Birds
Additional information
This was previously known as The Grange Estate and was once a Poplar plantation managed by Bryant & May. Then, it was commonly called the ‘match-stick wood’. The Willington area offers a wide range of habitats suitable for birds. The River Great Ouse and both the new and worked gravel extraction pits hold wildfowl and wetland birds, whilst scrubland south of the Sustrans Cycle route (Route 51) on the old railway line west of the village can also be good. Mature woodland can be found at Sheerhatch in the south of the village, while the farmland along Wood Lane can offer typical farmland birds.
The area surrounding the main lakes (Dovecote Lake is fished by Blunham AC) consists of sheep grazing and wet woodland plantation, managed by the Forest of Marston Vale.
Barnacle Goose – Steve BlainFor new workings north of the River Great Ouse, access can be gained from the lock at Willington where a public footpath runs north west along the river, eventually to the village of Reynold via the main Bedford to Great Barford road. (See details of Gadsey Brook site to approach from the North).
Taking the cycle track west towards Bedford brings you to Castle Mill Lock. This can be a good vantage point for watching birds if the surrounding area is flooded. For anyone feeling particularly energetic, you can continue along the cycle track, eventually reaching Meadow Lane and Priory Country Park.
A recommended circular walk can be taken from the Dovecote building north to the gated entry to the Grange Estate at TL104501. From there, follow the access track north through the ‘sheep fields’ to the causeway between the two lakes. After the lakes, turn right and follow the cycle track and river back towards Willington village, the path re-joining the main east-west cycle track at the Danish Camp car park. Turn right again and loop back towards the end of the road at Church End, which then leads back to the Dovecote.
Longer walks can be taken between Willington and Priory Country Park (7 miles round trip) or east along the cycle track past Willington Lock towards Great Barford and Blunham all of which can be productive for birds.
