Page 7 - Wildlife News August 2017

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(ROB APPLEBY)

T he Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) uses money raised by The speed with which the HLF and you, our members, step
National Lottery players to help people explore, enjoy and in to save land at peril is incredible. These wonderful places
protect the heritage they care about, including our natural have been saved not just for wildlife but for people too. The HLF
heritage. In many ways the HLF is the perfect partner to your helps us connect people to wildlife in many ways, with major
support as a member. Like you, they have always stood tall when projects such as the visitor centre at College Lake only possible
help was needed. thanks to their added support.

So many of our nature reserves have been saved or made bigger Of course, wildlife is the biggest winner. With the constant
as a result of their generous support, including the unspoilt threat of development and so many people disconnected from
flood-meadows of Chimney Meadows; the extension to Moor the joys of our natural world, the work of the Heritage Lottery
Copse, one of our oldest and most abundant woodland nature Fund has never been so important for the precious wildlife we
reserves; and the purchase of Yoesden, a stunning example of love. Here are just a few of the projects the HLF has helped to
rare chalk grassland tucked away in the folds of the Chiltern Hills. bring about.

Fresh talent Saving a Chiltern treasure (stacey Doran)

Between 2011-2016 BBOWT’s Developing Green Talent scheme, supported The HLF contributed to the rescue of (steve mendham)
by the HLF, provided practical traineeships in conservation to 43 wildlife Yoesden, Bucks in 2014. The steep bank is
(RIC MELLISenthusiasts looking to turn their passion into a career. Nearly all traineeshome to a variety of orchids and other
went on to gain employment within nature conservation, including 14 wild flowers that support a host of
recruited to BBOWT staff. butterflies, including the ‘four blues’: (toyah baulk)
small blue, chalkhill blue, Adonis blue
gInesnpeirriantgiotnhe next and common blue. This remnant of rare
chalk grassland will be preserved for
Enthusing children about generations to come.
the wonders of wildlife is
essential if we are to create A future for floodplains
the next generation of nature
lovers. The 2011 opening of The purchase of Meadow Farm, part
our environmental education of the Upper Ray Meadows, in 2013
centre at Woolley Firs, presented an opportunity to gain a deeper
Berkshire has provided local understanding of these striking floodplain
schoolchildren with a well- meadows. The Meadow Farm Project that
equipped, purpose- resulted saw more than 1,500 visitors to the
designed space to learn meadows, including schoolchildren who
about wildlife and ignite can now use the new outdoor classroom.
their curiosity. Equipment purchased as part of the project
has improved management efficiency,
reducing costs while improving habitat for
wildlife such as lapwing (pictured).

Window on the past

The Earth Explorers exhibition at College
Lake opened this spring and shows off
the remarkable geological and natural
heritage of this former chalk quarry.
Visitors can delve deep into the history
of the site, with bones, fossils and other
archaeological finds stretching back
millions of years in time.

Wildlife news / August 2017 7