Millhoppers Pasture

Our Branch Reserve

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This site of approx 3 acres (1.2 hectares) was acquired by the efforts of a few individuals from the adjacent village of Long Marston, a grant from Dacorum Borough Council and Butterfly Conservation. It was finally secured by Butterfly Conservation and dedicated to Gordon Beningfield in 1998 who sadly had died just before the opening.

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For directions to Millhoppers click here (approx grid reference is SP899148 - Map165). Unfortunately there is limited parking space by the reserve and it is suggested if visiting you park at Wilstone Village Hall and walk across the fields (approx grid reference for Village Hall is SP903133).

Conservation work is conducted at Millhoppers during the year Most tasks start at 10 am and last approx 3 hours - because parking by the reserve is limited it is suggested that volunteers park at Wilstone Village Hall and walk across the fields. If you would like to volunteer at any time and would like more information please contact: Jez Perkins Telephone: 07967 832627

Millhoppers Pasture

The strange name possibly originates from a stream-crossing to an old mill long since untraceable. Others contend that it derives from mill-stones laid to enable people to cross the stream. The entire area then was much wetter. Millhoppers is a rare example of a remnant of ancient countryside encircled by arable land. It contains a large section of unimproved grassland. Some of the hedges are thought to date back to Tudor times. It possesses a pond fed by a stream and a public footpath provides access on one side.

The site has a large stand of blackthorn scrub which provides good cover for birds and mammals. There are 16 black poplar trees in the hedgerow. This a nationally rare tree but not uncommon locally.

The Black Poplars at Millhoppers

The first years

At the beginning our main efforts were directed to cutting and raking off grass. In addition the vigorous blackthorn scrub and large banks of nettles have to be contained.

In the summer of 2001, a new bridge was built across the stream. It is a good secure structure and would safely carry grass cutting machinery. Cattle were introduced to the reserve in 2003, and it was planned that they would graze both in the autumn and the spring. These animals were provided and cared for by a local farmer but unfortunately in 2006 the cattle were unable to return.

This meant that more cutting and raking had to be undertaken whilst everyone tried to find some grazing new animals.

In 2007, an 'Awards for All' grant was obtained and a new Reserve interpretation board was designed and leaflets printed.

The cows crossing the bridge soon after they arrived in 2003 Photo: John & Margaret Noakes

2009 - a review of recent work

At the beginning of 2008, John Noakes retired as the Reserve Manager and Jez Perkins took on the role.

Grassland management
During 2008 the northern meadow was cut and raked during January, with the southern meadows cut in early summer. This section of the reserve was cut early in the season to try and knock back some of the more aggressive vegetation types to provide a varied sward height so the grassland habitas would provide sections of longer grass as well as shorter areas and cutting a section early also provides a nectar source later into the season

Estate Maintenance
Running repairs were also carried out on the bridge within the reserve: a fallen limb was cleared that had landed on the squeeze near the entrance and the resulting damage to the fence was mended; two Public Right of Way discs that had broken were replaced.

Grazing
After an absence of two years grazing returned in the autumn of 2008 with the arrival of eight Beulah sheep. These are a Welsh upland sheep which are hardy and can cope with most vegetation including bramble and blackthorn!

The sheep belong to the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and were loaned for about 7 weeks between October and November 2008. The agreement was that the Reserve Manager took on full responsibility for their welfare including daily checks.

The Beulah sheep arrive in October 2008 © photo: Jez Perkins	The sheep settling in! © photo: Jez Perkins

During the grazing period, the sheep did a fantastic job of grazing down the vegetation so that only a minimum amount of mechanical cutting and raking would subsequently be required. The following series of photos illustrate how hard the sheep worked!

We would like to thank the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and in particular Giles Strother for their help in arranging the loan of the Beulah sheep to Butterfly Conservation and we hope the partnership will continue.

Millhoppers before the sheep looking towards the pond from the top end © photo: Jez Perkins	Millhoppers after the sheep looking towards the pond from the top end © photo: Jez Perkins
Millhoppers before the sheep looking from the entrance gate to the pond © photo: Jez Perkins	Millhoppers after the sheep looking from the entrance gate to the pond © photo: Jez Perkins
Millhoppers before the sheep looking from the pond to the entrance gate © photo: Jez Perkins	Millhoppers after the sheep looking from the pond to the entrance gate © photo: Jez Perkins

So far plants identified include sweet violet, devil's bit scabious, marsh marigold, ladies bedstraw and meadow sweet. The butterfly species count, although not containing rarities, stands at 21. Dragonflies seen, include Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, White-legged Damselfly and Common Darter.

A butterfly transect is walked at Millhoppers and the species recorded are:

Small Skipper	Orange Tip	Small Tortoiseshell
Essex Skipper	Common Blue	Comma
Large Skipper	Holly Blue	Speckled Wood
Brimstone	Small Copper	Marbled White
Large White	Red Admiral	Meadow Brown
Small White	Painted Lady	Gatekeeper
Green-veined White	Peacock	Ringlet

Moths recorded at Millhoppers

169 species of moth have been recorded at Millhoppers. Several moth trapping events have been arranged with the Herts Moths Group and a list of the moths recorded is available at http://www.hnhs.org/mothgroup/millhoppers.htm