Our Green Friends and Family
Of course, we’re not the only advocates for nature in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and broader Hampshire. We are but a small piece of the complex patchwork of organisations working to improve their community green spaces and wildlife habitat. We work closely with many of these organisations, sharing knowledge and volunteer manpower, and would love to work with many more. If you don’t see an organisation listed here that you think we should be in contact with, please do get in touch! We’d love to hear from you.
Basingstoke Beekeepers
We now understand the vital role honey bees play in our ecosystem, providing far more than just their most famous sweet creation. We aim to further this understanding through the craft of beekeeping, educating and training beekeepers to improve bee health.
Our mission is to support the honey bee in our corner of the world, from providing a network of support and best practice for our members in the Basingstoke and surrounding areas, to events where we bring beekeeping to the general public to learn more, not to mention sample the end products!
Basingstoke Conservation Volunteers
Basingstoke Conservation Volunteers have been actively working in the local area since 1987. We perform hands-on, wildlife conservation-oriented tasks, usually on Nature Reserves or other important areas for the local natural environment. We are affiliated to The Conservation Volunteers. We also run social events, so it’s not all about work!
Greener Basingstoke
People across Basingstoke have come together to form Greener Basingstoke. We support community-led responses to climate change and shrinking supplies of fossil fuels; and building local resilience and well-being.
We have been working on the issues we think are most relevant to Basingstoke’s Transition. Nine key themes emerged and each aims to improve the way we live in the Borough. These themes are:
– Making better use of all our local resources – people, materials and food.
– Reducing consumption of “stuff” and reducing waste through increased re-use and recycling.
– Encouraging local production of Renewable Energy.
– Reducing our Carbon Emissions.
– Protecting our bio-diversity.
– Cleaning up the River Loddon.
– Dealing with Fuel Poverty.
– Building Sustainable Housing for our children.
– Promoting wiser Council Investment of our money.
Greener Basingstoke is helping our community to move towards a post fossil fuel economy where we rely more on locally produced goods and services (especially energy). We provide reliable advice from trusted sources on issues as wide as renewable energy and growing our own food to building a strong, resilient local economy. They are raising awareness of the benefits of using renewable energy, local produce and local skills for our local community.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Amphibian and Reptile Group
(HIWARG)
HIWARG formed in the Autumn of 2018 and is an affiliated independent ARG-UK group. The group focus is conservation of native UK species essentially around habitat management, surveying, public engagement, volunteer training & doing as much as possible to understand & protect the native species in the county.
Hampshire is fortunate that the county covers a huge geographic area and a very diverse breadth of habitat including: the Isle of Wight, the New Forest National Park, the South Downs National Park, as well as many other unspoiled areas, including Woolmer Forest.
It is therefore unsurprising that we are host to 12 out of the 13 native amphibians and reptiles in UK, including rarities such as the Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake, and wherever you live in the county there will be opportunities to survey and monitor an assemblage of amphibian and reptile species.
Hampshire Swifts
These beautiful and charismatic birds have declined across Hampshire and the UK by approximately 65% over the past 25 years. They continue to decline at approximately 5% per annum.
We can stop and reverse this decline.
Hampshire Swifts was formed in 2016 in response to the on-going decline of this iconic bird across Hampshire. Our objective is to reverse the decline of Swifts in our county. This is best done by ensuring we provide an ever-increasing supply of suitable nest sites for our Swifts. We can achieve this by conserving existing nest sites and by providing nest sites on existing and new buildings.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts, all standing up for the natural world. Together we are the nation’s most active and influential nature conservation partnership, protecting wildlife in every part of the British Isles. Each Trust works within its local community to inspire people and bring about change. With the invaluable support of volunteers and members we manage over 60 nature reserves. We also work with other organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live.
North East Hampshire Badger Group
North East Hampshire Badger Group was formed in June 2022 to safeguard the welfare of badgers across as much of Hampshire as possible, starting in the Hart, Rushmoor and East Hampshire areas. In addition to monitoring and protecting these iconic animals we provide advice and guidance on badger-related issues.
RSPB
We offer you something more active for your membership of the RSPB and provide the opportunity to meet other people who share your interest in birds and wildlife.
The group’s aim is to actively support the work of the RSPB in the local community and to involve RSPB members and the wider public in the Society’s conservation, public affairs, education, fundraising and other activities.
They have indoor meetings on the third Wednesday of each month from September to May and monthly outdoor meetings as well as an evening walks programme and regular weekend trips to local nature reserves and further afield.
South East Rivers Trust
We help rivers thrive again for communities and nature.
We inspire lifelong stewardship for rivers by getting people of all ages to experience, enjoy and understand rivers.
We restore, renaturalise and reconnect rivers, removing barriers to fish migration and enhancing habitats. We improve water quality through wetland creation and construct natural flood management measures to protect communities and surrounding land.
We work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders including local government, non-governmental organisations, landowners and businesses. We work with farmers to promote sustainable land and water management ensuring healthy soils, tackling water scarcity, and boosting biodiversity.
We are conservation experts. All our work is led by data and evidence, using research and monitoring to target positive action. Using this data and our expertise, we host catchment partnerships – bringing together stakeholders to challenge and collaborate on the best outcomes for rivers.
Toads on Roads
Common Toads are very particular about where they breed and often migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds each year. They follow the same route, regardless of what gets in their way, which sometimes leads to them crossing roads. We get a toad vs. traffic scenario and the toads inevitably come off worse.
The Toads on Roads project registers these sites as ‘migratory crossings’ and helps coordinate local Toad Patrols. Patrols can apply to their local council for road warning signs to be installed and actively help the toads across the road. The Toads on Roads project has been running for over twenty years and we know of numerous crossings nationwide.
Although you can volunteer as much or as little as you like, patrol managers do expect commitment and enthusiasm. Toad patrolling is not a one-off event. Migration can run from as early as January to as late as April and will include going out in the evenings in wet conditions.
Wilder Bramley
We are very lucky to have some beautiful landscapes teeming with wildlife in our village and surroundings. This group has been set up to connect people who enjoy and appreciate nature and to:
– Promote ideas to help protect nature and to increase biodiversity
– Share advice on how to be more sustainable in terms of actions we can take individually and collectively
– Discuss and take action on local environmental issues and organise volunteer events
– Share wildlife encounters in the area with one another through photos, stories on how you interact with nature and what you have seen
– Share wildlife hotspots and recommended walks in the area
– Give gardening tips and connect people to swap plants and seeds
– Help each other identify species such as birds, bees, butterflies etc. and encourage species to the village
– Socialise through events
The more we document what is around us the more likely we can protect it for years to come. Also the great outdoors is great for mental and physical health. Together with our neighbours, colleagues, families and friends, we can create wilder communities for nature’s recovery. No one knows your local community better than you, so we’re here to help you connect with and be inspired by others making a difference.
Parish Pollinator Pledge
We want Hampshire to be a haven for pollinators. At Hampshire Countryside Service, we’ve pledged to manage our 3,500+ hectares of land for the benefit of pollinators as part of our nature recovery plan. We’re encouraging parish and town councils, as well as community groups, to join us in making a Pollinator Pledge. By working together, we can have a greater impact on wildlife.
Your Parish Pollinator Pledge can vary from creating a wildflower meadow to promoting wildlife gardening in your community. The pledge is flexible; you can do as much or as little as you can, with no set procedures. We offer support through free resources, guidance, training, and limited funding. You’ll also have access to a community of like-minded groups across the county, sharing knowledge and advice through our eNewsletter and regular meet-ups.
Join us and other communities across Hampshire in making your own Pollinator Pledge.
We have more on our list we are keen to collaborate with, but these are our existing relationships.