Nature Features

UPDATE:  SWAT SITE VANDALISED

The site at Downs Barn which underwent a makeover by volunteers as part of the BBC's Springwatch SWAT project has been vandalised.

Only two weeks after the team of volunteers and locals came together to build bridges, pathways and wildlife shelters in the woodland, mother-of-two Sarah Walker caught a group of youths smashing the woodland furniture and throwing the logs in a river.

The police were called to the scene and identified some of the vandals but subsequently the fire service had to be called when residents spotted plumes of smoke pouring from the woods.

Pat Gates, a teacher of Downs Barn School, whose pupils regularly use the woods for their lessons, was saddened to hear the news and told us: "I feel this is such a shame as a wonderful facility has been ruined by a few thoughtless people".

Phil Snell from Milton Keynes Council gave us his reaction:

"Obviously it's very saddening because the whole idea was to make the site more attractive for everybody to use.

"It shows a great deal of selfishness and it's certainly not the sort of thing we want to inspire in local people in Milton Keynes."

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Goodbye litter – hello bark pathway!

Goodbye ditch – hello new bridge!

Transformation

The transformation is now almost complete, and as the residents of Downs Bark in Milton Keynes walk around the newly created woodland pathway there is an air of surprise and delight as they discover the wonders of the natural woodland on their doorstep.

Toby hard at work!

A team of volunteers from BBC Three Counties Radio, BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers), Milton Keynes Council and the general public worked tirelessly over four days to transform a piece of unloved, litter-strewn woodland into a haven for nature and a place for the public to enjoy.

Therapeutic

Toby Friedner, from BBC Three Counties Radio and the driving force behind the project said:

"The team have worked brilliantly to transform the woods from an area which had been rather neglected into an area which now feels a little more loved and which hopefully the local residents and schoolchildren will come to love as well.

"There was a moment on Saturday, when we were laying down the bark path and you couldn't help but notice this really fresh smell from the wood chippings and it was really quite therapeutic really!"

Creating a woodland path

Community

Jane Moore, heading up the team of volunteers from BTCV, said:

"It's been lovely to see the local residents come down to see what we've been doing and to hear from the older members of the community that they can now get easier access to the wood.

"They've told us how much better it is to walk through the wood and feel safe and steady on their feet."

One of the local volunteers, 13 year old Keiran, told us:

Young volunteers in action!

"It's going to be really good now, it's going to help a lot of people who couldn't get into the woods before, to come in and get around safely and enjoy the wildlife – it's just so much better for everyone now!

"It's also now an area where people can get away from it all for a little while and just enjoy the sounds of nature all around them…. It's brilliant!"

Why not take a look yourself?

The woodland is open to the public and can be found at:

Byerly Place
Downs Barn
Milton Keynes
MK 14 7QE