Share

Rejuvenating an historic nature reserve

(c) Amy Lewis

Work has started at one of the most fascinating woodlands in the south west of England to make it even better for its many birds and animals.
Nuthatch

(c) David Slater

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers are restoring areas of Lower Woods Nature Reserve, a magical place which is steeped in history and which supports 2,500 species, from dormice to 57 types of birds.

Woodland covering 17 acres will be restored as part of the Better for Birds project, thanks to vital funding of £50,000 from Enovert Community Trust. 

“It is tragic that woodland birds in the UK are declining. Places such as Lower Woods are vital if numbers are to recover, and some of the birds that will benefit from this project are found in few other places, and include song thrushes, lesser spotted woodpeckers, nut hatches, marsh tits, bullfinches and willow warblers,” explains Tim Bevan, Senior Reserve Manager at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. 

Bullfinch

(c) Amy Lewis

The woodland will be coppiced, a traditional technique that is likely to have been used in Lower Woods for hundreds of years until the 1900s when manpower declined as a result of the First World War. After growing for a few years, trees are cut near to the ground (coppiced) and tall stems are allowed to regrow. These tall stems provide places where birds can nest and find food.

Projects that help to boost biodiversity and protect endangered species are a real priority for ECT and the Trustees were delighted to have the opportunity to fund another project in this precious woodland
Angela Haymonds
Secretary of Enovert Community Trust

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is also very grateful to the project’s other funders: the Banister Charitable Trust, Lochlands Trust, Wessex Watermark Award and the Verdon-Smith Family Charitable Trust.

Marsh tit