Friday 18^th January …………….. For Immediate Release

FUNDING TO SAVE RARE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ON RUGBY NATURE RESERVE

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has successfully obtained funding from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental) to fund work towards the survival of the Forester Moth at Ashlawn Cutting Local Nature Reserve in Rugby .  The £5,250 grant awarded to the Trust is generated from the Landfill Communities Fund, formerly the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. 

This project aims to carry out scrub clearance to increase the area of calcareous grassland available to the Forester Moth and other important invertebrates.  This will involve a combination of contractors, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust staff with power tools and volunteers to clear 1 hectare area of scrub by treating cut stumps with herbicide and coppice some scrub to enable it to regenerate and provide wind breaks around the grassland areas. 

Ian Jelley, Reserves Volunteering Officer for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said “This is an excellent opportunity to carry out vital work to help safeguard rare species.  Grants obtained from funding bodies like WREN are vital for our work because as a charity it is difficult to fund large projects.  The project will involve partnership work between the Trust and Rugby Borough Council and will also engage with local people, schools and the probation service.  Once the work has been carried out it will allow more light into the cutting improving the habitat for wildlife and enhancing the visiting experience for local people.”

John Winslow Local Area Manager for WREN said “WREN has worked with the Wildlife Trust in a number of areas and is pleased to be associated with this project in helping to protect another important rare specifies in the local area.”

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is the leading local charity for wildlife and the environment.  The Trust currently cares for over 55 nature reserves throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull , and has a wide range of conservation activities taking place throughout the year.  For further details or to get a copy of our leaflet “Wild Events and Activities” please contact the Trust on 024 7630 8999, drop into the Trust’s Visitor Centres at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre and Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park , Solihull , pick up a leaflet in your local library or visit our website on www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

ENDS

Press Contact:             Ian Jelley          024 7630 8998

  Last updated 18 January, 2008