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Connecting Communities, Protecting Wildlife
South Warwickshire is home to an incredible variety of wildlife habitats. However, nature is now facing a critical tipping point. Human activities are placing immense pressure on wildlife and ecosystems, pushing them to the edge.
This local reality echoes the findings of the State of Nature 2023 report, which highlights a worrying trend: over the past 50 years, human impact has caused a dramatic decline in the UK’s wildlife.
There is hope – by raising public awareness and actively protecting and improving wildlife habitats, we can help nature thrive once more, ensuring that future generations can enjoy a rich and vibrant natural world.
In response, a growing network of community volunteers has come together under the name South Warwickshire Area Network for Wildlife (SWAN). Our members support each other and collaborate with individuals, local councils, schools, colleges, churches, businesses, wildlife organisations, and landowners to drive positive environmental change.
Community involvement will be vital to the success of the new Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Warwickshire. This initiative builds on the existing Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull Local Biodiversity Action Plan, and together, we can help shape a better future for wildlife.
Current Projects & Initiatives
Monitoring our Barn Owls
Barn owls are widely distributed across Britain but it is difficult to monitor nocturnal species and so their total numbers are unknown. However, a variety of wildlife groups send information to…
Protecting our Hedgehogs
Numbers of rural hedgehogs have declined nationally by between 30 – 75% since 2000. However, they are showing signs of recovery in urban and suburban areas.
Curlew Recovery Project
Across the UK, the population has halved in the past 25 years and they are now a ‘Red List’ species, meaning they are at urgent risk of extinction.
River Hope
River Hope is a grassroots movement based in the Stratford-on-Avon District of South Warwickshire. It brings together individuals, community groups and local organisations to reflect on their relationships with water in all its states…
Dark Skies
Light pollution is a very recent problem in historical terms and has only become seriously intrusive in the last 50 years or so. The night sky is one of the few real ‘mysteries’ remaining, and light pollution limits the ability of…
Saving our Swifts
The Swift (Apus apus) is the long-distance migrant most associated with people, as it nests among urban dwellings. In early May, Swifts return to Britain and Ireland and are celebrated as harbingers of summer.
Local Nature Action Plans
All local authorities, including Town and Parish Councils, must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity, agree policies and objectives – and act to deliver these.
SWAN Book Notes
This SWAN page is about the power of reading to bring people closer to nature, in our increasingly virtual, disconnected, doom-scrolling world. While there is no substitute for getting out…
Warwickshire Biological Records Centre
We collate, manage and share trusted information about species, habitats and geological and ecological sites to support conservation, land management, research and evidence-based decision making.
Join us today!
Help support nature’s recovery across South Warwickshire
Latest News
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Cyril Bennis – Stratford’s ‘Swan Man’
This wonderful recording of Cyril talking about Stratford’s swans was produced by Janie Dee and the London Climate Change Festival for the Beautiful World Concert in Holy Trinity Church on 18th October.
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CURLEW NEWS 2026
This summer, there were record numbers of Curlew in the Upper Thames and SouthWarwickshire. Dedicated volunteers located 72 pairs and fenced 37 nests,9 more than last year. Of the fenced nests, 86% hatched at least one chick, amuch higher success rate than previous years. This has been the most successful year so far, with 24…
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Beautiful World Concert
On the evening of 18th October, an enthusiastic audience was treated to a wonderful concert in Holy Trinity Church, packed-full of very talented artistes and musicians. The aim in staging it was “to reflect on the world we live in and the one we want to create.” FEVER, the opening number sung by Janie Dee,…
Upcoming Events
British Bats, their Ecology and Conservation (online)
This six-part online course is designed for those new to bats and wanting to develop a broader understanding of the species we have here in the UK, their ecology and …
November 5 @ 7:00 pm - December 10 @ 8:30 pmWarwickshire Wildlife Trust webinar – Introduction to Ecology
A short, online ‘Introduction to Ecology’ session to learn about the basics of how our natural world works and why we need to protect it We are kicking off a …
November 19 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pmWill you walk into my orchid meadow? Said the spider to the fly.
Talk about orchids by Colin Clay.
November 19 @ 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm
