COTSWOLD Water Park has received a £50,000 grant that will help boost rare species in their nature reserves.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust secured the grant from Biffa Award to help a range of birds, bats and insects in three nature reserves within the water park.

Money awarded to the water park will go towards a number of tasks that help the animals thrive.

One ongoing task is to manage the trees surrounding the lakes.

Willows, hazels and thorns are cut back in rotation to ensure a varied habitat.

It's also important that there are open areas of grassland to support the insects that birds rely on for food while insects found on the lakes provides food for bats.

Biffa Award is a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.

Gillian French, Biffa Award Head of Grants, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support a project that is working to transform an area for people as well as wildlife. Improving the habitat across the three nature reserves will mean more wildlife and wild spaces for the community to enjoy.”

To help with the work Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will be offering more opportunities for local volunteers.

They will be joining people such as Alan McSherry, a volunteer warden working with the Wildlife Trust in the Cotswold Water Park who has been visiting the nearby nature reserve for more than 20 years.

The enhanced management of the nature reserves will increase opportunities for local people and visitors to see wildlife.

Tim Bevan, a senior reserve manager at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said: “The funding from Biffa Award will allow Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers to manage these nature reserves for the correct balance of tree cover, scrub, reed beds and open grass spaces.

"This benefits the many winged species that find a home and food here.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the On the Wing project, call Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on 01452 383333 or email info@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.