Winter Projects at Arundel

2 December 2024

Our teams work on winter reedbed cuts and behind-the-scenes works to improve our site.

inter at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is a busy time of year for outdoor teams.

In the rain and wind they tackle larger projects they cannot complete in spring and summer when there is a risk of disturbing wild birds, ducks and swans nesting onsite. The Reserve wardens and volunteers work outside in challenging conditions, maintaining wetlands and preparing habitats to welcome breeding birds in spring. The Collection & Grounds Team are outdoors caring for our birds all winter and keeping the site pathways safe for visitors.

Surveying

The Reserve team does some wildlife surveying all year around. There is a wild bird count onsite each morning and once a month they do a more intensive WeBS survey (Wetland Bird Survey). In autumn and winter the teams adds a monthly harrier survey and feeds this info into a larger survey that is run by The Hawk and Owl Trust. This winter there up to 14 marsh harriers in the valley and we are averaging 10-11 onsite at WWT Arundel for the roost each day.

New Nest and Deck for Generation Wild School programme

You may have spotted the giant nest that sits opposite the Coastal Creek Aviary. This is Ava's nest - a crucial part of our Education Program called Generation Wild. Ava is a large puppet who interacts with students. Part-girl, part bird she encourages them to become 'Guardians of The Wild'. Schools who may not otherwise be to visit receive free school trips and transportation to take part in this outdoor program that connects children to nature and wildlife.

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In mid-October the big nest was reconstructed with new materials. In mid November contractors working with our Grounds Team built a new platform in front of Ava’s nest. The school children who do our Generation Wild program will no longer get muddy trousers and soggy socks! It was immediately given a trial run by a school group and was very well received by both the school and our Learning team alike.

Winter Cuts

The reserve team have been busy with the usual annual cuts of the grasslands and are now moving onto the reedbeds. A corporate volunteer group from Aviva spent a day with the Reserve team clearing Arun Riverlife fen and wet grassland. Keep an eye out for more One Day Volunteer Work parties if you want to donate a day to help save wetland breeding habitats.

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Volunteers from Aviva help clear fenland along Arun Riverlife Lagoon.

Desilting helps fight flooding

Contractors recently finished the desilt of our ditch opposite Swanbourne Lake on Mill Road. This ditch had become completely choked with silt and vegetation which was no use to wildlife. This desilt was 150 metres long. This desilt will not only give us more water holding capacity during flood conditions, but also provide better habitat as submerged plants like Starwort start to colonise.

Reedbed hide

The Reedbed Hide has been almost fully dismantled due to the subsiding floor. We are looking at installing a viewing platform but this is still being planned. This work will be slotted in around more crucial time-limited works. We are currently working on desilting our duckery to prevent flooding and to get it ready for spring.

Basil's Barn

Once again Basil, Rosemary and Thyme our three “OAP” geese have been given their own “chalet” in the Lakes and Forest exhibit to protect them from the cold this winter. Nicknamed Basil's Barn their shed is packed with lots of straw to keep them cosy each night. Twenty-two year old male Basil, and two females - the twenty one year old Rosemary and thirty one year old Thyme are magpie geese, a species from New Zealand. They rule over a family group of six geese. The team has also put out smaller wooden winter hides are also with their winter duvets of straw for our more tropical species to use.

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