Keephatch Meadow

Keephatch Meadow is  an open green-space between Stokes Farm and the A329M.  Farm fields were converted into a park when the new houses on the other side of the A329M were built.  The green-space is mostly open grassland but there are three ponds, areas of tree-planting and mature hedgerows on all four sides.
Keephatch Meadow is well used by dog walkers, and is particularly popular in winter because of the gravel paths.  Unfortunately, dogs like the ponds and it is likely that tick and flea treatments are suppressing the invertebrates that could be living in those ponds.
In 2025, the planted trees continued to grow well, and several areas of wildflowers appeared.  The ponds all dried out by September and are only just starting to fill up.  
One of the most exciting discoveries this year has been the presence of wild service trees along the A329M boundary.  These rare native trees are often a sign of mature woodland, but these were probably planted when the A329M was built.
We counted 39 species of birds (compared with 44 in 2024), 12 species of butterflies (compared with 7 in 2024) and 7 species of dragonflies and damselflies (surveyed for the first time in 2025).  Notable sightings included a grey heron checking out the ponds, stonechats, painted lady and marbled white butterflies, and an emperor dragonfly.