Chance to help preserve rare habitat (From Gazette Series)

Chance to help preserve rare habitat

A CHANCE to have a go at some practical conservation is being offered by Stroud Valleys Project tomorrow.

Anyone joining in will be helping to restore a rare habitat in the middle of Cam and can enjoy some homemade soup - all for free.

The conservation morning is taking place on the land behind the Co-op in Cam, which is the remains of semi-improved neutral (CORR - NOT NATURAL) grassland - a rare habitat in the UK.

There are only ten sites of this type of wildlife habitat left in Gloucestershire, which used to be a common habitat thousands of years ago, occurring alongside rivers where they acted as floodplains.

Restoration work has begun and recently the Lower Severn Drainage Board dug out free of charge the pond that used to exist in the middle of the site.

The session tomorrow will continue the work needed to re-create the pond as a place for wildlife and will also demonstrate the old skill of pollarding willows, a traditional practise that rejuvenates and extends the life of trees.

Participants will also help to make nesting sites for kingfishers and construct brash hedges using the branches and twigs cut from the willows to create winter shelters for insects.

At lunchtime participants will be able to tuck in to some homemade soup courtesy of Cam Wildlife Group.

Anyone interested is welcome to join in and no previous experience is necessary, as staff from SVP will be there to demonstrate what to do. People who want to join in should go to the main gate of Cam Memorial Hall at 10am to meet SVP staff and other participants but should wear wellies and old clothes.

Children are welcome to join in but must be accompanied by a parent or an adult who will be responsible for them.

Anyone who wants more details about the event should phone Tony Metcalfe at Stroud Valleys Project on 01453-753358 or email tony@stroudvalleysproject.org.