Reserves
The wet winter has affected most reserves with many woodland paths very wet and muddy and flood levels on wetland sites higher than seen in recent years; fences are down, works have been rescheduled, paths are impassable and no access for vehicles getting kit across sites.
80 lambs have been born at Lilbourne so far this spring with 53 more to follow, and then 175 are expected at Barford plus one calf at Strawberry Hill.
Winter highlights in the Nene Wetlands and at Summer Leys include a massive 1200 volunteer hours logged, 580m of Hedge laying/coppicing undertaken and 1250 trees planted.
Sand martin banks were successful last year in the Nene Valley with 21 nests recorded at Nene Wetlands and 14 at Summer Leys. We’ve also had hundreds of lapwing on the newly restored peninsula at Irthlingborough and are looking into ways to further support the Pitsford tree sparrows, one of the few remaining populations in the county.
Kings Wood has been passed back to North Northants Council to be managed by their woodlands rangers, Finedon Cally Banks has been passed to the town council to manage, along with the wider pocket park and our lease has ended at Harlestone Heath Nature Reserve.
