Bucks Wildlife Trust launches £300,000 appeal to protect woodland
It's considered one of the largest remaining examples of ancient woodland in the area, and is home to rare species
The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has launched a £300,000 appeal to buy and protect Hamgreen Wood, a 100-acre site of ancient woodland and grassland between Bicester and Aylesbury.
Once part of the medieval hunting forest of Bernwood and the Waddesdon Estate, Hamgreen Wood is considered one of the largest remaining examples of ancient woodland in the area.
Two-thirds of the site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Ancient woodland is one of the rarest habitats in the UK, covering less than 2.5% of the landscape.
The site is home to rare black hairstreak butterflies and Bechstein’s bats, listed as ‘near-threatened’ on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Debbie Lewis, BBOWT’s Head of Ecology, said:
"The Ham Greenwood is about 100 acres of ancient woodland and grassland, and the ancient bit means that the woodland’s been around for hundreds of years as continuous woodland.
"So the kinds of species that you might see here are very old in terms of the fact that they've been there for a long time.
"The site also protects some rare bats and some rare butterflies, which are called black hair streaks, and these kinds of species are only found or thrive in ancient woodland conditions.
"The appeal at Hamgreen gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to purchase this land and leave it for future generations."
She explained that the Trust already has some pledges from major donors and legacies, but is appealing to the public to help close the funding gap.
Ms Lewis added that acquiring the site is vital for Bechstein’s bats, whose range has already been disrupted by the HS2 rail project.
She said: "Purchasing Hamgreen Wood will help to make sure that the Bechstein’s bat population is protected into the long term.
"High Speed Two has definitely negatively impacted this species. It crashes quite through the middle of their population where they live and forage, and this is one of the remaining key sites, so it's very important that we are able to protect it into the long term."
The BBOWT says that if successful, it plans to diversify habitats within the site, adding ponds, creating a traditional meadow, and improving woodland edges to benefit wildlife.
Chief Executive Estelle Bailey MBE, said: "When I first visited Hamgreen Wood, I knew it was a very special place – the network of well-managed rides through the wood was alive with butterflies flitting around, birdsong rang out from the trees and dragonflies patrolled the bridleways.
"We’ve been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy this woodland, and there’s no guarantee that other owners would have the expertise or incentive to provide the same care."
The appeal forms part of BBOWT’s wider £3 million Nature Recovery Fund, launched in October 2023 to support conservation projects across its three counties.
To find out more about the Hamgreen Wood appeal, you can visit bbowt.org.uk/hamgreen
.