Page 7 - BBOWT Annual Review 2017-18

Wading in to enhance a
nationally-significant landscape

Last year saw the successful completion of a two-year
project in the Upper Ray Meadows to create new habitats for
breeding waders such as lapwing and curlew.

The Upper River Ray – Enhancing and Restoring Floodplain
Meadows project furthered our plans to safeguard the future
of the locally scarce birds, as well as other threatened flora
and fauna. In 2016 a programme of work began funded by a
grant from WREN using money donated by FCC Environment
through the Landfill Communities Fund.

More than 13 hectares of meadow have been carefully
restored using freshly strewn hay cut from other parts of the
reserve. Early survey results suggest that the number of wild
flowers and other species found in these meadows is already
showing signs of recovery.

Work to improve the breeding success of wading birds was
at the heart of the project. Cleaned out ditches and scrapes
help to keep more of the floodplain meadows wetter late
into spring, a crucial time for feeding wader chicks. A large
pond restored at Gallows Bridge Farm is now used for
feeding by nesting curlew. New fencing keeps predators out,
improving success rates and giving a much-needed boost to
the local population of lapwing and curlew.

It’s not all about floodplain meadows though. The project
included work to plant or restore almost a kilometre of
blackthorn hedgerow. This has expanded the existing
hedgerow network, which will improve the resilience of
farmland birds and the colonies of both black and brown
hairstreak butterflies that rely on the blackthorn as a source
of food for their caterpillars.

Lisa Green, WREN Operations Manager, said:
“FCC Environment and WREN are committed to supporting
projects that protect and expand some of the country’s
most important ecosystems. That’s why we were delighted
to fund the Upper River Ray – Enhancing and Restoring
Floodplain Meadows project, which will help to safeguard
the future of this nationally-significant landscape for
generations to come.”

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 7