Page 10 - Annual Review 2014-15
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Championing wildlife
Through campaigning and lobbying our aim is to influence
decision-makers and stand up for nature.
The impact of development on wildlife on Calvert Jubilee and Finemere Wood nature
remains a major concern with continuing reserves. Our Head of Conservation Policy
pressure to release land for development and and Strategy represented the Wildlife Trusts
funding cuts affecting local authorities’ ability nationally in their petition to the HS2 Select
to ensure environmental protection. BBOWT Committee.
looked at over 9,000 planning applications
during the year, made detailed representations BBOWT is reviewing the ecosystem
about more than 100 and secured services – things that nature provides for
improvements for wildlife in 75%. people – that our nature reserves generate to
show how Living Landscape projects deliver
We worked with Bicester eco-town multiple benefits alongside improvements for
developers and Cherwell District Council to wildlife.
gain real benefits for wildlife.
We are developing a vision for the Upper
BBOWT is a member of the Local Nature Thames that incorporates the concept of
Partnership in each county. The launch of the wildlife habitats delivering social benefits such
Bucks & Milton Keynes Natural Environment as flood protection and cleaner water.
Partnership’s new Biodiversity Action Plan to
restore or create 20% more priority habitat BBOWT signed a Memorandum of
for wildlife in Bucks by 2020 took place on Understanding with the RSPB to work together
BBOWT’s Gomm Valley nature reserve. to promote the value of improving the Upper
Thames for wildlife.
BBOWT continues to work to reduce the
impacts on wildlife of the HS2 rail proposals
In focus Protecting badgers
BBOWT is taking a lead role in helping
to control the local spread of bovine TB.
Last year we initiated a programme to
vaccinate badgers on our nature reserves
in Oxfordshire that fall close to the High
Risk Area for bovine TB. We also gained
funding from the Government‘s Badger
Edge Vaccination Scheme to work on sites
in the Edge Area.
We identified a large area, including
Greenham and Crookham Commons,
Bowdown Woods and Thatcham Reedbeds,
as well as West Berkshire Council sites
and adjacent privately owned land,
where vaccination will be most effective.
By creating a buffer of badgers in West
Berkshire that are immune to bovine TB
our work could play an important role in
helping to reduce the incidence of this
disease and halt its spread eastwards.
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