Woodwalton Marsh and Five Arches Pit
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A tiny meadow that is home to a huge diversity of flowers and a nearby small wetland oasis |
Woodwalton Marsh is unimproved, neutral grassland with an unusual plant community for this part of Cambridgeshire. Its orientation and sheltered location make it a rich site for invertebrates.
For such a small site, it contains many species. Spring and summer are the best time to visit to see plenty of flowers including cowslips, dropwort, pyramidal orchid and the nationally scarce sulphur clover. Several butterfly species have been recorded including comma, marbled white, ringlet and grizzled skipper. In early spring you can hear warblers, such as chiffchaff and whitethroat, singing in hedges as they defend their breeding territories. The many anthills and thick tor-grass provide habitat for common lizard.
Five arches, a tiny water-filled pit, was created when material was quarried to build the railway embankment. It is now lush with reeds and as you walk along the footpath you get fleeting glimpses of the sparkling open water at its centre. Many birds call this site home, including warblers, nightingale, water rail and, occasionally, passing marsh harriers. It is best viewed in spring.
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Insects: Grizzled skipper butterfly Birds: Chiffchaff, whitethroat, nightingale, water rail |
Plants: Tywayblade, sulphur clover Insects: Orange-tip, comma and ringlet butterflies Reptiles: Common lizard |
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