Autumn is the busiest time of year for hundreds of local nature volunteers who are putting in hours of hard work so that Basingstoke and Deane’s natural environment thrives next year. 

 

Together with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s rangers and Natural Basingstoke, they are tackling months of conservation tasks to protect, restore and enhance over 300 hectares of green space and habitats across the borough. 

 

To help pollinators flourish in the spring, daffodils will be planted at the Overton Community Orchard tomorrow (Saturday 25 October), working with the Overton Conservation Group, and then soon at the orchard in War Memorial Park, Basingstoke. 

 

The early blooms will attract bees and butterflies to the orchards, encouraging the trees to produce more fruit. 

 

Work is also under way to provide food for the insects elsewhere too by making preparations so that over 22 hectares of wildflower meadows spring up across the borough again next year. The areas have already been mown and grass clippings collected so rotting plants do not release nutrients into the soil, which would see aggressive grasses replace wildflowers that love poor-quality earth. 

 

Now, the focus is on invasive plants that outcompete and overtake fragile wildflowers, like the petty whin and pyramidal orchids. So far, that’s seen gorse removed at Wigmore Heath in Tadley and dogwood taken out at Mill Field Nature Reserve in Old Basing. 

 

In other parts of the borough, coppicing and thinning woodlands – including at Great Binfields in Chineham and Petty’s Copse in Sherfield on Loddon – is currently under way so sunlight can more easily reach plants like bluebells on the forest floor. The wood piles that are left behind provide nests and food for insects. 

 

Trees and other vegetation are also being trimmed back where they overhang ponds. The extra sunlight and fewer leaves encourage wetland plants and amphibians, such as the rare great crested newts that live at Marnel Park in Popley, Basingstoke. 

 

Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin said: “This is the busiest time of year for our teams and volunteers, whose hard work is what will encourage Basingstoke and Deane’s green spaces to flourish next year, benefitting people and wildlife. 

 

“You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference and, whether it’s planting bulbs or clearing paths, every pair of hands helps. If you love nature and want to give back, we’d love to have you join us. It’s rewarding and you’ll quite literally see the results of your efforts bloom next year.” 

 

Growing the diversity of native plants and wildlife in the borough and working together with communities to enhance and create habitats were two of the priority actions the council set for itself when it adopted its biodiversity strategy in March last year. 

 

Information about the council’s nature conservation work and how people and local companies can get involved is at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/green-space-volunteering 

 

Local nature volunteering opportunities can also be found at NaturalBasingstoke.org.uk