Ivel Springs
LocationNorth Road AccessCar parking available adjacent to allotments on North Road. |
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Features
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Description
Ivel Springs is a large Nature Reserve in Baldock. The springs, which are the source of the River Ivel, provide a diverse area for wildlife including woodland, wetland and pasture. The site was used as a household rubbish dump until the 1950s when it reverted to rough woodland. Now it is carefully managed to keep a mixed habitat and encourage wildlife to flourish.
Ivel Springs Enhancement Works 2011
A diverse range of wildlife and wetland habitat at the Ivel Springs nature reserve are benefiting from enhancement works that started earlier this Autumn.
The enhancement of Ivel Springs, located on the northern edge of Baldock, will include digging new pools in reed-beds to create open water areas that will benefit invertebrates such as dragonflies and damselflies. The work will also involve clearing glades to make reptile homes so that grass snakes and lizards will have more places to roam. Areas of the reserve will be seeded with native wildflowers and new hedges will be planted to improve the area for all the wildlife that lives on the site. Public access around the site will also be improved with new paths, ramps, steps and opening up of viewing areas.
Countryside Management Service (CMS), who work with North Herts District Council to manage the site, have been working closely with local people and community volunteers ‘Friends of Baldock Greenspaces’ to develop a programme of works to benefit both wildlife and people.
CMS have secured £33,000 of funding for the enhancement works from Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.
If you want to find out how you can get involved in keeping this natural habitat special or to find out more about Friends of Baldock Greenspaces visit the Countryside Management Service website. 
