Nind Nature Reserve

Last updated

Nind Nature Reserve
Arvicola-terrestris.jpg
Water vole (Arvicola terrestris)
Gloucestershire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Nind Nature Reserve shown within Gloucestershire
Nind Nature Reserve
TypeGloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve
LocationNind, near Kingswood, alongside the Ozleworth Brook
Coordinates 51°37′20.04″N2°21′16.46″W / 51.6222333°N 2.3545722°W / 51.6222333; -2.3545722 Coordinates: 51°37′20.04″N2°21′16.46″W / 51.6222333°N 2.3545722°W / 51.6222333; -2.3545722
Area9.3 acres (3.8 ha)
Created2010
Operated byGloucestershire Wildlife Trust and landowners
StatusOpen all year

Nind Nature Reserve (grid reference ST755915 ) is a 3.75-hectare (9.3-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire. [1] [2]

Contents

The site is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and is leased from the landowners. It is a former trout farm. [2]

The site and adjacent areas are designated as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS). These are the Nind Trout farm (2.7-hectare (6.7-acre)), an area of adjacent wet woodland (1.2-hectare (3.0-acre)) and a stretch of Ozleworth Brook (grid reference ST749919 to grid reference ST754916 ). [2] [3] The reserve forms part of the Berkeley Vale Water Vole Recovery Project’s habitat enhancement scheme. [3] [4]

Location and habitat

The nature reserve is at Nind, near Kingswood, Wotton-under-Edge. None of the trout ponds remained; only the back channels were in existence. The site is now managed as a water vole reserve. These creatures are seen and heard in the water channels. [1] [2] It was formally opened in July 2010. [5] [6]

Water voles are fully protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This legal protection means that due care must be paid to the presence of water voles. [7]

The Berkeley Vale Project report indicates the main reasons for the decline in water vole populations. These are given as loss of habitat, isolation of populations, predation by an introduced species (American mink), inappropriate river management, draining of wetlands, building development and intensification in agricultural practices. Appendix E of the report summarises the work done on surveying, mink control and habitat restoration and creation schemes. [3]

Restoration

The site was assessed as having unstable water levels. The remaining channels of the old farm were 'leaky'. This resulted in water levels dropping significantly in dry periods. The site was overgrown with alder and there was encroaching scrub. A healthy population of water voles had been identified downstream in the Ozleworth Brook, but the farm area did not provide connectivity. Risks were also identified in respect of predation by mink and colonisation by rats. [2]

Restoration work has included stabilising the water levels by replacing the degraded impoundment structures. Some 80-90% of the alder growth has been cutback. Fencing for livestock has been installed downstream to help to provide connectivity with the nearest water vole population. [2]

Volunteers have assisted in the work to restore this site and there is an ongoing monitoring programme for the full catchment area. [2]

Other species

Bird life recorded for the site include dippers, kingfishers and herons. [1]

Publications

Related Research Articles

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Organization

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 46 Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts are local charities with the specific aim of protecting the United Kingdom's natural heritage. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees elected from its membership who provide overall direction for the development of the Trust and there are Advisory Committees. The work of the trust is carried out through staff and volunteers.

European water vole Species of rodent

The European water vole or northern water vole, is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, though it only superficially resembles a true rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike rats their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.

Cotswold Water Park

The Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom's largest marl lake system, straddling the Wiltshire–Gloucestershire border, northwest of Cricklade and south of Cirencester. There are 180 lakes, spread over 42 square miles (110 km2).

RSPB Dearne Valley Old Moor English wetlands nature reserve

RSPB Dearne Valley Old Moor is an 89-hectare (220-acre) wetlands nature reserve in the Dearne Valley near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). It lies on the junction of the A633 and A6195 roads and is bordered by the Trans Pennine Trail long-distance path. Following the end of coal mining locally, the Dearne Valley had become a derelict post-industrial area, and the removal of soil to cover an adjacent polluted site enabled the creation of the wetlands at Old Moor.

Coombe Hill Canal

Coombe Hill Canal lies in the Vale of Gloucester, south west England, north of Leigh and runs west 2.75 miles (4.43 km) from Coombe Hill Basin to the River Severn near Wainlode Hill. It opened in 1796 and closed 80 years later in 1876, after the only lock was damaged by flooding. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust purchased the Coombe Hill Canal nature reserve in 1985 and the area is managed by the trust. Adjacent to the Coombe Hill Canal is a large area of wet meadowland situated midway between Gloucester and Tewkesbury to the west of the A38, which was purchased by the trust in 1999. There is a north and a south meadow. This land and the Canal itself often flood in winter, which attracts hundreds of wildfowl.

Lower Woods

Lower Woods is a 280.1-hectare (692-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, notified in 1966 and renotified in 1985. The site area has increased at last revision in 1974 to a 284.1-hectare (702-acre) site. The site is a nature reserve managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Badgeworth SSSI, Gloucestershire

Badgeworth SSSI is a 3.08-hectare (7.6-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire notified in 1954 and renotified in 1983. Part of this site is owned and managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve.

Cannop Ponds

Cannop Ponds are two large ponds, just north of Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. The ponds, and surrounding area, are a popular tourist destination.

Brandon Marsh nature reserve Nature reserve in Warwickshire, England

Brandon Marsh is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and nature reserve in Warwickshire, England. It is situated adjacent to the River Avon, near the village of Brandon, a few miles east of Coventry.

Ashleworth Ham Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, England

Ashleworth Ham is a 104.73-hectare (258.8-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a large area of grassland on the Severn floodplain, north of Ashleworth in Gloucestershire, England. It is registered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and was notified in 1974 and renotified in 1985. Ashleworth Ham received this designation because it is one of three sites in the Severn Vale where migratory waterfowl winter.

Dowdeswell Reservoir

Dowdeswell Reservoir and former water treatment works lie below the parish of Dowdeswell in Gloucestershire. They were originally built by Cheltenham Corporation to supply the town of Cheltenham with drinking water and subsequently became part of the Severn Trent network.

Chaceley Meadow is a 1.8-hectare (4.4-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1954 and renotified in 1993. It lies on the eastern edge of Chaceley village and is about half a mile west of the River Severn.

Wotton Hill Hill in Gloucestershire, England

Wotton Hill is a hill on the edge of the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire, England, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Wotton-under-Edge. The Cotswold Way passes over the hill.

Dymock Woods SSSI Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, England

Dymock Woods is a 53-hectare (130-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1990. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

Salmonsbury Meadows SSSI

Salmonsbury Meadows is an 18-hectare (44-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1985. The site is listed in the 'Cotswold District' Local Plan 2001-2011 as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

Woorgreens Lake and Marsh

Woorgreens Lake and Marsh is a 9-hectare (22-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire.

Foxes Bridge Bog

Foxes Bridge Bog is a 5.3-hectare (13-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire. The site is owned by the Forestry Commission and is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in partnership with the Forestry Commission. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

Laymoor Quag

Laymoor Quag is a 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) nature reserve within the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow Nature reserve in Gloucestershire, England

Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow is a 2.1-hectare (5.2-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire.

Edgehills Bog Nature reserve in Gloucestershire, England

Edgehills Bog is a 0.66-hectare (1.6-acre) nature reserve in Gloucestershire in the Forest of Dean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust online for Nind Nature Reserve
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Field, J, Dixon G (illustrations), Doe J et al (photography), 2009, 'Managing land for water voles', Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
  3. 1 2 3 'Berkeley Vale Water Vole Recovery Project (2007-2010)', Wetlands West Annual Report 2009/10, Appendix E Archived 2013-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust online report on the Berkeley Vale Project
  5. ↑ 'Haven for water vole opens in Gloucestershire', BBC local report, July 2010
  6. ↑ 'Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust opens its newest reserve - a haven for water voles', Wotton-under-Edge local news report, July 2010
  7. ↑ Natural England information on water voles (status and advice)

Water voles, their habitat, national projects

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.