Page 45 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • November 2002 37
Gardens go green in Priory Vale
Housebuyers on the new Priory Vale housing development in North T.A.L. Con.
Swindon will be getting advice on turning their brand new plots into General
eco-friendly wildlife havens, thanks to a joint effort by Wiltshire
Wildlife Trust and the North Swindon Development Company. Builder Specialists in PVCU,
Trust worker Catherine Rice describes how. windows, doors and
All types of building
In developed areas, the do- conservatories.
mestic garden, large or small, work undertaken
can be a priceless habitat for Brickwork Carpentry
birds, bees, butterflies and Electrical Patios/drives
amphibians such as frogs
and toads. If gardeners over Extensions
a wide area adopt a truly No job too small
'green-fingered' approach to Tel: 01793 346332
their back gardens, the ben- (answerphone)
efits can be tremendous for Tel: 01793 848177 or 770596
wildlife and people." Mobile: 07940267323 22 Ravens Walk, Wootton Bassett,
Each householder will re-
ceive a free information pack
with simple advice on how
A 2 Z Home Improvements
to take up the green chal-
lenge. It includes tips on: All your needs in one number
• creating a butterfly border;
• encouraging birds; Kitchen/Bathroom fitting, Tiling, Plumbing, Electrics.
• composting — the magic Painting, Decorating, Carpentry and much more
mixture that reduces house-
Catherine shows of the pack in the sustain- 111 Pinehurst Road Tel: (01793) 33967'1
hold rubbish and nourishes
able garden at the Bloor Homes development Swindon Mobi1 07778) 207977
your flowerbeds at the same
at Priory Vale
time;
• planting for wildlife; ter them in the best way possible.
• building a pond - an oasis of calm Please get in touch if you would
and a watery wildlife sanctuary; like to find out how to garden in a
• gardening without peat — it's greener way, how to be more sus-
unnecessary and destroys precious tainable in your lifestyle or if you
wildlife habitats. simply want to know more about t tik
Alongside the gardening pack, wildlife in Swindon. Contact Wilt-
Priory Vale residents will also re- shire Wildlife Trust on 526244, ^ 4
ceive a leaflet about the natural mail: [email protected],
history of their new neighbour- or write to Swindon Environment BLOOMS
hood and the trees, flowers and Centre, 47B Fleet Street, Swindon, of Bressingham
creatures they may see. This will SN1 IRE.
help people to quickly get to know • Download a .pdf version of the the place to be
their surroundings and to look af- pack from www.priorvvale.com
this Christmas...
Cats cause chaos for water voles
Nationally the population of Britain's most endangered mammal has • Unique plants from our Blooms of
dropped dramatically, mainly because of predation by mink.
Bressingham Nursery
Wiltshire is o • -- vival of the water
one of the last '^ `: r vole, as mink gen- • Stylish and imaginative interior
strongholds in R^ Y - ^' /!► erally prefer the f4l' = products and gifts
the UK for ;' ^^^' , ^ countryside.
voles but in °'fir - ,^, `., -; Avoiding preda • Lots of sound advice from our
Swindon some , °^y^l ' i tionby cats could I friendly team
of the last Rw beveryimportant
populations '?ir ^ in protecting the • Fresh food and delicious drinks
are being de- ' y water vole from in our cafe
stroyedbydo- .. `a . extinction.
mestic cats. +^'i►. • x ^" Owners can cut • Exciting Christmas range now in!
W a t e r' y F9'^"^ their pets' kill-
9
voles have ' . ^ ^ r " = rate by making
completely y' - sure their cat be touched by
disappeared + wearsabelIonits
from e .^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ collar, and by inspiration
RushyPlattna- keeping them in
ture reserve off the Wootton Bassett at night, when small mammals are
Road," saidwatervoleexpertMark at their most vulnerable.
Satinet. "It's a vital urban wildlife A 'Know Your Vole' campaign
haven bought by Wiltshire Wild- launched by Wildlife Trusts, aims
y
life Trust onl two years ago. With to halt the further decline of the
an ideal habitat and no mink at the species and help them recover their
reserve, we are almost certain that former range. For details on how
the water voles have been killed to identify water voles, contact
off by cats." Mark Satinet at the Wiltshire Wild-
He added that urban areas like life Trust on 01380 725670.
Rushy Platt are vital to the sur- www.wildlifetrusts.org