Page 3 - Wildlife News Dec 2017
P. 3
news KEEP UP-TO-DATE
Visit our website for
Tots run wild (JOHN HANRATTY)regular news updates at:
bbowt.org.uk/news
More local pre-school children are set to Nature Tots sessions inspire (jim asher)
go wild and discover nature thanks to our a curiosity in wildlife. News in brief
partnership with The Southern Co-op.
The My Wild Neighbourhood campaign (iRIC MELLIS) Web of wonder
uses money raised from the carrier bag
charge to support local community causes. For upcoming sessions search Exciting changes are coming to
This year funding is being distributed to ‘Nature Tots’ at our website. The site is getting a
the Wildlife Trust’s monthly Nature Tots bbowt.org.uk/whats-on fresh design that will be easier
sessions at the Nature Discovery Centre to navigate. Welcome additional
in Thatcham and Sutton Courtenay features will include a search
Environmental Education Centre, near field on the homepage where
Didcot, which receive £2,300 and £700 you can enter your postcode
respectively. to find out what’s going on near you. Your new-look
website goes live in spring 2018 at the same address:
Research by The Wildlife Trusts has bbowt.org.uk
found that over three-quarters of parents
are concerned that children don’t spend Nightjars return
enough time interacting with nature.
Nature Tots sessions nurture an early The rare nightjar has returned
interest in wildlife, reflecting changes to West Berkshire’s Snelsmore
in seasons so little ones can explore the Common after a two-year
outdoors uninhibited, whether jumping absence. It follows targeted
in puddles, stirring mud pies or creating conservation work and efforts
artistic masterpieces from sticks and leaves! by wardens to explain to
visitors the importance of
We’re listening to you keeping to the paths to avoid disturbing these ground-
nesting birds. Night-time surveys successfully recorded
Thanks to all who responded to our survey website and the Your Wild Guide handbook (MATTHEW HEARN)the distinctive ‘churring’ song of two male birds.
with April’s issue. We are always interested useful sources.
in what our members have to say and Thank you Martin
found this to be such a valuable exercise. If we were to expand our work, you
would want us to both create more nature Martin Barnsley, energetic
We had more than 1,300 responses. reserves and work with more land owners warden of Foxholes (Oxon)
Among interesting (and perhaps to improve the wider countryside. The for many years from the early
unsurprising) findings is that the reason good news is we are doing both these 1970s, has died. Martin was
most joined BBOWT is to ‘help support things, buying Duxford Old River just this deeply respected for his
local wildlife’ and for families, to ‘foster a year and developing new initiatives to work commitment to the wildlife of
love for wildlife in their children’. You get beyond our own nature reserves. We will Foxholes, where he carried out
most of your information about us from tell you more about these in future issues regular work parties, led walks and surveys, produced
Wildlife News, with many also finding our of Wildlife News. charcoal for sale and coordinated popular bluebell open
days. Thank you, Martin for your incredible contribution.
Investing in our wildlife
Snap happy
Many thanks to our friends from Prolinx, Ltd, Oracle Corporation UK and Sophos Plc.
Thames Water, Siemens and Taylor & Discover the business benefits of Matthew Hearne is the
Francis for their fantastic efforts during winner of the third annual
their work parties on our nature reserves, becoming an Investor in Wildlife, including Oxford Festival of Nature
in spite of the weather. On one day it brand enhancement and a wider audience Photography Competition
reached 33°C but the Himalayan balsam reach. Call Richard Woods on 01865 775476 with his view of a common
was still beaten! or email richardwoods@bbowt.org.uk lizard at Snelsmore
Common near Newbury. All
We are thrilled that the following The Thames Water team take a photos were taken on BBOWT’s nature reserves. You
companies have signed up as Investors well-earned break. (ROGER STACE) can admire all the prize-winning photos at bbowt.org.
in Wildlife, showing their continued uk/photography-competition-2017
commitment to wildlife and the beautiful
environment in which we live and work: By Royal appointment
Blenheim Palace Estates, English Provender
Company, MEPC Milton Park, NFU Mutual BBOWT is working with The
Witney and Oxford, Nurture Landscapes Crown Estate to establish
the Windsor Great Park
Environmental Centre. The
partnership means that more
children and families can
learn about and enjoy the
wildlife and natural history of Windsor Great Park. The
centre is scheduled to open in spring 2018 and will
host a lively schools programme, regular Nature Tots
sessions, family events and wildlife clubs.
Follow us on social media
Wildlife news / December 2017 3
