More than 50 children from Owslebury and Colden Common primary schools helped us to launch FLIGHT, our fundraising appeal to create a new nature reserve next to our zoological park. We need to raise £25,000, and the children put the finishing touches to four large birds which will be placed around the park for visitors to place donations into.

Our appeal follows recent surveys indicating large national declines in native woodland bird numbers. FLIGHT aims to help reverse this decline by developing woodland into a new nature reserve to enhance local biodiversity, whilst at the same time improving access to nature for local communities.

The project’s first phase of restoration and conservation work will start later this year and the nature reserve will be open Spring 2011. Wildlife hides and a sustainable study centre available for educational sessions and activities will open during 2011. Gwen Heywood-Waddington, Community Fundraising Manager said: ‘It was wonderful to have so many local children get involved in the launch today, as so much about FLIGHT is about opening up the countryside to our local community.”

Initial work will involve the restoration of over 35 hectares of ancient semi-natural woodland and grassland habitat. Already home to native and migrating wild birds, we will use traditional woodland management practices, such as coppicing, to further improve the biological diversity of the habitat. We hope that rare birds like the red kite, firecrest and willow tit will then join other birds already living in the area like the cuckoo, marsh tit, great spotted woodpecker, and song trush.

To celebrate the launch, lots of children’s FLIGHT activities will be taking place during February half term (Saturday 13 – Sunday 21 February). Craft activities include decorate a bird picture with feathers and play the feather match game. Other activities include meet the penguin keepers, watch birds being fed, and all children will receive a free FLIGHT goodie bag including a bird trail around the park, bird badge, bird watching poster and activity sheet.

The Repeat Woodland Bird Survey (RWBS) contains details on the long term changes in the populations of woodlands birds and presents findings from a long-term data set in declines of woodlands birds. The report is available to download from the Foresty Commission website

Funds from the appeal will also be donated to the Sahara Conservation Fund (of which we are a partner) in aid of North African ostrich conservation.

Find out how to help and donate

12 February 2010