Fence installation at Funges Meadow nature reserve

10 August 2010

We are aware that there is some local concern about the installation of a fence and gate on the corner of Funges Meadow, which is located off Bowden Lane/Bassetsbury Lane in High Wycombe.

Funges Meadow is a small, ecologically-fragile nature reserve that provides a habitat and visiting place for wading herons; kingfishers; muntjac deer; badgers; birds; butterflies; and a wide variety of freshwater invertebrates, to name only a few.

The reserve is owned and managed by Wycombe District Council for conservation and education purposes. Our woodland rangers regularly invite schools, clubs and local community groups to explore the nature reserve, as well as holding regular conservation and family events at the site. The reserve is otherwise closed to the general public in order to retain its wildlife value.

While Funges Meadow is a much loved and well maintained local attraction, there is sadly a small minority of people who do not respect the fragility of the reserve. Some inappropriate activity continues to occur on the reserve, including people riding motorbikes through it, lighting small fires and introducing a fish species to the pond that would not occur naturally. All of these actions unfortunately result in some kind of damage to the ecology of the reserve.

In order to further protect the ecology of the reserve, our contractors are installing a 1.8m high fence. This metallic fence will be painted green by our woodland rangers and local volunteers and then a native hedgerow will be planted to screen it. We chose a galvanised fence that we could paint green, rather than a powder coated fence, because it was over £1,500 cheaper. We did not require planning permission to construct the fence because it was considered to be permitted development. We would like to apologise to any local residents who were surprised by our actions, but to assure them that we are acting in the best interest of the nature reserve itself.