Page 4 - August 2016 WN complete final version

Festival drives us wild
Thousands of people discovered their wild kingfisher. Other winners were: Ben Kiteley, Under
side during the Oxford Festival of Nature in 18s, with a close up of a dark green fritillary butterfly
June. The two-week wildlife extravaganza on a pyramidal orchid; Pat Clark, Mobile Phone, with

welcomed nature lovers to 60 events across the city a photo of an island of water lilies; Benjamin Waller, Dark green fritillary.
(Ben Kitely)
and the county. BBOWT led the Festival in partnership Wild Places, with a shot of winter sunrise through
Wildlife – Winner
with Oxford City Council, the Oxford University woodland, who also won the Panasonic judge’s prize; Nature’s Bounty. (Roy McDonald)
My Wild Life – Winner
Museum of Natural History and many other groups. and Roy McDonald, My Wild Life, with a little girl I Spy at the Bird Hide. (Elaine Tuffery)

The Festival highlight was undoubtedly the Wild playing peek-a-boo among bluebells at Dancersend.

Fair held at the Museum. Around 7,500 people Sustainability and human development was

enjoyed wildlife crafts, hands-on activities such as bird the topic of choice for a fascinating conversation

box making, meeting birds of prey, live music and between master storyteller Michael Morpurgo,

story-telling. Inside the Museum visitors discovered author of War Horse, and Professor Ian Goldin,

mini-beasts, had a go with microscopes, met bats Director of the Oxford Martin School at the

and grass snakes and quizzed the Museum’s experts. University of Oxford. Michael advised us to ‘live

Prize-winning photos from the 415 entries to always in rhythm, in harmony with this wonderful

the Festival’s photo competition were displayed. Earth, and all shall be well’.

The overall winner was Ian Curtis with a preening Other Festival events invited wildlife enthusiasts

to experience the screaming swifts of Oxford on

a Swift Walk, turn mammal detective in Wytham

Woods, follow a wildlife treasure hunt and witness

an intriguing debate on the merits of badgers versus

hedgehogs!

(Ric Mellis) Wild Fair photo to come. (Ric Mellis) Marvel at all the prize-winning

Photography Competition photos at:
bbowt.org.uk/photo-competition

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ash Dieback strikes Backing wildlife Nature’s NHS

Cases of Ash Dieback have Thank you to Abingdon Connecting with nature can
been confirmed at a number & Witney College and improve health and transform
of nature reserves across Nurture Landscapes the way we feel about life. That
all three counties. The for joining BBOWT as was the message of Intelligent
reserves remain open but corporate members and to Health’s Dr William Bird at the
visitors are asked to help NatureBureau for renewing launch of BBOWT’s new Strategic
slow the disease’s spread by its membership. Oracle held Plan 2016–2021 as he explained
removing mud and leaves a very successful team day at how everyone can benefit from
from footwear, bikes and Snelsmore Common as part the ‘Natural Health Service’. Read
vehicles before leaving of Earth Week, while teams about his work on page 22.
the sites. Hope remains from Taylor & Francis Ltd
that ash’s natural genetic Installing the swift boxes. and Thames Water enjoyed Chiltern gentian.
diversity may one day yield (Ailsa Barber) helping out at SCEEC and (Peter Creed)
disease-resistant strains. Warburg Nature Reserve.
Swift work We were also delighted to Favourable outlook
Ash dieback. receive donations from Just
(Steve Collin, Norfolk WT) Swooping swifts may soon Purple Ltd, Dobbies and Good news! The recently
be a common sight at the Magnox Harwell/Winfrith. published Conservation
Trust’s Oxford headquarters. Report has revealed that our
Ten new swift nest boxes have Taylor & Francis work party. nature reserves are becoming
been installed on the building ( Jess Gallagher) more biodiverse! There has
by volunteers from Southern been a two-thirds increase in
Electric Power Distribution. features showing a significant
The boxes were set into improvement over the last
position with the help of the three years, while features
electricity network operator’s classed as being in favourable
cherry-picker, with staff condition have increased by
time donated as part of the 5%. Read more about the
company’s ‘Be the Difference’ report on page 8.
programme.

4 Wildlife news