About the reserve

Picton Pastures is located just 1.8 km from our Gowy Meadows nature reserve and sits at the heart of the Gowy and Mersey Washlands Living Landscape. The site borders the River Gowy and is crossed by several ditches, giving it strong potential for habitat restoration. It covers 21 hectares across six fields, which were previously used for a combination of pasture and silage. 

Owning this vital land means we can ensure its managed with nature in mind, protected from the pressures of development or intensive agriculture. 

Over the next five years, we will restore the land to create a diverse mix of wildlife habitats, including: 

• Creation of 5 hectares of species rich wildflower meadows
• Enhancement of over 700m of hedgerows resulting in well managed species rich hedgerows.
• Enhancement of approximately 16 hectares of wetland floodplain mosaic  

These changes will bring real benefits for nature: 

• More wildflowers will boost plant diversity and help pollinators like bees and butterflies thrive
• Lapwing, snipe and other wading birds will breed and feed in the wetland habitats. Skylark and meadow pipit will have space to breed in the restored grasslands.
• A vast range of farmland birds will benefit from bigger well managed species rich hedgerows.
• The floodplain will be better connected to the river, restoring natural flood measures and river function. 

Part of a bigger vison for nature 
In 2022, as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, we set an ambitious goal: to secure 100 acres of new land for nature. That milestone has since been surpassed, with the acquisition of three new nature reserves - Picton Pastures, Greenbooth and Aldred's Lea - totalling 111 acres of land now safeguarded for wildlife.