Tucklesholme is a former gravel pit which is being restored back to a wetland habitat after being purchased by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 2013. It provides a home for a number of key breeding bird species that specialise in this open wetland environment.

The focus of the work at Tuckesholme is around the northern lake and adjacent River Trent bank. To increase the connectivity between the river and the lakes improving the river-floodplain interaction we lowered the floodplain.  This was designed to encourage a dynamic and evolving floodplain, with more habitat diversity and therefore lots of opportunity for a wider range of wildlife to populate the site.

We are excited that we have concluded major river and floodplain restoration enhancements at our Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. These compliment and extend the influence of earlier completed enhancements in the centre of Burton Washlands completed in 2022. This creates a corridor of connectivity for wetland species along the River Trent floodplain improving populations and species diversity.

The delivery of the project was completed in autumn 2023, being a mix of reprofiling and wetland enhancements. To break down into the detail:

• To connect the lake and river a shallower gradient to the river bank was created and the floodplain between was lowered so that at high river flows, water is able to flood over the bank and into the northern lake. This gives fish access into an area of calm water to rest and breed. There a channel at the northern end of the lake allowing continuous fish passage so that fish will be able to freely move between the two environments.

The spoil has been used to create shallows and pools around the lake edge which are ideal for common reed (Phragmites australis) to continue the establishment of reedbeds on site.

• The new shallows will encourage a range of invertebrates and create an ideal environment for wading bird species including the rare Bittern. We have increased the availability of shingles which will support populations of Oyster Catchers and Little-ringed Plovers which nest on site. During the summer the northern lake will experience increased drawdown through the connection created with the river, exposing mud and sediments for the nesting and wading birds.

There is a public footpath through the site which continues to our reserve at Branston Leas allowing visibility of the new habitats. The temporary footpath diversion is no longer in place and visitors are free to take in the new enhancements when they visit the reserve. Please have patience whilst the biodiversity enhancement features become fully established.

To learn more about the Tucklesholme Nature Reserve and to visit the site please visit our Staffordshire Wildlife Trust webpage here.

To read more about ecological enhancements that have been carried out through other projects on the Tucklesholme Reserve please visit the South-Staffs Water website here.

Please see the map below for the plan view of the completed works.

Have a look below to see how the work changed the landscape.

Reconnecting floodplains is done through removing the barriers that separate the two. Floodplains are an important part of a health river with a huge number of benefits to people and wildlife. Rivers naturally will interact with their floodplains at high water times and hold important wetland habitats. Seasonally flooded area help boast biodiversity as plants that specialise to different levels of wetness will develop increasing the range of species.

Natural variations in ground level allow water to accumulate into shallow pools seasonally, which encourages insects and provides important habitat and food for wading birds. Wading birds are becoming less and less common across the UK due to habitat loss.

Tucklesholme Image Gallery