Community volunteers are being praised for helping biodiversity projects thrive across North Hertfordshire – with major improvements reported at several well-loved local nature spots, including one right on Hitchin's doorstep.

North Herts Council, alongside Hertfordshire County Council Countryside Management Service (CMS), says a year of conservation work has boosted habitats, supported wildlife, and strengthened community involvement across parks and reserves.

With spring now in full swing, residents are being encouraged to get outdoors and explore the district's green spaces.

🌿 Local highlights near Hitchin

Oughtonhead Common

A standout success story, Oughtonhead Common continues to thrive thanks to strong volunteer support. The Friends group and CMS teams have worked on:

• Installing benches and kissing gates
• Managing reedbeds, ponds and ditches
• Protecting riverbanks and wildlife habitats
• Clearing paths and tackling invasive Himalayan balsam

More improvements are on the way, including new benches, gates and fence repairs.

Purwell Meadows

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At Purwell Meadows, conservation grazing has been introduced, with volunteers helping check livestock. A grant from Affinity Water is also funding innovative virtual grazing collars, allowing more precise and sustainable habitat management.

🌼 Wider North Herts projects

Across the district, several other sites have also seen significant investment:

Weston Hills

Weston Hills will benefit from a new five-year Greenspace Action Plan, alongside continued work protecting its rare chalk grassland and tackling ash dieback.

Great Ashby District Park

Woodland management works at Great Ashby District Park are improving biodiversity, tree health and visitor access.

Burymead Springs

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At Burymead Springs, repairs to a lagoon bank are helping maintain water levels vital for its rare reedbed habitat, with volunteers continuing rotational cutting work.

🌱 More to come

Further projects are already in the pipeline, including:

• New deer fencing at Pryors Wood to protect young trees
• Plans to re-establish a Friends group at Great Ashby
• Continued volunteer-led habitat management across multiple sites

Sarah Kingsley, North Herts Council's Director for Environment, said the past year's work had made a real difference: "The commitment shown by CMS and our volunteers has delivered significant improvements for biodiversity across North Herts. These efforts are helping ensure our parks and nature reserves remain high-quality spaces for both wildlife and the community."