Lower Moor Farm Nature Reserve opens its doors!
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve now open
On Monday 14 May, the latest Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles, patron of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Lower Moor Farm, near Oaksey is the northernmost reserve in the Trust, and the 96-acre site which was bought in 2005 now forms the gateway to four neighbouring Trust reserves – Swillbrook Lakes, Clattinger Farm, Oaksey Moor Farm Meadow, and Sandpool, for which it is currently fundraising.
Together they form an important mosaic of wildlife habitats - lakes, ponds, streams, ancient hedges and meadows – which play a strategic part in the Trust’s vision of creating a whole wildlife-rich landscape in the upper Thames catchment.
Lower Moor Farm is a unique site, both for its wildlife and because it addresses broader environmental issues within a visitor centre that sets a gold standard for sustainable construction and which showcases lots of ideas to inspire visitors to lead a greener lifestyle.
As well as being a wonderful place for visitors, Lower Moor Farm is also the new home for environmental education sessions being offered to Primary school children acros Wiltshire, Swindon, Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire. Learning at Lower Moor Farm is a partnership project between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the Cotswold Water Park Society, both of who have many years' experience in running education programmes.
During the coming weeks, more than 1000 children are booked to visit Lower Moor Farm to take part in sessions on plants, minibeasts, wild art, beavers and fossils. Children from the Maranatha Christian School near Highworth were the first group to visit the centre on Friday 18 May, where they took part in a Wild Art session, using natural materials such as willow and clay to make some memorable sculptures.
Education and Events Officer for the Cotswold Water Park Society, Jill Bewley said "It was wonderful to see children using the brand new centre and really enjoying the diversity and richness of the landscape at Lower Moor Farm. Such a huge amount of hard work by so many people has now come to fruition and we are looking forward to introducing so many more people to the delights of this special place"
You can find out more about Lower Moor Farm Nature Reserve on Wiltshire Wildlife Trust website.
