HOBBY IN COOKHAM

I HAD A VERY INTERESTING BIKE RIDE TODAY BETWEEN MY HOUSE IN MAIDENHEAD AND COOKHAM TODAY. OTHER THAN THE USUAL BIRDS I SAW A HOBBY, TREE CREEPER AND LITTLE EGRET. THEN WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE A MALE FALLOW DEER SITTING IN THE SHADE.
I AM OFF TO THE GLOW WORM AND BAT EVENING IN COOKHAM TONIGHT.

A NEW GROUP IS BEING FORMED IN COOKHAM TO HELP OUR WILDLIFE

Cookham Wildlife Supporters Statement of Purpose

Who are we?

Local people taking care of wildlife and sharing our passion and knowledge in a practical and fun way in the parish of Cookham. 

What is our vision?

By 2019 we will have a Cookham plan for wildlife and nature that stands alongside, and has equal status to, the Village Design Statement and is adopted by the Parish Council and the borough planners. 

What are we doing?

·      Planning a calendar of local events and activities such as guided walks and talks

·      Running practical campaigns and initiatives to enrich habitats such as:

o   Wildlife and natural gardening – educating people about the importance of their gardens and creating wildlife corridors through gardens for hedgehogs and many other animals. Promoting the use of natural and non-chemical substances in the garden.

o   Leaving verges and meadows long, not cutting until after flowers have seeded, and planting wildflowers on verges as food sources for bees and other insects

o   Not cutting hedges and trees between Feb and Aug while birds are still nesting

o   Securing habitat and nest boxes for certain birds such as House Martins and encouraging the use of Swift bricks in new-build properties

o   Reducing light pollution

·      Updating the Cookham Wildlife web pages on cookham.com

·      Offering wildlife advice and building a community of interest through a dedicated wildlife forum on cookham.com 

Who is supporting us?

National Trust and the Woodland Trust

Contact Cindy Barnes cindy@cindy-barnes.com

 

WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR GARDEN WHEN YOU GO TO BED?

MR.FOX AND HEDGE HOG VISITED THE GARDEN LAST NIGHT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IN THIS DRY WEATHER WATER IS LEFT OUT FOR ALL OF OUR WILDLIFE TO DRINK.

MINK SEEN BY VOLUNTEERS

Several mink  have been seen by myself and volunteers in Cookham over the past couple of months.
This is not good news for the project as a trapping program will need to be set up to eradicate this threat to the reintroduction of water voles.
Volunteers at Cliveden have seen mink on the Thames at the bottom of Cookham Reach. The lock keeper at Cookham lock  saw a mink at the lock on the 9th July and I have found a dead mink (killed by someone else) close to the Summerleaze Sailing club in  Maidenhead. From a scientific point of view I collected data from this dead mink and took a few pictures. Like many of you  I do not like to see any dead animals but the truth is that mink are an invasive species which must be eliminated.

I have purchased my first mink raft and trap and will need to place this in Cookham soon to see if there are mink in Strand Water. Do any volunteers want to help me monitor this raft?
On the positive note the swans, and moor hens have had and fledged their chicks which is a good indication that mink are not on Strand water at the moment.