Page 38 - link magazine

Sport and Leisure

Swindon environmentalist achieves Countryfile experience on offer

UK first to help prickly creatures BBC TV’s Sunday foray into the Woodland Group, which was set
great outdoors often covers up by Swindon Council officers in
Alexandra North, sustain the hedgehog woodland management and the the early 1980s, eagerly cuts some
who grew up in population and help ancient art of coppicing. of them down in order to preserve
Highworth, has been them to thrive. If you’ve ever wondered ‘I could them.
appointed to a unique “This includes do that,’ the Peatmoor Community Hazel in particular benefit
job as Britain’s first practical steps which Woodland Group offers you the from regular coppicing (cutting),
hedgehog officer. people everywhere chance to have a go. regenerating over a seven year
She took a degree can take. Hedgehogs For almost 30 years the group has cycle. The copse is divided into
in zoology at Exeter cannot climb fences looked after the six acre copse close seven compartments with a
University before and walls so making to Peatmoor Lagoon. It’s a remnant large area left untouched where
undertaking post- holes the size of a CD of the ancient royal hunting forest nature takes its course. This old
graduate research and is a good idea so they that covered North Wiltshire and management technique encourages
working for Birdlife can forage for food in has existed since ancient days. It and sustains a wide variety of bird,
International. different gardens. was never cut down and turned mammal and insect life.
Nationally the number of “They are lactose intolerant so into farm fields because of the Doing practical things outdoors
hedgehogs is declining rapidly. It is please don’t leave out milk. They’ll boggy ground conditions due to the has been shown to improve mental
thought there are now one million of eat cat or dog food, but they love unusual geology of the area. and physical well being; think
the nocturnal mammals compared to slugs the most. So obviously slug Up to World War I wood was used of Peatmoor Copse as a green
30 million in the 1950s. pellets will harm them. extensively for fuel, in construction gym. The group meets on the first
Suffolk Wildlife Trust identified the “If you have a pond, make sure and in agriculture. When Swindon Sunday of the month, 10am to 1pm,
need for a specialist to work in and there is a ramp for hedgehogs to Council purchased the land for the and newcomers who want to do
around Ipswich which apparently is climb out if they fall in when having western expansion, the copse was a something for the environment, try
a hedgehog hotspot. a drink. It’s also really important to dark and overgrown area of trees of something practical outdoors and
Ali, as she’s known, is employed to have a wild patch in your garden. uniform size, left largely untouched learn about woodland management
sustain the unusually high number “It would be great if Swindon also probably since the second world are always welcome.
of hedgehogs in the town by raising became a hedgehog friendly town.” war when wood is likely to have Children are welcome to come
awareness of residents. Ali attended Highworth Warnford been used as a fuel source. along and learn woodcraft skills but
She said: “Everyone loves School and when in Swindon The copse is now an important they must be accompanied by an
hedgehogs which are incredibly returns to Redhouse where her ecological site yet very much a adult. The site is not easy for people
important to the biodiversity of our parents now live. secret oasis in the town. Contrary in wheelchairs and there are no
landscapes and our wildlife. To find out how you can help to the idea that trees should be toilets on site.
“My role is to excite people locally, search hedgehogs at: preserved at all costs, during winter To join in, send a message via
in Ipswich to do all they can to www.wiltshirewildlife.org months Peatmoor Community Facebook - Peatmoor Woodland.

Treated Landscape Sleepers (Pine for longevity)
2.4 metres long by 200 x 100mm

• Gates
• Fencing

• Decking
• Trellis Panels

• Wood Preservatives
• Garden Tools
• Raised Garden Beds

T: 01793 783879

E: [email protected] W: www.webbswood.co.uk
Find us on facebook.com/webbswood
Proud sponsors of Swindon Supermarine FC
Southdown Farm, Faringdon Road, (A420) Longcot, Oxon SN7 7UA

38 swindonlink.com n November 2016

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