Wildlife at Kings Dyke Nature Reserve continue to flourish as more species found on 20th birthday

Phil Parker and some of the BioBlitz team celebrating Kings Dyke Nature Reserves 20th anniversary last month

The nature reserve in Whittlesey held an independent BioBlitz on the 20th anniversary of the reserve’s opening in June, during which the onsite management and a team of volunteers recorded each species spotted on site over a two day period.

The survey counted approximately 1,250 wildlife species, ranging from birds and moths to moss and lichen, of which over 100 were new to the reserve and two were new to Cambridgeshire.

Opened in 1999 on the site of a former brick quarry, the reserve is owned by building products manufacturer Forterra, whose adjacent Kings Dyke brickworks is the sole producer of the historic and locally significant London Brick.

One of several moth species identified at Kings Dyke Nature Reserves BioBlitz in June

The reserve was established for the benefit of local schools and the surrounding community and has been regularly extended over the last two decades.

Last year’s UK BioBlitz, an independent survey of 50 wildlife sites led by TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, dubbed Kings Dyke Nature Reserve the UK’s most biodiverse wildlife area after 1,111 different species were recorded there last summer.

Phil Parker, who runs Kings Dyke Nature Reserve on behalf of Forterra, said: “This year’s species count is considerably higher than last summer’s, which is great news as it suggests that both Kings Dyke Nature Reserve and the region as a whole are thriving ecologically.

“The result is a fantastic way to celebrate our 20th anniversary and we hope to repeat the BioBlitz with equally positive results for many years to come.”

A member of the BioBlitz team identifying a species at Kings Dyke Nature Reserve

Following last year’s UK BioBlitz, Chris Packham said: “The data that suggests that former brownfield sites – quarries in this instance – offer the most diverse spread of species, deserves further investigation.

“Brownfield sites are particularly important for promoting biodiversity, invertebrates especially; and, if sympathetically managed, sites such as Kings Dyke Nature Reserve can flourish.”