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

[1][2] This site is a base-rich marsh which has diverse plant life.

It has springs along the edge of glacial gravel, and this produces wet marsh which is dominated by meadowsweet.

Other habitats are neutral grassland, swamp carr woodland, mature ash woodland, a stream and hedgerows.

Clipstone Brook forms its western boundary.