BAG CHARGE HELPS WILDLIFE
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve has undergone improvements for wildlife and people, thanks to the Groundwork ‘Tesco Bags of Help’ scheme, which provides grants for community projects from money raised from shoppers buying 5p bags. Over the years, the habitat on the flash has matured from mud to reedbed and in some areas to Willow Carr. Now reedbed and willow has been removed on small parts of the flash, allowing birds that like open, muddy lakes to thrive. The work has seen results already; a Grey Wagtail has been spotted searching for food on the mud, a species not seen for more than two years on site. It is hoped waders will also return. A viewing screen has also been installed, providing views of the lake, and an Osprey platform has also been erected. Jim Horsfall, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserves Officer, said: “Money from the scheme has enabled us to do some really exciting things at Sprotbrough. Birds not seen for years are returning, and we will soon be putting out a tern raft, in good time for terns to come and nest on. The raft will help prevent predation of tern eggs and young by badgers and foxes. It also allows a different surface for the birds to nest on.”
Sprotborough Flash consists of 28 hectares of varied habitat, from woodland to wetland
Community groups can get grants of up to £5,000 from the Bags of Help scheme