New wetland habitat completed at Lark Rise Farm to support declining wading birds

We're delighted to announce that our new wetland habitat for wading birds at Lark Rise Farm in Cambridgeshire has now been completed, thanks to the generous support of everyone who donated to our 2024 winter appeal. 

A large, shallow-sided scrape has been created where water naturally pools in the floodplain field due to a depression and leaky field drain.  

By slightly lowering the Bourn Brook watercourse which runs alongside the field, more water will run across this field in wet months, to be held in this new wetland feature over the winter and spring months. 

Helena Darragh, our Head of Conservation, said: “This will be very welcome habitat for wading birds, such as lapwing, which have nested on the farm in nearby fields for the past years.  

“By increasing areas of damp grassland, there are more opportunities for wading birds to forage for invertebrates, which is especially vital for chick-rearing in the spring and summer months, where fields are at their driest. These wetter areas also provide habitat diversity on the farm. 

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the impact the scrape makes in over the coming winter and into 2027 and beyond.” 

Taking the time to get it right 

While similar wetland habitats funded through our 2024 appeal were completed at Bere Marsh Farm towards the end of 2025, the work at Lark Rise Farm took a little longer for good reason. 

Rather than beginning construction immediately, we monitored the site through the winter to observe how water moved across the landscape during flood events. This allowed us to position the shallow scrapes and connecting channels where they would work most effectively with the natural topography. We also carried out surveys to identify and avoid water vole burrows. 

Why wetland habitat matters for wading birds  

Across the UK, many wading bird species are declining due to loss of wetland habitat. In winter, wading birds need soft, wet, muddy ground so they can probe for insects and other invertebrates. When soil becomes too dry or compacted, feeding becomes difficult and survival rates fall. 

Special thank you 

A special mention and thank you to those who helped make this happen with their kind donations, including Wader Quest. We couldn’t do it without our supporters!  If you would like to help us create more habitats like this across our farms, please take a look at our current nature appeals and discover how you can support our work.  https://www.thecrt.co.uk/Listing/Category/protect-nature-with-us