The Lodge RSPB reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RSPB The Lodge |
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| Sandy Lodge, Sandy Warren | |
Woodland at Sandy Quarry, The Lodge
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| Location | Sandy, Bedfordshire, England |
| Area | 180 hectares (440 acres) |
| Created | 1961 |
RSPB The Lodge is a special place for nature, like a big park where animals and plants are protected. It's run by the RSPB, which is a charity that works to protect birds and the places they live. The main building, called The Lodge, is actually where the RSPB has its main office! You can find this amazing reserve in England, near the town of Sandy, Bedfordshire.
| The Lodge | |
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The Lodge house viewed from the formal gardens, with old swimming pool in foreground
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| Former names | Sandy Lodge |
| General information | |
| Address | Sandy, Bedfordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°06′58″N 0°15′55″W / 52.1161°N 0.2653°W |
Contents
Exploring the Nature Reserve
The RSPB The Lodge reserve covers a large area of about 180 hectares (that's like 445 football fields!). It sits on a high area called the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge. From here, you can look down over the River Ivel valley.
Different Habitats to Discover
The reserve has many different types of natural areas. You can find:
- Woodlands: Both broadleaved trees (like oak) and conifer trees (like pine).
- Grasslands: Special "acid grassland" areas.
- Heathland: Open areas with small shrubs and tough grasses.
Before the 1800s, most of this area was heathland. But then, people started using the land for farming or planting lots of conifer trees for wood.
Bringing Back the Heathland
In 2005, the RSPB started a big project to bring back some of the original heathland. They wanted to create the perfect home for special birds.
This project helps birds like:
- Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
- European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
- Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata)
Part of the reserve, called Sandy Warren, is so important for nature that it's been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's a protected area because of its unique plants, animals, or geology.
A Look at The Lodge's History
The land where The Lodge stands has a very long history, going back thousands of years!
Ancient Hill Forts
Believe it or not, there are two ancient Iron Age hill forts on the site. These forts were built around 700 BC. The most impressive one is on Galley Hill. It has clear banks and ditches that you can still see today. Later, the area known as 'Sandy Warren' was used to raise rabbits for food.
From Private Home to RSPB Headquarters
- Around 1851, a building called the 'Swiss Cottage' was built. Today, this cottage is the reserve's visitor centre and shop! It was built for a man named Captain William Peel.
- Later, the estate went to Captain Peel's younger brother, Arthur Wellesley Peel. He was an important person, a Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1870, he built the main house, which was first called 'Sandy Lodge'.
- After Arthur Peel passed away in 1912, the house was rented out for about ten years.
- In 1934, the house was sold to Sir Malcolm Stewart, and beautiful formal gardens were created around it.
The RSPB Makes it Home
In 1961, the RSPB bought The Lodge. This happened after Princess Margaret decided not to buy it because there was a public path through the grounds, which was a security concern. The RSPB has used The Lodge as its main headquarters ever since.
On October 13, 2010, something interesting happened: an unexploded bomb from World War II was found in the grounds. Luckily, it was safely removed without any problems.
