Species and habitat at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s largest nature reserve are set to benefit from improved management, thanks to the generous support from the Metamorphosis Foundation.

The Idle Valley Nature Reserve is a spectacular wetland site, and one of the most important wildlife sites in the East Midlands. Made up of a glorious 375ha network of lakes, wetland, grassland and scrub, it is home to a diverse range of wildlife and recognised as one of the richest birding sites in the region - but with lots of separate water bodies and miles of shoreline in outlaying parts, mostly inaccessible from the shore, management and activities such as bird ringing and habitat creation was being held back by the lack of safe access to islands and remote areas of shoreline.  

With the lack of access continuing to cause frustration for staff and volunteers, the Wildlife Trust highlighted the problem with long-term supporters, The Metamorphosis Foundation- who then stepped in with funding to purchase a suitable 6-person electric boat.  

Speaking about the support, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Charitable Trust’s Officer Geoff East said: “Over the past few years, we’ve developed a great relationship the Metamorphosis Foundation and when we highlighted the problems with access for management they really came to the rescue. An electric boat was the ideal choice, as its engine is almost silent, which means it lessens disturbance of nesting birds. It is also much cleaner than a conventional oil powered craft cleaner and omits far less pollution. We’re extremely grateful for their support and look forward to working with them again in future.”

The aptly named Metamorphosis boat was officially named and launched earlier this month with two Trustees of Metamorphosis Foundation, Dr Simon Thornton and Susie Thornton, in attendance.

The Metamorphosis Foundation was formed in 2020 by Trustees Dr. Simon Thornton, Susie Thornton and Dr Neil Rotherham with the aim of supporting projects in Africa, but due to the impacts of Covid Lockdowns in 2020 restricting travel, the foundation, reached out to UK based projects. The Foundation have subsequently supported a range of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust activities linked to the reintroduction of beavers to control scrub at Idle Valley Nature Reserve and to improve feeding habitat for threatened turtle doves – at the reserve, which is one of their last remaining strongholds in the county. 

Elsewhere on the reserve, Longhorn cattle and beavers are now helping to make distinctly positive changes to their environments on the reserve which are already starting to benefit many species. However, much clearance work still needs managing by hand. 

Metamorphosis’ continued support at Idle Valley will help maintain and improve the site’s value for wildlife – where there is an abundance of good scrub, home for many birds, mammals and invertebrates. The new boat will enable the Wildlife Trust’s team to clear areas on islands to protect feeding areas for waders and breeding habitat for ground nesting birds. 

Speaking on behalf of Metamorphosis Foundation about the support Dr Simon Thornton said: “We are delighted that the boat’s purchase has already had such a positive impact at the reserve for staff and researchers”