Latest news with #ShropshireWildlifeTrust
Powys County Times
13-06-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
The Shropshire waterways being boosted by natural flood work
The second phase of a natural flood management (NFM) scheme that is being delivered in Shropshire is on target. Called 'slow the flow', the project runs until next March and is aimed at delvering NFM schemes across seven catchments in the Corvedale: Aston-on-Clun (the unnamed tributary of the River Clun), Battlefield Brook, Clunton (the unnanmed tributary of the River Clun), Gobowen (tributaries of the River Perry), Hilton Brook, Shyte and Sytche Brooks, Much Wenlock, and the River Corve and tributaries. During the scheme, Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) has been liaising with local flood action groups and the National Flood Forum to target where its work is most needed. It comes after Shropshire Council with Telford & Wrekin Council secured over £750,000 from DEFRA's Natural Flood Management Demonstrators fund. In order to meet the requirements, Shropshire Council worked with Cardiff University to monitor the effectiveness of NFM features to establish a method of quantifying the benefit of wood debris dams in a computer model. The impact of Covid meant that a large number of interventions could not be delivered, so the council was unable to allocate the remaining capital. However, because SWT has previously worked in the catchment before, it is continuing the work it started in 2018. During the first phase, over 100 landowners were engaged with and more than 350 people attended events linked to the project. A total of 1,000 NFM interventions had been installed, including storage ponds, swales, woody debris dams, sward lifting, improving field infiltration, tree and hedgerow planting. People were able to see some of the key work as part of the Shropshire Hills Summer Forum and Field Visits event. Starting at Wildehope Manor, a Grade I listed building that is looked after by the National Trust in Longville in the Dale, near Church Stretton, walkers were able to see some of the leaky barriers along the Wilde Brook that reduces the amount of water in the stream during high flows. 'It's working with natural processes,' said Sarah Mackness, water resources project manager at SWT. 'The designs we have used have evolved across the length of the project. 'We are replicating a lot of the work in the Corvedale, but we've also got funding for other catchments across Shropshire 'For every £1 spent on natural flood management, after 10 years there's a £4 benefit in terms to reduced risk to communities downstream and infrastructure. After 30 years, that goes up to a £10 benefit.' Ms Mackness also showed visitors how simple methods like placing a sill across a track can also prove effective. 'It was coming down the track, round the corner, and straight down the track,' she said. 'Heavy rain was washing soil away. Something as simple as a sill across the track is enough to cause the water to flow into the ditch at the side and flows much slower before it eventually reaches the stream at the bottom. 'How can we slow the water down, slow the infiltration and store the water upstream?' However, Julian Radliffe, who owns the land, said it doesn't always work. 'In the roadway, they put French drains in which are effective but over the years we probably have to dig them out because they get silted out,' he said. 'Then the water comes, down this track not down the ditch. We've got to bring our small diger and clear away the vegetation. 'The attrition rate on the dams is higher here than we expected because the flow has been much heavier because of the change of the climate than we originally modelled.' Ms Mackness added: 'It only works when you're working with landowners. Because of how the project is funded, we don't have any funding for maintenance. 'With it being a demonstrator project, especially the initial phase, we've learnt a lot from it and what we thought would happen hasn't always been the case.' Two people who went on the trip said it was very beneficial. 'We've had heavy rainfall that's travelled across two of our fields,' said Emily Esp. 'There's been houses and garden landscaping that's changed over time. I would like to help them by slowing the flow from the fields. I can't control what goes on in their garden and what they do with their landscaping, but I can slow it before it gets there.' Martin Steer added: 'It's nice to have engagement from the farmer as well. It's great to see all these people come together – they're all sharing knowledge. 'It is good progress being made, with soil management coming at the top of the agenda.'
BBC News
14-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Shrewsbury beavers named Beryl and Bertie after school poll
Two beavers released into a Shropshire nature reserve this year have been named, after local school children submitted Eurasian beavers were released at the Old River Bed in Shrewsbury in February, reintroducing the animals to the area for the first time in 400 pair have now been named Beryl and Bertie, after Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Shrewsbury Town Council launched a contest last winning entry came from Year 2 at Coleham Primary School, and beat other suggestions as Nutmeg and Acorn and Charlie and Darwin. A shortlist of the names suggested by schoolchildren was released earlier this month and the public were asked to vote for their final and Acorn were suggested by pupils at Meole Brace Primary School, and Charlie and Darwin came from Longnor CofE and Clive CofE beavers were transported to Shropshire from Scotland, and their release into the nature reserve is one of a number of recent projects in enclosed areas in the is hoped Beryl and Bertie will help to maintain the Old River Bed nature reserve, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Names needed for nature reserve's beavers
Getty Images Two beavers released into a nature reserve in Shropshire are looking for names. The Shropshire Beaver Project, by Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Shrewsbury Town Council, aims to assess the impact of the beavers on the wetland site. The bonded pair are the first to return to the Shropshire Hills in 400 years and the vote is open to try and find them names. A shortlist of names for the Shrewsbury beavers includes: Bertie and Beryl, Nutmeg and Acorn and Charlie and Darwin. People can visit the Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Instagram page to cast their vote, with the results to be revealed next week. They were released into the Old River Bed Nature Reserve in early February. Votes close on 11 April. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Names needed for Shropshire nature reserve's beavers
Two beavers released into a nature reserve in Shropshire are looking for names. The Shropshire Beaver Project, by Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Shrewsbury Town Council, aims to assess the impact of the beavers on the wetland bonded pair are the first to return to the Shropshire Hills in 400 years and the vote is open to try and find them names.A shortlist of names for the Shrewsbury beavers includes: Bertie and Beryl, Nutmeg and Acorn and Charlie and Darwin. People can visit the Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Instagram page to cast their vote, with the results to be revealed next week. They were released into the Old River Bed Nature Reserve in early close on 11 April. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts thrilled after creature returns from 400-year-long absence: 'What you should start to see is the impact that they're having'
Two Eurasian beavers have returned after 400 years of absence, as the BBC reported. The beavers were released in an enclosed nature reserve in Shrewsbury, England. Conservationists in the United Kingdom hope that the beavers can help restore the natural wetlands of Old River Bed. The goal is to improve the area's biodiversity and heal from years of habitat loss. Beavers are keystone species that act as nature's engineers. Their innate ability to slow down water flow is critical in preventing flooding. Beavers build dams that turn into ponds. As time passes, the ponds turn into wetlands. These marshes are the natural habitat of birds, fish, and amphibians. The newly homed beavers are part of a bigger movement in the U.K. For many years, conservation groups and wildlife organizations reintroduced beavers to different areas in England. A pair of beavers was recently rehomed in South Downs National Park to revive a critical wetland. Scientists hope that the beavers can improve the quality and quantity of the wetlands. In a similar initiative 15 years ago, beavers were released in a Knapdale rainforest in Scotland. The area is now bearing the fruits of the beavers' labor. Water voles, once endangered, are flourishing, thanks to these beavers. Conservation experts are similarly hopeful, and wildlife organizations are eager to track the beavers' impact over time. "I think having them in Shrewsbury is really exciting because it's an urban site, it's a site with housing on both sides, and it gives us an opportunity to give people the chance to interact with the beavers and see what they do on a local level," Tom Freeland, head of nature reserves at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, told BBC Radio Shropshire. Freeland added: "But what you should start to see is the impact that they're having." Someday, beavers may have offspring in the enclosure, as there is ample space to support their growth. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
