Advice please to pass on to concerned residents

[gentlefern]

I had a text off my best mate tonight asking for my advice. I don't feel at all qualified to answer this. Her house backs onto a decidious woodland and a stream in the outskirts of Swansea. Too be honest I personally consider it to be a crucial part of a wildlife corridor that links between Gower and the Swansea and Neath Valleys. I am aware that Otters, Badgers, Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Green Woodpeckers and Great Spotted Woodpeckers frequent the woodland. First hand knowledge. I've seen bats there too, but no idea which species, although greater and lesser don't roost too far away. Within a mile of the woodland.

The Leaseholder of the woodland is wanting to sell off the woodland and is also threatening to cut down the trees in the meantime.

The residents are thinking of clubbing together to buy the Leasehold, but are aware that it would need to be managed properly to preserve the biodiversity.

My question is who should I direct them to for the best advice?

The residents are holding a meeting on Wednesday night and I'd be very appreciative if I could at least give them a few websites to give them food for thought.

Many, many thanks for any advice in advance.

kind regards

Karen

[faz]

try the woodland trust

[Jason Green]

Evening Karen,

Try contacting your local Wildlife Trust, they may have some advice regarding similar situations. You mentioned bats. I wonder if any bat groups or the national Bat Conservation Trust know of any endangered species that reside the general locality?

Who is the leaseholder, unless just an individual? You say the group if they go ahead with the plan to buy will need to manage it for it's biodiversity. What work is the current 'holder undertaking?

Good luck

Take care,

Jason

[Ukwildlifeo]

I agree with jason, wildlife trust would be best bet

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I agree also, either the Gwent or South and West Wales Wildlife trust should be able to help you

Gwent Wildlife Trust or Home | Welcome | Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

It might be worth seeing if any of the trees have TPO, that would halt the idea of any or some of the trees being cut down.

Good luck

BWD

[gentlefern]

Good morning all,

Many thanks for your advice. I don't know that much about this really, I just got a text asking me what to do. So I'll advise them to contact the Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust. I'm also in touch with our local Bat Officer so I'll ask him about any nearby roosts.

As to it being managed I don't think it has been, but the residents are keen to protect the wildlife that they know exists there. Again the Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust would be most knowledgeable in this area.

cheers

Karen

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by gentlefern

I had a text off my best mate tonight asking for my advice. I don't feel at all qualified to answer this. Her house backs onto a decidious woodland and a stream in the outskirts of Swansea. Too be honest I personally consider it to be a crucial part of a wildlife corridor that links between Gower and the Swansea and Neath Valleys. I am aware that Otters, Badgers, Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Green Woodpeckers and Great Spotted Woodpeckers frequent the woodland. First hand knowledge. I've seen bats there too, but no idea which species, although greater and lesser don't roost too far away. Within a mile of the woodland.

The Leaseholder of the woodland is wanting to sell off the woodland and is also threatening to cut down the trees in the meantime.

The residents are thinking of clubbing together to buy the Leasehold, but are aware that it would need to be managed properly to preserve the biodiversity.

My question is who should I direct them to for the best advice?

The residents are holding a meeting on Wednesday night and I'd be very appreciative if I could at least give them a few websites to give them food for thought.

Many, many thanks for any advice in advance.

kind regards

Karen

Ask your council about the tree felling you need to stop it with a tempory restraining order.

[bigdave60dog]

A number of years ago there were some woods local to me that I regularly frequented and recorded the wildlife (Mainly Plants and invertibrates therein.
I heard that the tenant of the land had been given notice to quit as the woods were being sold.
I spoke to my local Wildlife trust _ there must still be similar bodies in England- about this. Before long on the strenght of my records efforts were being made to buy these woods. 15 years on they are now successful nature reserve.
If you are serious you need to take ownership of the cause. Knock on doors, wrire, telephone e-mail, make a nuisance of yourself. Don`t listen to the "voices" that seek to discourage -often friends and family do this-.
If you are dtermined you will succeed.
Lecture over, back to sleep now.
Dave

[gentlefern]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I know there are badgers there for sure and Otters are regularly seen by the residents.

I did go in there last year at a request from my friend, but I felt a little uncomfortable as it is privately owned. I found a badger skull and clear signs of badger trails. Like I say I felt a bit out of place as all my other sites are reserves on which I have permisssion to access and record.

The residents are having a meeting tonight and I've passed on all the information you have supplied. I've also suggested they might join up with WAB and become members of the Wildlife Trust.
The good news is that the access to the site is owned freehold by one of the residents and there are restrictive covenants on the land which state that it cannot be used commercially or be built upon. Another piece of luck is that one of the residents is a solicitor.

For my part I will be adopting it as one of my sites and will record, record, record. I've suggested that the residents do the same. I'm happy to collate or train people on the rudimentals.

I'll keep you posted as things develop.

cheers
Karen

[JeffH]

It might also be worth getting in touch with the local council's nature conservation team - see here -
Nature Conservation Team - City and County of Swansea

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)