annual review 2010-11 - the wildlife trusts

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Annual Review2010 – 2011

Who we are & what we do

UK map & vital statistics

Chair & CEO address

Bringing nature back

A Living Landscape

Living Seas

Inspiring People

Highlights across the UK

Celebrating our history

Organisational information

Partners and supporters

Contents040608101216

2024283233

A message from our Patron HRH The Prince of Wales

A visit to Gibraltar Point in 1971

All statistics relate to The Wildlife Trusts’ activity from April 2010 to March 2011. The work covered in this review covers March 2010 to Summer 2011.

Ulster

Scotland

Northumberland

Durham Tees Valley

Gloucestershire

Wiltshire

Avon

Somerset

Devon

Cornwall

Dorset

Berks,Bucks

and Oxon

Hantsand

Isle of WightSussex

Surrey Kent

London

Cumbria

Lancs, Mancsand N Mersey

Cheshire

Yorkshire

Lincs

ShropshireStaffordshire

B‘ham andBlack Country

Herefordshire

Worcs Warwicks

Gwent

MaesyfedRadnor

Sir DrefaldwynMontgomery

Gogledd CymruNorth Wales

De a Gorllewin CymruSouth and West Wales

BrycheiniogBrecknock

Isle of Man

Notts

Leics and Rutland

Lincolnshire

Norfolk

Suffolk

Essex

Hertsand

M’sex

Beds, Cambs, N’hantsand P’boro

Derbyshire

Shetland and Orkney Islands

Isles of Scilly

Alderney

54

There are 47 Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK, all working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas.

We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch, Wildlife Watch. We look after 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Each year we work with thousands of schools, and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors.

The Wildlife Trusts stand up for nature. Our advocacy and campaigning work ensures that a wide range of policies and decisions reflect the importance of our natural environment.

All 47 Wildlife Trusts are members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (Registered charity number 207238).

We rely on the support of our members and many different companies, organisations and agencies. Find out more:

www.wildlifetrusts.org/howyoucanhelp

Run events for all ages and abilitiesWelcome millions of visitors to our nature reservesWork with thousands of volunteersInspire adults and children about wildlifeWork with schools and teachers

Inspire, educate & involve people

Manage nature reservesRestore, recreate and reconnect natural habitatsProvide advice to landowners and businessesChampion non-statutory Local Wildlife SitesSurvey, monitor and map species and habitats

Create A Living Landscape

Campaign for protection for our seasManage coastal and marine reservesRun dive and shoreline surveysOrganise coastal eventsGive the UK’s marine wildlife a voice

Secure Living Seas

Check planning applications for wildlife impactsInfluence government policy and decision-makingCampaign to protect wildlife under threat

Campaign and influence

Nature should be part of everyday life, for everyone

The Wildlife Trusts Annual Review 2010–11 The Wildlife Trusts Annual Review 2010–11

Who we are & what we do

We…

6 7

2,300 17,000

93,000

400,000+

116

35,000

150

600+120+

5,300

800,000+

150,000+

6.5 million

Nature reserves managed Events held

Hectares of land managed

People directly engaged including pupils and students

Visitor centres

Volunteers

Coastal and marine reserves

Members of Parliaments and Assemblies engaged

Living Landscape schemes

Landowners advised

Members

Junior members

Visitors to Trust nature reserves

Figures for period 1st April 2010 – 31st March 2011

Vital statisticsAround the UK


Living Landscape SchemeNature Reserves

Visitor & Education CentresLiving Seas Project work

8 98 9

When we look back, 2010–11 will be remembered as the year that The Wildlife Trusts took marine conservation to its heart as a movement. Trusts have been involved in marine conservation since the early 1960’s, but, following the passing of the Marine & Coastal Access Act in November 2009, it was clear that to have an impact on how this new legislation was implemented, we would need to redouble our efforts.

The progress we have been making was visible at our Living Seas conference earlier this year. Here, trustees and staff from Trusts across the UK – scientists, campaigners, reserve managers, educators - met in Birmingham to discuss how their Trusts could play a bigger part in this conservation revolution – protecting wildlife on land and at sea. We must not underestimate the scale of the challenge we face. To restore our seas we must turn the clock back on centuries of over exploitation. We must also ensure that conservation measures, such as Marine Protected Areas, are fit for purpose and underpin other decisions about we how use the sea and its resources.

The Wildlife Trusts are taking a leading role in this. We have been the only wildlife organisation involved in all four regional projects making recommendations on England’s proposed network of Marine Protected Areas. Dedicated Living Seas staff are working hard in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Alderney and the Isle of Man Trusts are putting resources where they are needed most to make a difference for wildlife.

There are parallels between what is happening now in UK waters and Charles Rothschild’s first audit of terrestrial wildlife sites back in 1915, shortly after he founded the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves. Then Rothschild scoured the UK’s countryside – supported by some of Britain’s finest naturalists – looking for ‘places worthy of preservation’. A hundred years later a survey of marine wildlife sites has

taken place, also depending heavily on volunteer naturalists – this time divers. Proper protection must follow much more quickly than it did on land.

Rothschild’s vision of protecting places for wildlife shaped the development of the nature conservation movement as we know it. The network of protected sites includes 2,300 Wildlife Trust nature reserves - some of them still home to the same rare butterflies, wildflowers, veteran trees and sparkling clear streams that Rothschild and his colleagues surveyed and sought to protect. These protected sites are now the building blocks for restoring nature more widely in urban areas and across the wider countryside.

In November 2011 I stand down as Chair of The Wildlife Trusts after six tremendously exciting and rewarding years. I never cease to wonder at the amazing work going on in every corner of the UK and it is simply impossible to communicate this in words.

With new politics in each country of an increasingly devolved UK and growing economic uncertainty worldwide, it is vital for The Wildlife Trusts that we stay focused on our shared vision of A Living Landscape and Living Seas. The movement’s work across the UK in 2010-11 illustrates that we are doing just this, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to nature’s recovery and to inspiring people about wildlife on land and at sea. This Review can only ever scratch the surface, so I would encourage every reader of this document to go online – or better still – visit their Trust to see what is happening with their own eyes.

Less than 2% of The Wildlife Trusts’ resources are spent on the central charity. Part of this supports the whole movement across the UK, and the rest goes into communicating our vision to English decision-makers. The aim of course is to secure the right framework for Trust action on the ground. So we were delighted by the establishment of an independent review group looking at the future of England’s wildlife site network. This group was headed by Sir John Lawton, chair of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and I was pleased to be a part of it. The group’s report Making Space For Nature recommended a step change in action for wildlife; and recognized that two keys to achieving this would be strong protection for local wildlife sites and the setting up of zones for ecological restoration or Nature Improvement Areas.

In the lead-up to the 2010 General Election and elections in the devolved countries, Trusts made great efforts to ensure that the natural environment was not overlooked. In England we were delighted that we were able to secure manifesto commitments from the main party leaders to a White Paper to take the Lawton Review’s recommendations forward. The coalition government did not renege on this and, in June 2011, the Natural Environment White Paper was published. A key test now is how many of its good intentions can be translated into action.

Trusts in Wales worked with the Welsh Assembly Government to secure and inform its new Natural Environment Framework. The Scottish Wildlife Trust continued to work with many partners, including the Government and its lead environmental agencies, to promote ecosystem-scale conservation. In Northern Ireland, following years of lobbying by the Ulster Wildlife Trust, the new Wildlife and Environment Act 2011 came into operation, securing better protection for Northern Ireland’s wildlife.

In contrast to this sense of growing understanding about nature’s plight, Trusts were preparing for the negative impacts of the government spending cuts. These included reducing budgets for wildlife-friendly farming and for education and community initiatives that we organize in partnership with businesses and local authorities. Hard economic times also mean pressure on governments to reduce regulation such as planning controls that we have fought long and hard to secure.

The job of nature conservation has never been easy but we have the support of some great people. One inspiring ambassador that the movement bade an emotional farewell to this year was Professor Aubrey Manning OBE. Aubrey was our President between 2005 and 2010 and oversaw a key stage in our movement’s development as we formed our shared vision for the next era of nature conservation. To take us forward into that era we were delighted to have found an equally inspiring successor in Simon King OBE.

Michael Allen Stephanie Hilborne OBE

MichaelAllen Chairman

Stephanie HilborneChief Executive


10 11

76,400 65,000

40ha 97ha15,000

of coastal grazing marsh with new agreements for maintenance & restoration

Lincolnshire

Record Count Record numbers of over

Packets of wildflower seed

snakes-head fritillaries

Iffley Meadows, Oxfordshire

given away in Mini Meadows campaign

Nottinghamshire

7,500

47ha

1,600

restoring hedges and linking woodlands

Wyeswood Common, Gwent

100Year

58

eggs laid and 47 chicks fledged by ‘Lady’ the osprey over a 25 year period up to June 2010

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland

pyramidal orchids appeared on restored limestone grassland

Sammocks Hill, Bedfordshire

can be found on the fantastic newly-created bird sanctuary, on what was part of the town’s sewage treatment works

Swindon, Wiltshire

trees planted

record numbers of swallowtail butterflies

Hickling Broad, Norfolk

2011 saw the first breeding osprey on the Dyfi estuary for 400 years. 3 chicks fledged successfully

Cors Dyfi, Montgomeryshire

captive bred Fen Raft spiders released

Castle Marshes, Suffolk

A snapshot of our work in 2010–11

of land adjoining the reserve has been acquired by the Trust

Staveley nature reserve, Yorkshire

Montrose Basin, Scotland

pink-footed geese

Spoonbills

Over

After a

absence

25

13

recorded, plus the reserve’s best breeding success for bearded tits for many years

Cley Marshes, Norfolk

water voles have returned following habitat restoration in the area

River Beane, Hertfordshire

150 bird species

24 butterfly species

14 species of damsel and dragonflies

with nine new lagoons created comprising shallow water, snaking islands and wet marginal habitats

Rutland Water

Rutland Water Nature Reserve extended by

of land with wildlife-friendly measuresNorth Devon

750 barn

owl nest boxes

installed by 70 volunteers. Owl numbers have increased from 100 in 2007 to 300 in 2009

Suffolk

85 lapwinghave visited newly-created nesting island adjacent to a new housing development

Portbury Wharf, Bristol

200 acres

63 acre35 ha

of woodland purchased by the Durham Wildlife Trust

Milkwellburn Wood, Gateshead

wetland created on privately-owned land, adjoining an existing Trust wetland reserve

Avon Valley, South Worcestershire

of flower-rich grassland created and restored

West Dorset

following major chalk grassland restoration work the small blue butterfly was recorded here for the first time in eight years

Aldbury Nowers, Hertfordshire

40

Bringing Nature Back

3,046ha


A Living Landscape

North Wales Wildlife Trust’s Gwaith Powdwr nature reserve. This decommissioned explosives works is being restored as a place for nature to thrive. The reserve is home to nightjar, barn owl, polecat and seven species of bat.

14 15

A Living Landscape is a recovery plan for nature, championed by The Wildlife Trusts since 2006. The protection of places for wildlife is a founding principle of The Wildlife Trusts. Over the years we have acquired many special places as fully protected nature reserves – havens for rare and threatened species and habitats. But these were emergency measures; it was always hoped that nature would re-emerge from these refuges when the time was right.

Now The Wildlife Trusts have a vision of A Living Landscape where wildlife can move freely through the countryside, towns and cities and a resilient and healthy environment provides ecological security for people.

To help make this happen every Trust is working within its local communities, urban and rural, to effect real change – for wildlife and people. We want to inspire people about the future of their area – their own Living Landscape

Campaigning for legislative changeThe past 18 months have seen major shifts in policy at the highest levels. The Scottish, Welsh and Westminster Governments have all passed new laws or announced new policies to put the protection and enhancement of nature at the heart of decision making, or to recognise the need for a step change in action for the natural environment.

In England, the Natural Environment White Paper was launched in June 2011 following a coordinated campaign by Trusts in England which helped to ensure there were more than 15,000 public responses to the draft Paper, a response rate described by Defra as ‘unprecedented’. In Northern Ireland, lobbying by the Ulster Wildlife Trust helped to result in the passing of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, giving greater protection to species and habitats. Wildlife Trusts in Wales are working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government on the design of their new Natural Environment Framework. The Scottish Wildlife Trust was successful in stimulating political debate about the need for healthy ecosystems and ecological networks during the passage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. Progress is being made but it is vital we keep up the pressure and make sure words are translated into action.

Managing land in partnership with othersAs well as caring for wildlife on our own nature reserves, The Wildlife Trusts work with thousands of farmers and landowners to create, restore and maintain wildlife habitats on their land. For example, in the coastal grazing marshes of Lincolnshire, a habitat that has suffered massive decline over the past fifty years, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landowners to secure new agreements for wildlife-friendly management of 47 hectares of grazing marsh. Agreements like this are a lifeline for wildlife and an important part of our work. Wildlife Trusts also work with hundreds of businesses, schools, community groups and other NGOs to manage land for wildlife – whether it is creating a mini-meadow in a school playing field or large area projects. In the catchment of the Upper River Ray in Oxfordshire, for example BBOWT is creating new wetland habitats in partnership with the RSPB.

Putting together the jigsaw puzzleA major part of our work to create A Living Landscape is ensuring there is a viable network of spaces for wildlife, and making this larger and more robust wherever possible. For example many Wildlife Trusts are involved in identifying and managing Local Wildlife Sites – non-statutory wildlife sites that are protected through the planning system (currently under threat due to new planning policy proposals). Trusts often survey these sites and notify landowners. Some also manage them on behalf of local authorities. With more than 40,000 Local Wildlife Sites like this across the UK, this is vital work.

Similarly many Trusts are involved with giving advice on wildlife gardening and running demonstration wildlife gardens. With shrinking natural habitats in many towns and cities, gardens (and gardeners) have an ever more important role to play in helping wildlife, by providing stepping stones through urban areas.

‘Records’ and ‘firsts’The Wildlife Trusts own and manage around 2,300 nature reserves – protected havens for wildlife encompassing all the UK’s habitats. These play an important role in providing people with access to nature but they are also vital ‘reservoirs’ of wildlife. This year has seen a number of records broken on Trust reserves; a record count of 76,400 snakes-head fritillaries at Iffley Meadows Oxfordshire; 100-year record numbers of swallowtail butterflies at Hickling Broad in Norfolk and the Montrose Basin in Scotland witnessed record numbers of over 65,000 pink-footed geese over the winter. There have also been several ‘firsts’ including the first breeding osprey on the Dyfi estuary for 400 years in 2011.

New land was secured in the Soar Valley north of Leicester in 2010-11, where the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust has acquired 342 acres in the river floodplain since 2004. The Trust also works with local landowners and has carried out extensive restoration work to create a linked network of habitat. The area is surrounded by housing and the Trust is improving access to nature for local residents. This is part of larger efforts to restore floodplain habitats between Loughborough and Leicester.

Creating a Living Landscape in the Soar Valley, Leicestershire

Cossington Meadow 2004

Large nature reserve consisting of former gravel pits, grassland, reedbeds and marsh.

SYSTON

THURMASTON

Leicester

River Soar

River Wreake

N

MOUNTSORREL

Syston Lake 2011

Open water and grassland on former gravel workings.

Land to be leased 2012

Mountsorrel Meadows 2006

Former arable land — now a nature reserve with woodland, grassland and scrapes.

Wanlip Meadows 2004

Restored gravel pits and wet grassland.

Wanlip Rough 2010

Wet grassland on restored gravel workings.

A Living Landscape

A workshop for farmers run by the Cornwall Wildlife

Trust’s Wild Penwith project Short-eared owl at Cossington Meadow in the Soar Valley


Dates on the map show year that land was secured.

Living Seas

A seahorse glides through a seagrass bed in Studland Bay, Dorset. The Dorset Wildlife Trust is working to raise awareness of seahorses and threats to their habitats in Studland Bay.

18 19

Our seas have the potential to become amongst the most wildlife rich and productive in the world.The UK’s diverse coastline, and its location in a transition zone between the cold waters of northern Europe and the warmer waters of the south-west, means our seas are home to an internationally-important range of habitats and wildlife. But they are still at risk from unchecked use for natural resources and many species are in decline.

The Wildlife Trusts have been involved with marine conservation since the 1960’s – protecting seabird sites, helping to set up marine reserves and campaigning for legislation. However, until the passing of the Marine Acts for England and Wales (2009) and Scotland (2010) (after a long-term campaign by The Wildlife Trusts and partners) no system of protection has existed for our seas.

Campaigning for Marine Protected AreasWith the Marine Acts secured, in 2010-11 the focus of our campaigning moved to establishing a UK-wide ‘ecologically coherent’ network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – fully-protected areas at sea that are the building blocks for restoring our seas from past decline. The Government has committed to establishing this network by 2012 but the sites must be good enough in terms of their number, extent and levels of protection.

In England, our primary focus has been the four regional stakeholder projects tasked with identifying

Basking shark DNA samples collected by the Manx Wildlife Trust. This is helping to increase accuracy of population estimates and improve understanding of shark genetics.

55

potential Marine Conservation Zones (a type of MPA); Finding Sanctuary, Balanced Seas, Net Gain and the Irish Sea Conservation Zones Project. The projects are stakeholder-led involving the fishing industry, anglers, the sailing community and a wide range of sea-users. The Wildlife Trusts are the only wildlife organisation involved in all four regional projects – ensuring that marine wildlife has a voice in this critically-important process.

The English regional projects reported in September 2011, whilst in Scotland and Wales recommendations for Marine Conservation Zones are due in 2012. Wildlife Trusts in both countries are involved in this process. In Northern Ireland the Ulster Wildlife Trust is continuing its campaign for a Marine Bill as a basis for conservation of its marine environment.

Research & protectOne of the first steps towards protecting our marine wildlife is knowing what’s there. Around the coast Wildlife Trusts are involved in a number of projects to develop understanding of our marine environment. The Manx Wildlife Trust has been collecting DNA samples from basking sharks to increase knowledge of their population numbers and genetics. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Stranding Network is collecting information on deaths of marine animals from bycatch (the accidental capture of animals in fishing gear). The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has mapped around 600ha of seagrass habitat in the Solent. The information gathered has been critical in the design of the areas recommended Marine Conservation Zones. Meanwhile, Dorset Wildlife Trust launched the 3-year Welly Zone project to investigate inter-tidal and shallow water habitats on the Dorset coast.

Raising awarenessRaising awareness of our marine environment is an important part of our work. National Marine Week 2010 saw around 200 events being run around the UK by Trusts. Events included rockpool rambles, snorkel trails, wildlife identification courses and sea-life sculpture competitions. In April 2011, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Wild Oceans project was launched to promote the

sourcing of sustainable seafood. Artist Anna Kirk-Smith won The Wildlife Trusts’ Underwater Award in partnership with the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA). This unique bursary funded diving lessons for Anna to explore and be inspired by marine life within the North Sea. Her work was displayed at the SWLA Annual exhibition. The Wildlife Trusts partnership with the British Society of Underwater Photographers continued with Arther Kingdon’s photo of a black-faced blenny scooping the prize in the 2010 competition.

600ha

In March 2011 we held a successful Living Seas conference in Birmingham, aimed at engaging new Trustees, staff and volunteers to be champions and ambassadors for Living Seas. During the conference, we launched our Petition Fish campaign, which is collecting public support for the designation of MPAs around the UK. Signatures are being collected on ‘scales’ on a shoal of giant fish that will be taken to Westminster in 2012. You can also sign a scale online at

wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish

A VOICE FOR MARINE WILDLIFE

Of seagrass beds around the Solent mapped by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The information gathered has been critical in the design of the areas recommended Marine Conservation Zones.

Living Seas


= site of seagrass survey

Discovering shoreline wildlife – a Northumberland Wildlife Trust Marine Week event at Cresswell Foreshore

Inspiring Educating Involving People

Wildlife Watch members on an Alderney clifftop watching thrift clearwing moths.

22 23

The Wildlife Trusts are passionate about nature. We aim to inspire people about the natural world so that they value it, understand their relationship with it and act to protect it. Through our nature reserves, volunteer groups and education and community programmes, The Wildlife Trusts provide access to nature and outdoor learning on a grand scale.

The opportunities for people to get involved with our work are many and varied – ranging from organised walks with wildlife experts, to helping out with managing local nature reserves or volunteering in Trust offices. Our collective reach is impressive– during 2010–11 more than 400,000 people enjoyed our walks, talks, presentations, training courses and family events, including more than 300,000 schoolchildren and students. We also welcomed more than six million visitors to our nature reserves and visitor centres.

Developing skills for the futureThe Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Sheffield Wildlife Trusts “Skills for Wildlife” programme enabled eight young people aged 16–19 to take part in a year-long Lottery-funded NVQ course. At the end of the course the participants received a qualification to help towards their career development.

2011 also saw the end of the Department for Work and Pension’s Future Jobs Fund (FJF) which offered opportunities to people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than six months. The Wildlife Trusts’ employed 495 FJF employees, 385 of whom covered the year until the 31st March 2011. Placements covered all major work areas and helped people like Richard Sykes who joined the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust team at their Potteric Carr reserve near Doncaster. Richard said: “Working at the Trust as a FJF employee helped me regain my confidence that had taken a major dent after months of applying for jobs and not even receiving replies. I have consequently been able to secure a full time job working for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust!”

Natural playgroundsChildren’s opportunities to play and explore in nature have been much reduced through a variety of physical and social factors, including increased traffic and poor spaces for outdoor play. To address this, Wildlife Trusts have been developing several innovative outdoor play schemes. Trusts including the Shropshire and Staffordshire Wildlife Trusts have been developing ‘Nature Tots’ schemes for children aged 18 months to five years where children and parents can play together in outdoor settings. This is especially important in helping parents to develop their role as mentors, ensuring children can further their interest in wildlife and their environment. Taking this a stage further, Trusts including the Herefordshire Nature Trust are involved with WildPlay schemes enabling older children to have formative, positive experiences with nature.

Making nature part of everyday lifeMaking the sights and sounds of nature a part of everyday life is at the heart of our work. A good example of this is a recent Scottish Wildlife Trust partnership with Scot Rail to create viewing points in the station wall at Montrose station. The station overlooks the Trust’s Montrose Basin reserve and the new ‘holes in the wall’

Wired for soundIn June 2010 a new partnership was launched with the Wildlife Sound Recording Society who provided £1,000 worth of sound recording equipment to The Wildlife Trusts for use with Wildlife Watch and school groups. Schoolchildren with Dorset Wildlife Trust recorded the sounds of limpets grazing and crabs fighting! Avon Wildlife Trust used the kit with teenagers who recorded natural sounds to use as a basis for writing and recording their own songs. The Wildlife Trusts also continued to work on large public engagement projects with partners such as Woodland Trust on VisitWoods, the RHS on Wild About Gardens and the BBC and ITV, whose programmes help to introduce many people to the wonders of the UK’s wildlife.

people enjoyed our walks, talks, presentations, training courses and family events during 2010–11, including more than 300,000 schoolchildren and students.400

Over

thousand

give waiting passengers great views over the reserve, along with interpretation boards to help with identifying wildlife. Further south, the London Wildlife Trust is working with Peabody to creating habitat for house sparrows on eight inner London housing estates. As well as creating new spaces for wildlife, the project provides opportunities for local residents to get involved with wildlife activities.

Inspiring Educating Involving People

A new wildlife viewing point at Montrose Station


Young members in Lincolnshire,

discovering the sounds of nature

24 25

Alderney

The Trust’s Puffin Cam web cam captured new footage this summer. A new infra-red camera enables views of nocturnal storm petrels.

alderneywildlife.org

Avon

Brown’s Folly reserve received funding for a 3 year programme of habitat restoration, bat monitoring and community engagement.

avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Birmingham & Black Country

Restored Moseley Bog & Joy’s Wood Local Nature Reserve, as an exceptional green space, improving access for people of all abilities to experience and enjoy.

bbcwildlife.org.uk

Gloucestershire

Oystercatchers fledged for the first time from Coombe Hill nature reserve. The reserve was devastated by the summer floods of 2007, so the return of breeding waders is a positive sign of recovery.

gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire Rare barbastelle bats were recorded at several nature reserves, along with serotine bats at Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire Nathusius’s pipistrelle at Grafham Water below in Cambs.

wildlifebcn.org

Durham

Purchased Milkwellburn Wood in Gateshead following a successful fundraising campaign. At 200 acres it is now the Trust’s largest woodland reserve and has become a new centre for volunteering.

durhamwt.co.uk

Gwent

Launched the People and Wildlife Project which offers vocational training, work experience and environmental education at a new centre in Ebbw Vale.

gwentwildlife.org

Cumbria

Celebrated the hatching of white-faced darters at Foulshaw Moss. A three-year programme hopes to help the darter colonise restored habitat at the site.

cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Derbyshire

A project to restore the landscape in the Lower Derwent Valley received £104,000 Lottery funding. It aims to get local communities and landowners involved in improving the landscape.

derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Herts & MiddlesexSigned a lease to protect Waterford Heath, important for grizzled skippers, for the next 85 years. Funding was secured from SITA to improve habitats.

hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & OxfordshireThe visitor centre at College Lake Nature Reserve was opened by wildlife TV presenter and BBOWT’s President Steve Backshall. The centre received over 37,000 visitors in its first 10 months.

bbowt.org.uk

Brecknock

The start of the Upper Tawe Valley Living Landscape Project included the acquisition of the Trust’s newest nature reserve, Allt Rhongyr.

brecknockwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cheshire

Major capital projects at Danes and Holcroft Mosses have seen the removal of trees and the ‘re-wetting’ of these rare lowland raised bog habitats.

cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk

Cornwall

Proved the effectiveness and practicality of using acoustic deterrents (pingers) to reduce accidental entanglement of dolphins and porpoises in fishing nets.

cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Essex

Work began on the visitor centre at the newly acquired Mucking Landfill site land. It will be open to visitors to Thurrock Thameside Nature Park from Spring 2012.

essexwt.org.uk

Hampshire & Isle of Wight

As part of celebrations for their 50th anniversary year, efforts to encourage more people into wildlife activities helped the Trust set a new world record for the world’s largest bird seed cake.

hwt.org.uk

Devon

Completed the purchase of 14 hectares of Culm grassland close to its Volehouse reserve. This new nature reserve is to be known as Meresfelle.

devonwildlifetrust.org

DorsetLed on two new major partnerships to increase engagement with the natural environment in the area where the Olympic sailing events will take place in 2012.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Isles of Scilly

Staff from the Trust helped welcome HRH The Queen to the islands during a visit in June. The team used a display to showcase the island’s marine environment and its importance for wildlife.

ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk

Kent

Funding from the BBC Wildlife Fund and the Environment Agency has enabled a project to survey ditches in the county for the rare shining ram’s-horn snail.

kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Herefordshire

Launched the Herefordshire Parklands Project to assess the county’s parklands. Volunteers are being trained and landowners assisted in parkland management.

herefordshirewt.org

Lancashire

The launch of the new Brockholes nature reserve near the M6, Preston has been a huge success, already attracting over 80,000 people to the floating Visitor Village during 2011.

lancswt.org.uk

Trust Highlights 2010–11


26 27

Lincolnshire

On the Lincolnshire coast, partnership working with the County Council resulted in a 2.2km continuous strip of land coming into conservation management.

lincstrust.org.uk

Surrey

Celebrated the completion of its Ancient Woodland Inventory. The partnership project, which has mapped ancient woodland in Surrey, forms one of the most accurate habitat inventories in the country.

surreywildlifetrust.org

Warwickshire

Released 200 water voles at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve as part of work to develop the former gravel quarry into biodiverse marshland habitat.

warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

Montgomeryshire

Norfolk

For the first time in 400 years, ospreys bred in the Dyfi valley at the Trust’s Cors Dyfi reserve. Three chicks successfully fledged the nest and began their African migration in autumn.

montwt.co.uk

Acquired 45ha of arable farmland in the Fens which will be converted into wetland habitat as part of the Wissey Valley Living Landscape.

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Leicestershire & Rutland

Launched an important long-term partnership with Aggregate Industries aimed at delivering an ambitious Living Landscape scheme for the Charnwood Forest.

lrwt.org.uk

London

The Cockney Sparrow Project put the sparrow and other birds back into the heart of London by engaging residents of Peabody’s estates in the nature of their neighbourhood.

wildlondon.org.uk

ManxMoved into a renovated conservation-grade building in the heart of Peel as the Trust’s new headquarters with a public information area and wildlife shop.

manxwt.org.uk

Northumberland

Record-breaking avocet chicks hatched at Cresswell Pond in spring, making the reserve the UK’s most northerly known breeding site for the wader.

nwt.org.uk

North WalesTook on management of 27 acres at Eithinog SSSI, Bangor after a 16 year campaign to secure long-term protection for the meadows.

northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Nottinghamshire

The Trust’s longest ever planning battle ended successfully when an application for landfill at Bentinck Void was finally refused. Work begins with partners to plan for its future for wildlife.

nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Sheffield

Shropshire

Launched an appeal to raise £1m to buy Greno Woods. The purchase will enable the Trust to protect wildlife and increase biodiversity in the area.

wildsheffield.com

A joint project between Shropshire and Montgomeryshire is restoring limestone grassland at Llanymynech Rocks nature reserve, one of the most important sites for wildlife in the area.

shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Staffordshire

Opened a new boardwalk at Wolseley Bridge following a major fund-raising appeal. The recycled plastic walkway weaves across wildlife-rich wetland and is expected to be used by 50,000 visitors annually.

staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Sussex

Advised and supported the start of a restoration project of over 3km of river on Knepp Estate in West Sussex which will see huge benefits for wildlife.

sussexwt.org.uk

Wiltshire

Helped create a bird sanctuary in the heart of Swindon on what was part of the town’s sewage treatment works. Wildlife is thriving on the 15 lagoons – with than 150 bird species recorded.

wiltshirewildlife.org

RadnorshireAfter 27 years of lobbying, Llandrindod Wells lake finally became a local nature reserve. Following restoration work the lake is now regularly visited by otters.

rwtwales.org

Scottish

This year saw the launch of the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape project. Led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust with six partners, the project covers over 70,000 hectares in the north western Highlands.

swt.org.uk

Suffolk

Acquisition of land at Oulton Marshes allows linkage with Carlton Marshes and Camps Heath to make a single 340 acre nature reserve. Habitat restoration and creation has seen the appearance of green sandpiper.

suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Ulster

Delivered a programme that provides opportunities for adults with learning difficulties and their carers to learn more about nature and take part in a range of nature – themed activities and events.

ulsterwildlifetrust.orgTees Valley

A new team has been appointed to improve the environment of Middlesbrough’s becks and to encourage more people to enjoy their natural spaces.

teeswildlife.org

Worcestershire

Created a new wetland on 63 acres of privately owned land in South Worcestershire. The site adjoins an existing Trust wetland reserve and adds to a growing network of wetlands along the River Avon.

worcswildlifetrust.co.uk

Yorkshire

Heritage Lottery funding and the Trust’s most successful appeal yet enabled the doubling in size of Staveley Nature Reserve and work with local volunteers to restore the new 44ha of wetland and meadows.

ywt.org.ukSouth & West WalesBrynna and Llanharan Nature Reserve is the Trust’s newest reserve. The local community have been closely involved, helping to reduce vandalism on site.

welshwildlife.org

Somerset

The Trust’s new Education Outreach programme saw children from 22 schools inspired with a visit to a nature reserve, leaving a lasting impression on both children and teachers.somersetwildlife.org


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Charles Rothschild forms Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR)

SPNR presents ‘shopping list’ of 284 reserves to Board of Agriculture

Norfolk Wildlife Trust founded and Cley Marshes nature reserve acquired

West Wales Field Society formed (it would later form the basis of the West Wales Trust)

Three SPNR conferences lay foundations for post-war nature conservation

SPNR influence leads to National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act

SPNR becomes co-ordinator for local Wildlife Trusts

Scottish Wildlife Trust founded. Wildlife Trusts now cover the whole of Britain

Badger symbol becomes the trademark of The Wildlife Trusts

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust founded

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust founded

1912 will see The Wildlife Trusts celebrate it’s centenary, marking 100 years of nature conservation.

The story begins in London on May 16th 1912, when a banker called Charles Rothschild called a meeting. A much-travelled naturalist, Rothschild had a radical idea: to identify and protect the UK’s best places for wildlife. Thus began the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR), the body which would later become The Wildlife Trusts movement.

At the time, conservation (where it existed at all) tried to protect individual species. Rothschild’s vision was different: to safeguard places where wildlife lived – the moors, meadows, woods and fens under attack from rapid modernisation. He was no ordinary financier. An expert entomologist, he discovered the plague vector flea in Egypt aged 24, and had been round the world twice by the time he was 26. In 1910, aged 33, Rothschild had done something even more extraordinary: he bought 339 acres of wild fenland at Woodwalton Fen in Huntingdonshire as a ‘nature reserve’.

The SPNR began to take shape. Its office was based at the Natural History Museum in London and at least 50 Fellows of the Royal Society joined. So did the foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey and future prime minister Neville Chamberlain. Between 1912 and 1915 the SPNR undertook the UK’s first audit of wildlife habitats,

identifying 284 sites ‘worthy of permanent preservation’. The list of potential reserves included places like Wicken Fen, Dovedale, the Farne Islands and the Norfolk Broads and was the first of it’s kind. The list was passed to the government’s Board of Agriculture but it would be another 30 years before protection for wildlife sites was established.

In the meantime, the SPNR set about trying to save what it could and it acquired a small suite of nature reserves across the country. It also took on management of Woodwalton Fen and began the battle to preserve the fragile ecology of this vestigial tract of wet fenland, isolated as it was amid miles and miles of surrounding farmland. It was a situation that would confront nature conservationists many times in the century ahead.

Sadly Rothschild didn’t live to see his vision realised. He died in 1923 aged 46. It would not be until the late 1930’s that stewardship of the SPNR would be picked up by Herbert Smith – a renowned gemologist based at the Natural History Museum. During the darkest days of the war Smith helped to draw up proposals for a post-war system of nature reserves. In 1941 the Society convened a historic set of conferences on Nature Conservation in Postwar reconstruction. When the SPNR’s 1943 report, ‘Nature Conservation in Britain’ reached the US National Park Service, it commented, “With bombs dropping on London, what imagination is this that sees that, if Britain is worth dying for, these things are worth dying for? They feel that future generations would not forgive them if they preserve the husk after letting the kernel be destroyed.”

As a result of SPNR influence the UK government began the process to set up statutory nature reserves. In 1949 it formed the Nature Conservancy (a world first) and established the first National Parks, National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Meanwhile, local Wildlife Trusts began to appear. Norfolk had been the first, founded in 1926 by Dr Sidney Long, followed by Yorkshire (1946) and Lincolnshire (1948). Soon the Lincolnshire founder Ted Smith began helping

Celebrating our History 1912–2012

SPNR becomes Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation (SPNC)

1976


Charles Rothschild

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14–15 April – Our Woodland Wildlife events taking place across the UK

16 May – The Wildlife Trusts’ 100th birthday

19–20 May – Our History events taking place across the UK

16–17 June – Our Meadowland Wildlife events taking place across the UK

28 July–12 August – National Marine Week

8–9 September – Our Wetland Wildlife events taking place across the UK

Wildlife Watch – The junior branch is formed

Ulster Wildlife Trust is formed in Northern Ireland

SPNC becomes Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC)

The Wildlife Trusts launch British Wildlife Appeal. It raises £16.1m in five years

RSNC influence helps bring about Wildlife and Countryside Act

The Wildlife Trusts launch Marine Bill campaign and begin landscape-scale habitat restoration

RSNC becomes Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT)

The Wildlife Trusts are leading 100+ Living Landscape schemes across the UK

Marine and Coastal Access Act passed

TWT influence leads to Natural Environment White Paper in England

The Wildlife Trusts are 100 years old

Isles of Scilly become the 47th Wildlife Trust

Introduction of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

with the establishment of Trusts in other counties, and by the end of the 1950’s it was clear this growing movement needed national representation. Smith chose the SPNR for the job: “We felt that each Trust, whilst losing nothing of its independence, would benefit from association with the others and that the conservation movement generally would thereby be strengthened.”

With Smith at its helm, the SPNR had a renewed sense of purpose and it became a co-ordinator, helping young Trusts get going and encouraging others to form. Within 15 years Wildlife Trusts covered the UK mainland.

The reasons for the movement’s spectacular growth were obvious. By the early 1960’s pesticides were pushing falcons and otters to the brink of extinction. In the 1970’s and 80’s agriculture and development boomed, leaving few wild places unscathed. The Trusts often found themselves the last bastion between a threatened site and total destruction. In reply they protected more than half of today’s 2,300 nature reserves by 1978, and began their educational and outreach work. The junior branch, Wildlife Watch, was formed in 1977.

In 1978 the pages of the Devon Naturalists Trust’s (now Devon Wildlife Trust) journal proposed that Lundy island become the UK’s first national marine reserve. Eight years later Lundy became one of just a handful of marine reserves – the forerunners of the network of marine conservation zones proposed under the Marine Act (2009). In 1980 the Dorset Trust appointed a marine warden at Kimmeridge Bay and, alongside existing work at several seabird sites such as Skomer Island, the Trusts began to expand into marine conservation.

Throughout the 1980’s the movement also began to protect wildlife in towns and cities as well as the countryside. Encouraged by the formation of urban

Trusts in cities like Birmingham, London, Bristol and Sheffield, people discovered they could help nature in their own back yard, and wildlife gardening entered the mainstream. Many Trusts also took advantage of government employment schemes such as the Manpower Services Commission. Staff numbers swelled and Trusts were able to take on ambitious programmes of reserve management and habitats surveys.

Following the 1992 Rio convention on biodiversity, in 1994 the government introduced the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, giving conservationists new tools for protecting wildlife. Wildlife Trusts became involved in helping to save species as iconic and varied as the red squirrel, the bottlenose dolphin and mire pill beetle.

At the same time, a new kind of nature conservation began to appear. With understanding of climate change

and habitat fragmentation growing, more and more Wildlife Trusts concluded that they needed to restore, recreate and reconnect habitats on a landscape scale. Trusts began working on ambitious projects such as a coastal realignment to create new saltmarsh at Abbotts Hall farm in Essex, and the Great Fen Project, a partnership aiming to restore a huge area of fenland south of Peterborough, connecting two of the last remaining areas of wild fenland Holme Fen and Rothschild’s original reserve at Woodwalton Fen.

The Wildlife Trusts’ 2006 report, ‘A Living Landscape’ recognised that nature reserves alone were not enough. They were too small, scattered and vulnerable to preserve the UK’s wildlife on their own. The solution? Change the surrounding countryside so that the plants and animals currently hemmed in could once again spread and flourish. Today there are more than 120 Living Landscape schemes across the UK.

Over the last decade the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (as Rothschild’s SPNR is now known) has worked with the individual Trusts to save marine wildlife too.

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Together with other organisations their 10-year campaign finally produced the 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act. Now coastal Trusts are involved with dive and shoreline surveys to provide data for the coming marine reserve network. 100 years on from Rothschild’s original appeal to Government, The Wildlife Trusts are now campaigning for a law which would restore our natural environment and ecosystems on land. It’s a fitting tribute to it’s founders and will help to set the course of nature conservation in the 21st century.

DIARY DATES FOR OUR CENTENARY YEAR

Sir David Attenborough at the launch of the British Wildlife Appeal in 1985

A dive survey as part of research work for marine conservation zones

London Wildlife Trust’s Camley Street nature reserve opens in 1985


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A flock of Linnets at Vine House Farm. Sales of Vine House Farm bird seed raised over £130,000 for local Wildlife Trusts during 2010–11.

The Wildlife Trusts

PatronHRH The Prince of Wales

PresidentSimon King OBE

Vice PresidentsSir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRSProf J Chris BainesNick BakerBill Bolsover CBEProf David Macdonald CBE DSc FRS Bill Oddie OBEChris PackhamJulian Pettifer OBEProf Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL

ChairMichael Allen

Chief ExecutiveStephanie Hilborne OBE

Where our funding comes fromThe Wildlife Trusts are very grateful for the support of our 815,000 members. Income from individuals, including through legacies, is vital to our efforts to secure nature’s recovery.

Grants for particular projects and services are received from local authorities and statutory agencies. Government support comes largely through agriculture and forestry grants.

Landfill Tax Credits have provided vital support for work such as land purchase and community engagement, as did the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, in its last year.

The support of key lottery operators and distributors, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the BIG Lottery and the Peoples Postcode Lottery, is greatly appreciated as is that from a wide range of Charitable Trusts.

UK-wide supporters and partnershipsThe Wildlife Trusts enjoy many thousands of partnerships with business and industry across the UK. The Wildlife Trusts are grateful to receive funding and in-kind support to the central organisation, from a range of companies, agencies and Charitable Trusts. Additionally we have three main UK-wide corporate partnerships detailed below.

Aggregate Industries Ltd

Our long term partnership with Aggregate Industries continues to strengthen and grow. As well as developing links with local Wildlife Trusts in the communities in which it operates, AI continued to work with us UK-wide. It is a major supporter as we prepare for the Centenary of The Wildlife Trusts in 2012 and in the communication of our vision of A Living Landscape. During this year we were delighted to welcome former AI Chief Executive Bill Bolsover, as a Vice President.

Ribena (GSK Plc)

As a major purchaser of blackcurrants, Ribena is in a position to work closely with growers. Since 2004 the company has worked with The Wildlife Trusts and blackcurrant growers across the country to implement land management plans for the benefit of wildlife. This year Ribena committed to continuing to work with The Wildlife Trusts for a further three years.

Vine House Farm Ltd

The Wildlife Trusts are proud to partner with Vine House Farm Bird Foods. Wildlife is a priority on this 1,800 acre conservation award winning farm where as much bird seed as possible is grown and packaged on the farm. This year the coldest winter in decades saw record volumes of bird seed dispatched to gardens up and down the country. Five percent of every sale is donated to the local Wildlife Trust and this year donations totalled over £130,000.

wildlifetrusts.org/ukpartners

British Energy were awarded the Biodiversity Benchmark award for management at Hartlepool Power Station.

£ M

illi

on

Total

RSWT*

Local Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts’ Income Analysis

Financial & Organisational overview

Income for the individual Wildlife Trusts grew by 7.5% in 2010-11, to £119 million. Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) total income fell by 15.0% due to an anticipated reduction in Lottery income, which is redistributed as grants under the Local Food Programme. Total collective income grew by 1.0%, to £141 million.


*excluding inter-Trust grants and contributions

Biodiversity BenchmarkThe Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark is the only award for business designed to recognise and reward continual biodiversity improvement. In 2010–11 the award was achieved by Veolia Environmental Ltd, Viridor Ltd, Eli Lilly Ltd, British Energy Hartlepool Power Station, Aggregate Industries Ltd and Marshalls Plc. The following companies retained the award following a reassessment: BAA Heathrow, British Airways Plc, Center Parcs Ltd, Marshalls Plc, Aggregate Industries Ltd, Tarmac Northumberland, Tarmac Yorkshire, Eon UK, Springfields Fuels Ltd and British Energy Sizewell B Power Station. Organisations who commenced assessment during the year are Network Rail HS1, Met Office and MEPC Hillington Park.

wildlifetrusts.org/biodiversitybenchmark

PICTURE CREDITS

Front cover: Children at the launch of the Cockney Sparrow Project – Peabody. P2: HRH The Price of Wales visits Gibraltar Point nature reserve - Lincolnshire WT. P3: Green woodpecker - Andrew Mason. P4: Cambourne, Cambridgeshire Matthew Roberts. P5: Orchids at Hartslock – Helen Walsh, Diver carrying out seaweed survey off Norfolk coast – Rob Spray, Boy with bug pot at Bickley Hall Farm – Tom Marshall. P8-9: Silent Valley nature reserve - Jane Corey. P12-13: Gwaith Powdwr nature reserve – Damien Hughes. P14: Wild Penwith farmer’s workshop – Natasha Bligh. P15: Short-eared owl at Cossington Meadow – Andy. P16-17: Spiny seahorse – Andrew Pearson. P18: Cresswell Foreshore event – Northumberland WT. P20-21: Children moth watching on Alderney – David Wedd. P22: Children using sound recording kit in Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire WT. P23: Montrose station wildlife viewing point – Scottish WT. P31: Camley Street, 1985 – London Wildlife Trust. P33: Brockholes pavement art campaign – Kerb media. Back cover: Wasp orchid at Clattinger Farm, Wiltshire – Barney Wilcszak.

Design & Print by Socio Design sociodesign.co.uk

Pavement art campaign in Liverpool for the opening of Brockholes nature reserve, run by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

34 The Wildlife Trusts Annual Review 2010–11

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Annual Review2010 – 2011

You can download a PDF of this document at wildlifetrusts.org/annualreview

The Wildlife Trusts

The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1WT t:01636 677711 f:01636 670001 e:[email protected] Registered Charity No 207238

wildlifetrusts.org

Join your local Wildlife Trust . . .

Become part of a growing movement of people taking action for their local wildlife and wild places.

Find out more: wildlifetrusts.org/yourlocaltrust

Remember wildlife in your will . . .

Consider leaving a gift in your will to your local Wildlife Trust, and help us to protect wildlife for years to come.

Find out more: wildlifetrusts.org/giftinyourwill Or call 01636 677 711 or email [email protected]

Make wildlife your business . . .

Join an increasing number of businesses who are becoming corporate members of their local Wildlife Trusts or achieving The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark for land management.

Find out more: wildlifetrusts.org/workingwithbusiness

annual review 2010-11 - the wildlife trusts

Documents

wildlife watch

wildlife trusts activity

uks marine wildlife

amazing marine wildlife

nature reserveswork

living landscapecampaign

secure living seas

thousands of landowners