What’s new?
1 February 2006
Creating wet woodlands in Peterborough for wildlife –
Local landowners and companies get involved
The Wildlife Trust is host to the ‘Peterborough Wet Woodlands’ project; a partnership project encouraging local landowners and quarry companies to create new wet woodlands to replace those lost due to agricultural drainage, development and the decline of traditional industries that used osier beds. Wet woodlands comprise mainly alder, willow and downy birch growing on waterlogged or seasonally wet soils. They are special places for wildlife, including otters that use them as valuable feeding or resting areas and safe passage to the other watercourses.
Some woodlands have already been planted, such as at Maxey Quarry, and others are being created this spring. We are also encouraging more private landowners, developers and estates to join us. Mike Bradshaw, who owns Castle Farm at Stibbington, is turning two of his arable fields along the River Nene into wet woodland. These fields, both approximately 3 hectares in size, are either side of the Trust’s Stibbington Pits Nature Reserve, and will be a valuable extension to the existing wetland complex. Mike said, ‘The area near the river is rich in flora and fauna, so any thing I could do to enhance this has got to be a good thing.’ The woodlands will be ‘open access’ too so the public can use the area throughout the year, free of charge, for quiet recreation.
Click on the link opposite to find out more about wet woodlands and how you can create your own.