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WWII ordnance turns up regularly at Kingley Vale NNR as there is a long military history at the reserve. A volunteer spotted the mortar one afternoon after checking the grazing flock. I went to investigate and realised it wasn't one of the usual smoke bombs that turn up. I informed the police who came to set up an exclusion zone (and have his picture taken with some interested walkers). The bomb squad turned up next and decided that the mortar was one of the highly explosive ones. They secured the site and returned at first light the next day to carry out a controlled explosion which you can see in the video. The explosion in the video is a good reminder to visitors not to touch any metal objects they find on the reserve. They should contact us or the police to let us know.

Biodiversity Film by Natural England
It tells our story about Biodiversity 2020, describing our ambition around habitats and species. The film is narrated by Tom Butterworth and is filmed out on location, in Wye National Nature Reserve in Kent.

Jonathan Clerckx is a dissertation student working at Kingley Vale NNR in April and May 2015 looking at lichens and inverts in the yew forest. While setting up his insect survey he also found a WW2 mortar. These are left over from when Canadian troops were stationed on the reserve during the war. Most have been found and removed by the Army and Navy, however a few remained undetected. These turn up when badgers and rabbits dig them out of the ground. If you ever find anything metal on the reserve you should contact the Reserve Manager or police and not touch it. This video shows you why.

The video was filmed by Jonathan Clerckx.

Cumbrian Bogs LIFE was a 5 year bog restoration project, funded through the EU LIFE programme and managed by Natural England. It focused on the restoration of three lowland raised bogs in Cumbria: Roudsea Wood and Mosses, Wedholme Flow and Bolton Fell Moss. Working closely with specialist contractors and using their experience and expertise meant that innovative techniques were developed through the course of the project. The methods used in the project have put the right conditions in place to allow restoration to take place – it could be another 30 years before the bogs become fully functional again. This film highlights the main techniques used across the three sites.

This time-lapse video is a compilation of several days’ hard work by staff and volunteers at Thursley National Nature Reserve constructing the latest addition to the extensive boardwalk network during July and August. The new section will give a previously inaccessible view of the mire/bog habitat along with access to a new viewing platform for observation of aquatic life on a pond, a chance to watch dragonflies and damselflies, raft spiders and the plant species which thrive in this special habitat.

Goss Moor National Nature Reserve, a large valley basin, forming the headwaters of the River Fal, is the largest remnant of the moors of mid-Cornwall and is central to the expansive SSSI. Dry and wet heath, mire, fen, woodland and open water create a stunningly diverse mixture of habitats home to some of the UK’s rarest species including willow tit and marsh fritillary butterflies. Though protected today, the Moor’s wetlands have been shaped by centuries of alluvial tin mining and sand and gravel extraction.

A 12 km circular multi-use trail provides safe and easy access for visitors to explore and enjoy the Moor. Information on visiting Goss Moor NNR can be found in this visitor’s guide or via East Cornwall National Nature Reserves facebook page.’

Produced for Natural England by 3deep Aerial (www.3deepaerial.com)