Councillors Rebecca Banwell-Moore and Mike Davies have joined forces with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and estate management company Remus for the “Wonders of Badbury’s Woodlands” event on Saturday 3rd October.
The event comes as Badbury Park continues its transformation from a major building site into an established Swindon community.
The development at Commonhead was originally granted outline permission in 2012 for up to 890 homes, alongside employment space, a local centre, primary school and public open space. Planning documents later recorded around 500 homes as having been completed while Phase 2 remained under construction.
The residential development subsequently expanded further, with permission for up to another 300 homes in Phase 3 on land which had originally been identified for employment use.
Remus, which has been involved in managing Badbury Park for a number of years, now describes the development as consisting of approximately 900 properties. Its own case study says the estate was jointly developed by Redrow and Persimmon.
Against that backdrop of rapid development, Saturday’s event is intended to encourage residents to explore the natural environment which remains around the estate, particularly Day’s House Copse.
The event poster highlights ancient trees including oak and ash, seasonal fungi and wildlife including badgers, roe deer, woodland birds and insects as some of the ecology residents may discover.
It will begin at 10am at the Community Hub on Homington Avenue, opposite the Co-op, with an information stall, meet and greet and community discussions running until 12.30pm.
A guided woodland walk through Day’s House Copse will then take place between 12.30pm and 1pm, followed by a tour of the estate and its newly planted trees.
The final hour will include discussions and a question and answer session, as well as an opportunity for residents to find out about becoming volunteer Tree Wardens.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust already works extensively across Swindon on woodland creation and community involvement in nature.
Its Swindon Forest Meadows project, run in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, works to create, restore and better manage habitats across the borough, while its Trees for Climate programme has involved extensive planting with local communities.
Tree Wardens are volunteers who help look after trees in their own communities. Activities can include identifying potential planting locations, monitoring newly planted trees, watering them and reporting damaged or fallen trees. No previous expertise is required, with training provided.
Saturday’s event will also give residents an opportunity to speak directly with representatives involved in managing those spaces.
Cllr Davies and Cllr Banwell-Moore are two of the three borough councillors representing the newly created Badbury Park, Eldene and Liden ward.
Residents attending the woodland walk are advised to wear sturdy footwear.
