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Home , Brampton Wood, Flitwick Moor, Gamlingay Wood, Grafham Water, Hayley Wood, Trumpington Meadows

Annual Review 2014–15

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for , and

Foreword by Derek Langslow CBE Our vision: People close to nature, in a land rich in wildlife During the year we We continue to develop our activity and nature reserve, with potential for a visitor Our mission is to: produced our new five- profile on social media which has led to a centre at the edge of the new retail park. year vision which will steady increase in the numbers of visitors ✔ Conserve local wildlife, by caring for land ourselves and with others shape and guide our to our website. We are also exploring other work from 2015 until ways that people can support our objectives, ✔ Inspire others to take action for wildlife 2020. Our aim is that by such as our petition to save Godmanchester then our three counties nature reserve (see page 10). ✔ Inform people, by offering advice and sharing knowledge

Image: by Phil Mynott will be better for wildlife than they are in 2015. Strong partnerships with key local ▼ Scarlet tiger moths recorded for the first businesses will remain valuable to the Trust, time at Moor. Our values: Our vision also focuses on strengthening such as Caterpillar Perkins’ support for our Image: by Chris Manley the way we work and building the ethos conservation work in and We believe: of outreach, engagement and promotion BGL supporting education work in the Great of the Trust’s work among all our staff and Fen. We aim to gain the support of other • That we must focus on all wildlife and whole ecosystems to safeguard the natural volunteers. All parts of the organisation have large local companies, and from national environment been successful in promoting local wildlife companies based in the three counties. for many years, but could be even better at • That everyone has a role to play in restoring nature promoting the Wildlife Trust as the primary The Trust will continue to oppose organisation which needs the support of developments which are seriously damaging • That we should value, respect and listen to our staff, volunteers, members and local people to conserve local wildlife. to important wildlife sites, but we aim to supporters so they can contribute fully to achieving our vision work actively with developers, both before Within the Trust, we are developing the and after planning permission is granted, to • That working in partnership brings more benefits than working alone ways we engage people at our nature build in benefits for wildlife. This approach reserves and events to encourage them to has already improved conditions for wildlife • That conservation depends on local knowledge and good science support the Trust and to take action for at Cambourne, Houghton Regis Quarry and wildlife. These have included the launch Meadows in . • That we achieve more for wildlife by operating in an efficient and business-like manner of My Wild Life – a national campaign to increase awareness and support for the At the heart of the Nene Valley, a new • That we should operate in an environmentally sustainable way Wildlife Trusts and encourage people to partnership with the retail development share their wildlife experiences with us. at Rushden Lakes will fund the Trust • That working to restore nature should be rewarding for everyone involved to manage an area of internationally important wildlife habitats. The new reserve will also link together our reserves at Ditchford, Higham Ferrers, Wilson’s Pits and Irthlingborough, creating a single large t We won the prestigious Sandford Award for our education work in the . 2 Image: by Wildlife Trust 3

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

Our Living The Great Fen education team Living Landscapes continued to shine and were Landscapes awarded the Sandford Award for The Wildlife Trust has continued to focus on In the Nene Valley the Trust’s work Heritage Education – a prestigious nine Living Landscapes. Four of these have focused on delivering the third been our priority schemes where we see national award. Past winners the best opportunities for wildlife and focus and final year of the government include the Giant’s Causeway, much of our effort. Our Living Landscapes funded Nene Valley Nature Hampton Court Palace and the cover 140,287 hectares (approx. 346,657 Improvement Area (NIA) where acres) and include some of the most National Museum of Wales; the important habitats across our three achievements have included: Great Fen is considered to be on a counties. In these areas we deliver nature • 115 hectares of wildflower meadow conservation on a more ambitious scale par with these major heritage sites. restored or created. to ensure that areas of habitat are bigger, better and more joined and therefore • Visitor studies that have demonstrated that better for nature and wildlife. Each Living the Nene Valley attracts at least 2.4 million In the West Cambridgeshire Landscape contains a network of Trust visitors each year, Hundreds the Trust worked reserves, Local Wildlife Sites, farmland and • An assessment which demonstrates that with the Game and Wildlife towns and villages. nature provides £118.7 million in services to the local economy each year. Conservation Trust to develop a research project proposal for an MSc. student to assess pollinator Scheme name County populations in different habitats on Great Fen (Priority)...... Cambridgeshire the edges of arable fields. Nene Valley (Priority)...... Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire North Chilterns Chalk (Priority)...... Bedfordshire The re-establishment of the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds (Priority).....Cambridgeshire North Chilterns Chalk Managers’ Cambridgeshire Chalk...... Cambridgeshire Group in early 2014 enabled discussions and the spread of best Greensand Ridge and Flit Valley...... Bedfordshire practice management amongst the John Clare Country...... Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire different organisations involved in Great Ouse Valley...... Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire habitat work in the North Chilterns Rockingham Forest...... Northamptonshire Chalk Living Landscape. 4 5

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Highlights Image: by Gwen Hitchcock • As part of the Coronation Meadows • During the winter work began at Kester’s • We carried out seed harvesting and Natu re re serve s project, seed was hand-collected from Docking in the Great Fen to create a mix Wider countryside sowing, and green hay spreading, as part The Wildlife Trust manages 126 nature and Chettisham of habitats including reedbed, seasonal We believe that everyone has a role to of a trial at Steeple Morden Quarry, to reserves covering 3,945 hectares (approx. Meadows in late summer, and sown in pools and wet and dry grassland covering play in restoring nature. Without the determine the most effective means to 9,748 acres). The Trust’s estate is managed late autumn to create new meadows. 140 hectares. active support and involvement of other restore chalk grassland at this site owned by three county-based teams with 24 Subsequent surveys at Upwood Meadows organisations and individuals in managing by Omya UK. The Trust will monitor the staff in total, with crucial support from receptor site, Helen’s Close, have • Conservation grazing continues to play their own land for wildlife or enabling establishment of chalk grassland species volunteers including voluntary wardens. confirmed that at least 10 seeded species a key role in the Trust’s management of others to do so, we will not achieve our there over the next five years. Without them, our capacity to deliver work not formerly recorded have established its nature reserves. This year 22 nature vision for a Living Landscape. would be much diminished. including great burnet, devil’s-bit scabious reserves were grazed or partially grazed • The Northamptonshire Biodiversity and sulphur clover. In Northamptonshire by the Trust’s own livestock, and more • Local Wildlife Sites (also known as County Records Centre received funds to help • Around five acres of woodland was seed harvested from our donor site, than 30 more were grazed or jointly Wildlife Sites) form a crucial part of our digitise historical beetle, butterfly and coppiced across 11 woodlands in Boddington Meadows, was spread at grazed by other graziers’ livestock. ecological network. In March 2015 there church survey data and 280,000 bird Cambridgeshire, with the majority at Kingsthorpe North Meadows, on the edge were 1,653 designated Local Wildlife Sites records dating back to the 1950s. , Wood of Northampton. ▼ Sheep grazing at Pegsdon in Bedfordshire. across our three counties. The protection

and . The creation and Image: by Cathy Wainwright of these sites is the most important • Arqiva, corporate members of the Wildlife maintenance of these important habitats • Work to tackle the invasive species conservation work we undertake beyond Trust, agreed to continue supporting are important for silver-washed fritillary, Himalayan balsam, at and managing our nature reserves. We survey our Local Wildlife Sites programme in dark green fritillary and purple emperor upstream of the reserve, has brought sites, engage with owners and seek to get Bedfordshire including carrying out annual butterflies. about a marked reduction since the project sites into positive management. At the botanical surveys to monitor change. started (funded by Natural England and end of last year 52% of sites were judged • Management of scrub habitat for the Environment Agency). to be in positive management (51% in • Non-native invasive species, including nightingale was completed at Grafham 2013–14) with almost 120 sites surveyed Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed, Water and a number of other reserves. • At Cooper’s Hill heather seed has been across the three counties. have been controlled along the whole This, in conjunction with annual monitoring collected from the reserve to take to the length of the Bourn Brook, through the of nightingales at by the nearby Center Parcs site, to help increase • We play a lead role in the three Bourn Free project sponsored by Defra. British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), is the amount of heathland in the Greensand Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) in now being used as an example of good Ridge Living Landscape. Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and conservation management practice in a Northamptonshire. These partnerships published BTO guidance booklet. • Major restoration work has been carried work strategically to deliver nature out at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows protection objectives and have strong including re-connecting two lakes to working relationship with the Local prevent flooding, clearing and creating an Enterprise Partnerships. Heather seed harvesting at Cooper’s Hill u. island and a wetland scrape. 6 7

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Highlights ▼ Irthingborough Lakes and Meadows Image: by John Abbott Image: Nancy Reed by Matthew Roberts • The number of Wildlife Watch groups Education and has decreased this year to 20 (24 groups in 2013–14) but the number of children community attending has increased to 1,576 (1,461 We engage with local communities in a in 2013–14). Cambourne Wildlife Watch variety of ways to grow support for nature group was awarded Best New Group in conservation and get people actively the national Wildlife Watch Group of the involved in wildlife. Year competition.

• The education and community team • Drop-in family activities continue to be • We helped several local community engaged with 19,536 people during popular at Paxton Pits with 860 people groups and schools in Peterborough 2014–15. This is a slight decrease on the taking part during the school holidays. survey and manage their local 2013–14 figures of 19,822. The number of greenspaces through the GoWild! people engaged in community activities • At Irthingborough Lakes and Meadows in Programme funded by Caterpillar Perkins. continues to increase year on year in the Nene Valley we ran a programme of line with the Trust’s aspirations (7,931 wildlife-themed events attended by more • A new Local Group was launched in South in 2014/15 compared to 7,430 in the than 400 people and an interactive map Bedfordshire and is already engaging previous year). of the Nene Valley is now available on the hundreds of local people. We have 14 website. Local Groups who raise awareness about The Trust employed ▼ Volunteers hedgelaying at Galley and and funds for the Wildlife Trust (£16,149 in Warden Hills • A dog training event took place on Blows’ 2014–15). 91 staff (full-time Downs, funded by equivalent). Council. The event included positive • The Great Fen Local Group established messages about how dog walkers can the Rothschild Way long distance walking The Trust recognises support Wildlife Trust activities and limit route – 39 miles from the ’s the enormous value of their pet’s impact on the site. to . A group of 12 staff and volunteers took part in an volunteers who number • Community engagement activities in inaugural walk on 28th June 2014 which in excess of 1,300 – Cambridge included helping residents of raised more than £1,700 in sponsorship for the new development at Orchard Park to the Trust. more than 13 for each Image: by Esther Clarke identify wildlife and make the area more member of staff. wildlife-friendly. • We delivered 520 places on 41 Wildlife Training Workshops. No employees earn more than £60,000. 8 9

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Godmanchester nature reserve A wonderful year for wildlife Image: by Buglife Thank you to all those individuals and In June and July 2014 Cambridgeshire We strongly opposed this road plan as – This year has been packed with wildlife In Cambourne record numbers of noctule companies who helped us to purchase and County Council carried out consultation on whichever route was chosen – the impact highlights from our nature reserves and bats emerged from the maternity roost restore this wonderful nature reserve at the its Long-term Transport Strategy. Included on local wildlife and environment would beyond. in Oaks Wood and lake monitoring in the heart of our Ouse Valley Living Landscape. in the post-2021 schemes was a proposal be unacceptable. We launched a media, village has shown good numbers of snipe Habitat improvement works to hedges and for a link road from Hartford to the A14 community and online campaign against At Totternhoe in Bedfordshire, more than and jack snipe and also one breeding pair grasslands were carried out at the reserve, junction at Godmanchester to improve the road proposal including a petition 100 glow-worms were discovered in a single of rare black-necked grebe. as well as providing improved access access to a possible future development which was signed by nearly 1,400 people night and scarlet tiger moths were recorded through the creation of circular paths, at RAF Wyton. The indicative route shown and was officially lodged with the council. for the first time at Flitwick Moor, having Rare water beetles Dytiscus circumflexus replacement of stiles with kissing gates and for this road was through either the In November 2014 the County Council only recently colonised Bedfordshire. and Hygrotus (Coelambus) nigrolineatus installing new gates to provide increased Wildlife Trust’s Godmanchester nature announced that the road proposal was were recorded for the first time at Summer access for visitors. reserve at Cow Lane or through a Site of removed from the Long-term Transport Also in Bedfordshire, dingy skipper Leys, and at Twywell Hills and Dales p The rare tansy beetle was spotted at Special Scientific Interest – Godmanchester Strategy. The Wildlife Trust-led Road to butterflies bred at Old Warden Tunnel numbers of grizzled skipper butterflies were Woodwalton Fen. Eastside Common. Ruin campaign was explicitly mentioned in for the second year running and more up 130% and there was a five-fold increase the withdrawal. than 6,000 chalkhill blues were seen at in small skippers. Irthlingborough Lakes And in the Great Fen the nationally Houghton Regis chalk pits. and Meadows shows a marked increase scarce tansy beetle was rediscovered at in species diversity as a direct result of Woodwalton Fen. Otherwise, it has been At Old Sulehay Image: Southern marsh orchid by the positive management the Trust has confined to the River Ouse floodplain near a rare white implemented. York for several decades. The population pyramidal is being monitored by Buglife and the orchid was We have had our most successful dormouse University of York. It has also been an discovered on monitoring season at Brampton Wood excellent year for raptors with rough- Sammock’s Hill for seven years with dormice being found legged buzzard and short-eared owls seen and the first across significant parts of the wood. this winter. southern marsh Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire there were orchid was increased signs of water voles on various Across the three Image: by Elliott Smith Image: by Guy Pilkington also recorded water courses in Cambridge and on counties there at the reserve. the Bourn Brook, where the density of were also record Four dark Himalayan balsam was also beginning to numbers of

green fritillary Vicky Nall reduce thanks to control by local volunteers polecat sightings butterflies organised by the Trust. A new population of Unfortunately were recorded white-clawed crayfish was also discovered this shy mammal here for the on the Orwell stream. is most often first time. seen as roadkill. 10 Polecat u 11

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Financial review What you told us… Event at Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits. Image: by Chris Loades The Trust’s finances are divided into As some of our income sources are wherever possible, but if we are to continue The staff were brilliant, they got restricted funds, where monies raised vulnerable, and unpredictable in terms to realise our ambitions for local wildlife, we the balance just right between must be spent on specific purposes, and of amount and timing, the Trustees have need to boost significantly the unrestricted safety and adventure. The boys unrestricted funds, which can be applied to agreed a policy of maintaining a financial income of the Trust on a sustainable basis general charitable activities. reserve that would cover at least three so we can optimise our efficiency and absorbed the informal education months’ expenditure on running costs extend our work to achieve a positive in a way that they never Of the total income in 2015, more than half but aiming for six months’ cover. At impact for local wildlife. This requirement would at school, they were (£2.92 million) was unrestricted, with the year end, the unrestricted current is currently being considered as part of our £2.2 million being restricted. assets provided four months’ cover. The five-year planning process. really stimulated by the whole management and staff of the Trust continue experience. The Trust achieved an unrestricted to control costs and save resources Karen Silcock, Treasurer – A teacher, following a visit to the surplus of £60,445 (2014 £199,173) with Nene Valley. a restricted surplus of £264,476 (2014 Fundraising donor Income Subscriptions and Expenditure £1,800,555) resulting in total net assets of development Gift Aid Governance £20.4 million (£17.5 million attributable to Other £306,898 £50,759 The bird watching was my income £1,229,687 restricted activities). Education Marketing and £462,789 favourite, I loved watching the £532,606 membership Within the restricted funds, the land Investment £508,320 cormorants. I am not a fan of income holdings in the Great Fen and certain £41,552 Partnership nature but that has changed other reserves are included, together with projects substantial cash balances held by us against Service £578,656 because of coming today. future liabilities for managing specific Agreements – A child attending an event at Paxton Pits. nature reserves over long periods. £717,917

The unrestricted surplus represents funds The guided walk was a real received but not yet expended, and is success – many asked if we could carried forward in accordance with our Landfill Tax go round again. The knowledge financial reserves policy, described below, Credits in order to give a degree of stability during Wider and fun the staff gave to the talk £452,618 countryside our day-to-day charitable work and enable £697,647 was fantastic and they made it planning for efficient application of our Fundraising activities really interactive. scarce resources. £84,190 Legacies – An attendee at an event in the Great Fen. £356,633 Grants Donations and Nature reserve management £1,450,985 Sponsorship 12 £317,059 £2,239,046 13

Annual Review 2014–15 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Contributors and supporters

Enduring and improving relationships have At March 2015 we had 36,376 members, Spa, PalmerSport, Scott Bader, Scudamore’s We would also like to thank the following Douglas Compton James Charitable Trust Northamptonshire County Council been, and will continue to be, important a net increase of 1.8% on March 2014. This Punting Company, Unilever Research who have supported the Trust financially Environment Agency Opticron factors in the Trust’s success. Without the provided £942,427 income and £244,716 Colworth and with help in kind: Esmée Fairburn Foundation RSPB support and co-operation of a huge number Gift Aid. Great efforts were made to retain Godmanchester Town Council SITA Trust of people, we would have achieved little existing supporters and at the year end BRONZE Augean Community Fund Grosvener (TMLC) The Frederick & Phyllis Cann Trust during the year. The support of members, the annual retention rate of members was Alpro Soya, Building Services Design, Banister Charitable Trust Heritage Lottery Foundation The Peter Smith Charitable Trust corporate members, sponsors, charitable 89.3%. Corporate membership subscriptions Cambridge Steiner School, Cambridge Barbara Price Charitable Trust Jack Patston Charitable Trust The Steel Charitable Trust trusts, government organisations at all levels provided £42,544 showing an 8% increase. University Press, Center Parcs Woburn Borough Council Lafarge Tarmac Trumpington Farm Co and our professional advisers has been vital, Our thanks to all the people who left us Forest, Colpac Ltd, David Ball Group, Bedfordshire Rural Community Charity Luton Borough Council UNEP-WCMC as has the remarkably dedicated work of our legacies. We are always very grateful Gardenworks Tree Surgery, Granta Park, Kier Berry Brothers LXB RP (Rushden) Veolia Environmental Trust volunteers and staff. when someone remembers us in their will. Homes, KierWSP, Lafarge Tarmac, Method, BGL Group Montague Thompson-Coon Charitable Trust Vernet-Trump Charitable Trust We were the grateful beneficiaries of a Wesley Coe BIFFA Award MS Staples Charitable Trust Wadlow Energy Ltd Funding to manage our nature reserves significant legacy this year, over £268,000 Bruce Wake Charitable Trust Natural England Weston Power Distribution comes from diverse sources including was left to us in the will of Miss Margaret STANDARD Cambridge Chrysalis Trust NBN Trust Wildlife Travel members’ subscriptions, Heritage Lottery Vince. Legacies have made a substantial Acorn House Veterinary Surgery, An Norvys, Caterpillar Perkins Nene Park Trust William Haddon Charitable Trust Fund, Landfill Communities Fund (via SITA contribution to the work of the Trust in Athene Communications, Barnwell Trailers, Clark Bradbury Charitable Trust Network Rail Wixamtree Charitable Trust Trust, Biffa Award and Veolia Environmental recent years. This year we received legacies British Racing Drivers’ Club, Cambridge Center Parcs NFU Mutual WREN Trust), Natural England, Environment from: Derek Kennedy, George Thomas Belfry Hotel, Cambridge Econometrics Ltd, Defra Northampton Borough Council Agency, grant-making trusts, local Woods, John Richardson, Mrs B Booth, Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge authorities and our 73 corporate members Dr Clara Zihali and John M Taylor. Water Company, Canoe2, Cemex, Centrica and supporters. (Peterborough Power Station), Cranfield As at March 2015 our corporate members University, Creative Tops, Downing College The financial and time contributions from were: Cambridge, GreenAir Cars, Highgate House, supporters are the lifeblood of the Trust Hutchings & Harding, JB Shropshire and and it is largely their generosity that PLATINUM Sons, Lockhart Garrett Ltd, Moulton College, has enabled us to undertake much of The Biodiversity Consultancy Mott MacDonald Ltd, OuterSpace Gardens, the Trust’s essential conservation work Perkins Group Ltd, Q Hotels Hellidon during the year. Increasing the supporter GOLD Lakes, Rapid Employment, Richard Buxton base and membership will continue to Hewitsons, Prologis UK Ltd, UK Power Environmental & Public Law, Rotary Club of be a key priority as this will have a direct Networks St Neots St Marys, RPS Group, RWE npower effect on our capacity to do more for (Little Barford Power Station), Spendlove nature conservation in the next year and SILVER Contracting, The Jordans & Ryvita Company secure a longer term impact on the natural Ltd, Arqiva Ltd, AT Cross Ltd, The Marshall Group of Companies, The environment. Ltd, Central England Co-operative, NFU Wellcome Trust, Vine House Farm, Weetabix, Mutual Cambridge, Orton Hall Hotel and Willowbrook, Whittlebury Park LLP

14 Image: Pyramidal orchids by Rebecca Pitman 15

Trust information

Principal bankers Honorary Treasurer Barclays Bank plc Ms Karen Silcock Bene’t Street Business Centre P O Box 2 Honorary Secretary Cambridge Ms Fiona Chesterton CB2 3PZ Chairman of Conservation, Solicitors Education & Community Hewitsons Committee Shakespeare House Prof David Gowing (to 11 October 2014) Image: by Margaret Holland 42 Newmarket Road Mr Stewart Lane (from 11 October 2014) Cambridge CB5 8EP Mr Martin Baker Dr Jenna Bishop President Ms Linda Doughty Baroness Young of Old Scone (appointed 11 October 2014) Cover image: Dark green fritillary by Sarah Lambert Mr Tony Juniper ▲ Snipe had a good year at Cambourne Vice Presidents Cllr Bill Parker nature reserve Mr Michael Allen Sir John Robinson, Bt. Prof David Bellamy Mr Paul Solon Registered and principal office Mrs Mary Bevan Prof William Stephens The Manor House Sir Charles Chadwyck-Healey Bt. (appointed 11 October 2014) Broad Street Mr Hugh Duberly Dr Matt Walpole Great Cambourne Dr Norman Moore (appointed 11 October 2014) Cambridge Mr Ioan Thomas CB23 6DH Chief Executive The Board of Trustees Mr Brian Eversham Auditors Saffery Champness Chairman of Council Company number Unex House Dr Derek Langslow 2534145 Bourges Boulevard Peterborough Vice Chairman Registered Charity number Cambridgeshire Ms Margaret Goose (to 11 October 2014) 1000412 PE1 1NG Sir Graham Fry (from 11 October 2014)