What’s new?
3 January 2008
Buzzards are back!
The Wildlife Trust is celebrating increased sightings in Northamtptonshire
The Wildlife Trust has recently been awarded £3,000 by the Carillion Natural Habitats Fund for The Buzzard Project, to protect nationally rare species-rich limestone grasslands at Twywell Hills and Dales Nature Reserve, managed by The Wildlife Trust.
A hundred years ago, the buzzard had disappeared from many parts of Britain after persecution. Since then there has been a more enlightened attitude towards birds of prey. In recent years, the population of British buzzards has exploded with thriving populations now in peripheral areas where there were once only few, such as in Northamptonshire.
As with all wild birds, the buzzard is protected by law. It is also listed as a priority species in the local Biodiversity Action Plan (for Lowland Calcareous Grassland), which features Twywell Gullet as a case study. These striking birds thrive here thanks to the mosaic of habitats, trees to nest and perch in, and grasslands that support large numbers of rabbits - their favourite food.
The Carillion Natural Habitats Fund scheme encourages links between Carillion offices and the local Wildlife Trust branch to improve nature conservation within the locality. The Wildlife Trust was awarded the grant following a strong endorsement from the local Carillion-URS office in Kettering.
However, Carillion-URS’ support is not restricted to just endorsements. In the New Year willing staff will be leaving the depot to help with practical works onsite. The volunteers will be set to work carrying out conservation tasks.
Without sympathetic management the gullet area would soon revert to scrub at the expense of rare limestone grassland. Volunteers will remove scrub and non-native sycamore as they dominate the vegetation and would swallow up the grasslands. The grasslands support many small mammals and invertebrates on which the buzzards depend. The project will also keep pathways open to enable visitors to explore around the reserve and hopefully catch a glimpse of these impressive birds of prey soaring on thermals as they hunt.