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County Wildlife Site status acknowledges a site’s importance for wildlife, and sites of this nature contribute significantly to the richness and biodiversity of the countryside.

Priory Country Park’s lakes and the stretch of the river that runs through it have had County Wildlife Site status for a number of years. Thanks to long-term careful management of the park, wildflowers have been encouraged to spread and flourish, creating a welcoming home for native wildlife.

This has seen the Site status extended to cover the whole park including the woods and the various meadows, which see an abundance of wildflowers in the summer.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said “As a Country Park, Priory has long led the way in allowing our natural environment to flourish, with careful management, creating a haven for wildlife within walking distance of Bedford town centre.

“In recent times especially, I know we have all come to value our local parks even more as places to get some exercise, and enjoy the fresh air and get into nature.

“We have been extending this approach of encouraging natural grass and wildflower meadows to other parks, to create spaces for nature to flourish alongside mown areas where people can walk and play through our ‘Bugs and Bees’ project.

“Congratulations to Priory Country Park on this extension to their County Wildlife Site status, recognising the importance of the work being done to encourage wildflowers and wildlife.”

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