A busy New Year at Budby

It’s going to be a very busy few months at RSPB Budby South Forest in early 2022.

Regular visitors will have noticed the forestry work taking place on the reserve since the autumn.

This has involved removing a number of trees to create space for ecologically valuable trees like our magnificent pines and open grown oaks to spread and flourish.

Works will continue from January, along with vital sandy ground creation and livestock fencing installation.

Thanks to funding from Severn Trent and the Miner2Major National Lottery Heritage Fund, this work is helping to create a more diverse landscape and habitats to attract a greater variety of birds, mammals and invertebrates.

At the same time as we are carrying out that work, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will be working on a small area of land which borders the reserve. Budby was used by the military for training for many years during and after World War Two, and the MoD has an obligation to ensure the land is restored to the condition it was in before they used it.

From January to March, work will take place to remediate the site. It does mean the Budby Lay-by will have to be closed to the public temporarily to enable the MoD’s works vehicles to move on and off site.

As a result of all this activity, it will look a little raw in places across the reserve initially, but it will ultimately enhance this important landscape for wildlife and our human visitors too.

It will get very muddy up across the reserve while work is on-going, and we urge visitors to wear wellies and to follow any diversions and safety signs they see in place.

You can find out more about what’s happening on and around RSPB Budby South Forest here