Castor Hanglands NNR
Castor Hanglands NNR is a composite site where four distinct habitats-woodland, grassland, scrub and wetland-are made more valuable by their close proximity.
County: Cambridgeshire
Main habitats: Woodland, Lowland Grassland
Area: 90 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map.
Download a leaflet: (1.09mb)
describing this reserve.
Woodlands: these are primarily ash-maple and oak-hazel types, though a large number of tree and shrub species are present. Woodland birds found here include tawny owl, treecreeper and nuthatch.
Grassland: many plants typical of ancient woodland are present including wood melick, yellow archangel and ramsons. Pockets of limestone grassland support plants such as purple milk-vetch and pyramidal orchids. Other areas are neutral to acid in character; dryer parts containing herbs such as tormentil and crosswort, with wetter ground being home to marsh marigold, marsh valerian and marsh orchid.
Scrub: these plant communities are dominated by hawthorn and blackthorn. Other species include wayfaring tree, wild privet, spindle and gorse. This habitat provides food and shelter for a number of bird species including nightingale, whitethroat and blackcap.
Wetland: the site has a number of ponds and ditches. These provide additional habitat diversity and support a varied aquatic fauna, including a population of great crested newt and 18 species of dragonfly.
The area has a varied invertebrate population including rare species such as the black hairstreak butterfly. There is also an important dead-wood fauna.
Location and access
Castor Hanglands is three km north of the villages of Ailsworth and Castor and seven km to the west of Peterborough. There is car parking at Southey Wood on the road connecting Upton and Helpston, where there is also a bridleway leading to the reserve.
There are 2 waymarked walks. The Heath walk explores the historic wild flower meadows of Ailsworth Heath featured in the poems of John Clare. The Hanglands Walk follows the edge of the heath before winding through the leafy ancient woodland rich in birds, flowers and insects.
There is a mainline train station in Peterborough and there are bus services (sometimes restricted) from Peterborough to local villages.
Castor village is close to the route of the 'Green Wheel', a 70 km network of cycle paths centred on Peterborough. For more information contact the Peterborough tourist information centre.
There is some disabled access with a private road allowing limited access to the drier parts of the reserve. Call 01780 444704 for more details.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in the local villages.
