About seventy people, including Poul Christensen, Chairman of Natural England and Stephen Moss, the well-known BBC wildlife film maker and Guardian journalist, have marked the first anniversary of the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area (MDNIA) at Marlborough Golf Club.
The project, which aims to enhance and protect this wonderful area of Wiltshire chalk downland is a unique landscape-scale conservation project that has received government backing.
The farmer-led initiative involves a consortium of more than thirty farmers, many volunteers and local residents, as well as the leading wildlife research charity, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Wiltshire Council.
The MDNIA is already attracting wide attention and it is hoped that it will become a blueprint for other large-scale conservation projects across the country. One of its innovative schemes is the creation of tree sparrow ‘villages’ to encourage these declining birds to breed.
Jemma Batten, Project Manager for the Marlborough Downs NIA believes the local enthusiasm for this massive nature conservation project is overwhelming: “Already we are seeing results and are delighted that some of our important habitats and wildlife species such as tree sparrows and corn buntings are responding to the extra support that they desperately need.”
At the event, Poul Christensen, Chairman of Natural England congratulated the group for their first year’s achievements: “It is my great pleasure to meet with the farmers of the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area and help celebrate their first birthday. After a year of hard graft they can demonstrate real progress in creating habitats for wildlife on their farms.”
“Farmers have always produced our food but here, they are clearly demonstrating, in this ground-breaking project, that they can look after our wildlife as well. I wish them every success.”
The project has arranged events throughout the year so that local people, families and school parties can share and enjoy the achievements of this exciting initiative that is helping to conserve this landscape and its precious wildlife. The Marlborough Downs NIA has organised a special day of events on Sunday, June 9 as part of Open Farm Sunday.
This will be a chance to visit the project and take part in walks, nature talks, art demonstrations, sample local food or get close to the farm animals. For more details of events, visit the scheme’s Facebook pages or telephone 01225 718758.
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