Castor Hanglands is an oasis of green in an intensively farmed landscape. Walk amongst its ancient woodlands with their medieval boundary banks, the flowery heaths and commons still showing their 700 year old cultivation ridges, and you are stepping back in time to a world now almost gone. Main habitats: woodland, limestone grassland, scrub Area: 90 hectares Features of interest Among the rare plants found here are crested cow-wheat, lesser water-plantain, man orchid and narrow-leaved water dropwort. Woodland butterflies present include silver-washed fritillary, purple hairstreak and white admiral. The rare black hairstreak butterfly is best seen around the blackthorn scrub in June. Dense thickets of scrub provide a habitat for summer migrant birds: nightingale, garden warbler, grasshopper warbler and turtle dove. In the woodland, all 3 British woodpeckers occur along with woodcock and the elusive hawfinch. Grass snakes are often seen by the ponds and harvest mouse occurs in the rough grassland on the heath. Further information about the NNR, its wildlife by season, land management techniques, special features, and history and culture is on Natural England’s Castor Hanglands pages on the National Archives. Directions Castor Hanglands is situated 2 miles north of the village of Ailsworth village, 4 miles west of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. A Public Bridleway runs north-south through the length of the reserve, and another crosses east-west, connecting with the parking area at Southey Wood. Horse riding and cycling are permitted only on the bridleways Buses from Peterborough and Stamford stop hourly in Ailsworth (30-minute walk). The nearest train station is Peterborough (4 miles). School and community groups Guided walks are offered to community groups, and activity visits can also be arranged for schools – these are most suitable for Key Stage 3 and 4. The reserve provides good opportunities for A level and undergraduate studies looking at vegetation transects across different habitats. Volunteers The reserve is always looking for volunteers – for example patrolling, site management, plant recording, or help with events. On Mondays and Wednesdays volunteers help with habitat restoration or maintenance work such as fencing, scrub clearance, or coppicing. Contact Email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 3900