Conservation Work at Shugborough Estate Duck Covert

Wetlands and rivers are important habitats for our wildlife, acting as a home for many species and an infrastructure network for flora and fauna to move along waterways. The healthier these habitats are, the more efficient they are for people too; storing carbon to help offset the effects of climate change and helping to reduce flood risk to nearby communities.

This particular area, Duck Covert, is already very wet and does not have public rights of way or paths, so it is an ideal place for restoration work which can improve the quality of habitat for wildlife.

Here we will create shallow scrapes within the grassland where areas of the field are already very wet. This ensures water will stay in the most appropriate area of the site more regularly throughout the year. In dry seasons it will provide water for insects, birds, and mammals; and it will be an important breeding and feeding ground for creatures like dragonflies, frogs, and wading birds.

At the top of the field, we will cut a channel to connect a very marshy habitat which already exists on the site, reconnecting it back to the river. Some of the drain embankment will be removed and we will widen the floodplain to better connect this to the river as well.  A riffle rapid is also going to be created in the river with gravel and stones. This will create an important habitat in the river for fish and invertebrates to breed. 

These works are going through a planning phase, and a start date is subject to completing planning permission.

The work will involve heavy machinery on the site, but we expect very little disturbance to people given the location away from the main visitor paths on the Estate. Factors such as seasonal weather could effect when the works start.

The project and the design have all been created with the benefit of nature and habitat in mind. We have also carried out flood risk assessments to ensure there is no risk of flooding up or downstream due to the works.