The reserve, situated in Belper, is a well-known and important site in Derbyshire for overwintering wildfowl and visiting waders. As it is one of the few remaining areas of wet grassland in the mid-Derwent Valley and is the only site with large enough areas of undisturbed grassland for wigeon to overwinter. It is also home to resident species such as canada geese and little grebes.
The funding will help to improve the habitat on site for the water fowl, clearing all of the invasive New Zealand Pond Weed. The site will be dredged to restore open water. The habitat improvements could entice water voles back to the area in large numbers, as the site has previously been landscaped to create a safe and comfortable home for the species.
Improvements will also be made to the dry stone wall and the grazing infrastructure.
Alex Morley, Living Landscapes Officer (Derwent Valley) who will be managing the project said “This is great news for Wyver Lane and the wildlife which uses it. We can make a concerted effort to deal with a problem plant which has reduced the area of open water available for wildfowl, plants, mammals, and invertebrates, and has continually threatened the areas of marsh and wet grassland”.
If you’d like to volunteer to help the Trust improve Wyver Lane then please call the Trust on 01773 881188. To visit this important reserve you can find the address and parking information here.