Ratty and Wol get listed

Two animal species immortalised in children’s literature through Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, and the pompous owl in Winnie the Pooh who thought he could spell, are welcome additions to The National Forest’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

The barn owl and water vole join a list of seven other species all of which have received special consideration since 1998 in the development of The National Forest. The second edition of the BAP, providing the focus for the Forest’s nature conservation work up to 2010, was launched recently by Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of English Nature, at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in The National Forest.

Audrey Brown, Land Use Officer, National Forest Company (NFC) explained the revision of the BAP had been brought forward: “We had already reached a number of our targets, and greatly exceeded several – in particular, the establishment of neutral grassland, pond restoration and the management of ancient woodland. This has been achieved primarily by working with local landowners through the National Forest Tender Scheme.

“We have added the water vole to our list because the species has already benefited from our work to encourage otters, and now we can monitor the effect we are having on both populations. The barn owl features in many neighbouring BAPs, so it makes sense to enhance their habitat and provide more continuous areas over which the population can expand. Again, through the Tender Scheme we have provided acres of rough grassland and young trees – which is just the kind of terrain over which barn owls like to hunt.

“As with the success of the first BAP, the implementation of this second plan is down to working in partnership with other organisations, individuals and businesses. It’s up to all of us to do our bit for bio-diversity,” Audrey Brown concluded. After the formal launch, attendees visited nearby Croxall Nature Reserve, purchased by the NFC in 2000 and managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The reserve extends over 43 hectares (more than 100 acres) and features lakes, woodland, reedbeds, open grassland and river banks for the benefit of wading birds and wetland wildlife. Wardens have been particularly pleased to see evidence of otters returning to the River Mease, and several breeding pairs of lapwings, which moved in to the new ‘scrapes’ barely giving time for the diggers to leave! View the BAP at www.nationalforest.org or request a copy by calling the NFC on 01283 551211.