Wiltshire Wildlife, Autumn-Winter 2023

Wiltshire

A sustainable future for wildlife and people Members’ Magazine Autumn/Winter 2023

Wildlife

Inside this issue

Transforming landscapes with farmer clusters Re-curving the river at Smallbrook Meadows Creating spaces for reflection in nature

Contents Wiltshire Wildlife Magazine December 2023 Number 133 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Trust.

Design Studio56 07824 468387 Printed on paper produced from pulp from responsibly managed forests. Printed in Wiltshire by www.MailandPrint.co.uk Editor Kirstine Bowen

Autumn/Winter 2023

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Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Registered charity No. 266202 Patron Robert Floyd Chair Mark Street Council Members Julian Barlow, Charlie Fattorini, Richard Gantlett, Tim Gilson, Fiona Goff, Phil Heads, Matt Jolley, Dagmar Junghanns, Piers Maynard, Sylvia Wyatt Chief Executive Joanna Lewis

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Get in touch…

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Post it to us Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Ltd, Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1NJ. Email info@wiltshirewildlife.org or visit our website www.wiltshirewildlife.org

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Phone us on 01380 725670

Follow us:

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facebook.com/WiltsWild

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A large-print version of the text of this magazine is available on request.

Please phone the Trust on 01380 829071.

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Cause for hope for nature’s recovery in Wiltshire Transforming landscapes with farmer clusters in North Wiltshire Re-curving the river at Smallbrook Meadows Reserve focus: Bay Meadows The elusive water vole Chalk, cheese, and ancient trees WWCE's Community Fund Project Rejuvenate

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Country Comes to Town returns after four years 18 Creating spaces for reflection in nature for people grieving Completion of the UASC Programme 19 My wild job 20 Woodland poem competition winners 22 Woodland Wild Snaps winners Grandpa’s bench 23 Social media highlights

Welcome hope that this magazine finds you in good spirits and perhaps reflecting on what nature experiences you have had this year.

There is still a lot to experience in winter-time, but you have to look in different places, which makes it even more interesting. Some of our nature reserves, like Langford Lakes, come into their own during the colder months when all sorts of winter visitors arrive. I have heard of recent sighting of otters at Langford, which appear more frequently when the weather is a bit milder, plus you can see the new sand martin hide nearing completion.

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community to give more space for insects to thrive across the landscape. This work is a key thread of what the Trust will be doing under Jo’s leadership.

I also liked his practical suggestions on what we can do in our own spaces; small changes make big differences. A key change is to drop the use of artificial chemicals, which are often not needed, and tidy is not always best, which is a great thing in our busy lives.

For Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, it has been a year of transition as we welcomed Jo Lewis as our new Chief Executive and said our farewell to Gary Mantle as he retired. I have had the pleasure of working with Jo over the past few months and I can say that the Trustees have chosen an excellent person for the role. She brings with her great experience of working within the environmental, food and agricultural sectors, all key to the delivery of our 2030 Strategy. Already, we are seeing some early successes; we will be able to report on more very soon.

If you are reading this, you are most likely already a supporter; thank you for that. I would ask that you also share the full range of what we do with your family, friends and colleagues. By sharing the message, we can grow our support and by doing that, we can do more of what is so important, such as making nature even more abundant.

If you heard Professor Dave Goulson’s presentation at the AGM (available on YouTube), you will have heard his response to a question on what is the most important thing we should do to halt insect decline. He was clear that this is to work with the farming and land management

Enjoy the magazine, and keep your eyes and ears open for the wonders of winter wildlife, plus some more good news stories from the Trust.

Mark Street, Chair

6 ways to get involved with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust  Volunteer for us From practical conservation tasks in our woodlands, meadows and rivers, to supporting educational activities for children, you can find the latest opportunities at: volunteering.wiltshirewildlife.org

 Leave a gift in your Will Ensure the wildlife you care about is protected beyond your lifetime.

See p.22 to find out the ways you can make a lasting difference.

 Join #TeamWilder Help us achieve our shared vision of a wilder future by taking action for nature today. Visit our Team Wilder page for resources to help you on your wilder journey: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/teamwilder

 Help us save Great Wood It’s not too late to donate to our woodland appeal to help us restore Great Wood to its former glory: www.wiltshirewildlife.org /great-wood-appeal

 Be a Wildlife Watch leader We’re looking to set up new Wildlife Watch groups for children aged 4-13 in Swindon and Langford Lakes.

Contact Ali Nott at alin@wiltshirewildlife.org for more information.

 Give the gift of nature Give someone special the gift of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust membership this Christmas. Order at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/join Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 3

Cause for hope for nature’s recovery in Wiltshire

By Joanna Lewis, new CEO of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

I feel so privileged to be taking over the reins from Gary Mantle as CEO of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, after his amazing 33 years of service.

It needs to be, of course, now more than ever.

The State of Nature 2023 report confirmed that there is no let-up in the decline of the UK’s wildlife – not good news when we are already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

What stands out for me is the tragic decline of much-loved species like dormice, hedgehogs and skylarks. We scan the skies in vain for returning swifts and celebrate occasional sightings of birds, like yellowhammers that used to throng the hedgerows.

It may surprise you, then, to hear that I am full of hope.

That’s because there has never been a stronger consensus on the need to transform our food and farming system to work for nature and the climate alongside resilient, healthy food production.

That matters because the evidence is clear that intensive farming practices have been the single biggest driver of nature’s decline.

Nationally, it is a major breakthrough that we have a legal target to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and cross-party commitment to use public money to reward farmers for improving our environment.

Our number one manifesto ask for the General Election is now to double that farm budget to match the scale of need for nature-friendly farming.

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Wiltshire is above all a farming county, and there’s a huge opportunity for a new generation of nature-friendly farmers – learning from the organic pioneers – to lead the way to nature’s recovery in Wiltshire. It fills me with hope to meet so many farmers who are taking huge pride in regenerating their soil, making nature a co-worker and reducing their reliance on costly agrichemicals year on year.

This is nature-friendly farming in the middle of the fields, not just in the field margins. It has the potential to transform whole landscapes, not just individual farms. The Trust is already working with the Braydon Forest and Bremhill Vale farmer clusters to protect curlews, lapwings and tree sparrows, and encourage them back to breed (see p.6). We are also partnering with the Wylye Valley Farmers to help restore the internationally important Wylye chalk stream. Our Bristol Avon Catchment Market is giving landholders in that catchment the opportunity to secure a meaningful income from nature-based projects on their land (see main image), and we will be rolling out that approach right across the county.

Photo: Lapwing, Steve Long

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have looked at The Wildlife Trusts movement for some time now with huge admiration and no small degree of envy.

To be so rooted in what matters to local communities, so powerfully supported by an army of volunteers, so dynamic in developing nature-based solutions across the movement, and so effective at calling Governments to account at the national level… It’s a winning combination.

Strategic partnerships like these will be fundamental to achieving our new ‘Wilder Wiltshire’ Strategy, including our headline goal of 30% of land well managed for nature by 2030.

I am also full of hope that we can bring nature back into people’s daily lives in Wiltshire and Swindon in a way that can transform our health and happiness.

One of the reasons I am so excited to be joining Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is that it has an amazing track record of making a difference for people as well as nature. The Trust has shown, through our Care Farms and Forest Schools, how nature therapy can give hope to young people struggling with mental ill-health and special educational needs.

Our Youth Education and Wellbeing team create opportunities for thousands of children to get outdoors and learn in nature, whether in their school grounds or on one of our flagship nature reserves.

Now, with our new Strategy to 2030, we are committed to giving every child in Wiltshire and

Swindon that opportunity, in a way that can spark a lifelong connection with nature. As David Attenborough so powerfully said, “No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

I am particularly excited about our Young Ambassador programme, giving a platform and opportunities to an impressive new generation of nature leaders.

The challenges for Wiltshire’s wildlife are great, but I truly see more opportunities than ever before.

We can achieve nature’s recovery in Wiltshire and Swindon, and we can mobilise more people than ever to take meaningful action for nature.

But we can only do it with your help. Without you, our wonderful members and volunteers, we could do none of this work. Ultimately, it is your support that sustains my hope. Thank you.

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Wiltshire is above all a farming county, and there’s a huge opportunity for a new generation of naturefriendly farmers.”

Bristol Avon Catchment Market initial site visit with landholder

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Photo: WWT

So, I am full of hope that we can help farmers across Wiltshire and Swindon find a resilient and profitable pathway to nature-friendly farming.

Transforming landscapes with farmer clusters in North Wiltshire

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armer clusters and farmer groups provide a local focus on achieving conservation and environmental benefits and allow farmers themselves to determine the priorities. This coordinated approach results in something that is greater than the sum of its parts, with clusters being able to achieve landscape-scale change.

Braydon Forest Farmers A former royal hunting forest, the historic landscape of the Braydon Forest is defined by areas of pasture and meadows, interspersed with woodland, hedgerows and in-field trees.

The farmer cluster was born out of a desire to protect the few remaining breeding curlew in the area, after it was discovered that curlew numbers had suffered a catastrophic decline of up to 80% over 25 years.

This year, the Waderscapes Project was established and the work of the farmer cluster has grown to have a much wider remit. Our work within the Braydon Forest area now involves supporting local landowners to protect the remaining breeding waders, such as lapwing and curlew.

We aim to locate and monitor breeding pairs and, where possible, protect their nests.

In the longer term, the cluster is working to try to create a landscape that is more waderfriendly.

We are also working together to connect areas of woodland and improve hedgerows. Much of this work is now centred around Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s new nature reserve, Great Wood, which the Trust was able to purchase early this year thanks to a substantial grant from Biffa Award through the Landfill Communities Fund and other generous donors. Great Wood is one of the few remaining large ancient woodlands in Wiltshire, covering 175 acres near Lyneham in North Wiltshire. Alongside habitat improvement within the woodland, we are working to improve connectivity between Great Wood and other areas of habitat for species such as the brown hairstreak butterfly and woodcock.

All of this work to connect habitats and improve the landscape for the species that call it home is only made possible due to the collective work of the farmer cluster.

Photo: Curlew, Darin Smith

The farmer cluster was born out of a desire to protect the few remaining breeding curlew in the area.

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Photo: Yellowhammer, Graham Coules, NWWTC

By Jonny Cooper, WSBRC Project Officer

Bremhill Vale Farmer Cluster The Bremhill Vale is a diverse landscape, including areas of pasture as well as arable farms.

Our work with this cluster is only just getting started; there are lots of opportunities to improve the landscape for wildlife on the horizon.

The current focus of this work is to improve habitats for farmland birds such as corn bunting, yellowhammer and linnet. Many of these birds have declined markedly, but within Wiltshire we still have good populations of them. The cluster is working with its members to help these birds, such as planting seed mixes to provide winter food.

One species of particular interest is the tree sparrow; in recent decades this species has declined by around 90% nationally. There is still a population near to the cluster on the Marlborough Downs. We are working to expand the range of the tree sparrow by providing suitable sites for them to spread and form new breeding colonies. This involves providing nest boxes and supplementary bird feed. In order for this to be successful, a well-connected network of habitats is vital; something that once again can only be provided by a farmer cluster.

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Photo: Brown hairstreak butterfly, Stephen Davis

We are working to improve connectivity between Great Wood and other areas of habitat for species such as the brown hairstreak butterfly.”

If you are a landholder or farmer, contact Chelsie Fuge in our Nature Recovery Team to find out how we can help you deliver nature-based projects on your land: chelsief@wiltshirewildlife.org

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Re-curving the river at Smallbrook

By Connor Stapleton-Goddard, Water Team Projects Officer

We have recently completed an exciting project at Smallbrook Meadows to re-meander the River Were with a more natural curved shape and reconnect the river to its floodplain, improving habitat for endangered water voles and restoring natural processes.

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mallbrook Meadows is a unique mosaic of six small water meadows, wet woodland, marsh, ponds, chalk streams and hedgerows. The nature reserve, which is located on the southern edge of Warminster and lies between the Rivers Were and Wylye, is owned by Wiltshire Council and managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

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Photo: Banded demoiselle, Vicky Nall

Meadows

Thanks to the hard work of Trust staff, volunteers and contractors on the ground, we now have a curvier river channel that has been reconnected to its floodplain and we’ve introduced a wider range of microhabitats such as wetland scrapes, which will provide a host of benefits for the resident water voles, aquatic invertebrates and wild brown trout. Invertebrates such as dragonflies and damselflies will flourish in particular when the new scrapes become filled each season as water levels rise.

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We’ve introduced a wider range of micro-habitats such as wetland scrapes, which will provide a host of benefits for the resident water voles, aquatic invertebrates and wild brown trout.”

The more natural shape and size of the river channel will also kick-start natural river processes such as sedimentation in the margins and faster flows in the main channel to keep important gravel habitats clean for spawning fish and promote weed growth.

Photo: Brown trout, Paul Colley

We’ll be monitoring the new river channel closely over winter to see what it looks like with the higher water levels and translocated plants. As the new channel has lots of young, delicate plants, we ask that people stick to the paths and off the new banks. There is a great view of both the new and infilled channels from the footbridge at the upstream end of the improved area at the reserve!

Find out more about the Water Team’s projects and opportunities to volunteer at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/ water-team

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Photo: Re-curved River Were at Smallbrook Meadows, BD Westby

This wetland restoration project was funded

by National Highways’ Environment and Wellbeing Designated Fund as part of the Network for Nature programme, which aims to create, restore and connect habitats for wildlife which have been impacted by historic road building activity.

Reserve f cus

By James Ravine, Head of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

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ay Meadows is at the heart of an amazing chalk landscape in the North Wessex Downs.

The River Og, a beautiful chalk stream, runs through the middle of the reserve’s water meadows.

Purchased in 2022, we saved the site from the threat of development that would have destroyed its value for wildlife.

Thanks to great support from our members, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Hills Group, Dyson, Fish in Need, Marlborough Area Board, the Town Council and other generous donors, we have completed a transformative project to improve the habitat for mammals, birds, fish and pollinators. We have also created a fantastic Nature Park which is now open for everyone to enjoy at any time.

Chalking up benefits for wildlife….

Bay Meadows is crucial in helping wildlife move seasonally through the chalk landscape along the River Og. Our surveys have revealed more than 300 species call Bay Meadows home, including otter and wild brown trout; habitat restoration in the nature reserve’s Wildlife Refuge area has been geared toward attracting even more.

Shallow scrapes have been created, which will fill with water seasonally, providing ideal habitat for wading birds such as lapwing.

The scrapes are also a clever way to mitigate the impact of climate change, allowing water to be released slowly during dry periods to help sustain nature. In the Og’s channel, we have also varied the water flow to improve fish spawning habitat.

More than 6,000 trees have been planted, including hawthorn and crab apple, to provide food sources and nesting habitat for birds. We planted many snakeshead fritillary bulbs to establish this beautiful, rare wildflower in a new location.

Grazing by a small herd of cattle has also been introduced into the Wildlife Refuge to create ideal conditions for more wildflowers to flourish. …and people The Nature Park provides a wonderful place to explore, relax and connect with nature, easily walkable from the town of Marlborough.

Photo: Pond dipping at Bay Meadows, Anna Forbes

Discover Bay Meadows, our newest nature reserve located on the edge of Marlborough

Photo: Kingfisher, Darin Smith

Bay Meadows

There’s the chance to see and hear many birds, including reed bunting, and yellowhammer. You may even see the iridescent blue flash of a kingfisher darting along the channel. In summer, why not sit on the river bank listening to the trickling waters whilst watching dragonflies?

You can learn more about the reserve’s wildlife and fascinating history from new information boards around the Nature Park.

We laid weatherproof paths and installed bridges so you can take a circular walk year round; the paths connect to public rights of way for those interested in longer walks.

With the help of an amazing group of volunteers, we have created a den building area, an enchanted tunnel and a wellbeing area. Several chill-out areas mown into the meadow provide a place to picnic or enjoy the view.

Throughout the project, nearly 700 people of all ages have benefitted from activities ranging from bee walks and school visits, to learning conservation skills and participating in wellbeing programmes.

Look out for guided activities at: wiltshirewildlife.org/events

Find out more about this nature reserve at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/nature-reserves/bay-meadows 10 Wiltshire Wildlife Autumn/Winter 2023

Photo: Bay Meadows Before, WWT

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Wellbeing and chill-out areas

Circular walk and bridges

Photo: Bay Meadows After, Richard Clarke

More than 6,000 trees have been planted

Shallow scrapes have been created After Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 11

Did you know?

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Photo: Water vole, Getty

The water vole is famously known as ‘Ratty’ in the classic children's tale, The Wind in the Willows.

Water voles can sometimes be confused with larger brown rats, although water rats don’t exist.

The elusive water vole

By Kirstine Bowen, Marketing and Communications Manager

How we are protecting one of the UK’s most endangered mammals

Water voles are much bigger than other vole species. They have chestnut-brown fur, a rounded nose, small ears and a furry tail.

Though you may not see one because of their secretive nature, you can look out for the signs of water voles, such as burrows in the riverbank or tell-tale piles of tic-tac shaped droppings by the water’s edge. They like to sit and eat in the same place, so piles of nibbled grass and stems may also be found by the water's edge, showing a distinctive angled cut at the ends.

Water voles are a vital part of river ecosystems. Their burrowing, feeding and movements help to create conditions for other animals and plants to thrive. However, this charming riverside creature is thought to be declining at an alarming rate for a number of reasons: • Habitat loss – Over the years, floodplains have been built on and vegetation along riverbanks removed.

• Pollution of waterways – Their habitats are threatened by pollution from agriculture, sewage, roads, house-building and single-use plastics; chalk streams are particularly vulnerable to pollutants.

• Predating species – The introduction of the American mink into the UK for fur farming is thought to be a big cause of their decline; many mink have escaped and now thrive in the wild.

As a protected species, we need to do all we can to ensure Wiltshire’s rivers and wetlands are in the best Photo: River Wylye, WWT

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he water vole was once a river regular. You may have heard about them in stories from grandparents who would watch them from the riverbank. Sadly, you would be lucky to catch a glimpse of this elusive mammal today. Whilst water voles are still present in Wiltshire, they are now absent from many other counties, having declined nationally by an astonishing 97% since the 1970s.

Wiltshire’s rare chalk streams are now a lifeline for the endangered water vole.

possible condition for water voles to flourish. Together with other organisations, landowners and farmers, we are working hard to create better habitat for water voles across our county and beyond: • We have been regrading riverbanks and adding more woody debris to improve flows.

• We have recently improved habitat for the small colonies of water vole at both our Smallbrook Meadows and Bay Meadows nature reserves (see pages 8-11).

• With the ‘Save our Chalk Streams’ campaign, we have joined forces with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to call for new, pioneering, bespoke protections for all chalk streams, which would make polluters pay and hold water companies to account.

Our hope is that one day, many of our rivers will once again be filled with the gentle ‘plopping’ sound of water voles plunging into the water.

We recently joined other Wildlife Trusts at a parliamentary event to discuss with MPs from Wiltshire and other counties what Government can do to better protect our iconic chalk streams.

Help us save our chalk streams for water voles and other precious wildlife!

Urge your MP to support new, bespoke legal protections: wtru.st/SaveChalkstreams Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 13

Photo: Ancient woodland

“ Chalk, cheese, and ancient trees

Our hope is to accurately portray our past whilst collecting additional data on local wildlife.”

By Charlotte Dacre, Ancient Woodland Inventory Officer, WSBRC

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he Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) project was first introduced in the 1980s and put Britain, quite literally, on the map for woodland conservation.

The project aimed to identify ancient woodland sites across the country, with hopes of using this information in future conservation projects. However, digital mapping programmes had only just come into focus, and ecologists had a hard time putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Time vs. technology Today, forty-something years later, we are now reviewing the original dataset through the lens of modern technology. Our hope is to accurately portray our past whilst collecting additional data on local wildlife. Through modern mapping technology, we can collect and reconnect pieces that may have been overlooked in the original inventory.

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All of this has been made possible thanks to the help of the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, who hold almost all of our long-standing maps, and our volunteers who spent the summer photographing plants of potential interest.

Project progress so far…

So far, with help from our volunteers, we have been able to identify over 7,100 parcels of potential ancient woodland across Wiltshire. That’s more than 6,000 additional parcels compared to the original inventory.

The currently designated ancient woodland in Wiltshire (~1,100 parcels)

Call for Volunteers!

We’re interested in recruiting amateur botanists and flora enthusiasts alike to help survey the county. Full training will be provided.

To register your interest, email Charlotte Dacre at CharlotteD@wiltshire wildlife.org.

Potential ancient woodland and woodland pasture under investigation (~7,100)

Less carbon, more wildlife with WWCE’s Community Fund

By Jessica Thimbleby, Carbon Reduction Champion

Photo: Holbrook Primary School Garden

The WWCE Community Fund is volunteer-led and managed by representatives of both WWCE and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. It supports Wiltshire-based projects which seek to achieve one or more of the following objectives to: reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, alleviate fuel poverty and conserve wildlife.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust also receives funding to administer the Community Fund grants and support sustainability within the Trust.

So far, 27 fantastic projects have been awarded grants!

Organisations including Wiltshire Scrapstore, Seeds 4 Success and Sustainable Warminster have all benefitted from funding.

Chippenham Cycle Network received a grant to remove barriers that prevent people cycling in Chippenham, which will help to reduce travel related emissions, the biggest source of

carbon in Wiltshire. A grant was also awarded to Holbrook Primary School in Trowbridge to create an outdoor education space and wildlife garden; this is a wonderful example of a project that involves young people and benefits the wider community, another key consideration when awarding grants.

If you have a great project idea, the next deadline for applications is 29 January 2024, with further funding rounds in June and October. View guidance at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/ community-fund. We’d also love to hear from you if you are a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust or WWCE member interested in joining the panel!

Photo: Historic England and Wessex Archaeology

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n the seven years since Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy’s Community Fund was set up, over £70,000 has been awarded to local communities and voluntary groups who share its ambition of delivering less carbon and more wildlife for Wiltshire.

Project Rejuvenate: Connecting with nature and our ancestors

By Sarah Tribe, Youth Education and Wellbeing Team Leader

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n a sunny spring morning in April, a small group of excited and slightly apprehensive teenagers gathered at Langford Lakes. They were participants in Project Rejuvenate, an exciting new project funded by Heritage England and led by our Youth Education and Wellbeing Team in partnership with Wessex Archaeology, a local artist and St Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School in Salisbury.

Over the course of the next 12 weeks, the 12 young people and pastoral care staff from the school spent time at both our Langford Lakes and Coombe Bissett Down

nature reserves, taking part in activities ranging from fire lighting and campfire cooking, to building fencing with willow and hazel; excavating archaeological test pits; and creating artwork using methods from pre-history, such as dyeing fabric with nettle leaves.

The project objectives were to investigate the impact of using traditional bushcraft skills, nature and our heritage to improve young people’s health and wellbeing. It was deemed a great success with participants recording a positive change in 9 out of 10 wellbeing statements.

“As our settlement grew, we developed a stronger bond with each other; the young people began to refer to the site as ‘Our Place’. It became clear that this had become a safe and welcoming space where the young people felt confident to learn, communicate and take risks.”

School staff member

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WILD NEWS Photo: Finding species in the water tank

Country Comes to Town returns after four years

By Kirstine Bowen, Marketing and Communications Manager

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n 20 May, Trowbridge Town Park was a hive of activity as we brought our family-friendly event, all about nature and living sustainably, back to Wiltshire after a four-year hiatus.

Photo: The Trust's sheep that help with conservation grazing

We promised a free, fun, educational day out in Trowbridge for all the family, and we certainly delivered! People of all ages visited from the local community and travelled from further afield to enjoy a host of interactive wildlife experiences and activities.

Our conservation, education and wellbeing teams were on hand to share advice on sustainable living and wildlife-friendly gardening.

They also showcased the vital work that Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is doing to reach our goals of having 30% of land managed for nature and 1 in 4 people engaged with nature by 2030.

Families enjoyed building bird boxes, seeing the birds of prey display, and meeting some of our sheep that help improve the diversity of our nature reserves through grazing. They took part in craft activities such as making flower crowns, animal face painting and more. To promote sustainable living, we offered a swap shop stall and even had a smoothie bike, so visitors could make their own smoothies, whilst keeping fit and using pedal power as sustainable energy!

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We thank all our supporters who joined us on the day, and the organisations that came along to help make this event the best yet – Butterfly Conservation, the Great Bustard Group and the Big Community Grow to name just a few. We’d also like to thank Trowbridge Town Council and our sponsors – Platinum Motor Group electric cars, Persimmon Homes and Grist Environmental – for helping to make this wonderful event possible.

Save the date for Country Comes to Town 2024!

After this year’s huge success, we’ll be bringing Country Comes to Town back next year, this time at Lydiard Park in Swindon on Saturday 18 May!

Photo: Smoothie bike

Photo: Looking in the microscope

Photo: Trowbridge Town Park

Sign up to our newsletter at www.wiltshirewildlife.org to hear about next year's event!

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Photo: A mindful moment in a park, Tom Hibbert

WILD NEWS

Creating spaces for reflection in nature for people grieving

By Damian Haasjes, Head of Business Development & Community Engagement

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canal path in the valley below, and help to improve biodiversity on the hospice grounds. We will promote the Trust’s many nature reserves as ‘local’ places for people to reflect and engage with nature. We are also sharing free digital resources to support anyone experiencing grief.

As part of this partnership, we will help to connect the grounds at the Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley to the Kennet and Avon

The Trust has a strong history of helping people connect with nature, and we’ve seen the benefits it has for people’s health

and wellbeing. By restoring biodiversity and increasing access to beautiful natural spaces, we can provide vital refuges for reflection and restoration to anyone facing grief and bereavement.

Find out more and view our bereavement resources at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org /healing-nature

Photo: UASC group at the summer BBQ

his September, we were proud to announce a new partnership with Dorothy House to increase nature connectedness and wellbeing for people diagnosed with a life limiting illness or experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.

Completion of the UASC Programme

By Ali Nott, Youth, Education and Wellbeing Officer

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fter three successful years, the UASC (Unaccompanied and Asylum Seeking Children) Programme has come to an end, having reached over 70 young people, from 9 nationalities living in 17 different locations.

The programme has had an immensely positive impact, achieving the goals we set to:

The programme, commissioned

by Wiltshire Council, delivered 14 conservation, 10 music and 62 football sessions, 27 day trips and 12 education elements between 2020 and 2023.

2. Create a sense of belonging: “The boys related the trip back to their home countries, comparing them to the trees and plants they could see in Stourhead.”

Ella Gower, UASC Programme Support Worker - Trip to Stourhead in October 2022

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1. Help overcome trauma: “He had a smile from ear to ear when he walked in the door.”

Kathy Tylor, Foster Carer, Salisbury

A legacy of the UASC Programme is the forming of new relationships between Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, The Harbour Project, Swindon Town Football Club and The National Trust. Our wellbeing team now continues to work with asylum seeking and refugee families, whilst The Harbour Project and Swindon Town Football Club fund the football sessions themselves, due to its success and national recognition.

My wild job

Photo: Daisy Huxter

Daisy Huxter – BACM Project Ecologist How did you first get involved with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust?

I first got involved with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust through a traineeship last year, during which I assisted Wiltshire and Avon Wildlife Trusts in the collection of baseline survey data for potential Biodiversity Net Gain sites.

When the traineeship ended, I briefly worked for an environmental consultancy, undertaking protected species surveys all over the country, including bats, otters, water voles and Great Crested Newts.

When a position on the Nature Recovery Team as a Project Ecologist came up at the Trust, it was too good an opportunity to miss.

What does an average day as a Project Ecologist look like?

The role can vary a lot from day to day and month to month. The Nature Recovery Team provide an advisory service to organisations or individuals within Wiltshire looking to manage their land in a way that is more beneficial to the

environment. We also undertake species-specific surveys, for example, we recently completed a bat transect survey at our new nature reserve, Great Wood.

You can sometimes find me with my head down staring at a quadrat (one-square-meter sections of habitat), collecting data on plant species. I can also be found at my desk writing reports and mapping habitat parcels.

I also meet with landholders within the Bristol Avon catchment area to scope out their sites for potential nature-based projects to enter into the Bristol Avon Catchment Market (BACM)*.

What do you like best about your job?

I am really proud to be working for such a respected wildlife charity alongside a team of incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable people. My favourite aspects of the role include the continuous opportunity to learn and develop, getting to spend time in nature, and mentoring our trainees by helping to equip them with the skills required for a career in conservation. I am also proud to be helping to drive positive change, not only in Wiltshire but further afield.

Look out for the latest job opportunities at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org /jobs

Photo: Surveying at Great Wood

In this regular feature, we take you behind the scenes to meet some of the wonderful staff that work at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, each doing their part to help the Trust achieve its vision of a sustainable future for wildlife and people.

How do you live sustainably?

I try to live more sustainably by growing my own fruit and veg. In my free time, I am one of the directors of a not-for-profit called Got Greens. We are a small-scale regenerative farm project that aims to encourage others to grow their own food and to live more sustainably.

I have opted for reusable and refillable toiletries and cleaning products in my home and try to bulk buy where possible to cut down on plastics. I like to make my own gifts and birthday cards for friends and family, and avoid fast fashion purchases. *The Bristol Avon Catchment Market (BACM) The BACM was established in 2021 as a collaboration between Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Avon Wildlife Trust and EnTrade, in preparation for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becoming a mandatory part of the planning system in England, now confirmed from January 2024. The rules are designed to ensure developers leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before.

The market is funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund, developed by Defra and delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 19

Woodland poem competition winners This summer, we asked budding poets to put pen to paper to celebrate Wiltshire’s precious woodlands.

Adult winner 2023

Watching the Wildlife

By Coralie Noakes If you take a trip to a woodland today Perhaps to the fine Blackmoor Copse Sprinklings of flowers you’ll find on your way With butterflies there on their tops!

Violets, bluebells and primroses too Are butterfly magnets for sure The sweet purple emperor’s beautiful hue Is striking and hard to ignore!

The great Blackmoor Copse is completely alive With butterflies flying around A whole host of species, in fact twenty-five Right here in this wood can be found!

You might spot some dormice in search of some fruit Or out for a hazelnut treat Maybe some muntjac, quite shy but so cute Are deer you’ll be lucky to meet!

In spring, King Charles pond will have toads and newts breeding In summer, the dragonflies dart Perhaps you’ll hear woodpeckers drumming and feeding Their pecking sound sets them apart!

The wonderful woodcock’s a hard-to-spot bird But here, in this copse, it’s residing Perhaps you’ll not see it, unless it is stirred Its camouflage helps it with hiding!

In Wiltshire, the Wildlife Trust’s proud of this wood And each of our nature reserves We care for the wildlife, like everyone should And give it the care it deserves!

Enjoy all the wildlife and take time to savour Each wonderful sound, sight and smell And if you’ve enjoyed it, we ask a big favour Please tell all your loved ones as well!

20 Wiltshire Wildlife Autumn/Winter 2023

Under-16s winner 2023

Seasons Glory

By Sarah Dickens Photo: Green Lane Wood, Owain Shaw

The summer’s sun a dragon’s eye So slowly do the days go by Asking when will the season turn As my skin begins to burn Autumn is a season foretold Where flowers die and leaves turn gold Like confetti they swirl around A brown carpet coats the ground When winter arrives most life will go Rotting leaves hidden by snow A cotton blanket coats the earth Like a swaddle given at birth The spring dances us out of cold gloom The trees will blossom and flowers bloom The weather is pretty and days are warm (though there may be the occasional storm) Whichever you prefer, remember this: If a season should go amiss Each season is needed for earth to grow Even if you despise it so.

This competition followed the exciting news earlier this year that Wiltshire Wildlife Trust purchased an ancient woodland in North Wiltshire called Great Wood, thanks to funding from Biffa Award via the Landfill Communities Fund and other generous donations.

The competition was judged by local artist Joanna May and children’s author Sue Tweedie. Congratulations to our two winning poets, Coralie Noakes and Sarah Dickens, and all those who entered. We were blown away by the quality of poems that were submitted!

Plan your visit to Blackmoor Copse at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/blackmoor Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 21

Woodland Wild Snaps winners In line with our poetry competition theme (p.20), our annual Wild Snaps photo competition was also focused on woodlands this year! Many thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to our winners and runners-up!

You can view them all at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/wiltshire-wild-snaps

“Louise’s image of the woodpecker pausing between pecks was not only technically excellent but aesthetically beautiful.”

Photo: Woodpecker

The Adult category was judged by Chris Waddell, former professional photographer and Group Digital and Publications Manager of The Hills Group:

Junior Winner: Joe White The Junior category was judged by our Young Ambassadors Chris, Laura and Kody:

Photo: Woodland

Adult Winner: Louise Scriver

“Joe’s shot perfectly captures the changing of seasons and the magic of autumn through the earthy colours and mystical lighting.”

T

here are a number of ways that you can leave a lasting gift for wildlife, such as a gift in your Will or a gift in memory to commemorate the life of a loved one. Making a donation to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust can help us to protect the bluebells in ancient woodlands, the orchids in summer meadows, or the lapwings in wetlands. By giving a gift to the Trust, you are directly supporting the conservation of our special wild places for future generations.

Bonnie Matters wanted to donate a bench and plant a plum tree at Mill Farm, Broughton Gifford, in memory of her husband Richard, who recently passed away:

22 Wiltshire Wildlife Autumn/Winter 2023

“It's just a beautiful place.

The sky is always gorgeous and the flowers are lovely at the right time of year. Richard loved walking around here.

At the bridge, we would play “Poohsticks”, and when he fell ill, the idea was that he would be able to watch the field from his bedroom window, but unfortunately, he got too sick.

Photo: Bonnie Matters on the donated bench

Grandpa’s bench

“The children always call it ‘Grandpa's bench’. And we’ve got ‘Grandpa’s tree’. I hope lots of people will sit on this bench.

I hope visitors will come from the nursing home, and I myself will enjoy sitting here and remembering him.”

If you would like to leave a lasting gift for wildlife, you can find out more at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org /in-memory or www.wiltshirewildlife.org/will

Rainbow at Langford Lakes by Carolyn Riley

Social media highlights

Nature art at Kings Farm Wood by wellbeing group

Milkcap fungus at Green Lane Wood by Jo Weaver

We love hearing about your sightings and experiences with nature!

Our social media community is a great place to shout about Wiltshire’s wildlife. Here are some of our recent highlights.

Long tailed tit bird ringing at Lower Moor

Wheatear by Martin Andre

Otter and cormorant at Lower Moor by Marc Roberts

Tag us in your photographs on social media for the chance to be featured in our next magazine!

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Follow @wiltswildlife on Instagram Autumn/Winter 2023 Wiltshire Wildlife 23