Stewkley Wildlife Reserve
Old Church Furlong
The field you are in is part of Old Churchfurlong, the field name that also
encompassed the football field to the west and arable field to the south
abutting the Soulbury Road. It was glebe land owned by Oxford Diocese.
Historically, until 1967, Old Churchfurlong was allotments, subdivided into plots for growing vegetables, fruit trees and raising chickens and pigs. In 1967 the tenants were removed to an area to the south east and Old Churchfurlong was divided into two tenanted areas for agriculture.
The arable land to the south of this nature reserve has remained much the same but the northern part of the field, which had been used for pasture, was further divided in 1989 when a 6.53 acre portion was bought by Stewkley Recreation Ground Association for use, as predominately, a site for two football pitches. The remainder of Old Churchfurlong (3.01 acres) continued as pasture and hayfield under a tenancy. The Parish Council took out a grazing licence from the Diocese in 2004 which operated until the Parish Council purchased the land in 2008.
In 2004 AVDC Green Spaces Team undertook a survey of the land and designated it worthy of County Wildlife Site status, primarily on its botanical value, in conjunction with the Jackdaw field to the north.
The other field to the east is a portion of New Churchfurlong field, also historically allotment land owned by the Oxford Diocese. Not yet designated of CWS status it does have the additional habitat of a copse. Jackdaw field, to the north, was a self contained hay meadow owned by Stewkley Parochial Church Council with entry only from Garners Lane the $drovers road$ (green lane) to its north, until a former tenant created an access point to connect the fields for convenience.
The three fields comprising Stewkley Wildlife Reserve were purchased with funds granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Stewkley Parish Council.
Historically, until 1967, Old Churchfurlong was allotments, subdivided into plots for growing vegetables, fruit trees and raising chickens and pigs. In 1967 the tenants were removed to an area to the south east and Old Churchfurlong was divided into two tenanted areas for agriculture.
The arable land to the south of this nature reserve has remained much the same but the northern part of the field, which had been used for pasture, was further divided in 1989 when a 6.53 acre portion was bought by Stewkley Recreation Ground Association for use, as predominately, a site for two football pitches. The remainder of Old Churchfurlong (3.01 acres) continued as pasture and hayfield under a tenancy. The Parish Council took out a grazing licence from the Diocese in 2004 which operated until the Parish Council purchased the land in 2008.
In 2004 AVDC Green Spaces Team undertook a survey of the land and designated it worthy of County Wildlife Site status, primarily on its botanical value, in conjunction with the Jackdaw field to the north.
The other field to the east is a portion of New Churchfurlong field, also historically allotment land owned by the Oxford Diocese. Not yet designated of CWS status it does have the additional habitat of a copse. Jackdaw field, to the north, was a self contained hay meadow owned by Stewkley Parochial Church Council with entry only from Garners Lane the $drovers road$ (green lane) to its north, until a former tenant created an access point to connect the fields for convenience.
The three fields comprising Stewkley Wildlife Reserve were purchased with funds granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Stewkley Parish Council.
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