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Projects
Bourne Sub Catchment Management Group A key outcome of the inaugural Chalk Stream Headwaters Forum held in June 2007 was a consensus that the formation of locally representative Sub-catchment Management Groups would be a worthwhile means of identifying and addressing environmental issues and solutions relating to the key tributaries of the Test and Itchen. The Vitacress Conservation Trust felt it could contribute by facilitating the formation of a Sub-catchment Group on the Bourne Rivulet as a model that could be applied to the benefit of a number of other Test/Itchen sub-catchments. It was considered that the Bourne provided an excellent launch pad as it has received considerable focus over the past few years resulting in a body of robust environmental baseline data that will help identify issues and solutions.
A small group with representation from the Environment Agency, Natural England, The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Southern Water, The University of Southampton, Vitacress Salads Limited, riparian ownership and angling interests was consequently formed. The aim is to prove the value of local stakeholder groups in analysing and structuring improvement plans for key headwaters and to develop some detailed action plans to improve the Bourne Rivulet in time to report back to the next Chalk Headwaters Forum, to be held in September 2008. Minutes of Bourne Sub Catchment Management Group, click on the link below to download a PDF version.
Tree Sparrow Project
VCT funding is being given to a project identified by Martin de Retuerto of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, to integrate the use of Vitacress’ Mullens farm and the adjacent river. Martin explains that “Tree sparrows, a UK Biodiversity Action Plan listed species, have suffered an 85% population decline and 20% range contraction. The species is synonymous with mixed farming landscapes and were once widespread across Wiltshire and Hampshire, but are all but lost as a breeding species in the latter. Adults rely on a diet of grass, wildflower and cereal seeds and feed their young on insects. Breeding sites are closely linked with availability of insects and, as such, are often close to river corridors or other wetland features. Changes to agriculture and the loss of nesting sites have driven the population decline, although significant efforts have been exerted in Wiltshire to help their recovery. Bird surveys have produced records of feeding tree sparrows during the winter at Mullens Farm, while the Wiltshire recovery project has recent records of breeding birds in the neighbouring village of Woodborough. These breeding birds currently form the eastern outlier for the mid Wiltshire breeding population, which is also the closest to the Hampshire border. Encouraging the species to increase its hold within the Mullens Farm area as a breeding bird will help to develop a more self-sustaining local population as well as encourage its extension towards Hampshire. The farm possesses an array of habitats relevant to the tree sparrow’s feeding requirements – weedy stubbles, wildflower margins and river corridors for seeds and insects. However, at the moment it does not have sufficient nesting spaces to encourage uptake by breeding birds”. Martin has advised that approximately 50 nest boxes would mark a positive first step. Location of the boxes will be focused around summer feeding areas, notably trees along the river corridor, wet areas and grassy margins, as well as relatively undisturbed areas on farm buildings. The VCT will fund the nest box project and it is hoped that we may be able to hold a school event, allowing children to construct the wooden boxes and learn about birds and the site. A winter feeding station will also help to draw birds onto the farm. Various seed mixtures or ‘tailings’ will provide an easy way to identify their presence. Local volunteers involved with the country recovery project will be invited to check nest boxes and record nesting details if applicable.
One of the UK’s rarest bumblebees, Bombus ruderatus, has returned to Hampshire after an absence of 50 years, thanks to the Vitacress Salads Limited policy of improving biodiversity and looking after the environment. Pinglestone Farm, one of the Company’s baby leaf salad production sites, is where this rare insect has reappeared. The farm has swathes of land set aside for flower, clover and legume-rich vegetation which provides a haven for native wildlife. Bumblebees are nature’s pollenators and as such are very important to the eco-system. Entemologist Mike Edwards, who has written the Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain & Ireland (www.ocelli.co.uk) is absolutely delighted and has praised the efforts of Farm Manager Andy Elworthy and his staff. Vitacress Salads Limited plays an active role in ‘Operation Bumblebee’ which is a scheme committed to reversing the decline of the bumblebee populations on UK arable farms. This decline has primarily been caused through loss of vital nectar food resources and nesting sites because of the change in cropping patterns. One of the 20 bumblebee species has disappeared altogether, and three other species are on the verge of extinction, which is why the return of the Bombus ruderatus to Hampshire is such welcome news. Click on the link below to see the BBC video: Production and Processing Waters in Watercress Farming -
Low concentrations of substances in the water appear to impact the fauna in the stream. This effect may be due to the release of phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC) by harvested watercress. Many crop plants produce this natural pesticide as a defence against herbivores. Melanie Dixon, a student at the University of Southampton, supervised by Dr Pete Shaw, has embarked on a three year study, sponsored by The Vitacress Conservation Trust, which will address three main themes:
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Press Articles Click on any of the following links to see recent local press cuttings:
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Bombus ruderatus
Producing and processing watercress could not take place without reliable
and plentiful supplies of high quality water. In the case of the Vitacress
Salads’ site at St Mary Bourne, a renowned chalk stream is maintained
wholly by water used in watercress production and processing. However,
the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in this stream differs from others
in southern English chalk rivers. Although freshwater shrimp are present,
until recently their numbers were relatively low.