Great news for Strawberry Hill
The Wildlife Trust BCN (that’s Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire) are thrilled to report that Strawberry Hill has been saved!
About 35 years ago, the previous owner decided to let nature take over the 377 acre site. And the land transformed itself. Poor arable fields turned into grassland, shrub and young woodland. Naturally, the wildlife moved in – and now nightingales, turtle doves, linnets, badgers, harvest mice and others enjoy the transformation. Give nature a home, and they will come, as the RSPB say.
Strawberry Hill is SAVED!
UPDATE: 9th November 2024: They've hit the target of £1.5 million! What an achievement! Well done, everyone!! READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE.
You can still donate, as funds will help the manage the site - they have a fundraiser for £100,000 to make this happen. (You can donate here.)
Strawberry Hill matters to wildlife
Nightingales have declined by 90% in the last 50 years
Turtle dove numbers have dramatically declined by 97% over 30 years
WILDLIFE NEED THIS SITE to survive and thrive.
Strawberry Hill does not have SSSI status – so it’s even more important that we help protect it for wildlife. Bedfordshire is intensively farmed, and only 1.2% of this county is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Progress so far...
Strawberry Hill came on to the open market, and thanks to fast action, the Wildlife Trust BCN was able to lease Strawberry Hill in 2022. This has given them time to raise the necessary funds to buy the site. Thus far, they’ve raised £1 million, and they were able to bring the southern half into their ownership earlier this year. They needed to raise £1.5 million more to buy the freehold of the rest of Strawberry Hill. And success! They've done it!!!
Just imagine if Strawberry Hill was sold to a commercial buyer!
It could happen. Please be a part of the journey to raise the funds to save Strawberry Hill. The wildlife there are depending on us all to make that happen.
Comments