Conservation
Conservation at Pensthorpe
For many visitors, experiencing birds such as bearded reedlings, avocets and turtle doves ‘up close’ is something really special. Working with the Pensthorpe Estate, the PCT has created really great opportunities to get much closer to many bird species than would normally be possible. Habitat management, such as varying levels, shorelines and water depths and a wader scrape where levels can be manipulated to allow seasonal flooding, helps provide suitable breeding habitat for birds such as avocets, lapwings and redshanks. In addition to wetlands, conservation work at Pensthorpe also includes managing a range of other habitats including farmland. On site biodiversity Action Plans have been formulated with the aim of encouraging existing species such as water voles, slowworms, sand martins and the little ringed plover. The information we gather enables us to build a long-term picture of the status of wildlife in the Wensum Valley and how to best to manage it.
These habitats include:- Breckland grassland, heath and scrub
- Water meadows
- Conservation Grade farmland, field margins and setaside
- Mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland
- Waterbodies of varying depths, size and shape, edged by reeds, trees, grasses and rushes
The PCT plays a key role in the Great Crane Project, as well as the Nene Washes corncrake programme, working closely with the RSPB and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, as well as other bodies such as Natural England and the Zoological Society of London.
Pensthorpe Conservation Centre
The Pensthorpe Conservation Centre provides a special home for a regionally important collection of bird species and incorporates a cranery, which houses 7 out of the worlds' 15 species of cranes. Over half of these species are endangered or threatened. The PCT is concentrating its conservation work on helping these birds and now works with grey-crowned cranes, Stanley, Sandhill and red-crowned cranes as well as Eurasian and Demoiselle cranes. The PCC is also where our corncrake breeding programme and our bird rearing facilities are located.
The PCT's work with cranes, turtle doves and corncrakes is well known but also works with many other species such as greater flamingos greater flamingos; white, black and marabou storks; the endangered scaly-sided mergansers and many other wildfowl; waders such as redshank, ruff, avocets and stilts; and red squirrels with the East Anglian Red Squirrel Group (which have been released to reinforce the wild population on Anglesey).
Volunteering
Situated within the River Wensum Special Area for Conservation, and just a mile outside Fakenham in North Norfolk, Pensthorpe provides an ideal location for groups wishing to volunteer on conservation projects.
