RSPB Broadwater Warren has had a great breeding year, with threatened species including nightjar, lesser spotted woodpecker and woodcock choosing to raise their young in the carefully managed landscape.
Despite the recent State of Nature announcement, which highlighted the alarming decline of over half (56%) of UK species assessed since 1970, special places for nature including RSPB Broadwater Warren, aim to reduce and even turn around, the fates of species most at risk.
Now, thanks to generous donations of over £50,000 from four environmental organisations, a new Forestry and Wildlife corridor can be created, allowing RSPB staff, and staff from the adjoining Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve to manage a further 100ha of habitat for specialist wildlife, including threatened tree pipit, woodlark and marsh tit.
Donations of £25,000 from Cory Environmental Trust in Britain (CETB), £20,000 from Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust and a further donations of £7,700 from the Sussex Ornithological Society and £4,480 from The Chalk Cliff Trust will mean the work can commence this autumn and should be fully completed by next July.
Nick Feledziak, Assistant Warden of the RSPB’s Weald reserves said:
“Creating this corridor will help us to improve woodland management for threatened species, such as lesser-spotted woodpecker, spotted flycatcher and the EU protected hazel dormouse. Allowing more sunlight to the woodland floor will provide habitat for wildflowers, pollinators and birds that depend on scrub for nesting, cover and foraging.”
The track will also help visitors to get closer to the hidden nature already present at the reserve. Seating will be added around a newly created wildlife pond, near the reserve’s veteran oak, which is over 300 years old and home to many birds and insects.
Angela Haymonds, Trust Secretary for both Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust and Cory Environmental Trust in Britain, said: “The Trustees of both ICET and CETB are delighted to be helping the RSPB to further protect our precious wildlife. We hope the corridor will help to further improve the growth of threatened species for many years to come.”