Hertfordshire and Middlesex
Project Name: Wetland re-creation and restoration
Project Summary: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust is working to restore important wetland habitats for threatened wildlife, like otters, water vole and many wetland birds.
County: Hertfordshire
Area: Stanborough Reed Marsh at Welwyn Garden City, Amwell Nature Reserve at Stanstead Abbots and Wilstone Reservoir, (near Tring).
Habitats: Wetland
Key species: Otter, watervole, and many wetland birds including the rare bittern
The Trust's work at Stanborough Reed Marsh, Amwell and Wilstone reservoir will involve the lowering of reed beds to respond to lower water levels. Rejuvenating the (once dry) reedbeds will allow fish to penetrate the reeds which will provide feeding opportunities for bitterns and new habitat for reed warbers, water voles, water beetles, dragonflies and other small mammals such as harvest mice.
To provide ideal conditions for wildlife the Trust will also cut the reedbed to create as much structural diversity as possible including open, wet habitat, pools, glades and reed edges.
By creating conditions such as these it is hoped that Bittern populations can expand and in the future hopefully breed in the area.
In addition to the wetland restoration works the Wildlife Trust is improving access at its nature reserves so that more people can enjoy wildlife watching. One example is at Amwell nature reserve where we will be creating a screened walkway that will lead to a new bird watching hide.
Project Name: Getting Closer to Wildlife
Project Summary: The future of wildlife is heavily dependent on people. Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust is helping the public understand and enjoy wildlife through its work with adults and young people.
County: Hertfordshire & Middlesex
Area: Across Hertfordshire and Middlesex
Habitats: All
Key species: Everything from bats to badgers, plants and trees.
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust is running its second year of wildlife training workshops aimed at developing the wildlife knowledge of local people and encouraging them to get out into the countryside. Sessions this year include an introduction to badgers, otters, water voles, fungi, wild flowers and trees to name a few. As people develop their identification skills they can play a positive part in the Trust's work on nature reserves and in the wider countryside.
In addition to its work with adults the Trust is encouraging schools to set up their own Wildlife Watch club. Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of the Wildlife Trusts Partnership, encouraging young people to explore nature and help protect wildlife. Watch clubs provide opportunities for children to become more actively involved outside of school hours in wildlife projects.
The Trust has a wide range of both indoor and outdoor, hands-on sessions that can be delivered in local schools and hopes to get another ten schools on board this year. Projects might include building a wildlife garden or nature trail in the school grounds which can then be used in teaching subjects within the curriculum, such as habitats, food chains, lifecycles as well as citizenship.
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Find out more about The Wildlife Trusts work across the Eastern Region: Our Big Vision
Visit the website of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
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