are about to flower and birds are nesting.

Great spotted woodpecker

Great spotted woodpecker © Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

“We are delighted to have secured the future of Astonbury Wood. Ancient woodland habitat, once widespread throughout the country, is now rare and irreplaceable– some of the trees at Astonbury have stood there for centuries so we take our role as its custodians very seriously. It is a delightful place for people to experience wildlife and we will do everything we can to keep it that way and further improve prospects for wildlife through conservation management. In the midst of a nature and climate crisis, we urgently need to protect more land for wildlife so this is an important step in the right direction.”
Lesley Davies
Chief Executive, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Between May and July 2021, a public fundraising appeal successfully achieved the Trust’s target of £104,000 to purchase a 125-year lease for the ancient woodland. Alongside the Trust, Aston Parish Council and the local community were instrumental in promoting the campaign and the Trust is grateful to all the individuals, groups and organisations who generously supported the appeal and who have made it possible to safeguard the woodland’s future.

Now that the lease is finalised the Trust’s priority actions include collecting habitat and species information to inform a long-term plan for its management and to set out how the community can get involved.

To find out more about Astonbury Wood Nature Reserve and how to get there, read the latest update here.

The Trust is also running an online talk on Thursday 20 April at 7pm so people can hear more about its plans for Astonbury Wood and its treasured wildlife.  Places can be booked here.

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