I thought I'd illustrate this post with a nice picture of a Wicks Green robin, but this bird does not look happy about having its picture taken!
Binfield Environment Group exists to encourage the local community to take pride in their environment by involving groups, individuals and businesses in a variety of projects to enhance habitats for wildlife and to encourage conservation, recycling and the clearing of litter. During 2019, more than 30 people have contributed more than 500 hours of their time to our monthly work parties. In addition to this, more than 30 more people have helped out with community litter-picks. We have also helped our friends at Warfield Environment Group and the local RSPB Group with bat surveying and tree planting. We have engaged with groups from Newbold Church, Binfield Rainbows, and the local geocaching club. Thank you all for your help.
In 2019, we: cleared holly and ivy in Farley Copse; removed brambles and pond plants in Popes Meadow; built bat and bird boxes; planted trees and flowers in Wicks Green; cleared round the specimen trees in Silver Jubilee Fields; and picked lots of litter. We have also surveyed Wicks Green, Blue Mountain and Foxley Fields to gather data on what creatures turn up on those sites and what impact our actions are having. In the Blue Mountain park alone, we have recorded 15 different species of butterflies and day-flying moths, and 52 different species of birds.
With our support, the parish council has launched a sponsor a street campaign, where local residents will adopt a particular area and litter-pick it regularly. This will free up the parish warden to concentrate on some of the grottier parts of the parish. If you want to help, then please contact the parish council.
2020 will be Bracknell’s Year of the Garden, and we will be doing various things to support the urban objectives set in Bracknell Forest Council’s biodiversity action plan. This will range from working with schools and faith groups to developing hedgehog highways and installing a wide range of bird and bat boxes.
We couldn’t do the things that we do without the support of Binfield Parish Council, Foxes’ Den and many of you. One small example of this is the development of our logo (see above). Earlier in the year, children visiting Foxes’ Den drew a number of possible logos, which then inspired a local graphic designer to produce a logo suitable for use in a number of different ways.
We hope to see some of you for our final work-party of the year at Wicks Green on Saturday 21st December, starting at 10:00. There will be mince pies and mulled wine.