Bradlaugh Fields

{{Short description|Nature reserve in the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Bradlaugh Fields

| photo = Hills and Holes 1.jpg

| photo_caption =Hills and Holes Local Nature Reserve

| type = Nature reserve

| grid_ref_UK = SP 765 639

| location = Northampton

| area = 17.5 hectares

| manager = Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

}}

Bradlaugh Fields is a {{convert|60|hectare|acre|adj=on}} open space in Northampton.{{cite web|url=http://www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200244/parks-and-open-spaces/305/bradlaugh-fields|title=Bradlaugh Fields|publisher=Northampton Borough Council|accessdate=1 May 2017}} The site is a former golf course. In 1987 it was proposed to build housing on the site, but after a campaign by local residents it was acquired by Northampton Borough Council and opened as a wildlife park in 1998. It was named after Charles Bradlaugh, a leading nineteenth century radical and atheist who was MP for Northampton.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradlaughfieldsandbarn.org.uk/history-of-park.html|title=History of your local wildlife park|publisher=Bradlaugh Fields and Barn, Northampton|accessdate=1 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Three fields with a total area of 17.5 hectares are managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire as a nature reserve also called Bradlaugh Fields.{{cite web |url= http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/bradlaugh-fields |title= Bradlaugh Fields |publisher= Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire |accessdate= 1 May 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161223063342/http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/bradlaugh-fields# |archive-date= 2016-12-23 |url-status= dead }} Hills and Holes is at the southern end and two adjoining meadows, Scrub Field and Quarry Field, are at the northern end.Notice on the site Hills and Holes is an 8.3 hectare Local Nature Reserve (LNR){{cite web |url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=30&N=&ID=611 |title=Hills and Holes (also known as Hills & Hollows) |series=Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England |accessdate=1 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221234311/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=30&N=&ID=611 |archivedate=21 December 2016 }}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009343%27|title=Map of Hills and Holes|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| accessdate= 1 May 2017}} and Scrub Field is a {{convert|5.1|hectare|acre|adj=on}} LNR.{{cite web|url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=30&N=&ID=612|title=Scrub Field|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England|date=25 March 2013|accessdate=1 May 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222081151/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=30&N=&ID=612|archivedate=22 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009344%27 |title=Map of Scrub Field|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| accessdate= 1 May 2017}}

Bradlaugh Fields nature reserve has ancient hedgerows and unimproved grassland. Birds include blue tits, chiffchaffs, great spotted woodpeckers, sparrowhawks, redwings and fieldfares. Hill and Holes is an ancient disused quarry which has grassed ridges and hollows, some of them steeply sloping. There are a variety of habitats including limestone grassland. Scrub Field has a diverse selection of wild flowers, including Knautia arvensis and knapweed in higher areas, and bird's-foot trefoil and yellow rattle lower down.

File:Bradlaugh Fields.jpg

There is access to Hills and Holes from Kettering Road, and other access points include a footpath from Aintree Road which passes between Scrub Field and Quarry Field.

{{Commons category|Bradlaugh Fields}}