Community Planning News: Volunteers Help with Conservation Projects in Hermitage

On 1st May 2013 the management of the Furze Hill area in Hermiatge transferred from West Berkshire Council to the Parish Council and the conservation work undertaken by volunteers has since really taken off!

The Furze Hill site adjoins the M4 and is approximately 9 hectares of 22 acres and includes the recreation ground, site of the new village hall, woodland, flooded clay pits and butterfly meadow and the old railway cutting.

Working parties have already been busy at Furze Hill maily in the butterfly meadow with removal of builder's rubbish, hay raking, scrub and bramble removal, removal of invasive tree species, fencing repairs, establishing reptile hibernacula and delineating footpaths. These parties have been organised by the Parish Council and also the Pang Valley Conservation Volunteers who turn out 20 volunteers on a regular basis. 

Furze Hill is regarded as an important wildlife site with over 90 species of flora and over 80 species of fauna identified and work will look to maintaining and improving habitat as well as enhancing the public amenity value.

It is intended to further establish a village conservation group in order to encourage the involvement of more residents and to widen the scope of conservation work.

Courtesy of Community Planning News