There are few places where you can really lose yourself in nature. I have very fond memories of doing just that as a child in the woods and meadows of Oxfordshire, and now I get to do it every day in my role as Bernwood project officer.

The Royal Hunting Forest of Bernwood, which lies on the boundary of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, has over the years been used by Anglo-Saxon, Norman and medieval kings. Now BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) owns and manages five nature reserves inside the Bernwood Forest area, each one a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Historically, the term ‘forest’ referred to a legal status rather than the modern idea of a wooded area. Bernwood Forest is actually a wide, open landscape made up of woodlands, wildflower meadows, pasture, hedgerows and ponds. It is wonderfully varied and home to a huge array of wildlife including rare butterflies and bats, and colourful displays of wild flowers. Thanks to funding from WREN, a not-for-profit distributor of grants generated by Landfill Tax, we’re able to move forward this autumn with a new three-year project across all five nature reserves. We will be carrying out important conservation work in the woods and meadows to enhance the rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife and people who enjoy exploring Bernwood Forest.

Woods require a lot of care and attention and, thanks to the project funding, we’re able to spend more time developing them into havens for nature. Three of the woodland sites in Bernwood Forest: Rushbeds, Finemere and Whitecross Green Wood are home to a variety of birds, insects, wild flowers, and they all need different places to thrive among the trees. This includes creating new woodland rides: long, wide paths through the wood which allow more sunlight to get right down to the ground and benefit plants such as the spring-flowering dog violet, the essential food plant for the larvae of silver-washed fritillary butterflies.

The open areas explode with colour every summer with purple vetches, pink orchids and other wild flowers.

Woods don’t exist just for wildlife and for us to enjoy; trees provide a valuable ‘crop’ too. We’re developing local markets for the firewood and coppiced products that we’re taking out of Rushbeds Wood, and bringing value back to the woodlands. Of course, most of the work we do wouldn’t be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our volunteers, whether it’s conducting wildlife surveys, or practical hands-on work using loppers and a bow-saw. Volunteering is a really fun way of contributing to wildlife in your area as well as keeping fit and meeting like-minded people. If you’d like to come and see what it’s all about then join us at one of the taster day work parties this summer. You don’t need experience or knowledge of wildlife, but the work is hands-on. BBOWT will provide you with all the kit you need, as well as light refreshments because this could be thirsty work!

On Wednesday, July 24,we will be in the medieval meadow at Finemere Wood, making hay in this very special grassland. On Thursday, August 1, we will be at the spectacular Bernwood Meadows, near Stanton St John, a fantastic hay meadow that’s home to a huge variety of wild flowers including green-winged orchids. The blackthorn hedges are starting to encroach on to the meadows and by cutting them back we will encourage young growth for the brown hairstreak butterflies to lay their eggs on.

In the winter, volunteer work parties will be working throughout Bernwood Forest making a real difference to this ancient landscape.