Pavenham Osier Beds

Pavenham Osier Beds is a 1.3 hectare nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.[1] They lie south of Pavenham on the banks of the River Great Ouse, in Bedfordshire. An Osier bed is where historically willows were planted and coppiced to produce withies which were used for basket making, fish-traps, and other purposes. The willow species salix viminalis was typically grown for this purpose. Willow rods (cuttings) would be planted, which root easily in moist ground, and the growth of the willow withies would be cut every one or two years.[2]

There is access by a footpath on the left of Mill Lane. There are no footpaths in this small site.

References

  1. ↑ "Pavenham Osier Beds (In Memory of Horace Church)". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
  2. ↑ Gallica, Historical & Archaeological Interpretation: Farming

Coordinates: 52°11′09″N 0°33′09″W / 52.185712°N 0.552605°W / 52.185712; -0.552605

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