What are we trying to achieve?
The plan is to create a green space where the village and visitors can walk and enjoy the wildlife and the village primary school can visit the land and learn about the local wildlife on-site.
The intention is to create a woodland and countryside walk that also villagers and wildlife to co-exist. On one side of the river we will look to restored woodland habitat and on the other side will be the walk. This is an ideal solution that will allow wildlife and villagers to co-exist and for us to enjoy the wildlife while leaving them relatively undisturbed and safe.
There is a teaching area where the school can have lessons for classes where they can learn about nature then go off to explore it. The structure will also act as a meeting place where villagers can come and meet.
We have also started the creation of a community orchard. Thee first phase of tree planting is underway and by the end of the year there will be over 50 fruit trees (plaums, appleas and pears) planted. We have also planted mixed hedging. The replanting of trees and hedgerows will make a significant contribution to the ecosystem and by focusing on native species we hope to create a sustainable environment that the village will enjoy for generations.
Area of importance to local wildlife
The land at the centre of the project is incredibly important to local wildlife. Not only does it play host to seasonal visitors, but it also serves as a home to a number of different species of mammals and birds all year round.
The land to the south side of the river is mainly woodland and serves as cover for the birds that visit the bird tables and gardens of the village. In winter it shelters goldfinches, greenfinches, wrens, treecreepers, goldcrests, coal tits, blue tits and great tits. Woodpeckers have been seen and heard there too.
The gorse and broom provide important cover for yellowhammers in the summer. This is also a key feeding site for our other summer visitors; the swallows, martins and swifts.
Every year a new generation of fledgling herons develop their fishing skills on the river and grouse and pheasants use the field and bushes as cover. Kingfishers and dippers are among the other summer visitors.
In the early morning and at dusk, roe deer have been seen passing through the area, and this summer an otter was spotted moving up the river. There is quite a lot going on down there!
This is a rich and diverse area of importance to local wildlife and we want to keep it that way by replanting lost trees, creating hawthorn and blackthorn hedges to provide new nesting places and managing the land in ways that stop the river damaging the habitat.
We want to keep this land safe and available to Reston today and tomorrow. This is a fantastic resource for our primary school children and we can protect it and make it ours for our children and our children’s children to enjoy.
