PARTRIDGE project attends local nature festival
The event, held at the home of renowned 18th century naturalist Gilbert White, also had representatives from other nature organisations such as the RSPB, South Downs National Park Authority, The National Trust, Hampshire Bat Group, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. On the hot sunny bank holiday, there was plenty to do with each stall engaging children of all ages and providing activities, each allowing them to collect a stamp in their nature passport. Everyone from toddler to grandparent had the opportunity to learn something new, whether it be through the interactive stalls, presentations, guided walks, or the on-site museum.
Alongside talks given about butterflies, birds, bees, plants and how to help them within our own gardens, each stall explained what their organisation is involved with. The PARTRIDGE project shared their stall with the Selborne Landscape partnership farmer cluster (where the Rotherfield estate and hence the PARTRIDGE Rotherfield demonstration area is part of). Part of the display was a poster explaining the project's bottom-up approach which aims to increase biodiversity by 30% within 4 years by implementing 7% high quality habitat tailored towards the grey partridge.
Visitors to the stall were also challenged to match species with where they would be found on farmland. This enabled several children to be inspired and engage with the project whilst becoming familiar with what type of wildlife may be found on farmland - a valuable lesson that is uncommon in the school curriculum.
The day seemed to be a huge success and we hope everyone left having further developed their appreciation for wildlife, whilst taking away tips about how they could get involved in making a difference for the environment around them.
Written by Holly Kembrey, PARTRIDGE placement student