WoTHabs

The Whitchurch on Thames Habitat Study group is a Parish Conservation Group. It was established in 1997 in response to our District Council Local Agenda 21 programme. This programme was developed in answer to the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. One result of this summit was the Convention on Biological Diversity to “develop national strategic plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”.

SODC responded by publishing their Agenda 21 Strategy for 2001-2004 entitled ‘Welcome to the Future’. Cynics might choose to turn this around – ‘the Future, you’re welcome to it – especially in the light of the terrible natural and man-made disasters that the world has recently suffered. WoTHabs members take a more positive view. Have a look at our aims and what we have done so far. Click on diary dates for future events. Click on contacts for how to get in touch with us. Click on Reptile and Amphibian Survey and/or Butterfly Survey if you would like to help by keeping records based on what you come across locally (this could be just in your own garden). One of the beauties of doing this can be the way it sharpens your awareness of what is going on out there. There will be back up information to help anyone who would like to get involved in this way.

Click on Action Plan 2005 for details of what we plan to do this year.

THE PARISH OF WHITCHURCH

		Horticultural land		The parish has a number of County Wildlife Sites within areas of chalk grassland, river meadow and ancient woodland.
		Mostly grassland
		Woods and shelter belts

Hold your mouse over the pictures for the caption or click to enlarge them.

Our aims

• to encourage the protection and enhancement of habitats to maintain biodiversity
• to promote local interest and enthusiasm for the natural environment
• to survey the varied habitats within our parish area
• to record the species found to build up a local database
• to provide our survey results to regional and national organisations

What we have done so far

• surveyed all the hedges within our Parish as part of the CPRE National Survey 
• held a forum for all landowners in the Parish to meet wildlife advisory groups
• attended study sessions and workshops to increase our knowledge
• carried out detailed plant surveys of many fields and verges
• undertaken maintenance work of verges, footpaths and ponds
• produced “The Wild Flowers of Hardwick Road Verges” (available at Boze Down Vineyard)
• led the School Grounds Project at Whitchurch Primary School to create the woodland corner and enhance the pond area
• helped organise walks at Boze Down Vineyard and Seymour’s Meadow
• monitored the butterfly populations in our gardens on a regular basis for the Butterfly Conservation Society
• become involved in the Oxfordshire Reptile and Amphibian Survey
• enjoyed ourselves!

How does WoTHabs work?

We are a friendly, informal group which meets every few months to plan events, to discuss progress, and exchange news.

Our members are wide-ranging in their abilities and backgrounds but we share an enthusiasm for our wonderful local environment - how about joining us?

You could be a great help just by collecting and recording information in your own back garden. Click on Current Surveys to find out more.

Current Surveys

The Butterfly Conservation Survey, Upper Thames Branch, has been in operation for some years. It is dedicated to saving wild butterflies, moths and their habitats. A member of WoTHABS will deliver a form to you if you would like one (see Contacts).

Reptile and Amphibian Survey for Oxfordshire

The Oxfordshire Reptile and Amphibian Group was formed recently. Records about this group of creatures are few and far between at the moment. If you would like to help by keeping a record of your sightings you can either print out a form (Click here for a copy or to download the file right click on the link and press "Save Target As...") from this webpage along with details of how the form should be filled in (Guidelines) and for background information (Click here). Alternatively, ask a member of WoTHABS to deliver the form and accompanying information to you (see Contacts).

Action Plan for 2005

Pond Survey

Two training sessions with Rod d'Ayala of Pond Conservation Trust for WotHabs members and interested village residents, spring 2005.

Jubilee Walk, Hardwick Road

Cut back overhanging trees and dead branches.  Maintenance of verges where appropriate.

The Maze in the Allotment Field

Creation of a triangular wild flower meadow in memory of Lady Phoebe Rose (to be protected from grass-cutting!). Transfer bluebells from Hardwick Estate into the woodland area - with agreement of Tim Sheldon.

School Wildlife Areas - the Woodland Corner and the Pond

Maintenance of the Woodland Corner.

Weed around the pond, removing excess ox-eye daisies.  Survey the pond, following our pond survey training course.  Empty and reline in autumn 2005.

Manor Road Playground

Plant three selected trees - follow-up care.

Seymour's Meadow

Regular plant surveys.

Whitchurch Fete 3rd September 2005: WoThabs Quiz answers  

Which species can :-  

Grow 200 mm / day

            Floating pennywort (H. ranuncluoides)

The Environment agency leaflet quotes "double its wet weight in as little as 3 days", one web site quoted 200 mm / day, no doubt length of root.  

Reproduce from small fragments

            Parrots Feather (Myiophyllum aquaticum)

            Floating pennywort

            Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) (also known as New Zealand pygmy weed)

            Japanese knotweed (3 varieties)

Consider these as equivalent to Bindweed.  The smallest root fragment, quantified in the EA leaflet on knotweed is the size of a little fingernail, and in general advice on others of "Don't shatter, spread, or attempt mechanical control", is a precis of the dangers of vegetative reproduction.  In addition, Japanese knotweed and Australian swamp stonecrop can reproduce from the growth nodes at each leaf junction if the stem is shattered.  

Is illegal to plant in the wild

            Only Giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed are named in the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.   This shows how legislation is behind the times because Parrots feather and Australian swamp stonecrop even today are still available for sale in aquatic centres.  

Causes painful blisters

            Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

            Considered a public health hazard.  Has toxins in the sap and the small hairs on the plant, the hairs can penetrate, light clothing.  Skin irritation is accelerated by exposure to sunlight and can lead to years of skin discolouration or permanent sensitivity to dermatitis.  

Can penetrate buildings

            Japanese knotweed.  

Propagates by seed

            Giant hogweed

            Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)  or Indian balsam.

            Thankfully these are the only 2 plants in the quiz that regularly produce seed.  This makes the control measure of preventing flowering for several years a viable measure.  (Floating pennywort has been known to produce seed, but this is rare).  

Further information on the internet.  

John Southey Sept 05

Diary Dates

Contacts