New land secured for a transformative expansion at RSPB Wallasea Island - RSPB
The extension will see vital habitat creation for threatened birds, like Corn Buntings and Lapwings.
We’re thrilled to share that RSPB Wallasea Island in Essex is expanding, thanks to a transformative grant from the Ida Davis Family Foundation. The team are hopeful that the nature reserve’s first freshwater pool will attract Red-listed wading birds, while the additional grassland habitat will support threatened farmland species.
What will the expansion look like?
Wallasea Island will increase by 100 hectares (that’s an area the size of 140 football pitches!) with the purchase of four fields to the west of the existing reserve, allowing us to complete our vision for the land here.
The creation of a freshwater pool will offer feeding opportunities to ducks passing through for a pitstop on migration as well as the species that spend winter on our shores, like Teals, Shovelers and Wigeons. This shallow lagoon will also provide prime habitat for wading birds to raise their chicks.
Meanwhile, the other three fields will be developed into a mosaic of grassland and scrub, with additional wet areas, to provide extra habitat for birds including breeding Corn Buntings. Wallasea Island is already a stronghold for this lowland farmland bird, which has seen dramatic population declines across the UK.
Rachel Fancy, Site Manager at Wallasea Island explained “We are incredibly grateful to the Ida Davis Family Foundation for giving us the money to buy the land adjacent to the reserve. This is an exciting project which will allow us to create some new habitats, adding to the mix of wildlife already present on the reserve.”
Why is Wallasea Island so important?
Since Wallasea Island’s transformation began, wildlife has returned in abundance. Spoonbills now sift through the saline lagoons in spring and summer and Black-tailed Godwits use the shallow pools to refuel on their migrations. The grassland on the reserve is managed for hunting birds of prey in winter such as Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers, while in summer this becomes habitat for Adders and rare invertebrates such as the Shrill Carder Bee and Black Oil Beetle.
Posted On: 16/01/2025
More on: