Ecology
The ecology team includes staff, volunteers and associated research students, with a broad spectrum of experience and expertise.
This enables us to carry out a wide variety of ecological work:
- advising on land management on the Trust estate and collecting data which illustrates its effectiveness;
- undertaking and publishing research on land management and conservation;
- promoting conservation through work with other organisations, on external projects, advisory and consultancy work;
- training/teaching others in skills required for effective conservation;
- informing others of our work.
Advising on the management of the Trust Estate
The ecology team has been closely involved with the management of Little Wittenham Nature Reserve for many years. Along with the other Trust staff, we aim to ensure that the reserve is managed for the benefit of its conservation features, whilst also being used for access and environmental education. We assess the success of our management in achieving objectives laid out in the site management plan, by carrying out specific monitoring projects. Visit the reserve pages for details, or contact us for more information.
We also work closely with the ecologist assigned to the Sustainable Farming Initiative.
Research
We have several years of experience in a number of areas of ecological research including the conservation status and distribution of scarce arable flowers in the region, grassland restoration and mechanisms of colonisation by grassland plants, ecology of the Great Crested Newt, and the status and distribution of invertebrates in Oxfordshire.
With other Trust staff we hope to develop research into methods for enhancing the biodiversity of new commercial woodlands.All our research is carried out in close collaboration with other professional organisations.
We also contribute to national recording schemes such as Common Bird Census and Constant Effort Sites for bird ringing, both of which produce invaluable national data.
Consultancy and Advice
We provide ecological advice to other organisations and individuals. This includes informal advice on land management and detailed management plans, both of which are based on the known habitats, species, history/archaeology, geology, past management and owner/occupiers objectives of the relevant sites. Amongst others, we have written management plans for South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) and the Hurst Water Meadow Trust.
Sometimes we charge for these services, but we can also provide free advice to other charities, local groups, or organisations, at our discretion.
Collaborative projects
We are involved in a number of collaborative projects in the region, including the management of Wallingford Castle Meadows, owned by SODC, and a Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Amphibian Pond Survey, in partnership with the Local Wildlife Trust. In addition we contribute to various Biodiversity projects and networks within Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.
Training
We provide a variety of training opportunities, through Universities and other professional organisations, such as the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. Training topics include management planning for conservation, amphibian survey methods and the law, and invertebrate identification.
We also run some in-house courses, to which individuals and members of voluntary organisations are always welcome. We may sometimes charge a small fee to cover administration. Visit our training page for current details.
Informing others
The team are always keen to deliver talks to interested local groups on any of the topics covered here. We frequently write articles for newsletters and magazines, and contribute to newspaper and local television articles.
