Conservation Volunteer Groups

Many opportunities to improve AVDC land for wildlife have been identified and implemented. Volunteers have been essential to achieving objectives and this has primarily been through the establishment of Community Conservation Groups with BTCV.

In Aylesbury this has focused on the Linear Park including the Riverside Walk, the Coppice and Bedgrove Park, whilst in Buckingham the Sandpit, the Railway Walk and Hunter Street have all seen changes to management. Smaller areas of land such as at Magpie Spinney, have also been brought into conservation management.

The conservation management introduced includes woodland and hedgerow planting, wildlife hedge laying, wildflower planting, pond creation and the erection of bird and bat boxes. One of the most dramatic changes is the conversion from short mown grass to hay meadow management and sites such as the Riverside Walk and Bedgrove Park have seen significant increases in wildlife as a result. With the support of local volunteers, a community orchard and a wildflower meadow have been created in Bedgrove Park.