Finding new species

As signs of Spring start to appear we are forever noticing new species. Over on our new reserve Prince Freddy's Meadows we have just found Water Violet appearing in the old river channel.

Water Violet growing in old river channel © Nick Lingwood

There is also a really old Wild Pear growing on the reserve.

Wild Pear Tree © Nick Lingwood

We are planning on running another guided walk around the reserve in the near future. If you were previously booked onto the last walk and could not make it we will be in touch when we have a new date. If you would like to express an interest in coming on the next walk then please get in touch via Contact Us page.

Its not too late to donate and help us restore Prince Freddy's Meadows. You can do this in a range of ways from donating via our JustGiving page, via our donate page on the website, by cheque and even bank transfer (Contact Us for more details) - see attached for more details of how to donate.

Just Giving QR Code - Prince Freddy's Meadows

Thank you for your continued support

How you can help us restore Prince Freddy's Meadows.pdf

Download PDF • 144KB

LOHP Donate by Cheque 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 172KB

LOHP's Newest Reserve

With the purchase of Prince Freddy’s Meadows, 27 acres (11ha) of pasture and woodland beside the infant Little Ouse at Blo’ Norton, the Little Ouse Headwaters Project has taken on by far its most ambitious project yet. The meadows are named after Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, who lived at nearby Blo’ Norton Hall from 1909 to 1926. This fascinating piece of land would also have been familiar to Virginia Woolf, who stayed at Blo’ Norton Hall in 1906, and who wrote affectionately of the area and even swam in the river.

Aerial view of riverside land in Blo' Norton © Strutt and Parker

Over the years the land, and the flow of the river, has been much altered, so the LOHP faces the formidable challenge of restoring it to its former glory. It has interesting wildlife, with otters and water voles, breeding mandarin ducks and visiting red deer, but has the potential to be much richer. 

Mandarin Duck © David Tomlinson

Ellie Beach, LOHP’s Conservation Manager, warns that “It will require a year of intensive study of the topography and existing flora and fauna before any work on the land is undertaken. Our aim is to eventually restore the old meandering course of the Little Ouse and to bring back the rich biodiversity that the meadows must have once had.”

Chair of Trustees, Rob Robinson, commented "LOHP was started by volunteers 23 years ago with the aim of improving the habitat along the headwaters of the Little Ouse, which is nationally very rare. This land is a vital piece in the jigsaw and its restoration, although daunting, has the potential to become a real haven for wildlife."

There is currently no public access to Prince Freddy’s Meadows, but LOHP plans to provide access points where there are good views of the river as part of its plans to restore the site. Join us at our AGM on Friday 5th December to hear more about Prince Freddy's Meadows, or come along and visit on Sunday 11th January 2026 - See Events page for more details or visit Prince Freddy's Meadows webpage.

Donations to help restore Prince Freddy's Meadows can be made to LOHP at JustGiving.

LOHP Art Exhibition 'Art in Nature'

Not long now until our second LOHP Art Exhibition 'Art in Nature'. An art exhibition inspired by British Nature and Countryside. Sunday 24th and Bank Holiday Monday 25th August *, 10am to 4pm, Hinderclay Village Hall.

Why not stop by and say hello and enjoy some homemade cakes while enjoying the artwork. Entrance is free.

We still have some space available if you are an artist and would like to exhibit. Please contact Sue Lawrence membership.secretary@lohp.org.uk

If you can spare an hour or two to help us on the day please Contact Us

(* The Street in Redgrave will be closed on Monday 25th at The Cross Keys pub so you will need to follow diversions to get to the art exhibition, if coming from that direction)