WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has shown her support for the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group during a recent visit to the nature reserve.
She recently joined Brian Martin and Geoff Settle of the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group for a tour of the Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve.
Charlotte said “Thank you so much to Brian and Geoff for my tour of the beautiful Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, and to Brian for presenting me with a copy of his book “Woolston Eyes: From Wasteland to Wetland” which details its history. Brian is such a fountain of knowledge about the site and all the birds that you can see – including some rare Black-necked Grebes which I was lucky enough to spot with my borrowed binoculars under his guidance.
“We really are so fortunate to have such an amazing oasis of calm locally, and so many dedicated volunteers who brought the space into being and protect it. While the decision on the future of the viewing platform is one for the Council rather than MP, the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group (WECG) have my support in their respective planning application, and I hope the common-sense decision will be granted”.
The Woolston Eyes Conservation Group’s aim is to promote the study and conservation of the wildlife and habitat of the area with particular regard to the ornithology. In 1986 the Reserve, which is over 400 hectares, was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in order to protect its wintering wildfowl especially Teal, Shoveler and Pochard. In 2004 the SSSI was revised to include the nationally important breeding population of Black-necked Grebe, Pochard and Gadwall.
In 2006 a redevelopment plan necessitated a program to trap amphibians at the end of the breeding season and relocate them to a prepared site. That work identified nationally important numbers of Frog, Toad, Common Newt and Great Crested Newt inhabited the Reserve. The 3,000 Great Crested Newts trapped and relocated, promoted Woolston Eyes as the second most important site in the UK for the species.
Following the Government’s announcement of its “Plan for Change” it has pledged greater autonomy for local nature groups. Trusted nature groups will benefit from new freedoms to carry out conservation and restoration work without needing to apply for multiple permissions at every step of a project.
A pilot collaboration between Natural England and the National Trust will allow Europe’s largest conservation charity to cut down on the high volume of applications for consents, permits and licences they must currently submit. This will eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, bringing their ambitious nature recovery programmes to life at scale, more quickly and easily than ever before.
The Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve is open 365 days a year from 08:00 to 20:00 hrs from 1st April to 31st October and from 08:00 to 16:00 hrs from 1st November to 31st March. Access is by permit and access key only with all Reserve entrance gates and vehicle barriers locked at all times.
If you would like to get involved with the Warrington Eyes Conservation Group you can visit their website at www.woolstoneyes.com
Woolston Eyes
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Hi Gary great research, mention should also go to Dave Bowman who has led a fantastic campaign to save the viewing platform on bed no. 4, all credit to him and Brian and all the 70 plus people who have written to WBC planners in support of the retrospective planning application for the viewing platform Geoff Chair Warrington nature conservation forum.My wife keep telling me to join the Eyes because she loves it so much.
s