PETER BARRINGTON looks at ONCF'S important role

Farmers and landowners on the chalk downlands of the Ridgeway are being encouraged to restore grasslands to revive flora and fauna. Changes in farming have led to a decline of some species, but thanks to grants from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) there is money to help manage the land and to ensure Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are maintained.

The area extends beyond what most people understand as the Ridgeway to the wider North Wessex Downs/Berkshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Behind the move to improve the grasslands is the Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum (ONCF).

Oxfordshire is unusual in having developed the ONCF as an independent and charitable nature body to cover the county. Where other counties go some way to bringing together various concerns, ONCF has gone further. It was formed in 1993 and acts as an umbrella for some 60 organisations working.

As Clare Mowbray, its chief executive officer, said: "It was felt there was a need for a body to provide an overall focus for all the work being done by organisations involved in projects on butterflies, birds, grasslands, reedbeds and many other topics."

ONCF acts as a co-ordinator, enabling people engaged in numerous conservation projects to meet and learn what each other is doing. It works with BBOWT, RSPB, the Environment Agency, National Farmers' Union, as well as Defra.

In addition, ONCF is involved with projects undertaken by Oxfordshire County Council and the district councils.

Clare said: "We are a networking organisation. We do not hand out grants to groups; in fact, we are a grant-needing body. Our aim is to help to ensure people are working together to avoid duplication of effort and to maximise limited resources in respect of time and money."

ONCF holds periodic day meetings for organisations in different locations and produces a free weekly environmental bulletin that now reaches more than 1,000 people to provide information on walks, talks and working parties.

There is also a free glossy brochure, Discover Oxfordshire's Wildlife, that can be read in libraries and information centres, which lists 50 conservation and wildlife sites. The brochure also explains the different categories of habitats in the county - grasslands, heathlands, woodlands and wetlands.

One of ONCF'S major projects is the county's part in the UK biodiversity action plan, which is an initiative to maintain our wildlife habitats. Tom Butterworth, ONCF's biodiversity project manager, explained the purpose was to focus work on the wildlife projects for plants and animals.

"For example, there are some very important habitats in Oxfordshire such as the flood meadows and the neutral grasslands to be found in the clay vales and river floodplains," said Tom.

As part of the biodiversity action plan, ten environmental 'hot spots' have been identified. There are two in each of the five districts.

In the Cherwell district, Otmoor and the River Ray is one hot spot, which is being handled by the RSPB and BBOWT.

The Blewbury Downs and the Chilterns northern escarpment are of concern in South Oxfordshire, while in West Oxfordshire the Upper Thames and Upper Windrush have been earmarked for attention.

In Oxford, Tom is concerned with the city's meadows and further out, Farmoor, plus the Thames and Cherwell rivers.

As Clare pointed out, ONCF is in need of funds and its Rebuilding Biodiversity Project is supported by the new national body, Natural England, until 2008 but has to raise half of the costs.

For any further information on the project contact Tom on 01865 407429 or email bap@oncf.org.uk Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum can be contacted at Manor House, Little Wittenham, OX14 4RA, telephone 01865 407034 or email clare@oncf.org.uk. For their regular bulletins call bulletin@oncf.org.uk