A wildlife wetland sanctuary in Watford is taking shape at Cassiobury Park Nature Reserve in the town’s old watercress beds, to help boost biodiversity and protect local habitats...
The watercress beds, which declined after not being actively managed since 1991, have been restored by Watford Borough Council through various efforts. This includes digging out the silt from the dried-up cress beds, whilst preserving the historic bed structures and opening feeder channels.
In addition, a wildlife pond has been increased in size tenfold and a linear wetland fed by the River Gade has been restored, so it can again provide a refuge for fish and invertebrates to hide from predators. To improve access, an old wooden footbridge has been replaced with a new wider recycled plastic bridge, and a narrow footbridge has been replaced with a grassed walkway.
Once the wetlands have fully matured, the area will become a valuable habitat complete with reeds, ponds and scrapes, and it will also preserve the flood plain functionality of the watercress bed area. Tree planting and a wildflower meadow will complement the wetland features and together create a range of habitats that boosts local biodiversity.
This will help the area become an excellent space for birds, like snipe and for insects and crustaceans, such as freshwater shrimp, and provide a large and relatively accessible site for observing and learning about nature.
To celebrate the success of the project, the site was recently visited by Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor, Councillor Tim Williams Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Parks, Councillor Ian Stotesbury Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, Friends of Cassiobury Park and Groundwork South as well as Grundon Waste Management, which funded part of the works. The project was also supported by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency and Community Connection Projects CIC.
Photocaption: First image includes Steve Jakeman (Chair of the Friends of Cassiobury Park), Neil Cole (Parks & Greenspaces Development Lead at WBC), Councillor Tim Williams (Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Parks), Alec Thomas (Friends of Cassiobury Park), Isabel Crozier (Cassiobury Park & Oxhey Activity Park Manager,) Councillor Ian Stotesbury (Portfolio Holder for Sustainability), Peter Taylor (Elected Mayor of Watford), and Kirsti Santer (Head of Marketing & Communications at Grundon)
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “The Cassiobury Wetlands Restoration Project is a fantastic example of how we are improving our green spaces and making them more accessible. It is making the nature reserve more interesting for visitors and is already attracting more wildlife. It is also playing a part in protecting the local area from flooding and providing educational opportunities. Projects like this help make our town a greener and more sustainable place for residents to live and enjoy.”
Peter Jenkins, who, when Chair of the Friends of Cassiobury Park initiated the project, said: “With their chalk and gravel base, the beds are a very special place for wildlife and biodiversity. This new wetland in the Park is already providing a much-needed home for wildlife and has brought back a large unused open space for everyone to view once the changes in water flow are fully in place. Indeed, the opening up of the flood plain has already reduced flooding on the main foot paths. Working with nature, rather than against it, is sustainable both in terms of cost and environmental impact.”
Anna Daniels, Senior Reserves Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, said: “As we find ourselves halfway through the most pivotal decade in the nature and climate crisis, this project demonstrates the value of working in partnership and with shared aims to restore nature-rich, connected and resilient habitats.
“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species in Great Britain facing the threat of extinction, but conservation projects like this one can help reverse the terrifying declines. By increasing the wetland cover and managing these habitats sensitively, we hope to welcome back species like the endangered Water Vole, and with improved access more of the local community will be able to enjoy a closer connection to the wildlife here too.”
Kirsti Santer, Head of Marketing & Communications at Grundon Waste Management, said: “My colleague Annie Sessions and I were thrilled to visit the wetland area recently and see for ourselves what a difference has been made in terms of biodiversity and habitat.
“Having provided a grant through the Landfill Communities Fund of nearly £26,000, it was incredibly rewarding to see the area alive with dragonflies and other insects, and we were delighted when a resident heron flew across too. As well as contributing towards the excavation and restoration project, we are pleased the money funded two interpretation boards showing visitors just how important wetland areas like this are to future conservation and wildlife efforts.”
If you would like to get involved, please contact the park management team at Cassiobury, by emailing cassiobury@watford.gov.uk or the Friends of Cassiobury Park www.friendsofcassioburypark.org.uk
