Fancott Woods & Meadows

Fancott Meadows credit. Wildlife Trust

Fancott Woods & Meadows

Traditional wildflower meadow and ancient woodland

Location

1 mile south east of town on the B579
Toddington
Bedfordshire

OS Map Reference

TL 025 275
A static map of Fancott Woods & Meadows

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares
z

Entry fee

No
P

Parking information

Park in Chalton and follow footpath on east side of sewage treatment works to footbridge crossing the River Flit

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

Muddy areas in both meadows and woodland at times

Access

Yes

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to May, June to August

About the reserve

Teeming with wildlife, the grassland is home to an extraordinary range of flowers, starting with cowslips and adder's tongue fern in the spring, followed by ragged-robin, great burnet and the now scarce saw-wort in the summer. Even the grasses of the old pasture are special with quaking-grass and sweet vernal grass indicating its traditional nature. We graze the small meadow to maintain low fertility; the larger meadow is occasionally cut for hay, then grazed.

The woodland, known as Chalton Spinney, has towering oak and ash, with alder in wetter areas. In Spring, the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells, along with sanicle, dog's mercury and the occasional primrose.   

Multi-stemmed hazel tells of past and ongoing coppicing, while on the meandering path through the wood, spring bluebells are followed by pungent ramsons.

As a Coronation Meadow seed from Fancott Meadows is collected and donated to other sites as part of the scheme.

Location map

Reserve map

Leaflet and map

Additional information

  • Scroll down to see the reserve boundary. Please note the boundary map is for indication purposes only and does not show the Wildlife Trusts definitive land boundary. 

FOR ANY MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM:   communicationsteam@wildlifebcn.org or 01954 713500 and ask for comms team.

Contact us

Contact number: 01234 364213

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Location map

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

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Did you enjoy your visit? From donating to volunteering, there are many different ways you can help us restore and protect local wildlife. We can't do this without you!

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