TOP wildlife experts will be visiting the Marlborough Wild River Reserve established by Action for the River Kennet (ARK) to record the wildlife and flora found in the water meadow.

The river reserve is on both sides of the River Kennet in the east of the town and includes Stonebridge Water Meadow, which the town council and ARK have jointly acquired to protect it from future development.

ARK said Wiltshire County Recorders, who observe all kinds of wildlife, have taken the Marlborough wild river reserve as their main focus for the year.

ARK water meadows voluntary project officer Anna Forbes said: “They will be working to discover which plants and animals live on the wildlife reserve and add to the information already gathered.

“Their findings will be used to shape the ongoing management plans to benefit existing resident wildlife and perhaps encourage more.”

The recorders are individuals with specialist knowledge who give their time for free. The records are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) and the information they gather locally and nationally helps identify trends in species populations over time, and helps shape planning and management decisions locally.

Purgle Linham, biological recorder for the WSBRC, based at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in Devizes, said: “The River Kennet is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It supports a huge wealth of species which also make use of surrounding areas and benefit from the diverse habitats present.”

County recorder group chairman Anthony Bainbridge, who suggested the recorders adopt the water meadow as their project, said: “The initiative taken by ARK and the energy of recorders will help to put the natural history of Stonebridge on a secure footing.”

Jointly owned by ARK and the town council, Stonebridge Wild River Reserve is a 15-acre meadow with an almost 1km stretch of the River Kennet flowing through it.

Ms Forbes said: “The aim is to create a high quality natural environment with access for people to enjoy it. ARK volunteers are carrying out river management plans to improve the unique chalk stream habitat for a wide variety of animals.”

ARK’s management proposals can be viewed at www.riverkennet.

org or paper copies are available on request on (01672) 513672.