WEG’s Fleam Dyke Presentation and Work Party

The dyke, which stands on the boundary between Fulbourn and Great Wilbraham (but really it is ours because the parish boundary runs along the Fulbourn side!) comprises a ditch and impressive earthwork seven metres high built by Anglo-Saxons 1500 – 1800 years ago. The dyke is a haven for wildlife and for specialist chalkland flowers and other plants; it is continually at risk from invasive scrub and undergrowth.

An audience of about seventy people heard Mark talk about the dyke, illustrated by photographs of the dyke and some of its rare chalkland plants – and afterwards donated £145 which we have passed on to the Trust for its work – thank you so much!

The Trust has bought a long section of the dyke, from its northern end to the A11, with a broad strip of former arable land beside it: the strip has already been fenced and sown with a broad mix of plants for biodiversity. A public footpath runs along the top of the dyke, with far-reaching views under huge skies. The Trust has ambitious plans to improve the habitat: the largest task now is to clear the dyke of much of the invasive growth and to keep it clear, some of the work probably to be carried out by grazing animals. The Trust has trialled pigs (!) and is considering hardy cattle, or sheep, or perhaps goats.

Mark asked us for a small Work Party: this week seven members of WEG formed that Work Party. Our WEG volunteers spent a morning working hard to clear a relatively small area of undergrowth and were then treated to a hunt for unusual wild flowers. WEG and the Trust hope to repeat the Work Party – the Trust needs all the help it can get! If you might like to join us for a couple of hours in the fresh air, please do get in touch to register your interest – wilbrahamseg@gmail.com or telephone 07594 601205.