Buxton Heath Wildlife Group (BHWG) - the beginning
Buxton Heath Wildlife Group was founded on Saturday 16th May 1992, after Colin Penny drummed-up support for the project among his conservation-minded friends.
On that day, a group of six 'Heathlings' started the ball rolling by clearing the site of a vast collection of dumped rubbish. The items collected completely filled the large waste skip which had been ordered and positioned in the car park.
This photograph shows the inaugural members on that day, with their 'catch':
On that day, a group of six 'Heathlings' started the ball rolling by clearing the site of a vast collection of dumped rubbish. The items collected completely filled the large waste skip which had been ordered and positioned in the car park.
This photograph shows the inaugural members on that day, with their 'catch':
Left to right: Paul Woolnough, Nick Webb, Lincoln Rickwood, Nick Barrett, Len Wise, and Colin Penny
The following year, Colin was installed as the Voluntary Warden for the site, and the first students from Norwich's University of East Anglia (UEA) joined the Group. It soon became obvious that Colin's car was no longer adequate to transport the growing number of students who wished to become involved with BHWG. This was when he took, and passed, the minibus driving certificate, and also affiliated BHWG with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).
From this point onwards, BHWG and the Buxton Heath project really moved up a gear, as Colin was then able to use the BTCV minibus to collect a 'full load' of students and equipment almost every Saturday. Other regular Group members would make their own way to the site, and on some occasions, there were as many as 24 Group members on-site!
Group members included students from all over the World, including those from USA, New Zealand, Bolivia, Jamaica, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Madagascar, Austria, Italy, and Japan, and with our 'hydrological friends' from Belgium, the site was truly 'Buxton Heath International'.
The larger numbers attending meant that a correspondingly large amount of work could be achieved. During the Summer months, work was kept to a minimum to avoid disturbance to nesting birds and other wildlife. At these times, the larger attendances turned their attention to observing, photographing, and logging the species of the site.
The story of Buxton Heath Wildlife Group is a long and colourful one, and when I add the photo gallery to this site, the visitor will gain some insight into the workings, experiences, and highlights of a conservation group that was started by a handful of enthusiasts, bolstered by the influx of UEA students, kept on track by some seasoned regulars, and which (as I write this in January 2014) will soon be celebrating its 22nd year !
Long live Buxton Heath ! Long live Buxton Heath Wildlife Group !
From this point onwards, BHWG and the Buxton Heath project really moved up a gear, as Colin was then able to use the BTCV minibus to collect a 'full load' of students and equipment almost every Saturday. Other regular Group members would make their own way to the site, and on some occasions, there were as many as 24 Group members on-site!
Group members included students from all over the World, including those from USA, New Zealand, Bolivia, Jamaica, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Madagascar, Austria, Italy, and Japan, and with our 'hydrological friends' from Belgium, the site was truly 'Buxton Heath International'.
The larger numbers attending meant that a correspondingly large amount of work could be achieved. During the Summer months, work was kept to a minimum to avoid disturbance to nesting birds and other wildlife. At these times, the larger attendances turned their attention to observing, photographing, and logging the species of the site.
The story of Buxton Heath Wildlife Group is a long and colourful one, and when I add the photo gallery to this site, the visitor will gain some insight into the workings, experiences, and highlights of a conservation group that was started by a handful of enthusiasts, bolstered by the influx of UEA students, kept on track by some seasoned regulars, and which (as I write this in January 2014) will soon be celebrating its 22nd year !
Long live Buxton Heath ! Long live Buxton Heath Wildlife Group !
The first Buxton Heath voluntary warden (from May 1992 until May 2004) Colin Penny (right) shares a tipple with the current voluntary warden Phil Davison (from May 2004 to date) at the 2oth anniversary meeting at Buxton Heath on Saturday 19th May 2012.