Gift in Will Doubles Staffordshire Nature Reserve

A single act of generosity is about to double the size of a nature reserve in Staffordshire, giving wildlife and people more space to thrive.

David Aldred, a longtime supporter of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, left a gift in his will that secured additional land at Jackson's Coppice and Marsh Nature Reserve near Eccleshall. The donation adds wet woodland, marshland, and pastures south of the River Sow to the existing reserve.

The expansion means more than just extra acres. New public footpaths will open across the land, giving visitors fresh trails to explore and connecting people more deeply with nature in their community.

The trust plans to manage the floodplain carefully, coppicing mature alder trees and controlling willow growth to support a wider variety of plants and animals. This thoughtful approach will create habitats where different species can live, feed, and raise their young.

The new land will also serve a practical purpose during heavy rainfall. By allowing the river to spread across the floodplain naturally, the expanded reserve will slow water flow and reduce flooding in communities downstream.

The Ripple Effect

Aldred's gift demonstrates how one person's legacy can create waves of positive change. His donation enables the trust to work at a much larger scale, restoring ecosystems in ways that benefit entire food chains and natural communities.

"This is fantastic news for wildlife and a wonderful example of how gifts in wills can create lasting change for nature," said Jeff Sim of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The organization can now protect and improve habitats on a much bigger scale.

The reserve expansion joins other wildlife wins across the region, where conservation efforts are helping rare species bounce back and damaged ecosystems recover. Each protected acre becomes a refuge where nature can rebuild.

For visitors, the doubled reserve means new ways to experience the outdoors close to home, with trails that wind through restored woodland and along the river's edge. Nature is getting the room it needs to flourish.