If you had to pick just one habitat for its value to wildlife then wetland is surely the winner - it’s one that is crucial for wildlife, providing a diverse range of habitats that support vast numbers of species. Birds, mammals, amphibians, fish and invertebrates rely on wetlands for breeding grounds, food sources, shelter – and of course for water! Add to that, that wetlands contribute to biodiversity, the purification of water, carbon storage, and flood control and you can see how essential they are for the health of our ecosystem.

In Hertfordshire wetland covers less than 1% of the total county area – we’re a wetland-poor county when you consider the national average is 3%! That makes what we do to protect this vital habitat even more valuable and here we’ve got five projects which demonstrate how we are working with the support of volunteers and partners to conserve, create and celebrate our precious wetlands, so that we can learn more about them in order that wildlife can recover and thrive alongside us.  

1. Large-scale landscape creation at Hilfield Park Reservoir

November 2023 saw the culmination of years of planning when the diggers moved in to create a diverse reedbed habitat on the south side of Hilfield Park Reservoir, which is situated between Bushey and Elstree. The ambitious project – our most significant habitat creation project in over a decade - was specified by the Trust’s management plan prepared for Affinity Water – the site’s owners and project’s funders, to improve and increase wetland habitats on the site.

These major works included the creation of fish refuges, ponds and ditches, banks being regraded, sheltered lagoons fashioned and trees close to the water being pollarded. The result is a rare and diverse habitat where, for example, the area of open wetted ground has been increased, the ground is now undulating with shallow water, and large woody material has been put into the water – all important features for wetland systems eco-function.

Hilfield Park Reservoir is already a very important site for wildlife. For instance, it is the only site in the south of England where Black-necked Grebes breed and is home to more than 1% of the national breeding population. It is a receptor site for dragonflies and damselflies, drawing in a great number of species, including species unique in Hertfordshire. As well as enabling these and other current inhabitants and migratory species to thrive, it is hoped that this latest habitat creation will appeal to new visitors too – the Trust has wintering Bittern in its ambitious sights! Now wouldn’t that be something wonderful to see in this fabulous, newly-created wetland habitat!! The creation of new wetland habitats has also contributed to the county-wide target of securing 30% of land for nature by 2030, from the current total of just 17%.

Access to Hilfield Park Reservoir is for Trust members only by prior arrangement – click here for more information about the reserve.

2. Water Buffalo helping to conserve Thorley Wash Nature Reserve

Last summer, we introduced a herd of Water Buffalo to improve the rare wetland habitat at our Thorley Wash Nature Reserve, near the village of Spellbrook. The site is a great example of fen habitat and with 99% of it having been lost in the UK, it is a real rarity for us in Hertfordshire.

The Water Buffalo were considered the best livestock option to graze the 13-hectare site – so suited because of their hardiness and tolerance of water-logged conditions over domestic cattle. The animals did a fantastic job of clearing the ditches and the scrubbier vegetation, improving prospects for wildlife on the site, including Water Voles. Keep an eye out as we are hoping to re-employ them in 2024!

You can read the full news story here.

3. Celebrating Hertfordshire’s first Dragonfly Hotspot at Panshanger Park

We’re loving the throwback to summer – so here goes with another wet, yet fair-weather good news story!

In July 2023, the Trust, working in partnership with Tarmac and the British Dragonfly Society celebrated the newly designated Panshanger Park Dragonfly Hotspot, close to Welwyn Garden City.

With the River Mimram running through the site, six reed-fringed lakes and an abundance of wet grassland through the valley, Panshanger Park was carefully chosen as Hertfordshire’s first Dragonfly Hotspot because it is a fantastic place for dragonflies and damselflies to live and thrive. It also has great access for everyone to visit with a chance to see these amazing insects. Plus, it provides an excellent way to learn more about these wonderful insects and their conservation through events, courses and workshops.

At the launch of the Dragonfly Hotspot, a new dedicated dragonfly trail was unveiled, including dedicated interpretation to provide insights into the world of these fabulous predatory insects.

You can find out more about visiting Panshanger Park and exploring the dragonfly trail here. This year there will be monthly guided walks from May to September where you can find out more about the wetlands and the diversity of species they support – keep an eye on our events page for more information!

4. Restoring the River Stort at Roydon

In January last year, we partnered with Stansted Bury to deliver the first stage of restoration work on the River Stort near Roydon.

Funded by the Environment Agency, work was carried out to improve the river where it has been re-aligned after gravel was dug from the floodplain in the 1960s and the Rye Meads Sewage Treatment Works built. The project saw 0.5km enhanced through tree work to enable light in to a heavily shaded channel, berms and bank regarding to create sinuosity in a straightened river soft bank protection to safeguard a still water fishery and local wildlife site, as well as creation of Kingfisher nest banks using upturned Willow rootballs.

The work will not only benefit Water Voles recorded close by in 2022, but also a number of course fish species like Dace, Perch and Chub, that use vegetation in the river to spawn.

Further work took place in autumn 2023 and more will this spring.

Find out more about our Living Rivers project and the work the Trust carries out on our local rivers here.

5. National pilot for citizen science on chalk rivers - CaSTCo

In August last year, Nicola Thompson joined the Trust as our new Rivers Officer (Citizen Science & Partnerships). Nicola is leading our national pilot for citizen science on chalk rivers and supporting our work as Catchment Host of the River Lea Partnerships. 

The Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) is a project involving over 30 partner organisations, including water companies, the Environment Agency, Environmental NGO’s and universities in England and Wales – and us! The aim of the three-year project is to connect local people to their rivers through citizen science, whilst expanding data collection methods and increasing access to the information.

The Trust is working in partnership with Affinity Water, the Environment Agency and the local volunteer group the River Beane Restoration Association (RBRA) on the River Beane – a chalk river which flows from Walkern, near Stevenage, to Hertford where it joins the River Lea. Chalk rivers are especially unique, as in good health they are biodiversity hotspots, containing a wealth of species dependent on the cool nutrient-rich water.

By planning to expand the current riverfly monitoring programme, mapping and monitoring outfalls from road networks and misconnected homes, and recording nutrient levels, Nicola will work with the volunteers to capture data, which will be used to inform targeted restoration programmes.

You can find out more about the project here.

We hope this snapshot gives you some indication of the work we at the Trust are doing to protect and enhance our wetlands and their value to wildlife.

If you feel inclined, there are various way you can support the work we carry out:

• Become a member and join a community of over 22,000people who are passionate about wildlife
• Make a donation to help us to continue our vital work in Hertfordshire and Middlesex
• Give your time and volunteer

Thank you for your support and here’s to plenty more wetland wins!