Natural England - Now that Sounds Like Summer!

Now that Sounds Like Summer!

14 July 2009

The summer buzz of nature will be accompanied by the sound of nature-inspired music at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve (NNR) on Saturday, 25 July.

The ‘Sounds like Summer’ music and nature festival at Aston Rowant NNR builds on last year’s success, with a bigger line up of musicians from Oxfordshire and more activities for all the family. The festival will take place on a hill in the NNR, with stunning views across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The fun and music will be suitable for all ages and will cover a range of styles including folk, blues, soul, jazz and alternative.

Jenny Crook, Natural England’s Community Liaison Officer for Aston Rowant NNR says: “Aston Rowant NNR offers us great ‘natural’ experiences, especially during the buzz of the summertime, when you can breathe in the scent of thyme, basil and marjoram as you watch butterflies take to the air all around you.”

“Not only does the ‘Sounds like Summer’ event give us the chance to experience and learn about the nature on the site, it also allows us to share how other’s have interpreted the natural world. Each of us has different experiences of the natural environment and we all value it in different ways. Music is a great way of expressing these feelings and values, so come along and find out how nature has inspired others, while getting inspired yourself, and even the sound system is green, it’s pedal powered!”

The event will help people get closer to nature in other ways too. There will be instrument and drum making from natural materials, storytelling, bird watching and health walks amongst many other activities. The event is also the setting for the final of the Hammer and Tonge Climate Change performance poetry competition for young people, so there really will be something for children of all ages.

Cathy Rose, Activities and Education Officer, Chilterns Conservation Board says: “The summer is the best time to see the butterflies and flowers at Aston Rowant. The day will include a wild flower guided walk for those who want to learn about the special nature at the reserve and we’ll be offering lots of information on the best parts of the local countryside to visit in the future.”

The ‘Sounds Like Summer’ event has been organised by Natural England and the Chilterns Conservation Board. With support from Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, ARocha UK and Starlight Enterprises as well as a host of other partners.

Visitors can bring a picnic or sample the local BBQ, Caribbean and Indian food stall and get a cooling ice cream. Parking will be in the Cowleaze Wood car park opposite the nature reserve.

To find out more, please contact Jenny Crook on 01844 351833 or Cathy Rose on 01844 355506.

 ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Jenny Crook on 01844 351833, jenny.crook@naturalengland.org.uk, or
Antony Hart from Natural England’s communications team on 0300 060 4072, antony.hart@naturalengland.org.uk

Notes to Editors

  1. Natural England works for people, places and nature, to enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed so that they can be enjoyed now and in the future. For more information, please visit the website www.naturalengland.org.uk

  2. National Nature Reserves give the public a chance to experience at first hand a wide variety of wildlife. Designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) by Natural England, they are internationally significant and safeguarded under European law.

  3. Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve (NNR) is managed by Natural England, with support for community involvement coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Details of all the events can be found on the Natural England website, which is also a good place to find out about the organisation and other wildlife sites to visit across to country. The NNR also hosts school visits throughout the year and has a free Environmental Education Pack to download

  4. Aston Rowant NNR sits on the steep west-facing scarp of the Chilterns. It comprises flower-rich chalk grassland together with beech woodland and juniper scrub. A number of scarce plants can be seen at the reserve, including Chiltern gentian and a wide variety of orchids. The site is also home to many species of butterfly such as the silver-spotted skipper and chalkhill blue. The NNR’s diverse habitats support a variety of bird life and Aston Rowant is renowned as one of the best places in England to see red kites. The summer months are the best time to visit for butterflies and flowers.

  5. The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated in 1965, covers 833 sq kms (326 sq miles) stretching from Goring, in Oxfordshire, to near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, and has a resident population of 80,000.

  6. The Conservation Board was set up following the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000, to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and increase awareness and understanding of the Chilterns AONB. The Board, which also aims to foster the social and economic well being of local communities, is supported by all local authorities in the area and by the Countryside Agency, the National Trust and The Chiltern Society.

  7. For more information about the AONB or the Conservation Board, phone 01844 355500, email: office@chilternsaonb.org, website www.chilternsaonb.org

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