Biodiversity and Wildlife News

Wokingham District Council's Countryside Service has asked members of local conservation and community groups to get together to work on a new Biodiversity Action Plan. The aim is to safeguard the future of the species and habitats in this area and restore what has been lost in the past. HVS is representing Hurst on the 'Towns and Villages Habitat Group'.

Once complete, the action plan should be formally adopted by Wokingham District Council. This will enable the council to promote wildlife friendly management of our public green spaces, ponds, and churchyards. It will also ensure that biodiversity is taken into account at the design stage of any new developments. Action plans are being simultaneously developed for other habitats such as woodlands and grasslands. This is good news for endangered species such as the barn owl, song thrush, bullfinch, otter, great crested newt and water vole.

Newts

The Countryside Service is planning a major survey of ponds in the area during the spring. As Hurst is fortunate in having many old ponds, they would be very interested to hear about those that are known to contain newts or have done so in the past. Please contact Andy Glencross at the Countryside service on 934 xxxx.

What's on at Dinton Pastures

To contribute to National Nestbox week - 14 - 21 February, the following events are taking place during February:

Build a box for birds - Sunday 18 February
Three 1hour sessions at 10am, 12noon and 2pm. Places must be booked in advance with the Countryside Service on 0118 934 xxxx

Homes for wildlife - Sunday 25 February 11am - 3pm
Learn how to make your garden a wildlife friendly part of the countryside. Have a go at making nestboxes, bird tables and bird feeders. Help the rangers create a new pond. There will be many other attractions on the day.