Calvert Jubilee facts for kids
Calvert Jubilee is a nature reserve in Calvert, near Steeple Claydon in Buckinghamshire. It covers about 22 hectares (or 54 acres) of land. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) looks after this special place. In July 2020, a big railway project called High Speed 2 (HS2) announced it would take over and clear about 20% of the reserve.
About Calvert Jubilee
Most of Calvert Jubilee is a deep lake. This lake was made a long time ago when people dug out clay to make bricks. An old railway line, called the Great Central Main Line, also used to run through this area.
Today, the lake is a great spot for wild birds in winter. You can see birds like mallard ducks, tufted ducks, and pochards here. To help people watch the birds, there are two special bird hides. These are like small shelters where you can hide and observe the birds without disturbing them. The trust has also built three floating islands on the lake. These islands help water birds to build their nests and raise their young safely away from animals like foxes.
Around the lake, you can find many different kinds of wild flowers and butterflies. It's a very important place for butterflies! All five types of hairstreak butterflies that live in the UK have been seen at Calvert Jubilee. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) manages the reserve. You can visit it from the road that runs between Calvert Jubilee and Grebe Lake.
High Speed 2 Project
The High Speed 2 (HS2) project is building a new fast railway line across the country. This new line will use the path of the old railway line that runs along the eastern side of Calvert Jubilee. Because of this, HS2 needed to take over about 20% of the nature reserve.
In February 2019, BBOWT found out about HS2's plans for construction work. They were worried because the work could harm the local plants and animals. So, they told HS2 they didn't agree with the plans. In May, BBOWT did not let HS2 workers onto the land. By December, the trust was upset because HS2 had started work anyway. BBOWT felt that HS2 should have waited for the results of a special review (called the Oakervee Review) before continuing.
In July 2020, BBOWT announced that HS2 would officially take over part of the reserve and clear it. HS2 Limited said they now owned 20% of the land. On the day HS2 was supposed to take the land, they decided to wait a bit longer. However, the company did take possession of the site in September 2020.
