Nene Wetlands habitat and infrastructure improvements

At Nene Wetlands nature reserve, Northants, infrastructure work - including the removal of some trees for health and safety reasons - will be taking place over the next couple of weeks, along with habitat preparation for the release of water voles later in the year. Some paths will be temporarily closed or diverted for a short while

Upcoming works at Nene Wetlands over the next couple of weeks will see the temporary closure or diversion of paths; this necessary work will see the removal of some trees affected with ash dieback, along with vegetation clearance in preparation for fencing to secure the area where beavers will be reintroduced in the autumn. Along with the beaver reintroduction, water voles too are making a return to Nene Wetlands later this year in an initiative funded by Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme - the water vole is the UK’s fastest declining mammal.

Week commencing 5 February: Skew Bridge Lake Both the Ditchford and Muddy Boots entrances to Skew Bridge will be closed as required health and safety tree works take place. Following this these entrances will be opened again, though the remainder of the Skew Bridge loop will be closed due to preparatory work for the beaver fence; signage is on site to explain this closure, maps below.

Week commencing 5 February: tree work along the Greenway

There will be a path diversion for a few days to allow for the removal of trees, mainly ash afflicted with ash dieback, which pose health and safety risks along the adjacent path.

Week commencing 12 February: water vole habitat preparation

Habitat improvement work around Dragonfly Lake, ready for water vole reintroduction in autumn. This work will remove sections of overhanging trees and scrub from adjacent ditches, reducing overshadowing creating conditions more favourable for water voles.

Week commencing 12 February: Irthlingborough Wild Corner

This work will see vegetation clearance on north and southern edges of wild corner, adjacent to the Greenway. The clearance will facilitate ring fencing - to be installed later in spring - for a new compartment; the new stock fencing will allow the effective grazing of this area (no path closures required).
Additionally, there will be tree work along Ditchford road and at Summer Leys from 12 Feb onwards.

All work is subject to contractor schedules, so dates are an approximate guide.