|
North
Chilterns Trust are preparing to start a series of bird walks along
the Downs to encourage people to get out in their local countryside
- take some exercise and find out about their feathered friends.
BBC
Three Counties Radio took their Early Riser programme with presenter
Martyn Coote walking through the hilly Downs with Steven Halton
from the North Chilterns Trust.
"The
area is a mosaic of different bushes so a great variety of wildlife
will benefit from the area," said Steve.
"There
are all sorts of birds here and flowers, plus mammals - there are
foxes here as well as it's a nice area to shelter in.
"This
area acts as a corridor for the foxes between the town and the country.
People can come out here and see all sorts of wildlife on their
own doorsteps."
 |
| Steve
Halton |
The
chalk-based Downs is a County Wildlife Site, which means it is an
important area within Bedfordshire.
There
are various habitats on the Downs - including Hawthorn, gelder rose
and wild cherry trees - acting to attract different birds, mammals
and insects.
Steve
explained that some British bird species had declined recently due
to the high use of snail poison: "The birds eat the snails,
the toxins build up in their bodies until it reaches a lethal level."
Years
ago in the last century, the Downs would have been used for grazing
sheep with shepherds watching over their flocks.
The
North Chilterns Trust runs a volunteer group each Thursday which
works on Downland to keep the paths clear and make sure they are
kept wild enough for the animals.
Steve
added: "We work to make sure we strike the right balance between
keeping the paths open yet making sure it's wild enough for the
wildlife to flourish."
For
more information contact the North Chilterns Trust on 01582 412225
or email them at office@northchilternstrust.co.uk
Hear
more about the Downs
|
