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23-648: Woodberry Wetlands is a nature reserve and designated Site of Metropolitan Importance on the site of the East Reservoir in the Manor House area in the London Borough of Hackney . The site opened to the public for the first time in 200 years on 1 May 2016. Covering 4.5 ha (11 acres) and situated close to the Lee Valley , Woodberry Wetlands was acquired as a nature reserve in 2014. The site

46-667: A classroom. The New River Path runs alongside the northern edge of the reservoir. This forms part of a cycle route connecting to Walthamstow Wetlands , badged as the ' Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway '. Before the 1600s London's water supply was mostly reliant on the River Thames, local streams, wells and springs. King James I authorised the construction of the New River in 1604 to bring clean water from springs in Hertfordshire and Middlesex to London. Created in 1833,

69-578: A membership formed of the 46 individual charitable Trusts. It acts as an umbrella group for the individual Wildlife Trusts, as well as operating a separate Grants Unit which administers a number of funds. King Charles III serves as the patron of the Wildlife Trusts. David Bellamy was president of The Wildlife Trusts for ten years between 1995 and 2005, and was succeeded by Aubrey Manning . Sir David Attenborough, Simon King and Tony Juniper are all Presidents Emeritus. Stephanie Hilborne OBE

92-669: A vital contribution to delivering the UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans and national and Local Geodiversity Action Plans , as well as maintaining local natural character and distinctiveness. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and local nature reserves (LNRs) have statutory protection, but they are only intended to cover a representative selection of sites, and Local sites are intended to provide comprehensive coverage of sites of nature conservation value. Local sites do not have statutory protection (unless they are also SSSIs or LNRs), but local authorities are expected to take account of

115-491: Is a resting place for migratory birds that move to and from the Lee Valley Special Protection Area, with waterfowl such as pochard , shoveler and gadwall visiting the site. Grey heron , tufted duck , reed bunting and other wetland birds are also present, along with kingfisher and other species such as damselflies , dragonflies , amphibians and bats . A significant expansion of

138-565: Is an organisation made up of 46 local Wildlife Trusts in the United Kingdom , the Isle of Man and Alderney . The Wildlife Trusts, between them, look after more than 2,300 nature reserves , covering around 98,500 hectares (243,000 acres). As of 2020 , the Trusts have a combined membership of over 870,000 members. The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) is an independent charity, with

161-405: Is owned by Thames Water and run by London Wildlife Trust . After a major redevelopment the East Reservoir now offers free public access. The reserve was developed by London Wildlife Trust in collaboration with Thames Water, Berkeley Homes and London Borough of Hackney , with funding from Heritage Lottery Fund . The site contains a boardwalk, a visitors' centre with café, toilet facilities and

184-416: The reed beds , organised by London Wildlife Trust , provides increased wildlife habitat with the aim of encouraging more reed bunting and reed warbler to breed at the site, as well as provide additional habitat for overwintering bittern . Site of Nature Conservation Interest There are approximately 35,000 local sites, and according to the former Minister for Biodiversity, Jim Knight , they make

207-430: The 40-acre (160,000 m ) West Norwood Cemetery is designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation by the London Borough of Lambeth Once identified, designation and protection of the areas are done by local authorities through planning policies in their development plans . National government guidance ( PPS 9 ) requires all development plans to include such policies. The variation in names for

230-637: The Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR), which was formed by Charles Rothschild in 1912. It aimed initially to draw up a list of the country's best wildlife sites with a view to purchase for protection as nature reserves, and by 1915 it had drawn up a list of 284 (including the Farne Islands and the Norfolk Broads ), known as Rothschild Reserves. During the early years, membership tended to be made up of specialist naturalists and its growth

253-484: The basis of existing, published information may also occur. The approach is similar to that used for the selection of biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), but the thresholds are lower. Selection is primarily for habitats of inherent wildlife interest, but some sites may be selected for supporting rare or scarce species of plants or animals outside such habitats. The areas concerned may be areas of 'natural' habitats, or they may be man-made – for example,

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276-535: The designation reflects its separate existence in the different development plans for different areas. In some areas, the designation is subdivided, or additional, more local designations are also used. For example, in Greater London SINCs are divided into the following grades: The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts , the trading name of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts ,

299-659: The first urban Wildlife Trust (now the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country ) was established in the West Midlands , rapidly followed by others in London, Bristol and Sheffield. This was a watershed for the movement that strengthened its focus on wildlife and people. It was during this period that some Trusts changed their names from Naturalist Societies to Trusts for Nature Conservation. In 2002

322-589: The geographical areas they served. Encouraged by the growing number of Trusts, the SPNR began in 1957 to discuss the possibility of forming a national federation of Naturalists' Trusts. Kent Naturalists Trust was established in 1958 with SPNR being active in encouraging its formation. In the following year the SPNR established the County Naturalists' Committee, which organised the first national conference for Naturalists' Trusts at Skegness in 1960. By 1964,

345-456: The group changed their name to The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. The badger logo was adopted by the movement to establish its common identity. Also in 2002, the newest wildlife trust was formed, in Alderney . As the number of Trusts grew, so did their combined membership, from 3,000 in 1960 to 21,000 in 1965. Membership topped 100,000 in 1975, and in that year Wildlife Watch was launched as

368-552: The need to protect them in deciding their planning and development policies. Local sites are designated by local authorities in cooperation with Wildlife Trusts , RIGS Groups or Geology Trusts , or their equivalents. For example, in Kent , local wildlife sites are identified by the Kent Wildlife Trust ). Selection is objective and is normally based upon a recent survey specifically designed for SNCI, but selection on

391-492: The number of Trusts had increased to 36 and the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves had changed its name to The Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation. In recognition of the movement's growing importance, its name was changed to The Royal Society for Nature Conservation in 1981. The movement continued to develop throughout the 1970s, and, by the early 1980s, most of today's Trusts had been established. In 1980,

414-480: The personal and social development of young people, The Wildlife Trusts is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) . The Wildlife Trusts offer a Biodiversity Benchmark scheme through which companies can be assessed and recognised for their contribution to biodiversity. The assessment covers the organisation's performance under the headings of "Commitment, Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring and Review". The Wildlife Trusts are one of

437-413: The reservoirs stored water from The New River . The banks of the reservoirs were lined at higher levels with stones taken from London Bridge , then in the course of demolition. Presently, water is temporarily held at the East Reservoir before processing at Walthamstow Reservoirs. The west reservoir has been converted into a water sports centre. Woodberry Wetlands is located close to the Lee Valley and

460-494: The steering group partners of Neighbourhoods Green , a partnership initiative which works with social landlords and housing associations to highlight the importance of, and raise the overall quality of design and management for, open and green space in social housing. Kathryn Brown OBE was appointed as the charity’s first director of climate action in January 2022. Today's Wildlife Trust movement began life as The Society for

483-626: The third largest voluntary sector landowners in the UK. They often have extensive educational activities, and programmes of public events and education. The Wildlife Trusts centrally and locally also lobby for better protection of the UK's natural heritage, by becoming involved in planning matters and by national campaigning through the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts . The Trusts rely heavily upon volunteer labour for many of their activities, but nevertheless employ significant numbers of staff in countryside management and education. Thanks to their work promoting

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506-571: Was chief executive for 15 years, and left in October 2019. Craig Bennett became CEO from April 6, 2020. Wildlife Trusts are local organisations of differing size, history and origins, and can vary greatly in their constitution, activities and membership. However, all Wildlife Trusts share a common interest in wildlife and biodiversity, rooted in a practical tradition of land management and conservation. Almost all Wildlife Trusts are significant landowners, with many nature reserves. Collectively they are

529-894: Was comparatively slow. The first independent Trust was formed in Norfolk in 1926 as the Norfolk Naturalists Trust, followed in 1938 by the Pembrokeshire Bird Protection Society which after several subsequent changes of name is now the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and it was not until the 1940s and 1950s that more Naturalists' Trusts were formed in Yorkshire (1946), Lincolnshire (1948), Leicestershire (1956) and Cambridgeshire (1956). These early Trusts tended to focus on purchasing land to establish nature reserves in

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