National Lottery Open Week: #ThanksToYou

Loch Lomond is a mosaic of important habitats, made up of grassland, wetlands and fen. The trails meander through woodlands carpeted with bluebells in the early spring and scored by the song of Tree Pipits in the summer.  In 2021, Loch Lomond received £242,800 in funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund for the creation of a new trail, linking the path bordering the Loch’s shore to the existing trail network and Visitor Centre for the first time. The trail opens out on to expansive waters, where Ospreys can be plunging feet first to catch fish. This funding has transformed the access for visitors and particularly those with mobility needs as well as those with pushchairs, allowing more people to enjoy this incredible place. We also delivered an exciting programme of events and activities for visitors and included viewing areas and interpretation.

In 1947, when RSPB first began managing Minsmere, the hides were built from any material the wardens could access: including debris washed up on the shingle beach.  Now the reserve welcomes roughly 100,000 visitors per year to experience booming Bitterns, stealth Stone-curlew and rutting Red Deer.  The receipt of almost £1million in National Lottery Heritage funding allowed us to redevelop Minsmere’s Visitor Centre, which included installing solar panels and rainwater harvesting facilities. The funding also contributed to a purpose-built education space: visiting schools can select from a suite of outdoor learning sessions, linked to their curriculum, in the Discovery Centre and families can enjoy natural play in the Wild Zone.

The UK holds host to internationally important colonies of breeding seabirds, of which many species face serious threats from a variety of mounting pressures, including changing climate, a lack of habitat and avian influenza. Some habitats are seeing steep declines in breeding seabird success, due to introductions of invasive, predatory species. Rathlin Island is a stronghold for breeding Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Puffins; however, these seabirds are seeing sharp population declines. The LIFE Raft project is an attempt at an island-wide eradication of non-native Brown Rats and feral Ferrets, to improve breeding chances. RSPB NI are partners in the project, funded in part by National Lottery Heritage Fund, which hopes to see the return of the locally extinct Manx Shearwater breeding once again on Rathlin Island.

Creating bigger, better and more joined up habitats is essential for nature’s recovery. In the UK’s first Super National Nature Reserve, Purbeck Heath, sits RSPB Arne: a patchwork of lowland heath, grassland, woodland and saltmarsh. Home to Dartford Warblers, Nightjars and all six species of UK reptile, National Lottery funding has enabled the acquisition of more land, expanding areas of low-lying heathland. Hyde’s Heath was 67 hectares of Scots pine plantation, which thanks to supporters and the National Lottery, has been restored to heathland over the past five years. This land acquisition has also improved habitat connectivity, joining up RSPB Arne to the surrounding Arne Moors. Alongside improving habitat, the project aimed to increase people’s access to nature, and the funding allowed for the introduction of a Shuttlebus ‘2RN’, running from the reserve to a nearby train station, making the reserve accessible via public transport.

Nestled next to the Berwyn Mountains lies Lake Vyrnwy, a man-made reservoir which supplies water to Liverpool. It’s surrounded by a rich array of habitats; ancient woodland, peatland and meadows. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Vibrant Vyrnwy is a partnership project between RSPB Cymru, Llanwddyn Community Council, Hafren Dyfrdwy, and the Lake Vyrnwy Marketing Association. The project is designed to support and develop a vibrant volunteering community in the heart of Wales. We aim to bring people together to celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of the area, through volunteering, wildlife experiences, wellbeing and art events, Lantra training, and an exploration of Vyrnwy’s rich history. Lake Vyrnwy boasts the largest organic farm in England and Wales, and the project’s funding enabled us to launch an exciting new Agricultural Trainee programme in September 2023. The scheme provides training and experience in conservation farming techniques for young people, enabling them to gain valuable skills, while showcasing how nature and farming can work together to benefit people and support rich biodiverse landscape.