Greenham Common Bulletin Learning more about adders 1st edition, summer 2015 (Adrian Wallington) (Adrian Wallington) (Adrian Wallington) Female adder safely held within a Adder fitted with a radio transmitter BBOWT Senior Ecologist Andy plastic tube Coulson-Phillips searches for adders dders have a bad they actually live in the attach a new tag. Using the hibernation locations. reputation being the spaces available to them unique pattern of markings Also it is important for A UK’s only venomous on Greenham Common. upon the snake’s head we populations of adders to be snake, but they are For example; where they make sure that we attach able to integrate otherwise beautiful and very shy hibernate (October to the transmitter to the right detrimental inbreeding may creatures; much happier to Spring), where they give animal. occur. turn tail and hide, unless birth, how they move The information will be you are a vole or a mouse! around the site and how used to generate maps of A Bright Future? They can grow to around they interact with one where the snakes travelled 90cm and are generally another. These questions throughout the summer. Information is key to grey/brown with a all have implications for our These maps can then be safeguarding this intriguing distinctive dark zigzag efforts to conserve the used to direct our animal and maintaining pattern down the back. species and our management of the adders’ Greenham Common as a They are acutely sensitive management of the preferred habitat and make stronghold into the future. to noise and vibration and common in general. sure we do not negatively for that reason they are impact very important seldom seen. Adders are Tags and Patterns in serious decline with Fact File: populations all over the To try to answer some of country dwindling. Sadly these questions, we have Latin Name: Vipera berus berus the reasons are not attached tiny, but powerful, Size up to 90cm, females are longer than males completely understood. radio transmitters to the backs of a number of Venomous, rarely dangerous and most bites are Greenham Common is snakes. We will use the caused when trying to pick the snake up believed to hold the best radio transmissions to track adder population in and record their Females: Pale brown to gingery-red with dark Berkshire, which makes the movements between now brown zigzag along back site vitally important to the and when they return to long-term future of the their hibernation sites in the Males: Lighter, grey to beige with a black zigzag species in the county. It autumn. An adder expert along back also makes the common a has helped us to set up the perfect study site. project and carefully tag Melanistic (black) adders are common the snakes so that we don’t Preferred habitat is heathland and thick scrub We know the general affect their ability to hunt or habits and behaviour of mate. The tags are shed Food: Small rodents, frogs and newts adders as they have been when the snake out-grows Mate in May, females give birth to between 5 and studied in the UK for a long its skin and “sloughs” it off. time. But interestingly we We must then attempt to re 25 live young in August/September still know little about how -catch the snake and Protected by law in the UK Protecting local wildlife www.bbowt.org.uk Tel: 01865 775476 managing nine reserves Who is BBOWT? which includes Greenham and Crookham Commons The Berks, Bucks & Oxon and the Nature Discovery Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is Centre, on behalf of West one of 47 Wildlife Trusts Berkshire Council (WBC). working across the UK to We had already been achieve the shared aim of working in partnership with securing a better future for WBC since 2008 with our wildlife. For over 50 years Living Landscape Project. we have worked with local Our joint vision for these people to make Berkshire, sites is to deliver Buckinghamshire and increased and lasting Oxfordshire richer in benefits for people and wildlife. wildlife through effective and sustainable site BBOWT currently has management. around 54,000 members and more than 1,300 Steve Backshall (right) is a active volunteers. We do British naturalist, writer not receive any core and television presenter. governmental funding. He took on the role of President of BBOWT Since 6th January 2014 because of his passion for (Ric Mellis) BBOWT has been local wildlife. Just some of the people looking after Greenham and Crookham Commons for you! James Stevenson Adrian Wallington Liz Fricker Elaine Ingram Roger Stace Access Project Countryside Ranger Reserves Officer Assistant Living Landscape Officer Countryside Ranger Conservation Officer his spring saw the (SSSI) in good health. BBOWT has 14 ponies in the whole site. James’s start of the annual Creating a variety of gorse total, ten at Snelsmore early work can already T Breeding Bird Surveys age structures also benefits Common and four at been seen with new on the Common as part of a variety of other wildlife. Greenham and Crookham welcome signs at the car BBOWT’s West Berkshire Commons. We are always parks, entrances and on Living Landscape During March/April the looking for volunteers to Burys Bank road. monitoring project. An annual great crested newt help! ecologist is undertaking survey within two ponds on Four nature reserves surveys of key bird species the Common was James Stevenson has across West Berkshire are including woodlark, undertaken. This survey completed an access audit set to benefit from a grant lapwing, little ringed plover, aims to record numbers of Greenham and of more than £53,000 from nightingale, Dartford each year to provide a Crookham Commons to Grundon Waste warbler and tree pipit. picture of the rise and fall in investigate the current Management Ltd. The Preliminary indications population. So far numbers accessibility of the site. This money will go towards show the woodlark, are up. This forms part of a includes its physical improving access to Dartford warbler and broader pond management structures (gates and Greenham and Crookham nightingale have 14, nine plan within the required barriers etc.) and also the Commons, Snelsmore and five territories Higher Level Stewardship information available on the Common, Hosehill Lake respectively. Skylark and scheme to improve the internet and signage upon and Padworth Common. meadow pipit sightings are ponds and surrounding the site which should aid Enhancements such as down so far this year. habitats. visitors experience and new visitor information learning. The report was boards, waymarking and Gorse cutting with a The Exmoor ponies now sent to key stakeholders for better access for disabled large forage harvester have a team of volunteer consultation and the visitors will help to improve continued this year as part stock-watchers to help information gathered will enjoyment and of the work to keep the Site inspect and monitor their form part of the understanding of the sites. of Special Scientific Interest wellbeing on a daily basis. management planning for Protecting local wildlife www.bbowt.org.uk Tel: 01865 775476 A short history of Greenham and Crookham Common... The very popular Greenham Air Shows (1981 show pictured). The control tower and associated buildings can be seen in the background. Derek Cutt views Crookham pools in 2011, an area that was extensively quarried for gravels which (Peter Nicholson) helped pay for the renovations. (Adrian Wallington) 1873. Crookham Golf Course opens making it the third The Russian rocket could reach the UK in four minutes 18 hole course in England. after detection of a UK missile launch. 1941. The commons were requisitioned for the building 1992. US Air Force leaves Greenham Common. of an airstrip and associated buildings marking the end of 1994. English Nature designates parts of the former the historic Crookham Golf Course. base as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 1947 – 1951. The commons were de-requisitioned, 1997. Greenham Common Trust purchase the airbase reverting to management by Newbury Borough Council. for £7 million and sells back 514 hectares to West In 1951 the common became a US airfield. Berkshire Council for £1. 1980. Defence Secretary announces Greenham 2002. Greenham and Crookham Act is passed to Common will house 96 cruise missiles capable of restore the land as common land open to the public, delivering nuclear warheads. make provision for the conservation of the natural beauty 1981. Women’s peace camp starts after four women and restore commoners’ rights. Management of the land march from Cardiff to Greenham and chain themselves is by West Berkshire Council. to the fence demanding a televised debate on nuclear 2008. BBOWT & WBC sign an agreement to deliver weapons. the West Berkshire Living Landscape Project 1986. The GAMA (Ground launched cruise missile Alert 2014. 6th January, Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife and Maintenance Area) was completed consisting of six Trust signs an agreement with West Berkshire Council to bunkers, one of which was designated as rapid response manage Greenham and Crookham Commons on behalf with launch team on standby. Two minutes was the time of the council. to launch the missile and 20 minutes to reach Russia. What to see on Greenham... (Adrian Wallington) (Andy Fairbairn) (Adrian Wallington) All three species of heather, Bell, Autumn is approaching and the Keep an eye out for the many Ling and Cross-leaved heath will be fruits of the summer are ripening. species of fungi found on the in flower creating a vivid display of Blackberries and elderberries common and woodlands. Please pinks and purples. Heather is often (above) are a great energy-rich only look so they can be viewed by out-competed by faster growing food source for birds and mammals others and will have a chance to species so top soil is scraped away to prepare for the colder days release their spores.