A book concerning the history and present day wildlife of Wilwell Farm Cutting Nature Reserve has been given to Ruddington Library. Entitled Ruddington’s Hidden Valley, the book was compiled by Tim Williams, one of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust volunteers, and presented to the library by Gordon Dyne, the Warden at Wilwell Cutting. It will be available permanently for reference.
The book contains photographs dating back to 1895, which illustrate the site’s early days as an important railway line connecting the industrial north of England to the metropolitan area and beyond to the proposed Victorian Channel Tunnel, which began construction in 1882.
Today, the 20 acre Wilwell Farm Cutting Nature Reserve has a wide variety of natural habitats where wild orchids thrive in two wild flower meadows. Many types of birds live in the hawthorn scrub, whilst marsh areas support willow and rushes. Badgers have constructed several sets and squirrels chase among the tree tops. The site is of interest at all times of the year.
Tim Williams