The South Warwickshire Area Network for Wildlife (SWAN) is a network of wildlife-friendly community groups in south Warwickshire. Approximately 25 town/village groups are part of the network and others are very welcome to join.
SWAN provides a forum or hub for local wildlife groups to get together to share information, knowledge, resources and skills. Meetings are usually online but occasionally in-person. There are currently sub-groups working on how communities can support biodiversity in hedges and in verges, and several member groups are working on projects to support threatened species such as hedgehogs.
Training opportunities are organised with partners, such as WALC and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Recent initiatives have focused on the development of Local Nature Action Plans and training in the assessment of the condition of hedgerows.
SWAN has recently been awarded funding by Stratford-on-Avon District Council to develop a website. To join SWAN, contact the Chair, Rosemary Collier at rosemary_collier@btinternet.com
Professor Rosemary Collier, an entomologist and applied ecologist, was awarded an OBE in the January 2025 New Year’s Honours List for her pioneering work in horticultural science.
Based at Warwick Crop Centre, Professor Collier’s research focuses on sustainable pest management in horticultural crops, using methods that minimise ecological impact. This includes biological and physical strategies, host plant resistance, and novel technologies for pest monitoring, offering valuable insights to farmers, growers, and gardeners.