Two Tree Island nature reserve is home to internationally important saltmarsh, one of the best surviving in the Thames Estuary. For many years, volunteers have worked hard to restore and extend it by installing brash bundle walls to help mud build up and vegetation grow.

Over time, desire lines and continued footfall have caused erosion across the south-east side of the saltmarsh. Volunteers have now created two fences to prevent access to the most affected areas, giving the saltmarsh a much-needed rest. This will benefit saltmarsh-loving wildlife, such as curlew and redshank, alongside saltmarsh plants golden samphire and sea lavender. 

You can read more about this wonderful site in the latest edition of WILD magazine. 

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Shotgate Thickets nature reserve is one of our smaller sites. However, it bursts with life in the spring. Over 70 species of birds have been recorded here, so it's a great site to enjoy the dawn chorus. Volunteer Warden, Ben Setterfield, has shared the fantastic work that volunteers do to maintain this site:

"Our main tasks over the winter have been to put some new posts throughout the site to mark the trails. We are also reducing the encroaching blackthorn thicket before the bird nesting season begins. We've spotted goldcrest and bullfinch recently. We have also cleared a pond in the woodland area and cut back some of the surrounding vegetation."

The team and volunteers at Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Park have been busy managing the huge site that exists here. In comparison to Shotgate Thickets which is 3 hectares, Chafford spans 81 hectares and needs a lot of hard work to keep it in the best condition for wildlife.

Last week, volunteers and the Chafford team continued to remove chippings and cleared scrub away. This will widen the corridor between meadows and allow movement of small species like voles and other small mammals. What once was a dark and damp area with ivy, bramble and invasive buddleia, is now a green space full of sunlight for birds, insects and wildflowers to emerge in this meadow. 

Here's a photo of the sleepy peacock butterfly the team found hibernating in the wood pile.

To help us continue to manage nature reserves like these, we need your help. Become a member today or give what you can to ensure that we can keep working for wildlife.

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