Charity wants Thames Valley bee, bird and butterfly population boost

Charity wants bee, bird and butterfly population boost Image source, Vaughn Matthews Image caption, The trust said the fund would seek to boost the population of bumblebees across the region By Nathan Briant South of England Published 6 hours ago A charity wants to raise £70,000 for a project aimed at boosting wildlife populations on farmland in the Thames Valley. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) said the money would form part of its Nature Recovery Fund and would be used to tackle falling numbers of birds, bees and butterflies.

The trust said farmland bird populations had fallen by 63% since 1970, while half of the UK's 27 bumblebee species were in decline. It said measures to help wildlife could include using fewer chemicals in farming to create healthier soil and less polluted waterways, as well as setting aside corners of grassland for animals. BBOWT's chief executive Estelle Bailey said: "Farmland makes up 68% of our three counties, so to truly have an impact on nature's recovery, our work must expand far beyond our precious nature reserves."

In 2023, a report produced by government agencies, environmental groups and universities found one in six species in the UK were at risk of extinction. Bailey added: "I want future generations to experience the joy of countryside filled with life - swallows darting above fields, butterflies and bumblebees feeding on abundant wildflowers, hedgerows alive with the sound of birdsong, and to eat locally grown food that supports a healthy, resilient landscape."

Get in touch Your Voice Contact form Contact form Related topics Berkshire UK farming Wildlife conservation Conservation More on this story Wildlife trust launches 'nature recovery' appeal Published 4 October 2023 Wildlife trust condemns biodiversity planning change Published 27 June 2025 Wildlife trust's call to protect hoverfly 'heroes' Published 20 April 2025 Tips for great wildlife photos as competition returns Published 20 May 2025 Wildlife trust receives half a million in funding Published 18 December 2024 Related internet links BBOWT