Monthly Archives: June 2021

Register for our free webinar: Farmland Birds in the North Wessex Downs – Reversing the Decline.     Whitchurch is in an enviable position as a Gateway to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Beauty and this webinar highlighting the decline in farmland birds is particularly opportune given the threat to our own area of the AONB from opportunist developers.

Register for this webinar to learn about the reasons for the catastrophic decline in farmland birds across the country and hear about the key farmland bird species that inhabit the North Wessex Downs and may call our fields north of the railway line, their home. http://bit.ly/farmlandbirdwebinar

We are fortunate to be joined by two expert speakers: Des Sussex, Team Leader from Natural England will set the context and outline reasons for the catastrophic decline in farmland birds across the country; Neil Bucknell from the Berkshire Ornithological Club will discuss the key farmland bird species in the North Wessex Downs AONB, their habitat requirements and why some areas are better for them than others.

Finally, Des will cover the three big Countryside Stewardship options that benefit farmland birds. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q and A’s

Follow the North Wessex Downs on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NorthWessexDowns

Whitchurch Walkers are Welcome and the Great British Spring Clean  The delayed Great British Spring Clean takes place this year from 28th May to 13th June. To support this initiative, Whitchurch WaW will be organising a town wide litter picking event on the morning of Saturday 5th June.

As we have done before, each participant (or family group in your “bubble”) can concentrate on places where you know there is some litter to be collected, and/or with a focus on the area and pathways close to your own homes.

As usual, please take sensible precautions by washing hands, wearing gloves and sensible footwear. Do not attempt to pick up broken glass or other dangerous items (these can be reported to the Council for safe removal). Watch out for traffic and do not attempt to litter-pick on roads outside the 30mph speed limit.

• If you need to borrow a stick, or would like some litter bags, please e-mail waw@whitchurchassociation.org.uk or telephone: 893216 and we can arrange to drop these round to you before Saturday 5th June. Please note, sticks are available on a first come first served basis.

• On 5th June, please return litter picking sticks to 6 Bicester Close.

• Bags of litter can be put in a rubbish bin, or left somewhere convenient where WaW co-ordinators can collect them for removal (please make sure to let us know the exact location). Otherwise, they can be brought to 6 Bicester Close on Saturday 5th June, when you return your stick.

• Please remember to let us know how much litter you collected, and how much time you spent doing it (no. of bags and man-hours).

Please let us know in advance if you would like to participate on 5th June, and we can get sticks/bags sorted out. Email: waw@whitchurchassociation.org.uk