Hertford Heath - Charlotte Hussey
Memories of a wilder Hertfordshire
Reverend Tom Gladwin
Red-backed Shrike - Stefan Johansson
Green-winged Orchids - Lianne de Mello
Meadow Buttercups - Zsuzsanna Bird
Amwell Nature Reserve - Charlotte Hussey
For Reverend Tom Gladwin, a long-standing member of the Trust, a lifetime spent close to Hertfordshire’s wildlife has given him a unique perspective on how much has changed. Here, he shares his memories of a wilder Hertfordshire, and his hope for nature's return.
My boyhood home overlooked Hertford Meads where I spent many happy hours fishing in unpolluted rivers, enjoying the swards of Meadow Buttercups and rarer species such as Green-winged Orchids, and following the fortunes of nesting birds such as Snipe, Whinchats and Red-backed Shrikes. Now 91, I remember being taken to places such as Hertford Heath where, at peak, the dawn chorus was so loud, and had so many choristers, it was difficult to separate individual species. Then there were many such places in the county. Now, sadly, there are many fewer.
Hertfordshire is one of the areas in Britain that have been most affected by the current decline in wildlife. Since the Second World War the loss of grasslands rich in wildflowers and the impact of agricultural chemicals, are among the many changes that have caused such devastation.
Recently, walking down the track to the viewing point at Amwell Nature Reserve, in the beautifully wooded part of the Lea Valley, I entered an oasis of bird song which brought back childhood memories. It gave me hope.
These sites, now in the good care of our Wildlife Trust, are not just precious oases, but also reservoirs of wildlife ready to repopulate the wider countryside when suitable habitats are restored or created.
The continued progress of the Trust’s work will depend on available funding - legacies are a very important part of this and will help secure their work long into the future.
As Tom has witnessed, nature has faced a devastating decline over his lifetime. Without continued action, more of the wildlife and landscapes we cherish could be lost. A gift in your Will is one of the most powerful ways you can help protect the precious places you love, giving nature the time and space it needs to recover and flourish for generations to come.