User:WatchtreeNR/sandbox

Watchtree is a nature reserve located six miles west of Carlisle, close to the hamlet of Wiggonby in Cumbria, England. The roughly 200 acre site is operated by Watchtree Nature Reserve ltd and owned by DEFRA. The reserve is situated on the site of the former Great Orton Airfield, in use during World War Two. Great Orton Wind Farm is also located on part of the reserve.

History
During medieval times local people would use two tall trees on the site to form a lookout, to warn of attack from border reivers. The relatively high elevation of the site, in terms of the surrounding area, offered extensive views north over the Solway plain, which could be why this site was chosen for this purpose. Prior to World War Two the site was known as Watchtree Farm - named after the sites' former use as lookout post. During World War Two the site was requisitioned by the RAF under emergency war powers, to be turned into an airfield. The airfield became operational in 1943 and formed part of a network of WW2 airfields along the Solway coast, operating as a satellite of RAF Silloth. Although larger than its parent, RAF Silloth, it had far less facilities. It was used by Wellingtons of No.6 Operational Training Unit and Hurricanes of No.55 Operational Training Unit. When World War II ended the airfield became a bomb storage facility, named 249 Maintenance Unit. The airfield closed in 1952, after which the site mostly fell into agricultural use once again. The remains of the control tower and a number of the concrete runways can still be seen. Great Orton Wind Farm opened in 1989.

Foot and Mouth crisis 2001
During the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak the former Great Orton Airfield became internationally known, as the site chosen by DEFRA, to be the final resting place for just under half a million culled livestock carcasses from the surrounding area. The name Great Orton was to become notoriously synonymous with the disease, often featuring in national and international news coverage. In total 466,312 carcasses, comprising 448,508 sheep, 12,085 cattle and 5,719 pigs were buried between late March and the 7th of May 2001 in 26 trenches. A 12 metre retaining wall was erected underground in order to prevent seepage from the site, and around 240 cubic metres of water is still treated on site each week.

Transition to Nature Reserve
Following the Foot and Mouth outbreak, local people were consulted to decide what should happen to the site. The locals voted overwhelmingly to turn the site into a nature reserve in the hope that the tragedy might produce a positive legacy. The nature reserve opened in 2002 as the Watchtree Nature Reserve, named after the earlier Watchtree Farm that had once occupied the site. Watchtree Nature Reserve ltd was incorporated in 2004 to take over the running of the reserve with the aim of developing the site into a “wildlife haven and community asset for all”, with particular emphasis placed on developing the site for educational use and public access. DEFRA continued to maintain responsibility for the running of the operational side of the site. Around 60,000 trees were planted on site to extend the existing woodland, and water bodies used as the outflow for the site were modified in an attempt to provide optimal conditions for attracting wildlife. In 2009 Watchtree Nature Reserve ltd became a registered charity. The reserve relies on funding and donations in order to keep running.

Present Day
Today Watchtree has developed into a popular visitor attraction, welcoming around 30,000 visitors in the year 2016/17. The reserve boasts numerous different habitats which have led to high biodiversity amongst the wildlife, some of which is endangered such as the Great Crested Newt. The reserve is particularly known for its bird life, while Roe Deer and Brown Hare can usually be spotted on the reserve. The Reserve is also used extensively for recreation, being popular for walking and cycling. Many of the old runways have been resurfaced to allow for easy accessibility. Watchtree Wheelers is a popular bike hire scheme that operates in the nature reserve, with the aim of providing accessible cycling for all regardless of capability with a range of adapted cycles available for those with physical needs.