Conservation
Since 1959, we as an association have initiated several conservation projects on our marsh at Gainsborough (a SSSI site), with the co-operation of both the Environment Agency and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). In 2023, we decided to extend our conservation work, to include our farmland, a few miles away.
Conservation
Our Efforts
We have invested in a bird nesting box program, installing over 30 various nest boxes at each site, providing valuable nesting sites for blue tit, great tit, coal tit, robin, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, house sparrow, starling, kestrel and many others, in addition to our existing owl nesting boxes and numerous duck nesting tubes which, with the help of BASC, our members construct and install themselves, from materials that the members have donated.
We monitor the breeding success of all our birds on each site, in co-operation with BASC.
We have installed several bird seed feeders around the sites to help the birds along too.
Conservation
Marsh / Arabal Land Efforts
Our members, in particular our marsh wardens, feed the marsh area several times per week throughout the year providing vital help for the birds.
We are intending to create a native grey partridge release program on our farmland in the hope that eventually we can increase the number of breeding birds there.
We have also, with the help and support of the farmer, planted cover crops in several areas to provide extra food and protection for the birds.
We have a year-round, voluntary conservation work party schedule at both sites, where members willingly give up their time to maintain our sites, for the benefit of wildlife and all of our members.
Our tasks usually include reed cutting, grass cutting, tree maintenance, litter picking, bird feeding, nest box and nest tube maintenance. We hope to extend our activities to include a native tree planting program.
In co-operation with BASC, we have initiated a bird nest, monitoring program and a year-round, monthly bird identification schedule.
We are extremely fortunate to have such a wide variety and diversity of plants, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in our custody and their protection, care and management is vital to the conservation ethos of our association and our commitment to providing spaces where we can enjoy outdoor experiences, which hopefully improves the mental health and wellbeing of all who visit there.
Our goals and projects for the future are to:
- Start a native tree planting program at both sites.
- Start a mammal monitoring program.
The photos and videos below, show some of our members during various work parties.
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Gainsborough & District Wildfowling Association
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