Candice & Garry Barker
In each issue we will feature a 'Spotlight' on one of our volunteers
In this issue we hear from Candice and Garry Barker Both Garry and Candice have been involved in a wide range of volunteering within the Trust at Rutland Water. From bird ringing, to surveying, to habitat management.
We have both been volunteers at Rutland Water for many years and it has provided many moments of fun and laughter and long may this continue.
Candice
My first volunteering role was manning the desk on a Saturday at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre. It was great to welcome the visitors with a smile and share information about the reserve. I also got to know more staff, make life long friends and learn of other activities available This led to getting involved with the Osprey project during the early years of translocating the birds. A very exciting time! Sitting in a caravan on the top of Lax Hill observing and recording the osprey behaviours whilst they were in the holding pens. Cutting up fish for feeding the ospreys and monitoring them once they were free flying around the reserve until they left on their first migration Now, nearly 28 years later, I enjoy sharing the success story of this project with the public in Waderscrape hide every summer.
I also joined the Rutland Water ringing group in the late 90’s and have supported many different ringing activities on the reserve throughout the years I particularly love seeing the awe and wonder on peoples faces when doing ringing demonstrations. Once I retired I was able to commit more time and participate in more activities on top of those already committed to. I joined the Monday habitat management work party on the Lyndon reserve during the winter In the last few years I have been volunteering on a Friday doing survey work involving many different species. I particularly enjoy the water invertebrate monitoring as It takes me back to my childhood pond dipping days. It still holds the same fascination as it did then with the wonder of what might we find in the nets
I love being outside, learning new things and participating in group activities with like minded people. Robust data is needed to help understand how local and national flora and fauna are fairing. I believe through the surveys, the data collected and the analysis of the data, a better understanding of the flora and fauna can be used to inform habitat management on the reserve and provide a better understanding of species population dynamics. As the land around is being built on our nature reserves will play a vital role in managing and understanding the changes so we can help to conserve the local flora and fauna for the future generations This is definitely something that motivates me to give of my time at Rutland Water.
Candice helping to ring an Osprey
Candice pond surveying
Garry
I first started ringing birds on the reserve in the latter days of Winter Contract Ringers in the early noughties. I have enjoyed helping out over the years with the CES (Constant Effort Site) project which is one of the longest running CES sites in the UK The Sand Martin RAS (Re-trapping Adults for Survival) and Sand Martin pulli ringing over the last 20 years has been fascinating. Fluctuations in timing of breeding from year to year in response to weather conditions for both spring migration arrival and first egg laying are amazing to witness
I have gained immense enjoyment from our mist netting activities at the Lyndon site. I’m a British Trust for Ornithology bird ringing trainer and have had the pleasure of bringing on several trainees through to independent ringing status over the last 20 years with time well spent at Rutland Water
We both took great enjoyment from running ringing demonstrations at Lyndon outside our busy May-September season post-Covid. The variety of birds we could offer up for the public to see and learn about at Lyndon was tremendous. It was amazing to see familiar faces lighting up in the audience in addition to new ones We have both been involved in a small cavity hole nest box project since 2005 at Lyndon. We get a real thrill from monitoring and ringing chicks in these boxes and then re-trapping them as free flying birds back on the Reserve somewhere. In the last 10 years or so I have been involved in helping with and setting up a few colour ringing projects These are so rewarding as the chances of re-sightings is far higher than from fitting only metal rings.
I also enjoy contributing to the annual ringing project reports for the work we have done on the reserve This is so important to demonstrate how things are changing over the years and year on year. In the bigger picture the data we collect through our ringing at Rutland Water is vital in helping to conserve wild spaces for future generations to come.
I have for many years been a member of the winter Lyndon Work Party The camaraderie and work is such great fun and I get a real buzz from this. I particularly like hedge laying using hand tools and I learnt a good deal of this skill on a weekend course at Rutland Water. Some of these skills I have put to good use at Lyndon during the winter work parties and supporting other landowners away from Rutland Water
Garry helping to clear the branches
Garry & Candice bird ringing
Award Winning Fee Worton
We were delighted to see that our amazing Community Organiser, (and all-round incredible person) Fee Worton, recently won the Marsh Award for Outstanding Public Engagement.
These awards are run in partnership with the Wildlife Trusts and recognises a member of staff from the Wildlife Trustswho has demonstrated strong environmental leadership and enterprising community engagement. Among the 46 Wildlife Trusts, Fee stood head and shoulder (though not literally) above everyone.
To list everything that Fee does would really need a whole newsletter on its own, Fee works throughout Leicester engaging with and inspiring everyone she meets. The Nextdoor Nature project that Fee lead was crucial for reaching and building the communities in the city. Almost single handedly Fee engaged with over 5,000 people and found so many marvellous ways to keep the project moving forward and developing.
nnual AGM ur 68th st ever meet with hank person or o appoint 6 The new new trustees, please do visit k/how-we-are-
Fee Worton - Community Organiser
Volunteers helping with events
Here at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust we are looking to grow our team of volunteers that can help out with the events we have scheduled or are planning.
The events can be anything from helping to represent the trust at community or business events, going on guided walks, delivering leaflets, making tea at supporter events or helping with craft activities.
If you are interested then please do get in contact. We will add your name to the pool and contact everyone on the list about upcoming events you can help with
To have a chat about this volunteer opportunity, or what it might involve, please contact our head office: 0116 262 9968
Have your say on ways to make space for nature
People are being asked to share their views on an ambitious new strategy to make space for nature across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
Launched Monday 6 January, the draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been developed by Leicestershire County Council and partners to protect nature and allow it to recover by preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity The consultation is looking for input from residents, farmers, landowners and other interested groups on the draft strategy, which sets out practical actions to boost the area ’ s wildlife and natural spaces.
The survey can be viewed at leicestershire.gov.uk/lnrs-consultation and features at-a-glance interactive maps which can be used to view projects in detail and make comments. Responses to the consultation, which runs until Friday 28 February, will be used to develop the final version of the LNRS, which will be published in the summer.
Your involvement is critical to creating a robust and inclusive strategy that will shape the future of nature recovery in both our counties.
Can you help with any of our events
Hedgelaying & Dry Stone Walling Courses for 2025
Hedgelaying & Dry Stone Walling Courses for 2025
Our popular courses are back for 2025. Both our hedgelaying and dry stone walling courses will be running throughout the year These 2 day courses are a wonderful way to get hands on with a new skill and learn something new.
Hedgelaying Weekend for Beginners
On this course you will have a brief introduction to the ancient art of Hedgelaying, learn what it involves, when to hedge-lay and how You will also have the opportunity to lay your own section of hedge.
Dry Stone Walling for Beginners
Dry Stone walls can stand for decades. This twoday course will give you the basic principles of the craft of stone wall building or repair and give you an understanding of the construction of a field wall.
We would love to see you there. Our courses get great feedback from those who have attended. The full details, including how to book, can be found on our website: https://www lrwt org uk/events
Restore, Reclaim and Renew – Appeal
Our Restore, Reclaim and Renew appeal is well underway now. Over the next year we have an ambitious plan to make a huge difference to our counties. The work we do depends on more than just project-based funding it requires a strong foundation to drive long-term impact This funding enables us to keep our essential operations running, from maintaining vital resources to empowering our dedicated teams.
This year we aim to raise £60,000 to create a sustainable foundation for our conservation efforts. With your support we'll be ready to tackle urgent challenges, support innovative projects, and protect wildlife and nature every day
With your help, we will Restore, Reclaim and Renew. Together, we will breathe new life into our counties. You can find out more, and help support our appeal, through our website: https://www lrwt org uk/restore-reclaim-renew
Dry Stone Walling - one of our courses for 2025
Cloud Wood and volunteers
Chris Hill - Reserves Officer
The volunteers have been busy in the Soar Valley with a multitude of different projects completed. Before Christmas (and yes, before THE FLOOD) we were out and about at Cossington
The log benches in The Moor Pool area had to be replaced as they had rotted, and willow had to be removed from the reedbed and around Tern Pool.
I know, seems strange that we remove willows from the margins of waterbodies, but we need to prevent the lakes and scrapes from becoming ‘closed in’ In the long term, Birdlife will benefit from the more open vista created.
Late November saw us head south on the reserve and begin cutting back a willow hedge that was in danger of being shaded out.
We do seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time dealing with willows. I don’t want to conjure up a negative image that willows are bad (they aren’t) and everything else is good, but the Salix family grow so fast, thus creating minor problems around infrastructure and other features on nature reserves in general
In early December we headed out to Loughborough Big Meadow. A lot has been going on here recently with the creation of new fencing, drinking trough and a cattle corral. There was one final stretch of fencing to complete with the addition of a couple of lengths of barbed wire
Replacing the log benches at Cossington
Litter picking at Cossington
Big tree planting day at Cossington - credit Nick Crowley
Big tree planting day at Cossington - credit Nick Crowley
Clearing the hedge
TRO Alex Moore taking part in the big tree planting day at Cossington - credit Nick Crowley
Over the years, cattle had been forcing their way into a blackthorn hedge (Why? It must be very uncomfortable) and weak spots that could eventually open up and let the beast escape onto neighbouring land
After yet more major flooding (wouldn’t it be great to have MINOR flooding) we began the litter picking at Cossington. Volunteers will often be heard using the word ‘Therapeutic’ when undertaking the removal of other people’s rubbish And I agree, it is But I can’t help feel that we could be doing something more constructive
Finally, late January we had a great turnout at Cossington for a big hedge planting day.With generous funding from The Green Place in Sileby, It was possible to purchase a mix of native British plants to create a 165m feature along the edge of Mill Wood and Wood Meadow South Conditions were ideal on the day and planting was made easier by some of the volunteers bringing their own spades.
Finally, the first ever Christmas barbecue at Cossington Meadows nature reserve All went well with no reported cases of food poisoning after undercooked sausages. Although Mary Rooks was very close to missing out. Lessons have been learnt.
New fencing at Loughborough Big Mead
Successful Christmas barbecue at Cossington Meadows
Peter Dawson (volunteer warden Holwell) with Sarah Bedford - cutting 50yr celebration cake
Sarah Bedford - Senior Reserves Officer
Fifty Fabulous Years
Holwell Wildlife Group – 50 years of working with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Holwell Nature Reserve became a Wildlife Trust reserve in 1973, and the Holwell Wildlife Group was established soon after, in 1974, and so 2024 marked the fiftieth year since the inception of the Holwell Wildlife Group
An enthusiastic group of local volunteers have continued to run regular volunteer work parties and lead events at the reserve over the last fifty years
In December, we gathered at Holwell to celebrate their long service. We were joined by one of our Trustees Anthony Biddle, who said some lovely words of thanks. Volunteers, past and present, were there with their families – including relatives of some of the original volunteers; the Lawrie family are now in the fourth generation of those involved with the group, and the reserve The gathering was a lovely chance to celebrate the phenomenal effort of time and care that this group have put into the upkeep of Holwell Nature Reserve.
Holwell - Mineral Line
Holwell Wildlife Group - 50yr celebration
Their habitat management focuses on maintaining and improving the various areas of the reserve; this includes removing scrub and invasive species from limestone grassland, cutting back and improving hedge lines, mowing and raking to improve the wildflower array, maintaining the entrances to nationally significant bat roosting areas in the old quarry adits and protecting the valuable geological features The volunteers also maintain access and security at the site, mowing paths in the summer and repairing fence lines and gateways where necessary,
Events at the reserve organised and run by volunteers have included badger watches, guided walks and an annual open day event which regularly raises large funds for the upkeep of the reserve and attracts visitors from the local area to enjoy the site. In the winter months, the group runs talks and presentations in Melton Mowbray.
A conservative estimate is that more than 100,000 hours of volunteer time over the last fifty years has made a massive contribution to the protection and enhancement of wildlife in Leicestershire. The continued efforts have also helped keep the reserve looking wonderful and open to all for their enjoyment.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who, over the last half-century, have made Holwell Nature Reserve the wonderful site that it is today Thanks also to all those who continue to support and look after the site today – we couldn’t do it without you!
Holwell - Mineral Line
Holwell Wildlife Group - 50yr celebration
Holwell Wildlife Group -
Holwell Open Day
Holwell Nature Reserve - credit Peter Dawson
Sophia Attwood-Clarke - Reserves Officer
Since the last newsletter, we have spent each Thursday at Cloud Wood working on this year ’ s coppice block. Chipping away at the path-side edge is a distant memory now, and I can fell trees into the space where others were faster than we can process I have no doubt that I will cease felling in the next few weeks and we will have time to work through the mess into March. I’m very excited to observe how the plot develops over the next few years: all thanks to our incredible volunteers and how they have embraced ambition here
I cut a quarter of the reedbed at Lucas Marsh in the first snow of the year. Several of you braved the weather and joined me later that day to rake it off and deposit it on top of a stack of willow brash from encroachment that Alex and I had already coppiced They also did a sterling job of removing Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus at the far side of the Marsh (a non-native ornamental, which had swallowed up a section of the circular path).
In the last newsletter, we had spent a session at Kelham Bridge managing the thorn hedge that has been slowly swallowing the permissive path through the reserve We returned to finish coppicing back the blackthorn, hazel and hawthorn all the way from the first hide to the second. Alex and a couple of others had fun in waders clearing vegetation from the Sandmartin wall pool and the ditch which runs to the scrape. Bob and Garry took a brush cutter each to the reed which has grown up since last winter on the left of the view from the first hide and this was raked off.
Cloud Wood
Green Elf Cup at Cloud Wood
Mowing and raking the Kelham Bridge reed
Clearing vegetation from Sandmartin pool at Kelham Bridge
Clearing vegetation from Sandmartin pool at Kelham Bridge
Gorse and scrub removal at Croft Pasture
We strimmed the Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis areas at Dimminsdale in December Indeed, they are another non-native, but they are part of the history of the reserve and they are enjoyed by large numbers of people. The arisings were deposited on top of dead wood piles for habitat. In anticipation of increased footfall when the Snowdrops come into flower, two steps were replaced too
We enjoyed mulled (alcohol-free!) wine, stollen and mince pies on a gorse fire at Croft Pasture before Christmas. We embarked on a plan to clear significant gorse and scrub encroachment from the SSSI grassland last year. We went over the previously cleared areas and nipped out any regen, and then continued to clear the rocky outcrop of any successional vegetation
Our woodland and scrub work concludes at the end of February in time for the bird breeding season. It will be all systems go in the coming weeks to control successional processes across our reserves and we absolutely owe the extent of our clearance work to you good people Thank you, team!
Strimming and clearing at Dimminsdale
Tim Sexton - Senior Species and Recording Officer
The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a relative of the Moorhen and Coot. Considered to be ‘ an uncommon winter bird and bird of passage, rarely breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland’. Smaller and slimmer than a moorhen the water rail can be easily identified by its chestnut-brown upperparts, blue-grey face and chest, and long red bill Black and white stripes on the flanks help to camouflage the bird against the surrounding vegetation – making them difficult to spot when they are stood still. However, even If you don’t see one, the water rail’s strange pig-like squeals and grunting calls at dawn and dusk are another obvious sign of their presence These characteristic ‘sharming’ calls can be heard throughout the colder months of the year from the reedbeds of Lagoon 3, Lagoon 1 and Field 16, along with the reedbed at Waderscrape Hide.
Since records at Rutland Water began, numbers of Water Rails have been estimated for the monthly Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS) There secretive nature, and preferred habitat of dense emergent vegetation, means that Water Rails are typically only detected from their vocalisations and are rarely seen.
Typical estimates were around 5-10 individuals in the summer and low double figures in the winter –the largest count being 24. In reality, the number of Water Rails actually encountered during WeBS counts represent just a handful of calling individuals.
As a result, we recently started carrying out special playback surveys for Water Rail in addition to the WeBS counts to get a more accurate idea of their population. Although they are not threatened within the UK, they are often considered to be a reliable indicator of wetland habitat quality and are an umbrella species for reedbeds
For the surveys a total of six broad areas of wetland habitat which are deemed to be suitable for Water Rail are surveyed. A survey route is mapped which enables us to safely access the habitat with the most potential, then 100m ‘playback points’ were plotted along the route using QGIS and located in the field using the QFIELD app.
Water Rail - photo credit Lynda Schlemmer
On the Lyndon Reserve, the calls were played from each of the hides rather than at 100m intervals.
An MP3 recording of Water Rail sharming calls was played at each survey point from a phone connected to a Bluetooth Speaker. After two minutes, if a response had not been heard, the MP3 call was played for a second time. If there was no response to the second call it was assumed a bird was not present. Activity was recorded on the QFIELD Mobile App along with the type of response: bird sharming in response to playback (R), unprovoked sharming (S), sharming duet (D), other calls (C), sighting (V).
On our most recent survey (just before Christmas), supported by our Survey and Monitoring volunteers, we recorded the greatest number of Water Rail we had ever found at Rutland Water with 46 birds counted across the Reserve!
We are now planning a repeat survey in the late spring to understand how many of these birds stay on to breed here
Reedbeds outside Waderscrape Hide
Water Rail - photo credit Lynda Schlemmer
Alex Moore - Trainee Reserves Officer, Leicester
I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the new year!
It’s been great to get back out onto the reserves now we are well into all of the winter tasks and despite the recent cold weather the volunteer task days have been most enjoyable
There’s been plenty of tree work and scrub clearance to get involved in across the western reserves. Recently I’ve learnt how to check and clean bird nest boxes with the Cloud Wood volunteers and have been learning some carpentry skills whilst constructing a barn owl nest box. We’ve also been busy clearing bramble at Ulverscroft, removing gorse and rhododendron at Charnwood Lodge and coppicing at Cloud Wood. I’ve really enjoyed going out onto the reserves and getting stuck into the tasks!
It’s been lovely to see the seasonal changes to the reserves over autumn and winter, one of the highlights definitely was seeing the sites after the snow! I’m now thoroughly looking forward to the arrival of spring and the different wildlife that comes with it. Getting to work with you all over the last few months has been amazing, I have learnt so much already and I can’t wait for what this new year will bring!
Cloud Wood
Alex Moore in a ditch at Kelham Bridge
Matt Scase - Visitor Centre and Events Assistant
The new year has brought a fair amount of change down here at the Lyndon Visitor Centre Our Engagement Manager, Laura Brady, has now left the Trust after an amazing 5 years working here. Those of you who have visited Lyndon in those years will have no doubt met Laura and seen how enthusiastic she was with everyone and everything It was definitely sad for me to say goodbye to Laura, but the new job she is moving onto sounds wonderful and she will be a great assist to her new team.
As we look ahead to the new season, we have now appointed 2 new members of staff that will soon be starting alongside me at Lyndon. Both of them will be starting around March and I will share more details in our next newsletter What I can say is that one will be our new Information Assistant, and the other our new Volunteer Coordinator & Visitor Centre Assistant. With a new Volunteer Coordinator coming in, that will probably mean that I will be handing over a lot of the stuff I have been covering in the last year or so I’m sure a lot of you will have been in contact with me at some point, either as your first point of contact when you started volunteering, or with a query that I was hopefully able to help out with. One of the things I have enjoyed the most while doing this is putting together these Volunteer Newsletters I remember the first one I helped put together back in August 2023 and since then I’ve loved sharing all that has been going on within the Trust with you all. Thank you for all your support.
Back on the reserve, winter events have been continuing, and I have really been enjoying going out onto the reserve more and showing people what is out there We still have a few more events to go, so do take a look at our events page to see what’s happening.
In the next newsletter I hope to bring you news about the Osprey returning to Rutland (and more specifically Manton Bay) Last year it was our resident female, Maya, that returned first She returned on the 12th March, which was the joint earliest that she had been back. We would expect it to be a similar time again this year to be seeing the first Osprey in the skies over Rutland, do keep an eye out for any updates on their return. Our Manton Bay nest webcam runs 24 hours a day, so do check it out and be the first to see the Osprey back on the nest. Along with the return of the Osprey, our visitor centre at Lyndon will be opening once again on Wednesday 5th March. We will then be open 7 days a week 9am – 5pm, so do plan your visit to pop down and see us.
Laura Brady
Osprey 33(11)
