Wellcome Wetlands wins conservation award

A new nature reserve at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, has been awarded a natural heritage award by the local council in recognition of its work to sustain the natural environment and improve local village life.

At a special awards ceremony tonight (12 July), the Wellcome Trust Wetlands Nature Reserve will collect the "winner of major project” award at a ceremony at South Cambridgeshire’s District Council’s offices.

Opened to the public in April this year, the six-hectare (15 acre) Wetlands Nature Reserve is one of seven schemes that will be honoured at tonight’s ceremony.

Over the past two years, the area has been transformed from flat grazing pastureland to a unique range of habitats for a diverse array of plant and animal species including:

• An abandoned World War II pillbox that has been adapted to serve as a bat roost,

• Artificial otter holts that have been built along the bank of the River Cam,

• Two large ponds, the margins of which have been planted with acquatic marginal plants such as water plantain and greater reed mace,

• Two distinct areas of grassland, including dry and wet species

In addition, the Wetlands Nature Reserve provides a vital natural flood-relief and links the villages of Hinxton and Ickleton via a specially built footpath.

Commenting on the award, Dr Phillipa Towlson, co-ordinator of the project, said: “This award is fantastic news for all those who have contributed to the planning, design and construction of the Wetland Nature Reserve.

“The Reserve is a great asset for all those who live in and around the area and we look forward to welcoming them and hope they will enjoy watching the area mature and wildlife thrive in their new habitats over the coming years.”

ENDS

Media contact:

Noorece Ahmed – 020 7611 8540

Notes to editors:

1. Some 15,000 tonnes of soil were moved to create a series of mounds and ponds in the nature reserve.

2. Around 10,000 trees and shrubs were planted to provide a range of habitats for wild animals, birds and insects.

3. A Community Conservation Group has been convened and with the Genome Campus Facilities Management team will implement a 5 year management plan. Cambridge Wildlife Trust and Cambridge Green Belt project also contributed to the management plan.

4. The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus is a 55-hectare site in South Cambridgeshire and is home to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institure, a world-leading genome institute that spearheaded the UK contribution to the Human Genome Project.

5. The Wellcome Trust is an independent research-funding charity established in 1936 under the will of tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome.The Trust's mission is to promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and it currently spends more than £400 million per annum.