Oughtonhead Common

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Oughtonhead Common is a 17.4 hectare Local Nature Reserve in the Westmill district of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. It is owned and managed by North Hertfordshire District Council.{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009877%27|title=Map of Oughtonhead Common|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England|access-date=8 February 2015|archive-date=8 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208150144/http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009877%27|url-status=live}} and home to the Oughtonhead Common nature reserve.{{cite web |title=Oughtonhead Common |url=https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/oughtonhead-common |website=www.north-herts.gov.uk |publisher=North Herts Council |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629061646/https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/oughtonhead-common |url-status=live }}

The River Oughton flows along the edge of the site with the Common lying on its floodplain. A layer of sedge and wood peat up to a metre thick underlies the floodplain.{{Cite book |last1=Hopson |first1=P. M. |title=Geology of the country around Hitchin |last2=Aldiss |first2=D T |last3=Smith |first3=A |publisher=HMSO |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-11-884518-2 |location=London |page=110 |language=en}} The Common supports a wide variety of wildlife habitats. It is grazed by English Longhorn cattle, and there is a football pitch.{{cite web|url=http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/index/leisure_and_culture/parks__countryside_and_open_spaces/nature_reserves/oughtonhead_common-2.htm|title=Oughtonhead Common|publisher=North Hertfordshire District Council|access-date=8 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207185108/http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/index/leisure_and_culture/parks__countryside_and_open_spaces/nature_reserves/oughtonhead_common-2.htm|archive-date=7 February 2015}} The Friends of Oughtonhead Common assist with maintaining the site.{{cite web|url=https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/sites/default/files/oughtonhead_common_leaflet-2.pdf|title=Oughtonhead Common Local Nature Reserve leaflet|publisher=North Hertfordshire District Council|access-date=29 June 2023|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629062058/https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/sites/default/files/oughtonhead_common_leaflet-2.pdf|url-status=live}} It is part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.{{cite web|url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/1419/137/oughtonhead-common.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208135231/http://www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/1419/137/oughtonhead-common.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2015|title=Oughtonhead Common|publisher=Chilterns Conservation Board| access-date= 8 February 2015}} In 2022, Oughtonhead Common was awarded a Green Flag for the seventh consecutive year.{{Cite web |last=Suslak |first=Anne |date=2 August 2022 |title=North Herts celebrates Love Parks Week with five Green Flag awards |url=https://www.thecomet.net/news/20677528.north-herts-celebrates-love-parks-week-five-green-flag-awards/ |access-date=25 May 2023 |website=The Comet |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526000148/https://www.thecomet.net/news/20677528.north-herts-celebrates-love-parks-week-five-green-flag-awards/ |url-status=live }}

Oughtonhead Nature Reserve (Wildlife Trust)

File:Oughtonhead Nature Reserve 2.JPG and Oughtonhead Nature Reserve from Oughtonhead Common]]

On the other side of the River Oughton from the Common is the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust's Oughtonhead Nature Reserve. The reserve was established in 1982 and comprises {{Convert|6.2|ha|acre}} of fen woodland. It is not publicly accessible, but can be viewed across the river from the Common.{{cite web|url=http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/oughtonhead|title=Oughtonhead|publisher=Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403235357/http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/oughtonhead|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

The site has a variety of habitats, including wet and dry woodland, the river margin and fen areas. Willow, reed and rush were formerly grown and harvested in the wetter areas, and there was a corn mill at the eastern end. Birds include kingfishers, water rails and woodcock, and there are mammals such as water shrews.{{cite web|url=http://www.hertslink.org/cms/content/15488274/16532620/oughtonhead0410.pdf|title=Oughtonhead Common, Hitchin|publisher=North Hertfordshire District Council|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025906/https://www.hertslink.org/cms/content/15488274/16532620/oughtonhead0410.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}

References

External links

[http://www.hertslink.org/cms/getactive/placestovisit/oughtonhead/ Oughtonhead Common, Countryside Management Service]

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Category:Parks and open spaces in Hertfordshire

Category:Local Nature Reserves in Hertfordshire

Category:Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserves

Category:Hitchin