Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust warn that vandalism is a frequent and costly problem for the wildlife charity and that it has significant repercussions for their work in restoring and protecting habitats on their nature reserves.

The Trust have recently finished the construction of a new hide on their Tewinbury Nature Reserve, near Welwyn Garden City, following a fire in April 2024, which was a result of vandalism and caused the destruction of the former hide. 

Anna Daniels, Senior Reserves Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said:

“We have salvaged what we could of the old timber hide but there has still been a considerable cost involved in constructing a new hide. This act of vandalism has also resulted in many hours being diverted from what we should and want to be doing – managing and protecting the habitats on our reserves so that wildlife can thrive within them.”

Chloë Edwards, Director of Nature Recovery, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said:

“Vandalism on our nature reserves has far-reaching financial consequences, which sadly impacts on our ability to act for wildlife.

“We are living in one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries and with one in six species at risk of extinction, we need to put every penny and every minute into restoring nature and bringing back our lost and declining wildlife. 

“People suffer too – our nature reserves offer tranquil spaces in which to connect with nature. We know this is important for wellbeing so when vandalism takes that opportunity away, it’s a lot more than just damage to a structure. It’s soul destroying to have to put time, funds and energy into fixing issues caused by what are usually completely mindless acts.”

The vandalism at Tewinbury Nature Reserve is not an isolated incident. In January this year, garden waste was dumped at Hertford Heath Nature Reserve. This act can result in the spreading of invasive species, cause extra nutrient load, upsetting the fragile ecosystem, and also damage plants and other wildlife underneath. Sadly, this is a wider issue across the Trust’s reserves, especially where gardens back on to them – this has been a particular problem at Waterford Heath Nature Reserve, near Hertford. Two months later, in March, the boardwalk at Purwell Ninesprings Nature Reserve, near Hitchin, which allows nature -lovers a unique view of the reserve’s wetland habitats and the wildlife which inhabit them, was also vandalised. This resulted in the Trust diverting resources to promptly undertake repairs to ensure the structure was safe for use and closing the worst affected section to prevent access. The boardwalk remains partially closed until further notice. Around the same time, the entrance sign to the reserve and fencing were graffitied, requiring further expense to clean.

For the new hide at Tewinbury Nature Reserve, the Trust has opted for a single storey design with an open back with the hope that its simple design will only attract those who are genuinely interested in wildlife. Accessible for wheelchair-users, the new hide features a fence panel next to it, with slots cut into it, providing a new viewing screen to look out over the tall fen and swamp habitat, and lagoon. Those visiting might expect to see species such as Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Tufted Duck, and Swift, as well as the opportunity to watch mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies.

If anyone witnesses an act of vandalism, they should contact the police by calling 101 or report a rural crime online at https://www.herts.police.uk/ro/report/rwc/rural/report-rural-crime/ 

For more information about staying safe in hot weather on our nature reserves, read our blog here.