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.

Have you seen any 'Signs of Spring'

Well as was to be expected we are all back in lockdown again for a few weeks and having to stay local. So why not use this as an excuse to take your daily exercise exploring LOHP sites, we have lots of permissive paths to explore and will be creating a new leaflet and map later this year showing all the routes. Well behaved dogs and children are always welcome and wellies are a must as at this time of year as the paths are extremely wet and muddy.

Now is a great time to start to look for 'Signs of Spring' emerging and other exciting things happening on the fens. Why not take some pictures or video and email them to us at enquiries@lohp.org.uk (remember to include your name, where and when the picture was taken, what it is of if it's unclear and give us your permission to use it), we will then try and show as many as we can on our website and social media channels.

If you are not close enough to visit our sites why not send in your pictures of 'Spring on your doorstep'.

Catkins on the bank of the Little Ouse © Ed King

Fund Our Fabulous Fens

Help us to support our fabulous fens, wonderful woodlands, glorious grasslands and splendid heathlands by sponsoring an acre today. LOHP manages about 200 acres across the Little Ouse valley, each acre costs about £120 a year to look after, which requires a regular income to do this (in addition to membership and project grants).

Can you give regular help? Anyone can get involved (even if you are not a member of LOHP), £120 a year is only £10 a month per acre to help us maintain and protect these important habitats and their wildlife for future generations to enjoy.

Sponsor an Acre (you can sponsor more than one acre if you would like to)

Or become an LOHP member or join us as a volunteer

Flowers on New Fen