BBOWT, as lead partner, has received initial support* from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Reconnecting Bernwood, Otmoor and the Ray (RBOR) project. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to enable long-term landscape and species recovery in the BOR region for the benefit of nature, heritage and people.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six British species at risk of extinction according to the State of Nature 2023 report. The region connecting Bernwood, Otmoor and the River Ray across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire has immense potential for nature recovery, but the landscape is under intense pressure from inappropriate development, historic intensive agricultural practices and climate change.

The RBOR Partnership plans to reverse the decline in this rich mosaic of habitats and wildlife and reconnect people with nature. As part of the two-year development phase, the Partnership will plan habitat management for threatened species like curlew, empower disadvantaged communities to enhance their greenspaces, and support landowners and farmers to manage their land more effectively for nature.

Development funding of £512,182 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help BBOWT progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £3,633,264 for the final delivery at a later date.

BBOWT’s Head of Landscape Recovery, Charlotte Newberry, said:
“We are thrilled to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding will allow us to continue to inspire excitement for nature in landowners and communities, listen to underserved voices and foster the existing sense of pride in the area to drive nature’s recovery in the Bernwood, Otmoor and River Ray area.”

Nicola Thomas, Partnership Manager at the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Natural Environment Partnership (NEP), said:
“The NEP has supported the Reconnecting Bernwood, Otmoor Ray programme since its origins, including securing Buckinghamshire Council feasibility funding to help develop the initial project focus areas, and supporting early meetings of the emergent Ray farmer cluster. It is now fantastic to see the suite of proposals developed further and win a lottery bid to secure their delivery. We look forward to the nature recovery, community, heritage, greenspace and landscape benefits that will result right across the area, through collaborative working in partnership towards common goals, and across county borders. We are pleased to have supported the bid, thrilled that it’s been successful, and are very much looking forward to working with partners to take the work forward.”

RBOR is a partnership between Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Community Impact Buckinghamshire, Design Historian Dr Helena Chance, Earthwatch Europe, Floodplain Meadows Partnership, Freshwater Habitats Trust, Ministry of Defence (Bicester Garrison), Newt Conservation Partnership, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and Wild Oxfordshire.

The project is also supported by the Ray Farmer Cluster, Bucks and Milton Keynes NEP, Oxfordshire LNP, OxCam Pan Regional Partnership, Natural England and the Environment Agency.

* National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. RBOR has initially been granted round one development funding of £512,182 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £3,633,264.