Nature in Harmony Project Update Presented at The Guildhall, Andover
Andover, 18th March 2025 – The latest developments in the Nature in Harmony (NIH) project were shared at a special update presentation held at The Guildhall, Andover. The event was hosted by Andover Trees United (ATU) as part of National Lottery Open Week, an initiative that acknowledges National Lottery players for their contributions and offers insight into how their funding supports vital environmental projects.
Nature in Harmony is an ongoing wildlife survey and community project in Harmony Woods and Diamond Wood. Established in 2020, it is led by an annual Ecology Intern to monitor local biodiversity, guide conservation efforts and educate the community on ecology and species identification. The programme includes: Biodiversity surveys (April–September) on wildflowers, birds, butterflies, and pollinators, Citizen science events in spring and summer and Youth engagement through the Nature in Harmony Exchange Project.
Wendy Davis, ATU Trustee and Founder, opened the event by welcoming attendees and highlighting the ongoing impact of NIH. She then introduced Alex, the original ATU Ecology Intern, who provided an inspiring update on her journey since completing her internship. Alex is now working on Nature’s Calendar, a significant project with the Woodland Trust that monitors seasonal changes in nature and their links to climate change.
The audience then heard from Katie, the 2024 NIH Intern, who delivered an engaging update on the progress and achievements of the NIH project over the past year. Her presentation showcased the ongoing research and suggested that the conservation efforts being undertaken to protect and restore natural habitats are working, as biodiversity levels are increasing! Her presentation also highlighted the effects of dog walking on wildlife in the area, specifically those that do not adhere to the dogs on lead rule. She found that dogs who are off-lead, interacted with more species and caused an alarmed response, whereas with on-lead dogs this was significantly reduced. Her full report, along with all previous reports, can be found on the ATU website here.
The event was well attended and ATU extends their gratitude to everyone who joined, especially the Deputy Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Linda Lashbrook and Deputy Consort Cllr Phillip Lashbrook. It was heartwarming to see such strong community engagement and support for conservation initiatives.
ATU is actively encouraging community members to get involved by becoming Survey Assistants, helping to collect vital data on local wildlife and habitats. Additionally, nature enthusiasts can attend upcoming Wild Harmony events, which offer opportunities to learn more about conservation efforts, participate in hands-on activities and connect with like-minded individuals. If you are interested please contact michelle.graham@andovertrees.org.uk
This event was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how National Lottery funding directly benefits ecological projects, helping to safeguard nature for future generations. ATU thanks all National Lottery players for making this work possible.
For more information on the Nature in Harmony project, how to become a Survey Assistant, or to join an upcoming Wild Harmony event, please visit the events page.
