Working With Wildlife

Thursday, May 6th 2021

Volunteers have been carrying out many different conservation tasks both on and off the reserve. Owl box monitoring has been very disappointing this year with several of the Tawny Owl nests failing. Only four healthy chicks have been found in the boxes that have been checked so far.

By dissecting owl pellets it is possible to find out how what the owls have been feeding on. There were plenty of small mammal skulls in the Barn Owl pellets that were examined today which suggests that the food supply is good. Could the extreme cold night time temperatures explain the unsuccessful start to the breeding season?

In one of the large boxes a Stock Dove had made a nest. It was ringed and returned carefully.

Dam repairs have been the main focus of work on the reserve with the installation of plastic pilings to prevent leakage from some of the ponds.

The weather has thrown everything at the team from sunny spells to heavy rain showers and hail.

Finally, this Large Red Damselfly emerged from the classroom aquarium. It was released back into the wild by the Forest School pupils. Hopefully, it will survive the cool temperatures. It is the only one to have been sighted so far.

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Upcoming Events

Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access

Monday 18th March 2024 |

The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.

Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.

Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.