The success of the Parish Nature Recovery plans in our parishes have been captured in articles in the last few month’s newsletters. It is also fantastic to see how many areas of private grass have been left in Barnack this summer to allow the Pyramidal orchids and other wildflowers to bloom. Our invertebrate and pollinator populations will be celebrating so we would like to thank you on their behalf. Please do remember to register, as part of our eight nature reserve initiative, the area of your garden being managed for the benefit of wildlife. This requires no more effort than simply visiting our website at https://langdyke.org.uk/the-eighth-reserve/ and you will receive a certificate in recognition of your contribution to nature. The Langdyke site and enclosed links will also provide you with other ideas that you might like to adopt.
Whilst all this has been happening within our village envelopes the positive discussions with Peterborough City Council and their contractors on road verge management continue and a walk along some of the roads in our parishes show what potential they and the adjacent hedgerows have when managed sensitively. Following on from these successes the Trustees and our partner organisations, Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board, PECT and Natural England have been busy talking to landowners in the parishes and seeking out projects for Nature Recovery in the surrounding countryside. So far in excess of twenty different opportunities have been identified and discussed with different landowners within the four parishes. The development of plans for these and where appropriate seeking the funding to support them is now in progress. These conversations are taking place across the entire John Clare Countryside and we are seeing a real increase in the level of engagement with improving the local environment from all parties.
If you own or lease any land, or know someone who does, be it a small horse paddock or a 100 hectares we would love to hear from you. We or one of our partners can then help you develop your own Nature Recovery Plan and to potentially access relevant funding streams to deliver significant benefits to both people and nature in our area. Please feel free to e-mail me at david.alvey@langdyke.org.uk for an initial conversation and I can link you up with the relevant experts able to support your ideas.
In addition to this focus on Nature Recovery Plans both within the villages and in the surrounding countryside the John Clare Partnership is also working on projects to improve access to the countryside for our local urban communities, developing schemes with local mental health charities to support all aspects of our mental wellbeing, and to promote the rich historical heritage of the area.
Please do consider joining the Langdyke Countryside Trust as a member and look out for opportunities to join our volunteer activities to make a real practical difference to our fantastic rural environment.
David Alvey
Trustee, Langdyke Countryside Trust.