Great Oakley Meadow

Great oakley meadow

Great oakley meadow - Matt Johnson

Great Oakley Meadow

A small but attractive haven for wildlife and local people to visit

Location

1 mile from Corby
Corby
Northamptonshire

OS Map Reference

SP 863 856
A static map of Great Oakley Meadow

Know before you go

Size
2 hectares
z

Entry fee

No

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

Slight slope, meadow is tussocky with wet areas

Access

Unsuitable for wheelchairs

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

May to July

About the reserve

This meadow is the best remaining fragment of the ancient field system of Great Oakley. The prominent ridge and furrow at the southern end has a different mix of species to the wetter, northern part. The drier tops of the ridges display a colourful mosaic of species, including cowslips, common knapweed and quaking-grass. The alternating damp furrows are much poorer in species with meadow fescue and tufted hair-grass dominating, while the area closest to the brook supports more plants characteristic of damp ground, such as cuckooflower, hairy sedge and great burnet.

The hedgerows are popular feeding grounds for birds. Buntings and finches, including yellowhammer, goldfinch and linnet are attracted by the plentiful supply of seeds and invertebrates. Flocks of redwings and fieldfares are regular winter visitors, foraging on both the grassland and hedges. On summer evenings, flocks of swallows, swifts and house martins feed on insects over the meadow.  

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: 01604 405285

Location map

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

Support our work

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!

How you can help

Become a member

Help fight the rapid decline in wildlife across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire and enjoy some fabulous benefits. From only £3.50/month

Join us today