Working together to help nature thrive

Louisa Jones
, 25 March 2025
Working together to help nature thrive
A freshly-dug wildlife pond, funded by Wilder Horsham District's Nature Recovery Award. (Photo: Benlands Nature Reserve)

Benlands Nature Reserve is a one-acre site, adjacent to Benland Wood north of Warnham, that has long been managed with nature in mind, and is home to many interesting species of birds, butterflies and orchids. Wilder Horsham District’s land advisors have worked with the owners over the last four years to help make the natural environment even richer, for instance helping them to remove invasive Himalayan Balsam.

After the owners of Benlands Nature Reserve first approached Wilder Horsham District for advice in 2021, the team conducted an initial site visit, and suggested they apply for the Nature Recovery Award to help them carry out some improvements. The fund opens to applications four times per year and all applications are assessed by a panel of nature conservation professionals from Horsham District Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust. Happily for Benlands Nature Reserve, the panel agreed to fund fencing to keep deer from browsing orchids and other wild plants that provide that important first step in the food chain. They also agreed to support the excavation of a wildlife pond, which can be an expensive undertaking if the hiring of mechanical diggers is required.

Deer fencing being renewed. (Photo: Benlands Nature Reserve)

The site is on clay and initially we tried puddling to seal the pond, compacting the existing clay to try and remove air pockets and make it impermeable. However after a year it was clear that the pond was not holding water as expected, probably due to loose rubble in the substrate. Our land advisers provided further advice, recommending and funding a bentonite clay liner. The result was a beautiful pond that has been attracting wildlife as soon as it filled, with a Little Egret “dropping out of the sky from nowhere” as the owner was putting in place the final touches!

The Nature Recovery Award paid for plant hire to excavate a wildlife pond. (Photo: Benlands Nature Reserve)

He added, “We must say a big thank you to the Wilder Horsham District project. Not only have they provided funds and advice, but the whole scheme encouraged us to take on a project that we would not have normally entertained.”

Anyone considering applying for a Nature Recovery Award is encouraged to contact the Wilder Horsham District team in advance to discuss the possibilities for their site and even organise a site visit to ensure the project fits the awards funding criteria. We’ll also keep in touch with successful applicants during and after the works to ensure there is the best possible outcome for wildlife – and so we can share your success stories with others!

Wilder Horsham District’s Nature Recovery Award re-opens to applications on 1 April and closes on 31 May 2025. For more information, visit our dedicated web page. Any further questions? Email us at [email protected].

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