© Sophie Bell
Landowner Advice and Small Grant Scheme
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.
October 2025
The Hook
Scrape creation has been completed at The Hook, a nature reserve site located near West Bridgford on the River Trent. Scrapes are shallow depressions in the ground, which can hold water creating excellent ephemeral wet habitat for a range of invertebrates and birds, and are vital to breeding populations along the Trent corridor. The scraped back earth has exposed soil upon which wildflower seed will be sown, boosting the botanical diversity of the meadow too. The Hook is owned by Rushcliffe Borough Council and management of the reserve is supported by the volunteer group Friends of the Hook.
Credit Simon Blant
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.”
Credit John Hooper
The tern raft ready for launch onto the lake. Credit John Hooper.
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.