Island Pond Wood Biodiversity Boost

The Friends of Island Pond Wood have been awarded £9,345 for the first year of their ‘Biodiversity Boost’ project.

The Friends of Island Pond Wood are striving to enhance the site’s biodiversity to help the species which live there thrive. Works including pond creation, woodland thinning and wildflower meadow creation will provide opportunities for not only wildlife, but community engagement and education.

This grant will fund the first year of the 5-year project. The project will benefit the local community by increased wildlife spectacle and enhancing this green space.

This project also includes community engagement and education through guided walks, community events and working with local groups including schools and Scouts.

The Playclose Enhancement Project

St. Michaels Blewbury Parochial Church Council have been awarded a grant of £924 to lay the hedge by a busy footpath through The Playclose.

North boundary - area for new hedge

The Playclose is an attractive grassy area in the centre of the village with a chalk stream running alongside two sides and two footpaths crossing it.

A hedge-laying expert who lives in the village will be doing this project in the winter.

Connecting Communities

The Chiltern Society has been awarded a grant of £6,174 for their new gate project near Watlington.

The route between Little Haseley, Clare and Stoke Talmage is currently difficult to walk along. The project will replace 8 stiles with gates to improve accessibility. With the introduction of gates, clearance and bridge-repairs, the route will be opened up to walkers (and their dogs) of all abilities.

The volunteers will be doing this work in 2023.