WETLANDS NATURE RESERVE Wellcome Genome Campus ,

Management Plan 2016-2020 The Wellcome Genome of that development, the Wetlands Nature from Hinxton and villages and Campus Reserve was created beside the staff members from the Campus. . The Reserve management is co-ordinated The Wellcome Genome Campus is The Wellcome Genome Campus has by the Group which meets three times a a 55 hectare site in established a key position within the local year to plan work and surveys. and is home to the Wellcome Trust Sanger community and is committed to fostering The Wetlands Nature Reserve Institute, the European Bioinformatics good community relations. In order to management plan is the result of ongoing Institute and the Wellcome Trust promote this and to encourage partnership working between the Conference Centre. An academic engagement and dialogue, a Community Wellcome Genome Campus, the extension to the Genome Campus was Conservation Group was set up in 2004. Community Conservation Group and the completed in April 2005 and, as part The Group is comprised of representatives local Wildlife Trust.

2 Foreword flourished. We have established a diverse environment that is now home to hundreds The Wetlands of species of invertebrate (butterflies, Nature Reserve was moths, dragonflies, ants and beetles), birds, created in 2005 for other fauna, and flora, creating a place two principal where people can appreciate and learn reasons: firstly to about our local wildlife as part of their act as a natural flood attenuation daily routine. mechanism; and secondly, to create a new This plan sets out a vision and provides a and diverse natural habitat, open for all to framework of activity to guide the future of enjoy. Our primary purpose is to conserve the Wetlands Nature Reserve until 2020 and enhance our Wetlands Nature Reserve and beyond. It outlines the ecological and and to seek to improve habitats and conservation activities to be undertaken to increase understanding about its wildlife. ensure that the Reserve is managed Cambridgeshire’s countryside is truly responsibly and monitored appropriately. outstanding, and we are lucky to live The strategy challenges all of us to and work in such a special place. contribute to a shared future for this We must never become complacent about special place. the challenges our environment faces, I would like to thank the Cambridgeshire which are likely to be considerable in the Wildlife Trust for their expertise and coming years as we deal with the impacts guidance in the production of the of climate change and try to halt the management strategy; their input has been decline of some of our best-loved wildlife. essential. Thanks are also extended to the This management plan considers how we local residents of Hinxton and Ickleton can best meet these challenges at a together with Campus staff who have local level. worked tremendously hard over the past 10 years to make the Reserve what it We are fortunate to have several keen is today. volunteers who regularly undertake amateur surveys, recording not only the birds that frequent the Wetlands Nature Reserve, but also the insects and species Martin Dougherty of plant found on site. Year on year the Chief Operating Officer species list for the site is growing. Wellcome Genome Campus Over the past 10 years the Reserve has January 2016

3 Achievements over the of wildflowers and have a good balance and moths and the bird life. between shorter, rabbit-grazed Volunteers have undertaken a variety of past 10 years grassland and longer grassland practical work to help manage the providing cover for small mammals and Reserve, including coppicing trees, Since its creation 10 years ago, the insects. A variety of wildflowers thrive in removing Himalayan balsam and habitats within the Wetlands Nature areas once dominated by taller invasive Australian swamp stonecrop to make Reserve have matured. Early on, the ponds species. The planted copses and space for native plants. However, most of and surrounding areas had much bare hedgerows have grown rapidly, to the the volunteer effort has been directed at ground and were home to ground nesting point where a different approach to recording the wildlife present or taking waders such as little ringed plover. The management may now be required. regular photographs of the site, including ponds are now full of marginal vegetation An events programme has introduced some from fixed points to show the such as common reed and reedmace and many Wellcome Genome Campus changes to the Reserve over time. Regular the surrounding land is well vegetated with employees and other people from the recording of the bird life and butterflies plants of damp or marshy grassland. local villages to the Wetlands Nature has taken place together with more ad hoc The marginal vegetation provides nesting Reserve and to the wildlife it supports. recording of other species. Otters and opportunities for reed bunting, reed Events have included sessions on kingfishers have been seen and filmed warbler, moorhen and little grebe. amphibians, reptiles, bats, otters, along the river. Elsewhere the grassland habitats are full the flora, dragonflies, butterflies

4 Wetlands Nature Wetlands Nature land. The Reserve is also used by other less common birds such as yellow wagtail and Reserve Habitat Map Reserve migratory birds such as chiffchaff and blackcap. Introduction Since the Reserve’s creation it has matured considerably; as the vegetation

HINXTON The Wetlands Nature Reserve is a 6.1 has established it has altered beyond hectare site (grid reference TL 498 442) recognition. This is evident when bounded by the River Cam to the east and comparing the original photographs with the London Liverpool Street to Cambridge the current views and fixed point River Cam railway line to the west. The Reserve photographs that are taken every year. consists of a mosaic of habitats including Wildlife surveys have revealed the extent Railway ponds, grassland, woodland, hedgerow, to which the variety of habitats and their Line riverbank and specimen trees. changing nature have brought about a These habitats make a valuable rich diversity of species. contribution to enhancing the local The surveys also inform the management environment, as well as an important open needs for the Wetlands Nature Reserve. space for people to visit. It is for these reasons that the management ICKLETON However, they also form part of a wider plan is reviewed and updated every network of habitats along the River Cam. five years.

Open Water Skylarks and spotted flycatchers breed on The management plan complements the Marginal Vegetation the Campus but utilise the Reserve as a overarching objectives of the Wellcome Mature Trees Genome Campus as well as the more Woodland Belts feeding area outside of the breeding Hedgerow season. Many of the species which have specific ecological objectives for the Species-poor Grassland bred on the Wetlands will feed on adjacent Wetlands Nature Reserve. Species-rich Grassland

LONDON

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Cambridgeshire County Council 100023205 (2016)

5 habitats will be maintained: ponds Wetlands Nature Reserve with open water and dense marginal Aims and Objectives vegetation; wildflower-rich grasslands with a colourful array of plants, and The Wellcome Genome Campus has four areas with both short and long turf; principal aims for the Reserve: river banks with both open and low, 1. To enhance the value of the area for shrubby sections; and trees, shrubs, wildlife and to promote a diverse range hedgerows and copses to provide of habitats. sheltering, breeding and feeding habitats. 2. To involve local communities as 2. To organise a programme of events visitors and volunteers. and survey projects to encourage 3. To provide opportunities for people to volunteers from both the Campus and learn, experience and benefit from the the local villages to undertake surveying natural environment. and monitoring of the habitats 4. To reduce flooding (both on Campus and key species. and downstream) by storing the rainwater 3. To maintain safe access to the Wetlands run-off from the Campus. Nature Reserve for local people and The management plan supports staff from the Campus. the achievement of these aims by 4. To communicate the benefits of the focussing on the following objectives: Wetlands Nature Reserve to employees 1. To maintain the existing range of and local people in a way which complementary habitats to support increases their understanding of the a wide range of plants, insects, birds, Reserve’s wildlife and ecological value mammals and other fauna, in a way within the local landscape as well that minimises on-going management as the other benefits it provides and is resource efficient. The following for flood management.

6 Wildflower Grasslands conditions, the growth of grasses will start to increase at the expense of the wildflowers. Grasslands rich in wildflowers provide Management is likely to be required within cover, shelter and food for a wide range of three years. This will involve cutting a invertebrates and other fauna, including proportion of the meadow in late summer amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and and raking up the cut grass into compost ground-nesting birds. Meadows are a nature piles, which are favoured places for grass conservation priority, because 98% were snakes to lay their eggs. At least 20% of the lost in the past century. Meadow pipits feed grassland should be left uncut to retain in the meadow, particularly in winter, while cover of tall stems and seed heads for a range of butterflies and moths including species to shelter and overwinter in. common blue, small heath and the six-spot The decision on whether or not to cut will be burnet can be seen throughout the summer. reviewed in June each year. Little management was required in the first In the past some areas were dominated by 10 years thanks to grazing by rabbits. weed species including creeping and spear This has produced a mixture of short-turf and thistles and teasel, but management over the longer-turf and the current balance provides past five years has brought these plants varied conditions suitable for a wide range under control and in small quantities they of wildlife. Management aims to maintain provide valuable food in the form of summer the current balance. However, with reduced nectar (for insects) or winter seeds rabbit numbers or fluctuations in weather (for goldfinches and linnets).

7 Riverside Habitats cut in winter to remove encroaching bramble river restoration techniques will be explored and scrub. with the Environment Agency. The River Cam and riverbank form a wildlife The cut vegetation will be removed to Himalayan balsam is present on the corridor linking the Wetlands Nature designated compost areas on the Reserve. riverbanks and also occurs upstream and Reserve to the countryside beyond. The otter holts constructed a few years ago downstream. This non-native species can The mixture of dense bramble and scrub, have not been used by otters but provide dominate riverbanks, but in the absence of a open grassland and mature willows provides shelter for small mammals, grass snakes co-ordinated control strategy along the whole a varied environment for wildlife. and invertebrates. length of the Cam the aim is to prevent its Otters have been occasionally seen and The river was over-deepened in the past for spread to the ponds in the Reserve. kingfishers have nested in an exposed agricultural drainage, making it slow-moving The mature willows were pollarded in 2003 section of riverbank. and silty with limited opportunities for and should be re-pollarded over the next Management aims to maintain a balance wildlife. However, in a few areas there is a five years. Pollarding prolongs the trees’ of 80% dense vegetation and 20% open more natural pool and riffle structure with life and as they age they become grassland along the riverbank. faster-flowing shallow sections over gravels, mini-ecosystems providing food and shelter The grassland areas are kept open by rabbit used by brown trout, and slower-moving for invertebrates, nesting holes for birds grazing in most years, though in years with deeper pools. The potential to extend this and roosting sites for bats. reduced rabbit grazing they will need to be more natural river profile through the use of

8 Ponds The vegetation has now matured and the swamp stonecrop has removed most of this One large and two smaller ponds willows around the ponds should be cut habitat. The stonecrop is well established (that seasonally merge) were created in back to prevent them shading the ponds and and it isn’t possible to eradicate it. However, 2003 and planted with a range of aquatic should occur along no more than 20% of along the eastern edge of the smaller pond, and marginal pond plants. Water levels are the pond margins. The extent of marginal it is possible to maintain small areas of bare maintained by rainfall and a pipe allowing vegetation should also be reduced and mud (20% of the pond margin) through a water to flow from the river. Several wetland would be best achieved by hiring a digger mixture of digging out areas by hand in birds breed and use the ponds over winter every five years to reduce the cover back to February and using herbicide on areas including moorhen, water rail, reed bunting 20%. Pond vegetation will be regularly exposed above the water line. and snipe. Grass snakes, frogs, toads and removed from around the pipe connecting Himalayan balsam plants which spread into smooth newts also breed and 15 species of the pond to the river. the Wetlands Reserve from the ditch along dragonfly have been recorded. The ponds used to have a draw-down zone the railway boundary have been removed Management aims to maintain 80% open of bare and exposed mud important for by spraying and pulling each summer and water and 20% marginal vegetation. hunting insects, but invasion by Australian this will continue.

9 Survey and Monitoring

Regular bird recording occurs throughout the year, including breeding birds and bird ringing. Four vegetation transects have been recorded. A butterfly transect has been organised and ad hoc recording of other groups has taken place, linked to the community events programme. For example, survey records of moths, dragonflies, small mammals and bats have been gathered in this way. Signs of otters (spraints and footprints) have been regularly recorded, particularly near the two bridges close to the Reserve. Live otters have also been seen and recorded through the use of a webcam. All species records from the Reserve are collated annually and sent to CPERC (the local biological records centre). Fixed point photographs have been undertaken annually in January and July and these show how the Wetlands Nature Reserve has changed over the past 10 years.

10 The World War II pillbox was converted to a bat roost, but the checks by a licenced bat worker from the Cambridgeshire Bat Group have not yielded any evidence of use. Bats are roosting in surrounding buildings and trees and do use the Reserve extensively for feeding, as observed on the annual late summer bat events. Continuation of the annual fixed point photographs, bird recording and butterfly transect are the most valuable surveys to undertake, along with recording of the vegetation transects every five years. Ad hoc recording of other groups will occur through the community events programme. This aims to increase participants’ wildlife knowledge and to encourage them to undertake their own recording and join the Community Conservation Group. Individuals interested in a particular species group can be helped with more formal survey and monitoring activities such as butterfly or dragonfly walks.

11 Trees, Woods and Hedges and leggy and more susceptible to wind damage. Small areas have been coppiced Three woodland belts, a hedge along the successfully and this remains the favoured path and the occasional individual tree were approach to management. In order to catch planted in 2003/04, mainly to provide a up, a larger proportion of the woodland visual screen to the Campus buildings. belts will need to be cut each winter over A range of native species including willows, the next five years, using a professional common alder, hazel, hawthorn, silver contractor. The cut wood will be chipped birch, ash and oak were planted and these and spread amongst the woodland blocks. provide food and shelter for birds and The wire fences around the woodland blocks mammals. The original plan was that these will be maintained. If any of the coppice would be managed by coppicing on a 10- plots fail to re-grow they will be re-planted year rotation to create a low (2 to 5 metres with a greater range of fruit-producing trees tall), dense shrub layer valuable for including hazel, Guelder rose and some warblers. hawthorn, rather than willow, alder or ash. Unfortunately there has been insufficient The hedgerow along the path has been volunteer labour to achieve the planned trimmed occasionally and has now reached coppice cycle and the trees have grown the height whereby it could be layered. This beyond what can be managed by volunteers traditional approach to hedge management alone. Without management, they will is a popular subject for training courses and continue growing and because they are would be a suitable subject for one of the planted close together they will become tall annual community events.

12 Access The vegetation has also grown longer and naturally discourages people from The Wetlands Nature Reserve is well used wandering everywhere but has also by Campus staff as a route to Ickleton restricted views. village and is also frequented by walkers, The informal path through the main joggers, dog walkers and those interested in Reserve area forms a loop passing the wildlife. A formal permissive footpath between the large and small ponds and linking Hinxton and Ickleton runs along the around the small ponds back to the main western edge of the Reserve. This surfaced Reserve path. This may need to be mown in footpath should be maintained and any the near future if the vegetation continues to encroaching vegetation cut back grow. A spur will also be mown to the large as necessary. pond and the vegetation cleared from Over the past five years the vegetation has 5 metres of the bank to provide visitors with matured significantly and the range of a view of the pond. species present has changed.

13 Communication maintains links with local villages and Signage on-site including the entrance ensures Reserve-based activities are boards and other signs directing A Community Conservation Group meets publicised in the village magazines. behaviour will be reviewed and a clear set three times per year and dates are The events are often well attended but the of messages agreed to encourage circulated to all staff and contacts in the practical management sessions have been responsible use by visitors, as well as local villages. The Group assists with less so. explain why the Reserve is valuable. management and co-ordinates the survey The success of the Community Conservation programme. Involving staff and the local Group and the Management Plan depends The Reserve webpage community in looking after the Wetlands on recruiting sufficient volunteers. http://www.hinxton.org/wetlands/ Nature Reserve is important to its continuing A permanent display about the Reserve in provides more detailed information success. An annual programme of events one of the communal areas on the Campus including why the Reserve is valuable and work parties has been organised. helps to promote it as does the series of and this will be kept up to date with The Community Conservation Group lunchtime events such as walks and talks. notices and survey records.

14 If you would like more information on the Wetlands Nature Page 2 - Hinxton Hall (Anand Clarke) Reserve and associated events, please email: Page 3 - Wetlands Nature Reserve (Wildlife Trust) [email protected] Page 4 - Wetlands Nature Reserve (Anand Clarke) www.hinxton.org/wetlands/ Page 5 - Wellcome Genome Campus in Winter (Anand Clarke) www.wellcomegenomecampus.org Page 6 - Goldfinch (Gillian Day), Wetlands Nature Reserve www.sanger.ac.uk/about/campus/campus-environment (Wildlife Trust) Telephone: 01223 834244 Page 7 - Six-belted clearwing and bee orchid (Andrew Knights), Wetlands Nature Reserve and six-spot burnet The Wellcome Genome Campus has benefitted from the expertise of (Wildlife Trust) the local Wildlife Trust in managing the Wetlands Nature Reserve: Page 8 - River Cam (Anand Clarke) The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire Page 9 - Four-spotted chaser (Amy Lewis), swans (Wildlife Trust) and Northamptonshire Page 10 - Meadow flowers (Katherine Jeffery), The , Broad Street, otter prints (Wildlife Trust) Great Cambourne, Cambs CB23 6DH Page 11 - Bird watcher (Wildlife Trust), reptile survey Tel: 01954 713500 (Katherine Jeffery), otter (Henry Stanier) Email: [email protected] Page 12 - Lesser stag beetle (Siân Williams), blackthorn blossom Website: www.wildlifebcn.org (Wildlife Trust) Photography: All photographs are copyright of the Wildlife Trust Page 13 - Footpath (Wildlife Trust) BCN except Page 14 - Kingfishers (Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography) Page 1 - Wetlands Nature Reserve (Anand Clarke) Back cover - Wellcome Genome Campus (Anand Clarke)

15 Genome Research Limited (operating as the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) Registered in with company no. 2742969 and charity no. 1021457 Registered office: 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE

Genome Research Limited is a subsidiary of the Wellcome Trust, an independent research-funding charity established under the will of Sir Henry Wellcome in 1936. Its mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health.