| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 27.06.2007 | News from Swindon Active |
News from Swindon Active
The volunteers have been busy over the past few months! A variety of tasks have been undertaken – from coppicing, to clay puddling ponds, making a scarecrow and a bird table and scrub control.
One of the highlights was the water vole survey training which was undertaken in April. Beth Nightingale, the Trust’s Water Vole Recovery Project Officer came out to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Rushy Platt Reserve in Swindon to train 13 volunteers how to survey for water voles.
The day began with Beth explaining the field signs to look for when surveying for water voles. Then it was time to head off along the canal towpath and put into practise all the new knowledge! There were many signs, such as the burrows and the latrines (their droppings, which they use as territory markers) and some volunteers were lucky enough to see one dive for cover as they walked back along the towpath.
After lunch the volunteers got truly into the spirit of things - donning Wellingtons in order to survey the River Ray. There were no signs of water voles along the river, but there were signs of rats, which may be the reason that water voles were making themselves scarce!
A really good day was had by all. The volunteers really enjoyed learning all about these wonderful mammals and will be on the look out for any signs whenever they are walking along a canal or a river!
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