World Wetlands Day: Celebrating the super-powered wetlands of the Hawk and Owl Trust
Every year on World Wetlands Day, conservationists and nature lovers come together to celebrate one of Earth’s most remarkable and diverse habitats.
Wetlands are not only biodiversity hotspots, but true living landscapes that shape our natural environment. They improve ecosystem health by regulating water flow, filtering pollutants, and supporting plant and soil processes that build resilient landscapes. It is the range of benefits that makes wetlands some of the most valuable and productive ecosystems on Earth.
Why wetlands matter to birds of prey
The Hawk and Owl Trust cares for two wetland nature reserve sites, Sculthorpe Moor in Norfolk, and Shapwick Moor in Somerset. This pair of exceptionally managed conservation sites are a fantastic place to visit and learn why wetlands are so deserving of our attention today.
The wetlands at Hawk and Owl nature reserves provide essential feeding, nesting, and sheltering areas for a wide range of species. These habitats support biodiversity by offering stable water, abundant food sources, and safe breeding environments, helping birds of prey and many other species thrive.
Sculthorpe Moor: a haven of water, wildlife and accessibility
Located in Norfolk’s Wensum Valley, Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve combines wetlands, fen, woodland, and wet meadow, into a mosaic of habitats perfect for wildlife to thrive. With boardwalk access and well-placed hides, the reserve offers visitors lots of different viewpoints to spot some of the many incredible creatures that call it home.
Recently, a rare and endangered semi-aquatic species was discovered at Sculthorpe Moor; though given their small stature, visitors will need the assistance of a magnifying glass to appreciate them!
Smaller than a baby’s fingernail, the elusive Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana) measures just a few millimetres in length and is considered a strong indicator of exceptional wetland management. Not only is this species legally protected and listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, it also became unexpectedly famous in the 1990s when a court battle over its habitat delayed work on the Newbury bypass.
Desmoulin’s Whorl Snails depend on calcareous (soil containing lime or chalk), permanently wet habitats such as swamps, fens, marshes, and wet grasslands bordering slow watercourses. Living mainly on tall sedges and wetland grasses, the snails feed on microflora and rely on very high humidity and stable water levels to survive.
Of course, snails are not the only creature that visitors are likely to encounter at Sculthorpe Moor.
Shapwick Moor: a landscape of heritage and renewal
Part of the Avalon Marshes and adjacent to the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve, Shapwick Moor is part of an extensive landscape shaped by centuries of human activity, from traditional hay meadows to peatland farming.
Today, this hidden gem is being returned to nature, with the Hawk and Owl Trust reinvigorating and revitalising the land to support birds of prey and a broad spectrum of wildlife.
You may have seen Shapwick Moor on a recent episode of BBC Countryfile, broadcast on 23 September 2025 and available to watch on BBC iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002mrdv/countryfile-somerset-levels. The episode took viewers on an immersive journey through the Somerset Levels and showcased the amazing conservation work being undertaken in the county.
One highlight included Alex Learmont, Reserve Warden for the Hawk and Owl Trust, together with a team of dedicated volunteers being filmed as they waded about trimming willows; this work aimed to ensure that wetland scrapes remain wet, protecting habitats craved by rare beetles and crested newts.
Later in the show, veteran conservationist Chris Sperring, who has worked with the Hawk and Owl Trust for more than thirty years, explained how careful management of field margins can deliver mutual benefits to wildlife and farmers.
Shapwick Moor can be accessed all year-round and visitors can expect to find many different animals, including:
- Kestrels, barn owls, sparrowhawks, marsh harriers
- Herons, lapwing, kingfishers, and reed loving warblers
- Small mammals such as field voles, supporting birds of prey
- Wetland dependent species that rely on the rejuvenated waterways and grasslands
Support wetland management by the Hawk and Owl Trust
The Hawk and Owl Trust is a registered charity that relies on the generosity of its supporters to fund its conservation projects. Please consider making a donation or becoming a Trust member to support wetland management and other initiatives to protect and support birds of prey.
