Summer 2015 Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre

Photograph by © Helen Miller I’d like to welcome Katherine Reading through this Welcome Holmes, our new Berkshire newsletter I see that Biodiversity Officer and also recording and conservation I thought I’d surely been congratulate Caroline groups have been very the busiest person in Coleman who will be staying busy too; securing funding, the last six months at TVERC in the new role of putting on talks & walks, looking after baby Benji, Volunteer Co-ordinator from surveying wildlife and but it seems that the September. And huge carrying out practical last six months have congratulations to Dr Lucy work. It’s evident that been a busy time for Lush who has completed her Berkshire and everyone with lots of PhD in hare ecology. would be a much poorer new and exciting environment without all Apart from big projects such projects, events and your efforts. as the TVERC training opportunities. Lucy and courses, Oxfordshire Habitat So thank you to Lucy and the team have done a Mapping and Berkshire the TVERC team, and all fabulous job while I’ve Ancient Woodland Inventory those volunteering their been away and it’s been Camilla and Benji review, we’ve also been time to help conserve the lovely to come back and working hard to better utilise environment—I concede I enjoying a rare sit-down! hear all the news. technology to automate our possibly wasn’t the busiest While I was away Helen data management and person in the last six Miller left us and is now I N S I D E provision processes. This will months! running the new Warwick give us more time to spend THIS ISSUE: Camilla Burrow branch of Acorn Ecology. on getting data into our Oxfordshire 2 We will miss those quirky database, and on supporting Recording and cartoons in our newsletter! recorders. Conservation Day

Meet our new 3 Berkshire TVERC Training Programme Biodiversity Officer TVERC received funding from Natural England to run 7 What is TOE2? 4 training courses covering a range of species and habitats. The aim of the courses was to provide an Woodstock Natural 6 introduction to ecology and overview of survey History Society methods, to encourage volunteers to get involved with 40th Anniversary surveying in their area. All the courses were soon booked up with waiting lists Mammal Group 7 for any spaces that became available. We have been secure funding. very lucky with the weather so far and participants were also rewarded with some great views of brown Hedge laying in 8 Blewbury hares, grass snakes and common lizards at Otmoor and bank voles at the Organic Research Centre. Let’s hope Former Rubbish 9 that the last two courses are just as lucky. Tip now LWS We plan to run further courses next year that will be

advertised on our website and Twitter account. So if © Lucy Lush you are interested in attending keep any eye out as they will likely book up quickly. Lucy Lush P A G E 2 Oxfordshire Recording and Conservation Day 2015 TVERC, with about Wild Oxfordshire; the invaluable support Oxfordshire Biodiversity Strategy for from Judy Webb, the 2020; recording of invasive species; Ashmolean Natural Save our Magnificent Meadows; History Society of Oxfordshire Pollinator Advisory Group; Oxfordshire, Wild the Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire; Oxfordshire, BBOWT TVERC’s online recording system; the and Shotover Oxfordshire Mammal Group; Wildlife, held a Oxfordshire Rare Plants Register; the successful event for BSBI 2020 atlas; Shotover Wildlife; and Oxfordshire’s clearwing moth recording. recorders on 28th Downy For the last part of the afternoon, February 2015. The event was held at people had the opportunity to attend Woundwort the University Museum of one of four workshops. Darren Mann Natural History, a fascinating place in its Photo from Ken entranced his group with a tour of the own right which was much enjoyed by museum’s Hope Entomological Betteridge the 70 people who attended. Collections. Stephen Ellwood gave a The theme was ‘Recording the very successful master class on using invisible’ and we started with an radio-tracking. There was lots of enthusiastic and informative talk by discussion in a workshop by Debbie Judy Webb about seed banks and the Lewis on use of monitoring results to difficulty of recording ‘buried long- influence conservation. Merryl Gelling dormant seed’ plant species. Ken gave a demonstration, with many Betteridge then described the work that examples, of the signs left by mammals he and others have done with Downy in a workshop on ‘Poo, prints and Woundwort in the west of Oxfordshire. more’. David Wilding then showed us how Our thanks go to the Oxford University remote monitoring techniques Museum of Natural History for including cameras and data loggers providing such a fascinating venue and have been used to monitor the impacts to all of the speakers and participants of ground predators on nesting waders for educating and informing us all. Look at Otmoor. In his talk about moth out in the next newsletter for plans for recording, Paul Waring explained how the 2016 event and the Autumn synthetic pheromones can be used to Recorders Conference later this year! trap moths by mimicking the pheromones released by female moths. Caroline Coleman The last talk of the morning was from Jeremy Biggs, with a thought-provoking exploration of the potential for e-DNA, which is already being used to detect the presence of great-crested newts in fresh waters. The afternoon speed updating session proved popular as ever, with updates from 11 participants. The updates were Ken Betteridge’s Excellent Tomato Map showing location and numbers of Downy Woundwort plants Oxfordshire Habitat Mapping P A G E 3

How would you know where to find time and we also found some So far, we have made a start with different grasslands or other habitats unexpected areas of interesting fen mapping arable fields and such as ponds or traditional orchards and grassland. This has grassland. It is rarely possible to in Oxfordshire? Many of us have local demonstrated the value of be absolutely certain about some knowledge about favourite patches or producing a comprehensive habitat habitats – for example, places we’ve seen when we are out map. distinguishing unimproved from and about. And there are also improved grassland is tricky. sites that have been chosen for Fortunately, their importance to wildlife – Integrated Habitat Local Wildlife Sites, Conservation System (IHS) codes Target Areas and national allow us to use terms “This will designated sites such as SSSIs. such as “probably prove Amazingly, though, there isn’t a improved” or comprehensive map showing “possibly invaluable for habitat types across all of unimproved”, Oxfordshire. reflecting the strategic inherent uncertainty Oxfordshire County Council has decisions in identification from decided to remedy this and has aerial photos. commissioned TVERC to map about where habitats across the whole of the This is a long-term to prioritise county. This will prove invaluable project that will for strategic decisions about progress from the conservation” where to prioritise conservation. It will Although it would be lovely to spend more straightforward also provide the information about the the next few summers recording habitats such as arable most important habitats for district habitats across Oxfordshire, this isn’t to more complex ones and county planners when individual the most efficient approach. Instead, such as parkland. Over time, we planning applications are received. we take advantage of aerial will have a much better picture of photography (and other sources) to Oxfordshire’s habitats and where We have already carried out a similar take a bird’s eye view, identifying they are. project for Council. habitats as accurately as we can and Some areas of high ecological Caroline Coleman then adding them to a GIS layer. importance were mapped for the first

Meet our new Berkshire Biodiversity Officer

Katherine Holmes has joined and surveys of flora and fauna. TVERC as the Berkshire She has also worked within the Biodiversity Officer. Katherine has reserves teams at the a degree in Environmental Biology Staffordshire and Derbyshire and a Masters degree in Applied Wildlife Trusts, carrying out Ecology and Conservation, and practical conservation tasks in a has worked in the field of ecology variety of habitats. and conservation for 7 years. In addition to her paid work, Prior to TVERC, she worked on Katherine volunteers as a nest the ‘Save Our Magnificent recorder and bird ringer for the Meadows’ project with the BTO, and also volunteers for Cotswolds Conservation Board, BBOWT’s Water Vole Recovery where she was responsible for Project. community engagement; Katherine was previously employed arranging practical conservation as an ecologist at an ecological Katherine is thrilled to be joining work parties, public events and consultancy in Oxfordshire, where the TVERC team, and is looking volunteer-led botanical surveys. she was involved in a range of work forward to meeting and working across England and Wales including with our recorders very soon. carrying out ecological assessments P A G E 4

WHAT IS THE TRUST FOR OXFORDSHIRE’S ENVIRONMENT? (TOE2) The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment Examples of projects we have supported include: (TOE2) is an environmental funder for Oxfordshire. We are here to provide  River of Life - funding towards the funding and support for environmental establishment of priority habitats including reed and community projects in Oxfordshire, beds, wet woodland and lowland meadows at the supporting both strategic priorities and Earth Trust’s visionary landscape scale wetland local initiatives in order to improve quality creation project beside the river Thames in South of life and the environment, ecosystem Oxfordshire. services and the local economy.

TOE2 directs its funds in 3 key funding areas aiming to:  Promote and improve the biodiversity of Oxfordshire’s wildlife habitats “If you have  Encourage and develop the potential sustainable use of renewable resources, including promoting and project encouraging energy efficiency  Increase access to the local ideas that countryside and green spaces would River of life Project Education and raising environmental benefit your awareness are seen as key across all three  Oxfordshire Reserves Scything Project - local area, funding areas. providing equipment and staff and volunteer training so that the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire please do TOE2 is a fund seeker as well as a grant and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) can use giver, keen to work with a range of funders get in scything as a management tool on five of its interested in supporting Oxfordshire’s Oxfordshire nature reserves. touch.” environment. Current funders include Grundon Waste  Daeda’s Wood – Support Management, for the Woodland Trust to Oxfordshire County pollard willows in this Council, the Patsy community woodland Wood Trust and both

corporate and individual donors.  Eynsham Abbey Fishponds – Eynsham Parish Council working in SUPPORTING partnership with the BIODIVERSITY Project TOE2 is keen to encouraging local support a range of involvement with this green projects which bring BBOWT volunteer scything—photo courtesy of BBOWT space around historic about practical monastic fishponds. TOE2 biodiversity improvements through habitat funding supported wildlife and species management and habitat surveys to find out more about the site's creation. We are looking for projects biodiversity and a day of activities for local families. which fit within the county or national strategy for biodiversity. Continued on page 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 P A G E 5 SUPPORTING COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS Eligible buildings, which include rural and urban TOE2 supports projects which improve access to village and community halls, sports pavilions and green spaces and the wider countryside, such as Scout/Guide halls, are provided with £500 by funder creating new links, improving path surfaces and TOE2 towards an energy audit (with a total cost of replacing styles with gates. We are particularly keen £660). Following the audit up to £5,000 of to fund projects which improve connectivity and implementation funding is available as well as the create circular routes. benefit of reduced running costs. Many projects include an access and a biodiversity CONTACTING US element. If you have potential project ideas that would RENEWABLES/ benefit your local area, please do get in touch. ENERGY Future deadlines for EFFICIENCY applications are the We still have a few 22nd July and 14th October. remaining energy audit grants available for We are delighted to community buildings. launch our new website Over 100 Oxfordshire community buildings Eynsham Abbey Fishponds have so far benefited www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk. Do take a from an energy audit look and follow us on Twitter @TOE2_Oxon. supported by funding from the Patsy Wood Trust. Feedback shows that over 75% of the We have recently moved offices; our new phone recommendations made have been or will be number is 01865 407003 and our new address is: implemented. Low and no cost short-term actions are TOE2, , Little Wittenham, suggested as well as those requiring investment. Oxfordshire, OX14 4QZ. Fiona Danks

Watery fun at the Oxford Festival of Nature signs. Happily we managed to find a Look out for TVERC at future events slide into the river and some spraints, including Bugs! at Silwood Park on so everyone had the chance to have a Friday 10th July and the Wychwood good sniff! The crayfish were less Forest Fair on Sunday 6th September. obliging, but we did manage to catch Ellen Lee and Hannah Boylan one male and one female signal crayfish. You’re never too The watery theme continued with the young to get Wild Fair, which was held at the involved! Oxford University Museum of Natural History. TVERC, along with many other TVERC got involved with this years wildlife groups and organisations, had Festival of Nature which took a stall there on the rainiest day of the place over a fortnight at the year so far! beginning of June. The rain didn’t seem to deter the TVERC’s resident Otter and visitors though so we had a steady Crayfish expert Ellen Lee led walks stream of nature lovers, potential along the river in the nearby volunteers and people interested in University Parks on the 6th and our online recording website coming to 7th of June. The otter walk proved talk to us. Having our foxy friend with especially popular with about 25 us also attracted some of the youngest people going on a search for otter wildlife enthusiasts to the stall. P A G E 6 Woodstock Natural History Society 40th Anniversary

he Society was founded in arranged by Secretary Sheila The Society has planted October 1975 with Alison Thompson, with summer trees in memory of past Clay as Chairman, Dr. events and a walks T members including several Bruce Campbell as President, programme throughout the on the banks of the Glyme with Sheila Hepworth as year. These meetings are for Dr Bruce Campbell. We Secretary supported by John advertised in Elite Magazine, plan to provide more this Brucker, local headmaster and Bladon & Woodstock News year to mark our 40th long-time member of and Oxford Times. Oxfordshire anniversary. Ornithological Society. Woodstock’s Community Woodland site has An inaugural meeting been earmarked as a produced a starting point. programme of nature study walks and lectures by prominent We look forward to naturalists. For many recruiting more years a monthly early members to carry on morning walk around the work of the Blenheim attracted Society. “We look early risers. Fund- Dedication Ceremony of Trees planted on the banks of the forward to raising is an important river Glyme in the Woodstock Water meadows to the memory activity with an annual of Bruce Campbell, Internationally famed naturalist and Pat Crutch, recruiting more coffee morning and a founder member of the Woodstock Natural History Society. Committee Member May 31st 2003. members to Christmas raffle

providing donations to local carry on nature projects. the work of the Friends of (FoLV) Oxford Society.” A 5-year monthly survey of flowering plants in Blenheim This group has spent a lot of time Rock Edge has been the focus of Park commenced in the 1980’s in the last year helping with the one limestone wild flower management of the Lye Valley enhancement FoLV Oxford session, and the results were presented North Fen SSSI and LWS as part of and will be the subject of another to TVERC. Woodstock meadows the BBOWT ‘Wild Oxford’ project, session of seed spreading at the have seen several management where they have most recently end of July with the aim of projects to encourage wildlife learnt to use the Austrian scythes providing more nectar and pollen and local flora; in 1990 the to good effect in felling more of the sources for insects. Society backed a 5-year plan by tall reed to remediate the very rare John Brucker to bring the calcareous short fen habitat. At the AGM on 3rd August there meadows back to better will be an illustrated talk on condition by grazing etc. Some They also regularly assist the ‘Helping Pollinators in members assisted with Oxford Conservation Volunteers in Headington’. the essential reed-raking in July recording of the flora and fauna and October in both the North and as well as pulling up Himalayan For details of this and all South fens which substitutes for other news see the group’s Balsam! the grazing the fens can no longer website at http:// have. www.headington.org.uk/ Coach outings are well Oxford Geology Trust benefitted lyevalley/ supported with Slimbridge a from their help in cleaning the rock favourite venue. Our current face exposure of the limestone Judy Webb programme consists of lectures Jurassic Coral Reef at Rock Edge from September to May Nature Reserve in Headington. Oxfordshire Mammal Group Secure P A G E 7 funding for Dormouse Project

ver the winter the and finally without a licence it is All our dormouse records will be Oxfordshire Mammal Group illegal to disturb these wonderful but submitted to TVERC in an effort to O received a generous rare mammals. We will need to leave increase everyone's knowledge of donation from TOE2, (see page 4); the tubes in place for a month for where dormice are hiding. for an Oxfordshire-wide dormouse them to bed down before our survey. This under-recorded and rare surveys begin. I hope to see many of you out mammal is present in helping with our surveys or Oxfordshire but we only even surveying on your own know of a few locations. (as most of our native There is historic Oxfordian mammals can be evidence to suggest surveyed and enjoyed with they were (and very little experience or potentially still are) equipment). If you haven’t widespread across the already, please get in touch county in a few of our if you would like to help fantastic ancient with the dormouse surveys, woodlands, so we are any of our other surveys using this opportunity to that will be coming up over find out where! the summer or if you have any suggestions for surveys We have received the of your own. vital permission from a © Pete Newbold few of Oxfordshire’s © Helen © Pete estates and other land owners to access their land and install the We will be getting our members If you would like further survey tubes. After months of the involved in helping us on the surveys, information on helping us with initial set-up we are starting to install where they will get the chance to see these surveys and joining the the tubes into these woodlands these secretive creatures up close, Oxfordshire Mammal Group please across the county in preparation for and even if we don’t find dormice we visit our website at our surveys. If you see these tubes get the opportunity to access www.oxonmammals.org.uk. please do not disturb them as if they normally private land and take a walk are occupied the dormice are in some amazing woodland, with probably trying to sleep. Disturbance plenty of other things to see. Pete Newbold may also affect our survey results, Survey Officer, Oxfordshire Mammal Group

New Marston Wildlife Group (NMWG) Oxford

This group has now become a smaller group which focuses on For some photos and a video of the wall in construction see practical conservation work needed in Milham Ford Nature Park http://fomfnp.weebly.com/milham-ford-nature-park.html . in Marston. It is thus now known as the Friends of Milham The group is grateful to the Oxford Conservation Volunteers for Ford Nature Park (FOMFNP, see their hard work on the day and to Oxford City Council for http://fomfnp.weebly.com/). preparing the bank and providing the limestone, sand and lime The most recent big project in the Nature Park on 24th May has for the construction. been the construction of a ‘bee wall’ in the south facing bank of The Friends group continue regular work parties on Sundays in the stream. This will benefit solitary bees by providing nest sites the park, controlling overgrowth of bramble, pond marginal for those species that like to burrow in soil or old walls in a plants and invasive aliens such as Michaelmas daisies. The next suitably hot sunny position. The construction of limestone and events are ‘Seed Sunday’ and ‘Seed Saturday’ at the end of traditional sandy lime mortar has been set into the bank of the July/beginning of August when other wildlife groups are invited stream in the park. to the park to collect seed for their own sites before the meadow hay is cut and removed. Judy Webb P A G E 8 Hedge Laying in Blewbury

Blewbury (pop. 1700) is endorsed by Sustainable as field maple – hedges near Harwell and within the Blewbury, the village’s almost too far gone for North Wessex Downs Area very active environment laying and so a real of Outstanding Natural group. challenge to rookies! But Beauty. It is a spring-line laid they were and staked village below the North and bound with hazel scarp face of the chalk coppiced locally. downs. Like many Judged a few months villages, most hedges later the results are, are owned and cared by and large, for by home owners successful and the but there are stretches hedges are putting on of mixed hedge around strong growth. common areas such as Photo by Bernard Mattimore Next winter we plan to Photo by Bernard playgrounds, sports carry on the process Mattimore fields and cemeteries. This encouragement was a with more volunteers. It is Inevitably, some of these salutary reminder that a sociable activity which hedges become overgrown, standards would need to produces direct benefit to impeding views and losing be high and two people the environment and the their structure and density. involved attended visual amenity of the Traditionally, farmers and excellent weekend village – and it revives an landowners have laid workshops at the Earth old craft. A win-win hedges in order to maintain dense, healthy, stock-proof Trust in Long Wittenham situation! to brush up their skills. boundaries to their fields John Ogden but with the added and Volunteers were very significant bonus of sought and over creating excellent wildlife three weekends habitats. about 80 metres of A few Blewbury villagers hedge were laid at who had some experience the recreation of the craft (some of it long ground. They were ago!) proposed to carry out mixed hedges some hedge-laying over the including hawthorn winter of 2014-15. The and blackthorn but Parish Council gave full with many semi- Photo by John Ogden support and this was mature trees such

Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire Colchicum

smut This recording group (a local group of the British Mycological Society) has just completed its two spring Urocystis fungal forays – to Pinsley Wood and Stow Wood.Sweep Eight more forays are planned for good sites aroundnetting colchici found Oxfordshire this autumn. during an in a wood in The group always welcomes people interestedinvertebr in fungi – why not just come along to see the interesting worldate of West fungi and learn identification tips from thesurvey experts? Oxfordshire near The programme of events is on the group’s website at www.fungusoxfordshire.org.uk/index.htmlCrawley. Here you can find an interesting photo gallery of fungi and all the Judy Webb group’s newsletters since 2005 can be accessed. Judy Webb P A G E 9 The Oxfordshire Flora Group (ORG)

This study group of the Ashmolean Natural History within the county. The calendar of meetings is on the Society of Oxfordshire (ANHSO) continues its group’s website at: www.anhso-ofg.org.uk . Note the programme of plant education surveys and monitoring need to contact the leader before coming, in case there surveys of the rare plants it studies. It always welcomes are any last minute changes. people wanting to learn more about our native flora, Judy Webb how to identify them and the needs of its rare species

Former Rubbish Tip Now Recognised as a Local Wildlife Site Catherine Robinson, he Oxfordshire the Secretary of the Local Wildlife Friends, says: Sites partnership T "It's hard to believe has designated the Trap Grounds Town Green in now that the Trap north Oxford as a Local Grounds were used Wildlife Site. The main as a rubbish tip for reed bed in the eastern many years. The section of the Trap place is full of life at Grounds already had all times of the LWS status, but now year, and especially the wildlife value of the now: swans and whole site has been kingfishers have officially recognised. nested, bees are The new designation using our newly was granted because of constructed Insect the diversity of the Hotel, and fledgling Town Green's habitats, Photo by Nicola Devine birds are leaving which form a mosaic of woodland, ponds, their nests. Nicola scrubland, and patches of reed bed; its communities of Devine's photograph shows young Long-tailed Tits rare or exceptional species, especially its reptiles and lining up for lunch on their first day in the outside amphibians; its links to Port Meadow and the Canal; and world." its value for learning and the appreciation of nature. Catherine Robinson The Friends of the Trap Grounds manage the whole site Secretary of the Friends of the Trap Grounds in partnership with Oxford City Council. They have [email protected] installed a boardwalk and a bird hide. They organise Tel. 01865 511307/ 07879 488785 guided walks for the public, and support visits by school www.trap-grounds.org.uk/ www.facebook.com/ groups and research by University students. And the trapgroundswilderness public can record wildlife sightings on their website: www.trap-grounds.org.uk.

The Charles Elton Archive is now available to all You may remember an article about the Charles Eton Archive from last summer’s TVERC newsletter. The material is now available on Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) as an ‘open access item’ at: http://ora.ox.ac.uk/ objects/uuid:e426b54a-22f5-472c-a7bf-050e3dff7ab4 Caroline Pond An Elton drawing

P A G E 1 0 Autumn Recorders’ Day Online Recording Update

… look out for news! Our online recording site sightings.tverc.orghas now been up and running for nine months and we have received over 1400 records We are beginning to make plans for this from the site. Since we launched the site we have added the option to year’s autumn recorders’ day, to be held in download your records. Mark Leech from Oxford wins the virtual prize Berkshire during September or October. As for adding most records. Thanks Mark! in previous years the conference will be organised jointly with the Berkshire Local Next we’re going to get the local recording groups part of the site fully Nature Partnership. If you have any ideas for working. Each recording group that wants to use the system will have the conference or would like to give a talk or their own “survey” set up into which their records can go. The short update, please contact Caroline or information collected should be ‘customisable’ for each group (within Lucy at TVERC. the confines of the software system). Watch this space for an update on where we’ve got to by this winter. Caroline Coleman Graham Hawker

Local Wildlife Sites Criteria Review

Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are important sites in Berkshire and TVERC is currently undertaking a review of the criteria, which Oxfordshire for wildlife conservation. TVERC surveys and reports have remained unchanged since 2009. The review includes on LWS in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working with BBOWT and clarification of the descriptions for each of the criteria as well as volunteers. more specific descriptions of the qualifying criteria for habitats To ensure that LWS are consistent with DEFRA guidelines, we and some species groups. work to a set of published selection criteria. These are used by A consultation copy with the latest amendments will be LWS selection panels in Berkshire and Oxfordshire to review existing site designations and to evaluate potential new LWS. available for comment over this summer. If you would like to take part in the consultation, please contact Caroline. The same criteria are also used in the current version and more information about LWS can be found on the TVERC website at Caroline Coleman http://www.tverc.org/cms/content/local-wildlife-sites.

Director: Camilla Burrow Projects Manager: Dr Lucy Lush Projects Manager (temp): Caroline Coleman Data Services Officer: Ellen Lee Data Services Officer: Graham Hawker Berkshire Biodiversity Officer: Katherine Holmes Oxfordshire Biodiversity Officer: Julie Kerans TVERC Biodiversity Data Assistant: Rachael Potter c/o Oxfordshire County Administration Officer: Hannah Boylan Council If you wish to email any member of staff please use Signal Court [email protected]. Old Station Way Eynsham The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) is one of a national network of Local Records Oxon OX29 4TL Centres. It aims to: collect, collate and make available information to help people make sound decisions 01865 815 451 about our natural environment and hold all available information about the plants, animals, wildlife habitats and important wildlife and geological sites in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre is a ‘not for profit’ operation run by a partnership of the following organisations: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, The Environment Agency, and the following councils: Bracknell Forest Borough, Cherwell District, Oxford City, Oxfordshire County, Reading Borough, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough Borough, District, Vale of the White Horse District, West Berkshire District, District and Wokingham Borough.