News from ACORN

ACORN BROUGHT A MEADOW part 1

During the pandemic lockdown Arlesey’s green spaces certainly came into their own for locals to escape to.

Way back around 1992 a motley group of villagers made up from: chemists, brick makers, engineers, teachers, dog walkers and labourers, all became alarmed at the rate the green bits were disappearing to become brown bits. You will note that not one ecologist was amongst them and that is exactly how ACORN membership is made up today. No experts, but people who are committed to give a bit of time to take care of the countryside. Jobs like a bit of grass cutting, strimming, planting things, pruning, observing and writing.

With many local meadows having been put under the plough and cement mixer, and when the meadows between the railway station and the River Hiz were put on the market ACORN set about buying them, in order to preserve them. The group promoted the acquisition as a Millennium project, some still refer to them as the Millennium Meadows but because of the long ownership by the church they became our Glebe Meadows. A year of fund raising ensued and grants from the Landfill Tax, Mid Beds Council and various other small charitable sources were sought. A local appeal was launched in the village and many residents and organisations made contributions. To meet the criteria of the HMRC landfill tax grant, a management body had to be set up to oversee the future of the purchase. A partnership between the local Wildlife Trust BCN, Arlesey Town Council, The Ivel Valley Countryside Project (IVCP) and ACORN was legally drawn up. The IVCP has since been dissolved but Arlesey Town Council still generously fund the management expenses incurred. An English Nature Stewardship grant raises a small annual income when conservation targets are met. This is managed by the Wildlife Trust BCN. ACORN holds a small amount left over from the fundraising which is used for capital works.

The Meadows have had only three recorded owners since Doomsday. The Church, The Chadwick family (Dad Ron was a former landlord of the True Briton), and ACORN (the land registry title is held by the Wildlife Trust BCN on behalf of ACORN and the community. The group not being a registered charity were unable to hold land titles).

The Church rented out the meadows for grazing and Ron carried on the tradition after he purchased them for fattening bullocks up for the butchers. ACORN carries on this tradition of natural riverside grazing to preserve this tradition.

Part 2 to follow. Arlesey Conservation for Nature (ACORN)

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