Witches Oak Water

The Wilder Delivery team have been stationed at Witches Oak Water, (a private, no public access site - owned by Severn Trent Water), felling willow to restore the wetland, protecting the reedbed. This habitat will now have improved water storage capacity for periods of drought as well as slowing the flow of water through the Trent Valley by retaining water more readily, reducing the likelihood of flooding downstream.

Elliott and Amelia removing willow from the reedbed to rewet the area and protect the reedbed.

Thanks to the team’s hard work this habitat has been improved for target species like Cetti’s Warbler, Great White Egret and Grey Heron. Bittern activity has also increased onsite. It is hoped this rare species will nest here in the coming years, as has been noted at other nearby sites managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Wetlands such as this are extremely important for wildlife, especially in The Midlands, where they serve as a stop off point for birds on migration. Yellow-browed Warbler and Purple Heron turned up onsite while the team were working for example.

On launching the boat, the team island hopped across the site removing the perch trees of predatory birds, reducing the opportunities for them to take eggs from waterfowl - some of which are listed on the UK list of species of conservation concern.

Amelia and Kieran using the boat to island hop accessing remote willow to be felled.

The team were rewarded for their efforts by having several close encounters with dragon and damsel flies, who will similarly benefit from wetland restoration. These aerial bound insects in-turn provide a good food source for hobbies – a falcon that migrates to the UK in summer from sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia.

Around the lakes, several trees were felled into the pools, creating fish nurseries and homes for aquatic insects, with some being left attached at the base - mimicking beaver behaviour. The locations of selected trees were carefully chosen, creating flyways with a clear line of site for birds to take off from the water.

Riparian tree work mimicking beaver behaviour to create habitat for aquatic insects and fish

Hedges have been lain by staff and volunteers creating nesting sites for birds. By leaving the stems attached, plants are encouraged to produce new growth, thickening the hedge. Shrubs such as blackthorn were used because their sloe berries provide a vital food source for birds. Mammals will likewise benefit from the laid hedges, allowing them to shelter from owls and other raptors, while navigating the habitat along the boundaries.

Hedge laying creating shelter and food sources for birds and continuous wildlife corridors for small mammals.

Thinning has been carried out in the woodland blocks to open up the canopy, encouraging less dominant species such as black poplar, hawthorn and ash to grow. Brambles have also been knocked back giving an opportunity for ground flora to establish. Native saplings were planted including small leaved-lime, aspen and oak. The idea here is that planting these species will eventually restore the woodland to a state that would once have been widespread across the UK.

Woodland Clearance giving opportunities for less dominant tree species to take and allowing more light to reach the woodland floor encouraging.

As many larger animals have disappeared from the UK, the team used tools to replicate the behaviour of lost species. By equipping axes and mattocks younger trees were struck, mimicking the claw marks of bears and Eurasian Lynx. Ring-barking was also practised. This would naturally happen through beaver activity, as they gnaw through the bark to eat the cellulose. Trees were similarly struck at various depths to copy the behaviour of deer and wild boar rubbing up against the side of trees. Chainsaws were used to mimic oak bracket fungus behaviour, which lifts sections of bark - indirectly creating spaces for bats to roost. By boring holes, allowing for water collection tree decomposition is sped up, artificially ageing the tree. Normally such phenomena would be caused by lightning strikes. This approach is known as Veteranisation and improves tree age diversity in woodlands, allowing for a greater number of species to be supported across a wider range of niches.

Mimicking large herbivore activity creating a diversity of tree ages in the woodland.

To supplement the team’s work Exmoor ponies were introduced to the site. By selectively grazing and trampling these livestock prevent dominant species taking over the habitat. As they move through the landscape, the ponies transport seeds caught in their hair too, further improving the biodiversity of the site.

The team thoroughly enjoyed implementing this stage of the management plan at Witches Oak Water and are very much looking forward to continuing with improving the rest of the site for people and nature.

Al removing willow to protect and rewet the reedbed.