Annual Report 2011Summary for Members

Creating a Living Landscape

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust aims to protect and enhance wildlife, natural habitats and geology throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, and to encourage a greater awareness, appreciation and participation in all aspects of nature conservation and the environment.

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Introduction

2 | Annual Review 2011 | Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

All of our work is set within the context of rapid change in the outside world and we have been working hard to stand up for the interests of wildlife and people around our wonderful county – and through the Wildlife Trust movement, at the national level.

Our volunteers and staff have together delivered a huge and immensely impressive amount of practical, local action for wildlife, members and local people. We can report a great deal of progress and achievement across lots of exciting projects – with many more in prospect for 2012.

Warwickshire’s natural environment benefited greatly from the work of 648 volunteers in 2011. Without this contribution the Trust would not be able to survive or achieve the many things it does. Nature Force continues to achieve outstanding work on the network of 56 reserves and we are hugely grateful for their hard work, indefatigable good humour and dedication which is always inspirational.

Overall, volunteers recorded 29,513 hours of work for the Trust (2010: 30,376). Assuming a 35 hour working week, this amounts to around 16 full-time staff – an amazing effort and worthy of special congratulations to all concerned. Volunteers support a wide range of our work, from practical nature reserve management through to delivering our magazines to helping with educational work and administration. We are hugely grateful to all concerned for this essential contribution.

It has also been a really busy year for advocacy and we’ve spent a great deal of time and energy representing the interests of wildlife and wild places to politicians and policy-makers.

A number of new initiatives affecting the natural environment and wildlife were announced during the year. The list includes the Natural Environment White Paper, local nature partnerships, local enterprise partnerships, nature improvement areas, a new national planning policy framework, high speed rail, the badger cull, the review of European habitat regulations, implementation of marine conservation zones and biodiversity off-setting amongst others. The Trust has responded to all of these in detail because of the potential impacts and the opportunities they provide for wildlife and wild places.

In particular, the Trust welcomed the Natural Environment White Paper and, eventually, the much amended National

Whilst a number of serious threats to our natural heritage continue to loom large on the horizon, 2011 was a very successful year for wildlife and wild places in Warwickshire – and for the Trust in general.

A full version of the Trust’s Annual Report is available on our website www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk or call 0247 6302912.

Planning Policy Framework (finally published in spring 2012 following a great deal of lively debate). In both cases, the Government seems to have listened carefully to much of what the Wildlife Trusts and others have said and we believe the resulting policies are more positive for wildlife. This review is written against the background of continuing economic instability and unprecedented cuts in public expenditure. Understandably, the focus of politicians and business leaders at all levels is concentrated on economic growth and job creation. The Trust has been working hard to try to promote the concept that we need both growth and wildlife for a healthy sustainable society; too often there is a misconceived perception that wildlife is a barrier to growth. In the Trust’s view, a strong and healthy natural environment is just as vital for business as it is for everyone else and we must be both green and growing.

The economy is also affecting the level of resources available for conservation. Grants are proving more difficult to secure and the pressure on people’s disposable incomes is reflected in the slight decline in the Trust’s membership towards the end of the year. This is the first decline in membership for many years and we will be re-doubling our efforts in 2012 – both to recruit new members and to keep those we already have. Thank you for your continued support in these difficult times.

Clearly, income is the Trust’s life blood – and the more resources we can generate, the more we can do for wildlife, wild places and people. So whilst it has been a challenging year, it is reassuring to note that for every £1 of income from member subscriptions, the Trust continues to attract £3 from external grants and other sources – making your contributions work even harder for wildlife.

It has never been more important that small organisations like ours are fit for delivering their purposes. In 2011 we sustained efforts to squeeze out costs wherever possible and by a careful, determined and disciplined approach we have secured even better value for money. For the first time in many years, we beat the budget we set ourselves and achieved a small surplus which will be re-invested in supporting conservation activity.

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2 INFORMATION Up-to-date knowledge about the natural world is vital if we are to be effective in our work. One of the key ways in which we and our partners gather data is through the Habitat Biodiversity Audit Team. This small team of 4 staff and 23 volunteers in 2011 is funded via each of the local authorities in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull (except for Rugby Borough Council who withdrew funding in 2011). The team surveyed 20% of Warwickshire in 2011 and we would like to thank all of the authorities involved in this important partnership. Additionally the survey team also completed a survey of the proposed HS2 route.

Where initial surveys identify potentially important sites, the team also carry out more detailed surveys subject to the permission of landowners and where funding allows. Those meeting a set of criteria are eligible for designation as Local Wildlife Sites by an independent panel of experts. In 2011, an additional 52 sites were surveyed in detail; of which 37 were designated and their interest should now be recognised and considered in the planning system.

Wildlife Champions

A number of high profile planning proposals currently threaten the county’s natural heritage and the Trust is extremely concerned about their potential impacts on wildlife sites. These include High Speed rail, major housing developments, the development of Coventry airport and associated business parks and the threat of a new navigation linking Stratford to Warwick which could destroy valuable habitats and landscapes on the River Avon.

1 PLANNINGOne of the key ways in which we try to influence others for the benefit of wildlife is through the planning system. The Planning Team screens all planning applications across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. In 2011, one full time member of staff and 574 voluntary hours were invested in this vital activity. Priority is given to any major developments that could adversely affect an important Wildlife/Geological Site; a Trust reserve, important populations of key species or an Ancient Woodland. More than 1000 planning applications were checked and 89 were screened in detail; of these we intervened in 30 cases.

The Trust aims to work constructively with local authorities and developers at an early stage to promote beneficial outcomes. Last year we worked on 16 proposals at a pre-application stage to help shape the plans before they were finalised. Support and advice is also given to local groups who wish to campaign for wildlife and last year we helped local communities with 29 major planning applications.

A number of high profile planning proposals currently threaten the county’s natural heritage. These include the High Speed rail proposals which have consumed a large amount of time and energy in 2011. Other concerns include several major housing developments, the development of Coventry airport

and the threat of a new navigation linking Stratford to Warwick which could destroy valuable habitats and landscapes on the River Avon.

The Cubbington Wild Pear by Steven Falk 2012

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Wildlife Havens

Dormouse © Tom Marshall 2012

Newlands Reedbed © Steven Cheshire 2012

1st Fillongley, 2nd Coventry Beavers at Dafferns Wood© Philippa Truman 2012

3 PRINCETHORPE WOODLANDSIn the Princethorpe area, the Trust received a grant from the SITA Trust (£92,503) to initiate the first phase of the living landscape woodland project. This grant will fund the initial stages of the Princethorpe Woodland project from January 2012 – March 2014 and funds a part time Woodlands Restoration Officer. The project will undertake an assessment of three Trust woodlands and the interconnecting hedgerows. It will also work to encourage local farmers and landowners to manage woodlands and hedgerows in ways that enhance the biodiversity value of the area. A team of local volunteers will be recruited and trained to help survey hedgerows. New partners have been invited to join the project (including Coombe Country Park, Friends of Brandon Wood and local communities).

4 BRANDON MARSHOur largest project in 2011 was the Newlands reed bed creation project at Brandon Marsh. The project involved the excavation and re-profiling of 20,000 cubic metres of soil: work started in August and was completed on schedule in early September. The programme was funded by a grant from WREN (£107,494), a not for profit business that awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.

An additional £18,500 was raised from members and supporters through The Newlands Reedbed Appeal. An application to the Ratcliff Foundation Charitable Trust was also successful and a donation of £3000 was received. Whilst the physical creation of open water, marsh and wetland is complete, the reed bed will take several years to mature – and the Brandon Marsh Conservation Volunteers have been busy planting reeds on-site. The reserve will become the largest reedbed mosaic in the West Midlands.

5 NORTH WARWICKSHIREThe partnership project to create four local nature reserves in North Warwickshire began in 2011 and has made excellent progress. The four new reserves are: Dafferns Wood near Arley; Kingsbury Linear Park in Kingsbury; Abbey Green Park, Polesworth and Cole End Park, Coleshill. Site surveys have been completed and a series of events and activities have been held for young people, families and local communities.

The partners include North Warwickshire Borough Council, the Trust, Groundwork West Midlands, BTCV and local volunteer groups. The project is part of Natural England’s Access to Nature Programme, funded from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces Programme.

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Wildlife Havens

7 WATER VOLESThe Stour Water Vole Project (Funded by the ‘Vision for Stour’ Group of Stratford on Avon District Council) completed a comprehensive programme of surveys and mink monitoring on the Stour. The project also constructed otter holts and made a number of habitat improvements working with local landowners and volunteers from the Stour Valley Wildlife Action Group. An information leaflet has been produced to provide land management advice for water voles and otters.

This was the 4th year of the Coventry Water Vole Project partnership with Coventry City Council. Over 100 volunteers took part in the community volunteer days: removing Himalayan balsam and planting appropriate wild flowers to improve habitat for water voles.

Water Vole at Wolvey © Dean Eburne 2012

Local volunteers planting wild flowers at St Peter’s Church© Heather Sims 2012

6 WELLESBOURNEMore than 120 people attended the opening of the Wellesbourne in bloom project on 24th September. This was an inspiring event which marked the culmination of two years of hard work by volunteers, young people and the local community. The Trust-coordinated project has refreshed, improved and reinvigorated the Churchyard and Church Hall which is used by the local playgroup – making the grounds a better and more interesting place for wildlife and local people.

8 SOWE VALLEYIn the second year of the Sowe Valley Project, we have now worked with over 600 people along the valley to take action for the local natural environment. The project hosted a conference and was one of only two projects nationally to

A Biffaward-funded Water Vole Project, implemented by staff from Middlemarch Environmental, was also completed in 2011. This saw the release of 200 water voles at Brandon Marsh in September which is being monitored by Middlemarch Environmental.

The Trust gratefully received £20,000 from the Environment Agency which, working with local landowners, will fund wetland habitat improvements, water vole conservation and mink monitoring along the River Avon, waterways in Coventry and in the village of Wolvey to the north east of Coventry.

be invited to share its experiences with the Natural England Board. The Sowe Valley volunteers now work at 8 sites with over 15 regular volunteers. The Friends of the Sowe Valley were formally established in December 2011.

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“ ”6 | Annual Review 2011 | Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

The Education team of staff and volunteers had a very busy and successful year in 2011: a total of 11,678 young people participated in a range of educational activities (2010: 10,433).

Thank you everyoneWarwickshire Wildlife Trust is your organisation and as such is the natural home for all those who care about local wildlife, wild places, geology and the natural environment.

The Trust works hard on everyone’s behalf for local wildlife and local people and we can achieve nothing without the support of members – and the hard work and dedication of all of our volunteers and staff.

We would like to offer our warm thanks and sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our activities and success in 2011 and, most of all, for helping make Warwickshire a better place to live and work.

We can be justifiably proud of what we are achieving … Keep up the superb work in 2012 and thank you for being part of it!

People & Wildlife

The Trust established a new Skills for the Future programme on behalf of four wildlife trusts in the West Midlands, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Under the scheme, a group of 5 trainees are given training and work experience in conservation skills. The new trainees started work in May and competition for places on the scheme was intense.

The Trust has developed its own City and Guilds Level 2 certificate in Practical Conservation Skills which is available to the trainees and other volunteers.

Our work is vital – it’s important for the integrity of the natural world on our doorstep. The quality and health of our natural environment is also important for our own health and well-being - and for the future of society, the economy, jobs and growth.

Volunteers at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve © Steven Cheshire 2012

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Managing Our Business

FinanceIncome Expenditure

Fundraising

Grants

DonationsLegacies

Visitor Centres

MiddlemarchEnvironmental Ltd

Subscriptions(inc. Gift Aid)

Interest

Wider Countryside

Governance Costs

Nature Reserves

Education

Visitors Centres

Marketing

Life Long Learning

MembershipServicing

Habitat Biodiversity Audit

Trust membership continued to rise until mid-summer when we achieved 23,800 but this slipped to 23,500 by the end of December. During 2011 we held a new programme of three New Member events at Brandon Marsh and four members’ walks on other reserves.

Thank you to all members who took the time to respond to our 2011 membership survey. The detailed results are available on request but the key message was that, in general, there are very high levels of satisfaction with the services provided to members and the Trust’s performance. Some particularly

helpful feedback suggested we should provide more on-site information about our reserves and provide more activities for families; we will act on this in 2012.

This year, longstanding volunteer and trustee, Ron Hill was awarded the Cadbury Medal for his contribution to wildlife by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Roger Cadbury and Val Roberts were awarded Honorary Life Membership in 2011 in recognition of their significant and long-standing contribution to the Trust and its work.

Grants £962,355

Subscriptions (inc Gift Aid) £578,360

Middlemarch Environmental Ltd £143,482

Visitor Centres £82,655

Legacies £47,000

Donations £19,352

Interest £8,232

Fundraising £1,599

£1,843,035

Education £363,807

Nature Reserves £348,120

Life Long Learning £258,161

Membership servicing £245,938

Visitors Centres £139,269

Marketing £122,032

Habitat Biodiversity Audit £107,787

Wider Countryside £97,368

Governance costs £49,829

£1,732,311

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Corporate Members Sponsors and Grants

We also wish to acknowledge the support of the following (no member) organisations in our work:

Alcester Town CouncilBarclays Bank plcBIG Lottery FundBiffawardBKW Housing ConsortiumBurnham LandscapesCentral Warwickshire Villages LEADERCEMEXCoventry City CouncilEnvironment AgencyForestry CommissionHeritage Lottery FundHSBCIrwin MitchellKeoghs LLPLafarge ReadymixLeamington Town CouncilLucy Hartley GardensNatural EnglandThe Nineveh TrustNorth Warwickshire Borough CouncilNuneaton & Bedworth Borough CouncilOrbit Housing AssociationPeople’s Trust for Endangered SpeciesThe Rowlands TrustRoyal Society of Wildlife TrustsRugby Borough CouncilSevern Trent Water plcSITA TrustSolihull Metropolitan Borough CouncilSolihull Mind Solihull Partnership Stratford upon Avon District Council Valpak plcWaitrose KenilworthWarwick District CouncilWarwickshire County CouncilWill Charitable TrustWREN

Legacies and in memorium giftsThe Trust would like to recognise and record the following members and supporters who very kindly left legacies for Warwickshire’s wildlife in their will. These will be used to fund either the acquisition of nature reserves or significant projects, as a lasting and fitting memorial: Philip Stephen Daffern, Ruth M Martin, Peter Barton and Mrs J F Stewart.

Warwickshire Wildlife TrustBrandon Marsh Nature CentreBrandon LaneCoventry CV3 3GW

t: (024) 7630 2912f: (024) 7663 9556e: enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

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