Centenary celebrations in Swaddywell, Cambridgeshire
Wednesday 27th June 2012
Bee orchid Swaddywell by Rachel Price
A local celebration in John Clare County
More than 70 local people enjoyed a special Centenary Open Day at Swaddywell Nature Reserve at Helpston, near Peterborough on Sunday 17 June. Visitors took part in guided walks, pond dipping, sweep netting, bird watching and more. Children especially enjoyed these activities, as well as making their own wildlife badge keepsakes and butterfly masks.
The event, run in partnership with the Langdyke Trust (who manage Swaddywell reserve), Natural England, John Clare Cottage and the Peterborough Local Group, celebrated 100 years of Rothschild’s reserves – Helpston Heath was one of the sites on his list of 1912. It also raised the profile of the John Clare County Project – a Living Landscape on the limestone area stretching from west Peterborough to north Northants.
The next big event in the area will be the Peterborough Local Group’s Centenary celebration family day on 15 July at Old Sulehay reserve.