Willow Tit recovery project receives Natural England funding

A share of Natural England's £14.5 million funding for threatened species will go towards boosting the Willow Tit population at Woolston Eyes in Cheshire.

The project aims to return the site's population of the rapidly declining tit to previous high levels. Woolston Eyes has traditionally been a stronghold for this species, with 40 years' worth of monitoring data. Until recently, the reserve regularly supported a population of 25 to 30 breeding pairs – but recent ringing data shows an apparent decline to around 17 to 20 pairs.

Willow Tit is the fastest declining resident bird species in the UK (Ian Bollen).

The project is being led by Woolston Eyes Conservation Group (WECG), a voluntary organisation that manages the site, which is owned by Peel Ports. It is one of 63 projects across the country that has been awarded a share of £14.5million by Natural England to help recover 150 species nationwide.

The funding was welcomed by Amanda Wright, nature recovery manager for Cheshire at Natural England, who said: "Woolston Eyes is an amazing site for wildlife, providing a hotspot for so many species across a unique man-made site which is owned by Peel Ports and supported by the RSPB.

"Woolston Eyes Conservation Group have created a mosaic of habitats across the site, and with this funding will, they will be able to support further wildlife benefits, especially for the endangered Willow Tit."

Willow Tit is the fastest declining resident bird species in the UK, with a grim 94% reduction in numbers since 1970.