Conservation Projects
We have a number of exciting projects dedicated to targeted areas of our work. Find out more about these initiatives below.
Learn about our large-area ‘living landscapes’ projects.
Bed & Breakfast for Farmland Birds Project
A number of bird species found on farmland are of conservation concern because their numbers have declined dramatically over the last 25 years. These include several species that were once common in the countryside, including: tree sparrow, linnet, yellowhammer, reed bunting and corn bunting.
Some of the factors currently affecting bird populations on farms include:
- Lack of Nesting Sites
- Too Little Food for Young
- Limited Winter Food
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers, the Lady Hind Trust, the Open Gate Trust and DEFRA/GOEM, has launched a pilot project to help re-establish farmland bird populations. Selected farms have been provided with a feeding hopper and nest boxes for tree sparrows. Farmers fill the hopper with crop tailings/screenings and a specially blended seed mix until habitats improve enough for the populations to become self-sustaining.
Feeders are monitored to record the species and numbers of birds using them so that success can be evaluated.
Please contact us if you are interested in participating or would like to find out more about the project:
Carl Cornish
(Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood)
Tel: 01777 713940
e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Gaynor Jones Jenkins
(Ashfield, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield and Rushcliffe)
Tel: 0115 958 8242
e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Conservation Grazing
In 1999 the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust introduced a flock of Hebridean sheep to the county as a means of managing some of the county’s threatened habitats.
Nottinghamshire supports a variety of wonderful wildlife habitats including remnants of the once vast Sherwood Forest heathland and four different types of grassland, each supporting a unique array of colourful wildflowers. By the beginning of this millennium most of these magnificent landscapes had disappeared; between 1922 and 2000, 90% of our lowland heathland and 97% of our beloved wildflower meadows were lost to agriculture, plantation forestry and urban development.
The programme has been very successful with plants such as heather and beautiful wildflower meadows thriving once again.
Blue Butterfly Scheme
Before the advent of herbicides and fertilisers, flower filled meadows were a familiar sight in Nottinghamshire. Sadly 97% of species-rich grasslands in the county have disappeared since the 1930s. With careful management grasslands can thrive in the county once again with beautiful wildflowers and grasses supporting blue butterflies and a wealth of other wildlife.
The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with all the local authorities in Nottinghamshire has developed the Blue Butterfly Scheme to manage and recreate our disappearing grasslands, one of our most attractive habitats filled with rare and beautiful wildflowers. This scheme has received support from WREN and Severn Trent Water and more than 30 sites have now benefitted. More funding is needed to help continue and expand this work.
