ECOLOGISTS counted a record number of rare damselflies and helped vulnerable birds to breed using an electric fence during a 'hugely significant' year.

Staff and volunteers at Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) carried out more than 250 ecological surveys on the charity’s nature reserves in 2022 to paint an invaluable picture of how local wildlife populations are changing.

The ecology team organised 32 butterfly transects, 28 bird transects, 10 dragonfly transects, 65 habitat condition assessments and numerous other surveys and monitoring projects such as orchid counts, badger activity monitoring, groundwater level measuring, newt bottle-trapping, reptile refugia checks, bat monitoring and dormouse nest box checks.

The charity has warned that some species, such as hazel dormice, are being badly hit by the effects of unusual and extreme weather linked to climate change, as well as habitat loss and changes to woodland management.

Colin Williams, BBOWT Ecology Officer, said:
"This year has been hugely significant for BBOWT and for local wildlife. We saw the hottest-ever temperatures in the UK this summer and a drought that was extremely challenging for species in our area. However BBOWT also completed a huge wetland restoration project which will help tackle the effects of climate change.

“During this period, our fantastic army of 130 surveyors helped undertake more than 250 wildlife surveys on 77 nature reserves, and the data they collected tells us a huge amount about what species are present, how their populations are changing and the condition of our habitats. Given that we are already seeing the impact of climate change in our area, this work is more valuable than ever in helping us to see how species are coping and how we can help."

The Trust's latest climate change impact report last year revealed that numerous species are being affected by climate change, including hazel dormice which are having their hibernation patterns disrupted by warming winters.

At the Trust's Warburg Nature Reserve near Henley, this year's dormouse nest box checks found just a single male - a powerful indication that the population is lower than ever, even at a site dedicated to protecting nature.

However there was also positive news for numerous species across the three counties.

At BBOWT's Parsonage Moor reserve just north of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, surveyors found a record-breaking 425 southern damselflies in June - almost four times the previous highest count for this very rare species.

In West Oxfordshire this summer, BBOWT completed construction of a brand new channel of the River Thames at its Chimney Meadows nature reserve, designed specifically to allow native fish species to bypass a weir which stops them swimming upstream.

A survey in the channel just months after it was opened found 450 fish of nine species in just 100 metres. Staff said this was a 'fantastic' result for such a new water feature.

Also at Chimney Meadows, staff were delighted that a pair of vulnerable curlew - an iconic wading bird with a distinctive downward-curved beak - were able to raise a single chick from a nest protected with an electric fence to deter ground predators.

Meanwhile in Buckinghamshire the team recorded two breeding pairs of rare redshank at Gallows Bridge Farm nature reserve, rearing at least three young between them.

Mr Williams stressed that these recordings were only possible thanks to the dedication of volunteer surveyors, many of whom have worked for the Trust for years.

He said:
"In 2022, seven of our surveyors completed their 10th year of volunteering for BBOWT. Since the programme started, 83 surveyors have completed 10 years and a further 12 surveyors have completed an incredible 20 years.

“At this year’s AGM, it was great to be able to award one of our surveyors - Richard Herbert - with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard has been surveying for the Trust since 1984 and continues to monitor the hazel dormouse boxes at our Bowdown Woods reserve in Berkshire. He is just one of the hundreds of fantastic, dedicated volunteers without whom we could not do what we do.

“Nature and climate are in crisis, and we are seeing some very worrying losses in our area, however we’re also seeing some big wins for nature thanks to our work, and the help of all our volunteers.”