RKWW#11 Andrew Stredder

Congratulation👏 to Andrew for being our 11th Red Kite Wildlife Warrior.🦋🌱

Andrew is a perfect example of someone at the start of their project. His ideas and enthusiasm have earned him the right to join the exclusive Red Kite Club.

Ranger CR says

“Andrew was introduced to the complexities and wonder of the Natural World in conversation with our Rangers but has developed his understanding through research, question and experience. His enthusiasm for knowledge is impressive and he has visited two of our woodlands to learn about the interwoven relationships that bind the species together. Andrew has also taken part in some aspects of woodland management including disease control in trees. On his own initiative,  Andrew has undertaken a rewilding project on his land  combining a variety of native plants to create a woodland margin habitat.
If we had more Andrews  we would have more wildlife.”

Andrew has the foundations on which to build up a woodland marginal habitat and is encouraged by the number of birds that are using his garden already.

‘Ranger CR invited me to his woodland, I spent most of the time looking up and never drawn to the ground. That changed visiting the woodland in deep Winter. We were feeding the Muntjac, Deer, Badgers and birds to name just a few. I soon realised through listening to others it all starts  with micro organisms supporting life from the root system beneath the ground. My knowledge of nature is primitive, a flower is a flower a tree is a tree, let alone the fungi, and the germination passing through the digestive system of an animal collecting seeds of plants, who’d of thought?! Native was the word, and it is missing in our woodlands and our gardens and it’s time it returned.
I’m like a bull in a china shop, dig this up, plant this there, throw away that surplus mound of mud. Not any more! My approach is with nature in mind.
I’m keen to introduce Bees, Butterflies, and Hedghogs into the garden, the birds are already in my trees and hedges around my garden which is fantastic to listen to at 5am on a Sunday morning!!!
I’m starting to leave ground cover popping through my bark and soil, I have no idea what it is, but it clearly likes it as it is thriving. It makes me consider avoid digging the borders, let nature take over and enjoy the surprise. I am on an adventure, making mistake, not knowing what I’m doing but listening to others and slowly my native patch at the front of the house will happen with time,  multiply and support an ecosystem . May I enjoy what unfolds with time.’

Andrew Stredder

We will look forward to updating his profile as his project develops and will be excited to hear about the wildlife he is encouraging.