The Wildlife Trust's largest nature reserve is already a significant European haven for rare species but there is still work to be done, writes HELEN PEACOCKE
Three years have passed since Chimney Meadows in West Oxfordshire was turned into a nature reserve. Thanks to the support of Wildlife Trust volunteers and members, the site has become significant within Europe for its resident wildlife and a beacon of hope for rare species.
Chimney Meadows is the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust's (BBOWT's) largest nature reserve, covering 250 hectares of the Upper Thames floodplain near Bampton.
The site's wetland meadows boast abundant wildlife, supporting scarce ground-nesting birds and providing a haven for breeding curlew and reed bunting, and snipe which over-winter there.
Since BBOWT acquired the land, 200 volunteers have worked an incredible total of 500 days to improve habitats and public access. The greatest contribution has been made by a small but tireless band drawn from the local community, called the Friends of Chimney Meadows.
The group was established in 2004 and has alone completed around 600 hours of work in all weathers to create a thriving wildlife haven which people can enjoy.
Dr Kerry Lock, BBOWT's Chimney Meadows Project Officer, said they have now reached an exciting time for the reserve.
"The site will be open fully to the public in April 2007. All of the access work will be completed by then, but there will still be plenty of opportunity for more people to get stuck into conservation management and other projects.
"We're really keen to get lots more people with all sorts of different skills involved in this very special site. We need people to help make Chimney as good as it can possibly be for wildlife and human visitors alike. Projects in the pipeline include expanding our programme of events and guided walks, developing an education programme and producing a leaflet about the history of the site."
Friends of Chimney Meadows group representative Kathy Warden organises weekly work parties, a task she loves.
"One of the many things I get out of being a volunteer is the companionship. You make life-long friends when working together as we do," said Kathy. "I love the fresh air too and those unexpected moments that add to the experience of being outside, like suddenly spotting a curlew display flight or a hare running across a field. I like the feeling I am doing something to help too."
In addition to the Friends, volunteers have been drawn from RAF Brize Norton and local schools which have provided pupils on work experience, as well as the trust's corporate volunteering scheme.
The corporate scheme has attracted 19 companies which send groups of employees to work on BBOWT reserves. It gives companies the opportunity to contribute to wildlife and community projects and, at the same time, gives employees a fun and rewarding day away from work. Employers see the scheme as an exercise in effective team-building.
Volunteers are currently being kept busy with the construction of a second hide overlooking an active badger sett and a large pond, which in summer is rich in dragonfly species. The hide, which is being made from locally sourced materials, has been funded through landfill tax distributors, the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE), with credits from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN).
WREN has also funded vital access and signage work on the reserve including creating paths, interpretation panels and information leaflets for visitors.
Volunteers are also busy laying 379m of recycled plastic boardwalk to create access for disabled visitors between the two hides. BBOWT was able to purchase the boardwalk thanks to a grant of more than £46,000 from TOE.
Another vital area of work is monitoring species. Led by BBOWT's Species Survey Officer, Debbie Lewis, volunteers have carried out many hours of bird, butterfly and botanical surveys, as well as monitoring bats and dragonflies.
The rare qualities of the site have also attracted specialists from the Ashmolean Museum, Reading University and Shotover Country Park, each carrying out their own research. The data they gather will be analysed by Dr Lock and feed into research on the wetland and arable reversion projects being carried out on site.
Dr Kerry Lock said: "So many individuals and organisations have been involved. It's a wonderful example of what can be achieved when communities, businesses and academic institutions work together. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm very excited about the future and looking forward to welcoming on board many more volunteers."
If you would like to become a volunteer and use your skills to make a real difference for wildlife at Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve, BBOWT's Volunteer Development Officer Lindsay Watts would like you hear from you. Lindsay can be contacted on 01865 775476 or by email at volunteering@bbowt.org.uk
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