An exciting discovery has been made at one of our restored quarries, Holborough Marshes, on the outskirts of Snodland, Kent.
A team of Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) volunteers at the 35-hectare nature reserve, which provides a haven for some of the most exceptional flora and fauna in the UK, recently found a rare nest hidden among the reeds.
As they were cutting back shrubbery, the team uncovered a unique reed warbler nest – which the bird had woven as a sling between two to three reed stems to position it above the ground. The nest is made from reed leaves and grasses, then lined with reed flowers.
Usually a summer visitor to the UK (spending the winter months in Africa), reed warblers can lay up to four eggs at a time which, after hatching, take around 11 days to fledge.
Enrique Morán Montero, Tarmac’s national restoration manager, said: “This find by the dedicated KWT volunteers is a great reflection of the quality of the habitats that we restore and manage alongside our partners.
“We’re delighted that Holborough Marshes offers such a fantastic range of habitats for wildlife to thrive but also an educational and recreational resource locally, and we hope that people from the community will continue to visit and enjoy the wildlife haven.”
Prior to restoration, Holborough Marshes was one of our largest cement and quarrying operations – providing access to the wharf on the River Medway. The land was carefully restored in 1995 and is now successfully managed on behalf of Tarmac by Kent Wildlife Trust.
To learn more, visit www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/holborough-marshes
