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Make Space For Nature
Make Space For Nature
Future-Proofing Caerlaverock: Wilder, Wetter, Working Together
Join us at the Solway Coast to explore how collaboration is creating climate resilience on Scotland's dynamic coastline.
David Pickett from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Caerlaverock Wetland Centre and Anna Austin from Caerlaverock Estate share how they're reconnecting fragmented landscapes. With backing from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, they're turning drains into wetlands, pastures into corridors, and local ambition into climate-ready results.
Discover the practical side of restoration: cutting drains, looping burns, and carving ponds that invite lapwing, teal, and golden plover to return. Learn how grasslands and hedgerows weave through productive farms, connecting peatland, saltmarsh, and meadows into resilient networks.
Partnership drives this transformation. Neighbouring landowners work together to create thriving habitats where vulnerable species, such as natterjack toads, can flourish as the climate changes. From winter skies crowded with barnacle geese to summer meadows alive with dragonflies, this is nature restoration that works for people and place.
Ready to connect habitats in your area? Listen for tips on creating wildlife corridors and building partnerships that benefit both nature and communities.
Information:
Welcome to Make Space for Nature from Nature Scott, the podcast celebrating Scotland's nature, landscapes, and wildlife. I'm Kirsten Guthrie, and today Claire Gordon and I are heading to the beautiful Soly Coast in southwest Scotland to explore the incredible transformation taking place there. We're joined by David Pickett from the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust Calabrock Wetlands Centre and Anna Austin from Calabrock Estate. With backing from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, we've been bringing back habitats that have disappeared over the years, carefully restoring and reconnecting the landscape. What's brilliant is how neighbouring landowners are working together to enhance wetlands, salt marsh, and grasslands. The result, a thriving network where vulnerable species like wading birds and natodactodes can flourish and adapt as our climate changes. So we're down here in Calaverock and we're meeting with David and Anna today. So both of you, welcome to the podcast. Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us what you do? I'll start with you, David.
SPEAKER_00:Hi, I'm Dave Pickett. I'm the site manager for WWT Calaverock.
SPEAKER_02:Hi, I'm Anna Austin and I'm the estate manager for Calaverock Estate.
SPEAKER_03:Lovely, thank you. So it's great to meet you both. So Anna, can you start off by telling us just about some of the challenges facing the Solway Coast and why nature needs our help here?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I mean I think the Solway Coast is quite a diverse and expansive area and there's a lot going on here. I think here in the Kalaverock area in particular, um, we've got a convergence of several freshwater sources with the Solway, which kind of makes for quite an unusual, I guess, um, backdrop to what we're doing, and means the environment is very dynamic. Um so, for example, the way that the Nith Channel changes shape over time, um, that changes the shape of our coastline, and that can have an impact on the habitat that we have here. Um, so coastal squeeze can lead to habitat fragmentation, and that coupled with the risk of rising sea levels in the area as a real result of climate change, uh, means that we um have a bit of a focus on providing future habitat further inland.
SPEAKER_01:So you're both leading on projects that are responding to some of these challenges. Um, David, can you tell us how Wilder Wetter Carlaveroc came about and what it's aiming to achieve?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, well, it it came about because uh it was a sort of a a number of things coming together. We had some land that WWT owned that was previously farmed by tenant farmers, and that's been bought back into management directly by WWT. So it gave us a bit of a blank sheet of paper to decide what we wanted to do. And by looking at the map of Calaverock, we can see we've got some real biodiversity hotspots as the Locker Mosses to the north, the um Solway estuary, the salt marsh. But um a lot of those habitats have fragmented and separated. And what we wanted to do was to try and join them up. Um it's all about trying to link those things together because once they're linked, then they actually have a bigger biodiversity carrying capacity. Um the more you can join up together, uh the more biodiversity you can get in there.
SPEAKER_01:And this project links closely with the work of your your neighbour, Kalaverock Estate. Um Anna, could you tell us a bit more about the partnership approach you're taking to link Carlaverlock? Yes, um sure.
SPEAKER_02:Um so Link Kalaverock was a project that we, um Kalaverock Estate, carried out on our own um home farmland, um, and its purpose really was to link up the work that was being done by the partners on the estates, so Wildfile and Wetlands Trust, and the Nature Reserve managed by Nature Scott, um, and just uh I guess recognising that there's a role to be played by private landholders in contributing to wider restoration efforts. Um we all share the same visions and ambitions for nature in the area, but we're coming at it from different perspectives and we've got different priorities. Um, the estate, for example, is a business that's made up of a collection of productive farms, um, tourism, hospitality businesses. So our focus is on continuing to farm and to do those um things in an efficient and sustainable way, but playing a part in the development of the landscape scale nature efforts that David's talked about. Um so as a result of Link Colabrock, which as I said was carried out on the estate's home farmland, um, we've motivated um our tenants and some neighbouring landholders to get involved with what we've been doing, and as a result of that, we formed um towards the end of last year the Colabrock cluster, which is um really the estate coming together with its tenants and labouring landholders. So we're now working together on the development of a much larger project across the whole estate um area, which will um hopefully, if we can get funding to to deliver that from next year, um, we'll connect up really at a big scale. You know, the the pieces that David's talking about, um taking us into the Forests and Land Scotland's Peatland Restoration Project at Loch Ramos and and starting really to show that you know how we can contribute to this really truly landscape scale change.
SPEAKER_03:Brilliant. It's fascinating to hear about all that um the partnership working that's going on, um, and hopefully, you know, that'll continue even wider, as you say. And David, you know, let's dig a bit deeper into the to the work that's been done to transform the landscape here. I mean, we can we're standing out here and we can see vast areas of wetlands and ponds, but you know, it all wasn't always this way. So, what's been done to create this this rich network of habitats?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the the a lot of the farmland around here originally was managed um to support the barnacle geese and provide good feeding areas for barnacle geese, which are the the special rare goose that spends its winter here. And that was the main reason why the reserve was set up. But um the barnacle, the barnacle geese that are on the Solway, it's a huge conservation success. Um, and the population has gone from about 400 individuals to over 40,000 individuals. They now spread across the whole landscape. Um, so we don't need to manage our reserve just for barnacle geese. So what we're looking at really is to try and maximize um the biodiversity on the site. So we we uh are still managing some patches of areas for barnacle geese, but there's a lot of areas where we want to actually um uh hold other sorts of wildlife as well. And to do that, the water is the key. Now, in the past, um this this land lies very wet and uh we get a lot of rain here, which is one of the reasons why the geese like it, because we get lots of grass here in the winter. But um all the work in the past went to get the water off the land as fast as possible. So streams were canalised and straightened, huge amounts of drainage were put into the land, um, all to drain that water down and get it off so that you could farm the land. What we find that if you add water, you add wildlife. So we're doing all we can to hold on to that water as it flows across our land, slow it down, make it available for wildlife. So to do that, we went in, we've been cutting all of the subsurface drains, we've been diverting water out of some of the canalised streams, putting it into big loops and into more pools, and then putting it back into the channel, and then creating lots of scrapes and ponds so that when the water table comes up to the surface, it's made available for the wildlife. Uh and by doing that, you have all of these wetland areas created all in amongst some of the goose pastures. So you you sort of get um the best of both worlds.
SPEAKER_03:And you you know that's a huge amount of work, and you've talked about the you know the number, the huge number of barnacle geese you get here. And can you tell us about some of the other wildlife that's returning to Kalavrock?
SPEAKER_00:Uh yeah, I mean what we're finding with all these pools that we're creating, we've got really good numbers of wintering birds coming here. So um uh species like lapwing, golden plover, teal, shoveler are all using those new ponds. Um, but we're also um uh targeting some of our rarer species here as well. So for instance, in natajac toads, uh, calaverock is the the northernmost site in the UK of where um natajak toads breed. Uh the North Solway coast is the only place in Scotland where they breed. Um and but the population on Calaverock had been dropping. So we've been putting in and um uh a large number of ponds suitable for natajacs, which are small ponds, shallow, um, and uh and then creating areas around those ponds that are suitable habitat for natajak feeding areas and and uh um refuge areas as well. So um we're we're it's a mixture of targeting that sort of the the wider, more general sorts of wildlife, but also some of the key species associated with the area.
SPEAKER_03:Wow, that's fascinating. I'd love to see a natajak toad. I've certainly never seen one. Have you seen one, Claire?
SPEAKER_01:No, unfortunately not, but I would love to see one. Okay, so um as well as wetlands and ponds, like here at WWT, Linker Laverlock is also creating different habitats. So grasslands, wildflower meadows, and woodlands. Anna, can you explain a little bit more about the thinking behind the various different habitat enhancements that you're making?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I mean for us, I guess it's really about um taking a whole ecosystem approach to habitat restoration. Um, the um we've we've we've added back some species-rich grassland which um encourages pollinators and and in turn I guess is a food source for um other species coming around the ponds and wetlands. Um, but we've also created a series of wildlife corridors, and the idea behind those really is that they're linking up more densely packed areas of habitat with each other and allowing kind of um passage of um of wildlife across our agricultural land. Um I guess it's just back to that point about you know trying to strike that balance between farming with nature, and and so the wildlife corridors are a really neat way of doing that. Um and so we've been creating the corridors, they're six-meter-wide um double-fenced um lanes planted up with um species-rich um uh hedgerow, um, blackthorn, um things like that, uhwthorn, and in some cases we've been putting in some native trees in amongst the corridors as well where that's appropriate, um, you know, given the species and things in the area. So um yeah, as I say, it's it's a really key part, I think, of being able to um uh strike the balance between um farming with nature because we have got some spots across the state where there will be more opportunity to develop um habitat than others, and so um you know we can focus on wet areas, we can do that, and we can and we can really focus heavily on, and we have done through the Link Claverot project um on creating ponds in some quite um kind of um wet areas. Um but you know, as we move further into the Calaverock cluster project, which is um called Working with Nature, it's much more about recognising that in some places the the value that can be added to nature is is in the form of a wildlife corridor connecting A to B. Um and so yeah, that's I guess how we've been approaching it.
SPEAKER_01:That's brilliant. That's great to hear about that transition through the different habitats and and all for the for the wildlife, the benefit of the wildlife. Krista.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, sure. So you know, you did you've you've kind of touched on the kind of longer term aspirations, but you know, you it is clear that this work is it's not just about now and all the work that's going on now, it is about creating a lasting change that's going to help wildlife thrive long into the future. So can you give us a wee bit more about the kind of long-term aspirations for the area?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I mean I think um, you know, trying to um position Claverock as an example of of truly landscape scale biodiversity um work that is um you know that is a real example of how different organizations with diverse land uses and interests can come together to achieve um, you know, like a really connected um habitat and and and you know to use nature-based solutions to um to help um tackle environmental pressures and community challenges as well. You know, we're looking at how we can use nature-based solutions to try and um help um flood risk in our local villages and things like that as well. Um so it's really about trying to create a place where nature and people thrive and support each other in that.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, great. Thanks, Anna. And and David, what about the long-term plans that that that you know that you're thinking of as well?
SPEAKER_00:Well, what where we're standing here, this is uh it may not look it, but it's a really dynamic landscape and it's changed a lot. So if you go back 300 years, um this would have been saltmarsh. Uh, but it's become reclaimed land, it's then been farmed, but it's now going back to nature. But with rising sea levels, um some of this is under threat and it's likely to go back to saltmarsh in the future. Um, one of the things that's under threat with those rising sea levels is the places where the Natajac toads hibernate. So, what we're doing is we're building uh through the project more hibernaculum areas, places where the natajactoads spend the winter inland, so that as the sea levels rise, they've got places to move, the population can move inland and still use the wetlands that we've got on site.
SPEAKER_03:That's fascinating. So you're you're almost future-proofing it for the toads and other wildlife.
SPEAKER_00:That's right, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Now we know that funding's obviously vital for getting nature restoration projects off the ground, and and both your projects have benefited with some support from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund. Um, is there any advice that you would give to people who are looking to develop their own nature restoration projects? I'll come to you first, David.
SPEAKER_00:Um Well, I I would say um look to work in partnership. Um the all of the work that we do here at WWT Calaverock is done in partnerships. Partly, you know, we work closely with the Calaverock Estate and Nature Scott who manage their uh NNR on either side of us. But also um when it comes to delivering the work on the ground, we've been really lucky to work with some excellent contractors, and um a large amount of our work is done, the big work is done through with contractors who um all of them have come within an hour's radius of the site, which is really good because it means that um a lot of the money that's come through the grant has then gone into the local economy. So it's a really fine example of showing that nature can contribute to jobs and the and uh and money in the area. So that's been really good. But also um what the grant has enabled us to do is get some of our land set up better to um manage for conservation, but a lot of our conservation management is done in partnerships with local farmers. So we have four different graziers who help us manage the site, and we benefit from their farming knowledge and their stock, and uh and they benefit for having additional grazing on the land. Um, and so again it's really good partnership work that shows, I mean, we we're managing for nature, but we're using agriculture to to manage for that. Uh, and so um by working in partnership with all of these different people, we're not just focused within our boundary of our site, you know, we're looking out to the wider area, the wider landscape. So that that would be my tip.
SPEAKER_01:That's great. So the more the merrier, essentially, is the message there. And Anna, can I come to you on that question?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and I think um I guess my tip would really go to um people who are yeah, I guess, land landholders, not necessarily from a kind of nature um based organization. Um my I guess my tip would be to really spend time building plans from the ground up and be led by the land use. Um because you know, nature restoration work has to go hand in hand with other desired land uses and it's all about achieving that balance. Um and I think really that thinking needs to be done early in thinking about what a project um should look like you know, to make sure that the project is is both I guess um robust and could withstand scrutiny. So in our case, um for example, we are really promoting the concept of farmer-led ecologist-backed design um in habitat restoration, and that just ensures that we have the engagement of the farmers and but also that the success of the project is assured from a biodiversity perspective too. So, yeah, I think um in going in for these kind of funds, do that thinking early and and be clear so that the project can withstand a bit of scrutiny.
SPEAKER_01:So do your planning and and get the best of both worlds but in terms of expertise.
SPEAKER_03:Great, great to hear. And you know, we're we're standing here out in the outdoors, it's absolutely stunning. Um, there is a little bit of rain in the air, but that's not stopping us. Um we can certainly hear quite a lot of birds in the background, um, and there's some amazing hides that you can use to have a look out onto the lands here. Um, you know, and if if anyone wants to visit the area, which I'm sure they do, what what are the seasonal highlights they can see at different times of the year? And I'll start with you, Anna.
SPEAKER_02:Um yeah, I mean I think probably my grace tree grease population is a big um a seasonal highlight and a good reason to visit and collapse through the winter months. Um I'm sure David can say a lot more than about that than I can. Um summer months are a good time to visit too, though, um, because there's a lot of activities to see on the ponds and in the meadows and corridors at that time of year too. So really I think we're a year-round destination.
SPEAKER_03:Excellent. And I'm sorry there's a bit of background noise, but there's a bit of building work going on, but we can't we can't help that amongst the the lovely, the lovely sounds of of the birds, but that's just a temporary noise of building work just now. But um I'll pass over to David.
SPEAKER_00:So, yeah, I mean we're we're just approaching um the the winter sort of exciting time when the geese are due to come back and the hoopaswans. So um Calaverock at that time of year is absolutely spectacular. There's a huge number of birds that spend the winter here, and you get this amazing birdscape with just birds in the sky as far as you can see. And here on site, we've got some really great hides, nice, comfortable hides, and can give you a warm welcome. So you get a really good nature connection here. But then when we get into the summer, it's a very different sort of experience, um, and it's all about getting up close and personal. So there's wildflower meadows, there's dragonflies, butterflies, um, all sorts of things that uh the small stuff really that um that can make uh a visit here absolutely spectacular as well.
SPEAKER_03:Sounds wonderful, and I know that there's lots of events that go on as well, so we'll certainly add them into our our um our links at the bottom of the podcast information. So I'll pass over to Claire for for the last question.
SPEAKER_01:So we always like to ask our guests for their top tips on making space for nature, as as is the name of the podcast. Um so could you tell us what's maybe one simple thing that our listeners could do, whether it's in the garden, the local local area or their daily routine that could make a real difference to our nature and climate, um no matter how big or small. So Anna, you want to go first?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I mean I think um well, I guess thinking about it slightly differently, I think um my kind of suggestion would be to, and I guess this is from a landholder perspective, is engage with landholders because I think you know, we're in a state that's very proud to have a good relationship with the community and we learn a lot from them. Uh their views and suggestions help inform our plans in quite a big way. Um there's things that we can do through some of the nature-based work that we are planning to improve infrastructure challenges for the community. So I would say, you know, engage with landholders and have informal chats and raise um just through conversation and discussion, you know, things that you would like to see or issues that are being um faced. Because I think um it's through those, you know, quite often small, kind of quick um conversations that you can have that you know ideas are sparked and you can actually influence quite a big change um by having those conversations. So yes, maybe less about what to do in your garden, but more about who you know the things to do when you're out about.
SPEAKER_01:Get out there and talk to your neighbours, absolutely. And David.
SPEAKER_00:For me, it's that just just add water. If you you know, if you're at home and um in your garden, you can uh it it you can add in wildlife by creating some sort of wet thing. So it can be a mini pond. Uh I've seen really good little ponds made out of washing up bowls, um, but you can also um tap into the all the water that comes down your down pipes off your guttering, and if you put a diverter in and divert that into a trough and then put the water back into the into the drain system, you can create a wetland that way. So um, and you can become slightly obsessed with them. Once you set them up and the wildlife starts to come in, then you'll find yourself actually checking them and looking at them almost on a daily basis. So uh there's there's great rewards um by setting up something like that in your garden.
SPEAKER_01:Fantastic. Thank you, both, very much. That's been excellent speaking to you today. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03:Thanks for listening. For more ways to connect with and help protect Scotland's natural world, go to nature.scot.