Trent, Leen and Erewash Valleys

Using Growth Point funding awarded by the Greater Planning Partnership to improve sites where local communities can explore and enjoy linked, wildlife-rich wetlands Activities and Outcomes

Erewash Valley Leen Valley 3 river valleys

13 project sites Biodiversity enhancements

Health and wellbeing benefits Employment and skills benefits

Green infrastructure improvements

Trent Valley

OS OpenData: Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Netherfield Lagoons Netherfield Lagoons is an important wetland site in the Trent Valley, reflected in its designation as a Local Nature Reserve. Like many sites locally, mineral extraction and coal mining activity has left an area where wildlife can flourish, given the right conditions. The funding has enabled extensive works to be undertaken by Conservation Trust to improve this reserve including habitat and access enhancements. An amphibious vehicle was used to create new channels in the reedbeds with material removed from the channels used to form small islands. A timely intervention, the new areas immediately attracted a good number of birds including a pair of oystercatchers which attempted to nest. De-silting wader scrapes has also refreshed and reinvigorated the habitat for wetland birds. For human visitors, a new boardwalk, paths and a viewing screen make it an even more accessible wetland landscape to visit.

Helping Hands Staff from across the partner organisations were involved in delivery of the Wetland Landscapes for All projects, however many of them could not have been completed without vital and much-needed help from fantastic volunteers. In fact, over 300 hours of volunteer time was donated, whether digging holes, clearing ponds or planting new wetland species, local people were on hand to help. And it’s not just about donating time, all of those volunteers had the opportunity to learn new skills too – whether purely for their own pleasure, or to help them to seek employment – an added bonus! Skylarks Nature Reserve Visitors to Wildlife Trust’s Skylarks Nature Reserve can look forward to a fantastic variety of wetland habitats, with lakes, scrapes, ponds and wet grassland in abundance. Thanks to the project, they now have much better facilities on site to make their stay more comfortable. A new compositing toilet has been installed, so no one risks being caught short – whether local walkers, school or college groups, or the regular teams of volunteers who spend time here. Alongside a team of contractors, volunteers have also contributed to the building of a new outdoor classroom in a vernacular style in keeping with the experimental archaeological works buildings already on site. This structure will contribute to the community resources on site and provide much needed shelter for those spending a little longer at Skylarks, enjoying everything that it has to offer. Colwick Country Park With a history dating back to the 1300s, Colwick Country Park offers a range of habitats and facilities for visitors. To further enhance the site, two significant areas of reedbed have been created within the Main Lake using both newly purchased reed plants as well as material sourced locally from the Netherfield Lagoons site. In addition to the reedbeds, a new area of wet grassland has been created providing potential foraging and nesting habitat for birds. Finally, to stabilise lake edges, five sections of coir roll have been installed helping to prevent erosion whilst also providing new habitat as this natural material aids in rapid establishment of vegetation.

Revitalising Reedbeds Supporting many species including breeding and roosting birds, mammals such as harvest mice and invertebrates including dragonflies and damselflies, reedbeds are one of the UK’s most important habitats. The Wetland Landscapes for All programme has enabled over 2.5ha of reedbed to be created and/or enhanced in the Trent Valley—that’s almost the equivalent of 4 football pitches! Where there is not necessarily the space for a large reedbed, floating reed islands such as those installed on Farleys Brook can still provide habitat and water quality benefits. Image Credit Ester Kettle Portland Park The River Erewash, whose name is reported to come from the old English for ‘wandering’ and ‘wet meadow’, runs through Portland Park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Kirkby in Ashfield. A range of riverside habitat improvements have been completed by Council thanks to programme funding, including removal of debris and detritus from the stream to improve the flow of water through the park as well as clearance of scrub and trees either side of the watercourse to create a more open aspect. Stone material cleared from the stream has been placed in strategic locations to create baffles and riffles to aerate and improve water quality and provide improved habitat. New signs, in the form of interpretation panels, for the site will help visitors to better understand the importance of the history, geology, floral and faunal species found at Portland Park. The Leen and Farleys Brook The site where Farley’s Brook enters the Leen in was overgrown and neglected and suffering from poor water quality before funding from Wetland Landscapes for All was secured. The purpose of Nottinghamshire County Council’s project was to enhance the site through diversion of a surface water sewer through a newly enhanced pond/reedbed network to improve water quality downstream. This new wetland network was created around an existing pond by reinstating the outfall and digging new ponds at either side before installing floating reedbeds to improve water quality and provide additional wildlife habitat. Site access has also been improved through repair of an existing path and coppicing of trees and shrubs. Vital Habitat Creation Habitat loss, due to factors such as development, pollution and changing land use, is a major challenge for wildlife conservation in the UK. This is one of the reasons why habitat creation has been such a key element of the Wetland Landscapes for All programme. Funding has allowed partners to create new wetland habitats such as ponds, reedbeds, wader scrapes and wet grassland. However, without management these habitats can degrade and diminish in value so refreshing and reinvigorating scrapes and ponds through removal of overgrown vegetation is also important. The Hook The Hook Local Nature Reserve lies alongside the in Lady Bay. Owned by Borough Council, this much loved site has benefitted from Wetland Landscapes for All funding to reinvigorate wetland habitats along the channel which leads down to the river. Visitors will be able to see some new wetland habitat as well as a more open channel to benefit water vole, a species which has suffered significant declines in recent years. Revitalising an area of reedbed where the channel enters The Hook will not only enhance the habitat for a range of species, but will also contribute to improving the water quality in the channel. Attenborough Nature Reserve Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Attenborough Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated primarily for breeding and overwintering birds but also for open water and wet woodland and grassland habitats. Located adjacent to the River Trent to the southwest of Nottingham, it is an important site along this river corridor. Many visitors enjoy the site, with a network of paths and hides as well as the Nature Centre and café, and Wetland Landscapes for All funding has been used to carry out much needed works to one of the hides as the steps needed to be replaced. Access to stunning views from the Tower Hide across much of the reserve has now been restored. The second part of the funded work has seen three areas of earthworks, creating scrapes and enhancing bankside habitat adding even more wildlife value to Attenborough Nature Reserve. Working in Partnership Working in partnership has been key to the success of the Wetland Landscapes for All programme. With Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust managing the programme, individual partners were able to benefit from pooled knowledge and resources, with a single point of contact for all enquiries. Often, partnership working can lead to enhanced outcomes above and beyond those possible when working in isolation. One example was the use of mature reed rhizomes for reedbed creation at Colwick which had been sourced for free rom the Netherfield Lagoons site. This was cost-effective for Colwick as rhizomes are more rapidly establishing than plug plants but can be more expensive to purchase. No-cost removal of surplus rhizomes from Netherfield contributes to their ongoing programme of management of extensive and mature reedbeds. With the sites being only a few kilometres apart, transporting the reed rhizomes was a quick and efficient solution for all involved. Erewash Canal Like rivers, canals are great examples of ‘wildlife corridors’ which allow wildlife to move freely to forage and find shelter. However, canal banks are often hard, engineered structures which offer limited value for many species. With funding from Wetland Landscapes for All, the Canal and River Trust have been able to undertaken works to address this problem. Using both staff and volunteers, a 270m stretch of the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre Lock has been enhanced through installation of coir roll, hazel faggots and geotextile. This stabilises the bank, reducing risk of erosion and provides fantastic canal-side habitat which will be suitable for water vole, known to be present nearby, which could potentially colonise the site in the future. Erewash Meadows North of Eastwood, the River Erewash forms the county boundary between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The Erewash flows alongside Erewash Meadows (also known as Aldercar Flash), a Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserve which has been improved through installation of almost 500m of cattle fencing to allow conservation grazing on site. Using livestock to graze a site is a low impact method of managing vegetation and keeping unwanted scrub in check without having to bring in heavy machinery which could damage the flora. Public access to the reserve is now safer as visitors are segregated from cattle and disturbance to sensitive birds, particularly by dogs, is also reduced. Wetland Wildlife Corridors Nottinghamshire’s waterways form a vital network of ‘blue infrastructure’ flowing across the county. As well as being important habitats in their own right, they also connect other terrestrial habitats, providing a wildlife corridor for animals and plants. Our wetland sites which lie alongside these corridors, such as Netherfield Lagoons and Skylarks Nature Reserve, act as wildlife refuges to complement and enhance the blue infrastructure network. Thanks to Wetland Landscapes for All funding, thirteen wetland sites have been enhanced for people and wildlife. In addition to the reedbed and wet grassland work already described a total of over 600m of direct river/canal restoration work has been carried out, 5 ponds and 5 scrapes created and/or enhanced and a further 2ha of habitat work has been undertaken. Brinsley Headstocks Created on the site of the former Brinsley Colliery, this nature reserve contains a wide variety of habitats. Forming a blue corridor through Brinsley Headstocks is Brinsley Brook, a tributary of the River Erewash. Wetland Landscapes for All funding has enabled the development of new habitat of particular value for amphibians and invertebrates to complement the extensive work recently undertaken for access and meadows. Broxtowe Borough Council have commissioned a new pond in a field corner adjacent to Brinsley Brook. New native marginal planting will develop over time, supplemented by natural migration of plants, as this wetland becomes established. Toton Fields Lying alongside the River Erewash, on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire this reserve takes in parts of the Manor Farm and Banks Road Open Spaces in Toton. Both access and habitat works have been undertaken by Broxtowe Borough Council at Toton Fields, enhancing the site for both wildlife and people. Three new ponds in low lying land near the main path, have helped to diversify habitats of value for amphibians, invertebrates and bats. Additional scrapes will also be created to complement the new ponds. Raising and resurfacing the footpaths to improve access year round and installing accessible RADAR kissing gates has improved access for disabled people whilst excluding motorbikes.

Helping to Access Nature To improve access and facilities on Nottinghamshire’s wetland sites, there are now new paths, steps and essential buildings for an enhanced visitor experience. We hope that these developments have taken a big step forward to providing Wetland Landscapes for All. Hall Om Wong Hall Om Wong Open Space in Kimberley is a well-loved Local Nature Reserve with a mixture of parkland, woodland and grassland habitats. Path works and fencing have been undertaken to improve access to the park and strengthen boundary features. The fencing will allow the adjacent hedge to be laid next winter, improving its wildlife value by allowing thicker, stronger growth. To the eastern side of the site, an historic dew pond has been restored to provide high quality habitat for amphibians, invertebrates and birds. Spurred on by the Wetland Landscapes for All project, additional works undertaken by Broxtowe Borough Council at Hall Om Wong include a fantastic carved oak log seat, spring bulb planting by schoolchildren and a family wildlife event. Titchfield Park First created in 1914, Titchfield Park in Hucknall includes areas for formal recreation as well as a range of more informal, wildlife-friendly habitats. Titchfield Brook runs through the centre of the site and until recently has been formally constrained by its containment within a block-lined channel. Wetland Landscapes for All funding has enabled Ashfield District Council to restore a stretch of the channel to a more natural and wildlife rich habitat. The brook has been ‘broken out’ of its channel for a length of 50m on the northern side to create a meandering stream with baffles, riffles and pools providing varied habitat. Seeding and planting was carried out by pupils from the local Broomhill Junior School and the Friends of Titchfield Park volunteer group to aid in rapid establishment of high quality wetland habitat. It is hoped that this has provided a stepping stone for further improvements to the remaining length of Titchfield Brook which are currently in discussion.

Follow on Success The success of the project will be further celebrated when the River Restoration Centre visit in April 2018 as part of their national Annual Network Conference. Professionals from all areas of river restoration will have the chance to see the site and talk with the Wetland Landscapes for All partners about how and why the project was delivered.

Volunteers at Titchfield Park enjoying the sunshine after all their hard work to help with planting up the new wetland, providing fantastic new habitat. A New Home for Otters Often regarded as a keystone species indicating a healthy river system, otters suffered a massive decline in in the 20th century as a result of the poor quality of rivers, mainly as a result of pesticides. In Nottinghamshire, the story was much the same with just one record from the 1930s and then no more until the 1970s. However, recent news is more positive with records of otter on the rise again across the county. To help maintain this increase in the otter population in the Trent Valley, Wetland Landscapes for All funding has allowed project staff and volunteers rom Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to get their hands dirty installing a new artificial home for otters, known as an otter holt. Constructed on a gravel base using blocks and slabs, with entrance pipes leading to the water, the new otter holt was then covered with soil and brash to protect and hide it from disturbance. We hope it will be a long-lasting addition to wetland habitat along the Trent Image Credit: Elliott Neep Valley.

Thinking of Visiting?

 Attenborough Nature Reserve, Barton Lane, Nottingham NG9 6DY

 Brinsley Headstocks, Church Lane, Brinsley NG16 5AE

 Colwick Country Park, Mile End Road, Nottingham NG4 2DW

 Erewash Canal, Sandiacre Lock, Stapleford NG10 5LB

 Erewash Meadows, Stoney Lane, Brinsley NG16 5AL

 Farley’s Brook, Hucknall Lane, Nottingham NG15 7QA

 Hall Om Wong Open Space, Nottingham Road, Kimberley NG16 2HX

 Netherfield Lagoons, Stoke Bardolph, Nottingham NG4 2PE  Portland Park, Lindley’s Lane, Kirkby in Ashfield NG17 9AL

 Skylarks Nature Reserve, Adbolton Lane, Nottingham NG12 2LU  The Hook, Holme Road, Lady Bay, Nottingham NG2 5AA

 Titchfield Park, Park Lane, Hucknall NG15 7LU

 Toton Fields Nature Reserve, Banks Road, Toton NG9 6LN The WLFA Brand

The aim of the branding element of the Wetland Landscapes for All programme was help to engage the public through recognition that these are high quality wetland sites contributing to the Green Infrastructure of the three Valleys, and that they can enjoy them for quiet recreation. To fulfil the brief, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust set up a schools’ ‘Design a Logo’ competition which all partners were asked to promote to schools and youth groups in their area. Voting was open to representatives from each organisation in the partnership, after which a winner was chosen and the winning entry was developed into a working logo by a graphic designer. The winning pupil from Stapleford was presented with their prize by the Mayor of Broxtowe at a whole school assembly which was also a great opportunity to promote the project to a new audience. The Wetland Landscapes for All logo is now available for partners to use to publicise wetland projects and events, with acrylic signs produced for display at each of the initial project sites. The WLFA Legacy

This leaflet represents the culmination of an extremely successful multi partner programme to improve and enhance wetland landscapes across the Trent, Leen and Erewash Valleys for both people and wildlife. The initial Growth Point funding awarded by the Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership has enabled delivery of a suite of projects across thirteen sites, however it is hoped that this is only the beginning of the journey for the Wetland Landscapes for All brand. With the logo established and partners fresh from successful project delivery, there is now a great opportunity to build upon these outcomes and continue working to enhance more wetland sites across the area.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership for the award of Growth Point Funding that enabled delivery of this exciting programme. Thanks should also go to everyone involved in all of the partner organisations.

For further information about any of the sites, please contact the project partner directly, or alternatively, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust at [email protected] or on 0115 9588242.