Just a short walk from Thame town centre is a nature reserve cared for by local volunteers, writes ELIZABETH EDWARDS

Although it is only a few minutes walk from Thame town centre, the Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve provides the town with its own green lung — an area of semi-wild countryside.

The land was designated as a nature reserve by South Oxfordshire District Council in 1995 in order to protect the area of wet grassland and the reserve has been supported through Countryside Stewardship Schemes. It is open at all times and takes its name from the Cuttle Brook, a tributary of the River Thame which meanders through the landscape from its source in the Chiltern Hills.

There are open river meadow views throughout the reserve, which extends to 30 acres and also includes mixed meadowland, woodland, sedge and reed-beds, hedges, trees, riverbank and scrubland.

In earlier times it was used for the grazing of cattle — cattle would have rested there on their way to Thame cattle market. There are still visible signs of the ploughing of medieval times, with its ridges and furrows.

Much of the work has been carried out by the Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers and the group is proud of the reserve and what has been achieved. It is a reserve which many communities would envy.

"In my experience, it is unique for a town of the size of Thame to have such a large open area designated as a nature reserve," said the chairman of the volunteers, Dave Watkins. "It is a very tranquil place, a very peaceful place.

"It is well established, after 15 years, with the recent programme of improved access now completed. It is easily accessible for families to walk or cycle here. It is a good place for kite-flying and for games with frisbees in the open meadows."

The volunteers, who number as many as 30, meet twice a month and any practical maintenance that is beyond their scope, such as working with chainsaws, is carried out by council staff.

"We also hold social activities, such as barbecues," said Dave. "We are all good friends and social people. It's nice to be able to do other things as well as work."

There are good surfaces on the pathways, one circular route and another across the reserve, which provide easy access for wheelchairs or children in pushchairs.

The reserve is already popular with birdwatchers, who, like members of the volunteer group, carry out surveys of species and by people who record plant species that appear through the seasons.

The wetland areas are a haven for the flowers such as the marsh marigold and meadowsweet, and there are willow trees, sedges and three different types of rushes.

"The sedge beds are a key factor in terms of wildlife," said Dave. The sedge is cut on a four or five-year rotation, so that any wildlife disturbed has plenty of other refuge.

Hedges are managed in a similar fashion using traditional hedge-laying skills. Rather than just the top growth being cut off, the branches are woven in and the hedges can become thick and bushy, rather than tall and straggly, leaving gaps at the base.

To protect the fragile environment the access to the area of the sedge beds is provided by a board walk. Here visitors may catch sight of such bird species as the reed bunting and grasshopper warbler.

Waterside plants abound and at the wooden bridge, which was designed by students from the nearby Ryecotewood College and built by the volunteers, dragonflies can be seen during the summer months.

Cox's Wood is a low-lying area of woodland planted in 1995 with native species such as oak, alder, bird, hornbeam, field maple and cherry, with hawthorn and blackthorn to provide food, nesting-sites and shelter for birds and good foraging for shrews and voles. Another area of woodland is Old Tip Wood — so named for it once was Thame's 'town tip'. Nowadays there are larches, fir trees and Scots pines, rowan and ash trees and birches with a striking white bark. This is a good area for goldfinches.

A pond was created in 1996 and its plantlife includes water lilies, water iris and teasels. Among the wildlife of the water is the occasional swimming grass snake.

The group is looking at ways to promote the reserve for greater use by the town. A descriptive leaflet has recently been launched by Thame Town Council. One suggestion is its incorporation in a tourist trail, that could include historic features of the town's buildings.

A family area is set aside on its western edge. It is a popular place for picnics and the area is often used for arts projects such as sculpture and open-air theatre.

The Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers always welcome more people to join them. They can be contacted on 01844 291803.