There are many ways in which you can help wildlife and people at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, which depends on the help and enthusiasm of volunteers. If you’d like to play a part, read on…

Practical conservation
Ensuring that Paxton Pits continues to be attractive to wildlife is an ongoing task. The Management Plan outlines work that needs to be done, including coppicing trees and opening up scrub to diversify habitat, managing the islands for waders and terns, and laying hedges in the traditional way.

If you’re available during the week, there are opportunities to work directly with the Ranger and his staff. Contact the Ranger, Jim Stevenson, on 01480 406795 or e-mail

During the winter, weekend work parties are organised by The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve (FPPNR) and the RSPB (see below for the terms for each). If you have any questions concerning this Programme, please contact Ray Matthews (01480 215277).

FPPNR Working Parties are run under conditions set by Huntingdonshire District Council. Anyone can attend without prior arrangement, but children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult who takes responsibility for them.

RSPB Working Parties are run under conditions set by the Society. All volunteers must be registered with the Society prior to the eventso that RSPB insurance arrangements apply. To register, please contact Ray Matthews (01480 215277). Volunteers must be aged 16 years or over (this restriction applies because of the boat trips).

Voluntary wardening
If you’re a people-person, could you could help out in the Visitor Centre? Volunteer Wardens welcome visitors, provide information, refreshments and a friendly chat. Helping visitors to enjoy their time on the Reserve is a satisfying experience and only takes a few hours of your time each year. Volunteer Wardens operate a rota to open the Visitor Centre on most weekends.

To find out more, please call one of the Voluntary Warden Co-ordinating Team on 01480 472536 (David & Marjorie Chapple) or 01480 810744 (Jocelyn Gale) or e-mail

Surveys
If you can identify wildlife, particularly some of the less well known taxa, such as spiders or lichens, and could give some time to finding out more about the Reserve’s fauna, please contact the Ranger, Jim Stevenson, on 01480 406795 or e-mail
We’re particularly keen for someone to tell us about some of the invertebrates on the reserve, since only the butterflies and moths are currently monitored regularly.

 

The Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS) is undertaken every month from September to March, on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology. Meet at the Visitors’ Centre at 8.45 am. In 2008, they will be on 13 January, 10 February, 9 March, 14 September, 19 October, 16 November and 14 December.

The Paxton Breeding Bird Survey (PBBS) is a co-ordinated count of the birds which breed around the Pits complex. Birds will be counted between 7 am and 9 am on 11th May and 8th June 2008. If you’d like to help, please contact Julian Hughes on (01480) 391775.

A botanical survey is being undertaken to monitor trends in some of the species for which the Nature Reserve is important. Volunteers are also mapping the presence of all plant species within the Pits complex. If you’re a keen wild plant enthusiast and would like to help, please contact Jocelyn Gale on

Wildlife records
Whether you’re a casual or regular visitor to the Pits, the wildlife which you see can add to our knowledge, especially if you tell us numbers and the locations of your records. Add them to the book in the Visitors' Centre or e-mail them to us at

Join the Friends
If you care about the wildlife at Paxton Pits, why not join The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve?