Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

A PROJECT helping community groups to help wildlife has been awarded £83,000 in Lottery funding to expand and reach more people.

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust has already worked with hundreds of nature lovers across the three counties as part of its Community Network, helping groups carry out wildlife surveys on their village green, manage their meadows and learn how to use tools.

Community Network was launched in July 2022 with the aim of enabling dozens of community conservation groups to help wildlife on their doorsteps.

A Facebook group now has more than 240 members and project officer Lily O’Neill hosts free online monthly meetings where group members can chat, swap stories and get expert advice from the trust on helping specific species such hedgehogs, owls and badgers.

Lily also runs regular free workshops on topics such as how to manage a green space for wildlife, how to carry out a basic species survey, how to run a public event as a community group and how to lead a community group doing practical conservation work. Groups can access a website with training videos and expert guidance documents on subjects including the benefits of hedgerows and great crested newts.

Lily says: “I love doing this project so much. I run these training sessions, then months later I see people again and they tell me all the incredible things they’ve been doing.

“There have been a million tiny moments like that which add up to make a huge difference.

“Loads of the people who join our network are already doing great things for wildlife. We’re able to support them by providing resources via our toolkit and running interactive workshops.

“Most importantly, we bring them together so they can forge connections and share their expertise.

“I’ve been so inspired by the first year of this project and I can’t wait to help hundreds more people to help wildlife over the next two years.”

Pete Hughes