Protecting Wildlife Havens
What is it?
Protecting Wildlife Havens is a county-wide programme to manage, expand and connect Cheshire’s nature reserves so they can support wildlife recovery and provide more opportunities for people to experience nature.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust manages a network of nature reserves that act as refuges for rare and declining species and demonstrate how nature can recover with sustained care, monitoring and management. These sites are actively managed through practical conservation work including invasive species control, habitat restoration and ecological monitoring.
The project will maintain existing reserves in favourable condition, strategically expand and buffer key sites, improve habitat connectivity and support species recovery. It also includes the ambition to establish a large-scale rewilding site where natural processes can drive ecological restoration.
Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?
Habitats across Cheshire are under pressure from loss, fragmentation, climate change and inappropriate management.
Even well-managed reserves can decline without continued intervention. Isolated sites also struggle to sustain wildlife populations unless they are connected to the wider landscape
This project has been developed to strengthen Cheshire’s nature reserve network by ensuring habitats remain in favourable condition while expanding, buffering and connecting sites to create a more resilient ecological network.
Public access is also an important part of the programme, helping people engage with and benefit from nature.
What is it going to deliver?
By 2030, the project will deliver:
- Management of more than 318 hectares of nature reserves in favourable condition
- Strategic land acquisition to expand the reserve network
- Buffering of existing reserves to reduce external pressures
- Improved habitat connectivity between wildlife-rich sites
- Practical conservation work including invasive species control
- Habitat restoration and ecological monitoring
- Support for rare and declining species
- Public access and engagement with nature
- Establishment of a large-scale rewilding site
- Stronger long-term ecological resilience across the reserve network
Estimated Cost:
£1,979,424
Across Cheshire.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve network.
Local Authority Area:
Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Warrington.
Phased delivery programme to 2030 and beyond.
Lead Partner:
Partnership delivery model currently in development with landowners, conservation organisations, local authorities and community stakeholders.
Why Invest Now?
- Nature reserves are core areas within the LNRS
- Habitats are under pressure from fragmentation, climate change and inappropriate management
- Continued intervention is needed to maintain reserves in favourable condition
- Strategic acquisition and buffering can strengthen long-term ecological resilience
- Public access to nature supports community engagement and wellbeing
- The project protects existing natural assets while creating a stronger platform for future nature recovery
Impact & Returns:
Species Recovery Returns
Cheshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves are core areas within the LNRS.
LNRS priority species supported through the programme include:
- Lapwing
- Lesser silver water beetle
- Mud snail
- Willow tit
LNRS reintroductions supported through the programme include:
- Beaver
Environmental Returns
- More than 318 hectares maintained in favourable condition
- Stronger protection and management of core LNRS areas
- Improved habitat connectivity across Cheshire
- Better resilience for rare and declining species
- Reduced impact from invasive non-native species
- Expanded and buffered nature reserve network
Social & Community Returns
- Improved opportunities for people to experience nature
- Increased public engagement with wildlife-rich places
- Greater awareness of the value of nature reserves
- Long-term community benefit from access to natural spaces
Strategic Returns
- Supports core LNRS areas
- Strengthens long-term ecological infrastructure
- Creates a more resilient reserve network
- Supports landscape-scale nature recovery through acquisition, buffering and connectivity
LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:
This project aligns with the following Cheshire Local Nature Partnership goals:
Goal One
Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.
Goal Two
Increase connection between people and nature including raising awareness of nature.
Goal Three
Increase value of investment into nature.
Goal Four
Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.
INNS1.2
GET INVOLVED
Contact the Cheshire Nature Local Partnership
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