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Newbury Nature Corridors 

The Newbury Nature Corridors project is an extension of the Lockdown Woods environmental work, and was initially set up to link two of the Lockdown Woods in Newbury via a Nature Corridor. See the Lockdown Woods pages for more information on that project.

The Lockdown Woods in Goldwell Park and Barn Crescent, about 2.5 miles apart on foot, are being linked through this project. The route connecting them passes key landmarks like the Kennet and Avon Canal, City Recreation Ground, St Bartholomew’s School, and the John Rankin Schools, as well as residential streets with gardens and wide verges. Along the way, it crosses nine sites managed by Newbury Town Council and runs through the Speenhamland, Westfields, and Wash Common wards.

The project began in autumn 2023, and the Newbury Nature Corridor was officially launched in May 2024 with a well-attended walk along the route. During the event, project organiser Dr. Susan Millington encouraged participants to “imagine you are a hedgehog or a frog, a bee or a butterfly as you walk this morning and think what you would like to see here.”

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Since its inception, the project has been extended to cover three larger areas of south and central Newbury, creating three adjacent Nature Corridors (see map). More individuals and local environmental groups have become interested in the concept of encouraging nature corridors, so we are now working in a wider area.  We intend, in time, to create a Newbury Nature Network!​​

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So far, the group has worked with both schools in our original project area, helping with the restoration of an educational nature reserve at St Bartholomew’s secondary school, and the restoration of two ponds and a wildlife garden at John Rankin infants’ school.  We are engaging with beaver, cub, and scout groups to build bird boxes and conduct surveys with local households about wildlife measures they would like to adopt in their gardens.  Additionally, we have planted trees, wildflower meadows, native bulbs, and put up bird and bat boxes along the Nature Corridor.​

Future plans include co-ordinating observation, monitoring, and mapping of wildlife in our area. We have educational events planned to inform and encourage people to bring more wildlife into their gardens.  Additionally, we are continuing our involvement with both local councils so that we can collectively make more provision for nature in our town.

 

We hope this project will involve many residents and children over many years as it evolves, teaching a love of nature and giving skills to care for our environment.

 

Watch this space!  Events are announced on the Newbury Friends of the Earth FB group, come and join us!​​

Do you live in the Newbury Nature Corridor?

Would you like to join us in helping nature?

Here are some ideas:

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  • Encourage pollinators by joining ‘No mow May’ and even ‘Too soon June’
     

  • Make hedgehog holes in your fences 15 x15cm giving them freedom to forage (up to 2 miles each night)
     

  • Grow climbers up walls and fences so non-flying insects can easily move around
     

  • Plant wildflower meadows – could be in pots or your lawn or a small area in your garden

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  • Create a garden pond
     

  •  Plant trees and shrubs if you have space

🌼 Contact us if you are interested: We can provide free seeds (e.g. foxglove, yellow rattle, wildflower mixes) and specially designed surrounds to keep your hedgehog holes intact.

Resources

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