Page 6 - BBOWT Annual Review 2017-18

Restore land 293
so it is rich in
Landowners reached through
wildlife liaison and targeted events

BBOWT cares for more than 2,600 hectares of land 3,214ha
across the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire
and Oxfordshire. Together our 87 nature reserves Land influenced as a result of
serve as vital havens where wildlife can thrive. interactions with landowners

R eserves are places from which wildlife can spread as 47ha
conditions in the wider countryside improve. By improving
these natural refuges we act as guardians, securing our New land purchased
mission to create a Living Landscape across our towns, cities at Duxford Old River to
and countryside. extend Chimney Meadows

During the second year of our Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021: Be part
of Nature’s Recovery we enjoyed some encouraging achievements
in this area.

Exposing new areas of gravel on the island at Hosehill Lake created
ideal conditions for ground-nesting birds. Numbers of lapwings and
terns jumped – from none at all in 2014 to 19 lapwings and 17 terns.

Another ground-nester, the rare and elusive nightjar, made a return to
Snelsmore Common after an absence of two years. Nightjars are prone
to disturbance if dogs or people walk too close. Volunteer wardens
were on site throughout the spring and summer to explain to
visitors how keeping to the paths could help this rare bird and others.

At Parsonage Moor we were excited to see southern damselflies
reach a peak day count of 124, the highest in a decade. The count
was worthwhile reward for all the work aimed at helping this
nationally-rare damselfly, including clearing reeds and scrub from
the stream that flows through this fenland reserve.

One of our nature reserves in the Chiltern Hills (location a top secret)
hosted the only red helleborine known to have flowered in 2017 – in
the entire country! Two more of these endangered plants came into
flower this summer.

BBOWT’s Wild Oxford and Wild Banbury projects LRbaaraptigywthhtiMneegreUfafupadtpcuoeewrreas
continue to enhance the wildlife value of local sites.
In Oxford, for example, there are now 20 more plant
species in the Chilswell Valley fen area, while in
Banbury work such as coppicing, tree planting and
pond creation has made project sites more
appealing for both people and wildlife.

6 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust