Out & About January 2017

Shake off the Christmas tinsel. It’s time for a breath of fresh air, says Wendy Tobitt from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.

It’s time to pull on your boots, woolly gloves and scarf, and get outdoors to explore the wild countryside – there’s so much just around the corner. The trust looks after many of the most popular wildlife places in West Berkshire. The sign-posted trails make it so easy for the whole family to explore, especially if you have a pushchair or bicycles. Snelsmore Common, off the B4494 north of Newbury, now has three waymarked trails, one of them fully accessible to wheelchairs, and a heathland wildlife crayon-rubbing trail for children to have lots of fun with. The trust has made access to Snelsmore for horse-riders easier by removing the car park height barrier so horseboxes can park there. There are defined tracks, as well as a longer circular ride along public rights of way and the waymarked BHS Three Downs Link. Who had a new bicycle for Christmas? If you’re keen to get everyone cycling safely off-road, then Greenham and Crookham Common is the perfect place. More than 10km km of flat gravel track is tempting for any speedy off-road fanatics. There are car-free routes to the common from Thatcham and Newbury railway stations via the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath and bridleways.

New year, new routes If you’re a regular dog walker or jogger on Greenham and Crookham Common why not take a look at the map boards and choose a new route? You may be surprised by new encounters with wildlife. Photographers will love the atmospheric winter skies across the commons. Brilliant sunrises highlighting heather and gorse coated in frozen cobwebs, and glowing sunsets are a rich resource. The wildlife trust has installed new trail signs at Paices Wood Country Parkland, including map boards, helping more people enjoy the easy-walking surfaces without fear of getting lost. You can extend your walk using public rights of way. The trust manages several local nature reserves on behalf of West Berkshire Council, including Snelsmore Common, Greenham and Crookham Commons, Paices Wood Country Parkland and Wokefield Common. The work to improve access to these nature reserves was funded by Grundon Waste Management Ltd and West Berkshire Council, and Greenham Common Trust after a successful Pitch to the Panel in 2015. Contributions to improving access are helping so many more people enjoy being outdoors and discovering wildlife this winter.

Imogen Johnson-Hughes follows the heathland wildlife crayon-rubbing trail at Snelsmore Common

Frosted cobwebs on gorse

Great spotted woodpecker, one of the seven species on the wildlife crayon-rubbing trail

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves for all Wildlife Trust nature reserves http://bit.ly/2frTP8t to read Heathland Wildlife blog and download the wildlife crayon-rubbing trail information sheet.

Pictures: Sorrel Johnson-Hughes and AndrewWard

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