‘A place where willows are grown for basket making’

The Osier Beds have been an important part of Godmanchester since Saxon times.  Unfortunately, over the past few decades they have been left untended with chest high nettles hiding deadwood from the many dying and dead trees.  Over the past few years we have been contracting to have the large dead obstructions removed, Godmanchester in Bloom have planted mixed indigenous hedging and the Godmanchester Volunteer Group have cleared ground level deadwood which has allowed us to commence our replanting programme.  We now have 10 black saplings, bullrushes to name but a few, in locations which can be viewed from the two bridges spanning the sluices.  We are striving to create a balanced ecosystem leaving log piles to create habitats for invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds, bats and other animals.