From 1st March to 31st July there is no public access to Hampton Meadow nature reserve or Lower Lugg Meadow nature reserve, excepting on public rights of way. This is to reduce disturbance to curlew which breed at these sites.
Curlew have long bred at Lugg Meadow and Hampton Meadow - possibly for centuries. Today, however, the species has become endangered due partly to disturbance during the breeding season. Without help these birds face extinction. In recent years, very few curlew chicks have successfully fledged from these nature reserves.
Curlew breed from March to July, building nests on the ground which are very difficult to locate in the long grass. They are very timid and nervous birds and adults will readily abandon nests and chicks if they are disturbed, for instance by dogs or people walking nearby. This leaves eggs and chicks vulnerable to predation. If an adult is scared off in just a few seconds a crow can swoop in and take an egg or young chick.
Closing off these reserves during the breeding season therefore is a crucial part of ensuring we maintain a breeding population of lowland curlew for generations to come.
The restrictions are in place from 1st March to the 31st July and do not cover the Public Rights of Way on Hampton Meadow which remain open. The closure is authorised by Natural England. Access to Upper Lugg Meadow remains unaffected but we do urge people to continue to keep their dogs on leads on this site as curlew could also attempt to breed here.
We would also like to remind dog walkers to clear up after their pets so as to reduce contamination of the hay crop which is sold to local farmers for feeding their livestock. There is evidence that dog faeces can spread parasites into sheep and cattle and cause abortions.