Volunteers dig deep to help our very wet wetlands
Volunteers dug deep to help create vital new woodland habitat at WWT Washington Wetland Centre.
Staff from Pentland Distribution Services (PDS) got their hands - and everything else! – dirty helping wardens to create a new pond area and hibernacula in Hollowood; a deadwood mini-beast exhibit that they actually helped to create three years earlier.
Despite the driving rain, the team wielded their spades with enthusiasm; managing to dig, expand and graduate the pond and use the excess mud to provide insulation for a giant log habitat pile.
Reserve manager John Gowland said: “The habitat they’ve helped to create is a woodland glade pond, suitable for a range of invertebrates, which in turn help to sustain the bats that live in Hollowood. There is also a chance that newts will populate the area once it’s established.
“After digging out the pond we used the excavated mud to cover a log pile at the pond edge to create a hibernacula; a safe and warm habitat for hibernating amphibians over winter.
“It also replicates the tree root mass of a mature fallen tree. We don’t have any trees in Hollowood old enough to fall and do this naturally, so providing a specially-created one is the next best thing.
“It was incredibly wet weather on the day and we all got very soggy and muddy but everyone got stuck in and seemed to enjoy it - thanks to all involved!”
Based at the Glover Distribution Centre (a subsidiary of the Pentland Group), on Washington’s Glover Industrial Estate,PDSreceives and stores bulk deliveries from manufacturers, both within the Pentland Group and other third party contracts, and arranges their redistribution.
The company, a member of the WWT Corporate Partnership Scheme, has strong links with WWT Washington, having already donated top-of-the-range Hunter wellies for the wardens and two £500 environmental awards for vital grass-cutting equipment and to help start off the fundraising coffers for a new sustainable garden.
Dale Smith, site services officer, said: “It is always rewarding that PDS Glover can help out with local community projects and we have created a strong bond with the Washington Wetland Centre over the past few years.
“The team up there does a great job and we are only too pleased to do what we can, even if it did chuck it down for the entire duration of the project!”
