Foxhill Bank Wildlife Walk Phase 1

Foxhill Bank Wildlife Walk phase 1 will include improvements to the access and habitats to increase the site's resilience to Climate Change: Rebuild paths with drainage that will cope with wetter weather, and provide a safe surface for pushchairs and wheelchair users; Create scrubby buffer zones along woodland edges to protect the interior woodland, against high winds and extreme events, by thinning trees, encouraging regeneration and planting native shrubs – this includes a woodland edge along the eastern boundary; create/restore coppiced areas of woodland that provide materials for future management techniques eg dead hedges; open up paths to give visitors a more open view of the reserve, open up paths to maintain an open, less intimidating access route for lone visitors; replace river entrance and include surfacing to cover tree roots and include gate which can be opened using a radar key. The site is open access to all visitors and is primarily used by members of the local community. Schools frequently use the reserve during summer. The local Walking for Health group use it all year round. No groups have exclusive access. We have created a new volunteer group which meets once a month and can help with some of the habitat work. They're mostly local people who walk to the site. Foxhill Bank provides a green space in an urban area which is popular with dog walkers, runners, walking groups and local naturalists. It provides a green 'cut-through' with clean air for people who don't want to walk along the main road and a popular spot for children and families to feed the ducks.