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Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve has been home to a flock of Hebridean sheep over the long cold winter but as spring arrived so did a few new additions to the flock.
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30 lambs a leaping...
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May wildlife sightings at Aston Clinton Ragpits
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Cowslips linger on, and only the arrival of the lovely chalk milkwort betrays the fact it is early summer.
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Written by Philip Townsend, Volunteer Warden at Aston Clinton Ragpits
I monitor and help manage this remarkable nature reserve, well known for spectacular spring orchids.
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Introducing Meadow Farm
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When I first visited Meadow Farm, I was full of anticipation because I’d heard how wonderful the site was - but nothing prepared me for the assault on my senses.
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Written by Colin Williams, BBOWT's Reserves Ecology Officer
I am responsible for the day to day surveying and monitoring of the wildlife and habitats on all our nature reserves with the help of a fantastic army of volunteer surveyors.
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Get inspired at College Lake
Summary:
Can you remember what it was that first sparked your interest in wildlife?
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Written by Maria Sturges, Administrative Officer College Lake
I provide admin support to the College Lake and Bucks Conservation teams and work closely with Meet & Greet volunteers, welcoming visitors and running the College Lake shop.
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Love is in the air...
Summary:
Everywhere you look around… love is in the air… at every sight and every sound… feel free to sing along!
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.jpg "Developing Green Talent Trainee Claire Rennis-Lis")
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Sunny walks on the silver-studded side
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Visit one of our lowland heathland reserves on a sunny day this summer and you may be in for a pleasant surprise. These internationally important sites are home to a rare and beautiful creature: the silver-studded blue butterfly.
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Cothill Fen; BBOWT’s Wildlife Supermarket
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How often have you gone to the supermarket looking for something specific but bought a whole host of other items? Well that’s just what happened to me last week when I visited Parsonage Moor to do a Dragon and Damselfly survey!
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Bloomin’ marvellous
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Wildflowers are at a peak right now and we’re lucky to have them in abundance here at College Lake. From the common to the extraordinary, there is plenty of beauty on show if you take the time to look closely.
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Felling trees isn't always bad
Summary:
This summer is the perfect time for getting out to Moor Copse and Bowdown Woods to see how careful winter management has improved biodiversity.
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Chimney Meadows and Meadow Farm
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A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet with Louise King, Estate Manager of Chimney Meadows and Lisa Lane, Upper Thames Living Landscape Manager.
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Written by Plantameadow.
Originally posted July 10 at the Planetameadow blog. Extract reposted with permission.
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Celebrate Marine Week 2013
Summary:
What a fantastic environment the sea is! From the sheltered natural harbours of the south coast, to the wild stormy seas off Shetland; we in Britain have a truly amazing diversity of wildlife living in the waters that surround us. The 27th July marked the beginning of Marine Week 2013, which is the perfect opportunity for everyone to get out in the sunshine, and celebrate our seas.
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Written by Erin Murton
Marine Officer/Wildlife Sites Project Officer
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Toadlets on the move at College Lake
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Visitors to BBOWT’s College Lake nature reserve near Tring have enjoyed a wildlife spectacular in recent days.
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Written by Neil Rowntree
Senior conservation officer (Buckinghamshire)
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Make hay when the sun shines
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Someone once said, “Make hay when the sun shines”. They were not wrong, so that is exactly what has been happening at Meadow Farm over the past few weeks, taking full advantage of the good weather we have been having.
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The process of haymaking is one that has been happening for hundreds of years at Meadow Farm, although the techniques have now changed somewhat. Once haymaking employed thousands of ‘unskilled’ workers throughout the UK, but now with mechanised farming it only requires a handful. However, the core principles remain the same:
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July wildlife sightings at Aston Clinton Ragpits
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The tall tor grass that bolted during the wet early part of the summer is now desiccated and tinder-dry. The orchids have all gone over. But the butterflies are prospering in this heat wave - particularly the “browns”.
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Written by Philip Townsend, Volunteer Warden at Aston Clinton Ragpits
I monitor and help manage this remarkable nature reserve, well known for spectacular spring orchids.
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So what's it like to work with BBOWT?
Summary:
It's probably fair to say that the general idea of work experience doesn't appeal to every young person - but as Jack and Elise found recently, working with BBOWT for a week can even leave you not wanting to go back to school again! Here, they explain the ins and outs of working with us for a week, and what they gained from the experience.
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Jack and Elise worked with BBOWT between the 8th and 12th July, and they really couldn't have picked a better week weather-wise, with hot, sunny days throughout. Helped along by the weather, they seemed to thoroughly enjoy their experience working with us. Here is Elise's account of her week here, and what she thought of the experience:
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The badger cull is not a solution to bovineTB
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With the two six-week pilot badger culls well underway in west Somerset and west Gloucestershire, there are a lot of heightened emotional responses from anti-cull protestors and farmers alike, so it makes sense to look again at what this is all about.
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Among all the media coverage, few people have remembered that we (Government, farmers, protestors and wildlife conservationists) all need to work together to take actions that are informed by science to help eradicate this awful disease from the nation’s cattle and wildlife.
BovineTB is a horrible disease, and we think the Government is right to try and get rid of it from the countryside – they’re just going about it the wrong way.
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Go wild in your garden at College Lake
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Recently College Lake Wildlife Garden welcomed a host of families, all of whom were keen to learn more about going wild in their garden!
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Written by Catherine Reynolds, Community & Education Officer (College Lake)
I deliver Environmental Education programs and events to children at College Lake, and work to engage Buckinghamshire communities with wildlife.
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Flying Dragons
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Autumn is fast approaching, the blazing summer has finally given way, and the sun falls lower in our skies. There are those of us who refuse to admit defeat to strong winds, rainy days and dropping temperatures and so we brave the elements regardless.
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.jpg "Owain Hegarty, College Lake Warden")
Written by Owain Hegarty
College Lake Warden
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Having fun in the natural world
Summary:
Children need to hold frogs and beetles, and have mud squelch between their toes, says Steve Backshall.
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Written by Wendy Tobitt
Media and Campaigns Manager
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Autumn treats
Summary:
The arrival of strong northerly winds and heavy rain has helped us wave a final goodbye to what has been a truly spectacular summer.
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