Page 19 - BBOWT Annual Review 2015-16
P. 19
From our Chairman
“Punching above our weight” Times are tough and getting tougher. We have
sums up our Annual Report been battling HS2 and wildlife-threatening
for 2015-16. I wonder how building developments. Before long, EU funding
many other charities achieve and environmental protection regulations
so much on relatively modest will be things of the past. A new regulator
resources? Without the threatens to disrupt our fundraising. But
contribution of our wonderful BBOWT is creating new ways of communicating,
volunteers – the equivalent of 75 full-time using digital and social media, supplementing
members of staff – we would be struggling! traditional methods of attracting supporters.
Here are three of my personal highlights from By working collaboratively with partners, our
2015-16. Our Living Landscapes, Upper River Ray Strategic Plan for the next five years has an
Floodplain, Upper Thames and West Berkshire, ambitious aim: to increase from 6.9% to 8%
are going from strength to strength. Our three- the land area outside SSSIs and Local Wildlife
yearly Conservation Report, thanks to a small Sites that meets Priority Habitat for Biodiversity
army of knowledgeable volunteers, proves criteria, and then to 10% by 2030. Yes we can!
that our reserves are getting better overall but
there is no room for complacency. And my third You – our members, donors, legacy makers and
highlight is the Oxford Festival of Nature, which grant givers – who have been so generous in the
brought enjoyment of wildlife to thousands of past, can help us make it happen.
'city' people. BBOWT is increasingly reaching
out to people, young and old, in cities, towns Clive Booth Our Living
and suburbs: not just Oxford, but Milton Keynes, Landscapes
Reading, Slough and others. Sir Clive Booth are going from
Chairman strength to
strength
