Parking and access: park in
Preston village next to the church at the end of Court Lane, and follow
waymarked paths. GR 238608.
Before the modernisation of agriculture, which led to
the drainage of many wetlands, much farmland alongside the River Great
Stour would have contained valuable wildlife habitats. Damp pastures,
ponds, wet woodlands and seasonally flooded meadows would have been home
to wetland birds, aquatic plants and amphibians. River wildlife such as
otters would also have benefited from these nearby habitats. At Preston
Court Farm, a scheme called Countryside Stewardship has been used to put
back some of these features along a particularly picturesque section of
the Stour. Trees have been planted and intensively farmed arable land
returned to pasture. Wetland birds are already enjoying these new habitats
and plants like marsh marigold are making a comeback.
Note: Current open access agreement ends 30/9/2002.
Educational and other information: contact
KSCP
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