How it all started...	In this section: Location Management History The site today
Location Kiln Meadow is a site of approximately two hectares, south of Elmswell, Suffolk, grid reference TL983629. The land lies adjacent to the Anglian Water Waste Water Treatment Works on Kiln Lane and is accessible by footpath from Elmswell village or from Kiln Lane. Top of Page
Management The site is owned by Anglian Water and managed by a volunteer group from the local community. Anglian Water has provided a great deal of investment in the site, including installation of a pond and hedge/tree planting. The volunteers are members of the British Trust for Conservation Management. Top of Page
History The land was farmed (arable crops) until around 1960. Around that time it was acquired by Mid Suffolk District Council and used as a storage depot for vehicles. In 1974 the site passed to Anglian Water as part of the sewage works. The land now forming the wildlife site was not used for sewage treatment, but when filter beds were constructed to the south, debris and spoil were spread over the southernmost half. Use of modern technology means that the land is no longer required for expansion of the water treatment works and in 1994 Elmswell Parish Council sought agreement from Anglian Water to take over the site and manage it for the benefit of wildlife. Suffolk Wildlife Trust surveyed the site and drew up a development and management plan which is gradually being implemented. Top of Page
The site today The debris has been cleared away. The southernmost half is being managed as a wildflower meadow. No new seeds have been introduced, but the existing ‘seedbank’ has been allowed to develop by a regime of cutting and raking off the dominant weeds. Bee orchids are now established on this part of the site. In May 1999, as part of their contribution to the project, Anglian Water installed a large pond in the centre of the site. A dense hedge forms the perimeter of the north and east sides. New planting was carried out in 1996 and 1999 to create hedges on the two other sides of the site. There are some mature trees, including two pollarded oaks (one more than 100 years old), both in groups towards the centre of the site and as standards in the hedges. These were supplemented by new planting in 1999. An area of dense shrubs and trees at the north end of the site has been left relatively undisturbed. Work here has included clearing fallen branches and other debris, cutting back the rank vegetation, and creating a number of access points. This will let in more light, encouraging a greater diversity of plants, and will also make it easier to monitor nestboxes. A variety of nestboxes have been put up over the last three years and there are now more than 40 on the site.