Page 41 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • July 2005 41
New homes for ratty along River Ray
The Mayor of Swindon pulled on his wellies to plant some wildflowers on 21 June to mark the end of
the first phase of a major project to encourage wildlife to return to the River Ray near Westlea.
Over the last 90 years, as the B i f f a ward, 1
river has become surrounded by Thames Water, l
urban development, it has turned npower, Hills
into little more than a canal, absent Waste, Swindon I,
of insects, fish or wildlife. Borough Council
Now the bends and pools, rif- and Swindon
fles, banks and water plains are Services. weal amity. Busin`es1
being put back along a 1.2 kilome- Trust project - ..
tre stretch of the river so that dif- officer Jo Sayers - t <. • All types of fencing installed !
ferent habitats are created to en- said, "straight- • Full patio/decking service
• Made to measure gates
courage dragonflies, kingfishers ening the River
• All pressure treated timbers
and mammals likewatervolesand Ray created a • Help/advice on all fencing & landscape ma tters
otters to return, featureless, dark Free estimates on 01793 855800
The first phaseof'rewindingthe drainage chan- ^ New bends, banks and Unit 23 & 24 Oak ands Ind. Est. Braydon, Swindon
ray' was started in February along nel hidden by tall net- backwaters being built
a 600 metre stretch from the tles.Therewerenopools,
Thames Water sewage works shallows or still waterar- where Westlea stream Relieve aches,
outfall to where the Westlea Stream eas, to give the variety joins the River Ray to
joins the Ray. The Wiltshire Wild- needed for different fish, the cycle bridge at the pains & discomfort
life Trust is managing the project birds and insects to sur- end of Barnfield road. with a magnet
funded by the Environment Agency, vive.Butjustashorttime .1 , ' A raised area of
into the project L , — ground is to be re- Many pet "
Volunteers from npower planting the newly formed there are signs /4 ' moved to widen the
river bank (Photo above and below: Jo Sayers) Hope for endangered owners see ' .
thatwildlifeisre- flood plain. New dramatic
turning, water voles. (Photo: bends, backwaters and changes in z `
Darin Smith)
"I see fresh ot- ponds will be dug so cats and
ter spraints every time I that the river can wander through dogs with
visit. Usually otters use this the land, rather than being chan- stiff joints.
area over the winter and nelled around the edge as it is at Humans
move away by March, but present. benefit as
they are still here in early To find out more about the Wilt- well.
summer." shire Wildlife Trust's work con-
The next phase of work tact SueLitherlandon01380725670 For a full colour brochure,
will tackle the stretch or mail [email protected] call 608840

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