Hopyards...or is it?

Well, every day is a school day!  

Hopyards is one of my favourite spots to visit in the Warwick 100 area.  A little-known, quiet stretch of river with a vast flood plain on the other side, it is a little piece of calm amongst the urban noise of a town centre.  

We've seen some great birds and wildlife here (more on that in a bit) but I only found out the other day that it is also known as 'Alderham Pastures' and is designated as a county Local wildlife Site... I had no idea!  After a bit of digging on local council info, I found that it is actually part of a larger area:  

The site south of the M40 is 'Alderham Osier Beds' - with grass, willow scrub and sedge.

The majority of the site north of the M40 is 'Alderham Pastures' - with a small area of wet woodland and large expanse of wet grassland, managed by grazing sheep and cattle.  This is our 'Hopyards', as we know it, and it's not surprising that it is an official Local Wildlife Site, as there have been some fantastic records over the years.

Goosander, shoveller, pintail, Egyptian goose, gadwall, little egret, great egret, whooper swan, white-fronted goose, tawny owl, barn owl, cetti's warbler, marsh tit, green and common sandpiper, muntjac and otter are just a few of the species we've been lucky enough to record in this area.

So, Hopyards or Alderham Pastures...whatever it is called, it is great to know it has been recognised as the important site we know it is, and hopefully it means its protection can be counted on for years to come.

Lizzy