Habitat enhancement at Erewash Meadows Reserve

Birds found at Erewash Meadows Reserve include lapwing, snipe, reed bunting and sedge warbler and overwintering wildfowl. The adjacent River Erewash supports fish and invertebrates and is known for small mammals such as the declining water voles and uncommon harvest mice.

To maintain the wetland habitat at its best, water levels must be managed, which are currently governed by three old and deteriorating sluices. They assist the retention of water in the spring when the river drops and so maintain ideal ground conditions for probing birds and waders to feed. We propose to replace the sluices.