The Parish Council are delighted to announce that the Pillhill Brook corridor has been designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

It was apparent when analysing the recent Neighbourhood Development Plan questionnaire responses that local residents care deeply about nature conservation and biodiversity. The Parish Council therefore set about gathering evidence of local protected species, with land access and photographic evidence kindly provided by village volunteers. With evidence of otter and water vole and an opportunity to establish a wildlife corridor linking existing SINCs, a stretch of the Pillhill Brook was an obvious candidate for SINC designation. A comprehensive report was written and submitted by the Parish Council to the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC), who subsequently made the decision to designate the entire brook from Fyfield to Upper Clatford. Fabulous news!

SINCs form part of a wider national network of locally valued wildlife sites and a designation raises awareness of its importance for wildlife, particularly with regard to planning and land management decision making.

Work has commenced on further SINC opportunities also outlined in the UC12 below.

Further details can be found in:

• The SINCs chapter of the draft NDP document (https://www.upperclatford.com/community/upper-clatford-15048/the-document-centre/)
• UC12 - Sights of Important Nature Conservation (https://www.upperclatford.com/community/upper-clatford-15048/ndp---consultation-documents/)