A Day in the Life of Brill’s Wildlife and Community Ranger
There’s a lovely seasonal rhythm to conservation work - and Autumn and Winter is the time for hands-on habitat management.
Much of my time in recent months has been spent working alongside volunteers cutting back scrub - usually dense patches of hawthorn and blackthorn. Doing this helps keep areas of grassland open, allowing a wider variety of plants and wildlife to thrive. We’ve also removed selected trees to open up shaded corners or make safe those that lean a little too close to paths.
Out in all weathers! Fiona in February rain.
When the cutting is done, the branches and brash find new purpose. Some are burnt, whilst others are woven into ‘dead hedges’; quiet shelters where insects, birds and small mammals can find refuge. We’ve opened up an old woodland glade at the bottom of Tram Hill (on the right, between the road and fields) and one of the volunteers, James - who’s also a parish councillor - created a fantastic dead hedge with the cut material. It’s well worth a look if you’re passing by.
Another on-going task is the clearing of an overgrown boundary fence line. A job that began with removing trees and dense scrub will soon lead to a new post-and-wire fence. Work like this is never done alone and I’m especially grateful to volunteer Tim, who has generously given many hours of his time to help move this project along.
Making connections
In the midst of all this I’ve been meeting with various organisations including BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) who manage a project nearby. Building partnerships enables future collaboration and could help secure funding for conservation work.
I also have a new role of chief fire-lighter with Brill’s Forest School! Helping children toast cheese sandwiches and popcorn over an open fire never loses its charm and is a gentle reminder that Brill Common is not just a place to manage for wildlife but somewhere people of all ages can come to discover nature for themselves.
Looking ahead
As we move into bird nesting season, my focus will shift. Heavier habitat work will be paused so wildlife can breed undisturbed and I’ll turn my attention to surveys, wildlife recording, and helping people explore Brill Common and learning about the wildlife that call it home.
My programme of events and activities is starting to come together. Many of these will be supported and, in some cases, led by other people. Topics in the pipeline include hedgehogs, swifts, house martins and swallows, and wildlife-friendly gardening and ponds. I’m also hoping to organise guided wildlife walks - plus some introductory sessions on habitat surveys. Watch this space!
Cleared ground to encourage a variety of plants to grow, and a ‘dead hedge’ of branches and brash to shelter wildlife.
It’s YOUR common - so get involved!
If you have knowledge you’d like to share - maybe by giving a talk or leading a walk - please get in touch. Similarly, if you have a suggestion for a community project involving the common, I’d love to hear from you!
If you haven’t already done so, take 2 minutes to complete my short survey to tell me what events and activities you’d be interested in.
If the sun is shining and you’re got an hour to spare, have a look at my family nature activity sheet. There’s something there for all ages; print it off or follow along on your phone.
Keep an eye on the Protect Brill Common Forever! Facebook page. I’ll be announcing new events there and on the website and on the community notice boards.
