The highlight has undoubtedly been our successful Nene Wetlands Beaver reintroduction.

After being missing from our waterways for at least 400 years a family of 8 (2 adults, 3 yearlings and 3 kits) were released into Delta Pit in the Nene Wetlands on 13th February. The release was undertaken with the help of the Beaver Trust who trapped and transported them down from Scotland and was watched by an audience of trust staff and guests.

The beavers have quickly settled into their new home and we’ve seen regular sightings on our trail cameras as well as increasing signs of activity, copping, felling and barking of trees, across their 17 hectacre enclosure. The release has gained lots of media and local attention and we subsequently hosted DEFRA to pre-film their announcement on a move to licensing wild beaver releases, something we’ll look to explore in future years. For the latest update, blogs and a podcast see Project Beaver | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants

The Lings team have been focussing on a number of sites. At Old Sulehay, the weekly volunteer team has been finishing the scrub management season strong, diversifying the hedgerows on Sammocks Hill with laying and coppicing, and creating a new scallop in Stonepit. They've contributed over 1,650 hours this winter and are now tackling the replacement of 100 fence posts across the reserve.

Meanwhile at Collyweston, huge effort has been put into clearing some of the bramble and blackthorn from the SSSI grassland, and Ian and Leo have been laying scrub around the main lake at Stortons Pits to reduce disturbance.’

Our Conservation grazing team are gearing up for a busy spring with lambing already underway at Lilbourne and soon to start at Barford, where we’re also expecting the first of our highland calves any day now. Our first two mouflon have now arrived at Stone Pit where their browsing will complement the grazing of our rare breed sheep in keeping the important early successional communities at this site.

At Summer Leys the back end of winter is a busy time on the reserve as we rush to complete works that we won't be able to complete during the bird nesting season. This predominantly includes tree works of various kinds.

Ash dieback works have featured prominently on site. Summer surveys of tree health showed Ash dieback to be present in nearly all Ash trees on site and has meant they have had to be removed for the safety of visitors. Other tree works are focussed on improving the habitat for wildlife that doesn't thrive under dense tree cover.

Pollarding of Willow trees has created areas now flooded with light and removed perches which had been used by Corvids to predate wader chicks. Other areas have been coppiced or 'conservation layed', both techniques are designed to create areas of new growth where summer birds can put their nests. We now start the drawdown of water levels which will reveal the islands where our summering wetland birds breed on.

Like everywhere else, Pitsford has been wet!  This has damaged paths and meant that a full circuit of the reserve has not always been possible.  But while fixing some of the drainage and paths recently, staff were dazzled by a pair of kingfishers calling and showing beautifully for them while enjoying a well earned cup of tea.  If you would like to hear seasonal updates of what has been happening at Pitsford, sign up to receive the Pitsford ENews here E-news | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants

Northants Wider Countryside

The North Northants Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been launched - https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/news/north-northamptonshire-launches-regions-first-nature-recovery-strategy , this has been the result of hard work by a number of partners, including the Wildlife Trust, who have collaborated over the last 2 years and will serve as a blueprint for how biodiversity can be protected, restored and enhanced across the area.

It is intended that this strategy will help guide all in North Northamptonshire on ways to support nature recovery, as well as linking green spaces to improve wildlife movement and strengthen the area’s resilience to climate change. 

We have been tying up the Local Wildlife Site surveys and data from the 2024 Season. We surveyed 43 sites as part of our main LWS work and surveyed lots of sites not visited since the 80’s and 90’s. Our biodiversity partnership panel selected one new neutral grassland site to be added to the list of LWS in the county which stands at 743 sites covering over 12000ha.

SPA Engagement Officer, Lara, has been doing lots of work around dogs on leads-- working with comms team on the BCN-wide campaign; liaising with landowners to establish initiatives that encourage more effective messaging; and speaking with lots of members of the public on site. "In the vast majority of cases, it's been really enjoyable to meet so many lovely dogs, and share wildlife knowledge with their owners who often don't pay close attention to nature on their walks- particularly through the winter, which is particularly special in the UNVGP SPA.

I'm encouraging dog walkers to educate one another on the importance of wildlife, particularly within protected landscapes, and to lead by example by keeping their dogs on a lead at all times. Bringing my dogs to work to lead by example has been a definitely highlight of the role so far!" 

Patsy is working on a project to map Open Mosaic Habitats (OMH) on previously developed land in Northamptonshire. These habitats, often found on old industrial sites like quarries, landfills, or airfields, are incredibly important for biodiversity, supporting rare plants, insects, and other wildlife. However, OMH are at risk because they are hard to identify, making them vulnerable to development, and they can disappear quickly to more dominant plant communities such as scrub and woodland. Patsy is currently in the beginning stages but the goal for the project is to help guide conservation efforts and ensure this rare habitat is accounted for.

So far in 2025 we have responded to nine planning applications (and assessed over 50 more) across Northamptonshire.  We’ve responded where wildlife has not been appropriately considered or would be negatively influenced by developments.  This has included proposals for a solar farm next to the River Nene to the north of Kingsthorpe North Meadows in Northampton.  Kingsthorpe North Meadows is a botanically diverse floodplain meadow Local Wildlife Site managed by local volunteers.  The application site also floods and already shows good potential for restoration to a wildlife rich habitat.