Newbury Environment and Wildlife Team (NEWT)

Northcroft Meadows Nature Reserve.

A new nature reserve right next to the heart of Newbury…

Working in partnership with Thames Water, NEWT are managing 37 acres of wetlands and meadows on their land to improve biodiversity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to pursue their 3 core aims bio-diversity, education, community.

They will use gentle management techniques to enhance habitats and better support bio-diversity.

The site has different zones that are quite distinct environments; from the wetland and ponds, to the meadows and naturally rewilding juvenile woodland.

NEWT will provide education facilities such as a nature trail, outdoor classroom, science equipment and safe access to the wetlands.

They are designing various ready to go activities for schools, organisations such as scouts, local community groups, and also members of the public who visit the site with families.

Things you can just turn up and do, that are fun, educational and exercise.

There are a network of paths around the meadows where the public has used the land for walking for many years.

With that access now official they can start clearing the overgrown paths to allow more safe and enjoyable access.

Their education facilities will include an all weather outdoor classroom with soft flooring, tables and chairs.

It will have toilets and a small kitchen.

The local community can also use this space for any local groups who can make use of the facility.

They need volunteers for all sorts of jobs:

Work parties on site maintaining the land

Educators and ecologists creating education materials

Back office, planning and grant funding, stakeholder engagement, marketing and media creation

If you can spare any time to help make this new nature reserve fantastic for nature and people, then please get in touch…

They now have their management plan and have started implementing it.

Thames Water have had contractors on site restoring the grassland meadows, with some areas now ready for wildflower seeding.

NEWT have started hedge laying and will be getting funding for other enhancements like bord boxes, bug hotels, bat boxes, etc.

Lots of stuff that you can get involved with and help install by volunteering with them