Page 46 - link magazine

46 The Link Magazine • May 2006
After the fish, the birds get a look in at the River Ray restoration
Well, the euphoria has died down; the TV crew and nature pundits have gone home, and wildlife on the River Ray between Westlea and
Barnfield, has been left alone to settle into its new home, writes Susan Litherland of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
The freshly sculptured river ders went without a hitch at the Now that the noisy
banks and carefully contoured end of March. Indeed, more than heavy machinery has
river bed created by the Swindon 800 fish - chub, dace, roach, perch, died away, it's a good
Water for Wildlife Project should stoneloach and bullhead to name time to give the birds a
help wildlife survive and thrive in but a few species - were rescued helping hand, just in
times ahead. from the old channel and released time for the nesting sea-
The breakthrough, below, from into their new home, right. son. Neil Pullen, Swin-
the old channel to the new mean- But the fish are just one feature don's Wildlife Officer
of wildlife that needs to who runs the Active
be encouraged to return. Swindon volunteer
So the Active Swindon groups, explained,
volunteers, sponsored by "English Nature have
the Home Office, are given us 30 bird boxes
pulling up their sleeves to be located around the floodplain better than pottering around a pile
and getting ready for and on the tree mound behind it. of rotting twigs.
another bout of practical "They have differing size en- The volunteers will also be plant-
conservation on the trance holes to tempt birds such as ing wildflower seeds in the
project, which is a part- blue tits, robins, house sparrows, meadow. If you'd like to help, Neil
nership funded by the blackbirds and even the barn owl is always looking for more volun-
Environment Agency, into making Rivermead home." teers. You don't need prior knowl-
Biffaward, npower, The volunteers will also be mak- edge of wildlife and training is
Thames Water and Swin- ing 'dead hedges' to shield key provided for all jobs.
don Council. points around the pond and the Active Swindon volunteers will
river, such as the kingfisher banks, be meeting on:
6,000 ducks to take a dip for cancer charity to protect them from too much Thursday 4 and 11 May, 11am -
Yellow plastic ducks will be racing down the River Rayon 29 May at the intrusion by people. 4pm; Sunday 7 May, 10.30am -
Westcott Place Recreation Ground on Wootton Bassett Road. "We don't want to shut people 4pm. The meeting point is the end
Old Town Rotary Club are running the event in aid of Macmillan out, rather to direct them away of Barnfield Road, near Minety
Cancer Relief. Ducks cost £1 each; the first over the line wins £1,000 from specific points so that birds Fences. Call Jo Sayers on 526229
and there are five runners-up prizes. can nest in peace," said Neil. "Af- for details about joining in.
The ducks come under starter's orders at 3pm, but get there earlier ter all this hard work, we don't www.wiltshirewildife.org
to buy one. want the birds to feel crowded out
The Rotary Club will be organising other fundraising events on the by humans."
recreation ground, including a car boot sale from 1 Oam. As they rot down,
the hedges will also
provide fantastic
laabuys brates. Mostbeetles, for
homes for inverte-
example, like nothing
Showing how the new en-
vironment works. The Ray
flooding the wildflower
BANBURYS HOME & GARDEN (SWINDON) Ltd
meadow in early April
8 x 6 DALBY APEX Fine for polluting the Ray
Cable & Wireless was fined £20,000 in April for polluting Westlea brook
N LY and the River Ray after a leak of diesel from their premises at the
Windmill Business Park in January 2005. The slick was traced for 8
miles downstream from Grange Park. The company also had to pay
325 £180,000 to clean up the spill, plus court costs.

New guide to the town's wild side
D. LIVERED
For all its growth and urban sprawl Swindon is quite a wildlife friendly
f.. ERECTED place, boasting country parks, nature reserves and ancient woodlands,
set against the wonderful landscape of the North Wessex Downs.
TREATED But it's too easy to take . ganisation.
wildlife for granted. A lot Swindon wildlife
Largest selection of sheds in the West more can be done to im- project officer Neil Pullen,
prove where it can thrive. said "this booklet is a
Best value in town
To spread the word handbook of ideas about
Fast delivery Wiltshire Wildlife Trust ways in which everyone
Base laying service available has published a booklet can help make Swindon a
sponsored by English Na- better place for people
50 styles from chalets, summer houses, ture called Hands Up to Help Wild- and wildlife, whether it is giving
children's playhouses and garden offices life in Swindon. up your time to volunteer for prac-
It provides all the information tical conservation work, being a
you need to get out and enjoy the 'green consumer' or simply turn-
great outdoors, plus the things you ing off a tap or a light."
can do to help protect nature, such Free copies are available in Swin-
asgardeningwithwildlifeinmind, don libraries or the Information
using your car less and joining an Centre or mail: neilp@wiltshire
environmental volunteering or- wildlife.org