Portholme

Portholme (or Port Holme on Ordnance Survey mapping)[2] is a 106-hectare (260-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Parish of Brampton between Huntingdon and Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire, England.[1][3] It is a Nature Conservation Review site,[4] and a Special Area of Conservation.[5]

Portholme
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationCambridgeshire
Grid referenceTL 236 708[1]
InterestBiological
Area106.0 hectares[1]
Notification1984[1]
Location mapMagic Map

The site is an alluvial flood meadow, and one of the largest areas of grassland which is still traditionally managed as a Lammas meadow. Watercourses have some unusual invertebrates, including the nationally restricted dragonfly Libellula fulva. The meadow is managed by cutting followed by grazing, and it is flooded in winter and early spring.[4]

...to my father, poor man, and walked with him up and down the house — it raining a little, and the waters all over Portholme and the meadows, so as no pleasure abroad.

The Diary of Samuel Pepys, 24 May 1668

There is access by road from Mill Common, Huntingdon.[2] and on foot via the Ouse Valley Way from Godmanchester Chinese Bridge or Bromholme Lane, Brampton.

Between April and October 1918, the meadow was used as a Training Depot Station (designated No. 211 TDS) by the Royal Air Force. Aircraft were moved to RAF Scopwick in October 1918.[6]

For clarification the feature is commonly mapped geographically, with two words: Port, and "Holme" meaning island. The SSSI was specifically named "Portholme" and includes other areas adjacent to the island. Both spellings are used in Huntingdonsire Local Plan to 2036.[7]

References
  1. "Designated Sites View: Portholme". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. "225" (Map). Huntingdon & St Ives. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2015. ISBN 9780319244180.
  3. "Map of Portholme". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. "Portholme citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. "Portholme". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. Delve, Ken (2008). The military airfields of Britain; East Midlands. Marlborough: Crowded Press. p. 344. ISBN 978-1-86126-995-9.
  7. https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/media/3872/190516-final-adopted-local-plan-to-2036.pdf
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52.321°N 0.188°W / 52.321; -0.188

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