Restoring Nottinghamshire’s Wetlands
Protecting Nature, People and Climate
Wetlands are some of the most important and threatened habitats in the UK. With 90% lost over the past century, the need to restore and protect these landscapes has never been greater. Thanks to support from The Access Foundation, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is strengthening the future of these vital ecosystems.
The Trust cares for a network of wetland nature reserves that provide space for wildlife to thrive and for people to connect with nature. These sites act as “green lungs” for local communities, attracting more than half a million visitors each year.
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Why Wetlands Matter
Wetlands deliver a remarkable range of benefits:
- Cleaner water: Their rich vegetation naturally filters pollutants as water flows through.
- Flood protection: Acting like sponges, they store and slowly release water, reducing flood risk and erosion.
- Climate resilience: Wetlands are powerful carbon sinks, locking away carbon in plants and soils.
- Biodiversity: They support an extraordinary variety of species, from rare waders to dragonflies.
- Health and wellbeing: Wetland reserves offer peaceful, restorative spaces for people of all ages.
Working for Wildlife
Maintaining these landscapes requires constant care. Staff and volunteers manage reed beds, restore scrapes and islands, control water levels and tackle encroaching scrub — essential work for species such as bitterns, turtle doves and redshank. Grazing by the Trust’s conservation cattle herd, hand‑tool work and specialist contractors all play a role in keeping wetlands in healthy condition.
A Message of Thanks
“ The support of the Access Foundation provides a real boost by helping ensure that our staff and volunteers have the tools and equipment they require and enabling us to plan both management and restoration work to benefit rare and threatened species such as bitterns, turtle dove and red shank. This funding will also help ensure that our nature reserves remain accessible and welcoming to visitors keen to learn about, connect with and act for nature”
— Erin McDaid, Head of Communications & Marketing
