Our work at Belton

Blue Green Corridor Project

As part of the National Trust's ambition to play our part in restoring a healthy, beautiful, natural environment, we worked in partnership with South Kesteven District Council, North Kesteven District Council and the Environment Agency as part of the Blue Green Corridor project. 

With support from the European Regional Development Fund, we rejuvenated this section of the River Witham to benefit wetland biodiversity and improve the connection with its floodplain.

We worked to slow the river's flow by reconnecting the river to its original floodplain. This will also improve conditions for wildlife that live along the river corridor, such as water vole and white-clawed crayfish, as well as otters and the resident bat population. 

A wetland habitat has been restored next to the River Witham on the Belton Estate, with hopes to increase biodiversity and improve conditions for wildlife as part of the Blue Green Corridor Project.

Over time the river has become separated from its natural floodplain, negatively affecting local wildlife. Local contractors, Lions, have worked to restore the grassland in Belton’s parkland back into floodplain habitat. The river will now be encouraged to naturally flood and cut new pathways across the floodplain, using a series of wooden blockages.

This wetland area will be great for wildfowl, herons, little egrets, as well as other wildlife like frogs, toads, newts and Daubenton’s bats. We will also hopefully see an increase in dragonflies, damselflies, water beetles, and aquatic plants such as water dropwort and flag iris.

Through this partnership project, we hope to develop a new wildflower meadow area close to the riverside. This will not only make an attractive landscape for people but will also create a flourishing haven for pollinators, insects, birds and other wildlife.

 

A home for bats

Belton Estate hosts some wonderful habitats for bats, from its historic buildings to the magnificent trees in the parkland.

Daubenton’s bats feed along the river and parkland ponds, and noctules, Britain’s largest bats, feed among the canopy of the large parkland trees. Pipistrelle and long-eared brown bats have been regular visitors to the stables, roosting in considerable numbers in the roof space. More recently, however, our surveys suggest that numbers have declined.

Improving the bats’ habitats

Belton’s rangers have undertaken work to increase insect populations which are the main food source for bats on the estate. By improving the condition of the grassland and water habitats, not only do wild flowers flourish and fish spawn at an increasing rate, but insect numbers increase too, ensuring the resident bat population also thrives.

The stables project incorporated work to enhance the space for pipistrelle and long-eared brown bats, including the provision of heated bat boxes, improved access to and from the building, and improved routes to feeding grounds near the river. We hope that this will not only protect Belton’s existing bat population, but also encourage more bats to settle here again in future.

Protecting the famous Moondial

In 2017, on the 30th anniversary of Helen Cresswell’s much-loved children’s book Moondial, the sculpture at Belton House that inspired it was given some much needed attention to preserve and protect it.

The base of the Belton sundial was showing signs of deterioration, and vital remedial works had to be carried out in 2017 to ensure the stability of the pedestal. At almost 300 years old, this much-loved garden sculpture was in need of some care.

Proceeds from a fundraising raffle went towards the cost of renovation.

 

Thank you 

With your ongoing support, we're able to continue our vital conservation work. Thank you for helping to protect these special places.