Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Member Magazine
Autumn / Winter 2026
Small but Mighty
Recovering the Tiny Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail
Secrets of the Dark
Exploring the Night Shift in Wiltshire
A Year at Green Lane Woods A Hive of Life on the Edge of our County Town
Wiltshire’s Wonders
The Winners of our 2026 Photography Prize
Inside…
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10 04 Your Membership, Our Movement A community for Nature and People
06 Secrets of the Dark The Night Shift in Wiltshire
08 Small but Mighty
Recovering the Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail
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18 10 Biological Recording Powered by People, Protecting Wiltshire’s Wildlife
12 Wiltshire’s Wonders The Winners of our 2026 Photography Prize
14 A Year at Green Lane Woods
A Hive of Life on the Edge of our County Town
18 Naturally Connected Young People
How Wiltshire’s Teens are finding a place in Nature
20 Wilder, Welcoming, Worth Protecting Our Vision for our Flagship Reserves
22 News Round-Up
Top Stories You May Have Missed 2 | Wiltshire Wildlife
Welcome… Sometimes it’s important to start small. The Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail may be only 2mm long, but this vanishingly rare snail is a critical indicator species for healthy chalk stream wetlands. Days of surveying by our Freshwater Team and dedicated volunteers found just two remnant populations in Wiltshire (both on Trust reserves). Now, thanks to funding from Natural England, our chalk stream restoration specialists are joining forces with Longleat’s captive breeding experts to help these snails recolonise the Wiltshire headwaters of the Hampshire Avon. What helps ‘Dessies’ – as the team affectionately calls them – helps Water Voles and other wildlife too. Read all about this exciting partnership on pages 8-9. In a moment of hope for restoring our rivers, the Government will introduce a Clean Water Bill to Parliament this winter. The Wildlife Trusts will be calling for people to be given more local control over our rivers through Regional Water Plans, with powers to halt overabstraction of water and divert funding to our precious chalk streams. I have already been invited to join the interim SW Regional Water Planning Board in recognition of the Trust’s pioneering work on nature-based solutions that can restore our rivers and bring climate resilience to homes, farms and businesses. Look out for our campaign updates this winter: every voice matters.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one surprised by new sightings in my garden this year, from Clouded Yellows to an eyecatching, fly-catching male Redstart. Have you ever thought of submitting a record via one of the new digital apps like iRecord? It might just become your first step into a fast-growing citizen science movement, which contributes vital data to conservation decision-makers in a fast-changing climate. On pages 10-11, read about the full spectrum of roles taken on by our amazing volunteers, from submitting garden sightings to walking regular butterfly transects or ‘bee-lines’ or even becoming County Recorders with the expertise to verify sightings. Why not join one of our Bioblitzes this year to find out more? Enjoy the fabulous photos from our 2026 Wiltshire Wildlife Photography Award winners! Maybe it will be you next year. As ever, thank you for all the many ways in which you support the Trust and Wiltshire’s wildlife. I hope to meet some of you at our AGM at Langford Lakes on 2 November. Please also remember to cast your vote beforehand – see page 4 for details
Wiltshire Wildlife Magazine Editors Rebecca Clay Emma Garry Becki Mckinlay Design Inkcap Design Print Printed on paper produced from responsibly managed forests. Recycled paper. Printed in Wiltshire by Mail and Print mailandprint.co.uk Front Cover photo Hare at Sunrise by Adam Silk
Jo Lewis CEO Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
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Your Membership, Our Movement A Community for Nature and People As leaves begin to turn and birds prepare for their long journeys south, nature reminds us that every season has its purpose. While wildlife adapts to the months ahead, we’re taking time to reflect on the past year – and look ahead to the future we want to create for nature in Wiltshire. Of course none of that would be possible without you. Every member of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust plays a part in protecting and restoring the wildlife and wild places that make our county so special. Your membership is more than a donation; it’s a commitment to a future where nature is thriving, people feel connected to the natural world around them and wildlife has the space it needs to recover. Together, our members give us something incredibly valuable: the confidence to plan for the long term. Conservation doesn’t happen overnight. Restoring habitats, improving rivers and helping nature recover takes time, patience, and sustained investment. Because of your regular support, we can care for more than 40 nature reserves
across Wiltshire, work with farmers and communities to create bigger, better and more connected spaces for nature, and inspire thousands of people to experience the benefits of the natural world every year. Just as importantly, membership means you are part of a community that shares a common purpose. Whether you’ve been a member for decades or joined us this year, you are standing alongside thousands of people who believe that nature matters. Every membership strengthens our voice, helping us champion wildlife across Wiltshire and beyond, ensuring that decisions affecting our natural environment
are informed by the people who care deeply about it. In a time when news about nature can feel daunting, many members tell us that supporting the Trust brings them a real sense of hope, purpose and belonging. Whether it’s spotting a Kingfisher at Langford Lakes, enjoying a walk through a local nature reserve, or reading about wildlife returning to restored habitats, your membership is making those moments possible. As we look ahead to another season of caring for Wiltshire’s wildlife, we’d like to thank every one of our members. Your support, your voice and your belief in a wilder future make our work possible.
Our Annual General Meeting – Please Vote Now As a membership organisation, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust belongs to you. That’s not just a nice sentiment — it’s how we are governed. Every member has a say in the decisions that shape this Trust’s future, and there’s no better moment to use it than ahead of our Annual General Meeting this autumn by voting.
Here’s how to get involved:
Be part of the conversation - Our AGM will be held at 6pm on Monday 2 November and will be hybrid, meaning you can join either online or in person at the Brockbank Centre at Langford Lakes. Meet fellow members, ask questions, and hear first-hand how your support is making Wiltshire better for nature and people. Have your say - Every vote cast is a vote for wilder rivers, thriving reserves and a stronger voice for nature across Wiltshire. We’d love as many members as possible to vote this year — because the more of us who show up, the louder and clearer that voice becomes. Visit wiltshirewildlife.org/agm to: • Find this year’s agenda • View last year’s minutes and cast your vote • Register to attend in person • Find out how to watch the meeting live online
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Leaving Wildlife and People a Brighter Future Supporting nature is an important investment in tomorrow. Alongside the generosity shown through membership, we’re incredibly grateful to those members who have chosen to leave a gift to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in their Will. Earlier this year, we welcomed members of our Legacy Society to Lower Moor Farm Nature Reserve for a special afternoon tea. It was an opportunity to say thank you and celebrate the lasting impact that gifts in Wills have on wildlife across Wiltshire. Leaving a gift is a deeply personal decision, made after providing for
family and loved ones, but even a small legacy can have a remarkable impact — helping us care for wild places, respond to future challenges, and keep nature recovery moving forward. To everyone who has already chosen to leave a gift, and to all those who are part of our Legacy Society, thank you. Your generosity will help ensure that future generations can experience the same moments of wonder that inspire us today. Together, we’re creating a Wiltshire where nature can recover and thrive – for today, for tomorrow and for generations to come.
For more information about leaving a gift in your Will or our Legacy
Society events contact fundraising@wiltshirewildlife.org
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Secrets of the
We say we lose an hour when the clocks go back, but we lose a good deal more daylight than that. For the three months after, the majority of every day will happen in the dark. During this time wildlife continues about its business, quietly, in our fields and hedges and gardens, and almost entirely without an audience.
The Long Goodbye of the Bats
In late summer and early autumn on a still warm evening, Daubenton’s Bats can still be seen above the Kennet and Avon Canal, flying so low they leave dimples on the surfaces, snatching insects straight off it. Noctules cross high overhead. Pipistrelles hunt in the streetlights. As the seasons shift, bats begin to converge after midnight, flying in tight circling loops, chasing, calling, landing and taking off again. We think this is how bats from scattered summer roosts find mates and pass on the location of safe places to spend the winter. But then, in the space of a few cold weeks, all
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of it stops. Heart rates and body temperature drop and they will spend the next four months tucked up tight awaiting the warmth of Spring. Wiltshire is exceptionally good at providing those hibernation spaces. The old stone mines around Box and Corsham are some of the most important bat hibernation sites in the UK. Greater Horseshoe Bats overwinter here, hanging free from the roof, their wings drawn right around their bodies like folded umbrellas.
The Music of the Night
Most birds keep quiet after dark, and for good reason. Song is energy intensive, and calling broadcasts exact locations to everything that hunts by ear. Yet an unmated male Nightingale will sing straight through the night in spring, not to the birds around him, but upwards, to the females overhead, hoping to lure a mate down out of the sky. Numbers have fallen across the UK with the
The Night Shift in Wiltshire loss of the dense scrubby habitat they need, but Nightingales have been recorded recently near Lower Moor Nature Reserve in the Cotswold Lakes area, and our restoration work there may give them a reason to stay. Deeper in the ancient oaks of Wiltshire’s woodland, there is a rare sound that people tend not to forget on first hearing. Nightjars are hard to find in the county. Their churring is a strange noise that rises and falls, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere. There are a few still being recorded in Savernake Forest, which suggests a stronghold quietly holding on, and with the right conditions there is every reason to hope they could spread into other parts of the county. Both are long gone by the time this magazine reaches you, south for the winter. Autumn is when the woods carry the sound of owls bickering. Tawny Owls are setting boundaries in September and October, the adults defending
Illuminating the Invisible
ground and the young pushing out to find their own space, and the noise of it carries a long way through the branches. What sounds like a single owl is very often two, calling across a gap in the dark, staking their claim on their patch of woodland.
Three Years of Moth Recording at Great Wood
Understanding a hidden realm means going into it. For three years our staff and volunteers have surveyed moths at Great Wood, an ancient woodland reserve with restricted access to the public to protect the rare flora and fauna it holds. The result: close to 300 species logged at a single site.
The Night Shift
And then there are moths, on which a surprising amount depends. We are used to thinking of pollination as the daytime business of bees and butterflies. But when the sun goes down a second workforce takes over, led by moths and assisted by beetles and flies, navigating not by bright colours but by scent and contrast. When a moth hovers or lands to feed, its dense, furry body collects far more pollen than its daytime counterparts. Recent research has shown something surprising. Moths also often carry pollen further than bees do. A bee is tied to its hive or nest and forages within a tight radius; many moths are nomadic and will travel several miles in a single night, linking populations of plants that daytime insects cannot. They visit both night-flowering plants and daytime blossom, which makes them important to agricultural crops, wild herbs and native trees including Willow and Birch. Longdistance genetic couriers, working in the dark, unpaid and unwatched.
Did you know? Moth numbers have fallen by 33% since the 1960s due to urbanisation, climate change, and pollution.
Below, left to right: Moth light trap; Clifden Nonpareil and Peach Blossom Paul Harris
Keeping the Night Dark
All of this depends on one thing, and it is the thing we are quietly losing. Artificial light at night disrupts almost every nocturnal animal we have. It disorients moths, drawing them away from feeding grounds and burning through their energy reserves. It breaks the routes bats have followed for generations, and confuses migrating birds. Wiltshire still has areas of genuine darkness, and in the south of the county, on the chalk of Cranborne Chase, it is dark enough to have earned international recognition as a Dark Skies Reserve. This dark is worth defending, and it can start at home.
Building this picture takes more than one technique. Light traps draw in a large share of the wood’s moths, but underwings and noctuids largely ignore them, so surveyors also scan trunks by torchlight and hang ropes soaked in sweet wine syrup, which those species find irresistible. What we found was encouraging. Small Black Arches have gone from a single record in 2024 to double figures in 2025. Devon Carpet and Oak Lutestring are both showing strongly. Waved Black, a fungus-feeder of damp woodland we had hoped Great Wood’s conditions might suit, has been confirmed — along with both Light and Dark Crimson Underwing, species usually only found in the south of the county. Excitingly, their presence here may suggest Great Wood is home to a breeding colony. Moths tell us a lot about the health of a site. Their species richness, their lifecycles and their central place in the food web mean the makeup of a moth community reveals a lot about a wood’s diversity and botanical health, far faster than recording trees or other species ever could.
How you can help nature at night:
Reduce light pollution
Consider what light you need outside, if you need artificial light, choose ones that are angled downwards.
Provide a water source
Even just a sunken washing-up bowl gives amphibians somewhere to breed, bats somewhere to drink and insect larvae somewhere to grow.
Leave a wild corner Dead wood, leaf litter and uncut grass are daytime shelter for newts and beetles, and where overwintering caterpillars survive the cold.
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SPECIES FOCUS: DESMOULIN’S WHORL SNAIL Written by Alice Eley, Head of Freshwater
Small but
Mighty Recovering the Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail
Actual size of a DWS
They may be only 2mm in size but the Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail, or DWS for short, is a key player in our unique and fragile chalk streams – and is one of Britain’s tiniest wetland snails. A specialist in calcareous (chalky) wetlands, DWS used to be abundant in the wetlands of our chalk streams in the Hampshire Avon and Kennet catchments, so much so that they are one of the species for which the chalk streams are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). This year saw the start of an ambitious project in partnership with Longleat to bring this remarkable creature back from the brink, combining habitat restoration with a pioneering captive breeding programme run by Longleat’s own conservation experts.
A Warning Sign for our Wetlands
Last summer, our Water Team and a band of hardy volunteers surveyed numerous wetlands across the Hampshire Avon in
“Water abstraction, agricultural pressures, development and pollution are putting further strain on these already vulnerable habitats.” 8 | Wiltshire Wildlife
search of this little snail, only to find two, tiny populations in the headwaters at our reserves in Pewsey and Warminster – Jones’s Mill and Smallbrook Meadows. DWS’s presence in wetlands is an excellent indicator of healthy habitats, and their decline paints a picture of what is sadly happening across many wetlands – they are drying out. There are many reasons why our wetlands are disappearing. Weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable, with prolonged dry summers followed by intense winter rainfall. At the same time, water abstraction, agricultural pressures, development and pollution are putting further strain on these already vulnerable habitats. Together, these pressures threaten not only the future of the DWS, but the wider health of our chalk stream wetlands. Finding snails in the catchment was good news; however, in such fragmented populations so far from each other they can’t interbreed, unfortunately this species will continue to decline if no action is taken.
Restoring the Habitat First
To build a thriving resilient population of snails we need to start with the habitat. DWS need wetlands with certain species of plants, such as Reed Sweet Grass (and tussocks of Greater and Lesser Pond Sedge). For these plants – DWS’s food source and shelter – to thrive,
Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail Fact File Despite its small size, DWS is a fascinating species with highly adapted behaviours:
he snail sports a tiny, smooth, yellowish-brown T shell with four to five rounded whorls (hence its name). Look closely, and you’ll notice its aperture (shell opening) features four distinctive tooth-like projections called denticles, which help protect it from tiny predators. hese snails are expert climbers and can often T be found on the shafts of grass. During the warm summer months, they climb high up wetland plants to feed on the micro-fungi, yeast, and bacteria growing on decaying leaves. When autumn arrives or conditions dry out, they migrate back down to ground level to shelter in the leaf litter. ith a short lifespan of usually just one to two W years, population numbers rely heavily on reliable summer breeding. Because they lay their eggs on wet vegetation, even a brief drop in local water levels during the spring or summer can wipe out an entire generation’s breeding success.
humidity levels need to be high. If there is a change in conditions and the site starts to dry out, then flora will change and the snail will be lost. We need to restore the hydrological functioning of the wetlands and floodplains of our chalk rivers and make our landscapes ‘spongier’ – able to hold water in periods of heavy rainfall, and release moisture when needed during hot, dry summers. We’re doing this by reconnecting rivers to floodplains, lowering banks, restoring over-deep and over-wide channels, opening up lost wetland habitat and working with landowners and farmers to give rivers space to function naturally. Once we have the habitat, we need the snails. We know there are a few, isolated and small populations across the catchment, but these individuals can’t recolonise the wetlands of the Hampshire Avon by themselves. This is where we’re partnering with the experts at Longleat. Already experienced in the conservation breeding of rare snails, including the Glutinous Snail, working with Longleat’s Conservation Team to establish a captive breeding programme for DWS gives the snail its best chance at becoming commonplace in our wetlands again. Because relatively little is known about the species’ lifecycle and precise habitat
requirements, the project represents an exciting opportunity to also learn more about this remarkable mollusc. The knowledge gained through captive breeding will help guide practical conservation work on the ground. While the snails are being bred, we’ll continue restoring suitable habitat so that, in the years ahead, these wetlands may once again support thriving populations of this tiny species. Restoring wetlands for snails means restoring them for countless other species too. The same wet, healthy habitats that support DWS also provide homes for a rich variety of invertebrates, birds, mammals and plants. Species such as Water Vole stand to benefit from more resilient wetlands and healthier floodplains. By helping one of Britain’s smallest wetland creatures, we’re supporting the recovery of an entire ecosystem. This work is being made possible thanks to funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme.
Above: Transect at Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve
Did you know? ‘Desmoulin’ is named after the early 19thcentury French naturalist Charles des Moulins
“The knowledge gained through captive breeding will help guide practical conservation work on the ground.” 9
Written by Chrysoula Drakaki, Data Lead, Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Record Centre, and Rebecca Clay, Marketing and Communications Manager
Biological Recording Powered by People, Protecting Wiltshire’s Wildlife
Above: Looking for nests Sue Sawyer
Most wildlife records in the UK start with a person who cared enough to look closely and write it down. That simple act — noting a species (What), at a location (Where), on a date (When), by a named observer (Who) — has built an incredibly rich dataset, and it has been driven overwhelmingly by volunteers since the 17th century. Biological recording isn’t a niche hobby, it is the backbone of how we understand and protect nature, and it wouldn’t exist without our community of dedicated recorders.
‘structured’ recording. In between sits ‘semistructured’ recording, which gives flexibility while still following helpful guidelines. Digital tools have made this easier than ever. Apps like iRecord and iNaturalist UK let anyone log a sighting from their phone, while acoustic tools like Merlin help you identify a bird by its call before you submit the record. But technology is only the entry point — what turns a sighting into trustworthy evidence is the community of people behind it.
How We Record: From Casual Fieldwork to Rigorous Surveys
A significant amount of recording is coordinated by National Recording Schemes and National Monitoring Schemes. These schemes and initiatives are typically more focused and are dedicated to a specific taxonomic group such as birds or butterflies. Among the longest running are the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) that started in 1976 and the UK Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) – and its predecessor, the Common Birds Census (CBS) – that started in the 1960s. Around the same time, the 1962 publication of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland’s (formerly Botanical Society of British Isles – BSBI) Atlas of the British Flora set a benchmark as one of the first major,
Recording takes a range of forms. Spot a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on your buddleia or an otter along the riverbank, and you’ve made an ‘opportunistic’ record. Follow a set protocol, and you’re contributing to
“A single Bioblitz can generate an intensive, site-specific snapshot of biodiversity that would otherwise take recorders months to compile.” 10 | Wiltshire Wildlife
Behind the Data
transformative outputs of modern recording. These national recording schemes depend heavily on local volunteers, usually members of a relevant local group or society, to coordinate surveys, run events and support the local recording community. At the heart of it sit our County Recorders. These are specialist volunteers, often with decades of expertise in their taxonomic group, who give their time to verify records through confirming a photo or listening to a sound recording. They weigh up not just the physical evidence but the season, the habitat and the location — bringing a depth of field knowledge. This is painstaking, often unseen work, done alongside jobs, families, and their own fieldwork because they care about getting Wiltshire’s wildlife data right. Most records that end up informing a planning decision, a habitat management plan, or a national trends pass through County Recorder.
Bioblitzes: Recording Against the Clock
If you want to see recording at its most interactive, come to a Bioblitz. These events bring together experts and the public to search out and record every species they can find at a site, often in just 24 hours. At Bioblitz events, complete beginners can work shoulder-to-shoulder with experienced recorders who share their expertise, and get to examine species close up. Newcomers get hands-on identification support in a lowpressure, welcoming setting, and often leave with a new skill, a new appreciation of nature and a new favourite species. A single Bioblitz can generate an intensive, site-specific snapshot of biodiversity that would otherwise take recorders months to compile, and it does it while educating and hopefully recruiting a few new confident, connected recorders. If you’ve never been to one, keep your eyes on the Wiltshire Wildlife website events page to find one happening near you.
The Local Hub: Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre
Local Environmental Record Centres (LERCs) collate, interpret and channel records so they can be used by central government, local authorities, researchers, and conservation bodies. The Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC), established in 1975 and hosted by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, is a non-profit built specifically to safeguard our county’s ecological data.
WSBRC works hand-in-hand with the County Recorders and their recording groups supporting verification and exchanging data.
Above: Woodland surveying
From a Single Sighting to National Policy
Structured monitoring builds the high quality, long-term datasets required to produce species population trends that inform official UK biodiversity indicators. Recording also feeds species distribution models, helps to predict how ranges may shift, and informs IUCN Red List assessments. Whether you submit one sighting from your garden or coordinate an annual transect survey, you are part of a data chain that informs local action and national conservation policy. That’s remarkable to be able to say and it’s worth celebrating.
Want to get involved? Connect with your local recording groups to join surveys, field trips, and Bioblitzes, and start building your identification skills. Visit wsbrc.org/wildlife-recording/local-groups
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Wiltshire’s Wonders The Winners of our 2026 Photography Prize This year’s Wiltshire Wildlife Photography Prize brought in a record number of extraordinary submissions, showcasing the rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes that make our county so special. From intimate macro shots of our native pollinators to sweeping views of ancient chalk downlands, our judges had the pleasure of witnessing incredible work – paired with the difficult task of selecting this year’s top images. A massive thank you to everyone who entered, to our expert judging panel, and to our generous prize sponsors, Wild View Cameras, for making this year’s competition our most successful yet. So, without further ado, we are thrilled to present the winning images that captured the wild of Wiltshire.
See the winners up close…
Want to view all winning and shortlisted images in person? The 2026 Wiltshire Wildlife Photography Exhibition will be on display in the Brockbank Centre at Langford Lakes from 16 November 2026 until 30 November 2026.
Over 18s Winner
Hare at Sunrise by Adam Silk What the judges said: “This is a superb image of a classic Wiltshire mammal standing on a grain crop margin with a shaft of golden morning light catching its eye in perfect focus.”
“I love the colours – the contrast of the warm and cool tones, and the clarity. There is so much anticipation captured in this moment, and it comes across beautifully through this photo.”
Highly Commended
Squirrel on a Rock by Harley Clements
What the judges said: “I really liked the way this imaginative low angle view captured an engaging portrait of a Grey Squirrel. The focus is perfect on its face and the subjects stands out well from a pleasing, undistracting background.”
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Highly Commended
Snacking Beaver by Chris Wardell
What the judges said: “This engaging shot captures some nice behaviour as the beaver nibbles a leaf, and I love the double rings of ripples around its head and swishing tail which enhance the lovely, dynamic composition. I also know how much patience and fieldcraft is usually needed to capture shots of these shy, mainly nocturnal creatures in the small windows of opportunity at dawn and dusk.”
isit wiltshirewildlife.org/wildlifeV photography-prize for exhibition dates, an online gallery of the winners, and details on how to enter next year’s competition.
NEW
Sponsor’s Choice Award
Selected personally by our headline sponsor, Wild View Cameras in Melksham, who were looking for an image that stood out from the crowd.
Winner
White-legged Damselfly at Conigre Mead by David Mackey
What the judges said: “I find I am drawn to it’s amazing googly eyes (which have been captured here perfectly). This beautiful image captivates my own love for insects and the natural beauty of their armour and body hair when zoomed in stunning. A natural and perfect winner for me.”
Under 18s Winner
Kingfisher by Lawrie Lewis
What the judges said: “This shot is incredible in terms of clarity and the lighting is absolutely superb. I particularly love the glint in the Kingfisher’s eye, which I can only imagine is trained on a body of water below as it searches for its next catch.”
“This is a really beautiful image of a colourful Kingfisher perched in golden light, surrounded by soft green leaves. It is peering down intently, no doubt looking for a fish to catch, with a drop of water on its chest from its last dive.”
Highly Commended
Highly Commended
What the judges said: “A fabulous, quirky image capturing the majesty of the toad! The toad appears to be posing mid-meal and I love the light casting its shadow on the ground. The detail on both the toad’s body and the stony ground it sits on adds another level of interest and invites repeated views of the image.”
What the judges said: “A very competently executed photograph with an important message. I liked the choice of dandelion because it highlights how important the wildflowers (though some people call them weeds!) are in our ecosystem.”
Waiting to Cross by Dexter Painter-Coates
Common Blue on Dandelion by Sophie Beverley
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A Year at Green Lane Woods A Hive of Life on the Edge of our County Town On the edge of Trowbridge lies a treasure trove for nature and people; a woodland complex that thrives with life throughout the changing seasons. Green Lane and Biss Woods are home to a range of wildlife, from butterflies and birds to small mammals and reptiles. But walk a little further in, and you’ll find something just as alive: a community of local people who have made this wood their own. This human vein runs through the heart of the reserve, a community of volunteers, young people, and wellbeing groups all relying on this green space for a vital connection to
nature, and then giving back what they can into the land in a continuous cycle of care. A year at Green Lane Woods holds so many stories, of rare bats taking up roost, precious butterflies returning after years of absence, children at the start of a lifelong love affair with nature, and adults finding solace and community. These are stories best told by the people who live and breathe this woodland, woven together here to paint an incredible picture of what makes this place so special. And there is always room for one more story — yours…
This page: Green Lane Wood in autumn Top right: Countryfile comes to Green Lane Wood Bottom right: Volunteers coppicing the woodland
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Seasons of Conservation Winter Season for Volunteers
The story of conservation at Green Lane cannot be told without the thread of our volunteers. Working alongside our Green Lane Woodland Warden and Woodland Trainee, our volunteer group make much of the habitat management and monitoring in this woodland possible. Woodland management begins in earnest in September. It starts with tidying up access paths and brushcutting areas in the glade under the pylons to encourage flora for butterflies. Rotational hazel coppicing follows, stimulating fresh regrowth. The team builds dead hedges from the resulting brash to protect vulnerable new shoots from browsing deer. For our volunteers, this work is as much about community as it is conservation. Jan, one of our Green Lane Volunteer Task Leaders, reflects: “There’s something about working in the woods with others that is hugely satisfying, knowing that what looks like barren wasteland will soon be carpeted in flowers and new shoots. I feel lucky to be part of the group – a diverse mix of individuals whom I now call friends.”
Mark, our other Green Lane Task Leader, adds: “We get a remarkable amount done over the winter, especially considering that for some, the highlight of the morning is the coffee break, which can sometimes run close to knocking off time!” Last year’s winter season held even more excitement than usual. We welcomed Countryfile to the woods, with our Warden, Matt, featured alongside the volunteers, demonstrating the importance of coppicing. Then in December, our Green Lane volunteers won Nature Recovery Volunteer Group of the Year at the Trust’s annual Volunteer Awards, with Jan and Mark also nominated for Task Leader of the Year.
The Spring Shift to Surveying
With spring comes the start of bird nesting season and management onsite becomes lighter – clearing paths, mending fences and installing signage – allowing birds and other animals to safely nest and breed. Attention shifts to monitoring the reserve. Staff and volunteers are well versed in surveying, but this year marked our first rollout of Woodland Condition Assessments: a standardised approach to assess the ecological condition of woodlands. Habitat plot surveys in April revealed encouraging signs; an active Tree Bumblebee nest was found, along with a Greater Thorntipped Longhorn Beetle – the first record in the woods for 12 years. Butterflies have also been abundant this year and excitingly, the first Duke of Burgundy Butterfly in 14 years was spotted on the reserve, highlighting the positive impact of habitat management across the site. None of these discoveries happened
Top: Greater Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle Bottom: Duke of Burgundy Butterfly
by chance, they happened because people gave up their time to look closely, season after season. For the Trust’s Woodland Trainee, Elle, this year provided a valuable insight into this precious woodland. She reflects: “It’s been lovely to watch the seasons change, and with them the varying tasks that take place. With the woodland being such a special place for bats, I’ve learnt a lot about them. I’ve trained to climb trees and use an endoscope for roost inspections, and have enjoyed surveying with our volunteers - often getting distracted by butterflies and new woodpecker holes (potential bat roosts)! The more time I spend in the woods, the more I see how important the area is for both wildlife and people.” Every one of these discoveries — the beetle unseen for 12 years, the butterfly absent for 14 — was made possible by people who chose to spend their free time working for the woods. Do you fancy playing your part in protecting this special woodland? Head to wiltshirewildlife.org/volunteering to find out more.
“We welcomed Countryfile to the woods, with our Warden, Matt, featured alongside the volunteers.” 15
Green Lane Woods
Written by Imogen Jackson Adult Wellbeing Manager
Wellbeing in the Woods Over the past year, the Harbour Garden at Green Lane Wood has continued to be a special place for our adult wellbeing work. Tucked away from public view, this everevolving garden offers participants a calm space to talk, work alongside others, and sometimes simply be. Autumn is a season of harvest and change, and last September a group from Man Down Wiltshire joined our Men’s Wellbeing in Nature group for a day in the woods. Through planting pond plants, sowing acorns, and walking through the woods, it was an opportunity to share the wellbeing benefits of exploring and volunteering in nature. October saw the final session of Wild Transitions, our three-year programme with Armed Forces veterans, delivered with the Defence Gardens Scheme. Our veterans named and shaped the foundations of this forest garden – a long-term project that will continue evolving. Their skills and ideas are visible across the site: trees planted with a living Woodhenge theme, cartwheelstyle beds, rustic benches, a tip tap, a bird hide, and a plum tree planted for Armistice Day. That final session captured much of what the garden offers. The group created a large table from Oak felled in the woodland,
Beyond Green Lane Wood
There is so much more in Wiltshire’s county town for nature and people. From nature-based community action groups to a range of green spaces, here are just a few other places and activities in and around Trowbridge…
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working together to craft something valuable for others to use. A campfire lunch used produce grown by the veterans, followed by cake decorated with edible flowers. We also took time to notice sounds and smells as the garden slowed towards winter. Through winter and into spring, our Men’s Wellbeing groups continued to use the space for whittling and reflection, sometimes stepping into the wider woodland for walks, fungi forays and conservation tasks. The change in season brought fresh growth and new beginnings. In May, two veterans set up a monthly veterans’ volunteer group. And in June, we held an open day to launch Wild Roots to Recovery, our new veterans’ wellbeing initiative. This September, Wild Roots to Recovery will again bring veterans together to tend the garden, learn and share skills, and support the wildlife that calls this place home. Through practical conservation and gardening, the programme will offer time outdoors to connect with both the outside world and with others. As the garden continues to grow and change, so too do those who tend it – coming together and
Widbrook Wood Nature Reserve: Step off the canal path into an amazing little woodland set between the River Biss, River Avon and Wid Brook. Keep an eye and ear out for woodland birds, and you might even spot an otter or beaver in the river.
Trowbridge Wildlife Watch:
Along with our Green Lane Wood group, you can take part in nature-based activities for 4-11 year olds and their families on the first Sunday of every month at Southwick Country Park.
Top: New veterans’ Harbour Garden volunteer group Bottom: Men’s Wellbeing evening group
contemplating the change unfolding through the seasons, the woodland and sometimes in ourselves. If you or someone you know could benefit from this space or one of our wellbeing programmes, you and they will always be welcomed. Visit wiltshirewildlife.org/wellbeing to find out more about our programmes.
Improving the River Biss:
The Trust is working with the Council, funded by the Future High Street Fund, to enhance the area by the Town Bridge. We’ve removed a small number of diseased trees and cleared non-native shrubs, opening up the river to more light so plants, pollinators, fish and birds can thrive.
Local Action Groups:
As well as our volunteer groups, there are a number of local environmental groups to get involved with in the town, including Trowbridge Environmental Community, Trowbridge Park Volunteer Gardeners, Friends of the Down Cemetery and Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park.
“From spotting signs of wildlife to heading out on bug hunts, the curiosity of the children never ceases to amaze.”
A Year for Young People Over the past year, the woods have welcomed young people from 4 to 18 as the Trust develops a youth pathway to enable young people to connect with nature across every life stage. The woodland provides a springboard of discovery for primaryaged children in our monthly Wildlife Watch group. From spotting signs of wildlife to heading out on bug hunts, the curiosity of the children never ceases to amaze. Pond dipping and sweep nets are always a hit as they get a first taste of wildlife surveying. It is not just the children that benefit from this time in nature, parents often make their own discoveries, asking just as many questions as the children, and then taking time to research and come back the next month armed with new knowledge to share! Green Lane Wood also hosts our pilot Rangers group – a follow-on from Wildlife Watch. This natureloving group of teenagers have had an incredible year, learning practical conservation skills alongside surveying species such as Wasp
Spiders, all growing their knowledge of the woodland’s wildlife. One of our Rangers, Dex, shares: “The best part has been making new friends who are interested in wildlife and spending time in nature nurturing the site. It’s also given me lots of other amazing opportunities within the Trust, so joining Rangers is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” A highlight is when the two groups combine and our Rangers share their enthusiasm with the younger children. We see first-hand the wonder of the younger ones and the teenagers growing in confidence – an incredible picture of a love of nature flourishing in the next generation. In partnership with a local school, the summer brought a group of 10 students for a week of work experience at the woods. Their task: turn a bare patch of land into a visitor experience area. Armed with enthusiasm and ready to learn new skills, over five days they built a small bridge, constructed benches and a bird viewing screen, and mastered willow weaving. They also carried out
Top: Rangers group create bat boxes Bottom: Wildlife Watch fungi crafts
surveys, looking for bat roosts and signs of woodpeckers. The sense of accomplishment from the week was sky high, and the students left with seeds sown of what a future in conservation might look like. Whatever age your family is at, there’s a way into nature through Wildlife Watch. Visit wiltshirewildlife.org/watch to discover our Wildlife Watch groups.
Your Part in this Ongoing Story The story of Green Lane Woods holds many interconnected threads. Our wellbeing groups and volunteers create spaces to be enjoyed by others, our young people are inspired by those around them, and the wildlife that calls the wood home unites everyone with a common goal to protect it. Turn any corner of this wood and you’ll find someone who decided to show up: to volunteer or simply visit with a survey clipboard, a pushchair, or just an open mind, and in doing so became part of something bigger than themselves. This is a place whose story will continue to be written for many years to come and we’d love for the next chapter to include you. Whether that’s an hour a month with the volunteer group, a Saturday with Wildlife Watch, or simply your first visit to experience the wonder of the woodland for yourself, Green Lane Wood – or any of our reserves near you – are waiting to welcome you in.
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Written by Gail Grimes, Head of Youth Education and Wellbeing
Naturally Connected Young People How Wiltshire’s Teens are Finding a Place in Nature Funded by the Prudence Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s groundbreaking project is breaking down barriers, boosting mental health, and helping teenagers discover the wonder of the natural world. It’s been an exciting year for our Youth Education and Wellbeing (YEW) Team as we embarked on an ambitious three-year-project called ‘Naturally Connected Young People’ (NCYP) with funding from the Prudence Trust. This national Wildlife Trusts’ project has been spearheaded by five ‘pathfinder’ local Trusts across the UK, and we were incredibly proud that Wiltshire was chosen to represent the South West in year one, delivering projects with young people aged 11-16 from underserved communities across the county. Over the next two years we will be
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supporting other Wildlife Trusts in the south-west to run their own youth programmes, expanding the project across the whole movement. Secondary school students can be a tough audience. Research and evidence has shown that as young people move into their teenage years they frequently drift away from nature. With 11-16 year olds spending more time indoors and online than ever before, Wildlife Trusts play a vital role in getting teenagers outdoors, helping them to experience all that nature has to offer and reigniting the spark that exists in us when we find that bond with the natural world.
The Importance of Hands-on Conservation
Over the past year, the YEW Team has worked with 77 young people from four
‘I’m really glad I signed up for this coz I wasn’t sure - it’s really good being out in the woods. It helps me feel calmer.” Year 9 student – The Clarendon Academy
schools: Sarum Academy in Salisbury, The John of Gaunt School and The Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge and Churchward School in Swindon. We also partnered with voluntary sector youth clubs Seeds4Success and Young Carers, training up youth workers to lead their own outdoor sessions with confidence. In Bemerton Heath, Sarum Academy students carried out practical projects in Pinewood Community Garden and The Folly Woodland. Braving the wet winter months, the group of hardy teenagers undertook litter picks, built a compost bin, helped install a water butt, and got close to nature in a mindful way through undertaking traditional arts and crafts. One popular activity involved making herb bags with lavender and rosemary grown in the
“Being outside is a better way of learning things. For the first time I feel like I can learn.” Year 9 student – The Clarendon Academy
garden. We were all moved when one 12 year old boy exclaimed “if I keep this with me and smell it when I’m feeling angry, I think it will help me calm down.” As part of the programme we helped deliver Sarum Academy’s Year 7 Citizenship Day in July, where a group of 10 students helped to construct and paint a vibrant new sign for the community garden, decorated with butterflies and flowers. When asked to choose one word to sum up the project, our girls’ Art and Nature Group all agreed ‘freedom’.
Close Encounters in the Canopy
At our Green Lane Wood Reserve in Trowbridge, a number of groups from The John of Gaunt School and The Clarendon Academy spent time getting to know the ancient woodland and learning about its rich heritage and wildlife. Some even got a chance to hold owlets (Barn Owl chicks) that had successfully fledged from two owl boxes at the reserve, assisting the Trust’s Farmland Bird Officer Jonny, who was there to ring the birds. During the reptile surveying
session a group of Year 10s were thrilled to discover a large Grass Snake basking in the sun, while another group took a break from their conservation tasks to admire the Wasp Spiders that were in abundance in the hay meadows. It’s these acts of noticing and the feeling that a first wildlife sighting gives you that will remain with the young people long after sessions with the Trust have finished.
Measurable Impact and Next Steps
Teachers from across the schools have commented on the profound impact that Naturally Connected Young People has had on some of their most vulnerable students. Mr Little, a teacher at The John of Gaunt School, shared: “This project has been absolutely fantastic for our students. It has given them the opportunity to engage and explore the natural world in an environment that is rich with wildlife right on their doorstep. The students have grown in confidence, learned a range of new skills, gained knowledge and had experiences that they have
“I can’t believe there are that many things in a river – you can’t see much when you just look at it but when you get in with your net you find amazing things. I love this.” Young Carer
all been keen to pass on to their peers and teachers back at school! They all look forward to returning each week to learn something new.” A range of surveys carried out at various stages of the programmes demonstrated the positive impact regular contact with nature has on young people, with a number of participants recording higher levels of mental wellbeing after taking part in the project. The Trust is keen to build on the success of NCYP with a range of new youth projects getting going in the autumn, giving more opportunities for young people to get involved in taking action for nature. While the impact in Wiltshire has been profound, our work is only just beginning. As we move into years two and three, we look forward to mentoring other Wildlife Trusts, sharing the vital lessons learned from our frontline delivery. By embedding these practices across the UK movement, we can ensure that teenagers everywhere—regardless of background—gain the wellbeing benefits, confidence, and sense of freedom that nature uniquely provides.
“I found I like being outdoors for longer than I thought. It made me want to come into school so I could come out and do this.” Year 7 student at Sarum Academy 19
Lower Moor Farm Location: Oaksey Entry fee: Free
Facilities: • Bird hides • Dragonfly Cafe • Toilets/ accessible toilet • Disabled parking
Wilder, Welcoming, Our Vision for our Flagship Reserves
Above: Sand Martin hide at Langford Lakes
Langford Lakes, near Salisbury, and Lower Moor Farm, near Malmesbury, are two of our most visited reserves. Both boasting cafés, walking routes, bird hides and an incredible array of wildlife, it’s easy to see why they capture the hearts of so many of our members and why people return time after time. Thanks to support from our members and funding from the Landfill Communities Fund, these two gems are set to become even more welcoming, accessible, and inspiring places for people to connect with nature through improvements designed to make visits to these sites unforgettable, season after season.
experienced,” and a peaceful stop at the Dragonfly Café surrounded by wildlife is often where that lifelong bond with nature begins. To ensure Lower Moor can be enjoyed yearround whilst protecting nature, we hope to install more accessible paths and some wellplaced benches for visitors to be able to pause and take in the views, while new engaging displays will tell the story of Lower Moor’s history and wildlife. We’ll also be creating more space for visitors near the car park with shelter and additional toilets. To make this possible, we need your help to unlock funding through our Autumn Appeal - please consider a donation!
Lower Moor Farm Enhancements
Alongside these visitor improvements, we’ve begun an exciting piece of wilding work at Lower Moor Farm, funded by Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy, to enhance the grazed pastureland at the heart of the reserve. We’re introducing clusters of trees and shrubs planted within grazed fields. With weather extremes becoming more frequent, the trees will bring shade and shelter for livestock, while providing food and refuge for wildlife. This transformation reflects growing evidence that wood pasture systems deliver wider benefits
At Lower Moor Farm, our goal is to create a seamless journey into the outdoors where every step matches the beauty of the landscape. Summer proved just how vital cool, shaded spots are, and Lower Moor has become a vital outdoor space for so many – a refuge during the heat and a space for quiet reflection all year round. Sir David Attenborough once said “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never 20 | Wiltshire Wildlife
Wilding Lower Moor Farm
Langford Lakes Location: Salisbury Entry fee: Free Facilities: • Bird hides • Kingfisher Cafe • Gallery and Event space • Toilets/ accessible toilet • Disabled parking • Accessible trails
Worth Protecting too, including enhanced carbon capturing and better water retention — both vital for adapting to a changing climate. As one of the Trust’s flagship sites, Lower Moor Farm was identified as a priority reserve where the land could work harder for wildlife, through exactly this kind of significant habitat improvement.
Seasonal Adaptations at Langford Lakes
Further south at Langford Lakes, our focus is on creating better access for visitors to reach their favourite spots. Our ambition is to install a boardwalk through the notoriously damp stretch near the Sand Martin hide, to create a loop around the entire reserve with no gates, offering effortless access for all. New interpretation boards inside the hides will give beginners to birdwatching everything they need to make that exciting first bird identification. To ensure our plans become a reality, we need to raise vital funds with our Autumn Appeal — keep reading to see how you can help.
Rooted in Our Shared Purpose
At the heart of all these changes is a simple goal: to give you, our members, the very best space to enjoy, learn about, and protect the wildlife we all hold dear. When you feel connected to a place, taking action to care for
it becomes second nature. Together with the wilding work underway at Lower Moor, these improvements will ensure even more people can explore and discover the wonders both reserves have to offer - and learn how vital these spaces are for the survival of wildlife in Wiltshire.
Autumn Appeal: Every £1 you donate unlocks around £10! This autumn, we’re asking for your support to help unlock major funding that will transform visitor access and experiences at both Lower Moor and Langford Lakes — including the new accessible path at Lower Moor and the boardwalk at Langford Lakes. We’ve secured significant funding through the Landfill Communities Fund to support these improvements, but to release it, we need to raise an essential Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment of £30,000. CTP donations don’t directly fund the project itself — they unlock the grant funding that makes this work possible. Every £1 you give helps unlock around £10 of funding, meaning your donation can have ten times the impact for nature and the people who enjoy it. These improvements will make it easier for everyone to experience these special places. With accessible paths, better visitor facilities, and improved interpretation, they’ll help more people discover, value, and take action for Wiltshire’s wildlife. By donating to our Autumn Appeal, you’ll help unlock the funding needed to make these plans a reality. Visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/appeals
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News Round-Up Top Stories You May Have Missed
Over spring and summer, the focus shifts from habitat maintenance to surveying our sites, while our education and wellbeing activities delivered to thousands of people continue in full swing. Here’s a small snapshot of what’s been happening in Wiltshire and Swindon over the last few months:
Rare Butterflies and Moths Return
Barberry Moth
For the first time in 14 years, the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly was recorded at Green Lane Wood, alongside a rare sighting of the Barberry Moth in the Braydon Forest. These sightings demonstrate that years of dedicated habitat restoration works are making a tangible difference to our rare species in the county.
Art and Wellbeing Through Nature As a proud partner in Well-City Salisbury, the Trust supports people experiencing low to moderate mental health challenges through free creative courses that nurture connections with nature, heritage, and community. Over the past year we have worked with wonderful local artists Emma Kerr and James Aldridge to deliver courses at Langford Lakes, inviting participants to use the reserve’s natural textures and stunning scenery as inspiration for their artwork.
Swindon Tree Warden Network
Survey Success for Newts in Swindon Earlier in the year, our team and volunteers were up late surveying ponds across Swindon for the elusive but precious Great Crested Newts. Supported by Swindon Borough Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, these surveys give vital insight into the effectiveness of habitat creation and maintenance. Results varied, with some ponds suffering from the excessively dry conditions we experienced this year, but others were hugely positive –with over 30 Great Crested Newts found in some ponds in a single evening! This demonstrates that through careful conservation, these resilient little creatures can thrive in our urban centres. Great Crested Newt
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Swindon Tree Wardens Scheme Launches May marked the official launch of the Swindon Tree Warden Network, bringing together the Trust, The Tree Council, Swindon Borough Council and the Great Western Community Forest and a tranche of new enthusiastic volunteers. Tree Wardens undertake important work to plant, protect and champion their local trees. To find out how you can get involved: wiltshirewildlife.org/projects/swindonforest-meadows
Join Us Outdoors From guided reserve walks and family discovery days you can explore our full seasonal calendar and book your place at wiltshirewildlife.org/events.
Inspiring children through the natural world… Ignite a life-long love of nature in the children in your lives with our monthly Wildlife Watch groups. We now run 11 Wildlife Watch groups across Wiltshire following the creation of new groups in Marlborough and Warminster earlier this year. Led by our dedicated volunteers, these monthly sessions give primaryaged children and their families the chance to get hands-on with nature, sparking a passion for wildlife conservation that will last for years. Head to wiltshirewildlife.org/watch to find more details of a group near you!
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Thank you to all our Corporate Members who are helping us create a future where wildlife and people flourish in harmony. Gold
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Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Registered Office d ust Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1NJ Tel: 01380 725670 wiltshirewildlifetrust.org Registered Charity Number 266202 Company Registration Number 730536