Page 8 - Wildlife News August 2018

People & nature

Wild about town

Our increasingly urban existence risks divorcing us from the natural world. Headington School
But BBOWT’s Wild projects are pushing back, something Wild Oxford’s volunteers at work.
Andy Gunn and Jude Verdon of Wild Banbury are proud to be leading
(TONY GILLIE)

F inding time to visit a nature reserve isn’t always easy given Partnering with Oxford City Council has enabled a sustainable
the many demands on us as we go about our daily lives. It’s approach to managing these urban nature reserves, all while
one of the reasons our urban wildlife projects are so bringing in local people through volunteering opportunities and
important. They give those living in towns and cities the events. One of our initiatives at Rivermead Nature Park has involved
opportunity to spend time outside, help improve habitats, or just the local primary school, where a curriculum-based education
enjoy the wildlife that is easy to see – after all, not everyone wants programme has demonstrated the importance of green spaces to
to spend their weekends clamped to a pair of binoculars! the children.

Green spaces are increasingly important as more of us live It’s the connection residents feel to their green spaces that has
in urban areas, not only for wildlife but for our own sense of been central to the success of both Wild Oxford and Wild Banbury.
wellbeing. As a Wildlife Trust we want to show people the special Many people want to care for their local green spaces; our projects
places on their doorstep; our urban Wild projects are an effective give them the opportunities they’ve been seeking to get involved.
way to do this.
Scything the reeds at
Wild Oxford Chilswell Valley.
(ANDY GUNN)
The Wild Oxford project launched in partnership with Oxford City
Council at the end of 2013. Its aim is simple: bring the people of Local children learn about
Oxford closer to their city’s unique and often historic wildlife and local wildlife.
green spaces. Family-friendly events, guided walks, volunteer (KASIA BUS)
days and even workshops on traditional conservation skills like
hedgelaying have helped us to engage with a wider audience.

Most activity happens on four of the council’s nature reserves:
Chilswell and Lye Valleys, Rivermead Nature Park and Raleigh Park.
At each site we are also helping to restore areas of rare calcareous
fen by cutting dominant plants like reeds to expose the seeds of
smaller, rarer plants buried in the peat. All the cutting is done by
volunteers wielding Austrian scythes and their efforts are paying
off – for example, the fen at Chilswell Valley now boasts 25 plant
species, up from just three when we started.

Much of our work is in improving access to these sites.
At Chilswell Valley we teamed up with Oxford Conservation
Volunteers to install new gates and paths, while at Lye Valley pupils
from Headington School helped us to construct a path to zigzag
up a steep slope, making access easier for everyone.

8 Wildlife news / August 2018