Annual

Review2017/2018 Welcome to our Annual Review 2017 - 2018 The past year has been a whirlwind of activity as we work hard to realise the ambitions contained within our Strategic Plan 2016-2021: Be part of Nature’s Recovery.

here has been a concerted drive in the background to ensure that vital environmental protections afforded under the EU are T strengthened as the UK prepares to leave. Much of our focus has been on working with GreenerUK, a coalition of environmental NGOs, to galvanise a common cause for nature among decision-makers.

We are hopeful. The publication of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan in February demonstrates new ambition for restoring nature. Attention now turns to the recently announced Agriculture Bill, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform agriculture so it can be part of the solution.

Closer to home BBOWT engaged with more politicians, including the Prime Minister, who on our request outlined in a pre-election pledge how she would improve the environment when the UK leaves the EU. Our vision An environment rich in wildlife, valued by all. Even our own nature reserves can be enhanced for wildlife. Monitoring confirmed that nightjars have returned to Snelsmore Common, lapwings are breeding at Hosehill Lake, while at College Lake record numbers of butterflies are taking to the air – just a few of the Our mission exhilarating results enjoyed over the year. Partnering with landowners To create a Living Landscape across our beyond our reserves brings wins for wildlife too, and our advice has towns, cities and countryside and inspire our influenced more than 3,000 hectares of land for the benefit of wildlife. communities to act for nature.

Nature’s recovery also needs the public’s buy-in to succeed. Plans

to connect more of us to nature are gathering pace through our education centres and public engagement programmes. Last year we Our aim put on over 400 public events, while our presence at high-profile shows To lead the way for nature’s recovery and like BBC Countryfile Live means we are reaching more people than ever. connect people with nature, so that:

Promoting the conditions for wildlife to thrive pushes back against threats l to fragile habitats, such as development. BBOWT works hard to speak up Our soil and water resources are managed for wildlife through the planning process by communicating the value of to create functioning ecosystems and nature to local authorities and developers, with many successes. wildlife-rich places.

While the wider outlook remains uncertain there is no time to dally. l Local communities, decision-makers, There’s still plenty to do if we are to secure nature’s recovery and give landowners and businesses work with people the opportunity to connect with the natural world. We’re making real progress though, and I am confident that together we will and for nature. get there. l People recognise their dependence upon Estelle Bailey nature and its value to their mental and Chief Executive, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust physical wellbeing. September 2018

2 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Our I mpa ct Our land Our people Our reach We manage 87 nature 25,136 15,000 planning reserves covering memberships applications screened 2,644ha of land support our work prompting 143 in-depth responses We care for 10% of the Over 1,800 remaining floodplain volunteers support 12 additional meadows (MG4) in our work decision-makers the UK directly influenced for 24,278 the benefit wildlife 997ha of woodland, volunteer of which 479ha are sessions 3,214ha of privately ancient woodland owned land 11 trustees oversee influenced for the 351ha cut for hay to governance and benefit of wildlife encourage wild flower strategic leadership through our advice diversity in meadows 150 members of 4 education centres, Over 1,100ha grazed staff dedicated to 2 visitor centres and 1 by livestock to nature’s recovery environmental centre maintain wildlife-rich habitats 19,208 10,287 schoolchildren followers visited our education 330 biological surveys on social media centres carried out on our nature reserves Over 400 public events attracting 39,000 people

ha=hectare 22 Investors in (which is the size of a rugby pitch) Wildlife corporate partners

578,000 unique website views

373 media broadcasts or articles

194,000 visitors to College Lake and the Nature Discovery Centre

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 3 Our year in focus… MK wildlife dons! Visitors discover local wildlife at the first Milton Keynes Festival of Nature Maximum weekly count of 70 marbled white butterflies recorded at Moor Copse

Happy in their work. Volunteers from Oracle get stuck in at the Nature Discovery Centre

Surveys confirm water vole numbers are continuing to go up in our three counties

Upwards of 300 great crested newts counted in one night at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre

The new Wild Links app We did it! Staff celebrate brings the the successful purchase of wildlife of West Duxford Old River Berkshire to life

4 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust More than 41 harvest Peak day count The Wildlife Zone at BBC Countryfile Live mouse nests recorded of 124 southern proves a big pull for visitors at Chimney Meadows damselflies at Parsonage Moor

Teen Rangers aged 12 to 16 try their hand at woodland management

Lapwing and common terns thriving once again at Hosehill Lake

Volunteers work to Across Oxfordshire and West improve a pond at Berkshire 28 badgers are Spiceball Park as part of vaccinated against bovine TB our Wild Banbury Project

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 5 Restore land 293 Landowners reached through so it is rich in liaison and targeted events

3,214ha Land influenced as a result of interactions with landowners BBOWTwildlife cares for more than 2,600 hectares of land across the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Together our 87 nature reserves serve as vital havens where wildlife can thrive. 47ha New land purchased at Duxford Old River to eserves are places from which wildlife can spread as extend Chimney Meadows conditions in the wider countryside improve. By improving R these natural refuges we act as guardians, securing our mission to create a Living Landscape across our towns, cities and countryside.

During the second year of our Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021: Be part of Nature’s Recovery we enjoyed some encouraging achievements in this area.

Exposing new areas of gravel on the island at Hosehill Lake created ideal conditions for ground-nesting birds. Numbers of lapwings and terns jumped – from none at all in 2014 to 19 lapwings and 17 terns.

Another ground-nester, the rare and elusive nightjar, made a return to Snelsmore Common after an absence of two years. Nightjars are prone to disturbance if dogs or people walk too close. Volunteer wardens were on site throughout the spring and summer to explain to visitors how keeping to the paths could help this rare bird and others.

At Parsonage Moor we were excited to see southern damselflies reach a peak day count of 124, the highest in a decade. The count was worthwhile reward for all the work aimed at helping this nationally-rare damselfly, including clearing reeds and scrub from the stream that flows through this fenland reserve.

One of our nature reserves in the Chiltern Hills (location a top secret) hosted the only red helleborine known to have flowered in 2017 – in the entire country! Two more of these endangered plants came into flower this summer.

BBOWT’s Wild Oxford and Wild Banbury projects continue to enhance the wildlife value of local sites. In Oxford, for example, there are now 20 more plant Lapwing face a species in the Chilswell Valley fen area, while in brighter future Banbury work such as coppicing, tree planting and at the Upper pond creation has made project sites more Ray Meadows appealing for both people and wildlife.

6 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Wading in to enhance a nationally-significant landscape

Last year saw the successful completion of a two-year project in the Upper Ray Meadows to create new habitats for breeding waders such as lapwing and curlew.

The Upper River Ray – Enhancing and Restoring Floodplain Meadows project furthered our plans to safeguard the future of the locally scarce birds, as well as other threatened flora and fauna. In 2016 a programme of work began funded by a grant from WREN using money donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.

More than 13 hectares of meadow have been carefully restored using freshly strewn hay cut from other parts of the reserve. Early survey results suggest that the number of wild flowers and other species found in these meadows is already showing signs of recovery.

Work to improve the breeding success of wading birds was at the heart of the project. Cleaned out ditches and scrapes help to keep more of the floodplain meadows wetter late into spring, a crucial time for feeding wader chicks. A large pond restored at Gallows Bridge Farm is now used for feeding by nesting curlew. New fencing keeps predators out, improving success rates and giving a much-needed boost to the local population of lapwing and curlew.

It’s not all about floodplain meadows though. The project included work to plant or restore almost a kilometre of blackthorn hedgerow. This has expanded the existing hedgerow network, which will improve the resilience of farmland birds and the colonies of both black and brown hairstreak butterflies that rely on the blackthorn as a source of food for their caterpillars.

Lisa Green, WREN Operations Manager, said: “FCC Environment and WREN are committed to supporting projects that protect and expand some of the country’s most important ecosystems. That’s why we were delighted to fund the Upper River Ray – Enhancing and Restoring Floodplain Meadows project, which will help to safeguard the future of this nationally-significant landscape for generations to come.”

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 7 Connect with people and

communitiesLast year we ran more than 400 public events for people and communities to get to know their local nature reserves and green spaces better. More children than ever are discovering the thrill of nature.

ur events reached more than 39,000 people, helped in part by the mass engagement of our Oxford and O Milton Keynes Festivals of Nature. The two-week Oxford Festival of Nature in June welcomed This year we launched our Investors in Wildlife scheme for companies thousands of people across more than 65 events. The Wild Fair at the to work more closely with BBOWT while boosting employee health Oxford University Museum of Natural History is the biggest event and wellbeing. All existing corporate partners transferred to the and attracted a record 7,500 visitors in 2017. scheme and we recruited an additional 14 members, bringing the total to 22. Last year was the first Milton Keynes Festival of Nature. Launched in conjunction with The Parks Trust and the Milton Keynes Natural In January we hosted the first Investors in Wildlife event. More than History Society, July’s week-long programme drew in around 1,000 40 companies took up this networking opportunity and heard from people from across the area, many new to the Wildlife Trust. global leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility. We will continue to deliver an events programme to explain how businesses and people The following month we ran the Wildlife Zone at BBC Countryfile Live working in them can benefit from improving their relationships with for the second year running. This four-day event at Blenheim Palace the natural environment. is a convenient and effective way to reach a new audience. More than 20,000 visitors spent time in the Wildlife Zone where we worked alongside other conservation organisations to offer wildlife-friendly advice.

Public events held as part of the Wild Banbury project included a very successful family fun day in the town’s Spiceball Park. Ongoing funding means we can now look to expand the project to other sites, connecting more volunteers and residents to their local wildlife.

Time spent in nature does everyone good, but it can be life-changing for those with dementia, as evident at the Nature Memories Café run at the Nature Discovery Centre. Here weekly drop-in sessions combine the relaxing power of nature with nature crafts, refreshments and social interaction.

Supporting BBOWT gives businesses the opportunity to reinforce their sustainability credentials, and us further capacity to restore wildlife habitats.

8 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust A journey of learning and discovery

Windsor Great Park Environmental Centre is an exciting five-year partnership project between BBOWT and The Crown Estate.

Our new Environmental Centre is located in a private area right at the 1,700 heart of the Park, enabling visitors to experience the wonderful wildlife People engaged in new activities and natural heritage of this unique setting. Programmes developed to in the natural environment to engage children’s heads, hearts and hands are held in the indoor and benefit their health outdoor classrooms, with fantastic learning opportunities to be had in the surrounding forest and grassland.

Programmes include sessions for primary schools, a monthly Nature Tots pre-school group, after-school wildlife clubs and family events during the school holidays. Schools can choose from a variety of topics for their sessions, such as a Windsor Woodland Animal Adventure, 11,200 Minibeast Marvels or Intriguing Trees. Schoolchildren reached by visiting our environmental education Every staff-led session takes children on a journey of learning and discovery. Activities inspire and excite, while offering links to areas of centres or via school visits the National Curriculum and opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy skills.

Sophie Axford, Education Officer at Windsor Great Park, said: “The new Centre is an incredible opportunity for us to provide educational experiences for children within this beautiful and historic site. It’s been 6,000 an incredibly busy first year but we have achieved what we set out to do. People took part in direct action for wildlife “We’ve had some wonderful feedback. Local families have said our offer is unique in the area and our Nature Tots sessions, family events and wildlife clubs are already proving very popular with many fully booked.” 23,300 People attended The parents love it… community events, “What a wonderful array of activities. Well planned, courses and activities brilliant value, interactive and very child friendly, with knowledgeable and personable staff.”

“Nature Tots always exceeds my expectations – I love it!” Our wildlife sessions are designed to engage “We will definitely be coming back!” children’s heads, hearts and hands “Ollie had a fantastic time and hasn’t stopped talking about it.” And so do the children! “I really want to do this when I grow up.” Reception class pupil

“My favourite part of the day was the sweep netting. I really enjoyed finding out lots of new facts about pond dipping.” Year 2 pupil

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 9 Value nature by explaining its

Communicating thebenefits value of nature sows the seeds for nature’s recovery. People are more inclined to act in the interests of wildlife if they recognise their dependence on the natural environment and all that it provides.

uring the General Election we sought a commitment from prospective MPs to act for nature. Forty commented on what D they would do to secure further protections, including Prime Minister Theresa May. Our event on Oxford’s Port Meadow to put ‘Nature Back into the Heart of the Election’ saw party representatives speak of the need for legislation on clean air, water and habitats for wildlife.

By lobbying MPs we can encourage parliament to legislate for wildlife’s recovery. Work in this area encouraged five new pledges from MPs and Ministers for the environment, backing the GreenerUK coalition’s call to establish the UK as a world leader in environmental protection post Brexit. Meetings with several MPs led the way to Less visible is the work of our Senior Biodiversity and Planning significant amendments to the UK Withdrawal Bill to retain and Officers and their volunteers, who tirelessly review thousands of enforce environmental legislation. planning applications and documents, and engage and influence decision-makers. The public may not see this side of our work but it BBOWT’s Nature Matters newsletter launched at the is crucial to limiting the impact of new development and ensuring start of the year to inform influencers and decision- it results in the best possible outcomes for wildlife. The benefits to makers about the work we do. Nature Matters will wildlife are very real. go out at least twice a year to councillors, local parties and NGOs, planning officers, clinical Over the last six years BBOWT has campaigned passionately to commissioning groups and reduce the impacts of the High Speed Two (HS2) railway on wildlife. relevant partnership groups. Our reports, petitions and appearances before Parliamentary Select Committees secured a number of compromises, including a promise to address shortfalls in the amount of wildlife compensation and a commitment for 30m wide Green Bridges BBOWT works where the line passes through the Bernwood Forest. tirelessly behind the scenes to stand up Attention now turns to the proposed Oxford to Cambridge for n atu re Expressway road. To date we have taken part in a closed consultation, submitted our response to Highways England and written to the Secretary of State for Transport and MPs in the area affected, meeting several to express our concerns. Five MPs publicly supported our call for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (to assess the environmental and sustainability impacts) of the three potential routes for the proposed road. The recently announced preferred route is potentially the most damaging of the three and we are collaborating with other organisations to coordinate a way forward.

10 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Stepping up to save a precious place

In summer 2017 BBOWT had the extraordinary opportunity to make an offer on nearly 50 hectares of land on the south bank of the River Thames adjoining Chimney Meadows. The land, which is next to a series of beautiful meanders of the old River Thames, was renamed Duxford Old River.

Previous in-depth analysis of Chimney’s ecosystem services already demonstrates the very real value to society of managing land for nature. We recognised the huge potential to gently return Duxford Old River to nature, while acquiring it would enable us to extend Chimney Meadows to create the first nature reserve to span the Thames.

Our plan to let nature lead the way clearly struck a chord as our appeal to buy the land was successful, all thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our members, grant funders and the general public.

The Old River itself was a major attraction. Cut off from navigation in the early 19th century by the Thames Cut (the modern day route of the river), the original river course has become a lost world, and is probably the best example of how the Thames might have looked in days 19,200 gone by. Followers on social media

This undisturbed stretch is where most of our sightings of otters and their cubs have occurred. Duxford Old River is also favoured by brown hares and hunting hobby, and the flocks of more than a thousand lapwing and golden plover in the first winter have been spectacular. But we know it 258 115 could be so much more. Print media articles Number of TV and featuring BBOWT radio broadcasts The next step is to survey the land to find out what other creatures call it home, before working with the Environment Agency and others to see what interventions are needed, and what Mother Nature will do on her own. 43% Duxford Old River gives us the opportunity to try Local MPs have taken an something different, beyond any constraints. It is a blank canvas where we intend to let nature take the lead. action to support wildlife

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 11 Partner with others to maximise our

Our mission to create a Living Landscapei mpa while ct The grants will be used to support Nature Tots sessions at the Nature inspiring communities to act for nature can only Discovery Centre and Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education be realised by working with others. This is why we Centre, which has also seen improvements to its outdoor classrooms. partner with local authorities, politicians, businesses, grant-making bodies and other organisations. Wildlife-friendly landowners are central to nature’s recovery. BBOWT is providing training and advice to a Farmer Cluster group in north Oxfordshire. The Farmer Cluster concept, developed by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in association with Natural England, helps local farmers work together at a landscape scale for the benefit of the rants and corporate donations make up nearly a quarter of natural environment and wildlife. BBOWT’s income. During 2017-18 grants from the Heritage G Lottery Fund continued to support our work. The most BBOWT’s work with the Jordans Farm Partnership continued to bring momentous contribution, with additional grants from trusts and improvements for local farm wildlife. Last year we advised two farmers foundations including Viridor Credits Environmental Company, with LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) accreditation to ensure The Banister Charitable Trust, The Schroder Foundation, Trust for that 10% of their land is farmed for wildlife. On one Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire’s Environment and Grundon Waste Management Ltd, farm wildflower margins and several kilometres of newly planted enabled the purchase of Duxford Old River, now part of a bigger, hedgerows now provide food and shelter for birds, small mammals more resilient Chimney Meadows (see page 11). and insects.

Berkshire wildlife benefited from John Lewis customers and Pressure from development threatens nature’s recovery in our region, Partners who chose Shepperlands Farm to receive a donation from but by engaging with developers we can achieve a better outcome for the John Lewis Reading Community Matters scheme. Meanwhile wildlife. Our new relationship with Berkeley Homes seeks to encourage money raised from the plastic bag levy was made available through wildlife-friendly gardens and we continue to work with Taylor Wimpey. the Southern Co-op and Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative.

12 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Local water voles buck the national trend

Partnerships help us achieve more. The River Misbourne habitat improvement project saw BBOWT work with the Wild Trout Trust, Environment Agency, Groundwork South and the local council for the benefit of river wildlife.

Brown trout and water voles were just two of the many species to benefit from the completion of the project to open up a section of the river upstream from its confluence with the River Colne.

Local volunteers cut back overhanging trees so more light can reach the banks where grasses, reeds and other vegetation will provide food and cover for water voles. These favourable conditions could see the local water vole population extend downstream to link up with a population on the nearby River Chess.

Work like this is core to our Water Vole Recovery Project, which has helped local water vole activity increase by 78% over the past 10 years, in contrast to a declining picture nationally.

The cut branches and other vegetation were then used to reinstate riverbanks and recreate the Misbourne’s original 200km 400 winding flow. This has narrowed the river, speeding up its flow to wash away the silt that had prevented brown Length of watercourses Number of surveys trout from spawning. As the river bends around the new surveyed for water vole activity carried out banks it will form pools where trout can live and insects such as mayflies and dragonflies can breed.

Rob Mungovan, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout Trust said: “Partnership working can be the key to success on rivers as so many people use and enjoy them.” 603km2 78% Local key areas of water Increase in local The team involved in the project also created a gravel ‘beach’ for visitors to the Colne Valley Visitor Centre to go vole activity, up 4% on the water vole activity river-dipping and discover the incredible aquatic life. previous year in the last 10 years

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 13 Build our 1,800 capacity to volunteers 63 volunteer working groups 41 deliverBBOWT wouldn’t exist without the Wildlife Traineeships thousands of members who support our work through their annual memberships and by giving so generously to our appeals. 22 Investors in Wildlife corporate partners any have also remembered BBOWT in their Will, helping us to protect the region’s most outstanding natural places for M generations to come. Gifts in Wills are one of the simplest and most effective ways to support the Wildlife Trust and secure its future. Previous gifts have enabled us to buy land or provide the resources to look after it.

We work hard to build a lasting relationship with all our members through Wildlife News magazine, online newsletters, guided walks on our nature reserves and special events. Members are invited to complete a survey that helps us to improve our events programme and the way we communicate.

Social media has become a highly effective way to raise our profile and reach a new audience. It builds awareness of activities, such as our badger vaccination programme, and enables us to respond quickly to news. The number of followers across our social media channels continues to increase, reaching 19,000 by the end of the year.

Volunteers are central to BBOWT’s success. More than 1,800 people give their time to volunteer in activities across BBOWT, from clearing invading scrub or surveying orchids on a reserve, to desktop research at head office. Together they contribute more than 24,000 sessions of volunteering, equivalent to over 50 full-time staff members.

Research by The Wildlife Trusts shows that volunteering in wild places while being supported by Wildlife Trust staff has a clear impact on people’s mental health: it makes people feel better, happier and more connected to other people.

Surveying of our own volunteers reveals that the perceived benefits to volunteering include protecting wildlife and the wider environment, improving wellbeing, making new friends and learning new skills. More than 90% of volunteers describe their experience of volunteering with BBOWT as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.

Every year the Wildlife Trust recognises the remarkable contributions of our volunteers by honouring their work through Group, Individual and Lifetime Achievement awards announced at our AGM.

14 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Let’s encourage a new generation of wildlife enthusiasts!

Regular volunteers at our Sutton Courtenay Environmental funded by Thames Water. The project will improve conditions Education Centre are dedicated to creating an inspirational place for water voles and create a new pebble bank for safe stream for children to discover nature. dipping. Volunteers will then install a streamside path and an education area for children to investigate the watery wildlife, Thousands of volunteers make up the many work parties adding further opportunities to inspire young minds. that help to keep our nature reserves, visitor centres and environmental education centres running. The Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre work party is typical of the hard work and dedication of those who selflessly give up their time.

This energetic group continually seeks to improve the Centre, which welcomes hundreds of schoolchildren and toddlers every year to fall in awe of nature.

Their efforts have created a new Forest School area and dipping pond for curious youngsters to get up close to wildlife, many for the first time. Some members of the team have been trained to use brushcutters and scythes so they can keep paths clear and better manage meadow areas for wildlife.

Community Wildlife Manager Mark Bradfield explains: “Without this work the site quickly becomes overgrown with nettles and brambles that make it harder to access the educational areas. The group makes so much difference to the children’s enjoyment and we’ve received many comments from visitors about how much the site has improved over recent years.”

Last winter the group cleared areas of bank along the Moor Ditch to prepare for restoration work,

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 15 2017/18

Financial Review 72p from every £ is spent BBOWT continues to hold a healthy financial on our conservation position. Over the year good financial management and education has enabled us to control and slightly reduce our work overall expenditure while income from membership, donations, legacies, grants, corporate partners and trading all held steady or in some cases increased.

he income for 2017/18 includes money raised (£604k) as part of the Duxford Old River appeal. Looking ahead there are T significant uncertainties, including the impact of Brexit on agri-environment funding (which currently comes via the EU) and changing regulation for charitable fundraising. We will continue to adopt a cautious approach to managing our finances, giving room to invest in new activities. This means we will be in the best place to realise the ambition of our current Strategic Plan for 2016-2021.

Income 2017-2018 Expenditure 2017-2018 Total: £6.09m Total: £5.58m £000s £000s

£2,576 42% Membership and donations £1,771 32% Nature reserve management £1,410 23% Grants and corporate donations £1,426 26% Wildlife awareness and education £849 14% Individual donations and legacies £811 15% Looking after the wider countryside £381 6% Trading activities £988 18% Membership and fundraising costs £146 2% Investment income £541 10% Trading costs £484 8% Agri-environment scheme income £38 0% Investment costs £244 4% Other income

16 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Membership Fundraising promise... The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is committed to fundraising and communicating in an honest and transparent way.

e aim to ensure that everyone who chooses to W support us, whether by joining BBOWT, making a donation, giving their time to volunteer with us or attending events, has a positive and rewarding experience and understands that their support is truly valued.

As part of this we will be honest and transparent, protect your data, be respectful of your wishes, and accountable. BBOWT Trustees regularly review all fundraising activity for both its cost effectiveness and compliance. Furthermore, Trustees review all complaints received and any fundraising ones are reported to the Fundraising Regulator.

Overall income from membership and membership donations grew by3% to£2.58m Number of memberships 25,136 were new 109 of which 3,080 memberships new people pledging to leave a gift to BBOWT in their Will

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 17 Thank you to our Su pporters The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust relies on the generosity of its members and other supporters. Without this support we President Steve Backshall would not be able to achieve BBOWT’s aim to lead the way for nature’s recovery and to connect people with nature. Thank Honorary Vice-Presidents you to the following organisations and individuals who have Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher supported BBOWT during the 2017-18 financial year. Dr Pam Berry Sir Clive Booth (from AGM 2017) Dr Robin Buxton MBE, DL Charitable Trusts (£5,000+) Thames Water Roger Dobbs Berkshire Caregivers Services Unity Automotive Professor Dieter Helm CBE Canal & River Trust Vine House Farm Peter Hinde Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust Roger Maingot EBM Charitable Trust Grant-making and Hugh Mellor CBE Richard Radcliffe Charitable Trust Statutory Bodies Martin Spray CBE Rothschild Foundation DEFRA Lady Audrey Wood Schroder Foundation Environment Agency Tanner Trust Heritage Lottery Fund Board of Trustees The Banister Charitable Trust Natural England Sir Clive Booth (Chair) (to AGM 2017) The Doris Field Charitable Trust Reading Urban Wildlife Group Barbara Muston (Chair) (from AGM 2017) The Shanly Foundation Royal Society for the Protection of Birds John Pulsinelli (Vice-Chair) The Tolkien Trust Tesco Bags of Help Jane Cotton (Honorary Secretary) The Wild Trout Trust The Chilterns Conservation Board Tim Lowth (Honorary Treasurer) Frances Brindle Corporate Partners Landfill Communities Fund Chris Burgess Anglian Water Grundon Waste Management Ltd Ian Davidson Alnylam The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) James Gillies Berkeley Homes Viridor Credits Environmental Company Sir Paul Hayter KCB, RVO Blenheim Palace Estate Andrew Noel Celestron Legators Mike Packer (to AGM 2017) Country Land and Business Association We are extremely grateful to the Joanna Simons CBE English Provender Company following people who left a bequest to Freeths BBOWT in their Will… Give as you Live Grundon Waste Management Ltd Jocelyn Allard Holiday Cottages Martin H P Baker Local Authorities Johnson Matthey Michael Bishop Bracknell Forest Council Lanes Group Olive Bradley Cherwell District Council MEPC Milton Park Phyllis Cole Didcot Town Council NFU Mutual Pearl I Dunkason Oxford City Council National Grid Patricia Gosden Oxfordshire County Council NatureBureau Joan Grandison South Oxfordshire District Council Nurture Landscapes Barbara Grubb Vale of White Horse District Council Oracle John Howes West Berkshire Council Oxford Office Furniture John Lambert Oxford Science Park George Lucking Patrons Panasonic UK John McIntosh John Eckersley Robin Swailes Design and Development Norman Paskin Professor & Mrs Helm Seacourt Printing Isobel M Tribe Jean and Roger Jefcoate CBE, DL Siemens UK Alan Welch Dr Robin Buxton MBE, DL Sophos plc Brenda Wickham Tim Coulson Taylor and Francis Liz Ware

18 Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust From the Chair

The word that I associate with this year is ‘challenge’: There’s still much to do. With our Strategic Plan in mind we’re challenge for me taking on the role of Chair, challenge for involving more people, especially young people and those in the organisation as it works to meet the targets set out in the urban areas, and we’re working with new and existing partners Strategic Plan for 2016-2021 and, of course, the ever-present to ensure more wildlife is protected. And it’s bringing results! We challenges for wildlife. But BBOWT is an organisation that rises have witnessed some encouraging wins for wildlife, not only on to a challenge and our staff and volunteers continue to work our nature reserves but beyond their boundaries too, out in the tirelessly for local wildlife and to inspire more people to value wider landscape. and connect with nature. It is you, our loyal supporters and volunteers, who make BBOWT With your support and that of many grant-making bodies, trusts the success it is and you can be assured that by keeping our and foundations, we are now protecting more land than ever governance under review and having sound, responsible for nature. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the financial decision-making we are a charity that can face up to purchase of Duxford Old River at Chimney Meadows. the challenges of the future, no matter what it brings.

When we launched our appeal to raise the money needed to Barbara Muston make it happen, our members and supporters stepped up to the Chair challenge. Together with grants from organisations such as the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Heritage Lottery Fund we did it, creating the only nature reserve to span the Thames and providing more protection for birds such as lapwing and golden plover. A highlight of the year for me was walking that land with some of you and envisioning what it might become.

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 19 Be part of nature’s Contact us Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive recovery [email protected] Your local Wildlife Trust brings people and nature 01865 775476 together to protect our environment. Tom Beckett, Director of External Affairs Our experts work with more than 1,800 [email protected] volunteers to look after 87 nature reserves, four 01865 775476 education centres and run hundreds of amazing events. We rely on the generosity of individuals, Legacies charitable trusts and businesses. [email protected] 01865 775476 To find out more or to contribute visit www.bbowt.org.uk Grants, trusts & major gifts [email protected] 01865 775476 The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK. Together The Company support Wildlife Trusts form the largest UK voluntary [email protected] organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife 01865 775476 and wild places on land and at sea. Volunteering [email protected] Image Credits: Adrian Wallington, Andrew Marshall/Go Wild 01865 775476 Landscapes, Andy Collins, Andy Fairbairn, Charles Thody Photography, David Richardson, Ian Boyd, Jude Verdon, Mark Bradfield, Parks Trust, Philip Precey, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Ric Mellis, Rob Appleby, Terry Whittaker/2020VISION, Wildlife Trust, Tom Hibbert, Wendy Tobitt, Wild Trout Trust. The Lodge, 1 Armstrong Road, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 4XT www.bbowt.org.uk

Registered charity number: 204330 Company registered number: 00680007

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