Water Wonderland

Work has now finished on a pioneering project to turn an old sewage works in The National Forest into a dream home for wetland wildlife.

The National Forest Company has teamed up with Severn Trent Water and the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust to make the Kelham Bridge site, which is on the River Sence between Ravenstone and Ibstock, into one of the Forest's most valuable nature conservation assets.

The changes at the 8.2 hectare (20 acre) site have been on a grand scale. Ponds and wet grassland areas have been created and thousands of reeds planted, all to make the site more attractive for birds and other wildlife. An area of new woodland has also been created and the course of the river is being managed to make the new reserve just right for otters and water voles.

And even while the work was being carried out during the summer, local volunteers have spotted some very special birds turning up at the site, including kingfishers and a marsh harrier.