Latest news with #GloucestershireWildlifeTrust
Daily Mirror
02-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Village known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds' named as the most beautiful
One of the most beautiful villages in the United Kingdom has been named, and it's the perfect spot for a staycation this summer, with plenty of things to see and do For an unforgettable staycation, one location outshines the rest. This picturesque chocolate box village has been crowned one of the most beautiful in the nation. Despite the throngs of visitors it attracts, this enchanting village offers plenty to tourists, including honey-hued cottages and a river that meanders through its heart, spanned by quaint stone bridges. Bourton-on-the-Water has been declared the UK's most beautiful village by Independent Cottages, with the River Windrush, which flows directly through the town, contributing to its unique charm and earning it the moniker 'The Venice of the Cotswolds'. I drove 90 minutes to eat at Jeremy Clarkson's pub - one thing I wish I'd known before leaving 'England's prettiest village' residents say it's 'like North Korea' as drones snoop on homes Dating back to as early as 4000 BC, the village boasts over 380 listed buildings - ideal for a day of exploration and appreciation of the village's rich history. With an average depth of just 10 inches, the river gently babbles through the centre of the village, adding a dash of charm to the ambiance. Nestled within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bourton-on-the-Water offers stunning countryside views should you tire of the village's beauty, reports the Express. A mere 300 metres from Bourton-on-the-Water's main car park lies Greystones Nature Reserve. Managed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Greystones is home to wildflower meadows, Iron Age ramparts, a replica Iron Age roundhouse, and a functioning organic farm. It's an ideal spot for a day of adventure and wildlife spotting, with creatures like foxes, deer and native birds to be seen. For more animal encounters, Birdland Park and Gardens is a must-visit. This beautiful reserve, nestled within nine acres of woodland and gardens, offers plenty to explore. The park boasts over 130 species of birds, including the UK's only breeding group of King Penguins.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Greystones Farm nature reserve could soon double in size
A grassland habitat could double in size as an old farming approach is set to be used to boost biodiversity. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's proposal for the Greystones Farm nature reserve in Bourton-on-the-Water involves reinstating a traditional beef herd for trust said this change will help to increase the area of farmed land that also benefits nature, supporting farmland birds such as McLaughlin, CEO of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said it will give them "better control over how the site is grazed" and "boost nature". During the trial, the fields nearest the farm buildings will be rested for longer periods, allowing the grasses and flowers to grow during the summer months. This will boost the number of seeds and nectar for insects, mammals and is hoped this will also encourage more plants to thrive in this "precious" habitat, the trust said. Mr McLaughlin said the "scale and impact" of the world's ecological emergency means "it is vital that we are doing everything we can to give nature a boost"."This is particularly the case on our own land that we hold for the benefit of wildlife and people's connection with the natural world," he said."Turnstone Farming Company have done a fantastic job in managing the dairy herd at Greystones Farm nature reserve over the last 10 years or so, and we thank them for all their efforts."It's an exciting new chapter for the Greystones Farm nature reserve that reflects its recent and ancient past, and we are looking forward to working in close partnership with the local community as we seek to bring this to reality in 2026."
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
National Star students take part in 24-hour wildlife survey
Students at a special educational needs college have teamed up with ecologists to find and identify the species found on their 80-acre Star College near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire took part in this week's "BioBlitz" with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to assess biodiversity on are now working on strategies to support nature and try to boost the numbers of vulnerable student said she had learned how small changes can make a big difference to wildlife. The students found that hedgehogs, rabbits, deer and foxes call the college's grounds home, as well as a huge variety of insects, including many Adamou, a community action officer with the wildlife trust, said the event aimed to give students autonomy to decide how best to help the species they found."My mission in Gloucester is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to do something for nature - to build a relationship, to take meaningful action, to do something that makes nature more important for them and therefore protect it," she said. "It's so easy to just say 'this habitat needs this, this is what needs to happen' - there's no co-ownership."Students spent the weeks leading up to the event learning to identify different species and also considering ways to help them, such as building hedgehog student, Isabella, said: "Hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction and we need to look after them, but small changes can make a big difference."Elaine Hodgin, the college's sustainability lead, said staff and students were working to reduce the site's carbon footprint. "It's also about educating the learners about what they can do with regards to climate change," she Star now plans to hold the event annually.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust 'disappointed' by 4x4 damage
A wildlife trust has said it is "really disappointed" after what appears to be tyre tracks were left across one of its nature reserves.A video posted by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust showed churned up mud across its Sapperton Valley nature reserve, which it claims was left by "a few irresponsible 4x4 users".The site near Cirencester is a feeding area for the marsh tit, which is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, meaning it is at danger of trust said it reported the incident to Gloucestershire Police. 'Very upsetting' A video of the damage was taken on Friday morning by a visitor and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust believes it happened the previous night."We are really disappointed to see this damage caused to our land," a trust spokesperson said."We are in a biodiversity crisis, with limited space set aside for nature. Spaces like Sapperton Valley are crucial to our cause."Staff and volunteers have worked hard over a number of years to create this important habitat for wildlife, seeing it undone by a few irresponsible 4x4 users is very upsetting." The trust said in addition to providing feeding areas for bats and birds, Sapperton Valley hosts rare plants and including the protected species of the mountain bulin and Roman snail, and the silky snail, which is hairy, also call the valley home, as does the grass snake."These wet grasslands provide an important role in slowing the flow of the river Frome in high flows, thereby reducing flood risk downstream," the trust said."This damage undoes a lot of the hard work of staff and volunteers to create this habitat which helps both wildlife and humans."The BBC has contacted Gloucestershire Police for comment.
