You are here:

News

Young students improving wildlife habitats

10th Aug 2005

This week (1 – 5 August) young people from Wiltshire, Poland and Germany are working together along the Kennet & Avon Canal in the Crofton and Hungerford areas to improve habitats for wildlife.

As part of the ‘European Youth Exchange’ the team of 36 volunteers will build Bat boxes, an Otter holt and a Tern raft. They will also paint some nearby lock gates as well as repairing and cleaning the steps that give access to Crofton Beam Engines from the waterway.

A Tern raft is a floating home for nesting Terns situated in locations where the water is either too deep for island construction, or where there is no suitable material available. The Otter holt that will be built by the volunteers is an artificial home for Otters usually constructed from timber.

The work is being organised by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) in association with Wiltshire County Council Youth Development Service and British Waterways.

The 2005 project has been developed to incorporate a range of interesting activities for young people that will:

  • Increase cultural and environmental understanding between different countries using environmental conservation as the tool;
  • Encourage the development of young people;
  • Benefit the Kennet & Avon Canal and its environment;
  • Act as a pilot for more partnership activities.

Terry Kemp, economic and social development manager from British Waterways commented: “The youngsters will have a great time whilst doing some worthwhile work that will benefit the canal and its special environment. I really hope that when they all return home they will take back some good memories of their days in Wiltshire.”

Last updated: 22/10/2008