Work has now started on our exciting habitat improvement venture at Brockholes, all with an aim to create healthy and attractive habitats across our lakes, reedbeds and islands. From its past as an industrial gravel quarry, to work starting to reclaim the land for nature back in 2006, Brockholes has flourished into a haven for wildlife, but as with any maturing reserve there have been aspects that have changed over time and need addressing.

Blog: Find out what we are doing to Nurture Nature at Brockholes and why

Within their first week on site, contractors Ian Rylands Ltd have reinstated water control for Meadow Lake, removing silt that blocked the outflow ditch and reinstating the sluice, giving 1m height control over the water level. The sluice boards are now out and water levels are being lowered, revealing mud flats and cobbles not seen since summer droughts. Once the water is low enough, excavators will work on the Meadow Lake islands with less risk of sinking.  They will strip off excess soil, taking island heights down to a specific level where they can be flooded to in winter to create the ideal habitat for breeding wading birds.

On No.1 Pit Lake, the large island is accessible whatever the water level, so the contractors Ian Ryland have begun reprofiling, again taking island height down to a specified level. Material is removed in dumper trucks and creates a bund, flanking the motorway path. This will be suitable on which to plant a hedgerow in phase two of the project, adding more habitat value into this part of the reserve. Where the path is muddied by dumpers it is already due for resurfacing, so will be made good once the island work is complete - please bear with us!

Finally, a key task is protecting wader habitat from foxes. Our contractor will leave a deep moat around 95 per cent of the island perimeters, with access causeways on the remaining 5 per cent. Within each moat, we will install a ‘floating rope’, resembling lane division ropes in a swimming pool. Foxes readily swim, but research suggests they will not put their heads under water, so when meeting a floating rope barrier they cannot pass it. At the causeways, contractor Mackay Simpson will install tall metal fences and gates, dug into the ground and extending into the water to meet the floating ropes. Once all is in place we will monitor everything closely, to make sure our exclusion is working.

Again our thanks goes to the funders facilitating this project. Island remediation is all funded by Biffa Award, part of the Landfill Communities Fund, which is an innovative tax credit scheme enabling Landfill Operators to contribute money to charities like Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Reedbed and water controls works are jointly funded by Biffa Award and the National Highways ‘Network for Nature’ initiative, supporting habitats close to major highways. With work underway it is a nerve-wracking and exciting time. We are thankful for the opportunity and we are taking an important step towards securing future success of the islands and reedbeds at Brockholes.