Latest news with #PitsfordReservoir
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Project doubles uncommon plants around reservoir
Conservationists have said the number of uncommon plant species around a reservoir doubled in just two years thanks to a pond creation project. The Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) also revealed wetland plant species across the whole landscape around Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire were up by nearly a quarter. A total of 22 new clean water ponds have been created and 10 existing ponds have been managed. According to the FHT, the nationally-scarce clustered stonewort has been recorded for the first time in the region. A total of 21 landowners were involved in the project, including 15 farmers. One of them, Will Shemilt, said: "If you own land, you want to look after it, and working with nature always pays off. "Build the right habitat and wildlife will come - and with the new ponds, this has happened really quickly." The landscape around the reservoir was surveyed in 2021, before the project began, and 71 different species of wetland plants were found in ponds, streams and ditches. A total of 17 of them were uncommon species. By 2024, new clean water ponds had been built and the number of species had increased to 84. The FHT said: "Uncommon species found in the most recent survey included marsh willowherb, blunt-flowered rush and the nationally-scarce clustered stonewort, which was recorded for the first time in the region." The trust added that establishing new ponds was the most effective way of supporting new species. Alongside the new ponds, work has been done to create natural flood management features such as flood storage basins and leaky dams which prevent sediment running off into the surrounding land. The FHT's programme manager, Hannah Worker, said: "It's been so exciting to see such an amazing increase in freshwater species – including uncommon plants returning to the area - within just two years. "We're losing freshwater species at an alarming rate so it is vital that we work together and take practical steps that we know will make a difference." Kim Hemmings, Anglian Water's catchment advisor, said: "We're really pleased to support Freshwater Habitats with this project, which illustrates how farming and nature can thrive together when we work collaboratively. "By managing land around our reservoirs more thoughtfully, we can create habitats that support wildlife and build resilient farming systems which brings clean water to our reservoir." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Anglian Water rethink eases sailing club's fears Peatland restoration helps rare species New wheelchair boat named after angling 'legend' Freshwater Habitats Trust Pitsford Water Anglian Water
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Pitsford Reservoir project doubles number of uncommon plants
Conservationists have said the number of uncommon plant species around a reservoir doubled in just two years thanks to a pond creation Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) also revealed wetland plant species across the whole landscape around Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire were up by nearly a quarter.A total of 22 new clean water ponds have been created and 10 existing ponds have been to the FHT, the nationally-scarce clustered stonewort has been recorded for the first time in the region. A total of 21 landowners were involved in the project, including 15 of them, Will Shemilt, said: "If you own land, you want to look after it, and working with nature always pays off. "Build the right habitat and wildlife will come - and with the new ponds, this has happened really quickly." The landscape around the reservoir was surveyed in 2021, before the project began, and 71 different species of wetland plants were found in ponds, streams and ditches.A total of 17 of them were uncommon 2024, new clean water ponds had been built and the number of species had increased to 84. The FHT said: "Uncommon species found in the most recent survey included marsh willowherb, blunt-flowered rush and the nationally-scarce clustered stonewort, which was recorded for the first time in the region."The trust added that establishing new ponds was the most effective way of supporting new the new ponds, work has been done to create natural flood management features such as flood storage basins and leaky dams which prevent sediment running off into the surrounding land. The FHT's programme manager, Hannah Worker, said: "It's been so exciting to see such an amazing increase in freshwater species – including uncommon plants returning to the area - within just two years. "We're losing freshwater species at an alarming rate so it is vital that we work together and take practical steps that we know will make a difference." Kim Hemmings, Anglian Water's catchment advisor, said: "We're really pleased to support Freshwater Habitats with this project, which illustrates how farming and nature can thrive together when we work collaboratively. "By managing land around our reservoirs more thoughtfully, we can create habitats that support wildlife and build resilient farming systems which brings clean water to our reservoir." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Man runs, cycles and swims in 38-hour record bid
A dad hopes he has set a new world record after he ran, swam and cycled the equivalent distance of 516km (321 miles) in just over 38 hours. Tony Hopkin from Brackley, Northamptonshire ran 100 laps of his local lake, swam nearly 16km (10 miles) at Pitsford Reservoir and cycled just over 400km (249 miles). Advertisement His attempt to break the current record of 407.4km (253.1 miles) for the longest single-event triathlon also raised £5,830 for a local education charity. He should find out if he has officially taken the title within about six months, once Guinness World Records has assessed his claim. Tony Hopkin said at times the lack of sleep during the challenge caused him to hallucinate [Amo Panesar] Mr Hopkin was tracked by GPS watches and bike computers, and filmed at every point while timekeepers logged his activities and "independent witnesses" observed the whole thing. Speaking about the running element, he said: "I kept going the same way, so I now have probably got one leg shorter than the other." Advertisement He was allowed brief, five-minute stops as long as it kept "within the spirit of the competition," he explained. "So I couldn't stop for five minutes, ride for a minute and then stop for another five, it had to be a decent distance in between." Mr Hopkin, who only started doing triathlons two years ago, said not sleeping was the hardest part and at some points he felt like he was hallucinating. Tony Hopkin raised more than £5,000 for a children's education charity by carrying out the challenge [Stuart Hacker] The triathlete decided to also use the event to raise money for Northampton-based New Leaf Learning, which supports one of his children. It offers a nature-based, connection-focused provision for children who are not currently engaging in learning in mainstream schools. Advertisement "They give them strategies to cope with everyday life and also engage with education," he said. His added his priorities now were catching up on sleep and spending time with his children. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More local stories Related internet links
