Hosted at Habberley Village Hall, the Rea Valley Community Wildlife Group shared a round-up of 2025 activities, potential volunteering opportunities and information on walks and events taking place in 2026.
Kat Edwards-White provided a welcome to 32 attendees and Ben Holloway led the official RVCWG APM business. RVCWG members agreed on the updated RVCWG constitution which was signed by Kat Edwards-White, Ben Holloway and Julian Bromhead. The official APM business also saw nominations and re-election of all 10 committee members.
Sarah Wallace-Johnson stepped down as Co-Chair but remained as a general committee member.
The following nominations were proposed, agreed by Liz Probert and seconded by Michael Howard:
Chair: Ben Holloway
Secretary: Kat Edwards-White
Treasurer: Julian Bromhead
General Committee Members: Laura Edwards-White, Julian Livsey, Siobhan Reedy, Sarah Wallace-
Johnson, Richard Gulliver, Rob Rowe and Leo Smith
Julian provided a treasurer report for the last year, and more details are included in the annual report for 2025.
Kat Edwards-White delivered a presentation showing the success of the group’s monthly walks and specialised events in 2025 thanks to additional support from the Shropshire Hills Conservation Fund. Julian Livsey summarised the iRecord results for 2025 detailing how RVCWG members have contributed to recording their wildlife sightings in the Rea Valley Area. This doesn’t include bird records as it’s recommended that all bird sightings are added to the BTO Bird Track App. Julian produces quarterly iRecord reports and these can be found on the RVCWG website. Kat gave a report on some of the species-specific survey results that the RVCWG members support. This included the successful season for pied flycatcher at the Resting Hill nestbox scheme as well as the Habberley nestbox scheme. Leo Smiths Curlew and Lapwing survey results were reported showing 7 pair of Curlew in the Rea Valley in 2025 with no Lapwing. A detailed report on the Curlew and lapwing results can be found on our website. A video was shown showing that 2025 was a good season for Curlew Country who recorded 5 wild Curlew fledglings and released the highest number of head started birds since the project began. The results of the willow tit surveys were also presented with a total of 4 willow tit territories were recorded in 2025 and endoscope footage of a willow tit nest was shown, only the third nest to be found and observed in Shropshire. Finally, the Swift results were shared from 2025 and RVCWG members were encouraged to use Swift Mapper either online or as the App to record Swift nests and screaming parties in the Rea Valley area in 2026.
Throughout the presentations details were given on how to get involved in attending walks and events as well as volunteering opportunities whether its nestbox checking, Willow Tit surveys or Curlew and Lapwing Surveys.
More information on everything that was presented at the APM can be found in the RVCWG Annual Report 2025 which is available on the website.
The break provided an opportunity for members to meet each other, share wildlife stories and view the range of displays available around the room.
After the break Julie Cowley, SOS Swift Species Champion, presented an engaging presentation all about Swifts. Sharing with the group her passion for Swifts, highlighting their decline and providing ways RVCWG members can support them.
A big thank-you to all the presenters and all the RVCWG members for their continuing support.
