Annual Review 2018-2019

The Wildlife Trust for , and

Company Registration No 2534145 (England and Wales). Registered Charity No. 1000412 Photo: Our North Chilterns Chalk Living Landscape Image: Robert Enderby Chairman’s introduction The scale of the challenge we are facing I sense that over the past year there has been by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. We have Over 1,000 species are known to be a heightened awareness of environmental developed further our partnerships with farmers challenges among the British public. Such issues and developers, e.g., through our Farming for the at risk of extinction in the UK alone (and they are only the ones we know about!) as pollution from plastics and climate change have Future project and our cooperation with Jordans been highlighted by Sir David Attenborough, the Farm, Prologis at Lilbourne, the Crown Estate at Extinction Rebellion protesters and many others. Rushden Lakes and Grosvenor at Trumpington The Wildlife Trusts have played our part in this. Meadows. Our visitor centre has received 180,000 97% of our meadows have been lost since the 1930s Our film trailer "Wilder Future" was screened over visits in its first full year, and we continue to engage

50,000 times in cinemas across the country, for with local communities across the three counties. planned for Oxford example, and our campaign every June, "30 Days 1 MILLION HOUSES growth arc Each one of us has the power to do a little bit more Wild", continues to attract new support. to help our wildlife, and the sum of these actions The government has shown some understanding can add up to something much bigger across of these concerns in drafting its new Environment the country. Whether it is putting up a swift box, Bill, but it is far from perfect. We have been making your garden wilder or encouraging children campaigning for it to be strengthened so that it to experience nature, there is so much that we can will drive the creation and publication of Nature do. Our website is full of guidance on how to go Recovery Networks — maps that identify the places about it, and it is possible there to sign up to our wildlife needs in order to thrive — and ensure that new campaigning e-News bulletin. a new "Green Watchdog" is independent and has This year, we are presenting our Annual Report sufficient powers to hold government to account. in a new format. We have focussed on some key Meanwhile, in our own area, a significant new threat achievements from the last year, demonstrating the to our wildlife has arisen from government plans to landscape scale impact of our work. More detail create an Oxford-Cambridge growth area, which about any of these projects can be found on our would squeeze in an extra one million homes — website. We hope you find this approach to be the equivalent of 18 additional cities the size of both informative and engaging and we welcome Oxford — on top of current planned developments, your feedback. plus the infrastructure to support them, including None of the work we do would be possible the Oxford to Cambridge expressway and the without the continued support of our members East-West Rail. We are concerned that plans are and volunteers. We have ten volunteers for every being promoted, and in some cases agreed by 1 person member of staff, doing everything from checking is all it takes local authorities, without a thorough review of the sheep to monitoring bats to teaching children to start making environmental impacts, and we are working to about wildlife. It is through our combined efforts a difference ensure that the natural environment is properly that the successes described in this report have for wildlife considered. We are also supporting the legal been achieved, and I would like to finish by warmly action being pursued by the Berks, Bucks and thanking everyone involved. Oxon Wildlife Trust over the government's failure to hold proper environmental consultation for the proposed expressway.

In spite of these pressures, this has been a good Living Landscape Partnerships year for our Trust. We benefit greatly from those supporters who leave money or assets in their Farming for the Future wills to the Trust, and this year a particularly Sir Graham Fry, generous legacy from Mr HK Bean has reinforced Chairman of the Council our financial stability and will enable us to project launched invest in our reserves and education work. The freehold of , the heart of our Farming for the Future is one of 16 projects that biodiversity across farmland; and to reduce soil make up the Nenescape Landscape Partnership erosion and run off in order to improve water project, has been transferred to us Scheme, supported by the National Lottery quality in the River Nene. Heritage Fund (NLHF). The project provides grants and training for farmers and landowners Bulwick SSSI, pictured here, is one of the sites across the Nene Valley to help restore and create that has already benefitted from the scheme and ‘‘I am backing The Wildlife Trusts’ campaign to rally people to secure a ‘wilder future’ by restoring meadow and wetland habitats; to increase been improved for wildlife. large areas of wildlife habitat, in city and country. We know which wild places we should be Darragh Helena Image: protecting and expanding. But we need ambitious new laws to ensure we do this, laws that ensure we map out nature’s recovery." Sir David Attenborough, President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts Living Landscapes Reaching Out New linkages in the Nature Networks in the Nene evidence Nene Valley Living Landscape 4265 people based nature attended wildlife events recovery maps In November, we were pleased to open the Girder increased stock numbers and have successfully 48 in the Nene Wetlands produced through the Bridge on the Nene Wetlands nature reserve achieved a more appealing grassland for NLHF funded Nene Valley following extensive re-engineering of the old wintering birds, attracting birds such as wigeon 413 volunteer Nature Improvement Area bridge supports. Installation of the bridge has to new areas. given to help partnership given local people direct access to Rushden hours run events Our Highland cattle remain a key feature of the Lakes retail area and to parts of the reserve for Around the first time in many years. Wilson’s Pits area of the Nene Wetlands reserve Nearly £4000 and are well suited to grazing the wet terrain. 180,000 people raised for us over the King Katie Image: visited our Nene Wetlands last 5 years by our friends ‘This new structure will provide a vital link Skew Bridge has affectionately been renamed visitor centre Canoe2 through their Wildlife between the Greenway footpaths and cycle- ‘Bat Alley’ and we have put on additional Paddles, Bat Walks and Dawn international bat night walks due to popular ways around the lakes, giving people more Chorus Strolls opportunities to enjoy the wildlife our district demand. has to offer.’ The Nene Valley is one of our eight Living Cllr Steven North, Leader of Council Landscapes areas. All eight remain a core focus At Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows we of our conservation activity, providing pivotal have trialled new grazing techniques involving areas for a Nature Recovery Network. Image: Mike McFarlane Nature Reserves Nature Reserves The word dormouse translates literally as 'sleepy one' Space reserved Woodland work

This year we paid special attention to our woodland chemically for wildlife Hitchcock Gwen Image: nature reserves. We are custodians of many inhibit growth ancient woodlands, with veteran trees and swathes of native of woodland flowers entirely dependent on the broadleaf continuity of woodland over many centuries. trees, ground flora and other For example, Waresley and Gransden Woods, species due to adjoining ancient oak-ash-maple woods, contain needle drop displays of primrose, oxlip and bluebell in a and greatly woodland type restricted to a small area of eastern reduce the site’s wildlife value. In all woods, a England. And , the second largest challenge is coming from the growing impact of ancient woodland in Cambridgeshire, was already ash die back — a major threat to the trees and the an old wood when the Domesday Book was ecosystems they support. compiled in 1086. All are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest due to their diverse and This year we invested in new machines to rare flora and fauna. improve the efficiency and scale of our woodland management. This kit has the capacity to move Restoring these several tons of material at a time and is specially precious habitats has designed to be low impact in terms of ground become increasingly pressure to ensure minimum disturbance to wildlife. urgent due the impact It also includes a special winch, which can extract of past neglect and material without entering sensitive areas. The newly arrived pests and additional advantage is that the equipment enables diseases. At Brampton, us to extract and move the coppiced wood in a way conifers planted as that enables us to sell small amounts on, helping It was a record year for Black recently as the 20th Hairstreaks in Brampton towards our goal to create diverse and sustainable Image:Philip Precey century block out light, income streams.

Working with the evidence Research at Brampton Wood

Our Monitoring & Research team have this year used a new drone technique called the ‘normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI)’. Often used in agriculture to assess crop health, we have used the technique to undertake woodland surveys at Brampton Wood and to identify different types of tree — broadleaf trees show up here as orange and conifer as blue. We can use this to automatically 4,254 HECTARES £27,500 RAISED 8,893 PEOPLE map different habitat types quickly and accurately. of nature reserve managed by through our Tough Love appeal visited our nature reserves the Trust page on our website The findings help us monitor progress of our conifer removal and to ensure rare plants and animals such as bluebells, dormice, spotted flycatchers and black hairstreaks can flourish.

208 hectares 900 years ago 15m tonnes Hellon Josh Image: the size of Woodwalton Fen, Brampton Wood was first of carbon dioxide annually “We aim to have a broad age range of trees the very first nature reserve, recorded in the Domesday removed from the atmosphere because some species like older ones, or even given to this Trust this year Book and stored by UK woodlands dead wood, while others favour new growth. It and forests is hard physical work, and sometimes noisy.” Image: Robert Enderby Amanda Kent, Reserves Officer Reaching Out Bigger reach, Inspiring people bigger impact from all walks of life

To achieve our vision of a Wilder Future we believe 3,000 it is vital that we inspire others – and the younger generation in particular — to care for nature. Our schoolchildren were inspired about the natural Communities and Wildlife Team run a wide range of world through our innovative school event and engagement activities across the three programmes counties ensuring the wonders of the natural world are accessible for all to fall in love with. 2,409 people Experiencing nature with all the senses in our area took part in

Image: Debbie McKenzie 30 Days Wild This year, we embarked on a new project to Over 70,000 bring nature to those ‘random acts of wildness’ who couldn’t normally in June alone access it for health or mobility reasons.

Hosting workshops for 498,244 web page visits Image: Nina Lutterer care homes near the Great Fen, the groups used a range of senses to Site navigation got an upgrade reconnect with natural objects and shared their Over 33,000 photos and memories of nature. Our workshop with We launched a new mobile-friendly website this members provide vital support that the Association for the Blind (above) year ensuring this invaluable resource, packed with helps us restore and protect local led to them making three dormouse boxes for us. expert information wildlife about wildlife local to Bedfordshire, 52,132 people Cambridgeshire and visited our website from their Northamptonshire, is mobile now easily available on the go. Many A survey found that, on average, of the pages have people who took part in 30 Days been updated, the Wild reported better health and navigation improved happiness at the end of the month and on average than at the start.

people spent 40% Image: Debbie McKenzie Image: Iain Webb longer on our website than last year. Image: Katie King ‘The best bat experience in Britain’ Patrick Barkham, Journalist for the Guardian

The secret is out!

The Guardian gave our prestigious bat punt tours — run in partnership with Scudamore’s — national acclaim. With record ticket sales, Scudamore’s donate 50% from all proceeds to us. That's over £10,000 this year, and over £40,000 since the Image: Martin Bond partnership started back in 2012. Monitoring & Research for our Living Landscape Our People and Culture Paths of the pipistrelle The heroes putting

On the crest of a wave in the hours Fitton Caroline Image:

In 2013, Living Volunteers are crucial in all areas of our work. Landscape Manager From mid-week work parties, to admin support in Laura Osborne — a the office, from ecological monitoring to running a licensed newt handler Wildlife Watch Group. There are so many different — started an annual ways that volunteers offer their time and help us survey of great crested achieve all that we do for local wildlife and for this, A volunteer in our very first pop-up newts in the pond at shop, in Queensgate, Peterborough we are truly grateful. our HQ in Cambourne, later extending this to include surveys of Image: Gwen Hitchcock two nearby ponds in The survey recorded a rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle “My highlight would be the extraordinary Oaks Wood. Over this effort put in by our volunteers – it seems to time, she has identified Connecting isolated wildlife habitats into Nature Image: Laura Osborne get bigger each year, and it’s not just people Recovery Networks can be far easier when taking 80 newts from these ponds, analysing

guidance from those who know best – in this case, Image: Katie King doing practical work but also stock checking the bats. the belly patterns - including feeding the cows and general to identify returning The Bat Pathfinder survey encompasses landscape- newts. This research wardening – it makes a real difference.” scale monitoring of woodland linkage projects and helps us understand A thank you BBQ for volunteers in the Nene Valley Nancy Reed, Beds Reserves Manager recording of bat flight paths to monitor the success more about the local of habitat creation and restoration techniques. newt population – how stable it is and what we can do to support its The first phase of the project was based in the growth. Skilling up And it’s not just people… Rockingham Forest Living Landscape area and focused on Short and Southwick Woods nature We are fortunate that great crested newts are Our renowned Wildlife The Trust rely on a range of animals to create the reserves in Northamptonshire. widespread in Cambridgeshire and in places have Training Workshops perfect habitats for wildlife. From sheep dogs to large healthy populations. However, this is not continue to be well highland cattle, we couldn’t do it without them. Surveyors staked out each hedgerow connecting the case across the whole of the species’ range attended, enabling our woods for an hour after sunset and recorded where intensification of agriculture in the late 20th nature enthusiasts to flight paths in order to identify which hedges are century destroyed suitable breeding ponds and deepen their natural most important in linking the landscape for bats. history knowledge in surrounding natural habitat. Our President, Baroness They also identified potential hedgerow restoration a range of areas. Young of Old Scone, presents projects to fill any gaps, helping inform our All staff and regular volunteer Robin Bailey this year’s Oliver Rackham Award

landscape management. volunteers are Cathy Wainwright Image: supported in taking part.

76,309 hours given by volunteers

10 volunteers Academic Accolades to every 1 member of staff In November our CEO, Red points and arrows show the main routes Brian Eversham, was made that were monitored. a Visiting Professor in the 12 local groups School of Water, Energy and Imagery © 2018 Infoterra Ltd & Bluesky © Google Environment at Cranfield hours given by corporate data University. The move employees through our Holding the records searches recognises the seriousness with which the Trust values Wild Work Days handled 341,740 our scientific credentials and our academic links. Local Records Centres 443 680 by Cambridgeshire and supported by the species places filled on our Peterborough Environmental Trust — independent recorded on the Bedfordshire and Records Centre (CPERC) Wildlife Training 3 organisations providing Luton Biodiversity Recording and Workshops important data and resources Monitoring Centre databases in 2018 386 % Local Wildlife Sites 5 of the UK’s land has LWS A campaign victory designation

Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are key building blocks % Just 2.8 of for any nature recovery network, forming the % Cambridgeshire of buffers and corridors that allow wildlife to move 5 has LWS Northamptonshire designation across our countryside and better survive. They do has LWS not have any legal protection and are protected designation purely through the goodwill of their owners, often individuals or organisations including businesses, % of charities, schools and estates. 7 Bedfordshire has LWS It’s been a roller-coaster year for Local Wildlife designation Sites. In spring 2018, the government proposed removing all reference to LWS from the National Planning Policy Framework, stripping away the little protection these sites have. But with the help of Wildlife Trust supporters who signed our campaign, LWSs have been reinstated. LWS owners in Cambs and Beds were A ‘net-gain’ success provided management advice by the 48 Trust this year In Bedfordshire we achieved another win for wildlife as an area of land provided in mitigation for the Luton-Dunstable guided busway was this Over 25,000 people year awarded Local Wildlife Site status, following nationally signed the Wildlife Trusts eAction which just five years of habitat creation and management. successfully kept Local Wildlife Sites in the picture. Surveying in 2017 has shown a marked improvement in the number and diversity of both plants and invertebrates. “This is an outstanding success for Esther and her team. It goes to prove that whilst there is always concern regarding loss of habitat with

any construction project, particularly large Hellon Josh Image: projects like the Busway, with good planning, Gathering Evidence good management and dedicated teams it is possible to mitigate these losses and this story Monitoring the mainstreams confirms this. Well done everyone.” Dave Perry of Luton Borough Council Connecting like arteries, the network of Otter and Mink Survey Project in the Nene Valley waterways across our three counties help the – training volunteers to help us gather data that spread of wildlife and provide safe habitat. A will help us concentrate our conservation efforts well-structured river corridor also provides effectively. A quick win for the slow–worm grassland and trees as corridors for meadow and In Beds, volunteers taking part in our River woodland wildlife. But our water-loving wildlife Slow-worms, our only native sites, including 902 to our Wardens Scheme were able to demonstrate the also face many challenges, be it water pollution, legless lizards, have suffered Totternhoe nature reserve. We improvement of water quality across the whole invasive species or interference from grazing severe declines across the have been monitoring these county following a water quality workshop on cows. The impact of these issues can quickly country. The Luton-Dunstable populations for nine years and testing for phosphates and nitrates. Together spread downstream — so there is much to be guided busway was built along are delighted to report that all with our partners, the Beds Rural Communities gained from our work to improve these aquatic ideal slow-worm territory are breeding successfully and Image: Katharine Banham Charity, The Greensand Trust, and the routes. where they were thriving. spreading from their release Environment Agency we held two events to share Thanks to their protected areas. We also found a good Thanks to our conservation work with water voles the results. status, any slow-worms number, including juveniles in Cambridgeshire, it is one of the few places in that were found there prior and breeding females, still the country bucking the tragic national decline The water vole is the UK’s most rapidly to construction had to be in the vicinity of the busway of this species. With the hope of extending this declining mammal and has been lost from 94% relocated and were moved where it passes Blow’s Downs. success, this year we launched a Water Vole, of places where they were once prevalent. to three nearby wildlife Image: Tom Marshall Tom Image: Finance Conservation outside our reserves Working Together Key to building strong Living Landscapes and to creating a How we Nature Recovery Network, this work Corporate supporters encompasses our advocacy and advice for land managers, work on our spent our waterways and partnership projects. We are committed to engaging with local companies to develop Education and partnerships and secure support for a sustainable future for wildlife community engagement and a healthier environment for people who live and work in our money We simply cannot create a Wilder Future without area to enjoy. Our Wild Work Days continue to be popular, offering public support. Inspiring local businesses an energising team building experience, whilst a love of nature is our also benefiting the local wildlife. weapon of choice. Corporate Partners £1,328,192 £482,514 Arm Ltd Prologis UK Ltd The Biodiversity Consultancy

Corporate Investors Services Ltd Levin Sources Arqiva Ltd Orton Hall Hotel and Spa Colpac Ltd Scott Bader Gardenworks Tree Surgery Scudamore’s Punting Company The Gonville Hotel UK Power Networks Hewitsons Unilever Research Colworth £2,168,239 Corporate Supporters £965,330 Alpro Soya Lockhart Garratt Ltd Athene Communications The Marshall Group of Companies Nature reserve management Cambridge Belfry Hotel Moulton College Ltd With over 100 nature Cambridge Econometrics Ltd NFU Mutual Cambridge reserves in our care, the Cambridge Steiner School PalmerSport majority of our income is Fundraising spent on maintaining and Money invested in Cambridge University Press Perkins Engines Co Ltd improving these precious generating future income, Cambridge Water Company Richard Buxton Environmental & including seed funds for habitats for wildlife. Campkins Cameras Public Law trading and business Roem Ltd initiatives, established Cemex in order to generate Center Parcs Woburn Forest RPS Group sustainable income sources. Centrica (Peterborough Power Rutland Cycling Station) RWE Generation UK Ciconi Ltd South Cambs District Council Cranfield University Spendlove Contracting Dojima Sake Brewery Tarmac Business activities Downing College Cambridge University of Northampton Income from products and Granta Park Weetabix How we services we sell — including from our Rushden Lakes and online Greens of Soham Ltd Wellcome Genome Campus raised our shop — land rents, event fees Highgate House Wesley Coe charged and other activities Holidaycottages.co.uk Whittlebury Park helping to create a sustainable Hunts Wildlife Landscapes Willowbrook Construction money income. The Jordans & Ryvita Company Ltd Image: Siemens Wild Work Day at nature Our Affinity Scheme members include: reserve, by Dave Jackson Canoe2, Opticron, Scudamore’s Punting Company, £2,449,997 £1,391,434 £1,057,491 £564,306 £453,592 £550,081 Vine House Farm, Wildlife Travel

Donations, legacies Membership (and Gift Aid) Land advice, advocacy and Rural Payments Grants Wildlife Gardening at Work Awards 2018 and corporate Our members and corporate management contracts Agency (RPA) Sadly we are sponsorship members not only provide Income resulting from Payments made continuing to see Cranfield University were the overall winner for Best Wildlife Garden, and were Enormous gratitute to substantial unrestricted funds partnerships with land by DEFRA for the a decline in the recognised for their linked up wildlife spaces and for their wonderful efforts to everyone who donated that can be used where the need owners such as councils environmental number of grants to an appeal this year, is greatest, they also give strength and property developers stewardship and available to protect involve staff and students in the skills of bee-keeping (pictured). Kier took best held a fundraising to our voice when advocating and where a net-gain for management of wildlife, making other use of recycled materials in a wildlife garden and Downing College won best event or kindly left us a campaigning for wildlife. wildlife can be obtained. land. streams of income all wildlife sighting for a sparrowhawk spotted in their grounds. gift in their will. the more vital. Highlights

Lesser-spotted woodpecker at Over 6,600 green winged Norfolk hawkers have been Peregrines and chick spotted and Brampton orchids at recorded at Felmersham in Cambridgeshire Chalks Wood, two of the few NNR. Image: Paul Lane Gravel Pits. Image: Danny Living Landscape. Image: Neil remaining places it is resident Green/2020Vision Aldridge in Cambs. Image: Stefan Johansson

A rare white-spotted A fox snapped by a winner of The great crested newts Nightingales recorded again at bluethroat visited the Great our annual photo competition population in Peterborough Grafham Water. Image: Chris Fen over the summer. this year. Image: Sarah Kelman was the largest in Europe. Gomersall/2020Vision Image: Amy Lewis

Backs goldilocks buttercups, Bluebells carpeted our Common blue butterfly, 500+ golden plovers at one of 17 species of goldilocks woodland floors in spring, another winner in our photo . Image: David buttercup found only in our despite challenges posed competition. Image: Matthew Tipling/2020Vision counties, snapped at St John’s by visitors inadvertently Hazelton College Backs, Cambridge. trampling and widening paths. Image: Brian Eversham Image: Sophie Baker

“We all need to get behind The Wildlife Trusts, wildlifebcn.org rise up and call for a wilder future.” Stephen Fry, President of the Great Fen