Woodland restoration begins at Balls Wood NR
This winter has seen the completion of our first programme of major woodland management works to improve the wildlife value at Balls Wood.We have restored 1ha of old hornbeam coppice, opened up an overgrown woodland ride, widened around 100 metres of existing ride and thinned an area of oak plantation. All of these works will increase levels of sunlight within the woodland- benefitting populations of woodland wildflowers, insects such as butterflies and dragonflies and the birds that prey on them. Bats too will use the additional open areas for hunting at night time.
The Archers encourage all to join the Wildlife Trust
On Wednesday 10 February, The Wildlife Trusts were once again mentioned on Radio 4's The Archers, with a specific mention of joining your local Wildlife Trust. This was well worth a listen if you didn’t hear it. Just follow this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/catch/ and click on ‘listen to latest episode’
Bitterns Smitten with HMWT Reedbeds!
Record numbers of bitterns,
one of the UK's rarest birds have taken up winter residence on our nature reserves in recent weeks (1/2) Only 100 birds are found in the country during the winter and eight have been spotted on the HMWT's wetland reserves - with four at Amwell Nature Reserve (near Stanstead Abbotts) alone! This is particularly exciting as it is the first time this many bitterns have been recorded together at the nature reserve.
The bittern is a small brown heron that lives in reedbeds growing in lakes where there are plenty of small fish - their main food. During the recent big freeze, HMWT had to resort to putting out fish for the bitterns as they were unable to feed as the lakes and reedbeds became frozen solid. HMWT’s Conservation Manager, Tim Hill said, "We have been working with our partners in wildlife conservation for over ten years to restore and create reedbeds for bitterns and other wetland wildlife and have more than doubled the area of wet reedbed in Hertfordshire (to 22 hectares) since 2002. We are delighted that all this hard work has resulted in fish-filled reedbeds which are now proving to be such a hit with bitterns this winter."
In Hertfordshire, the Wildlife Trust leads a partnership of environmental organisations who are working together to improve conditions for bitterns. Because of their rarity, special biodiversity action plans have been written to guide the conservation of this elusive bird. The Hertfordshire bittern action plan aims to create conditions that will encourage them to breed in Hertfordshire by 2014. In the past three years there have been booming (singing) bitterns in the county which means that male birds feel the reedbeds within our nature reserves are now suitable for breeding. It is now hoped that with so many birds present, a booming male will find a mate this year. If breeding takes place it will be a ‘first’ for the county!
If you’d like to try spotting a bittern yourself, Amwell provides the best opportunity. The best time to see the bitterns is 3pm to dusk, when they fly to roost.
Giving Seas a Chance
We joined our fellow Wildlife Trusts at Westminster this
week (19/01) for the launch of The Wildlife Trusts' vision for the UK’s marine environment . The event, entitled ‘Living Seas’ was hosted at the House of Commons by Hertfordshire MP (for Broxbourne), Charles Walker, to recognise and celebrate the successful passing in November of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA).
The Trusts' ten year campaign to achieve greater protection for marine wildlife and habitats has been hard fought and the Act marks an important milestone. The challenge for the next five years is to ensure the Act is effectively implemented. The Living Seas Vision outlines The Wildlife Trusts' plans for achieving it within a single generation through a wide range of actions including; promoting a network of Marine Protected Areas; carrying out research and collating data, working with stakeholders to find solutions to issues; raising public awareness of the UK seas and sea life and delivering campaigns to build public and political support for Living Seas.
In Hertfordshire and Middlesex, we simply can’t ignore such a huge part of our natural heritage just because we don’t live alongside it and we must take an equal share in the responsibility of its care. HMWT is backing the Living Seas Vision by working to ensure that everyone in our two counties understands how The Wildlife Trusts are planning to protect our seas and our wildlife for future generations.
Bitterns Feel the Bite
The cold weather has caused some difficulties for our bitterns in the last week (14/1) as water has frozen at Amwell Nature Reserve. These elusive birds hunt along the edges of reedbeds for fish but their normal food is currently out of reach under ice.
For this reason it has been crucial this week to provide vital food for them to save them from starving.
Bitterns usually hunt for small fish, five to ten centimetres long and although they prefer live fish, when conditions are harsh they'll take anything so we’ve been distributing around ½ kilo of sprats and mackerel (cut into pieces) per day to keep them going.
According to birding websites, two bitterns were seen on Sunday (10/1) moving about on the ice looking for places to fish. Our Conservation Manager Tim Hill was at the nature reserve on Monday scattering "ready meals" for the rare water birds and saw a bittern flying into the reeds. Therefore, although its is cold and the birds are struggling, visitors to our hides may have increased chances of seeing a bittern as it searches for food.
We'd love to hear from any fishmongers or supermarkets who can donate sprats to feed the bitterns while the weather is still bitterly cold. Alternatively any donations towards the cost of vital fish supplies would be gratefully received – please contact us by phone on 01727 858901 or email!
Wildlife Trust Leads the Way with Osprey Recovery Project in Herts
This week (4/11) we have unveiled our plans to aid the recovery
of one of Britain’s most beautiful birds. The work, which has been taking place at Stocker’s Lake Nature Reserve, near Rickmansworth, aims to entice ospreys to nest in Hertfordshire.
We have installed a special nesting platform at the nature reserve we manage on behalf on Veolia Water Three Valleys (Veolia Water) as part of a national conservation programme to extend the range of this endangered bird. The 30 foot high nesting platform will imitate the nests the bird uses in the wild, and the aim is that males will spot it on their return from West Africa next spring.
Read the press release here
