Early bumblebee, Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography
Working together for wildlife
What's in a partnership?
Toyota have been working with us since 1988 when they moved to Burnaston, Derbyshire. They are one of our key business partners and their support, along with other business partners, help us continue our work to provide Living Landscapes, rich in wildlife, valued by everyone.
In June 2004 we carried out an Ecological Survey and Assessment of Toyota’s site which included the balancing ponds created in 1990 and some 7.1 ha of their land. This is made up of a range of habitats including open water, reedbeds, plantation woodland, species-rich grassland and marshy grassland.
Over the years the partnership has resulted in significant improvement in the number of species sighted at the Toyota plant. Let's take a look at what we've achieved together...
Outcomes of the partnership so far
- The nature reserve area at the Toyota plant was designated as a Local Wildlife Site in 2005.
- Comprehensive surveys have informed the production of a 10 year Management Plan which Toyota UK and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are committed to. Annual surveys by the Trust monitor the effectiveness of the agreed management.
- Around 200 different plant species have been recorded at the site. Two of which are Derbyshire Red Data Book species; blunt-fruited water starwort and grass vetchling, and six are types of orchid.
- 70 different bird species have been recorded at the site. These include seven priority species; bullfinch, reed bunting, marsh tit, song thrush, dunnock, lesser redpoll and starling.
- 19 different butterfly species have been recorded during monitoring at the site. Numbers have increased dramatically from 10 individual butterflies in 2013 to 661 recorded in 2017 all thanks to effective habitat management.
- Bumblebees have also increased. Surveys revealed a jump from 25 recorded in 2014 to 608 in 2017 again, thanks to effective habitat management. Species include the red-tailed bumblebee, the common carder bee, white-tailed bumblebee, buff-tail bumblebee, garden bumblebee, early bumblebee and the tree bumblebee.
Benefits of the partnership
The site now benefits from many eco system services such as flood alleviation and improved water quality. The easily accessible green space within the workplace has also resulted in improved staff wellbeing.
The partnership also benefits other habitats and wildlife in Derbyshire because each year, Toyota donates to the Trust as part of their business membership. It is an unrestricted donation which means we can put the money where the need is most urgent.
Conclusion
Overall, the Toyota site provides one of the finest examples of habitat creation as part of development that you are likely to encounter in the whole of the UK and their long-term commitment to its management for nature conservation makes it even more special.
The Wildlife Trusts believe that people are part of nature; everything we value ultimately comes from it and everything we do impacts upon it.