About the reserve

A time of change

Wells Farm is an important site for our livestock management, especially in winter, with a number of fields reverted to grassland from past arable use. These fields have a varied structure providing habitat for small mammals and invertebrates, as well as nectar for pollinators. The fields are surrounded by diverse, well-established hedges providing shelter and a network of connectivity across the fields.

The arable fields are no longer part of a tenanted farming arrangement and BBOWT are in the process of planning a way to manage these areas, to continue benefitting the local wildlife species whilst not actively farming the land.

The farm is named after the numerous springs emerging on the valley side. In the valley bottom, a wildlife meadow has been created, allowing a variety of wildflowers like viper’s-bugloss, scabious and trefoils to flourish. A small tree-lined brook links two ponds, attracting a wide range of wildlife such as frogs, toads and dragonflies.

Things to do

• Follow the wildlife walk (1 mile)
• Join the BBOWT community allotment project, email info@bbowt.org.uk for details.