From
Monday 6 January, the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
will be managing nine nature reserves and commons, and the Nature
Discovery Centre in Thatcham, which were previously managed by West
Berkshire Council.
The
arrangement will result in the pooling of significant expertise and
resources, and bring benefits both to the sites and for the many
visitors who use them. The team at the Nature Discovery Centre and
several West Berkshire Council countryside services staff transfer to
BBOWT on 6 January.
The
aim is that conservation will be enhanced through the Wildlife Trust,
while the access and activities for families, schools and the public,
built up successfully over the past years by West Berkshire Council,
will continue to flourish.
Under the agreement signed on 21 October 2013 BBOWT will ensure these sites are protected and enhanced sustainably into the future. BBOWT will have day to day management of Snelsmore
Common Country Park, Bucklebury Common, Hosehill Lake, Wokefield
Common, Padworth Common, Paices Wood Country Park, Thatcham Reedbeds and
the Nature Discovery Centre, Greenham and Crookham Commons, and
Audrey’s Meadow.
Three
of the sites: Bucklebury Common, Paices Wood and Wokefield Common are
privately owned, while the freehold for the other six sites will be
retained by West Berkshire Council.
BBOWT
and West Berkshire Council are committed to increasing public access to
all the reserves and commons, and making visits to them even more
enjoyable. BBOWT’s chief executive, Estelle Bailey, said: “This is a
pivotal moment for securing the future of these amazing places for
wildlife and for people. BBOWT is delighted to be working with West
Berkshire Council as natural partners in this exciting initiative.”
West
Berkshire Executive Councillor for the Environment, Hilary Cole, said:
“This is an extremely positive move for all who treasure these sites as
assets for recreation, and important places for wildlife conservation.
In particular, I am looking forward to the events at the Nature
Discovery Centre attracting even more people in the future and the
already successful activities held there go from strength to strength.”
Most
importantly, the thousands of visitors who already value the sites as
places for quiet recreation and close contact with nature can continue
to use them as before, with the added value of the Wildlife Trust’s
expertise, resources, and volunteer base.
The
Nature Discovery Centre will continue to run a full schedule of family
fun events and activities. From April BBOWT will offer high quality
environmental education programmes for local schools at the Nature
Discovery Centre.
