Strawberry Hill, home to rare species like nightingales and turtle doves, faces potential loss without funding.

A 150-hectare farm near Bedford, which has been left to nature for over three decades, is at risk of being sold and repurposed for agriculture, prompting a £1.5 million fundraising campaign to preserve the land. Strawberry Hill, once arable farmland, has gradually transformed into a wildlife haven, home to rare species like nightingales, cuckoos, and turtle doves.

This site, which has been a sanctuary for wildlife since the owner ceased farming 37 years ago, has yet to receive official protections. Following the owner’s passing, there were concerns that the land could be returned to agriculture. Fortunately, the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs, and Northants (BCN) has successfully secured half of the property, but to ensure its future, the charity now needs to raise enough money to purchase the remaining land.

Strawberry Hill serves as an exceptional example of rewilding in practice, long before the concept gained widespread attention. It offers a rare, ready-made habitat teeming with wildlife, including 32 pairs of nightingales in an area where their population has declined by 90% across the UK.

The trust’s conservation director, Matt Jackson, explained that the land’s size and its unique history make it a valuable resource for studying both wildlife management and carbon storage. The proposed conservation plan involves maintaining a dynamic mix of scrubland, meadow, and woodland through light grazing by animals such as Highland cattle, which will help preserve open areas crucial for wildlife.

With this appeal, conservationists are hopeful they can secure the future of Strawberry Hill as a key sanctuary for endangered species and a stepping stone for wildlife across Bedfordshire’s agricultural landscape. For more information or to donate, visit: www.wildlifebcn.org/strawberryhillappeal.