Purwell Meadows Local Nature Reserve

Purwell Meadows Local Nature in the centre of Hitchin. The mosaic of dry grassland, marshy grassland, hedgerows and scrub along the river at Purwell Meadows are home to a wide variety of plants, birds, animals and insects. The site is part of a chain of important wildlife areas along the Purwell Valley linked by the River Purwell. The meadows provide a “stepping stone” for the movement of wildlife along the valley such as Water Voles and Otters. The clear, mineral rich water of the river keeps the low lying land of Purwell Meadows damp, creating marshy wet grassland and wet hollows which support a rich and distinctive variety of wildlife. Springs rise out of the chalk bedrock at St. Ippolyts, flowing down Ippollitts Brook, joined by other springs to form the River Purwell. Chalk Rivers are a rare habitat globally UK, making the River Purwell of worldwide importance. The site is designated a Local Wildlife Site and was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1994.