Doxey Marshes is a large 265 acre wetland nature oasis which attracts a large number of visitors each year. An epic place like this, needs an equally epic team effort to keep it great for nature and people! 

Our fantastic new group of volunteers has hit the ground running, getting involved in essential habitat management work that will benefit both wildlife and visitors over the coming months. 

Their first tasks have included repairing fencing across the site - removing old posts, clearing vegetation, and installing new ones. This work not only improves safety along footpaths but also helps keep our grazing livestock where they’re meant to be. 

The team has also been tackling invasive species. With the help of plant ID guides, volunteers are learning to spot and remove unwanted plants before they flower and seed. This careful approach protects the site’s rich plant diversity and prevents the spread of species that can dominate habitats. 

We really need to keep as much of the reserve as wet as possible. Historically, before the Trust's involvement, much of the land was drained and the river deepened, straightened and narrowed. Since we’ve been managing Doxey Marshes, we’ve done as much as we can to stop water draining. We’ve installed structures across the reserve which hold water back in the bird breeding areas.  

Hands on work to control Himalayan balsam will be next on the agenda. Following bird breeding season the volunteers will begin concentrating on rush cutting. It’s an unglamorous but essential task we desperately need help with. This vigorous growing plant can create a monoculture if left unchecked and needs cutting back every year. This helps create open, wet areas that are ideal for nesting and feeding wading birds - especially important for overwintering and breeding species, such as snipe and lapwing. Doxey Marshes is nationally important for many birds - visitors often see heron, egret and water rail here too!  

We’re incredibly grateful for the energy and enthusiasm our new volunteers bring. Their efforts are already making a real impact, and there’s plenty more to come. 

If you’re out and about on the reserve and see the team in action, feel free to stop and say hello!