Inspired by the Rio summit, Kirtlington villagers set out to maintain biodiversity and have just published a report on their work, writes PETER BARRINGTON

Inspired by an international conference on the need to conserve wildlife around the world a group of Oxfordshire villagers agreed to find out just what could be found on their patch.

The gathering on naturalists and politicians at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio in 1992 called for plans to maintain biodiversity and in 1994 the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Bap) was launched. This recognised that biodiversity would be "won or lost at local levels".

By 2005 both Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council had published their own Baps.

A small group of residents in one village in the Cherwell district decided on their own plan of action and the Kirtlington Wildlife and Conservation Society (KWACS) was set up and this summer the society has just published a 52-page report on their work simply titled Wildlife and its Conservation in Kirtlington, Oxfordshire.

Chris Mason, a member of KWACS, explained that Baps were broadly designed to identify and record what species of birds, insects, mammals and plants were to be found in a given area and to consider what should be preserved.

For example, in the Kirtlington exercise the group discovered that some endangered birds, such as lapwings, corn buntings and skylarks, were still breeding in the locality.

Chris added: "We were fortunate in that the village has quite a variety of natural features from the old quarry, the Oxford Canal and the River Cherwell to farmland and woods and gardens."

The parish also includes Kirtlington Park, which has two lakes, a polo ground and the recently created golf course.

Mike Bramwell, who has moved away, was the main instigator of the group that eventually became known as KWACS.

Chris said: "Following the Rio summit Mike suggested to a small number of people that they ought to find out what was in their parish."

One of their first tasks was to carry out a survey of all hedgerows and also to carry out the management and conservation of the village pond, also known as Kyte's Pond, that others in the village had begun some time earlier.

Permission was obtained from the Parochial Church Council to create two wildlife areas in the churchyard of St Mary's church.

This means that the areas are mown at environmentally favourable times for the plants to encourage butterflies and protect invertebrates to flourish and flowers to bloom in successive years.

It was discovered that the churchyard was a safe haven for 17 different butterflies and a multitude of plants and trees. Nest boxes for swifts were installed, again with permission, in the church tower.

Membership of KWACS rose to about 40 and teams emerged to manage the old quarry, famed for its geology and a conservation area itself, and the neighbouring Washford pits, by clearing scrubland to protect grassland flora.

In 2006 members were helped in its work in the quarry by Ivan Wright, of Shotover Wildlife Group, who conducted a study of bees, wasps and ants. Ivan discovered that the quarry contained 90 different species, including some that were rare.

Bird nesting boxes have also been put up in the quarry. Four surveys have been completed, including a garden bird watch, and data has been collected on wildflowers, mammals, insects, birds and bats.

Member Paul Bullock emphasised the value of their work.

"We need to know what is here so that in ten to 20 years time we can see what we might have lost but also what we have been able to retain."

The published report was put together with advice from similar groups in Oxfordshire such as Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and Henley-on-Thames.

Chri s said: "I do not think we shall publish such a comprehensive report in the future but will probably add appendixes on latest research."

The report will go to all residents and interested bodies such as Cherwell District Council, the RSPB and the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre, which is based at nearby Woodstock.

The report is available to non-members. Call 01869 350518. In addition to their local studies KWACS has regular meetings to hear from wildlife and conservation experts.