A rare species of snail found in Hillingdon will receive extra support after a charity received a grant to protect their habitat. 

London Wildlife Trust has received a grant of almost £65,000 from Biffa Award to help Desmoulin's whorl snail thrive at one of the trust’s west London nature reserves.

Desmoulin’s whorl snails can currently be found living at Hillingdon borough’s Denham Lock Wood, one of only a handful of sites in London that supports the species.

Tom Hayward, London Wildlife Trust Reserves Manager, said: “Denham Lock Wood is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and offers a home to many rare and ecologically important species, but the habitat is threatened by sinking water levels.

"We want to help out the Desmoulin’s whorl snail and give them the chance to thrive here in Hillingdon – and thanks to Biffa Award we can now do that.”

Desmoulin’s whorl snail is so threatened that it is prioritised for conservation in the government’s UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The tiny snails depend on humid conditions, typically found at river edges, wet fens and the swampy margins of ponds and ditches, where they live on leaves of tall wetland plants and over-winter in plant litter.

However, the snails are threatened by falling water levels as ditches have silted up and sluice gates have failed.

Falling water levels can also lead to a proliferation of plants which are unsuitable for the snails to live on in winter.

The new grant means the trust will be able to survey the spread of the snails at Denham Lock Wood and decide which specific habitat improvements can best help these rare invertebrates.

As part of the ‘All in a Whorl’ project, a team of 25 volunteers will work to improve the Wood for Desmoulin’s whorl snail, and contractors will be hired to open up areas of ditch for suitable restoration work.

Damaged sluices on the Frays River will also be replaced to allow control of water levels in the Wood.

The Trust will also invite local residents to explore, enjoy and investigate the reserve, with late night glow-worm walks and special snail surveying sessions.

Denham Lock Wood contains one of the best examples of wet alder woodland in London and is officially designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) — one of only 30 SSSIs in London selected for their important biological interest.

If you would like to help London Wildlife Trust as a volunteer on this project, contact Simon Hawkins, the Trust’s Reserves Officer, on shawkins@wildlondon.org.uk.