The new Everyone’s Evenlode project team (L-R): Rosalind Marsden, Ruth Rudwick, Rowan Wynne-Jones. Image by Russell Sach.

This January, the new Everyone’s Evenlode project, being delivered by the Cotswolds National Landscape team, picks up pace with the final member of the new team arriving in post.

Thanks to funding from Thames Water’s Smarter Catchment initiative for the River Evenlode (in partnership with the Evenlode Catchment Partnership), three new team members dedicated to education and outreach across the Evenlode catchment area have joined the Cotswolds National Landscape team. Rosalind Marsden has joined as the new Education Officer, Ruth Rudwick is the project’s Community Outreach Officer, and Rowan Wynne-Jones is the Community Outreach and Education Officer.

Thames Water’s River Evenlode Smarter Catchment plan aims to develop a programme of inspiring activities to show the relevance of the river and its catchment within the community. The new Everyone’s Evenlode team will help meet these aims by encouraging people to understand the amazing benefits of a healthy river environment; helping them access and enjoy nature; and by engaging with schools – to help inspire younger generations to connect with their local stretch of river, learn about healthy river environments and nature, and act to take positive action to care for and ecologically improve the River Evenlode.

Each member of the new team brings a specialism, and together, they will be developing an exciting programme of opportunities for people to wade right into caring for the Evenlode!

Ruth, who is combining her new role with finishing a wildlife conservation foundation degree at the Royal Agricultural University, will be working with youth and community groups to help them access the Evenlode. She says, “By exploring opportunities to enjoy the river, people also understand its environment more and that can lead to action to take care of it. It’s about enjoying and caring for the whole catchment area, even beyond the river itself: doing hedgerow surveys, or creating leaky dams to help with flood management, or building and putting up bird and bat boxes”.

Ros, whose previous roles have included a wealth of outdoor teaching for organisations like Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, is just as keen to get the project in full flow. She is enthusiastic about setting up a pilot River Schools project aimed at both primary and secondary students, similar in concept to Forest Schools. Ros will aim to offer a range of activities to choose from, for example pond dipping, tracks and signs, seasons and senses, possibly some rural crafting, a river walk, or learning related to water cycles.

Rowan joins the team as an experienced forest school leader, youth worker, and community outreach worker. Her hybrid role for Everyone’s Evenlode includes elements of both community outreach, and working with schools. She says, “Spending time in nature provides a multitude of benefits for people’s mental and physical wellbeing, from reducing stress levels and anxiety, to increasing fitness levels and general happiness, whilst simultaneously helping individuals to feel a greater connection to something outside of themselves. Providing children and young people with the opportunity to explore, learn about, and engage with their local watercourses can help spark a life-long passion for protecting the environment, as well as providing opportunities for memorable, hands-on learning.”

The team hopes that this project will help provide opportunities for members of the community to access stretches of the River Evenlode, and encourage them to find ways to engage with it that benefit both themselves and the environment.

Together, this aquatic dream team will be actively seeking schools and groups from right across the Evenlode catchment area to get involved in the project – hoping to inspire people from all walks of life to care about their Evenlode.

The Everyone’s Evenlode team is very keen to hear from schools, youth and community groups, landowners, farmers and individuals within (and close to) the Evenlode catchment area: if you would like to find out more or be involved in the Everyone’s Evenlode project, please email the team at evenlode@cotswolds-nl.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Please contact Alana Hopkins at alana.hopkins@cotswolds-nl.org.uk for further information or interview opportunities.
• For more information about the Everyone’s Evenlode, please visit https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/looking-after/engaging-with-evenlode/

• The Cotswolds National Landscape was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 in recognition of its rich, diverse and high quality landscape. www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• The Cotswolds National Landscape is looked after by an independent organisation (officially titled Cotswolds Conservation Board) established in 2004 which has a small employee team along with 37 board members – 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by the Secretary of State.
• The Cotswolds is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks and represents 10% of the total AONB area in the UK. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south.
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), along with National Parks, are considered to be the most special landscapes in the country and belong to an international family of protected areas.  There are 38 AONBs in England and Wales, and a further eight in Northern Ireland.  For further details, visit: www.landscapesforlife.org.uk. For details of the 15 National Parks in the UK visit: www.nationalparks.uk

Andy Parsons (L) and James Webb (centre) from Cotswolds National Landscape, with Simon Chorley from Chorley’s Auctioneers. Image by Russell Sach.

Last Thursday, the Kingfisher Trail 2021 came to a celebratory close, with an atmospheric auction hosted by Chorley’s Auctioneers at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. Over the summer, the unique collection of 22 individually designed sculptures flew across the Cotswolds, and many came to perch for one night only at the auction, where they were snapped up by auction guests and remote bidders.

The Kingfisher Trail has raised around £60,000 – with several of the kingfishers snapped up by eager buyers in the weeks before the auction, and the remaining sculptures selling through the auction. The sales of the sculptures are a fantastic acknowledgement of both the creative talent and skills of the artists involved, and the willingness for bidders to support the work of the Cotswolds National Landscape team.

All the kingfisher sculptures have a personal story and were beautifully designed and decorated by participating artists. Each kingfisher carries the signature style of its creator, with surface decoration on the kingfishers inspired by a range of themes from climate change, to the pandemic, to the conservation of the Cotswolds countryside.

Now, as the kingfishers take flight to their new homes, funds raised by the Kingfisher Trail will be put towards work which engages young people with the Cotswolds countryside and traditional rural skills. After the confirmation throughout the pandemic of just how important our green spaces are, it is more important than ever before to inspire young people from all backgrounds to get outside into the fresh air, and involve them in projects which provide a sense of achievement and a positive outlook.

Andy Parsons, Chief Executive from trail organisers Cotswolds National Landscape, commented:

“Within three years we have an ambition for our Rural Skills Outreach programme to be largely self-financing – supported by the more commercial elements of our rural skills programme (courses, tourism experiences and corporate days). Unsurprisingly though, it’s these areas of our operations that have suffered badly over the past 18 months, and we are in the process of starting to rebuild. So, the funds raised through the Kingfisher Trail will be a massive help in ensuring we can continue to reach out to those young people who need it most.”

ENDS

Editors’ Notes – for high resolution imagery, please contact Alana Hopkins at Cotswold National Landscape – alana.hopkins@cotswolds-nl.org.uk

Led by John Bartram of the Cotswold Way Association (front left) and Mike Cripps of the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens (front right), walkers started the 102 mile relay walk of the Cotswold Way in Bath on Saturday. Image by Russell Sach

A celebratory relay walk of the 102 mile Cotswold Way route began in Bath on Saturday 11^th September, with the first team walking from Bath to Cold Ashton. Their 10 mile walk coincided neatly with the start of the Bathscape Walking Festival 2021.

The relay, organised by Margaret Reid, Head Voluntary Warden, and Becky Jones, Access and Volunteer Lead at the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL), will see a baton being passed along the entire length of the Cotswold Way between relay teams made up of CNL team members, Cotswold Voluntary Wardens, Ramblers, and volunteer walking teams from local businesses Robert Welch Designs and John Lewis in Cheltenham.

Each day of the week will see a new team taking the baton, designed and made by Robert Welch, and walking a section of the route. The aim of the relay walk is to celebrate everything the Cotswold Way has to offer: spectacular views, quintessentially Cotswold towns and villages, and an unforgettable walking experience. More than that though, it is to raise awareness of what it takes to look after a national trail like the Cotswold Way: the time, effort and funds spent taking care of pathways, stiles, gates, and access. Much of the maintenance work along the route is completed by volunteers, but few of the tens of thousands of walkers who enjoy the route each year fully understand how much work goes on behind the scenes. From scrub clearing, to way marking, to mending and installing access points, the work on the Cotswold Way continues all year round.

John Bartram, Chair of the Cotswold Way Association, commented, “The Cotswold Way has delighted walkers for 50 years, and what better time to celebrate it and to ensure that there are sufficient funds to keep it in first class condition.”

Becky Jones, Volunteer and Access Lead at Cotswolds National Landscape, said, “The success of the trail over the last 50 years has been down to the volunteers: from the Ramblers who created the route, to the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens who have given their time, skills, and enthusiasm to maintaining and improving it to make it such an important feature of the Cotswolds landscape for everyone to enjoy.”

And there is more to do – with a greater emphasis than ever before on working to make traditional walking routes more accessible to disabled ramblers, funds are needed now to continue to adapt appropriate sections of the route so that a greater range of audiences can enjoy and explore what it has to offer.

The relay teams will conclude their efforts on Sunday 19^th September with a final leg from Broadway to the start/end marker stone for the Cotswold Way in Chipping Campden. And after that? Very likely a huge quantity of well-deserved tea and cake! Members of the public are encouraged to look at ramblers.org.uk/gloucestershire and cotswolds-nl.org.uk websites to find guided walks featuring sections of the Cotswold Way to experience the route for themselves. To contribute funds to the Cotswold Way Association, please visit cotswoldwayassociation.org.uk/fundraising/

For more information about the Cotswold Way Association, please visit https://cotswoldwayassociation.org.uk/

A visualisation from Highways England to show how one of the new road crossings may look.

Following the submission of Highways England’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application on 31 May 2021, and its subsequent acceptance for Examination from the Planning Inspectorate, we have now published our own Relevant Representation relating to the A417 Missing Link plans. This can be found here, and considers our four main queries relating to the scheme. We will make further written Representation/s during the Examination to expand on matters included within this Relevant Representation.

Cotswold Voluntary Wardens work with Jess Gay from Julian House to begin installing way markers for the Circuit of Bath route around Bath.

New signage installation has begun last week for a walking route around Bath, as part of the Bathscape Scheme. The ‘Circuit of Bath’ takes walkers on a 20 mile circular route around Bath, taking in the magnificent views of the city itself, local towns and villages, and the spectacular countryside.

Circuit of Bath waymarker close up, image by Nicole Daw

Covering the hills and valleys within and around the city of Bath World Heritage Site, the Bathscape Partnership of organisations, community groups, and conservation bodies oversees the National Lottery Funded Bathscape scheme, to co-ordinate management of habitats and encourage more people to get out and enjoy the landscape. The scheme aims to engage with more than 4,000 people on guided walks and organised nature-based events and to make it simpler for thousands more to access the exciting network of local walks and trails, including the Circuit of Bath.

For a real challenge, the Circuit of Bath can be walked in a day, and local charity Julian House, who support vulnerable and at-risk individuals across South West England, have been doing just that for the last 20 years. The route, which was previously not waymarked, has been central to the charity’s annual fundraising objectives. This year, they have offered two opportunities to complete the route – the first was in April and the second will be on 26^th September, which will also coincide with last day of the annual Bathscape Walking Festival. The route can be easily broken down into sections.

Having the route waymarked and included as part of the Bathscape Scheme allows people to explore this walk all year round – enjoying the changing seasons of the countryside around the city, and also helping people stay in top condition for the annual challenge set by Julian House.

Jess Gay, Senior Community & Events Fundraiser at Julian House said: “The Circuit of Bath sponsored walk is a really important event in our fundraising calendar – especially this year. The sponsorship raised by those taking part in the event will be used to help fund our vital services, including our hostel and domestic abuse refuge, which have been in high demand during the pandemic and will likely continue to be as the country continues to navigate a way out of the pandemic.”

Dan Merrett, Bathscape Manager said, “We’re delighted to see the waymarking begin on this fantastic route around Bath, and we hope that by making it more accessible, people will be encouraged and inspired to support Julian House by taking part in their annual sponsored walk of the route.”

The Circuit of Bath way marking discs are being installed with help from the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens – the volunteer arm of the Cotswolds National Landscape, in which the Bathscape is located. Work by the Wardens and the local Ramblers group will continue into the future to maintain and improve the Circuit of Bath route with the aim of keeping it accessible so that people can continue to explore and get to know the beautiful countryside on Bath’s doorstep.

ENDS

­­­Notes to editors:

• Thanks to the vital support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The World Heritage Enhancement Fund, Network Rail, Bath & North East Somerset Council and partner organisations, the Bathscape Scheme has received funding of £2.2 million to cover its many different activities over the next five years.
• For more information about the Bathscape Scheme, please visit www.bathscape.co.uk or contact Lucy Bartlett at lucy.bartlett@bathscape.co.uk
• For more information about Julian House, please visit www.julianhouse.org.uk  or contact Jess Gay at jessica.gay@julianhouse.org.uk
• For more information about the Circuit of Bath sponsored walk to fundraise for Julian House, please visit https://www.circuitofbathwalk.co.uk/
• The Bathscape Partnership board oversees the work of the scheme and comprises: Avon Wildlife Trust, Bath & North East Somerset Council (lead partner), Bath Preservation Trust Bath Spa University, Cotswolds National Landscape, Federation of Bath Residents Associations, National Trust, University of Bath, Visit Bath, Wessex Water. The Circuit of Bath route is a celebrated piece of work from a partner perspective as it crosses several section of land owned by them. The route is a great way to introduce people to the work done by the Bathscape Scheme’s partners.
• The Cotswolds National Landscape was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 in recognition of its rich, diverse and high quality landscape. www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• The Cotswolds National Landscape is looked after by an independent organisation (officially titled Cotswolds Conservation Board) established in 2004 which has a small employee team along with 37 board members – 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by the Secretary of State.
• The Cotswolds is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks and represents 10% of the total AONB area in the UK. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south.

Members of the Steppers UK group around the Cotswold Way marker stone, before they set off to complete the fourth walk of their AONB Challenge. Cherelle Harding, who organises the walks, is shown fourth from the right.

Steppers UK, a community interest company based in Coventry, continued their AONB Challenge to visit, and walk in, every Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the UK this month with a trip to the Cotswolds town of Chipping Campden.

The group, originally formed by Cherelle Harding in response to the coronavirus pandemic to encourage more Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities to get outdoors, has already completed hikes in the Malvern Hills, Shropshire Hills, and Cannock Chase as part of their AONB Challenge. The pandemic restrictions paused progress for a while, but the group chose the Cotswolds National Landscape for their fourth walking adventure.

Cherelle explained, “I founded the group in 2020 as a bit of a response to the type of year many of us were having. Everywhere was closed, but the outdoors remained open. I wanted to encourage more people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds to explore the outdoors and build positive relationships with nature.

Through organising walks and cycle rides, we aim to support the mental and physical wellbeing of group members, as well as expanding the life perspectives of those who often spend most of their lives in the city. This is essential, and we aim to do this by providing safe, fun and comfortable experiences for people to explore the wonders of the countryside, forests, rural, and coastal lands of the UK. At the moment, we’re focusing on places nearer to Coventry for the AONB Challenge, and we’re fundraising to raise travel money to help us get to the further away places like the Isle of Wight. It’s a big challenge, but we’re really loving it and I’m optimistic we can complete it!”

The group’s aims fit within an overarching movement to promote diversity in outdoor spaces and improve access for those lacking representation or opportunity, and for those with varying abilities. Research shows that for communities with cultural heritage in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, there is often a disconnect between people of these diasporas and nature. Cherelle is among a larger community of people running groups like Steppers UK with the hope of reconnecting people to nature, encouraging them to experience the many benefits it offers, and motivating them to take care of the countryside and to adopt environmentally friendly behaviours.

The plan is working: since Steppers UK started, and in line with government guidance around coronavirus, walk participants have grown from six to around 25 people. Group members have sung their praises, describing the group as an unexpected highlight from the lockdown experience, and as having given them more confidence to explore the outdoors with like-minded people. One participant, Tayyibah Mota, has even been inspired to set up a new Instagram page of her own (@Jungleejoggers) where she shares her outdoor experiences. Since then, she says she has “connected with many other BAME people and hijabi sisters around the UK who have an interest in the outdoors”.

Rebecca Jones, Trails, Access and Volunteers Lead at Cotswolds National Landscape, said, “We’re so pleased that Cherelle and Steppers chose the Cotswolds for their latest adventure. We look forward to welcoming and working with groups like Steppers UK who are working to change issues surrounding representation and access to the outdoors. The Landscapes Review from 2019 clearly expresses that protected landscapes are for everyone, and it’s great to see people truly embracing that idea!”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• For more information about Steppers UK, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/steppers-uk-31052447137 or check their social media
  Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Steppers-UK-106523834484922

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Steppers_UK

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/steppers_uk

• To contribute to Steppers UK fundraising to help them complete the AONB Challenge, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/steppers-uk-diversity-outdoors
• Please contact Alana Hopkins at hopkins@cotswolds-nl.org.uk / 01451 862 003 for further information or interview opportunities.

• The Cotswolds National Landscape was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 in recognition of its rich, diverse and high quality landscape. www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• The Cotswolds National Landscape is looked after by an independent organisation (officially titled Cotswolds Conservation Board) established in 2004 which has a small employee team along with 37 board members – 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by the Secretary of State.
• The Cotswolds is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks and represents 10% of the total AONB area in the UK. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south.
• The organisation’s land management position statements are for use by local authorities, government agencies, land agents, advisers, land managers, farmers and the public. They, along with the planning and transport position statements are available online at www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), along with National Parks, are considered to be the most special landscapes in the country and belong to an international family of protected areas.  There are 38 AONBs in England and Wales, and a further eight in Northern Ireland.  For further details, visit: www.landscapesforlife.org.uk. For details of the 15 National Parks in the UK visit: www.nationalparks.uk

On Monday 29th March, the lockdown rules in England are changing.

The government has said that from 29 March, when most schools start to break up for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

We anticipate that this will mean many people will feel the call of the wild and may wish to stretch their legs by getting out into the countryside. All our outdoor spaces have seen increases in the numbers of people enjoying everything the great outdoors has to offer us – especially the physical, mental, and emotional benefits it gives us. Fresh air has never been better for us, but we all need to help take care of the countryside as it takes care of us.

In the Cotswolds, we are expecting visitor numbers might be high, and so we’d like to encourage everyone to be tolerant and kind to one another over the coming months. Please read of the guidelines below before making any trips, so that we can keep respecting the countryside, and the people and wildlife that live here. Here’s a little video about respecting the great outdoors!

1. HANDS – FACE – SPACE
   Even when we’re outside, it will still be important to maintain social distancing, and continue to follow the hands-face-space guidance. Please give way and make space for one another on footpaths, please remember hand sanitiser or wash hands frequently if you’re able to, and remember a face mask for when you meet other people from outside your household.
2. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
   Before you go anywhere, remember to plan ahead: check which car parks are open (and make a plan B for alternative parking arrangements if the place you aimed for is full), check if there are likely to be loos open where you’re going, and make sure you have the right footwear and clothing for the activity you’re planning.
3. PLEASE PARK CONSIDERATELY
   Remember not to park across driveways, gateways, or block any access. Farmers are always working hard and need to move their vehicles – so keeping access clear is a huge help.
   Please try to avoid making any overcrowding worse – if where you’ve arrived is already full, please employ your Plan B and try somewhere else. Remember – emergency vehicles may also need access to car parks. Please avoid parking on verges / on the roadside – this is not only a potential hazard for road users, but also chews up the ground and turns the verge to mud.
4. COUNTRYSIDE CODE
   Please check the Countryside Code to make sure you know the best ways to respect the countryside while you’re away from home. The Countryside Code helps us all look after wildlife, habitat, and livestock. The countryside should be a safe space – please help us with that by taking a look at the Code ahead of your trip.
5. TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME
   Please bring a separate bag so you can collect up your litter and take it home with you. Please don’t leave it behind in the outdoors – it damages nature and is dangerous for wildlife and livestock.
6. STICK TO THE PATH
   The ground is still muddy in places, but please avoid the temptation to go around it! If you’re off the path, you could be damaging crops – and remember, that could be someone’s livelihood. It’s also important to stay clear of ground nesting birds.
7. KEEP DOGS ON LEADS 
   Even if your dog has good recall, you never know what might be over the crest of a hill or round a corner. Even just the shock of a dog giving chase can kill a sheep, so please keep all dogs on their leads.
8. BAG IT & BIN IT
   An oldie, but a goodie! Please don’t leave dog mess – please bag it and put it in a dog waste bin when you find one, or take it home. Grazing sheep can be poisoned by dog poo if they eat it.
9. BBQs ARE BETTER AT HOME
   Even sparks might start wildfires, which will kill ground nesting birds and will damage the environment.
10. TRY TO STAY LOCAL 
    Although the ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March, many restrictions will remain in place. We are still being advised to minimise the number of journeys we make where possible, so please try and stay local.
11. BE SAFE
    Adventure within your limits – be kind to yourself and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Enjoy the fresh air, the views, and the exercise!

Cotswolds Gateways

Nine towns and villages across the Cotswolds National Landscape will welcome new interpretation panels this week – highlighting 37 walking and cycling routes which allow people to explore the countryside around each location. Led by the team at the Cotswolds National Landscape, the project, called Cotswold Gateways, has been developed from idea to implementation since 2017, and was funded by the Rural Payments Agency as part of their Rural Development Programme for England grants scheme.

The new panels celebrate the local culture, businesses, heritage, and wildlife in each location, and invite people to explore local paths and get to know the towns and villages – and the treasures that make them so special – in a deeper way. The Cotswold Gateways panels will be found in Charlbury, Cirencester, Dursley, Hawkesbury, Marshfield, Painswick, Tetbury, Winchcombe, and Wotton-under-Edge. The locations are accessible by public transport, so that when coronavirus restrictions lift, and people are able to travel more freely, they will be able to explore the routes in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. There are also cycling opportunities, with both on road and off road options. All walking routes will be available to download as PDFs and GPX files online, with GPX files for cycle routes at www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/cotswold-gateways. The aim of the project is to highlight Cotswolds towns and villages that are overlooked due to the popularity of traditional and well-known honeypot locations, to attract visitors to lesser known corners of the Cotswolds all year round, and to encourage people to engage with local businesses in each location.

Many people have worked with the Cotswolds National Landscape team to bring this huge project to light, including local volunteers, communities, landowners, town and parish councils, local walking groups, Sustrans, and highways authorities. Those involved have contributed to all aspects of the project including the design of routes, securing permissions, installing kissing gates and route improvements, waymarking the routes,  and installing the panels.

Becky Jones Access and Volunteer Lead, Cotswolds National Landscape, said, “We’re delighted to announce the completion of the Cotswolds Gateways project, and I want to say a huge thanks to the many people who have given their time and expertise to make it a success – it’s been a true partnership project that will benefit both locals and visitors to the area.”

Until coronavirus restrictions are appropriately lifted and allow us to travel further, the hope is that those local to each Cotswold Gateways location will enjoy the routes on their doorstep. Once restrictions are lifted, the hope is that everyone will be able to discover and enjoy the locations, and the routes which unfold around them.

A grand total of £25,000 has recently been awarded to 14 exciting new projects across the Cotswolds, and has been allocated by the Caring for the Cotswolds Grants Panel, following their biggest meeting (online) so far. The project applications had already been reviewed by the newly formed Youth Panel for the scheme – and their insightful feedback helped inform the decision making.

One of the new projects, pictured above, was developed by Chalford Parish Council. The village has an active biodiversity group whose members have worked hard in recent years to restore a number of wildlife sites in the village. This project will create a guided nature trail featuring these sites, so that residents can explore and learn about the wildlife in their area.

Beckford Nature Reserve. Photo© Mark McCauley

In the north of the Cotswolds, a new project will soon be underway at Beckford Nature Reserve. A new set of new steps will improve the safety and accessibility to the reserve, especially for the elderly and people who find the terrain difficult. Chairman of Trustees, Mark McCauley adds: “We are incredibly proud that Beckford Nature Reserve can offer everyone a place of such beauty and tranquillity, especially during these difficult and challenging times.”

Volunteers clearing invasive Himalayan Balsam. A Caring for the Cotswolds grant will allow the longstanding removal programme to continue Photo© Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Photo taken pre-coronavirus.

Another of the new projects, this time in the south of the Cotswolds, is being led by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The project aims to eradicate Himalayan Balsam on the River By Brook from Castle Coombe to Box. Himalayan Balsam is an invasive species that easily outcompetes native plants and flowers, reducing important nectar sources for butterflies and bees. Furthermore, when Balsam dies off in the autumn, river banks are left exposed and vulnerable to erosion. This project is part of a long running programme by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to improve the river for nature and people.

Recognising the importance of young people’s views, project applications were reviewed by the newly formed Youth Panel for the scheme. Youth Panel member Jessica Price comments: “Having the opportunity to escape our homes and look at something other than uniform buildings has been a lifeline during this pandemic, and it is why the Caring for the Cotswolds scheme is so important. By restoring and conserving areas of natural beauty, this positively affects both wildlife and people. The restoration of habitats allows wildlife to flourish, which in turn provides a landscape in which people can come to relax and escape.”

James Webb, Partnerships and Fundraising Lead at Cotswolds National Landscape says, “The 14 new projects are really well spread across the four themes of the Caring for the Cotswolds scheme: conservation, heritage and landscape, improving access, and education and interpretation. It’s especially pleasing to see so many local organisations developing projects that encourage and enable people to access and enjoy the countryside. Through the pandemic, we’ve seen that people value being out in the fresh air more than ever, and these new projects are a real celebration of that idea.

We’d like to give a big thank you to the participating businesses and their customers whose generous contributions help to keep the Cotswolds a special place to live, work, and visit.”

The Caring for the Cotswolds scheme is managed by the Cotswolds National Landscape team. The scheme is built around a visitor-giving model, where visitors voluntarily contribute to member businesses, who pass the funds along to be allocated as grants to projects that benefit the Cotswolds unique landscape and heritage. The full list of new projects is as follows:

Conservation of habitats and species

• Box Parish Council – £2,350 grant towards habitat improvement work along ‘The Lovar Walk’, as well as seating and interpretation.  Due to complete October 2021.
• Bradford on Avon Town Council – £2,480 grant towards a biological evaluation of an ancient woodland to help inform and facilitate future work. Delivered in partnership with The Friends of Becky Addy Wood. Due to complete August 2021.
• National Trust – £1,750 grant towards the installation of a new cattle drinking trough to facilitate conservation grazing across a wider area of Boundary Court Farm, Woodchester. Due to complete September 2021.
• Wiltshire Wildlife Trust – £1,326 grant towards a programme to eradicate Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species, on the River By Brook from Castle Coombe to Box. Due to complete September 2021.

Heritage and landscape

• Leafield Parish Council – £2,313 grant towards the restoration of the Leafield Lychgate; an impressive war memorial at the entrance to the church yard. Due to complete April 2021.
• Radway Parish Council – £1,384 grant towards improved access to Old St Peter’s churchyard, with interpretation on the history of the site and notable tombs, building on existing interest in the area from the Civil War. The project will culminate in the production of a heritage trail leaflet. Due to complete May 2022.
• The Bath Stone Museum Quarry Trust – £1,900 grant towards the restoration of the Box Quarry Crane, which will be located in Bath and tell the story of the Cotswolds industrial heritage. Due to complete November 2021.

Improving access

• Beckford Nature Reserve – £1,676 grant towards a set of new steps to improve the safety and accessibility to the reserve, especially for the elderly and people who find the terrain difficult, and easier to maintain for the future. Due to complete March 2021.
• Chalford Parish Council – £1,315 grant towards the creation of a guided walking trail of existing wildlife sites in the village, including new information boards, to encourage residents and visitors to explore the area. Due to complete July 2021.
• Tetbury Rail Lands Regeneration Trust – £2,500 grant towards the surfacing of the new section of the Tetbury Trail – extending the multi-user path by 1km for the benefit of residents and visitors. The new section allows people from Tetbury to walk, run, cycle, or ride to the Trouble House café/restaurant. Due to complete April 2021.
• Tysoe Parish Council – £1,262 grant towards the development of a nature trail using the local network of public footpaths and a series of interpretation boards. The trail will connect wildlife sites and will be available online and via a leaflet. Due to complete December 2021.

Education and interpretation

• Chipping Campden School – £2,500 grant towards construction of “The Well” – a straw bale roundhouse. The Roundhouse will be used for delivering activities for the students and the community. It will also act as a hub for craft and environmental education. Due to complete November 2021.
• Sladebank Woods CIC – £1,375 grant towards construction of a pole structure for use as an Education shelter. Built by volunteers with a range of abilities, it will be the focal point for a range of future events, including bringing young people with severe learning difficulties into nature to develop practical and life skills. Due to complete August 2021.
• Yatton Keynell Parish Council – £801 grant towards the restoration of the village pond in partnership with the local primary school. The project will involve planting new native species and pupils will undertake pond surveys to measure the health of the environment. Due to complete September 2021.

The new projects are in addition to the projects that the scheme has already funded. Further details and photographs of projects supported can be seen here: https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/looking-after/caring-for-the-cotswolds/

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Please contact Alana Hopkins at alana.hopkins@cotswolds-nl.org.uk / 01451 862 003 for further information or interview opportunities.

• The Cotswolds National Landscape was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 in recognition of its rich, diverse and high quality landscape. www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• The Cotswolds National Landscape is looked after by an independent organisation (officially titled Cotswolds Conservation Board) established in 2004 which has a small employee team along with 37 board members – 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by the Secretary of State.
• The Cotswolds is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks and represents 10% of the total AONB area in the UK. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south.
• The organisation’s land management position statements are for use by local authorities, government agencies, land agents, advisers, land managers, farmers and the public. They, along with the planning and transport position statements are available online at www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), along with National Parks, are considered to be the most special landscapes in the country and belong to an international family of protected areas.  There are 38 AONBs in England and Wales, and a further eight in Northern Ireland.  For further details, visit: www.landscapesforlife.org.uk. For details of the 15 National Parks in the UK visit: www.nationalparks.uk