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WINNER OF The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2010 Prestwood Nature is a recipient of The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2010, the MBE for volunteer groups. This prestigious National Honour recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work being judged of the highest standard. The award is for 'providing public education in environmental issues as well as restoring ponds, conserving grasslands and restoring cultural heritage in the Prestwood area.'
Prestwood Nature is one of 103 organisations to win this award this year, which could not have been achieved without the support of our sponsors, other organisations and individuals. This includes the local, district and County Councils, The Chilterns Conservation Board, The Woodland Trust, The Bucks Foundation, The Esmee Fairburn Trust, The Bucks Trust for Conservation Volunteers and many others who have also personally assisted or provided support and thanks go to them as well. BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has produced a Biodiversity and Planning Guidance Document on behalf of the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Partnership. This document is of particular use to Planning Officers, Developers and Environmental Consultants. Please follow this link Bucks & Milton Keynes Guidance Document to obtain further details. NEW ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE Now available for download are Prestwood Nature's Living Tapestry plan, a guide to native plants suitable for gardens on different soils in this area, and a list of recommended identification guides (online and books) for different species groups. Also the 2009 results of our butterfly transect and ladybird monitoring scheme. BOUG'S MEADOW Chesham Archaeology Group, assisted by Prestwood Nature volunteers, have been carrying out surveys at Boug's Meadow in the centre of Great Missenden. They have confirmed the existence of an ancient track along one edge once used in medieval times by the monks of Missenden Abbey. Our work here will include trying to restore and keep open this trackway that had got overgrown with scrub. Further work this winter installed a new fence beside the car-park and a hedge inside this; further planned work involves restoration of the hedgerow on the other side, which borders the old track. KILN COMMON ORCHARD A second planting was carried out in 2009 and this site is now almost filled, although a few more trees are planned for autumn 2010. Unfortunately muntjac have started damaging a number of the trees and we are having to reinstate deer-proof tree-shelters. The original tree-guards were removed when they were found to harbour pests and hamper growth, but deer are the greater of the two evils! PERKS LANE PICNIC SITE Wycombe Rangers, who manage this site in consultation with Prestwood Nature, have developed a new management plan which will involve obtaining Countryside Stewardship to obtain grants for fencing and grazing. Meanwhile a large area has recently been strimmed and some trees coppiced to create more light for the rare plants there. Prestwood Nature is currently carrying out a full flora survey of the site (the last one was 20 years ago), rediscovering some plants thought to have been lost and also some new species. Knowledge of the plants and wildlife of the reserve is important for fine-tuning the management plan. A new butterfly transect has also been started for this site. PRESTWOOD NATURE ASSISTS NATIONAL ORCHARD SURVEY Last year orchards were included as a Priority Habitat in the national Biodiversity Action Plan for the first time. Natural England has commissioned a survey of where orchards remain and what state they are in. This project, with funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, is being carried out by the People's Trust for Endangered Species. They have made initial maps using Ordnance Survey and aerial photos. These all now have to be surveyed on the ground by local groups and Prestwood nature has been appointed to do this in its area. PN is already active in the preservation of orchards and old fruit varieties. RECENT FUNDING SUCCESSES Funding has been granted by Chiltern District Council and the Chilterns Conservation Board to assist with the Boug's Meadow Project in Great Missenden. The Great Missenden and Prestwood Revitalisation Group has also provided money to support a complete survey of ponds in its area, for which someone has already been appointed to start work this summer, and to extend a hedgerow used as a breeding site by the endangered white-letter hairstreak butterfly. PN INTRODUCES ITS NEW "LIVING TAPESTRY" PLAN A well-attended Annual Meeting in November listened to the Project Coordinator introduce PN's new forward action plan "The Living Tapestry". This combines ambitious aims with a business-like approach to ensure maximum effectiveness. The report is now available on this website, along with a summary. We are now working with other bodies such as the Bucks Biodiversity Officer, Jez Elkin, to try to create a continuous wildlife corridor linking currently protected sites from the Hampden Estate farmland and woods along Hampden Road to Hughenden. Another priority corridor is the Misbourne Valley, which some fear would be affected by the current High Speed Rail Link proposals, against which there is massive local opposition. LOCAL FARMER WINS CHILTERNS OUTSTANDING PEOPLES AWARD 2009 Congratulations go to Virginia Deradour who has won the inaugural Chilterns Outstanding Peoples Award 2009 given by the Chilterns Conservation Board for her work in caring for and promoting the Chilterns Countryside. Virginia is a Prestwood Nature member and works for the family farm at Collins Hanger Farm. "We were really impressed by Virginia’s enthusiasm and professionalism,” says Cathy Rose of the Chilterns Conservation Board, organiser of The Chilterns Awards. “She has given thousands of people, including children from inner city and special schools, a fascinating insight into farming and has helped them understand how the food on their plate gets there. She also understands how farming looks after our local landscapes and is a real ambassador for the Chilterns countryside.” Virginia has also assisted us with the restoration of Sheepwash Pond and at our Annual Meetings. PRESTWOOD NATURE'S WILDLIFE GARDEN PROJECT We have now made a start on the Wildlife Garden at the allotment site at Greenlands Lane. The site is conveniently close to the Community Orchard and being next to a footpath can be easily visited by the public. Our thanks go to Great Missenden Parish Council for approving this project and giving us the go ahead.
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