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Priory Water
Priory Water is the clubs flagship conservation project. It is on the site of exhausted gravel working that ceased operation in the early 1970’s. It is owned by the clubs former President and longtime supporter, Mr. Ron Jelley, and is rented by the LWA on a peppercorn rent until 2070.
The LWA took on the site in 1987 as a wildfowl sanctuary and started an ambitious plan to create a nature reserve from scratch. Over the years 16000 trees have been planted, hundreds of metres of hedges have been laid and restored, reed beds have been established and flower meadows have been created.
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Nature Reserve
The site covers 120 acres including about 45 acres of water comprising of two main lakes and a selection of pools and scraps left over from exploratory digging looking for the best gravel seams.
It very quickly became an important site for overwintering wildfowl and has since matured into one of the finest nature reserves in the county. Priory water is now one of the best sites in the county for dragonflies and damselflies and 23 species have been recorded. It is one of only a few sites in the county where the Hairy Dragonfly and the Variable damselfly breed.
Insect life on the reserve is incredible and a walk round the reserve on a warm summers day will reveal huge numbers of butterflies, grasshoppers, bees, hoverflies and moths.
Regular recording has produced exceptional lists of birds and insects as well as a large colony of grass snakes that live on the abundant amphibians. The reserve also has several species of bats that are seen regularly as dusk falls.
Monthly working parties by club members tend to the maintenance of the reserve and undertake new projects to further enhance the biodiversity of the site.
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Hard Work And Success
A strict no shooting policy and limited access to the reserve ensure that disturbance is kept to a minimum and this is key to the success of the reserve.
Visiting parties are welcome by appointment and have included school groups and local natural history groups.
The reserve has an impressive field centre that was first built in 1991 and has over the years been extended to give storage space for boats and equipment.
The success of the reserve is due to the commitment and hard work of club members and volunteers who give freely of their time as well as the generosity and support of Mr. Jelley without whom, none of this would be possible.
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Any Questions
If you have any questions or queries about our association and what we provide, don’t hesitate to get in contact.
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