‘Nature thrives when given a chance’: restored Cheshire wetland now a haven for rare grebe
A former industrial dumping ground in Cheshire, England, has been successfully restored into a thriving wetland habitat. The site now hosts a significant portion of Britain's breeding population of the rare black-necked grebe.
Why it matters
This success story demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted conservation efforts in reversing biodiversity loss and restoring damaged ecosystems.
The rare birds have distinctive tufts of gold feathers and bright red eyes. Photograph: Ben Andrew / RSPB The rare birds have distinctive tufts of gold feathers and bright red eyes. Photograph: Ben Andrew / RSPB Birds ‘Nature thrives when given a chance’: restored Cheshire wetland now a haven for rare grebe Woolston Eyes in Warrington, a dumping ground for canal dredgings, has become best place in UK for black-necked grebe
Prefer the Guardian on Google A dumping ground for dredgings from the Manchester Ship Canal has become the best place in Britain for the rare and beautiful black-necked grebe, hosting 64% of Britain’s breeding population.
Since 2021, Woolston Eyes in Cheshire has been restored, extended and turned into a mosaic of freshwater pools, reedbeds, willow scrub and rough grassland, managed by the RSPB and Woolston Eyes Conservation Group.
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