The meadow is small (18 acres 7.3 hectares) in terms of wildlife conservation and the trustees' long-term policy is to bid for any neighbouring sites that become available. A licence was signed on 31 March 2001 for access, for `wildlife conservation, public recreation and angling, to a site (2.4 acres) of `severed land' between Buck Pool and the Dorchester bypass. This site, which we have named Buck Pool Spinney, is in three parts, one with direct access from the Hurst meadow, one by means of two footbridges (which we have improved) and one separated by an eight-metre flood drain. This has been bridged by a footbridge, completed on 3 November 2001. 

We are very grateful to Donald Morrison A.R.I.B.A. for designing the bridges without fee.

Buck Pool spinney contains `inundation woodland' which is a rare and valuable habitat. It will complement the existing meadow with woodland, and make the habitat more diverse. We propose to conserve this and Volunteers have constructed an otter holt, with expert help from BBOWT. The bank will be protected in order to encourage water vole. The site will be subject to a Conservation Management Plan from the Northmoor Trust, and we will be guided by its recommendations. One proposal is the introduction of the Lodden Lily (summer snowflake, Leucojum aestivum).