Biodiversity in Buckland
Help us photograph Buckland’s fauna and flora
Each year volunteers gather on our village green to take part in a “Village Tidy and Pond clearance”. The Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers, who lead the activities in and around the pond, record any new species spotted during the event (i.e. plants, fungi, insects, mammals, reptiles and birds) and suggested the village might like to create a photographic record of all species that can be found in Buckland.
Your village website now has a number of galleries. So, when you venture out to spend time in and around Buckland, please take a few moments to take a few photographs and, when you return home, consider sharing any photographs you have taken in Buckland with our webmaster to be published. Please don’t worry if you are unable to identify what you have recorded – we have a team of knowledgeable volunteers ready to rise to the challenge!
The person taking the photograph will be credited and retains the copyright. Please have your camera (or mobile phone!) at the ready when you head outdoors in Buckland and help us “add more species”. Visit our galleries to see what has already been recorded.
Participate in wildlife surveys
If you would like to be able to improve your identification skills you might like to consider contributing to one or more annual surveys:
Wildflowers
Plantlife is a British conservation charity working with landowners, businesses, conservation organisations, community groups and governments to save our rarest flora and ensure familiar flowers and plants continue to thrive.
Get to know Britain’s beautiful wildflowers by taking part in Plantlife’s annual wildflower hunts. Each hunt starts with a search for spring favourites, such as celandines and primroses, and is a great way to enjoy nature, whatever your experience. You can contribute to this project by recording the wildflowers you see in your garden or when you take a walk. You can download an app to record your sightings or, if you prefer pen and paper, worksheets can be printed. Plantlife provides information to help you identify the wildflowers you are likely to see.
Birds
The British Trust for Ornithology has a wealth of information and a wide range of options for anyone wishing to support the many projects and initiatives currently underway.
RSPB and BTO websites and apps are packed full of information to help you learn not only about birds but also the habitats they thrive in, the species they rely on for food and ideas you can consider to help support nature in your own outdoor space and when enjoying the outdoors.
Hedgehogs
Are you lucky enough to have hedgehogs visit your garden? If yes, then do please register your sightings at the Big Hedgehog Map. Even if the answer is ‘maybe’, please leave out some food to help them fatten up before the weather changes and they hibernate; high protein kitten food is ideal, in a shallow non-tipping bowl.
Wildlife Friendly Gardening
Creating spaces for wildlife is something many of us try to do throughout the year. As the weather becomes warmer and the cold winter months slowly fade away, spring offers us all an opportunity think about ways we can improve our garden and outdoor space. Betchworth resident Claire Benn kindly shared two handouts she prepared: Wildlife Friendly Gardening, Encouraging Wildflowers, and an organic gardening handout sourced from Garden Organic.