Two public green spaces in Charvil have been recognised as designated Local Wildlife Sites.
Charvil Country Park and Charvil Meadows, havens for a rich variety of wild animals including birds, insects, and otters, cover more than 42 hectares and are to be managed by Wokingham Borough Council and Charvil Parish Council.
The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre’s (TVERC) independent assessment panel visited several times and were impressed that several wetland bird species, including bitterns, were staying over winter.
They found the sites are home to several rare and sometimes colourful bee and wasp species and praised the fact that otters are returning to the site after more than two decades away.
Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “We’re immensely proud of this achievement. It is a testament to the hard work our officers, partners and volunteers have put into making the site a welcoming, hospitable place for both our borough’s wildlife and the people who visit to enjoy it.
“It hasn’t happened overnight but is the result of almost 25 years of good management including coppicing areas of woodland, creating new reed beds at the edges of lakes, installing holts for otters, and leaving plant cuttings for insects to make a home in.
“We hope this designation will encourage more residents to visit and enjoy the treasures they may not even know existed on their own doorstep.”
TVERC has also relisted two existing Local Wildlife Sites in Wokingham borough: a privately-owned woodland in Wargrave and Marefield pond in Lower Earley.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here