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As another harvesting season draws to a close, and summer comes to a rainy end, our Glorious Cotswold Grasslands team have been out and about through the hotter months working hard to harvest wildflower seed across all their donor sites for the programme.

And the results are in… this summer, the GCG team and their volunteers harvested a staggering 2.5 tonnes of wildflower seed, by hand, across multiple sites in the Cotswolds.

Now it’s been sorted and dried (also by hand), the seed will soon be sown across recipient sites to continue the GCG team’s work to create or restore wildflower-rich limestone grassland across the Cotswolds. Currently, the team is out preparing the ground for sowing. You can keep up with their progress by following along on social media.

Since 2018 and 2019, Simon Smith, our Nature Recovery Lead, has been working with a number of colleagues from other national landscapes on Big Chalk – an ambitious programme of work which aims to restore a mosaic of habitats across an enormous stretch of calcareous landscape in southern England.

After several years of collaboration, the project launched publicly with the Big Chalk Conference 2024 in early September. The partnership of over 150 like-minded organisations showcased how forging vital connections between nature recovery projects across the chalk and limestone landscapes of southern England can achieve a sustainable approach to nature recovery. By uniting resources and expertise, the collective work covers a fifth of England, and aims to build a dynamic nature recovery network that will be central to the UK’s pledge to protect 30% of land and halt the decline of nature by 20230.

The conference was the start of an exciting new chapter in the Big Chalk story. With a programme packed full of best practise, ongoing work, and site visits, delegates were energised to carry forward the work with unparalleled commitment.

Photo: Libra Photographic

Rowan Wynne-Jones from CNL learning how to effectively guide walkers with visual impairments.

National Landscapes teams are always working to widen the welcome we can offer to people, from all walks of life. In the Cotswolds, we have been working with lots of partners over the last few years to improve access on pathways, we’ve been working with young people to inspire them to get outside, and we’ve worked with a range of community groups as part of the Bathscape project.

Recently, members of our team, including some of our Cotswold Voluntary Warden walk leaders, received training on how to guide walkers with visual impairment. The training was led by Marika, who has a visual impairment herself, and uses her first hand knowledge and experience to help others develop their skills. The long term intention is that with this additional training, our volunteer walk leaders working across the Cotswolds will be able to support more people with visual impairments to join our guided walks.

If you’d like to find out more about this recent training, please contact Nicole Daw, our Trails and Access Officer, at nicole.daw@cotswolds-nl.org.uk

Ros, Rowan, and Jennifer – our Everyone’s Evenlode team – have celebrated a successful conclusion to their busiest time of the year for schools delivery!

Through seven weeks in June and July, the team have welcomed over 500 students to river-based learning sessions in the Evenlode catchment area. Feedback forms revealed an impressive 94% satisfaction rate for the sessions. The delivery for the Everyone’s Evenlode project includes outdoor learning , in-class curriculum learning, practical exercises, and the encouragement wherever possible for children to get in the water (safely) and learn more about their local river.

Students report back that highlights for them during the sessions include being in the river, pond-dipping, wearing waders, and walking the streambed in ‘stream safaris’. Teachers say they value the opportunities for students to experience new surroundings, walks from the school gates, and the increased awareness of, and appreciation for, local nature.

A tremendous amount of work goes into planning each session – from the logistics, to equipment, health and safety, and, of course, the content of each session – often tailored to suit the students in attendance. The Everyone’s Evenlode team thrives on the enthusiasm brought by the students and teachers.

We applaud the team, as well as their cohort of brilliant volunteers and delivery partners, for their dedication throughout another academic year…Ros, Rowan and Jennifer are now all taking a little summer break to recharge their batteries.

Recently, our Everyone’s Evenlode team have been working with Refugee Resource, Oxford – whose mission is for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to build meaningful lives as part of the wider community. They offer a range of services including countryside walks designed to relieve mental and emotional distress, enabling their clients to build new lives and integrate successfully into their new communities.

The Everyone’s Evenlode team, supported by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens, worked with Blenheim Palace to arrange a group day out there this week for Refugee Resource. Blenheim Palace kindly provided a tour guide, who was able to arrange a train ride for the children, as well as an opportunity to play in the new adventure park. Those attending enjoyed a walk, lunch, ice cream, a hedged maze, and the sunny surroundings of the palace grounds. In the hot weather this week, the children particularly relished splashing about in the cooling water features!

The team from Xerox helped out with lots of tasks, including some woodland management. 

Hot on the heels of our last corporate volunteering group, we were recently joined by another enthusiastic group – this time from Xerox. The team works nationally, and this was a great opportunity to get together in person for the day.

Gathering at a stunning quarry, a little off the beaten track – but with dramatic views over the Severn Vale, the group were tasked with a reptile survey, some woodland management, a litter pick, and Himalayan balsam pulling. During the afternoon, they took in a wildlife walk to enjoy this vibrant mosaic habitat – home to a wide range of wildflowers, butterflies, reptiles, and small mammals.

As with all our corporate groups, the team from Xerox arrived with high energy and plenty of enthusiasm – and maintained both throughout the day.

As well as excellent team building opportunities, days like this are a great way for companies to contribute to ongoing conservation work in the Cotswolds. Reducing invasive species like Himalyan balsam helps stop its spread, and litter picking, path widening, and habitat creation help both wildlife and people enjoy the countryside.