Conservation

Wildlife goes on

A round-up of activity around our nature reserves from the Conservation Team

The ‘Great Anthropause’ – the global-scale, temporary slowdown in human activity. Much has been made of this recently and its possible impact on other species. Over the last few months, the Trust has been asked if we have noticed any real difference in how species have responded across our reserves. Here’s a little taster, though we should qualify this with: we’ve never been as busy! June 15th marked the return of volunteers to reserve management activities. Emerging into woodlands awash with flora, and meadows buzzing with life, to work in small bubbles to undertake essential seasonal work. Local members and volunteers had done a great job supporting Trust staff, during lockdown, to clear litter and repair the impact of anti-social behaviour that sadly has become all too commonplace since March. Now some of the bigger jobs could start to be undertaken.

Laura Tedstone

Living Landscapes Officer South

Phill Catton

Living Landscapes Officer North

The feedback was generally about how much bolder wildlife had become. Early nesters had taken up home closer to paths, as volunteers at Low Barns observed, while they repaired the damage to site paths caused by floods at the turn of the year. Path repair at Bishop Middleham had its own rewards, with an array of butterflies and orchids benefiting from the fine weather.

Left: Derek Newby, Fencing at Low Barns Above: Bishop Middleham Quarry

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Bottom left: Ringlet Butterfly and Soldier Beetles on Ragwort Bottom right: Dark Red Helleborine at Bishop Middleham Quarry by Mark Dinning

Education Den decking was completed at Rainton Meadows

With wildlife flourishing on the reserves, it was disappointing that survey and monitoring of species and habitats by volunteers had to cease during lockdown. Permission was given in June for this activity to recommence. At Bishop Middleham Quarry, volunteers undertook the annual dark red helleborine count which showed record numbers. The total this year was 2502 – 12.7% above the previous highest count, achieved in 1998. Bishop Middleham Quarry contains a rare grassland community that is also found at Town Kelloe Bank and Raisby Hill Grassland, amongst other sites. Here, bramble and thistle and purple moor-grass control was undertaken, as they out-compete the rare Magnesian Limestone plant communities. Fencing repairs and upgrades were also implemented across many sites, to support the Trust livestock, including the above reserves and many of the Gateshead nature reserves. Despite restrictions limiting the size of teams, more than 500 volunteer days have been spent this summer on non-native plant control across the reserves. Previous years of toil show positive results across sites, with Himalayan balsam much reduced. There were opportunities for a pause in work, for volunteers to enjoy bird song at places like Ousbrough Wood, Hawthorn Dene, Low Barns and Hesleden Dene. Including the crunchy calls of willow tits and the illusive pied flycatcher.

Pied Flycatcher by Amy Lewis

Imported charcoal (its production often costing the environment a high price) stopped coming into the UK this spring for a short period. Demand for Durham Wildlife Trust charcoal (produced as a by-product from our woodland and grassland management activities) soared. The hard and dirty work by staff and volunteers allows for funds from sales to be re-invested in the Trust’s nature conservation efforts. Looking forward, we have exciting developments in the pipeline for Shibdon Pond and Shibdon Meadow this autumn. It was with regret that we decided to temporarily close the boardwalk at Shibdon Pond earlier this year, but we simply felt it was no longer safe for public access. Our plan had always been to begin work on a new boardwalk in April, but with lockdown and the subsequent changes to working practices to minimise COVID-19 risks, we have had to look for other ways to deliver this important project. With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a local contractor, we are now back up and running, and will be starting work very soon to get this much valued trail open again. Plus, we will be installing new signage and way-markers to highlight the route between the Shibdon Pond and Shibdon Meadow reserves. It is a given that there is always more work to do than there is time available to do it. Usually, this is down to the inevitable conflict between our ambitions, the reality of our resources, and unbendable physics of how time passes. However, right now it feels more appropriate than ever to celebrate everything that has been achieved, as, given the circumstances, it could have easily been so much less. Particular recognition and thanks go to the volunteers who have made all this happen, and our members who support and enable it all.