Conservation Project News

Conservation projects news from the World Land Trust, an international wildlife conservation charity working to protect threatened wildlife habitats worldwide.

This page shows the most recent projects news updates, or a selection of posts in the same category. To read older posts, use the projects news archive in the navigation bar on this page. The newest posts can always be found at www.worldlandtrust.org/news/projects-news.htm.

Conservation projects news on this page:

Tuesday, 30 March 2010:

Bird Surveys at Kites Hill, Gloucestershire, UK 

A survey carried out on the use of the bird boxes on the WLT's Kites Hill Reserve confirmed that in the last season two thirds of the tit boxes had been used, with half of them showing evidence that the birds had fledged. It was thought that most had been inhabited by Great Tits and Blue Tits.

WLT's Kites Hill Reserve; a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Barn Owl boxes have also been occupied although, unfortunately, as yet, not by Barn Owls. Instead Stock Doves and Jackdaws had taken up residence. This is not unusual as owls can take a few years to nest in boxes and frequently use them as roost sites before making a nest. Tawny Owl boxes will also be installed later in the year.

The ongoing work by British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) continues to be an important element on the ancient Beech woodland reserve at Kites Hill. The woodland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is managed in line with Natural England's prescriptions for this habitat type. The BTCV group have recently removed non-native sycamore trees, carried out coppicing and felled a 30m ash tree that had become uprooted during the winter's heavy snows.

How you can help

During a trip to Kites Hill in July 2009 WLT staff saw a Red Kite flying approximately 2 miles from the reserve. If you have seen a Red Kite on, or near, Kites Hill we would love to hear about it. Please email Mary Tibbett at mtibbett*AT*worldlandtrust.org. (Please replace *AT* with @ in your email To field.)

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Wednesday, 13 January 2010:

Wildlife pond created on WLT's UK reserve 

Beech Woodland on the Kites Hill Reserve.

In November 2009, the World Land Trust (WLT) created a pond on the Trust's UK reserve Kites Hill, located near Painswick in Gloucestershire, with the aim of enhancing the biodiversity of the area.

Ponds are a natural part of the British landscape but due to land-use changes, mainly as a result of farming, many of our natural ponds have been lost and many amphibian and reptile species are in decline.

Created as part of the county's Local Biodiversity Action Plan, the wildlife pond will encourage more amphibians and reptiles to the reserve and will provide them with essential habitat in addition to benefiting other species on the site.

The construction of the pond by contractors from JPR Environmental (top, © JPR Environmental) and the finished pond (above) at Kites Hill.

WLT's Kites Hill Reserve can be visited and is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The beech woodland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the only reserve actually owned by the Trust and demonstrates WLT's successful conservation work.

More information

Find out more about Kites Hill and how to visit the reserve »

Learn more about the construction of the pond (with photos) on the JPR website »

Supporters of the pond

The pond was created with financial support from Natural England, The European Outdoor Group's Association for Conservation, The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and Gloucestershire Environmental Group.

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Tuesday, 24 March 2009:

Tree planting at Kites Hill Reserve (Cotswolds, UK) 

A working party was held at Kites Hill in late February to extend the SSSI Beech woodland which borders this beautiful reserve in Gloucestershire.

The Kites Hill Reserve encompasses both woodland and fallow grasslands, some of which are now being reforested. (Click the image to see a larger version.)


BTCV volunteers remove a fallen beech tree from the site of the woodland extension.

Donning work gear, the World Land Trust (WLT) and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) planted mixed broadleaved trees during a milder spell that followed the snowfall and frosts of January which had delayed the working party. In total 110 trees were planted in two areas of the site.

Further activities at Kites Hill that are planned for this year include the continued coppicing of ancient hazel on the site and the excavation of a pond to enhance the reserve's range of aquatic habitats.

Kites Hill, located in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was originally used as farmland. The site was donated to the World Land Trust, designated a nature reserve and is now protected for the benefit of wildlife.

Learn more about the Kites Hill Reserve

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