Thriving in a Wilder Trent: Project Outcomes

Summary

Here are some of the things we're working on as part of Thriving in a Wilder Trent:

• 25 “No Fence” collars​

• Purchase of roboflail​

• Tern rafts at various sites

• Wader island at Besthorpe​ Nature Reserve

• Coppicing and pollarding willow at Girton, Farndon and Attenborough Nature Reserve.

• Scrub management (using mulcher)​

• Deer fencing at Attenborough Nature Reserve​

• Fencing at Besthorpe, Spalford and Muskham nature reserves​

• Hedgerow management at West Burton Meadow​

• Landowner advice and small grant scheme.

Willington Wetlands, Derbyshire

May 2025

Nottingham Wildlife Trust has partnered up with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to support habitat development work at Willington Wetlands.  The site identified was permanent semi-improved grassland of very low wildlife value.  The project sought to create permanent and seasonal wet grassland habitat for plants, insects and wading birds by creating new scrapes.

Multiple scrapes have now been excavated in line with EA consent requirements and the pictures attached show the extend of the habitat creation.  Over the next few months, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will be hosting events at Willington Wetlands to observe and celebrate the creation of the new complimentary habitat that will benefit the wetland area.

Langford Lowfields

April 2025

RSPB are one of the partners in our Species Survival Fund project, Thriving in a wilder Trent. 

The project will enhance and expand reedbed habitat at Langford Lowfields by translocating mature reed from a disused silt lagoon onto a bare island.  To support sustainability, a new polytunnel will be constructed allowing for annual propagation of 10,000-15,000 seedlings to be planted by volunteers.  Once the reeds are translocated to the island, the young plants will be protected from grazing wildfowl by protective fencing. 

The impressive 60-foot polytunnel was erected in February, and RSPB volunteer teams have been working hard to level the floor and put the geotextile layer down. Next stage will be to put up the rabbit-proof fence around the outside of the tunnel, spread a layer of gravel inside and then put up the workbench shelf along one inner side of the tunnel. This will be used as a raised work area for filling the seed trays with compost and Phragmites seed. The tunnel has green netting along both sides, which acts as a vent and can open and shut to control the temperature. It additionally has double sliding doors at each end to allow easy access when moving in and out and provides additional ventilation if required. The previous tunnel hit 60 degrees on more than one occasion, to the detriment of the seedling being grown inside.

 RSPB have also purchased 5 large plastic propagation bays which hold water and in which the seed trays containing the reed seedlings will live, as well as 2 new 1000L water tanks, which will be filled with water from the reedbed and then used to irrigate the seedlings.

RSPB won a prestigious award for Langford Lowfields site being the most impressive quarry restoration at the Mineral Products Association - Quarry & Nature Event in March.

Tern rafts

May 2025

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust have installed four new double tern rafts on sites across the County.

Tern rafts provide valuable nesting platforms on the water, away from predators.  Common terns migrate from West and South Africa and usually arrive at sites in Nottinghamshire from mid-April.  They like to nest on gravelly beaches and islands, so we have used cockle shells in the base of the tern rafts to welcome these noisy visitors.

New tern rafts have been installed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust rangers, working with local volunteers at Skylarks Nature Reserve, Besthorpe Nature Reserve, Netherfield Lagoons and North Muskham Lake in time for this season's arrivals.  There are also tern rafts at Attenborough Nature Reserve that can be seen from the viewing platform.

25th March 2025

We are busy preparing for the arrival of terns from the coast of Spain and Africa. They arrive from the middle of April, departing again in late summer.

We are currently delivering new tern rafts to 4 different sites in Nottinghamshire: Besthorpe, Skylarks, North Muskham and Netherfield Lagoons.

Rangers and volunteers are busy getting them ready so that when the terns arrive, they have a safe place to lay their eggs. These delightful silvery-grey and white birds have long tails which have earned them the nickname 'sea-swallow'. They have a graceful, floating flight and frequently hover over water before plunging down for fish.

Landowner advice and small grant scheme

As part of the Thriving in a Wilder Trent project, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust received £100,000 match funding from Severn Trent to support habitat creation on privately owned land along the River Trent.  A whole range of different projects are underway that also support nature connectivity along 90km of the River Trent.

May 2025

The first of these projects was completed in early May at Notts County Sailing Club in Hoveringham, with the installation of a new tern raft.  Members from the sailing club put the tern raft together; they provide valuable nesting platforms on the water, away from predators and demonstrate how nature and watersports can exist side by side, sharing a mutual respect for the local environment.  

Project Officer, Miriam Lawley commented “It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at Notts County Sailing Club and support the installation of a new tern raft. The River Trent is an important corridor for many migrating birds who breed in the UK every summer, including the Common Tern which is a species of conservation concern. This new raft will be incredibly valuable for these birds safely rearing chicks, as well as the opportunity for users of the lake to enjoy watching them.”

Community Engagement

May 2025 - Mental Health Awareness Week

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Trust arranged a riverside well-being walk at Farndon as part of the Thriving in a Wilder Trent project.  The walk focused on the importance of taking a break from the hectic world we live in and how nature can support in doing this.  The day started with breathing exercises and alerting the senses to the natural world around them, mindful walking along the riverbank - using stimulus cards to focus the senses on flowers, plants, insects and birds, Qi Gong exercises aligning breathing with gentle movements and a nature journalling exercise to explore the importance of nature in our day to day lives.  

The weather was very kind and we enjoyed a picnic lunch at Farndon Ponds Nature Reserve in the spring sunshine.  A tranquil break from the hustle and bustle of daily life, with no mobile phone interruptions and dedicated time to relax and enjoy a peaceful natural world.  When asked how people felt at the end of the walk, one replied, "happy and relaxed" and another said, "I feel so relaxed - like wet spaghetti"  

18th May, RSPB Langford Lowfields

On 18^th May, RSPB held a guided walk at the Langford Lowfields site. Joe Harris, RSPB Site Manager stated,

"12 people attended the guided walk at Langford Lowfields and we saw and heard a good range of wildlife including Great White Egrets, Bitterns, Hobbies, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Cuckoos, Peregrine Falcon and Roe Deer. In fact, we saw a grand total of 60 species of birds. We also saw the wonderous new SSF-funded polytunnel and I talked about the up-coming reed translocation scheduled for August."

This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.