Trent and Tame River Valleys

The UK’s third longest river, the Trent, touches the lives of more than six million people. It meanders almost 190 miles through this Futurescape, from the Tame in the heart of the Midlands to the Humber.

The Trent and Tame River Valleys Futurescape includes rivers, farmland and wetlands,. It also includes the green spaces and gardens of communities living alongside these iconic waterways.

It’s a home to nature from around the world. Swifts from Africa spend summer in the villages and towns, migrating wading birds from the Arctic drop in to feed, and wintering ducks visit from Russia.

We’re working with partners to create a wetland corridor rich in nature and an inspirational place to live, work and visit.

Marsh harriers, bitterns and avocets are returning to breed after being absent for centuries. Salmon and eels will swim up the rivers to their spawning grounds. Wetlands will buzz with insects and farmland will come alive with the sounds of skylarks, yellow wagtails and corn buntings.

Everyone has a part to play in this process – from encouraging wildlife in gardens and parks, to creating new wildlife sites.

Find out what’s going on near this Futurescape, including places to visit, news and local events, plus how you can work or volunteer for us.

• Derbyshire
• Lincolnshire
• Nottinghamshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire

Reserves and other protected areas are a key part of Futurescapes. They provide core areas for nature to thrive and eventually repopulate the surrounding landscapes. The key RSPB reserves within this Futurescape are:

Beckingham Marshes

Beckingham Marshes is a major habitat creation project on the River Trent floodplain. W have worked to create a vital wet grassland habitat. 

Middleton Lakes

Nestled in the beautiful Tame valley, just south of Tamworth on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border, Middleton Lakes is one of our more recent nature reserves to open.

Langford Lowfields

We’re working in partnership with Tarmac to restore this former sand and gravel quarry on the River Trent into the biggest reedbed in the East Midlands.

We're working to safeguard and improve special places for nature. Each Futurescape contains a range of initiatives in addition to our reserves. The combination of these creates better conditions for wildlife across the countryside.

Nature After Minerals

This website can be used as a resource for everyone who has an interest in quarry restoration and minerals planning for biodiversity.

Futurescapes is all about collaboration. There are many organisations and people involved in managing land in the Trent and Tame River Valleys Our challenge is working together to find ways of making more space for nature. To achieve this we’re working with:

• Central Rivers Initiative
• Derbyshire Biodiversity
• Derbyshire County Council
• Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
• East Staffordshire Borough Council
• The Environment Agency
• Forestry Commission
• Mineral Products Association
• National Trust
• Natural England
• Nature After Minerals
• Newark and Sherwood District Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
• Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
• Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership
• The National Forest
• The National Memorial Arboretum
• Trent Rivers Trust
• Warwickshire County Council
• Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
• Wild About Tamworth