Page 2 - Annual Review 2014-15

Welcome Contents

What an exciting year 4 Spaces for nature
it has been! Thanks Our continuing work to
to everyone, especially our protect wildlife havens
volunteers and members, for everyone to enjoy
we’re making a hugely 6 Joined up thinking
positive difference for wildlife Working in partnership
in our three counties. Your so that both wildlife
continued support enables us to make the most of and people can thrive
new partnerships and opportunities for wildlife. 8 Inspiring others
We manage our nature reserves to ensure a future Bringing conservation
for wildlife, and they are of course a special place for to life for local people
people to enjoy. The grazing regime at Iffley Meadows 10 Championing
during 2014 enabled a record-breaking 89,830 snake’s- wildlife
head fritillaries to flourish in April. Careful attention to How BBOWT stands up
chalk grassland at Aston Clinton Ragpits resulted in a for wildlife at all levels
bonanza of 24,089 orchids counted in June 2015. 11 Raising our profile
We’ve added a very special nature reserve to Promoting what we do
our portfolio: Yoesden, a small but wonderful chalk through the media
grassland site nestled in the Chiltern Hills. This was our
first full year’s management of Meadow Farm and the 12 Annual accounts
sites that transferred from West Berkshire Council. Details of our income
We engaged with over 4,000 people through: Wild and expenditure
Oxford, the Oxford Festival of Nature, the Big Nature
Count in Thatcham and a full events programme.
In the run-up to the General Election the Wildlife
Trusts asked our politicians for two pledges: develop
a Nature and Wellbeing Act, and a coherent network
of Marine Protected Areas around the UK. All political
parties gave their broad support, but let’s see if those
commitments are followed through.
As we look forward to the coming years, it is with
hope, confidence and determination that we continue
to plan for nature’s recovery across our three counties.
Our new five-year Strategic Plan will be launched
in 2016. Against the backdrop of increased pressures
on land use, driven by economic recovery and the
need to engage people with nature, this will be a
challenging task. We have set a 25-year vision: how
we plan to ensure a future for wildlife, restoration
of natural ecosystems at landscape scale and a
population that is engaged with nature.

Estelle Bailey 14 Thank you
Chief Executive Acknowledgement
from BBOWT to our
Front cover photo: Kingfisher © Jamie Hall 2014-15 supporters
Photo: Estelle Bailey © Ric Mellis. Design: Kate Titford/BBOWT

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