Nature reserve doubles in size after legacy gift — SkimNews
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- Jackson's Coppice and Marsh Nature Reserve near Eccleshall, Staffordshire will double in size after a legacy gift left in the will of trust supporter David Aldred.
- Staffordshire Wildlife Trust used the donation to acquire wet woodland and marsh alongside pastureland south of the River Sow.
- Jeff Sim of the trust called the expansion "fantastic news for wildlife" and said it shows how "gifts in wills can create lasting change for nature."
- Plans on the floodplain include coppicing mature alder trees and managing willow growth to support a greater diversity of plants and wildlife.
- New public footpaths will let visitors explore different trails across the expanded reserve.
- The floodplain ownership will let the River Sow flow more slowly during heavy rainfall, alleviating downstream flooding under the trust's management.
Why it matters: The legacy gift gives Staffordshire Wildlife Trust room to restore habitats at a meaningful scale while delivering a side benefit: managed floodplain land that slows the River Sow in heavy rain, easing flood risk downstream. For a regional trust, doubling a single reserve in one move is a rare scale-up that donors typically make possible.
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