Hop to it!

Sgpring is upon us, the birds are starting to sing, trees are blossoming, and amphibians are starting to spawn. We need your help to update our records of any frog or toad spawn and amphibians you might see.

Common Frog - Parkers Piece © Nick Lingwood

As part of the wider Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme (BFER LPS), the Freshwater Habitats Trust are leading on a Spawn Survey 2023 https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/the-brecks-spawn-survey-2023/ (where you will find survey forms, id guides, training video and much more to get you started). Get involved by recording spawn and amphibian sightings in the Brecks and beyond. Of our LOHP sites only Scarfe Meadows is in the actual BFER project area, but you can include results from any other LOHP site and beyond to help build up a picture of how our amphibians are doing.

We have been involved in other citizen science projects as part of the BFER project over the last couple of years - Testing the Water and eDNA survey - more information about the other projects can be found here https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/bfer-lps-citizen-science-testing-the-water/

The Brecks Spawn Survey 2023.pdf

Download PDF • 1.71MB

Celebrate with LOHP

Its only about a month to go until 'Festival on the Fens' - celebrating 20 years of LOHP.

Join us on Parkers Piece (Mill Road, Thelnetham - opposite Thelnetham Windmill) for this FREE event on Sunday 3rd July, 11am until 4pm to celebrate 20 years of LOHP. There will be rural crafts, stalls, special guest Simon Barnes, music, refreshments, art, sheep dog demonstrations, LOHP guided fen walks, vintage tractors, Thelnetham Windmill (charge for tours), children's activities and much, much more.

You can download the flyer and programme (at the bottom of this page) to send to friends and family.

We look forward to seeing you at 'Festival on the Fens' to help us celebrate 20 years of LOHP.

Festival on the Fens - Flyer and Programme A4.

Download • 1.89MB

Funding for Wildlife and People

We have been awarded nearly £5,000 from the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT) to help support our work protecting and enhancing the landscape and wildlife of the Little Ouse Valley. The funding from the CLACT will go towards new trail cameras and monitoring equipment that will be used by LOHP volunteers, along with identification guides and other resources for use on guided walks to help visitors learn more about wildlife on the Fens.

The CLACT is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from members of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), an organisation which represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses. It provides grants to charities and community organisations who share its vision to help connect people with the countryside and nature.

Bridget Biddell, Chairman of CLACT, said: “We are delighted to be able to assist with funding to support the excellent work of this charity that is dedicated to enhancing habitats of this important landscape. The CLACT is proud to be playing a small part in assisting projects such as this – enhancing knowledge of the natural environment can provide so many benefits for both wildlife and for society.”

Since its foundation in 1980, the trust has given £2m in grants to a wide variety of organisations and projects. If you would like to know more about applying for funding, or to donate, visit https://www.cla.org.uk/about-cla/charitable-trust/

LOHP Conservation Manager Ellie Beach said: “We are extremely grateful to the CLACT for the funding they have provided, it will assist our work greatly in this beautiful part of East Anglia. The trail cameras will allow us to gain an even better understanding of the wildlife located along the river and how we can develop habitats to help a wide range of species to thrive.”

LOHP would also like to thank all the other smaller grant funders that have helped make this project a success.