Our Fields
Welcome to Widmer Fields
Whatever the time of year Widmer Fields is a beautiful open space covering just over forty acres between Widmer End and Hazlemere. The fields are part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and one of the biggest village greens in the country!
The Grange Area Trust (GAT) is a local charity, set up to purchase and protect Widmer Fields for the benefit of the local community. The fields are there for everyone, so whether you dog walk, jog, bird watch, cycle or simply walk to work, enjoy!
History of the fields
Widmer Farm and Grange Farm have been farming this area since early 19th Century and were identified on Bryant’s pre-ordnance survey map of 1825 on the edge of Wycombe Heath.
Taylor Wimpey (as Laing Homes) purchased Widmer Farm in the early 1960s, but the area was not developed after protest by action groups of Widmer End and Hazlemere residents.
Grange Area Trust (GAT) is a charity founded in 2012 to buy the 40 acres from Taylor Wimpey and to maintain the fields for the benefit of the residents of Widmer End and Hazlemere, whose charitable donations paid for the land.
Village green status was applied for by GAT to protect the fields from future development and was achieved in 2017. Any future development requires an act of parliament to repeal the village green status.
GAT trustees and volunteers manage and maintain the fields in accordance with the GAT land management plan to enable local residents and visitors from further afield to enjoy the green open spaces and provide diverse habitats for the wildlife and birds.
Flora and fauna of the fields
Birds are regular users of the fields and many native species can be seen throughout the year with also some migrating birds passing through.
Deer are often in the fields particularly the smaller muntjac and roe deer. The deer can damage saplings by eating the bark so the trees are protected while young with covers.
Trees around the boundary of the fields are mostly deciduous oaks, ashes, beeches and hawthorns with a few cherries and some recently planted cedars. There were over a dozen species of trees identified in the last tree survey.
Orchard area has been planted with fruit trees including apples, plums and some nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts.
Grasses and wildflowers take up most of the fields and there are many native wild flowers such as bluebells, buttercups, snowdrops, and some planted patches of daffodils
Ecology of the fields
Widmer fields are maintained by local volunteers and are within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The fields are:
Lime Walk is an avenue of 90 trees on the entrance from North Rd planted to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s ninetieth birthday.
South Field is an open green space of mostly grass with sparsely spaced native trees and a small orchard area of fruit and nut trees.
Oak Field is home to densely packed young oaks and is planned to mature into a natural English oak wood.
Ash Field is named after the numerous ash trees in the ash walk and has many wildlife habitat islands of bramble and blackthorn.
Bee Field is a quiet field where the hives of our local apiarist are kept and the bees do their essential work pollinating crops and flowers ranging over 2 miles in all directions.
Bluebell Walk is part of the field margin where glorious displays of bluebells can be found in spring.
Wildlife habitats of bramble and blackthorn islands are maintained within the fields and in the field boundaries as safe refuges for the creatures that share our community such as muntjac, roe deer, foxes, badgers, rabbits and all manner of birds and small mammals.es.
Please help us look after the fields
Dog walkers – keep dogs under control at all times and bag dog poo in the bins provided near the main entrances.
Litter – please take your litter home with you.
Cyclists – walkers have priority, reduce your speed and take care.
Fires and BBQs – are not permitted due to grass fire risk.
Flora and Fauna – respect birds & animals, do not pick the plants.
