I have previously written a series of pieces for the Beacon about some of the special species that make their home in Binfield and Bracknell. In these I mentioned Bracknell Forest Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). This plan sets out the ambitious actions that BFC and its partners will strive to achieve over a 5-year period. We have just passed the halfway point of the latest plan period and the mid-term review contains a lot of good news.
“Of the 83 targets set for action between 2018 and 2023, 22 targets have been achieved and a further 46 targets have made some progress ... This is testament to the hard work of all involved organisations to support biodiversity in the borough.” – BFC’s Biodiversity Officer
Please give yourself a pat on the back if you have played a part, whether you have made your garden more hedgehog friendly, planted trees, or kept your dogs under control during bird nesting season while walking on the sandy heath to the south of Bracknell.
I have been involved in plans like this for many years and there can be a tendency for mid-term reviews to look good because action targets (e.g. putting up bird boxes) are achieved but the end of term review don’t look so good because outcome targets (e.g. increased bird numbers) are not achieved. In the case of the BFC BAP, I am more optimistic as some outcome targets have already been achieved (e.g. increasing numbers of nesting pairs of heath-land birds) or are on track (e.g. quality of wildlife sites).
Many relevant actions have taken place in Binfield, including improving the pond at Popes Meadow, planting trees and native plants at Binfield Primary School, and putting up bird and bat boxes. On the subject of boxes, as I write this in early May I have learnt that at least one of the boxes that BEG put up last year is in use. I have also just learnt that two of the new developments in the parish will have swift boxes which should help bring these amazing birds to the village.
We are now surveying four sites around Binfield every month and it is already clear that the parks at Blue Mountain and Amen Corner North are attracting an exciting range of birds, insects, mammals and other species. As these, and other green-spaces, pass from the developers to BFC there are opportunities to further enhance the habitats and biodiversity on these sites. We are currently considering activities related to hedgerows, tree-planting and reed-beds. If you would like to help, or have any ideas for habitat related activities then please get in touch.
Binfield Environment Group can be contacted by email at binfieldeg@gmail.com or on Facebook.