King's Meads facts for kids
King's Meads is a special nature reserve located between the towns of Hertford and Ware in Hertfordshire, England. It is looked after by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, which is an organization that protects wild places. King's Meads is very large, covering 96 hectares (about 237 acres), making it the biggest reserve managed by this Trust.
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What is King's Meads?
King's Meads is a type of land called "water meadows." This means the area often gets flooded in winter, which is natural and important for the plants and animals that live there. It's a key spot for many different kinds of wildlife.
How Did King's Meads Get Its Name?
The name King's Meads was given to this area by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in 2015. Before that, it was simply known as The Meads. A small part of the reserve was actually called King's Meads a long time ago. In 1627, King Charles I sold this small piece of land to Hertford Corporation for £100.
Other parts of The Meads, especially near Ware, have been owned by different people and groups for hundreds of years, going all the way back to the Middle Ages. These areas had their own names, like Lady's Mead, Widows Mead, Mill Mead, Broad Mead, and Chadwell Mead.
Wildlife at King's Meads
King's Meads is a fantastic place for nature, especially for plants and birds.
What Plants Grow at King's Meads?
Scientists have found 265 different kinds of wildflowers growing here. Some of these flowers are quite rare in Hertfordshire. Examples include reflexed salt-marsh grass and lesser sea spurrey. The wet conditions of the water meadows help these unique plants to thrive.
What Birds Live at King's Meads?
This reserve is home to many water birds. It is also a very important place for stonechats, especially during the winter months. In total, 119 different species of birds have been seen and recorded at King's Meads. This makes it a great spot for birdwatching!
Visiting King's Meads
You can visit King's Meads and explore its natural beauty.
How to Get There
There are a couple of ways to access the reserve. You can get onto the site from the towpath of the Lee Navigation, which is a waterway. Another way to enter is from Mead Lane.
Features of the Reserve
The New River flows right through King's Meads. This is a historic waterway that was built to bring fresh water to London. The A10 road also passes over the reserve on a large bridge called a viaduct.
