We have a rich diversity of species that live within the Trent Valley but, due to changes in climate and habitat management, some species are in decline.

It is important to undertake monitoring and recording of different species and habitats to help us better understand which species are thriving and which are surviving. Long term monitoring also allows us to understand how the distribution of species is changing over time, which is an expected consequence of climate change. We are working with a team of “Wildlife Recording Volunteers” across the Trent Valley to undertake wildlife recording. Our volunteers use the “iRecord” app and website to upload their sightings, and this information then gets shared with the Local Environmental Record Centres of Staffordshire Ecological Records (SER) and Derbyshire Biological Records Centre.

A lot of wildlife recording is actively taking place in Willington Wetlands thanks to the proactive management of this site and the recent reintroduction of beavers to help with that management. The introduction of beavers presents an exciting opportunity in wildlife recording, as we can track via wildlife records how the beavers are changing the site and impacting the biodiversity naturally.