Residents are invited to take part in workshops and a survey to help shape plans for protecting and improving Berkshire's natural habitats.
The county's 6 councils, led by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, are keen to involve residents, landowners, developers, community groups and others to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county during 2024.
The end result will be a blueprint for Berkshire nature recovery. It will include a map of opportunities, as well as a list of biodiversity priorities. The work is funded by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) as part of a wider national nature recovery project.
It will prioritise where time and investment are most needed to:
- improve, protect, or enlarge habitats
- create wildlife corridors
- create new habitats on land or around watercourses
It will support joint working around nature recovery and help inform and support funding bids for specific projects.
Following valuable conversations with farmers, landowners, land managers, the project team is hosting a community workshop in each Berkshire area.
A county-wide survey will also be carried out so residents, community groups, charities, businesses, schools, colleges and others can shape the strategy.
Workshops
The workshop in Bracknell Forest will take place on:
- Wednesday 10 April from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at The Foxes' Den, Binfield Community Centre
Other workshops will take place on:
- Monday 8 April from 9:30am to 12:30pm at Braywick Nature Centre, Maidenhead
- Tuesday 16 April from 11am to 2pm at Salt Hill Activity Centre, Slough
- Saturday 20 April from 10am to 1pm at Maiden Place, Earley
- Tuesday 23 April from midday to 3pm at the Corn Exchange, Hungerford
- Thursday 25 April from noon to 3pm at Dee Space Community Centre, Reading
- Tuesday 30 April from 6:30pm to 8pm online using Zoom
The workshops are a chance to find out more about the project and how you can get involved in supporting nature locally.
Places at the in-person workshops are limited to 2 people maximum per organisation.
How to take part
To register an interest in attending a workshop, visit Berkshire nature recovery event on EventBrite, or call Braywick Nature Centre on 01628 777440.
You can also share your thoughts in the Priorities for nature survey until Tuesday 7 May. Paper copies of the survey form are also available from all libraries upon request.
