Local nature conservation charity Carymoor Environmental Trust is undertaking a new project to create a habitat for the endangered nightingale bird. Carymoor, based near Castle Cary, provides outdoor learning for schools, adults, and community groups. The visitor centre is situated on a 40-hectare area of a former landfill site which has been developed into a wildlife rich nature reserve.

A once common, but now rare and elusive bird, the nightingale in the UK is estimated to have declined by 90 per cent in the last 50 years with loss of suitable habitat being a major contributing factor. The aim of the new nightingale project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is to extend the suitable habitat and encourage the birds to breed and become resident at the nature reserve. The staff will be working with a dedicated team of volunteers to carry out this important conservation work.

To create their favoured habitats Carymoor will be planting thousands of blackthorn trees, laying and gapping up some of the hedgerows, excavating the silted-up ponds, creating a hazel coppice, and many other tasks which will benefit these birds and support other rare species already present on the site, such as the brown hairstreak butterfly and great crested newt. The current volunteers have already made a start on helping with this work but there are plenty of ways to get involved and help. Volunteering at Carymoor is a great way to help the wildlife, and it is also a chance to meet new people, learn new skills, get fit and improve your mental wellbeing.

Carymoor run regular volunteer days on Mondays and Tuesdays and the last Saturday of each month. If you would like to get involved, please contact volunteer@carymoor.org.uk or 01963 351350.

You can also visit www.carymoor.org.uk