Farndon Willow Holt
Type : Woodland
Situated in the village of Farndon in the Newark and Sherwood District, this fascinating site covers almost 10 hectares and includes areas of flood meadow and wildflower-rich grassland as well as sections of river bank and flood bank. The Willow Holt is owned by the Trust and includes a fine collection of willow species.
The Trust has recently developed a small shelter and information point which is used by the local Wildlife Watch Group and is available for school visits.
About the Reserve
The Willow Holt is one of the few remaining survivors of the working willow holts which were a feature of many Trentside villages. The site is especially important as it houses an internationally-known collection of willows and hybrid species, created by the late Lever and Barbara Howitt after the Second World War. Unfortunately the collection was somewhat neglected during the last few years of their lives and the Trust is now working to restore it to its former status.
Part of the riverbank is raised and forms a flood bank, either side of which is an interesting selection of cricket bat willows and hybrid balsam poplars.
There is much vigorous vegetation with scattered hawthorn scrub and small willows along the riverside. Nettles, rosebay willow herb, meadow cranesbill, comfrey, angelica and meadowsweet are all common. The marginal vegetation along the bank of the river is one of the few areas along the Trent where disturbance has been minimised. The water meadows include neutral grassland species such as common Yorkshire fog, brown bent and cock’s foot.
The wet areas adjacent to Wyke Lane support a variety of aquatic plants including brooklime and water crowfoot as well as a line of old pollarded willows.
Conservation Management
Work will include hedge restoration, pollarding of the large willows and managing the Willow Holt. In recent years there has been major restoration work. A large number of cricket bat willows which grew alongside the river have been harvested, a new working willow holt has been planted and a new collection of willow species has been established. The wet meadows are licensed to a tenant farmer, and are grazed by cattle once the hay crop has been removed. The Trust is working in partnership with the tenant farmer to ensure that both the pasture and meadow are managed to increase the diversity of wildflower species.
How to Get There
Access is through the gates on Wyke Lane, Farndon at map reference SK768520, on the south-west side of the Fosse Way (A46) Leicester to Newark road. The reserve is open to the public and car parking and public toilets are available adjacent to the Britannia Inn off Wyke Lane. Due to recent access improvements it is now possible to complete a circular walk around the reserve.
Further Information
If you would like further details about the reserve, or if you are interested in getting involved in the management of the site, please call the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust office on 0115 958 8242
Farndon Willow Holt Map
Water Meadows Nature Reserve Map
