Resources
Species Groups
Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire branch
The Warwickshire branch of Butterfly Conservation works in partnership with landowners, local authorities, conservation organisations, businesses and local communities to protect butterflies, moths and their habitats.
The branch raises awareness of the threats facing wildlife and the wider natural environment, and provides practical advice and support to help safeguard threatened species across the region.
Warwickshire Amphibian & Reptile Team
The Warwickshire Amphibian and Reptile Team (WART) is dedicated to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles across Warwickshire. The group aims to encourage people to learn about, protect, and conserve these species and the habitats they depend on.
WART’s activities include recording the distribution and population sizes of amphibians and reptiles throughout the county. Practical conservation work is carried out, including pond restoration and habitat management, alongside workshops, training days, talks, and guided visits. The group also provides advice on pond and habitat conservation and works to identify threats to local habitats.
WART works in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, the Warwickshire Biological Records Centre (WBRC), and Amphibian & Reptile Groups UK (ARG UK). Data on amphibian and reptile species is collected across Warwickshire, including records of numbers and locations.
Banbury Ornithological Society
Banbury Ornithological Society (BOS) studies bird life across the twelve 10km squares surrounding Banbury, covering parts of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. The area includes Banbury itself as well as Bicester, Brackley, Byfield, Chipping Norton, Kineton, Hook Norton, the Bartons, the Tysoes and the surrounding countryside.
Fieldwork and birdwatching form the core of BOS activity. In addition, the Society holds regular monthly meetings, publishes a monthly newsletter and annual reports, manages seven bird reserves, and plays an active role in local conservation issues. Guest speakers are invited to scheduled indoor meetings, and a programme of outdoor meetings is arranged during the summer months. Summaries of local bird study data are presented in both visual and written formats, published in the newsletters and brought together in the annual reports.
Warwickshire Botanical Group
Botanical records are vital for building a clearer picture of the distribution of plant species. This includes both native species occurring naturally in the wild and alien (non-native) species introduced by humans since the last Ice Age for food, forestry, or ornamental purposes.
Records are stored in the Distribution Database, where incoming data are initially held separately until they have been verified. The database is used to study the distribution of plants across Britain and Ireland, and the data are made available for research and educational use.
Most counties have an organised group of recorders led by a Vice-County Recorder (VCR) or a recording team. In Warwickshire, the VCRs and other experienced members are the best source of local botanical knowledge, information on upcoming events, and advice on how to get involved locally.
Warwickshire Bat Group
The Group is a network of volunteers committed to the conservation of bats and their habitats in Warwickshire. Its aims are to promote the protection and conservation of bats, including their roosts, feeding areas, and hibernation sites across Warwickshire, Coventry, and Solihull. The Group seeks to raise awareness and educate both the public and its members on all aspects of bat ecology, conservation, and welfare, while actively participating in the research, monitoring, and recording of bats throughout the region.
In addition, the Group supports the training of members in bat identification, care, and handling, and encourages the development of licensed bat workers. It also provides a coordinated network of volunteers able to respond to and care for grounded and injured bats.
Barn Owl Trust
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 the Barn Owl Trust, who collate an annual report on the ‘State of the UK Barn Owl Population’. A wildlife group based on the Stour Valley contribute to this report.
Barn owls feed on small mammals and particularly field voles, common shrews and wood mice. In Britain, permanent rough grassland is the best habitat for owls to hunt across and we have some good examples in South Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Hedgehog Rescue
Warwickshire Hedgehog Rescue is entirely run by volunteers who operate from their homes across Warwickshire. Each year, these dedicated volunteers care for hundreds of sick and injured hedgehogs, with the ultimate goal of rehabilitating them and releasing them back into the wild.
Warwickshire Badger Group
The Warwickshire Badger Group is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of badgers. The group engages in education, monitors and surveys badger activity, campaigns and lobbies for their welfare, rescues and releases injured badgers, and provides vaccinations.