Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve

Numerous activities were undertaken by the Trust to restore the wetlands and create new habitats:

• Restoration of a hectare of reed bed to make it better for the bittern - one of the rarest birds in Britain.
• Creation of a 150m long bund.
• Installation of sluices to enable water levels to be raised throughout the reed bed.
• Creation of half a hectare of new reed bed by reshaping the lake edges with an excavator, to create shorelines suitable for planting reeds.
• The establishment of protective compounds into which was planted 2000 reed plants.
• Creation of 3000 square metres of fish refuge around an island by felling bank-side trees into the lake. The fish will provide food for bitterns, kingfishers, great crested grebes and herons.
• Restoration of another island through coppicing and pollarding ancient willows, and clearing scrub, to provide nesting places for ducks.
• Cuttings from the trees were used to create artificial otter holts.
• Improved access to a bird hide, which was screened with new fencing.

The Trust also bought a boat, outboard motor, improved on-site signage and bought bat detectors.

Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve has since obtained further funding to improve visitor facilities, and now has15,000 visitors a year.

Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve was awarded Highly Commended in the Natural Environment category at the Biffaward Awards 2008.