Snake’s-head fritillaries on the rise

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

An annual count of snake’s-head fritillaries at Iffley Meadows in Oxfordshire recorded nearly 30,000 flowers, a dramatic increase on last year’s total of just over 6,000

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has held annual counts of snake’s-head fritillaries, Oxfordshire’s official county flower, at Iffley Meadows nature reserve since the early 1980s. The very first count recorded just 500 flowers, but careful management of the reserve has seen a peak of nearly 90,000 counted in 2015.

Numbers plummeted to a 30-year low in 2024 as prolonged flooding, heavy rain and high winds resulted in a devastating tally of 6,087 flowers.

Last week, dedicated volunteers once again joined apprehensive ecologists from BBOWT at Iffley Meadows, on the banks of the River Thames in Oxford, to meticulously count the wild flowers. Spirits lifted as it became clear that numbers were recovering, and the final total was 29,522 flowers, a nearly fivefold increase on the previous year.

BBOWT Senior Ecologist Colin Williams, who was in charge of the count, said: “We were encouraged by the final tally at this year’s fritillary count. While it remained well below previous peak records, it’s a vast improvement on last year’s disappointing result. Numbers will vary to an extent each year due to flooding over the previous 24 months, weather leading up to the flowering season, and the impact of browsing deer. However, increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather events as a result of climate change make it harder to anticipate what we will see in following years.”

Iffley Meadows is a floodplain meadow and one of fewer than 30 sites in the country where these striking flowers bloom in the wild.

Floodplain meadows are one of the rarest habitats in the UK and are vitally important for precious wildlife and climate change mitigation. They soak up and store carbon and help prevent flooding downstream. Yet they are disappearing fast, drained for industrial-scale farming or swallowed up by development or infrastructure projects.

BBOWT manages an incredible 10% of the remaining floodplain meadows in the UK, including Chimney Meadows near Bampton and Iffley Meadows which it manages on behalf of Oxford City Council. The Nature Recovery Fund, launched by the Trust in October 2023, aims to raise £3 million for vital conservation work which includes managing these vital habitats.

Mr Williams continued: “We were thrilled that donations to the Nature Recovery Fund recently passed our 25% milestone and are incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to support our work. In the face of unpredictable weather events, managing this reserve as a traditional hay meadow will provide wildlife on site with the best chance to recover and flourish. I’d like to add a huge thankyou to all the amazing volunteers who joined us to help with this year’s count – we simply couldn’t do it without you.”

To donate to BBOWT’s Nature Recovery Fund and support its vital work to restore nature across its three counties, visit bbowt.org.uk/SOS

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Little feet, big change

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Support BBOWT’s Hedgehog Walk and get out walking for wildlife with Timmy and Apricot from Timmy Time

Families, schools and clubs across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are encouraged to take on a 3km walking challenge to fundraise for wildlife.  

The challenge, in partnership with Timmy Time of the multi-award-winning studio Aardman, will see families walking, wheeling or rolling the same distance a hedgehog wanders in a single night. 

The challenge from March 31st to April 13th is the same time hedgehogs start to come out of hibernation and can be done in any way you and your hoglets want! After signing up online you’ll receive lots of downloadable activities, including spotter sheets, a Hedgehog Walk poster and litter picking guides. Top fundraisers who raise over £30 for wildlife will also receive a special prize, such as an exclusive sew-on patch! 

With 1 in 6 species threatened with extinction, it has never been more important to help wildlife, so get out exploring with Apricot, and walking with Timmy, to make a difference! The little legs walking 3km this spring will grow up to be the next generation of eco leaders, wildlife champions, and environmental changemakers, and this challenge could help them take those first steps. 

BBOWT’s Community Engagement Director, Liz Shearer, says: “Walking for wildlife is a fantastic way for families to connect with nature while helping protect it. The Hedgehog Walk is not just about raising funds -it’s about sparking a love for the environment and empowering the next generation to take action for nature. With hedgehogs and so many other species facing challenges, collective movements like these really count. We hope this fun, interactive challenge will give children the confidence to advocate for nature, and the knowledge that even small acts can make a big difference for wildlife and their habitats.” 

Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman, the creators of Timmy Time, adds: “Timmy and Apricot are the perfect companions to explore the great outdoors with, and we really believe that this partnership will encourage families to get their welly boots on and raise money for a great cause!”  

Maddie Moate, children’s TV presenter and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, says: “When I was little, I remember watching my mum nurse hedgehogs back to health after finding them poorly, so this challenge feels particularly close to home. All of nature is so important, and getting everyone involved, no matter how young, is completely necessary – little feet can make a big change so let’s make every step count!” 

With clocks going forward and evenings getting lighter it’s a great time for all ages to enjoy the great outdoors. Sign-up at www.wildlifetrusts.org/hedgehog-walk 

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Celebrate Greenham and Crookham Commons

Karen Neville

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Image: Matilda Larking

Karen Neville

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Photography competition to showcase the history and wildlife of Greenham and Crookham Commons open for entries

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Greenham and Crookham Commons reopening to the public, the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is running a photography competition for all ages to showcase the site’s wildlife and history.

Image: Paul Brennan

Image: Rob Appleby

The overall winner will receive a motion-activated trail camera. These are designed to capture the hidden lives of local wildlife without disturbing their activities. They are the perfect tool for aspiring young Attenboroughs and seasoned wildlife photographers alike.

Greenham Common has a rich history for people and wildlife. Situated on a plateau formed at the end of the last ice age, it has been the home to an abundance of wildlife, as well as being common land for farmers to work on.

In the 20th century, it was repurposed as an RAF airfield and later turned over to the US Air Force. During the Cold War, Greenham Common hit the headlines when thousands of women gathered to protest about the nuclear weapons at the American military air base here. Peace camps were set up at gates around the fenced air base. The Blue Gate peace camp was finally disbanded in 1994.

In 2000, 1.2 million tonnes of concrete and gravel from the old runway were removed, fences came down, cattle and ponies returned to graze freely and the site was reopened to the public.

Today, Greenham Common forms the largest area of lowland heath in West Berkshire. This fragile and threatened habitat is full of special wildlife. Walking around you may be lucky enough to hear nightingales and skylarks, spot over thirty species of butterfly, and see the rare spectacle of hundreds of autumn lady’s-tresses orchids in late-summer, flowering into a snowy white bloom.

In honour of the 25 years since its reopening, BBOWT’s photography competition will celebrate the site’s cultural and environmental heritage.

There are four categories to enter:

• Children (ages 6-11)
• Teens (ages 12-17)
• Wildlife
• History

Photos must have been taken at Greenham and Crookham Commons and must be submitted by Friday 28th February. Winners will be notified in March, and the winning photographs will be announced on 8th April at the 25th anniversary celebrations. The competition is free of charge, and open to all. Enter at Greenham & Crookham Commons 25th Anniversary

BBOWT’s Events Manager, Serena Millen, said: “We take great pleasures in being able to celebrate the beauty of Greenham and Crookham Commons today, 25 years on from its reopening to the public. The site provides a safe home to an abundance of wildlife, as well as being an invaluable outdoor space for our community. This photography competition is an opportunity to showcase the site’s history and wildlife, people’s memories of it, and hopefully to inspire possibilities for what is yet to come!”

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Twelve wild days of Christmas

Karen Neville

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Fox © Jon Hawkins

Karen Neville

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12 Days Wild is the festive challenge by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife (BBOWT), from 25th December to 5th January.

Are you up for the challenge of doing one wild thing every day or night…?

Sign up at 12 Days Wild (2024) | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust and you’ll receive daily inspirational emails packed with fun ideas to help you embrace winter walks in nature or the magic of night-time star gazing – to lift your mood and much more!

Illustration © Corinne Welch

You could:

• Track animals by looking for footprints in the mud or snow
• Go star gazing on a clear night
• Go winter wildlife watching on a walk at a nature reserve
• Or even volunteer at a nature reserve – nature will appreciate it
• Make a New Year’s resolution to help nature. What will you do in 2025?

BBC TV presenter and Wildlife Trust Vice President Iolo Williams, says: “From dawn to dusk, winter wildlife is busy all around us. Otters are always up early and if you see a trail of bubbles in the water, you’ll know they’ve spotted you first. Night-hunting barn owls venture out on cold winter days to find extra food and will woosh past you in the winter sun. Then, at dusk, starlings gather in the sky forming ever-shifting shapes and patterns known as murmurations. There are so many wildlife adventures to be had during 12 Days Wild – I hope you enjoy them.”

Liz Shearer, Community Engagement Director at BBOWT says: “To mark 12 Day Wild this year I’ll be pledging to connect with nature for at least 10 minutes every day. Whether it be a walk amongst the winter trees, watching birds in a tree across a cold and frosty park, or noticing the clouds on a bright day, I often find that stepping outside and taking a moment to connect with wildlife is a powerful way to recharge my batteries. 12 Days Wild is a great opportunity to create some space for yourself, which at this time of year can feel like a real gift.

“Committing to something manageable will make it even more enjoyable. Observe how weather changes the landscapes and check in with yourself – how do you feel within them? Noticing our own relationship with the natural world is the first step to taking action to safeguard it. So, I encourage you to stop for a moment, listen, and see what wild means to you.”

Spending time in nature – night or day – is proven to help people feel happier and healthier. A Wildlife Trusts’ survey found that participants of the 30 Days Wild summer challenge felt 56% more connected to nature after taking part, and that it boosted the health of participants by an average of 30%.*

There’s more information on the challenge at: 12 Days Wild | The Wildlife Trusts

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BBOWT nature photography competition

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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A stunning shot of ‘near threatened’ bee has been crowned the winner of a wildlife photography contest

The extreme close-up of an armed nomad bee won first prize in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) 2024 Photography Competition. A winter lake scene and a hungry bank vole are among the other winners.

The contest launched in April with nine categories including taking action for nature and mobile phone photography, and nature lovers of all ages were challenged to take pictures at one of BBOWT’s nature reserves or in their community.

The winning shot was taken by Luke Chambers at BBOWT‘s Dry Sandford Pit reserve Abingdon.

Luke said: “During one of my 4am outings, I was checking some vegetation for any subjects. This is one of the challenges with macro, you often have no idea what you’ll find, and it’s pure luck. But there she was, a very rare species of nomad bee, fast asleep. With my left hand, I adjusted the position of a nearby scabious flower so it was behind the bee, and help onto the plant she was on to stabilise the scene.

The image is also a focus stack – I took around 10 frames, all at different points of focus across the bee, then merged them together to achieve the detail you see. It wasn’t an easy photograph, but it was worth and is one of my favourite images to date. To win this competition with it means a great deal.”

As overall winner, Luke received a high-tech bird feeder camera. Along with all other category winners, he also won a wildlife photography masterclass as well as the honour of having his photo appear in BBOWT‘s 2025 calendar.

New for this year, the vote was also thrown open to the public with a new ‘People’s Choice Award’. After nearly two thousand votes were cast across ten shortlisted images, Peter Hines was crowned the public favourite with his close-up portrait of the iconic robin, and won a Nexcam solar-powered trail camera.

Peter said: “I am absolutely thrilled to received this award. My late sister-in-law, Anne, inspired me to get into photography 12 years ago and I love it. I have learnt so much from mistakes and successes. Wildlife, sunsets, smoke art and macro are my passions, so to have this recognition for one of my photographs is wonderful. A huge thank you to all who voted for my robin. Also thank you to BBOWT for giving me the opportunity to share my photos.”

Nine-year-old Logan Brown won the children’s category with his capture of a red admiral butterfly perched on red valerian. In addition to the category prizes, Logan has won a bundle of nature books for his school.

Speaking on behalf of Logan Brown, Frankie Gillespie said:
“Logan has recently been diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease and unfortunately the outcome will be total blindness. He has always loved photography and nature, so for him to have become one of the winners is wonderful news and he’s so excited!”

Nearly 200 photographers were submitted entries for this year’s competition, and the winners were painstakingly chosen by our panel of judges: BBOWT’s Wild Magazine editor Ben Vanheems, BBOWT website & design officer Chris Deeney, BBOWT’s membership assistant Beth Milner and wildlife photographer Steve Gozdz of GG Wildlife Experiences.

Ben Vanheems said: “Being on the judging panel is such an honour. The photos demonstrate a real flair for detail and an eye for creativity, and being able to go through that is just a ‘wow’ moment! There’s been incredible deliberation because there’s been such strong photography this year. It’s a joy to be involved in this process.”

Steve Gozdz added: “We’ve seen a wonderful selection of photographs this year in all categories and from so many wide-ranging people, from the kids right the way up to the adults. My personal favourites have again been the insects – we get to see them at such great detail which is something you don’t get the chance at with the naked eye. Well done to all entrants and thank you for making it so hard to judge.”

The winners

• Butterflies and other insects, and overall winner: Luke Chambers (Armed nomad bee at Dry Sandford Pit). Runner-up: Andrew Bristow (Grasshopper).

• Children (ages 6-11): Logan Brown (Red admiral). Runner-up: Henry Webb (Glistening inkcap).

• Teens (Ages 12-17): Harry Huie (Brown hairstreak). Runner-up: James Lloyd (Red kite)

• Birds: John Kearns (Marsh Tit at Warburg Nature Reserve). Runner-up: Grace Miller (Mute swan at Loddon Nature Reserve).

• Mammals: Mark Lauri (Bank vole at Warburg Nature Reserve). Runner-up: David Byrne (Rabbit at Greenham Common)

• Our nature reserves: Martin Wheeler (Cholsey Marsh). Runner-up: Peter Smith (Round-leaved sundew at Snelsmore Common)

• Urban nature: David Thirlwall (Kingfisher). Runner-up: Eddie Leslie (Honey Bee)

• Taking action for nature: Graham Bonham (Hedgehog). Runner-up: Richard Hopkinson (Barn owl)

• Mobile phone photography: Jennifer Stevens (Thatcham Reedbeds). Runner-up: Emma Stone (College Lake)

• People’s Choice Award: Peter Hines (Robin)

The Trust is extremely grateful to GG Wildlife Experiences for sponsoring this year’s competition. See all this year’s winning photos at bbowt.org.uk/2024-photography-competition-winners

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Vote in BBOWT photo competition

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Choose your favourite in the People’s Choice Award, voting open until August 26th

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has opened public voting to select the first-ever ‘People’s Choice Award’ winner of its annual photography competition.

Nature lovers of all ages have sent in their best shots of animals, plants, people and scenery at BBOWT nature reserves and in the community.

For the first time ever, the vote has also been thrown open to the public with a new ‘People’s Choice Award’. The winner will not only enjoy pride of place as the public favourite, but also receive a Nexcam solar-powered trail camera, perfect for capturing remote shots of camera-shy creatures.

Votes for the shortlisted photographs can be cast by visit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/peoples-choice-award which will remain open until Monday 26th August.

Rachel Levis, BBOWT’s Head of Events, said: “It’s always such a treat to see so many amazing photos of wonderful wildlife taken on our patch, and this year has been no exception! We’ve been sent stunning summer scenes on our reserves, macro shots of insects with incredible detail, and precious wildlife moments captured for all to enjoy.

“We’re excited to have introduced the People’s Choice Award this year which will get our supporters involved with the very tricky judging decisions. With a superb selection, we know it’s going to be a hard choice, but we can’t wait to see which photo is crowned the winner!”

It’s also not too late to submit photos for this year’s wider competition, with entries for all nine categories remaining open until Monday 26th August.

Each year the competition attracts entries from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with nearly 150 people submitting almost 500 photographs for judging in 2023.

Selected by a panel of expert judges, all category winners will enjoy a workshop with wildlife photographer Steve Gozdz from GG Wildlife Experiences and receive a copy of the 2025 BBOWT wildlife calendar featuring their winning entry.

In addition, this year’s overall winner will be awarded a Technaxx bird feeder camera station, while the winners of the Children and Teen categories can claim a bundle of nature books for their school libraries (or to the schools which they nominate).

The Trust is extremely grateful to GG Wildlife Experiences for once again sponsoring this year’s competition. For full details on how to enter, visit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/photocomp24

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BBOWT’s Andree Church’s best of Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Andree Church tells us about moving from Ontario to south Bucks and her wildlife trust role helping protect & enjoy the countryside

Hi Andree. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
“I’m 33 and have a very energetic 18-month-old who keeps me on my toes! I’m a learning manager for the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust [BBOWT], which means I’m lucky to spend my ‘work’ days on beautiful nature reserves teaching people of all ages about local wildlife. I manage BBOWT’s education centres in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, and we have centres near Tring, Maidenhead and Windsor. I enjoy sharing my love of nature and fielding questions from inquisitive children. One of my recent faves was ‘Do you sleep at the nature reserve?’ (I don’t, but there’s an event idea!).”

Q. Where do you live?
“I’ve lived in Chinnor with my husband since 2017. I grew up in Ontario, Canada, and came to the UK in 2013 to do some postgraduate studies. I planned on staying for a year but met my husband at university! Here I am, still in the Thames Valley area eleven years later!”

Q. What are your favourite walks?
“Any along with Ridgeway. The stretch between Bledlow and Princes Risborough is a particular favourite – the rolling hills provide some great viewpoints of the Chilterns. Amazing to think that people have been using these paths for thousands of years.”

Q. Any favourite local shops or businesses?
“Oakley Village Shop (recently opened) for delicious baked goods, great coffee and a park/playing field next to it. And Gloria’s in Thame.”

Q. What highlights are you looking forward to?
“Some summery family picnics in parks and local woodlands. Just need all this rain to stop!”

Q. What do you most love about where you live?
“The rich cultural history coupled with gorgeous countryside. As somebody who didn’t grow up in this area, I have a real appreciation for how lucky we are to live where we do.”

Q. What are hidden gems locally?
“Our local nature reserves, there are plenty just on our doorstep. BBOWT are a fabulous group of people who work tirelessly to look after wildlife and habitats in our area. We look after more than 80 nature reserves, run five education centres and two visitor centres. We feel everyone benefits from access to wildlife and nature – physically, mentally and/or emotionally. We offer programming for everyone, from Nature Tots (12 months+) through to our Teen Rangers clubs and events for adults. If you’d like to find out more about any of these, check out our website.”

Q. How can we help?
“As a charity, BBOWT relies on donations to fund our conservation work in the local community. If you’re not already a member and would like to support our work you can join us by visiting our website. Alternatively, you can donate to our Nature Recovery Fund [Nature Recovery Fund], our biggest fundraising campaign to date which aims to raise £3 million for nature climate and people.”

Q. Finally, if you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?
“That we all treat others as we wish to be treated. And that we do a better job of looking after this planet – after all, it’s the only one we’ve got! Oops, that’s two wishes!”

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Capture nature for BBOWT photo competition

Round & About

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Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has opened its annual nature photography competition for 2024 with new categories and prizes

Nature lovers of all ages are being invited to submit their best shots of animals, plants, people and scenery at BBOWT nature reserves and in the community.

This year the vote is also being thrown open to the public, with a new ‘People’s Choice Award’. There’s also an extra category for mobile phone photography.

This year’s top prizes include a high-spec birdbox camera, an exclusive wildlife photography masterclass with GG Wildlife Experiences and all winners will have the chance to see their photos featured in the Trust’s 2025 wildlife calendar. There are also bundles of nature books for younger entrants to win for their schools.

Rachel Levis, BBOWT’s Head of Events, said: “We’re thrilled to launch our photography competition again this year. It’s always such a treat to see so many amazing photos of wonderful wildlife taken on our patch. This year we have introduced a People’s Choice Award, which is a great way of getting our supporters involved with the very tricky judging decisions.

“The mobile phone has opened up nature photography to almost everyone, so we’re please to include a new category for that this year. Anyone from a six-year-old with a phone to a professional photographer with all the kit can enter – so why not send us your best shot?”

Categories:
• Children (ages 6-11) – in any of the categories.
• Teens (ages 12-17) – in any of the categories.
• Birds
• Mammals
• Butterflies & other insects
• Our nature reserves
• Urban nature
• Taking action for nature
• Mobile phone photography

Examples of last year’s winners/ runners up:

Photographs for most categories must be taken on BBOWT reserves, and all must be taken in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire. The closing dates for entries is Monday, 26th August. Entries received by Sunday, 28th July, will also be considered for the People’s Choice Award.

Steve Gozdz of competition sponsor GG Wildlife Experiences added: “Wildlife photography can require patience but can be very rewarding – spending time in nature and capturing ‘that moment’ with a bird, mammal or insect can turn a glimpse in time into a real memory that can be savoured and shared with others. You never know when those ‘moments’ will occur, take your camera wherever you go and be aware of the beauty in nature around you.”

For full entry details, visit: Photography Competition 2024 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

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Go wild this June for BBOWT

Round & About

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Do one wild thing every day for a month this summer, as the UK’s biggest free nature challenge returns for its 10th anniversary from June 1st to 30th.

Could you do one thing to connect with nature every day for a month and feel happier and healthier as a result? That is the 30 Days Wild challenge being laid down by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

This June promises to be a bumper 30 Days Wild – people of all ages and abilities are urged to participate and BBOWT are offering free herb seeds and an inspirational guide to everyone who signs up to do one wild thing every day during the month. There are also special packs for schools, businesses and care homes.

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of BBOWT, said: “With wildlife in crisis across the UK, it seems fair to ask – are we still a nation of nature lovers? I believe the answer is a resounding yes. This year is the 10th anniversary of both 30 Days Wild and my own time with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Over those 10 years I’ve had the privilege of seeing our communities’ commitment to restoring nature where they live and enjoying all it has to offer. While our first year of running 30 Days Wild saw just over five hundred people sign up across our three countries, last year more than four thousand took on the challenge, which is brilliant.

“This momentum comes as no great surprise – connecting with nature is so important for our sanity and general wellbeing. My top tips to enjoy 30 Days Wild: Sit, walk, run, lay on the grass, look up, look down, fix on something, don’t be afraid to touch or smell it. Smile at the sun, throw your arms out in the rain, get wet, walk barefoot on grass and bare earth, have a cuddle with a tree – be in the moment.”

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, 30 Days Wild encourages individuals, families, schools, and businesses to connect with nature on a daily basis during what many argue is the best month for wildlife spotting. It could be going on a snail safari, eating your breakfast outdoors or closing your eyes to listen for bird song, to more adventurous endeavours such as outdoor yoga or forest bathing. This year’s participants will receive a special 10th anniversary park, designed to make their 30 days even more fun.

The 10th anniversary marks a real milestone for The Wildlife Trusts’ flagship 30 Days Wild initiative. The nature challenge has grown from 12,000 participants nationally in its first year to over half a million last year alone. 30 Days Wild has helped people to get outside, enjoy and connect with nature as part of their everyday lives.

Research has consistently highlighted the positive impact of nature on well-being. A study found a significant increase in people’s health, happiness, and connection to nature through participating in 30 Days Wild. People reported feeling more relaxed, reduced stress levels, and a greater motivation to protect wildlife which lasted long after the campaign ended.

So why not get in touch with your wild side this summer? Sign up today and receive a free pack in the post, plus lots of inspiration for activities: bbowt.org.uk/30-days-wild

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Buy a butterfly to celebrate memories!

Round & About

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BBOWT wildlife charity launches new commemorative display

To mark Valentine’s Day, a local wildlife charity has opened two new butterfly memory walls to celebrate special occasions, declare your love for nature – or your sweetheart!

The ‘Your Wild Memories’ displays have been installed by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) at two of its visitor centres. They feature specially-designed butterfly plaques which can be personalised with messages to remember precious moments, people or wild times.

The butterflies are made of brushed stainless steel and fly above an eye-catching wildlife border. They have been put up at the Nature Discovery Centre near Thatcham and College Lake visitor centre near Tring.

Laura Pepper, BBOWT’s Head of Philanthropy, said: “If your Valentine sets your heart a-flutter or you’ve just got engaged or married, why not celebrate your love with a specially engraved butterfly? Or you might like to commemorate a special birthday, a retirement, a favourite family walk or perhaps remember a loved one.

“Butterflies hold all sorts of different meanings for people, as well as being beautiful to behold. Our new ‘Your Wild Memories’ wall is a lovely way to celebrate your special memories and help the vital work of BBOWT at the same time.”

The Your Wild Memories walls have got off to a flying start, with butterfly messages added by local MPs, writers and nature champions.

Estelle Bailey, BBOWT’s Chief Executive, wrote: This special place, with nature at its heart. Here for every community.

Laura Farris, MP for Newbury, left this message on her butterfly at the Nature Discovery Centre: Delighted to support the NDC, bringing the wild into the heart of Thatcham.

Buckingham MP Greg Smith’s butterfly at College Lake reads: Thank you BBOWT, our nature champions. Proud to support you and work with you.

Writer and butterfly lover Patrick Barkham left this beautiful message: Breathe in green, Breathe in blue, Soar soul! Thanks, nature.

Priced at £250 (inclusive of VAT), each butterfly can be engraved to order with the wording of your choice. Funds raised from the sale of the commemorative butterfly plaques will go towards BBOWT’s work creating more nature everywhere for everyone, to benefit wildlife, climate and people.

To order your personalised butterfly visit: www.bbowt.org.uk/support-us/your-wild-memories Order forms are also available from College Lake or the Nature Discovery Centre. For more information call 01865 775476 (Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm) and ask to speak to the Membership Team.

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