20 December 2020 - Wessex Water and the SP Biodiversity Group
Dear all,
Dave Emery has some exciting news about the woodland and meadows between the Spring Basin and the Pumping Station. He says "The Sutton Poyntz Society Biodiversity Group have been working for over 10 years with the encouragement and support of Wessex Water to improve the biodiversity of the woodland and meadows between the Spring Basin and the Pumping Station. This work which replicates that carried out by the farming community over the centuries has involved coppicing, planting trees and laying and restoring hedgerows to both conserve and improve the natural habitat and extend the life of native trees.
Most of this work has been voluntary with some local contractor involvement and grant support from various organisations.
In recognition of the positive results that have been achieved on behalf of the community Wessex Water have now formally contracted the group to manage the land on their behalf through a formal Management Plan endorsed by Natural England which will result in additional financial support. This will link work practices to habitat condition assessments as part of a broader biodiversity monitoring program. Given the sensitivity of the environment general public access is not permitted, however, the Group aim to provide safer access in the near future so as to allow for guided community walks and educational activities."
Quite a vote of confidence from Wessex Water so many thanks and congratulations are due to the Biodiversity Group for all their hard work. In times where positives are hard to generate this is good news, and I am sure we all look forward to taking part in a guided community walk in the future.
Stay safe, keep well and carry on smiling
Best regards
Chris