It was notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in 1984 and the local planning authority is Central Bedfordshire Council.

[1][2] The site is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

[3] This is a rich valley mire, and the largest area of wetland in Bedfordshire.

Eight species of sphagnum bog moss have been recorded, including one which is nationally rare.

[1] The area managed by the Wildlife Trust is 66.6 hectares: it includes Folly Wood, which was added to the site in 2007.