Gardens and Nature Reserves
Escape from the pace of modern life and rediscover the wonders of nature in Huntingdonshire. Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and Grafham Water Nature Reserve are special places, each truly deserving of their nationally designated "Site of Special Scientific Interest". Spend some time bird-watching, walking the nature trails or simply savour the serenity. At Grafham, take some extra time to explore the visitor centre. Hinchingbrooke Country Park is a nature oasis at the edge of Huntingdon, with 170 acres of woodland, grassland, wetland and a wealth of wildlife. Huntingdonshire still retains many traditional meadows.
Houghton Meadow, close to St Ives, has a ridge and furrow landscape, rich in hay meadow species and wild flowers. Portholme, the largest lowland meadow in England, links Godmanchester to Brampton and was once the site of the racecourse. Brampton Wood, near Huntingdon, is also a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" and is one of the largest woodlands in the area. It is only a small fragment of the wildwood which once covered most of the Huntingdonshire clayland. Monks Wood is a remnant of the 'wildwood' which covered much of Britain around 5000 years ago, and is one of the top sites for beetles - over 1000 species have been recorded.
The Holme post at Holme Fen National Nature Reserve marks the lowest point in Britain. This area of the fens was drained in the 1850s and this is arguably where British nature conservation started, with the founding of Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve by the Rothschild family. The Great Fen Project will connect Woodwalton Fen with Holme Fen to restore over 3000 hectares of fenland habitat. It will be an inspirational place to visit, a mosaic of open water, reedbeds, grassland and woodland, where it will be possible to wander all day without retracing your footsteps.
Check out our gardens and garden centres. Or click here for a list of our nature reserves.
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