King’s Pightle Nature Reserve
Kings Pightle Nature Reserve is a beautiful and tranquil place that you are welcome to visit all year round.
You will find paths that meander through our meadows, reedbeds and copses. There are places to sit and contemplate, a bird hide and feeding area and also picnic place.
The reserve provides a valuable refuge for a range of birds, plants and animals in an otherwise largely arable area. The overall structure of the grassland area and surrounding habitats sustain a good range of wildlife species. This type of grassland provides an essential resource and refuge small mammals, birds, reptile’s amphibians and invertebrates.
The areas of short grass such as the regularly mown grass paths are valuable basking areas for cold-blooded animals.
The trees hedgerows and scrub provide a varied habitat for birds, for roosting, nesting, cover and food, and provide protection for small mammals and invertebrates. Thick established hedgerows, such as those found on the boundary of the grassland, and mature trees are necessary for a large number of species.
Access
From Market Place, walk in a northerly direction along the High Street towards Hitcham for about 350 meters.
As you exit the village you will see a footpath sign on the left, follow the signs and marker posts to Bildeston sports field. After you cross the foot bridge to enter the sports field turn immediately right.
Follow the river bank to the end of the field until you reach a small bridge and access to Kings Pightle becomes obvious. On the way back, as you enter the sports field from Kings Pightle, turn right and walk towards the pavilion. Turn left into Consent Lane. Continue to T junction with Church Road. Turn Left and proceed, take either left or right fork into Duke or Chapel Street back to Market Place.
Habitat
The rough grassland on this site is of compacted clay soil and therefore there are a limited number of wild flowers present. The overall structure of the grassland area and surrounding habitats sustain a good range of wildlife species. This type of grassland provides an essential resource and refuge small mammals, birds, reptile’s amphibians and invertebrates.
The areas of short grass such as the regularly mown grass paths are valuable basking areas for cold blooded animals.
The trees hedgerows and scrub provide a varied habitat for birds, for roosting, nesting, cover and food, and provide protection for small mammals and invertebrates. Thick established hedgerows, such as those found on the boundary o f the grassland, and mature trees are necessary for a large number of species.
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History
Inspired by a wider campaign to create Pocket Parks, small opens spaces for public use, the late John Artiss was the driving force behind obtaining a Nature Reserve for Bildeston. John promoted and sold the idea to Bildeston Parish Council, working tirelessly to find a suitable site and negotiate purchase, declining generous peppercorn rented options on route. Bildeston Parish Council purchased Kings Pightle in 1994 Supported by a grant from Babergh DC.
On his death, John ensured that his vision was followed through making a generous bequest to Bildeston PC for the “purchase and upkeep “ of land to be used for nature projects.
A great deal of planning was undertaken, consulting with and commissioning reports from leading nature groups such as Suffolk Wildlife Trust. A development proposal and more recently a maintenance plan.
The ironic point about slow progress in developing the park is that the lack of intervention on the park, has strengthened it; allowing it to return naturally from its former over managed agricultural use. The diversity of species now established on the park and the importance of the habitat is confirmed by SWT.
Kings Pightle was opened in September 2010 By Mr David Halls chairman.
Events
Any events for King’s Pightle will be displayed below:
Photographs provided by Dawn Taylor ©