Please find below and attached the news of a change in ownership of land off Duck St, adjacent to Langford Lakes Nature Reserve.
CH Dixon Charitable Trust (DCT) and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) are delighted to announce that the ownership and management of an area of land off Duck St in Steeple Langford has been transferred from DCT to WWT. The land transferred, which is outlined in the below map, is adjacent to Langford Lakes Nature Reserve and includes ownership of the sections of the River Wylye and Millstream that run through it.
As local residents may know, this area was purchased by DCT in 2000 to protect it for wildlife and people. It has since been managed for the benefit of the local community with the objectives of enhancing wildlife conservation, education in conservation, rural pursuits and the quality of the river for fishing.
Two of the DCT Trustees, Miss Anne Dixon and Miss June Taylor lived in Hanging Langford. Both were long term supporters and champions of WWT’s work. Giving generously of their time, they were closely involved with the management of the land, together with a team of enthusiastic local volunteers. Unfortunately, since these Trustees died, DCT has not had a Trustee living locally so the DCT Trustees considered whether another organisation might now be better placed to own and manage the land. DCT then entered into detailed discussions with WWT, which led to the land being transferred recently to WWT. In recognition of all the hard work of the DCT Trustees in managing the land for wildlife and local people, WWT is delighted to announce that this land will henceforth be called Dixon Meadows.
WWT is the only charity in Wiltshire concerned with all aspects of the environment; it has a long, successful track record of enhancing and managing nature reserves for wildlife and people, including chalk stream and water meadow habitats, which are found at this site. WWT has owned, restored, improved and managed the adjacent Langford Lakes nature reserve for the benefit of nature and the public for more than two decades. The new land will complement the existing reserve.
WWT is committed to the long-term management of the land, in keeping with the landscape, and to the same community and nature benefit principles as DCT. This commitment is enshrined in the land transfer agreement.
WWT is delighted that the local community greatly appreciates and values enjoying the recreational benefits of this land and respects it as a haven for nature; WWT will continue to provide public access to the land as DCT has done. Affordable fishing will remain seasonally available and WWT will continue to support local young people learning to fish. WWT would be delighted if anyone would like to offer some of their time to teach young people to fish.
Informed by ecological surveys, in due course WWT will undertake conservation work that will further enhance this land for nature and attract more wildlife. The land will be integrated into WWT’s Langford Lakes management plan. Managed together, the area will create a bigger, better, more joined up space for nature that will help wildlife move through the landscape. Seasonal grazing will be maintained across part of the land.
WWT thanks the many local people who have helped ensure the land has been well managed and cared for. WWT is keen for both existing and new volunteers to help manage the land and is looking to appoint new Volunteer Wardens. For more information about volunteering at this nature reserve please contact Debbie Chambers at debbiec@wiltshirewildlife.org or register to volunteer with WWT at volunteering.wiltshirewildlife.org.
CH Dixon Charitable Trust
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Change in ownership of land off Duck St, adjacent to Langford Lakes Nature Reserve