The latest news and highlights for the Volunteers of Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers
For this Volunteer News we wanted to shine a spotlight on ALL of you lovely volunteers!
The work Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust do wouldn't be possible without the amazing contribution of its volunteers. Last year alone you contributed nearly 29,000 volunteer hours! Wow!
A lot of our staff wanted to say thankyou in their own special way, so please watch this short video we have put together.
Watch the video here!
With your generous support, the Restore, Reclaim and Renew appeal has raised over £31,000 a remarkable achievement that is already delivering meaningful change for nature in Leicestershire and Rutland
So here is a big thank you to all who have helped and donated!
For more information about what impact these donations have made to our work and what you have managed to achieve, head to the website: https://www lrwt org uk/restorereclaim-renew
Thank you!
Hand Arm Vibration Sydrome is irreversible damage caused to the nerves in people's hands It can be brought about by prolonged used of hand held power tools We are required to protect our staff and volunteers from such things
If you find you get tingling in you hands or fingers more than a few seconds after using power tools as part of your work with us we need to know about it We also need to know if you have a preexisting condition. Please contact volunteering@lrwt.org.uk if this effects you or if you have any questions
Thanks!
Fancy a discount?
For volunteers week, the Wildlife Trusts are offering volunteers a 20% discount on the online shop
Between 2 - 8 June enter the code WILD20 at checkout to claim your discount. nd th
Minimum spend of £4 is required
Head to the website and start shopping!
Mountain Warehouse have also given us a discount to use until 20 June! th Online Discount code for Supporters: CC2025242
Once the items have been selected and added to your basket, please select the basket icon in the top right-hand corner of the webpage. In the basket on the left-hand side is the total spent, below there is a tab where you can enter your PROMO code. Please enter the discount code provided and select apply This will apply the discount to your basket, you can then proceed to the checkout as usual
The discount is offered by Mountain Warehouse to supporters and friends of Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK. Members of LRWT Wildlife Trust are invited to take up the discount but it is not offered as an exclusive benefit to members of LRWT Wildlife Trust
Thank you east team!
From Sarah Bedford & Juliette Colaco
Over on the east of the counties, we manage 14 reserves (which keeps us rather busy!) and have three work parties a week. No matter what the weather or the task (be it lugging 60 kg rolls of stock netting over 500m to site, planting over 3000 trees, checking our flock of sheep, or mowing and raking, mowing and raking and a little more mowing and raking!) our incredible volunteers are always dedicated, enthusiastic and full of knowledge, ideas and quick witted replies As well as our official work parties, the east team volunteers are also willing and eager to go above and beyond, making and fixing things for us at home including crafting pruning stools, making signposts and badger gates and fixing wheelbarrows. Thank you to each and every one of you for all the time and effort you dedicate to improving our natures reserves, we really couldn’t do any of it without you
Here are a few photos to give you a snapshot of the brilliant work our east vols do:
Moving a LOT of limestone
Removing scrub from our grasslands
Fencing and gate repairs
STEPTASTIC
From Sarah Bedford and Juliette Colaco
Many previous entries in the volunteer newsletter have featured the now infamous, new steps at Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve. Hours of hard work from our East Team work parties saw the creation of a whole new set of steps and dramatic improvements to an existing flight of steps that had turned into a bog What we hadn’t anticipated was that this upgrade would then put other parts of the paths on the nature reserve to shame!
Just below the swanky new steps in the geology area at Ketton Quarry were seven very ugly concrete steps. Not only were they an eyesore, but they were also a safety issue in the winter months, becoming very slippery when covered in frost or ice
Before - concrete steps
During - mixing resin for steps
So, we now have another set of smarter, safer steps for people to continue to enjoy accessing the fabulous nature reserve at Ketton
All this was achieved through volunteered time and materials and a huge thanks goes to Colin, Elisabeth, Neil and Dave for helping us to make thishappen!
A happy coincidence of donations led to a serious makeover Via one of our regular volunteers, Dave Needham, we received a donation of leftover materials that a relative had used to cover some outdoor steps in their own garden Dave also put us in touch with Colin Campbell (director of Colin Campbell Home Improvements, Corby) who had laid the materials at the house Colin was willing to come and donate considerable time and effort to upgrade the Ketton version. He spent two sessions with us, laying the new materials and the glow-up was complete.
Volunteer Dave Needham with Colin Campbell and finished steps
Counting Sheep – Don’t go to Sleep
From Sarah Bedford and Juliette Colaco
Did you know the trust has a flock of shepherds? They help to look after the East Team’s 28 Hebridean and Herdwick sheep that are used to graze Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve All living locally to Stamford, the shepherds take it in turns to routinely check the sheep in their various locations.
We literally ask these volunteers to count sheep (and not fall asleep)! Each of the five volunteers check the sheep once per week for us – counting that all 28 are present, feeding them some sheep nuts, replenishing their water and checking that they’re all in good health The shepherds sometimes help us gather the sheep when they need moving from site to site, and help us get them to Rutland Water, when it’s time for shearing
by
Juliette, Sheep and ShepherdsKetton
Herdwick
Tony Clarke
They’re a group of volunteers who quietly go about supporting the trust regularly, and they don’t often get a shout out. We’d really like to say a big thank you to them; their dedicated checks and care really helps the East Team’s week run that bit more smoothly. The sheep clearly love seeing them too, sometimes waiting at the gate for their arrival or crowding round the feed bucket jostling for their share of sheep nuts.
A special thank you goes to two of our shepherds who are about to retire from duty Nick Smith and Paul Bennett will be hanging up their shepherd’s crooks this summer, after more than 20 years ’ combined service to the sheep Thank you so much Nick and Paul, your contributions have been so helpful! We hope you won’t miss the sheep too much.
Sheep (Herdwick and Hebridean) at Ketton Quarry
Sheep at Ketton Priory Field
We want ewe!
Would you like to be a volunteer shepherd?
We are currently looking for new shepherds to take on duties on Thursdays and Fridays It doesn’t matter if you can’t do every week, we could set up “job share” with other available volunteers
Checking the sheep is also an excellent opportunity to enjoy some time in nature, on one of our reserves They move around depending on where their grazing skills need to be directed.
In the autumn and winter, the flock are located at Ketton Quarry nature reserve (PE9 3SZ – What Three Words: ///newsprint.juggle.nicely).
In the spring and summer, you’ll find them at Ketton Priory Field (PE9 3AY – What Three Words: ///cookie ripples thinks)
We are potentially going to send them to do some grazing at our Bloody Oaks Quarry nature reserve, too (PE9 4AG – What Three Words: ///banana reckons stop)
If you ’ re local to Ketton or Bloody Oaks and would like to get involved in shepherding, please contact Sarah Bedford, Senior Reserves Officer – East, and she can tell you a bit more about what’s involved - sbedford@lrwt org uk
Thank you
From Alex Moore
In the spirit of national volunteers’ week, I would like to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers who I’ve worked with so far during my trainee placement. It’s been great to get to know so many of you and it’s certainly been a lot of fun getting stuck in on task days! Gaining knowledge and experience is a huge part of the trainee role and working alongside you all out on the reserves has given me an amazing opportunity to do so. I’m really grateful for all the support you ’ ve given me, so thank you!!
Boardwalk fencing - photos by Nick Crowley
Rutland Water Fencing Focus
From Paul Trevor
I like to start by saying a big thank you to our habitats volunteers here at Rutland Water for their efforts over the last few months working on a whole load of fencing replacement projects. Since the start of spring we've had a focus on fencing, upgrading a lot of old and broken fences. The fences are an essential part of our grazing programme as we need to ensure the livestock do not escape Sounds quite obvious, but with the addition of new cattle and sheep there is a tendency for them to explore their new home and test out the boundaries
The Team have replaced or repaired over 1500m of fencing this spring. A great effort.
And now for a little bit of a slightly boring insight into the finer details of fencing In recent years we took the decision to change over from treated softwood posts to chestnut posts Although there was initially a very small number of grumbles from the volunteers about the wonky nature of chestnut posts and the difficulties of nailing into hardwood timber, but everyone has now learnt to work with the new product and the love affair with chestnut is blossoming The reason we decided to make the change is because of a number of factors Chestnut posts are much more durable and will last for many more years than the softwoods, they are naturally more durable so don't require any treatment with nasty chemicals, they are produced in a more sustainable and biodiverse forestry practice (native woodland under coppice rotation as opposed to industrial scale non-native softwood plantations) and they have a rather pleasing rustic look to them They are also the same cost, so better for the environment and last longer at no extra cost, which you don't often get these days
It’s been a fantastic start to the season here at the Lyndon Visitor Centre!
Elizabeth Hare - Information Assistant
We were thrilled to welcome back Maya and 33(11) to the Manton Bay nest as mentioned in our last update and it wasn’t long before the first egg appeared on 2nd April That was just the beginning - the second egg followed on 5th April, the third on 8th April, and by 11th April we had a full clutch of four eggs. After only one chick last year, this was incredibly exciting news It’s been great to see Maya and 33(11) sharing incubation duties.
The countdown to hatching began, and in what felt like no time at all, the first chick hatched on 9th May - exactly 34 days after the first egg was laid. Two days later, chick number two arrived, followed by the third on 14th May and the fourth on 17th May We now have a full house of healthy chicks, and 33(11) has been hard at work keeping up with the growing appetite in the nest! We’ll be watching closely over the coming weeks as Maya, 33(11), and their four chicks continue their journey We’re also thrilled to announce that we ’ ve reached 10,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel! Thank you to everyone who tunes in to follow the journey of the Rutland Ospreys - your support means so much to us
Beyond Manton Bay, it’s been a successful return season for Rutland’s ospreys. Over 30 individuals have returned to the area, and at the last count, ten pairs were confirmed to be incubating eggs - fantastic news for the wider population Looking further afield, and to chicks of the 2023 season, it was great to hear reports of returning Manton Bay chicks across the UK. First sightings were of 3H3, a female 2023 chick, who was spotted flying over Nottinghamshire on the 18th April. She was later seen doing what look like a tour of the Uk with reported sightings at Poole Harbour on the 21st April, Kielder Forest on the 29th April and was later spotted on the nest live webcam at Cors Dyfi on the 6th May She wasn’t the only chick from the Manton Bay 2023 nest to make a comeback, with a report of her sister 3H5 intruding on a nest at Kielder Forest These sightings highlight the importance of the Blue Darvic rings for identifying individual Ospreys and following their progress as they return from migration and start looking for new nesting locations.
The good Osprey news, combined with good weather, has made for a busy and rewarding start to the season at Lyndon Our volunteers have made a huge difference in keeping up with the high visitor numbers, whether welcoming visitors at the centre or engaging them down at Waderscrape Hide. A huge thank you to every one of you for your dedication and energy, and a special shout out to our Osprey Monitoring Volunteers. We've received so many lovely comments from visitors about how friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful our volunteers have been; thank you for being such outstanding ambassadors for the reserve
Alongside the Ospreys, we ’ ve had a vibrant calendar of events. Our Otter Watches have proven especially popular, with all sessions sold out and waiting lists filling fast. We've also begun our Osprey Cruises, which set sail on 24th May and will run through to mid-August And for younger nature lovers, we have a range of family-friendly activities focused on minibeasts and birdwatching - perfect for inspiring the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts.
All events can be booked online via our website: https://www.lrwt.org.uk/events
Thank you again for everything you do - your support and enthusiasm make all the difference
Pre Osprey cruise talk with Sian and Elizabeth
Pre Osprey cruise talk with Jean, Elizabeth and Alan
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust - 3H3 at Dyfi
33(11) fishing - photo by Kat and Jerzy Barwinski
It’s been a while since I last filled you in on our antics in the West. From Sophia
Attwood
We concluded our winter work at Cloud Wood in the form of this year ’ s ambition to reinstate the coppicing regime. The plot had regenerated in the two decades since it was last worked as a birch woodland. A small number of oak and sallow were left as standards and any ash or standing deadwood retained The volunteers succeeded to process the season of felling, creating stakes a binders for sale for us, stacking log piles in the wooded edges, weaving dead hedges, brashing stools to deter browsing and burning what remained on raised corrugated sheeting. I am so proud of what we achieved together here and I’m looking forward to watching it evolve. The old coppicing regime wasn’t the only thing reinstated this year With the help of Richard Jeffrey, we have reinstated the Cloud Wood NR butterfly transect and I am giddily excited by the presence of Dingy Skippers at the reserve!
At Croft, we continued mission gorse control until the beginning of March, when we turned our hands to securing the boundary in time for the cows ’ return. The Bakers and I have got our eyes in for some early grassland recording and I met Helen O’Brien to confirm the presence of a healthy water vole population in May.
The substantial grassland at Dimminsdale is grazed and maintaining the boundary as stock proof is no walk in the park. It typically takes numerous sessions, a lot of walking and driving back and forth on undulating terrain with tools and materials, all while trying to avoid old shafts, pits, sett holes and the river running through the centre of the two meadows. Our volunteers aced it though, of course, and now the cattle and a steering ram are munching their way through both. We have also kept on top of any step repairs throughout the woodland to support the visitor increase when the snowdrops came out
Came the time at Kelham Bridge to replace the boardwalk to the first hide, with a view to make it wheelchair accessible too. Proceeeding the annual reedbed cut, we also locked in on any potential access points into the private areas of the reserve to protect the wildlife residing here
Our urban fringe nature reserve, Lucas Marsh, is a wildlife haven to be enjoyed by the local community Unfortunately, this means it is a hot spot for anti-social behaviour The hills and hollows of a well-established badger’s sett at the back of the marsh area are being utilised and added to by people with off-road bikes. The gaps in the mature hedge are a cut through Oadby and Wigston park for off-lead dog walkers. We arrived at the end of May to do a follow-up session to the previous Sunday task spent fencing off the bike run, only to find that the fence had been ripped out We built it again, this time stronger, and fixed signs to it with the hope of appealing to the consciences of the public. If this fails, I have an immovable back up plan
On a positive note, the management here appears to be aiding water retention and is provoking a varied regrowth, including the largest display of ragged robin I have seen.
At Narborough Bog, the phragmites is growing back (we will take the meadowsweet over other ruderals) after the annual reedbed cut The reedbed and SSSI wet meadow are filling the spaces where we have spent winters clearing scrub and tree encroachment.
We have also secured the boundary for grazing and replaced a failed, but essential, section of boardwalk
I love doing these updates. As reserves officers we have a tendency to fixate on the things we aren’t getting around to or would like to achieve, but I am reminded now of the sheer volume of work we have done in a short period of time
You are all amazing –thank you!
Charnwood reserves Volunteering Spring update
Andy Neilson
Hello all!
The teams working across the Charnwood reserves have certainly had a busy spring! With the arrival of the bird breeding season we ’ ve put down the tree poppers and bowsaws and have picked up hammers and shovels for a busy spring season doing various infrastructure improvements!
Charnwood Lodge has featured heavily, with the resident Thursday team doing fabulous work as ever across the site We’ve had two big jobs to contend with – firstly the entrance track to the Bomb Rocks parking area was looking a tad care-worn, and with the gentle requests for some of the potholes to be filled mounting, 20 tonnes of stone were delivered in May – a morning’s work for the Charnwood gang!
The other big job we ’ ve undertaken has been a spring clean of our Brookside buildings, with one large skip of waste and three skips of scrap metal tidied out of the buildings – it was like Alladin’s cave in there!
Aside from the practical tasks at the reserve, our wonderful drystone wallers, cow checkers and butterfly surveyors have all begun their summer work at the site, with a dingy skipper recorded during May; a great record for the reserve.
Away from Charnwood, I’ve been keeping the midweek team busy at Ulverscroft Nature Reserve, firstly with fencing repairs around our grazing areas, but more recently we ’ ve been boardwalk building down in the Valley Marshes. The entrance to Herbert’s Meadow has become a quagmire in recent years so that was treated to a new section of boardwalk, and an existing stretch in a different area was in dire need of replacement so that one has been replaced too The valley has been filled with the sound of hammering over the past few weeks, contrasting to the sound of cuckoos and warblers going about their business around us!
Front cover image of Cuckoo flowers taken by Nick Crowley
The back cover image of the Golden Eye was taken by Alan Herbert
