RECORD numbers of birds have been spotted at a popular nature reserve in Warrington.

More than 46 different species have been sighted recently at Paddington Meadows.

This comes as a welcome reward, after a local volunteering group New Cut Ecology and Heritage have spent the past decade working and clearing the space to bring it back to life.

New Cut volunteers having begun a policy of ‘dead hedging’, whereby fallen branches and twigs are piled into a hedge to create a perfect habitat for insects and birds to feed, hide and nest in – with the hope of further increasing populations.

The dedicated group have also had wildlife experts join them on their walks through the beautiful reserve.

A member of New Cut said: “During the summer Dave Higginson Tranter, Dave Winnard and Stuart Frazer - all expert naturalists - accompanied our group on walks along the New Cut Trail and Paddington Meadows pointing out butterflies, grasses, moss, wild plants, fungi, insects and trees.”

Expanding their efforts further, they have also joined forced with the Women’s Institute in Warrington to help with another exciting project, improving a small wildlife garden alongside Woolston Lock.

“In the latter part of the year, we prepared the ground and WI members planted some spring bulbs. These will look stunning this Spring alongside the lock with the River Mersey in the background,” a spokesperson added.

Weekly working volunteers have also continued to improve pedestrian access to the meadows by maintaining bridges, paths and wildflower meadows.

Meanwhile the former towpath on the canal, now fully tarmacked for its entire length, is attracting ever increasing numbers of cyclists, walkers and joggers.

Education and outreach has seen significant development in 2023 with a new set of information boards positioned around the meadows explaining the flora and fauna of the area.

Every year, two volunteers from New Cut visit Woolston Church of England Primary School to take part in lessons about the history of Woolston.

The group are active at local community and open day events, taking their display stands to both inform and answer questions from the public on the wildlife and history of the area.

Funding for the volunteer group has been generously provided by parish and borough councils, local businesses and funders to help support the work.

“There is still a lot more that can be done to improve the ecology of this special piece of green space and more volunteers are always welcome,” a spokesperson added.