Bracknell

A five-year Bracknell plan to help 24 species of rare, declining and locally important plants, insects and birds has been launched.

The Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Action Plan has been created by members of the Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Forum which includes landowners, and representatives from parish councils, wildlife groups and other local voluntary groups.

The species have been chosen to include a wide cross section ranging from internationally rare or protected species, to more common species which are locally valued or special. Action to conserve the so-called Bracknell 24 and their habitats will also have beneficial knock-on effects on other species.

Volunteers are already working in Binfield by building a series of barn owl nesting boxes.

The birds are legally protected due a national decline in numbers. They are known to breed in Bracknell Forest, especially in the agricultural land to the north of Bracknell, where team of local volunteers are trained and licenced to allow them to check the nesting boxes.

John Wenman, Countryside Ranger, said: "The information the volunteers gather will help us find where barn owls are breeding.

"This will allow members of the Biodiversity Forum to work with landowners to create additional feeding and nesting habitats and erect new nesting boxes, in order to increase the number breeding in the borough."

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "The primary aim of the biodiversity action plan is to identify those activities needed to improve the environment for everything and everyone who lives in the borough.

"Having seen at first hand all the hard work being undertaken by our officers and volunteers to maintain the diverse range of wildlife we have in Bracknell Forest, I would like to publicly thank them for their efforts and dedication."

To find out more about the Biodiversity Action Plan and the Biodiversity Forum visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk or call 01344 354125.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council