Natural World Starling spectacular
News from The Wildlife Trusts across the UK
Winter 2017
Don’t miss winter’s greatest wildlife show
Environment Act: it’s time
“We all deserve clean air, clear water and thriving wildlife”
Our vision for Living Seas A way to safeguard marine wildlife and protect fishing jobs
Brew with a view
Combine wildlife and cake with our guide to nature reserve cafes
UK NEWS
Trusts launch vision for Living Seas Report says the Government has a unique chance to lead the world in marine conservation
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new report by The Wildlife Trusts outlines how a radical approach to marine planning could bring our seas back to their former abundance. The Way Back to Living Seas demonstrates that a joined-up network of Marine Protected Areas will safeguard marine wildlife and help the livelihoods of the many people who depend on the sea. It suggests dividing coastal waters into five regional seas and then managing everything that happens in them – from recreation
to fisheries to aggregate extraction – in a way that balances the needs of wildlife and people. This does not happen at the moment. Joan Edwards, Director of Living Seas at The Wildlife Trusts, gave a copy of the report to Environment Secretary Michael Gove when she
A healthy sea is vital for future generations
Our key ask
The report shows how all sea users can get along
met him in October. “We believe that a healthy, wildlife-rich marine environment is valuable in its own right and fundamentally important for human health, wellbeing and prosperity,” she said afterwards. “If the Government takes the lead on this, within the next 25 years our seas will be more sustainable and well on their way to recovering their historic levels. This will benefit the wildlife that inhabits our seas and the prosperity and well-being of local communities and the UK that depends on them.”
The Government should put ‘Regional Sea’ marine planning and an ecologically-coherent network of protected areas at the heart of its plan
Restores nature Involves people Inspires and connects people with the sea
Minimises harm Ends pollution, destructive fishing and unsustainable marine development
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Recognises the value of nature to our economy and commits to restoring it
Tracks progress Establishes ‘Good Environmental Status’ in all seas
‘Regional Sea’ marine planning Plans long-term Looks at the whole ecosystem and the life it supports when planning for the future
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Stays sustainable Sets limits for all activities at sea, including fishing, underwater noise, offshore wind and extraction
alex mustard
Common seal, Isle of Coll
“Dear Theresa, Please will you be a friend of the sea?” It’s a fair question – especially coming from the next generation. This summer, 1500 junior members sent friendship bracelets to Theresa May asking her to be a friend of the sea. Some of them handed the 100-metre-long petition in to Downing Street in August, with a message to the Prime Minister to complete the network of Marine Protected Areas around the UK.
Time to plan far ahead
Late new st UK-w s i wild and issude lifetr es org/ usts. : new s
In turbulent times wildlife can bring great solace. World politics spins around us at an unprecedented pace, but even in winter there is joy and beauty to be found in nature. It may take more determination to get out of the house as the days draw in, but there will certainly be a Wildlife Trust nature reserve very close to you and perhaps a Wildlife Trust café with welcoming people and a fabulous view. For some people it is very hard to get to see wildlife, but we believe that no-one should be deprived of that opportunity. We have projects up and down the UK helping to break down the barriers to people’s contact with the natural world. Your support is helping us do this, and also means we can stand up for wildlife so that it can thrive in town and country and at sea. And recently we have had some great successes across the Wildlife Trust movement: saving Lodge Hill’s nightingales from housing development in Kent; bringing beavers back to Scotland, Kent and the West Country; and ensuring more kids than ever have a chance to take part in forest schools. Everything we do is much easier to achieve if we have the certainty of strong legal protection for our most precious wildlife sites and tight rules about pollution. As the UK leaves the European Union, we need to make sure we retain high levels of protection and set the right direction for farming and fisheries. It is a big ask, and even then it won’t be enough. We will need new ambition if the country is going to look and feel and sound as we would all love it to in 25 years’ time. We will need a new Act of Parliament that provides the framework for restoring our damaged ecosystems, bringing wildlife into our towns and cities, and allowing an abundance of wildlife to return to our seas. Please support our campaign for a new Environment Act.
Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts @stephhilborne
Jedae, Joshua and Jenayde about to knock at No. 10
Wherever you are in the UK, your Wildlife Trust is standing up for wildlife and wild places in your area and bringing people closer to nature. Contact us on enquiry@wildlifetrusts.org or 01636 677711. To join your Wildlife Trust, visit wildlifetrusts.org/joinus. Natural World, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1WT. Editor Rupert Paul Layout editor Dan Hilliard Communications Manager Lucy McRobert. Cover: Starlings coming in to roost at Shapwick, Somerset Levels, by Guy Edwardes/2020Vision twitter @wildlifetrusts facebook.com/wildlifetrusts
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UK NEWS
Gwent Wildlife Trust opposes six-lane motorway over internationally important wetland Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) has given its final evidence to the Public Inquiry into a new motorway being built over a precious ancient wetland. The Trust hopes it can halt Welsh Government plans for a six-lane motorway across 15 miles of the Gwent Levels, which contain a wealth of rare wildlife, eight Sites
of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a National Nature Reserve. All would be destroyed or badly affected. “The proposal is a direct attack on nature, biodiversity and protected landscape and fails every test of sustainability,” said transport expert Prof. John Whitelegg of Liverpool John Moores University.
“The Gwent Levels is Wales’ very own Amazon rainforest and should be protected now and for future generations,” said GWT Chief Executive Ian Rappel. The enquiry is expected to run until the end of the year before it produces a verdict. Welsh Minister Ken Skates will decide the fate of the Levels in 2018.
save the Gwent Levels!
Join our campaign: e. gwentwildlif org
One of the reens, or ditches, that crisscross the Levels
Second wave of water voles for Kielder
Lyle McCalmot
Project officer Graham Holyoak with a soon-to-be released water vole
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Following the successful introduction of more than 300 water voles in June, the Kielder Water Vole Partnership has released another 255 animals into the Kielder Water and Forest Park area of Northumberland. Voles were lost from the area 30 years ago, and the reintroduction, using animals from the Pennines, aims eventually to restore them to the west of the county. The partnership includes Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission and Tyne Rivers Trust, with a £421,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Neil aldridge
Gwent Levels in mortal danger
bev lewis
The inspiration for the new beer was unavailable for comment
Spirited support for Wildlife Trusts
Comedian and nature lover Bill Bailey caused a stir when he walked into the Avalon Marshes nature centre – and told them they had won the National Lottery Awards’ Best Environment Project. The Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve beat off competition from 1,300 entries in the annual public vote. The reward for the staff and volunteers was a £5,000 prize,
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s annual beer festival in September premiered Malthouse Dormouse, a light, fruity ale from Leamington Spa brewery. It was inspired by the re-introduction of dormice this year in a Trust woodland. Money raised will support the Trust’s work. Not to be outdone, Herts and Middlesex Trust receive £2 for every bottle sold of Puddingstone Distillery’s special edition Campfire Gin. The gin uses flowers from the invasive Himalayan balsam, removed from the neighbouring reserve.
Staff and volunteers celebrate two nice surprises
most sustainable to eat. “The support of these restaurants and fish sellers promotes demand for sustainably-caught Cornish fish, making the future more secure for fish stocks and our inshore fishermen,” says the Trust’s Matt Slater.
Rare black bees back in Essex
toby roxburgh/2020vision
Abberton’s black honey bee HQ. The Trust hopes they will colonise the area
Cornwall’s Good Seafood Guide needs to catch on everywhere
Essex Wildlife Trust is working to bring back the black honey bee. Once a native species, the bee was almost completely wiped out 100 years ago. Now a colony is back and buzzing at the Trust’s Abberton Reservoir reserve. Apis mellifera mellifera is one of around 28 sub-species of the western honey bee. The species flies in cooler weather than the nonnative bees often imported to help pollination, so can be better at finding food. winter 2017 NATURAL WORLD 5
chris gomersall/2020vision
Cornwall chooses good seafood More than 70 Cornish businesses, including the Eden Project and Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, have joined Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Good Seafood Guide. cornwallgoodseafood guide.org.uk shows people what’s currently in season and
a trophy and an appearance on BBC1. The reserve is one of the finest remaining lowland wetlands in Britain. “I’m from Somerset, so preserving the local landscape is important to me,” said Bill. “The project does an incredible job of keeping this historic wetland in tip-top shape.”
Somerset WT
Avalon Marshes wins public vote
erica olsen/flpa. worm: david chapman
living landscapes
Caroline Corsie is Agronomist and Farm Manager at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
The stuff of life Unsustainable farming practices are pushing our soils to the edge. Agronomist Caroline Corsie explains why we need to save this precious resource
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t may not look like much, but soil is one of the most important substances on earth. The quality of soil underpins society – how we grow food, how water is stored and moved through the landscape, and how carbon is locked up. It’s the foundation of life on earth and we all depend on healthy soils to survive. Civilisations have risen and fallen because of the quality of their soils, so we need to show our mud a little respect! That’s something that’s been missing in recent decades. And something The Wildlife Trusts are
trying to change. Increased carbon emissions, increased flood risk and reduced water quality are having an impact on homes and businesses, not to mention the thousands of species of plants and animals in the UK that rely on rich, healthy soils. Soil is made from lots of
Some arable land could fail within a generation
ingredients blended together in a complex recipe. Minerals come from bedrock beneath the surface breaking down, creating soils from below. Organic matter from plants and animals decays on the planet’s surface, feeding soils from above. About half of soil is made up of air. The space this creates provides paths for water, roots and crucial habitats for wildlife. Pull up a handful of soil, and you’ll notice it feels cool and wet. Most soil creatures need this liquid to live in and move through, and so thrive in this dark, damp environment. And
Earthworms are soil engineers
What farmers can do now Farmland soil is crying out for some care Wildlife Trusts work with thousands of farmers each year. The best farmers work hard to look after their soils, working with our microscopic allies, bacteria and fungi. Good soil management on arable farms really helps to increase soil organic matter and reduce soil compaction and erosion. This includes: n Planting ‘catch-cover’ crops to keep the soil covered up n Replacing artificial fertilisers with natural organic matter (poo!) n Ploughing less often or stopping tillage altogether
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living landscapes
there are a lot of them: at least a quarter of the Earth’s biodiversity can be found in the soil. These life forms – from fungi to earthworms – form intricate networks beneath our feet, and so play their part in keeping soils healthy. Interplays between organisms form a complex web
which fertilises our crops and plants. But across the UK, and indeed the world, the quality of our soils is declining. Healthy soils are fundamental to our society, and estimates put the cost of soil degradation in the UK as high as £1.4 billion per year. Some of our most productive arable land is at risk of
Wildflower field margins reduce soil loss, and create habitat and nectar sources
zoe stevens
These intricate networks are what keep soils healthy
becoming unprofitable within a generation due to the loss of soil organic carbon. Modern agricultural systems are exhausting our lowland soils, stripping them of their organic matter and natural nutrients. Some farmers are totally reliant on
Our top three ways to help soil in your garden and beyond. More at wildlifetrusts.org/soil
rupert paul
Down and dirty – what you can do
1. Start composting Buy or build two or more bins, so you can fill one while the other ‘cooks’. Kitchen and garden waste, brown cardboard – it all breaks down in the end, reducing landfill and creating habitat for insects, amphibians and reptiles, too!
Lilla, aged five, discovers a slow worm in the garden compost heap
2. Go peat free Buying compost for your flower beds or containers? Make sure to buy peat-free, and let your garden centre know why it’s important.
3. Lose the chemicals Avoid slug pellets, pesticides and other chemicals. Instead, encourage natural predators and ensure your garden has lots of variety when it comes to plants and grasses.
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fertilisers to grow crops, along with high levels of pesticides. Nutrients aren’t being fed back into soils, and this (alongside regular tillage) is damaging soil structure. This in turn can’t support bacteria, fungi and invertebrates – the powerhouse supporting other wildlife up the food chain. In the uplands, soils are suffering from compaction. When livestock numbers are too high, or pressures from feet and traffic too continual, soils become hard. The ground can’t absorb rainfall, so water pours off the hillsides. As well as causing flooding downstream, the runoff gets into water supplies, literally muddying the waters and taking with it vital nutrients needed to keep the soil healthy. Our soils are also releasing their carbon stores. Peatlands are one of our most important and endangered habitats, covering 12% of the UK. Not only do they support unique wildlife, but the formation of peat by sphagnum mosses captures and stores carbon, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. In the last 10,000 years, UK peatlands have locked up around 5.5 billion tonnes of carbon. And yet, 80% of our peatlands are in a poor condition because they’ve been drained of water or damaged by extraction over several centuries. We have a huge job to undertake in restoring our soils, for people and wildlife. Luckily, there’s plenty we can all do to reverse this downward trend.
We can have healthy soil once more The era of soil loss has to end. Here are three projects that show another way
A 150-acre (60 ha) arable farm managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite is restoring soil health as a first step to helping all its farmland wildlife recover. The plan is to double soil organic matter on all the arable land, and reestablish a mix of crops and livestock. Half the land is organic, grazed by the neighbour’s sheep and horses. Some non-organic land grows winter wheat and spring barley for a neighbour’s dairy. There are no insecticides or slug pellets. At least 10% of all fields are managed for wildlife with flowerrich mixes, woodland, grass margins and plants for wild pollinators.
Like many upland areas, Pumlumon holds vast reserves of peat and this land could absorb and store huge amounts of carbon. Unfortunately, in the 1950s/60s, much of it was drained and degraded in an unsuccessful attempt to improve grazing. Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust has undertaken a monumental project to restore the landscape. The project area holds 347 square miles of key habitats including blanket bog. On one holding alone they have blocked 6.8 miles of ditches, restored 260 acres (105ha) of peat bog and safeguarded 82,500 tonnes of carbon. As the bogs become wet again, mosses start to grow, absorbing carbon and locking it away as new peat. At the same time, existing peat is protected from further erosion.
wendy carter
Pumlumon Project, Montgomeryshire
Spreading dung on pasture as part of Cornwall’s Pass the Poo project
Pass the Poo Project, Cornwall Cornwall Wildlife Trust is pioneering a way to protect soil to benefit farmers, wildlife and the wider environment. For many centuries, mixed farms produced dung from livestock and ploughed it back into their cropping soils. Today, many farmers focus on either crops or livestock, with crop farmers tending to buy artificial fertiliser to spread on the soil. This leaves the soil without enough organic matter, so it’s poor at holding onto nutrients and water, and prone to washing away. Livestock farms produce more dung that they need, which takes up valuable space and risks polluting streams and rivers. To solve this, farm advisers at Cornwall Wildlife Trust are helping share dung across the county, moving it to where it is most needed and improving soil for crops. Farmers are already reporting an increasing crop yield!
montgomeryshire WT
Spreading compost on fields builds up soil fertility and stores carbon
jan dinsdale
Lower Smite Farm, Worcestershire
Blocking the drainage ditches allows the mosses to regrow
shutterstock/dan hilliard
A quarteearrth of life on e
c and resilien Soil fertility r decades or ve builds up o illions , through b ia n e ill m n e en ev ons betwe i. of interacti g n nts and fu animals, pla hemes here The three sc reboot attempt to ss that proce
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love wildlife
Sorrel Lyall is a young birder, naturalist, wildlife artist and writer
danny green/2020vision
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s the days get shorter and cooler, look to the skies at dusk and you might come across a strange, dark cloud of small chattering birds, swirling rapidly before a sky of pinks and oranges. These are common starlings, flocking together in a behaviour called murmurating – a hypnotic display of aerial acrobatics. Just before dusk in the autumn and winter, small flocks of starlings from the surrounding area come together, forming a growing cloud that can become almost opaque as the birds turn through the air.
But why do these charming birds that we know so well from our gardens display this intriguing behaviour? There are thought to be a few reasons. Firstly, safety. By constantly changing direction in a tight flock, starlings can evade aerial hunters. Predators such as
Predators struggle to single out one bird
“Some flocks contain
The UK’s annual starling air show starts in November, boosted by migrant birds from colder parts
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Starlings at sunset in Caerlaverock, Scotland. There are plenty more sites like this around the UK
sparrowhawks are confused by the rapid movements, and so struggle to single out an individual bird and pursue it. Secondly, to share information, perhaps about good nearby food sources that individuals have found on their daily forages. The third reason is warmth. After wheeling through the sky in a stunning aerial performance, the flock pours down into a reedbed or woodland to roost for the night as one large group. By forming a cluster the starlings can share body heat as the air temperature drops. Starlings also roost in more urban
settings, on buildings and structures – anywhere sheltered, without an immediate threat from predators. Some of the best-known places to see this amazing natural spectacle are the Somerset Levels, Brighton Pier and Gretna Green, but there are other sites across the UK too, including many Wildlife Trust nature reserves. The largest murmurations in Britain can contain over a million birds and displays can last over an hour. This really is the ultimate reason to brave the cold this winter. Find your nearest murmuration and prepare to be wowed.
a million birds�
of Europe. Look out for a display near you this winter
Find a sig like this ne ht ar you
Discover m agical murmuratio n s, w onderful wader flock s and huge gaggles of geese th is winter wit h your Wildlife Tru st: visit wildlifetrust s.org/ megaflock s
winter 2017 NATURAL WORLD 11
people & wildlife
An act for nature The Wildlife Trusts are calling for an Environment Act: an ambitious piece of framework legislation that would give our wildlife a unique opportunity to recover
Amwell reserve/matthew roberts
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magine taking a train journey through the countryside in 25 years’ time. From the window, you see red kites gliding across beautiful farmland and woods. Bees are buzzing in the vibrant field margins and thriving hedgerows. You whizz past a vast wetland teeming with egrets, herons and, although you don’t see them, water voles. There are no stories about flooding in the news – the recent heavy rainfall has been locked into the landscape, caught upstream. Last week, when you went to the seaside on holiday, the beach was pristine: no plastic bottles, rockpools full of life. Seabirds were fishing just offshore. The fish’n’chip shop was doing a roaring trade selling local catch – since the seas have been recovering, both people and wildlife have benefited. Whales, 12 NATURAL WORLD Winter 2017
Everything we value derives from nature dolphins, vast shoals of tuna – they’re a regular occurrence now. When you arrive in the bustling city, the air you breathe is just as clean as it is in the countryside. Above the urban hubbub, blackbirds, robins and dunnocks are singing loudly. You stroll over a river: earlier this morning, an otter swam beneath this bridge, a fat brown trout in its mouth. In a park across the street, schoolchildren are having a lesson in the shade of the trees. They look happy and focused. This doesn’t have to be a dream.
We have a chance to act now, together, and give wildlife a real chance to recover. If we’re ambitious enough, we really could be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it. A wildlife-rich world is important for its own sake, but we also know it is the foundation of our society and economy. Ultimately everything we eat and drink; the air we breathe; our fuel, clothes and shelter derives from the natural world. So does everything we value: our health, wellbeing and possessions. Yet, we have taken it for granted; mined the natural world mercilessly. Isn’t it time for us to enter a new era in our relationship with nature? Acts of Parliament are an expression of what a nation values. Acts have ushered in healthcare and education for all, and made us
Stephanie Hilborne OBE is Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
Could there be a lot more nature in our lives by 2040?
What would it look like? An Environment Act to: ■ Set ambitious, measurable, long term aims for nature’s recovery ■ Establish the key environmental principles that should guide decisions at every level including the principle of access to nature
Restore nature
What you can do
If you think there should be more nature in all our lives, write to your MP and let them know: all the details are on wildlifetrusts.org/ environmentact
safer in the workplace. The 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act and its successors have protected some vital rich wildlife sites. But we know this is not enough, and soon we won’t have the safety net of the EU courts either. The UK and each country within it needs visionary legislation that explicitly aims for nature’s recovery on land and at sea. Only Governments can ensure there is a long-term framework that puts nature back into our landscapes, townscapes and society. We all deserve a world-class environment: clean air, clear water, a stable climate, healthy seas and thriving wildlife in the places we love. So do future generations. If we all make enough noise, and explain this is what we want, it can happen.
Set limits
■ Make sure vital wildlife sites are protected on land and at sea ■ Set plans for expanding and joining up habitats ■ Map out where new habitats should be established So that there is: ■ A greater diversity and abundance of wildlife everywhere ■ More wildlife-rich woods, meadows & wetlands ■ More thriving seagrass beds and reefs at sea
■ Control emissions and discharges of pollutants ■ Minimise use of natural resources like water and sand ■ Restore the health of our soils in hills and floodplains So that: ■ Air and water is clean and our soils high quality ■ Future generations can grow food ■ Heavy rainfall causes less flooding
Achieved with ■ Highly effective regulators ■ Serious investment from both private and public sectors ■ Financial incentives for environmental benefits ■ Evidence-based, tailored advice and guidance
Checked by ■ Airtight accountability and transparency ■ Regular monitoring of progress towards targets ■ Appropriate penalties ■ Access to environmental justice through the courts
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great days out
Brew with a Richard Osbourne. Inset: chippy wood
Check out ten brilliant Wildlife Trust visitor centres where you can drink tea, eat cake and enjoy wildlife all at the same time
The view from Cley Marshes visitor centre – one of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s finest achievements
T
here is nothing like a bracing walk in the wild winter, with frostbitten landscapes, huge flocks of birds and fallen, frozen leaves crunching under your feet. But after all that adventure, you’ll need to warm up. Here are ten outstanding nature reserve cafes where you can treat yourself to a well-earned cuppa, luxurious hot chocolate or a cheeky slice of homemade cake. Not only that, but you can carry on watching the wildlife while you’re tucking in. 14 NATURAL WORLD winter 2017
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Lancashire Wildlife Trust Reedbed Restaurant, Brockholes Plenty of restaurants offer lakeside views, but few can claim to float on one! Step aboard Brockholes’ floating village and enjoy a homemade breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea with stunning panoramic views. Map ref: SD 588 306, PR5 0AG
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Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Gibraltar Point Visitor Centre Grab a drink and immerse yourself in the wildness of the Lincolnshire
coast, with expansive windows and a rooftop viewing deck offering panoramic views across the dunes and out to sea. Map ref: TF 556 580, PE24 4SU
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London Wildlife Trust The Coal House, Woodberry Wetlands Nestled on the shore of a reservoir, this lovingly restored nineteenth century building is the perfect place to escape the bustle of the city for a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunch. Map ref: TQ 325 875, N16 5HQ
view
Share your experiences
Tweet us a photo of your favourite wi ld café or cake using @wildlifetrusts #LoveWildlife
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Scottish Wildlife Trust Montrose Basin Visitor Centre Sip a Fairtrade tea or coffee and marvel at the spectacle of thousands of pink-footed geese wintering on the Scottish coast, all from the comfort of the visitor centre. Map ref: NO 700 564, DD10 9TA
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The WT of South & West Wales Glasshouse Café, The Welsh Wildlife Centre Offering amazing views of Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve, Glasshouse Café boasts a home-made menu as diverse as the wildlife you can spot from the windows, including the mouth-watering Pembrokeshire Pie. Map ref: SN 188 450, SA43 2TB
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The cafe adds calories. m The marsh removes the
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Badgers Tea Room, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre From the famous full breakfast to a range of teas, coffees and cakes, there’s plenty to snack on as you admire the birds visiting the feeders outside. Map ref: SP 386 761, CV3 3GW
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Essex Wildlife Trust Skylark Tearoom, Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre This thriving tearoom is the perfect place to warm up with a homemade soup and enjoy the best birdwatching that winter has to offer, including close views of hunting barn owls. Map ref: TL 962 177, CO2 0EU
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Northumberland Wildlife Trust The Lookout Café, Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre This new eco-friendly building includes a café with incredible views over the lake and Druridge Bay beyond. Enjoy a coffee and freshlybaked scone as you gaze out over the beautiful Northumberland coast. Map ref: NU 285 023, NE65 0JR
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Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes With panoramic views across Cley Marshes, the eco-friendly visitor
There are more than 100 Wildlife Trust visitor centres. 7 Find them at wildlifetrusts.org/ visitorcentres
centre is the perfect place to enjoy a homemade scone, a coffee and flocks of brent geese, too. Map ref: TG 054 440, NR25 7SA
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Nottinghamshire WT Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre Watch ducks dabble on the lake as you tuck into a delicious homemade cake. Try a classic with a spin, like chocolate and courgette cake, or their signature Idle Fat Rascal. Map ref: SK 689 829, DN22 8RQ
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Your Wild Life. Your Wildlife Trusts. Wildlife Trusts around the UK are making amazing things happen on land and at sea, for wildlife and for people. We couldn’t do it without the support of our members and volunteers. Here’s what we achieved with your help in the past year…
our impact
We help care for...
239,000
hectares of land including
2,300
nature reserves
Millions
We are supported by...
over
800,000& 45,000 members
116
visitor and education centres
We worked around the coast to save our seas
500,000
people attending our walks, talks and events These statistics cover the period April 1 2016 - March 31 2017
We brought beavers back to the UK
We advise
4,000
landowners across the UK on managing their land for wildlife We engage over
270,000 young people through schools, colleges and groups we run
Over
volunteers
There are more Wildlife Trust nature reserves than there are branches of McDonalds in the UK!
of visits are made to our nature reserves every year, and we have
over
240 Wildlife Watch groups 14,000 children which inspire `