Delivery of Native woodland at Thirlmere
Over the last two years our Thirlmere estate has undergone a major transformation on the land surrounding the reservoir. Manchester Corporation established most of the forest cover in the early 1900's in order to safeguard water quality and to produce a valuable timber crop. Fast growing non-native conifers were chosen as they would establish quickly to stabilise the ground .JPG)
and provide a good return from timber sales. This work, however, was in breach of the original requirements of the Manchester Corporation Act 1879 which dictated that only species indigenous to the local area should be established on the lake margin. This fact, combined with report findings has led to the re-establishment of 46 hectares of native woodland around the banks of the reservoir. This has involved the felling and extraction of over 12,000 tonnes of timber. Some areas have been planted with native upland oak seed mixes but most are being left to regenerate naturally. In time this will produce a fantastic mixture of wet woodland and upland oak woodland as well as enhancing the landscape character. (Image Above: Thirlmere Reservoir, Lake District)
Longdendale Trail
A wealth of wildlife including some nationally important species are benefiting from the creation of the Longdendale Trail. This is the finding of a survey of the Trail carried out by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of United Utilities, who own the Trail. The Longdendale Trail is an important footpath as it forms part of the Trans-pennine Trail, National route and the European route E8 (Ireland to Istanbul!).
This seven-mile section follows the line of the former Manchester to Sheffield railway and runs from Hadfield to the Woodhead Tunnel. During its construction over 10 years ago trees and shrubs were planted, wildflower seed mixes were sown and wetland features were incorporated into the design. The Wildlife Trust's survey has found that this work has now reaped rewards, with species such as small heath butterfly, lapwing, dunnock and song thrush all found there. These are all creatures that have suffered declines in numbers in recent years.
The trail was also found to be rich in butterflies, with 19 species found. Helen Perkins, the Trust's Water for Wildlife Officer, carried out the survey work. She explains: "The Trail has large areas of ungrazed grassland which provide ideal breeding sites for butterflies such as small and large skipper, meadow brown, gatekeeper and the small heath. There are some more shaded areas which provide ideal conditions for speckled wood, while grassland flowers such as the bird's foot trefoil are favourites for the common blue.
You can also see the beautiful green hairstreak around areas of bilberry while its relative the purple hairstreak flies around the tops of oak trees next to the Trail." In the damper areas, marsh orchids have become established, while the ponds provide habitat for palmate newts, frogs and a variety of aquatic invertebrates. Elsewhere trees are providing cover for a variety of nesting birds and feeding areas for bats.
United Utilities and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are now working together to further improve the habitats along the Trail. They plan to create additional ponds, coppice trees and shrubs to protect orchids and grassland areas and manage grassland to increase the variety of wildflower species. Ed Lawrance of United Utilities commented: "As part of our commitment to biodiversity we are supporting Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and looking forward to working with them to improve conditions still further for wildlife along the Longdendale Trail. It provides a great opportunity to bring people closer to wildlife, particularly as it lies so close to large areas of population such as Glossop, Hadfield and Greater Manchester."
Dibbinsdale Nature reserve (Mersey Basin)
Dibbinsdale nature reserve is a site of special scientific interest and has a United Utilities pumping station on site. The pumping station has been refurbished and in conjunction with this project we have worked with the Mersey Basin Campaign and local rangers in restoration of wetland habitat and addressing sewer issues. It has not only enabled water quality to improve but has protected and enhanced the habitat for water voles.
Hay meadow restoration at High Hullock Howe
We have been working in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trusts Wealth of Wildlife Project (WoW) on this hay meadow restoration project. The WoW project has provided funding to the tune of £3180.00 over the last three years which has paid for the majority of the work on this restoration of semi-improved pasture to species rich 
upland hay meadow. The WoW project money has paid for the initial site survey (incl soil sample testing), production of a restoration management plan, purchase of seed and plug plants and contractor time to deliver the works. The RSPB have also been involved with RSPB volunteers doing some of the planting. The WoW project will also be producing a final report on the restoration project that will include future recommendations for management and lessons learnt. This will be very useful as we plan to roll this out to some of the other tenancies in the area, possibly under the SCAMP banner. (Image Above: A Meadow at High Hullock Howe near Haweswater, Lake District)
Dormice and Bats
Dormouse nesting areas and 30 bat boxes have been introduced in woodlands around the reservoirs.
The intention is to inspect the nests and feed information into the national programme on dormice and bats to help track migration and breeding. (Image Left: A Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius)