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Greenham is about to get greener
Residents on a Newbury housing estate will soon be working with conservationists to turn neglected woodland into a haven for bluebells, badgers and ancient oaks to flourish.

Newbury’s biggest landlord, Sovereign Housing Group, has teamed up with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) to make the woods by the Pigeons Farm estate, Greenham, a real focus for the community.

To launch the project, BTCV, Sovereign, and West Berkshire Council, have organised a fun day with a children’s nature trail, 3D model of the area for people to add their ideas to, and a chance to build birdboxes. Animals from Nutkin Wildlife Sanctuary will be on display, while face painting, a barbecue, cakes and refreshments will also be laid on.

BTCV Community Project Officer Katrina Pengelley said: “We are here to help the community improve their local environment by showing how residents can get involved. This was once a beautiful wood, and with some work from the community, it can be again.”

Similar schemes elsewhere have been shown to develop children’s knowledge of the environment, and to improve wildlife in areas where town and country meet. Last year, Sovereign helped BTCV with a similar scheme at Omer’s Gully, Burghfield.

Sovereign Regeneration Coordinator Lisa Denison said: “We hope the residents will form their own group to start getting this area cleaned up, and then we can help them apply for grants to create lasting improvements. Evidence shows that vandalism can reduce when teenagers have a part to play in community life.”

Published 05 July 2005
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