Wonderful Wetlands
Wetland habitat such as this in
increasingly rare and therefore environmental groups such as Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust are keen to assist in the management of the reserve.
For a brief description of the make up of Wolvey Wetland by Louise Sutherland
former
Wetland Project Officer, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust:
Click here
Snipe
Snipe have been spotted on the wetland, newts
are present, robins and wrens fly up to greet you as you walk down the
boardwalk. There is also a resident woodpecker and a barn owl is often seen
at dusk. In the snow, fox tracks were visible on the boardwalk treads, as
well as many bird and fowl tracks, which tells a tale of much activity
there, super to see.
For more information on Snipe:
Click Here
Water Vole
Water Vole have colonised the banks of various water courses in and
around Wolvey. Water voles are on the ‘at risk’ list so we are very lucky to
have them in the area… please respect them. They are legally protected and
it is an offence to disturb their habitat.
For more information on Water Vole:
Click Here
Providing Habitats
Habitat such as
Wolvey Old Cricket field Wetland Reserve are increasingly rare and therefore environmental groups
such as Warwickshire Wildlife Trust are keen to assist in the management of
the reserve.
Since its creation Wolvey Environmental Group has provided a variety of
habitats both for fauna and flora, from Bat and Owl boxes to a Mini Beast
mansion in the Woodland walk.
To view some of the habitats the group has created:
Click Here
The Woodland Walk
The Wetland also boasts a small section of woodland
accessed via the Boardwalk Extension and an Old Cattle Bridge, it is bordered
by a stream on the Wetland side and a meadow on the other.
For views and
more information on the Woodland Walk:
Click Here:
The Boardwalk:
During
the Autumn of 2008
The Wolvey Environmental Group (& Friends) built a 198 metre Boardwalk
across the wetland
allowing access through the site for everyone.
The Boardwalk was built entirely of
Recycled Plastic Materials supplied by SECURE-A-FIELD of Coventry, designed & Constructed by the
Wolvey Environmental Group
and local Volunteers,
The construction of the original boardwalk was made possible by the award
of grants in 2008 of £10,000 from the BBC Breathing Places Big Lottery Fund
and £10,000 from the Rugby Rural Development fund.
Views of the Boardwalk
For views of the Boardwalk from South to North and North to South.
Click Here:
Building The Boardwalk
Views of the boardwalk construction which gives an indication of the
adverse conditions the group had to overcome during the build:
Click Here:
The Boardwalk Extension:
An extension of the boardwalk was
completed in 2009 to allow improved access over a stream via an Old Cattle
Bridge to the Woodland Walk.
In 2009 Action
with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and the Warwickshire Rural
Community Council (WRCC) announced a grant award of £3762 to Wolvey
Parish Council for community benefit under the COMMA fund the
Community Aggregates Fund to construct an extension of the
boardwalk.
The Parish Council is
grateful to these organisations for making it possible to improve access
through the site, so everyone can enjoy the natural environment of the
reserve. The grants allowed the purchase the materials but all the labour
and skill to construct the boardwalk came from a keen group of local
volunteers.
For more pictures of the Boardwalk
Extension:
Click Here:
Signage Boards
New Signage and Notice Boards were provided
in 2009.
For views of new and existing signage:
Click Here:
The Wicker Sculptures
There Playing Cricket on the Old Cricket field Again:
Click Here:
Managing and Maintaining the Wetland
Reserve:
The all important management
plan and working document for the reserve has been formulated. This is a great
for reference when advice is needed. Members of our group
also attend various workshops at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, to widen our
knowledge of reptiles, insects and all things flora and fauna.
Birds and plant life has been surveyed, log pile habitats created, plus owl
and bat boxes have been constructed and are now in situ. Also many plants,
birds, animals and insects have been photographed and recorded for future
reference.
Wetland Projects and Working
Parties
A great deal of work has already been
done by the group's working parties, ongoing maintenance includes
repairing and repainting the
fences, reed bed reduction, tree management, grass cutting etc. Clearing and tidying continues inside the reserve.
Projects Completed 2010/11
Click here
Projects Completed 2009/10
Click Here
Major Projects Completed in 2009:
Boardwalk Extension:
Click
here
New Signage:
Click here
They're Playing Cricket again at the Wetland!
Click here
Major Projects Completed in 2008:
Construction of the Boardwalk:
Click
here
