31st August 2007

So, what’s happening at Southwood Meadows?

If you’re interested in the Southwood Meadows area of Cove Brook make a date in your diary and come along to a special site open day on Saturday 8th September. 

Southwood Meadows is an open space of grassland, marsh and woodland located between Farnborough airfield and Cove Road, and it was recently the focus of a successful Big Lottery/BBC Breathing Places application made by the Cove Brook Greenway Group. The grant was awarded to pay for a management plan of the meadows based on wildlife surveys as well as what the local people want. Now group members are keen to tell local people about the work they have done in the area so far and to obtain their views on ideas for the future.

“The Cove Brook Greenway Group has been working in the area for many years and we are keen to encourage more people to find out what we’re doing and hopefully get involved,” explained Antonia Hebbert of the Cove Brook Greenway Group. “This open day is the ideal opportunity for local residents to find out more about the site and our group and to talk about ideas for the future.”

Practical countryside conservation to try and improve Cove Brook Greenway for wildlife, is just one aspect of the work carried out by the group over the past few years, although they also work hard to increase public perception of the area through walks, talks and rubbish collections and meet regularly with the council to talk about things such as litter, path surfacing and general improvements to the area.

As September is the month when conservation work restarts after the spring and summer, the Cove Brook Greenway Group are using the occasion to invite people to come along to their special site open day to find out about the wildlife of Southwood Meadow and discover how they could help make this particular breathing place better for people and wildlife.  Anyone is invited to drop in between 10am and 4pm. There will be an opportunity to try some practical conservation work, like traditional haymaking, or to join a bug hunt – on a sunny day the meadow is alive with grasshoppers and crickets. Alternatively just come along for a cup of tea and a chat with group members. The site can be accessed from Hazel Avenue, Cove Road or Grasmere Road/Ambleside Cover.

For more details phone 01252 331353.
                                                                           More about Cove Brook Greenway

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For more information contact: Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331335.Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS

DID YOU KNOW?

• Cove Brook Greenway is owned by Rushmoor Borough Council .
• The Cove Brook Greenway Group seeks to improve the greenway for people and wildlife and is open to everyone. The group holds regular conservation work parties and open meetings.
• The Blackwater Valley is around 23 miles long and offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation and relaxation. It has over 30 wildlife sites and 70 lakes and ponds.
• Over 300,000 people live within a mile and a quarter of the River Blackwater,
• The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP) is funded by the County, District and Parish Councils along the River Blackwater. It works to promote community action in conservation and recreation and to protect the Valley for the enjoyment and well being of the whole community.