OtherHopefulUK8 Oct 20261 min read

Restored Caerlaverock wetlands welcome new breeding birds

Marsh harriers and Cetti’s warblers have bred at WWT Caerlaverock for the first time, following work to bring more water back into the Scottish reserve.

The wetland charity announced the breeding records this week as it reported completing restoration across 250 hectares in Dumfries and Galloway. The work included 33 new ponds and five hectares of shallow pools and channels for wading birds.

The response tackles an old problem: agricultural drains had carried water away and broken up connected habitats. NatureScot’s project description explains how blocking drains and creating pools helps hold water on the land.

A little egret standing in shallow water at WWT Caerlaverock — A little egret at Caerlaverock in September 2021. This archive photograph shows a wading bird that uses shallow water; it predates the project. Photo: caroline legg, CC BY 2.0.

WWT says its £300,000 Nature Restoration Fund grant ran from April 2023 to March 2026.

Progress was not straightforward. A Scottish Government evaluation recorded delays securing licences to tackle invasive species, forcing changes to planned work. The new breeding records are observations reported by the reserve, rather than proof that every ecological change came from restoration.

But they offer a tangible sign of what making room for water can provide: more places for wildlife to raise its young.