Discover Wildlife Explore Nature in Essex
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One tonne per person How reducing our individual impact will help combat the climate crisis
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The magazine for Essex Wildlife Trust members Issue 118 | SPRING 2022
What’s on this spring
Help your garden spring
into life
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We are about our photography competition winners
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BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS
NL PURE 32 ONE WITH NATURE SEE THE UNSEEN
Welcome
Issue 118 | SPRING 2022
‘we must never underestimate the power of communication. If we can engage, then we can inspire’
Welcome
E
ngaging people with wildlife is a key aspect of our work and this obviously relies on strong communication strategies, using a variety of media. In its simplest form, this is just good storytelling – a concept which has been around for millennia. In our modern world, if we can captivate an audience, even for just a few seconds, this can lead to a whole new appreciation of the world around us.
For me, it was a single close encounter with a barn owl at the age of seven and that was me hooked for life. This fascination became an obsession and then ultimately it turned into a career. Now my brain is filled with wildlife encounters from across the globe.
Discover us and join the conversation: Essex Wildlife Trust @essexwildlifetrust @EssexWildlife EssexWildlife @essexwildlifetrust Essex Wildlife Trust www.essexwt.org.uk
We all have stories to tell and experiences to share and we must never underestimate the power of communication. If we can engage, then we can inspire; if we can inspire, then together we can create an army of like-minded people who are committed to protecting wildlife. So be passionate about the wildlife you’ve seen and how it made you feel, because without realising it, you could be helping to preserve it so that future generations can share those same memorable experiences.
We need
your
help!
Campaign for a Wilder Essex
Stay up to date on all our campaigns and how you can speak up for wildlife by signing up to our campaigner’s email list at www.essexwt.org.uk/campaign
Dr. Andrew Impey
Celebrate with us
Chief Executive Officer
WILD is the magazine of Essex Wildlife Trust and is published four times a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
The Trust is a corporate member of The Wildlife Trusts.
MEET THE WILD TEAM
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Trustees of Essex Wildlife Trust.
Editor-in-Chief Emily McParland
No. 118 SPRING 2022 ISSN 2756-0066
We are the county’s leading conservation charity, committed to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature.
All enquiries to: Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, Essex, CO5 7RZ T 01621 862960 E enquiries@essexwt.org.uk www.essexwt.org.uk
Front cover photo: Nigel Harris
Reg Charity No. 210065 VAT Reg No. 945745977 Company Reg No. 638666 England
We manage nature reserves and discovery parks across the county, providing outstanding outdoor learning and preserving places of wonder. Founded in 1959 by volunteers, we protect over 100 sites across Essex and are supported by 40,000 members. Our climate is in crisis and nature needs our help. Together we can protect the future. Join us. We are one of the largest trusts that work together throughout the British Isles as The Wildlife Trusts.
Executive Editor Rich Yates Editorial Assistants Bailey Tait, Lauren Cosson & Zoe Kent Art Director Lottie Hall Advertising Sophie Hennessey To advertise in WILD magazine contact Sophie on sophieh@essexwt.org.uk Printing The DS Group WILD magazine includes adverts from third-parties. However, services offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by Essex Wildlife Trust. The income from advertisements goes towards the cost of printing and postage. This means that more of your membership donation goes directly towards conservation. Adverts must conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. Copyright © Essex Wildlife Trust 2022
Purchasing a leaf or bird on our Tree of Life at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park is a beautiful way to celebrate a special occasion. Visit www.essexwt.org.uk/tree-of-life
Toad watch
Keep an eye out for toads, toadspawn and toad crossings. Help us to track toads in Essex by logging your sightings at www.essexwt.org.uk/essex-toads
Peat-free pledge
Join the growing number of gardeners saying no to peat by pledging to go peat-free in your garden this spring. To learn how, visit www.essexwt.org.uk/actions/ how-go-peat-free-home We really hope you enjoy receiving your magazine. If, however, you would prefer to convert to our digital-only Green Membership, please contact the Membership Office on 01621 862964 or by email at members@essexwt.org.uk. We will be delighted to help you manage how we communicate with you.
WILD SPRING 2022
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Section title here
Share Our
shores Page 24 The Essex coastline spans 350 miles. Help us protect the wildlife that call it home by respecting our key beach-nesting bird sites and raising awareness on how to help.
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WILD SPRING 2022
Section title here
WHAT’S INSIDE 6 YOUR WILD ESSEX Photos you have taken showcasing the wild wonders of Essex.
8 TRUST NEWS
Updates from throughout the Trust on our work to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature.
14 Under the spotlight:
30 Spring wildlife
The spring bulb capital of Essex – this time of year sees thousands of flowers bloom on this important heritage site and nature reserve just outside of Brentwood.
Warley Place nature reserve
gardening
32 How you can
help wildlife
Our solitary bees are emerging from hibernation and looking for somewhere to nest - build a bee B&B to help these vital pollinators.
Photo: Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Author Kate Bradbury shares tips on how to help your garden buzz with life this spring.
34 The Essex Climate Action Commission
The Trust’s President, Professor Jules Pretty MBE, shares detailed information on how we can all cut our carbon emissions.
20 Planting the right trees
Creating wilder woodlands will help in our fight against climate change – but the right tree in the right place is key for conservation.
46 WHAT’S ON Ladybird photo: Jennifer Spittle
THIS spring
From the first flowers breaking through the frosted ground, to wildlife waking up from their long sleep, we’ve highlighted the top species and spectacles to look out for, and a number of events and activities to add to your diary.
52 Time Tunnel
We travel back in time to the year 1978 to see what was happening at the Trust.
58 Wildlife Crossword
Oystercatcher photo: Elliott Neep
Test your knowledge on the wonderful wildlife and wild places in Essex.
36 Photography Competition
Essex Wildlife Trust’s biggest photography competition yet saw an incredible array of images. Our panel of judges chose the six category winners, while a public vote determined the stunning overall winner.
Your Wild Essex Dinner is served! This cheeky robin takes the bait of photographer Baz Berry.
Hidden amongst our urban jungles or soaring above vast open countryside, our Essex wildlife is always just waiting to be discovered. Our supporters are always ready to share their wild encounters, so sit back and enjoy this collection of some of our favourite images submitted by you over the past few months.
This fox has a lot to smile about and was captured in the moment by James Ball, @james.wildlifeworld.
Freshly caught pike is on the menu at Abberton Reservoir for this great white egret beautifully captured by Trevor Hockey.
A majestic stag out for an evening stroll in Havering, spotted by Anila Hussain.
If you would like to feature in our next edition of WILD magazine, please email your favourite images of Essex wildlife and wild places to magazine@essexwt.org.uk or tag Essex Wildlife Trust on social media. 6 |
WILD SPRING 2022
Your Wild Essex
Frinton looking like a far-flung tropical paradise by Owen Gosling, @essexwalkingbritain.
An angelic-looking spoonbill enjoying a day out at Abberton Reservoir spotted by Dave Rice.
The dramatic impacts of coastal erosion at Walton-on-the-Naze by John Davies.
An unusual Christmas Eve visitor to the garden of Julia Perry, @julia_p_60. Nothing to see here… a clever moorhen tries to disguise itself as a garden bird to get a free snack, as captured by David Hicks.
#essexwildlifetrust WILD SPRING 2022
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Stories and news from throughout the Trust on our work to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature across Essex. Written by our staff, volunteers and members of our Local Groups.
Great crested newt photo: John Bridges
Trust news
Hazel dormouse photo: Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
Abberton’s new nuttery Katie Goldsbrough Ranger at Abberton
Students from Colchester Sixth Form College's conservation group joined our team at Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park to create a delicious and irresistible ‘nuttery’ for hazel dormice and other wildlife. The enthusiastic and passionate students planted a total of 108 hazel whips, including dogwood and alder buckthorn in the centre of the reserve. By connecting existing hazel and other favourable dormouse habitat, a safe foraging zone has been created.
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This plantation was also the Trust’s first trial of using our new sustainable cardboard tree guards. Four older trees were planted in the picnic area including oak, white beam and silver birch. All native to the local area of Colchester, these trees will boost biodiversity and survivability against climate change, alongside providing future shade and connectivity between hedgerows for birds.
Trust news
New Look for wildlife Karen Dixon Corporate Coordinator
Essex Wildlife Trust is delighted to have been named the local charity partner for New Look in 2022. The fashion chain asked employees across their 13 stores in Essex to choose their first local community charity to support over the next 13 months, with Essex Wildlife Trust being named as the charity of choice. This fantastic opportunity allows the Trust to work with a national brand at a local level, inspiring them to help the natural world, while raising vital funds for the Trust.
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Pond restoration at Langdon Josh Childs Ranger at Langdon
In 2019, we started the pond restoration in Woodland Heights by removing the poplar trees that were choking the pond, allowing light to reach the margins and water column. These non-native hybrid trees had reached their natural life expectancy and were deemed a risk to the public and the surrounding houses. The material Lesser stag beetle photo: Wendy Carter from the trees was chipped to create habitat piles for amphibians such as great crested newts and invertebrates including lesser stag beetle. The pond has been a hive of activity which has demonstrated how much healthier it is after the removal. The grassy areas around the pond were historically rich in wildflowers, so work has now begun to remove excess nutrients through a cutting regime to encourage wildflower growth, while using the cuttings to top up habitat piles.
Become a Wild Warrior
12 Days Wild Bailey Tait Campaigns Officer
The Wildlife Trusts' festive nature challenge saw 7,318 people take part over the holiday period. Starting on Christmas day, individuals and families chose one random act of wildness to complete for each of the 12 days of Christmas. It was fantastic to see so many creative and original ideas – from baking naturethemed cookies, to taking a blustery winter walk or painting hyper-realistic portraits of fungi. It’s important for us all to take time to appreciate nature and connect with our wild side every day, so we hope the participants are feeling more connected with nature than ever right now! If you’d like to take part in a similar challenge, you can sign up to our summer nature challenge 30 Days Wild from May. Find out more at www.essexwt.org.uk/ 30-Days-Wild.
Michelle Shepherd Supporter Development Officer Essex Wildlife Trust relies on fantastic fundraisers to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature. Our Wild Warriors have physically challenged themselves, held bake sales and bingo nights, sold plants, and creatively raised vital funds for the Trust. We have created a Fundraising Pack full of inspiration to help more people become Wild Warriors for the Trust, this is available on our website. If you’d like to help the Trust raise vital funds in other ways, you could join our Wildlife Lottery, where not only are you supporting Essex Wildlife Trust and other local causes, you could be in with the chance of winning £25,000! Or if you’re considering a spring clean, the Trust recycles jewellery, bras, stamps and electronics. Find more information on all aspects of fundraising for the Trust at www.essexwt.org.uk/fundraise.
‘make this year your year for wild life’
‘We need to ture support The futher’ ge of wildlife to
‘Make us your charity of choice’
Contents
Contents
Peacock butterfly photo: Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
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easyfundraising Easter Have a cracking easyfundraising.org.uk/c
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Support from your local stores and supermarkets
your Wildlife fundraising pack
Many stores and supermarkets help support their local communities by offering customers a chance to choose a charity of their choice to receive a donation. How you can help? You can nominate the trust for these schemes and vote for us when you see us in your local store.
Find your nearest store online or visit the store in person to complete a nomination form and nominate Essex Wildlife Trust. Watch out for ASDA’s green token giving or Waitrose and John Lewis community matter schemes. If you do make a nomination, please email fundraise@essexwt.org.u k to let us know.
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Trust news
Nature Friendly Schools Emma Peters Outdoor Learning Officer
Our Nature Friendly Schools project supports schools within disadvantaged communities to build resilience and outdoor learning into their teaching. Covid-19 has highlighted the obstacles these communities face, in limited access to green space. The Trust has helped to ‘green’ school grounds by planting trees and wildflower meadows, providing the school with planters, tools and creating willow dome classrooms. We have also been able to provide welly boots and waterproofs to overcome clothing barriers. Supported sessions have allowed us to share our outdoor learning expertise and leave schools confident in the knowledge they’ll be able to continue this work independently. One school said, “We have experienced real engagement from children and staff with outdoor learning, and the
level of excitement towards it is very high. We have developed a better relationship with our site-gardener too!”. Within just two years, the project has shown promise for the future of outdoor learning. The hands-on experiences provided alongside the increase in understanding and appreciation for the natural world will inspire many generations to come.
Mobilising young audiences Bailey Tait Campaigns Officer
Last November, we held a live virtual event for 16-25 year olds on YouTube called Wilder Essex: LIVE! Essex Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive Andrew Impey chaired the panel, which included science communicator Sophie Pavelle, naturalist, nature writer and volunteer Andrew Millham, the Trust’s Outdoor Learning Officer Emma Peters and Isabella Ciuta the Vice President of Community and Engagement at the University of Essex Students’ Union. Our panel of special guests answered questions from the public, shared their wisdom on working in the conservation and environment sector and talked through their ideas on how young people can help make a Wilder Essex. A great discussion was held by all, you can go back and watch the event on www.youtube.com/ EssexWildlife.
Photo: Evie and Tom photography
Urban Wildlife Champions Danielle Carbott Urban Engagement Officer
Urban areas are expanding across Essex, fragmenting habitats and putting pressure on our biodiversity, while disconnecting humans from the natural world. Essex’s urban green, blue and brown spaces must be made wilder and support both people and wildlife. To achieve this, we need grassroots, community-led action. Using the Trust’s new community organising approach, we want to shift the power to communities, supporting individuals to make the local changes they want for people and wildlife. We are launching our Urban Wildlife Champions project and are looking for leaders to take action in their communities. Perhaps you want to create hedgehog highways through your town, install swift boxes along your road, create wildflower corridors in your local park, or campaign for wilder gardens within your village? Help us create a Wilder Essex and find out more at www.essexwt.org.uk/urban-wildlife-champions.
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WILD SPRING 2022
Trust news
Tiptree Heath’s new route Joan Pinch
Warden at Tiptree Heath Tiptree Heath nature reserve is the only place in Essex where you can find all three species of heather growing together – ling, cross-leaved and bell. The reserve is the largest area of lowland heathland in the county and has become increasingly popular with visitors in recent years. Fred Boot, a former chairman of Essex Wildlife Trust, helped to plan a new ‘winter route’, before his passing in 2019. Thanks to funding from the Friends of Tiptree Heath, Tiptree Parish Council and donations in memory of Fred Boot, we began work on the new route last autumn. This new route will provide a firm and drier surface to walk outside the stock fencing, protecting the sensitive heathland habitat in muddier areas. There are two more stages of work to protect further areas that will progress over the next two years.
Distinguished jumping spider photo: Neil Philllips
Micro Landscapes Tiffany Rogerson
Landscape Conservation Area Assistant - South East Once the home of Thurrock Power Station, Oliver Road Lagoons nature reserve is a fascinating brownfield site owned by the Land Trust. This private nature reserve is flourishing into a haven for wildlife, thanks to funding from Land of the Fanns in support of our Micro Landscapes project. This project enabled the Trust to convert a seven hectare area, previously identified as lacking in biological diversity, into grassland and bare ground. This provides essential habitats for many rare specialist species, including the distinguished jumping spider that can be found on other parts of the site. Felled scrub was processed into wood chippings and recycled for use at nearby power stations. Soil and stumps were converted into south-facing ‘bee banks’ for nesting, burrowing and basking invertebrates and reptiles. By inverting the soil, pulverised fuel ash (PFA) is brought to the surface. The toxicity and lack of nutrients within this soil encourages wildflower growth and suppresses future scrub re-growth, allowing for long-term development of this habitat into a wildflower haven. Regular monitoring and surveys will show what species move in to this ecological refuge within West Thurrock. In time, we are hoping to introduce local guided walks for members of the public to see and enjoy this transformed space.
Volunteering with the Trust Rosie Abbott Volunteering Development Manager
Thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers who generously donate their time to support the Trust’s mission. We would like to give a special thank you to David Clarke, who has retired from his position of Volunteer Warden of Roman River nature reserve after a fantastic 42 years. The Trust has many different volunteering roles. Recently, we have worked with the Nature Nursery team to develop early-years volunteering opportunities. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from staff, children and the volunteers themselves.
Are you interested in volunteering for Essex Wildlife Trust? Discover our volunteering opportunities at www.essexwt.org.uk/volunteer.
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Trust news
News from Braintree Local Group Tracey Kay
Braintree Local Group Events Coordinator Braintree Local Group is holding a talk with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) on Tuesday 15 March at St Andrews Church Hall in Halstead at 7.45pm, following the Local Group Annual General Meeting. Love Thy Neighbourhood Gulls will delve into the world of gulls, with Viola Ross-Smith from the BTO discussing species, population trends, conservation status, breeding ecology and the relationship between gulls and humans. Suggested donation of £3, more information can be found at www.essexwt.org.uk/events.
News from Brentwood & Billericay Local Group
Graham Clegg Chair of Brentwood and Billericay Local Group We had a good turnout for our walk at Hylands Park in Writtle on Tuesday 5 January. It proved that you don’t have to go far to experience nature; it’s on your doorstep. Committee member and walk leader, John McLaughlin, explained the history of the Hylands Estate and how the 574 acre parkland came to be laid out by the famous landscape architect, Humphrey Repton. During the walk, we spotted 32 species of birds. We also visited the One World Garden, the Pleasure Gardens and the restored duck pond. Dates of future planned walks, events and contact details can be found at www.essexwt.org.uk/events.
Black headed gull photo: Joe Francis
News from Havering Local Group Joy Emerson Secretary of Havering Local Group
Our “Tony’s wildlife walks” have been a great success and anyone is welcome to join. Recently we have been able to hold illustrative talks, where members of the Local Group have heard about Warley Place nature reserve and the birds of Mersea Island. The Havering Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Monday 14 March 2pm-4.15pm at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch. The AGM will be followed by a talk My Menagerie: Rearing shield bugs and ladybirds by Yvonne Couch. Book by calling Joy on 07759869910. Hawthorn shield bug photo: Amy Lewis
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Warley Place nature reserve
Warley Place nature reserve
A site where nature and history entwine, the historic garden at Warley Place nature reserve comes alive in spring, when a profusion of flowers cover this reserve in a dazzling display of colours.
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WILD Spring 2022
Warley Place nature reserve
What to look out for this spring atWarley Place Daffodils
The star of the show, thousands of daffodils can be found across the nature reserve in early spring.
California laurel
This infamous tree is referred to as the ‘headache tree’ due to evidence that the vapours from its aromatic leaves can give people head pains if they stand near it for too long.
Nuthatch
This woodland bird can be seen descending tree trunks head-first, look for them from the wildlife hide. Nuthatch photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey
Hills Photography
Billie’s facts Warley Place nature reserve
Small copper photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey
Hills Photography
Small copper
As the warm weather arrives later in spring, this striking orange and black butterfly can be found basking on bare ground in the sunshine.
Daffodil photo: Neil Aldridge
Size: 81 hectares. Address: Warley Road, Great War ley, Brentwood, CM13 3HU. Access: The gate is opened daily during daylight hours and there is a small car par k on site. There are paths throughout the nature reserve, with steps and gentle sloping trails to take you through this historic place. Dogs: No dogs are allowed due to the sensitivities of this site.
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Warley Place nature reserve
A
springtime visit to Warley Place is not to be missed, when the nature reserve is covered in a golden hue of daffodils and the scene is truly breathtaking. A dedicated team of Essex Wildlife Trust volunteers hold an annual event from late February to mid-April called the Spring Bulb Spectacular, where visitors can witness the thousands of daffodils accompanied by an abundance of snowdrops and crocuses, followed by bluebells and foxgloves. Although spring is undoubtedly a special time to visit Warley Place, a visit to this site just outside of Brentwood is a truly unique experience at any time of the year. The renowned horticulturalist Ellen Willmott called Warley Place her home from 1876-1934. She was one of the UK’s most influential horticulturalists and garden designers, as well as being a well-respected naturalist and active member of the Essex Field Club. Warley Place is recognised as a site of national importance for its historic interest and as such is listed as a Grade II Registered Park and Garden. Essex Wildlife Trust took over the management of the site in 1977 and today it has the feel of a ‘wild garden’ or ‘romantic ruin’, with the historic features of the site entwined with nature. There are a number of impressive veteran trees growing around the reserve. The structural cavities, loose bark, gnarly branches and deadwood offered by these giants of nature are appreciated by flora and fauna alike, providing important habitat for bats, nesting birds, wood decay insects, fungi, lichen, liverworts and mosses. Due to the site’s history, the veteran trees are a combination of native and ornamental species. There are two trees that are over 350 years old on site: a walnut tree, estimated at 372 years, and a sweet chestnut tree, estimated at
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WILD Spring 2022
363 years old. It is wonderful to envision the changes these trees have witnessed across Natterer’s bat photo: Tom Marsh all the surrounding landscape since the mid-1600s – we now have the busy M25 less than a kilometre away and the skyscape of London in the distance. Despite the proximity to our urban landscape, the nature reserve offers a peaceful tranquillity. With high vantage points, on a clear day you can see views of St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, the Shard, Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena. Warley Place nature reserve is home to an important roosting site for bats, supporting eight species (including Leisler’s, Natterer’s, noctule and brown long-eared). The two ponds are home to a population of great crested newts and common toads. Birds to look out for include nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest, red kites and if you’re really lucky, the tiny firecrest. The activity of badgers can also be seen from the footpath and bridge, across the alpine gorge. There are two unimproved meadows that are grazed by cattle each year to improve biodiversity. These areas of grassland provide important habitat for insects; in 2021, Trust volunteers conducted regular butterfly transect surveys and recorded over 20 species, including marbled white, small copper, small heath and painted lady. Elsewhere on the site, silver-washed fritillary and white-letter hairstreak were also recorded.
Warley Place Section naturetitle reserve here
‘Standing amongst the brickwork you can visualise the sheer scale and intricacy that was Ellen Willmott’s garden.’
The remains of Ellen Willmott’s historic walled garden and horticultural elements are still visible today. Standing amongst the brickwork you can visualise the sheer scale and intricacy that was Ellen Willmott’s garden. There remains the prominent centrally located features of the walled garden and conservatory, as well as ruinous brickwork from glasshouses, herbaceous beds, cold frames, ha-has, hothouses, a summer house and a terrace. There is also the completely novel alpine gorge, which is thought to be one of Willmott’s most influential designs. Ellen Willmott gardened with the mantra ‘right plant, right place’ and was one of the first exponents of wild gardening, approaching with a synthesis of gardening, ecology and horticulture. Important horticultural heritage is still evident at the site, with numerous notable plants including Persian ironwood, Chusan palm, tree of heaven, paper mulberry and Miss Willmott’s ghost, to name but a few. Although the site is an important nature reserve, it is also so much more, attracting visitors from all over, allowing an extra opportunity to engage the public in the importance of nature. The site also requires additional expertise, therefore the Trust has been working with a team of external consultants to produce a specialist management plan.
historic garden required considerable works to restore and protect them for the future. The condition of the historic heritage was of concern to Historic England and as such the site was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in November 2021. Essex Wildlife Trust supports this decision and is hopeful that with the further funding opportunities this will bring, the unique historic site can be protected and reinforced for the future, while continuing to enhance its value for wildlife. On the nature reserve itself, the Trust is working on completing necessary tree works on a number of the notable trees, undertaking pond restoration works, removing and replacing livestock fencing to enable conservation grazing, alongside looking at access and opening a new footpath known as the ‘nut walk’. A visit to Warley Place nature reserve this spring will be a treat to your senses. Please keep to the footpaths and follow the signage or attend one of the guided walks on Saturdays at 10.30am during the Spring Bulb Spectacular to learn more about this fascinating site.
Alongside an assessment of ecological interest, the management plan included a comprehensive account of the history of the site, a condition assessment of the historic ruinous structures and a survey of notable trees. The production of this plan was funded by the Rural Payments Agency under a Countryside Stewardship agreement capital grant, together with a funding contribution from Land of the Fanns (a National Heritage Lottery Funded project). The plan presented a vision for the site going forward and highlighted that the ruinous features associated with the
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Section title here
Wild Folklore
F
olklore is a mixture of the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community. Whether it be fairy tales like Hansel & Gretel, or ancient ceremonies like wassailing, folklore is usually passed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth as part of a centuries-old oral tradition. Through the ages, plants and animals commonly found in Essex have creeped into this space of myths and legends – let's explore a few of them… Native bluebell
Lining the paths of ancient woodlands in Essex, the violet glow of bluebells is a springtime wildflower spectacle. For such a bright and dainty flower, much of the folklore surrounding them is rather dark. Bluebell woods are said to be heavily enchanted, with the flowers intricately woven with fairy charms, used to lure and trap passers-by. Similarly, if a child picks a bluebell, some believe that they will be led astray by fairies, wandering lost forevermore. When you next find yourself walking through a woodland, you might just hear the high-pitched ring of a bluebell, calling the fairies to a gathering. Don’t listen too carefully, however, as some say that if a human hears the bell, they will be visited by a mischievous fairy and die soon after! Cheerful and fairy-less folklore also exists. According to floriography, also known as the ‘language of flowers’ (a system where meanings are given to specific plants) the bluebell symbolises humility, constancy and gratitude. As they pop up dependably each year from the damp leaf-mulched soil, I cannot help but feel grateful for the earthy carpet of colour that they dot onto nature’s canvas after the bleak monotone winter. Have you ever tried to turn a bluebell inside out? If you can manage it without tearing petals, then superstition holds that you will win true love.
Badger
The humble badger, a figurehead for The Wildlife Trusts, is steeped in folklore. Across Britain and Ireland, they symbolise persistence, confidence and strong will. In the 16th century, some even believed that badgers could grant protection from witchcraft! Perhaps they came to symbolise protection because, in reality, they defend their sets so aggressively. One of this species’ most popular portrayals is in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. Mr. Badger is grumpy but wise – you can go and visit him along themed trail at Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Park. As is often the case with dark coloured creatures, many folk tales portray badgers as bringers of bad luck, like this 200-yearold rhyme:
' Should one hear a badger call, And then an ullot [owl] cry, Make thy peace with God, good soul, For thou shall shortly die.' Butterfly
The name for these flying insects may have stemmed from an ancient belief that witches took the form of butterflies to steal milk and butter. This term may have been exclusively used for yellow butterflies (which shine like butter) and, over time, came to be used as a collective term for them all. Butterflies are usually represented in a positive light, symbolising beauty and summertime. Their metamorphic ability, transforming from a caterpillar into a magnificent winged creature, has associated them with rebirth, transformation and hope – words that conjure up images of spring. Around the world, the butterfly is rather poignantly used to represent the human soul and our own ability for change. Butterfly colouring has even been used for weather prediction! An old wives’ tale states that if the first butterfly seen in spring is white, then clear, cloudless days are ahead. However, if a dark butterfly appears first – like a speckled wood or heath fritillary - then a stormy summer awaits.
Humans are experts at ascribing meaning to the natural world. In reality, these tales and superstitions tell us more about ourselves than the creatures they concern. All wildlife in Essex should be celebrated – not feared. Badgers out for a twilight stroll, bluebells nodding gently in the low sun and butterflies fluttering by are all delightfully unaware of the mystical meanings that we have attributed to them. Andrew Millham, naturalist, nature writer and volunteer at Essex Wildlife Trust
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toad? Seen a
Common toad photo: Dawn Monrose
Despite their name, the common toad is becoming increasingly uncommon in our landscape. Each spring, thousands of toads emerge from hibernation and visit their ancestral ponds to mate and lay their spawn. But their journey can be perilous, crossing busy roads and encountering habitat fragmentation.
Help the Trust understand the distribution of these warty and wide-eyed amphibians in our county, enter your records of toads and toadspawn onto our digital map:
www.essexwt.org.uk/essex-toads Love Essex • Love Wildlife
Registered Charity No. 210065
Right tree right place
When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for the trees, as Barnaby Coupe explores…
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Right tree right place
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MISTY WOODLAND © MIKE READ/NATUREPL.COM
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or many people, trees and woodlands are emblematic of our deepest connections with nature. They are a constant in our culture and histories, from the Hundred Acre Wood to the adventures of Robin Hood, and with good reason. Our native woodlands are vibrant, wild, and shrouded in mystery — the perfect place for nature to thrive. Ancient native woodlands in particular hold a wealth of life, with a complex weave of ecological networks and relationships between a huge array of diverse species. For example, the mighty oak, a staple of British woods, provides habitat for more than 2,300 species, from woodland birds to fungi. These long-standing woodlands also possess trees of varying ages, with old trees offering nest holes for birds like redstarts and pied flycatchers, dead and dying trees providing essential habitat for fungi and insects like stag beetles, and young trees and dense, thorny scrub creating nesting sites for warblers and nightingales. Stag beetles and nightingales, amongst other benefiting wildlife, are some of the most threatened species in the UK, so having wilder, natural woodlands which contain these habitats are critical for their continued survival. Yet as we are now seeing the impacts of a changing climate, our woodlands are receiving increased interest in another of their magical properties — the ability to take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and lock it away for centuries in their branches, their roots, and within the soil. As a result, trees have increasingly been put forward as a win-win solution for nature and the climate, but are trees always a silver bullet?
Section title hereplace Right tree right
Many birds, like pied flycatchers, depend on diverse, native woodlands
Heroic habitats While important, trees are not the only answer to solving the climate crisis. Habitats such as chalk downland, hay meadows, peatlands, and heathland all have extraordinary value for wildlife and will play a large role in addressing the climate crisis too. Yet, in the drive to plant more trees, it is precisely these habitats that can be put at risk. In fact, planting trees on the above habitats often does more harm than good. Trees planted on habitats such as our flower-filled meadows, most of which have already vanished in the past century due to increased agricultural intensification, can lead to a loss of wildlife, and further threaten the precious remnants that remain. Yet this bias for trees exists, as evidenced in a recent decision to replant an area of degraded heathland with conifers rather than restore it to its natural state.
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Magazine Name | Winter 2020
WILD SPRING Winter2022 2021
Shallow peat soil is particularly at risk from tree planting, and creating new woodlands in these areas can release more CO2 than the trees end up taking in through soil degradation. Multiple examples of this were seen in the mid-20th century, when vast areas of peatland were drained, ploughed, and assailed with single-species plantations of nonnative conifers in a short-sighted bid to increase timber resources. Right tree, right place This approach to planting trees has been rightly castigated by the majority of environmentalists and foresters alike, yet we are still seeing examples of this happening today in the increased drive to plant trees to address the climate crisis. In just one example from last year, 100 acres of bog, heath and grassland were destroyed to plant trees. So what’s the answer? Have we learnt from the mistakes of the past?
Fallen trees can provide an essential habitat for beetles
Right tree right place
B ranching out
If you are considering planting a tree in your own garden or pursuing a small woodland creation project, check out our guide to tree planting at wildlifetrusts.org/plant-a-tree
Barnaby Coupe is the Land Use Policy Manger at The Wildlife Trusts and leads on the development of tree and woodland policy.
We know that trees are not just carbon-capturing machines. They are part of a living, breathing ecosystem. When creating new woodlands, it has to be the right tree, in the right place, working with the environment around it. By ensuring that the right tree is planted in the right place, large areas of new, highly biodiverse, native woodland can be created as part of a joined-up system which benefits other habitats for nature, whilst drawing down carbon at the same time. Wilder woodlands Of course, one way to get around the issue of where to plant trees is to let trees plant themselves. After all, planting trees does not create a woodland. Forests are diverse and dynamic environments which have developed over years, decades, and millennia. Their complex ecological networks are both above ground and within the soils, involving a huge array of interdependent relationships between many species. And these systems were operating long before the development of wooden stakes and plastic tree guards. Natural regeneration is the best way of creating new, natural, and wilder woodlands for wildlife. This is particularly powerful when expanding ancient semi-natural woodland, as it allows the expansion of the entire woodland ecosystem, where new saplings can take advantage of symbiotic relationships with networks of fungi in the soil. With time and patience, this can result in stunning woodlands for wildlife, such as Brampton Wood in Cambridgeshire. Not only is it more cost effective than planting, but natural regeneration is also the best way of creating woodlands that are resilient to a changing climate. It allows these habitats to develop a dynamic agestructure, genetic variation, and associated ecologies, where trees that grow to maturity will be best suited to their local micro-climatic conditions, such as soil type, water availability, and sunlight. All of this makes them more resilient to external pest and disease threats.
You can also get in touch with your nearest Wildlife Trust who can help with any specific queries you may have when considering how best to go about a new tree planting project.
A nuanced approach Now, natural regeneration won’t be possible everywhere, and in some locations it will need a great deal of support to get going. It is clear that expanding the UK’s network of native tree and woodland cover will have a huge role to play in rebuilding ecological networks, delivering nature’s recovery, and tackling the climate crisis, and if we are to increase woodland cover in this country significantly then we will need to look at planting more trees. But we must not forget about the other habitats across the UK. Restoring the UK’s peatlands will be critical to meeting our climate ambitions, and the protection and restoration of our other threatened habitats are crucial if we are to bend the curve on biodiversity loss. A nuanced approach is required, one which creates more, bigger, better, and more joined-up woodlands, hedgerows, trees and scrub thriving with wildlife and accessible to people, while also ensuring protection of other vital habitats where tree planting may be more damaging than helpful.
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BLUEBELLS & DEADWOOD © NEIL ALDRIDGE; JAY, PINEMARTEN, PIED FLYCATCHER © MARK HAMBLIN/2020VISION; OAK SAPLING © ALAN PRICE
Jays play a vital role in natural regeneration, carrying away acorns and caching them in the ground
If you’re considering a larger woodland creation project, then check out our guidance on suitable sites for tree planting at wtru.st/tree-chart
Share our shores
Share Our
S
pring is upon us and our beach-nesting birds are getting ready to settle down into the breeding season. This is a critical time for many species, as beach-nesting birds are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – including rising sea levels and an increase in storm surges. Anthropogenic pressures and disturbance on key nesting sites can end up being the determining factor into whether these birds successfully battle through tough conditions and raise fledglings. Essex Wildlife Trust and the RSPB are working alongside BirdAware and the Essex Police Marine Unit, implementing habitat management on coastal nature reserves, training volunteers to record vital data on their populations, monitoring disturbance on the coastline and amplifying awareness on how to help these species.
From March – August, we need to share the shores with little tern, ringed plover and oystercatcher, and do all we can to spread the word. Last year saw a very successful year for beach-nesting birds on Colne Point nature reserve, and we’re hopeful that year-on-year these measures will bring them back from the brink and to healthy population numbers on the Essex coast. on
Little tern photo: Lyn Ibbits
How you can help 1. Know where they are By familiarising yourself with potential breeding locations you can help reduce disturbance to a nesting site and know to look out for their camouflaged nests.
2. Respect zoned off areas Areas with signage and rope are “no go” zones from April to August as these sites are protected for wildlife.
3. Avoid disturbance by boat Reduce the disturbance on the water by only landing boats on designated moorings and landing areas, keep water sports away from the shoreline, respect speed limits and minimise noise near breeding sites.
4. Back away if you disturb a breeding species Short, sharp alarm calls, birds with full beaks or coming unusually near to you usually mean you are too close to their young or eggs, which can often be very well hidden. If you see any of this behaviour, you should back up the way you came to avoid any risk of disturbing or injuring young, being careful to watch where you tread.
5. Raise awareness Help spread the word about the importance of our coastline for beach-nesting birds and how everyone can help these endangered species by following these key guidelines.
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Share our shores
shores
We've produced a number of leaflets and resources. Download them from our website and help us share them within coastal communities, to raise awareness on how we can all help our coastal birds this summer.
www.essexwt.org.uk/ share-our-shores
Share your sightings of these special birds with us, using #ShareOurShores or emailing us at magazine@essexwt.org.uk Ringed plover photo: Tom Marshall
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Inspirational supporters
Inspirational
supporters There are many spectacular species in the natural world. For Barbara, her love for flora and fauna began at the age of six. Her first memory was discovering fat hen, a plant that is a popular food source for birds and insects. As a child, she loved to explore the wildlife in hedgerows, where she would search for wildflowers to include in her detailed scrapbook. Over time, this flourished into a very comprehensive collection of the wildflowers that grew in Ashwell – a collection that was then donated to the Hitchin Natural History Museum who display her detailed findings.
Barbara relocated to Southend with her husband Neil, and later became members of Essex Wildlife Trust and the Southend and Rochford Local Group in 1997. Barbara’s love for birds inspired her to assist with the counting of wetland birds at Hanningfield, where she would often spot her favourites: red-crested pochard and kingfisher. Her wildflower knowledge she developed as a child has helped her carry out countless wildflower surveys on our nature reserves. On one memorable occasion, there was a bull grazing in the fields of Tollesbury Wick, but Barbara was not going to let that put her off! Her dedication to the Trust has not stopped there. From stock-taking at Langdon, to fundraising a tremendous amount, Barbara’s efforts have continued. Over the years, with the help of Neil as her dedicated chauffeur, Barbara has held over 800 stalls and raised an amazing £115,000 to support our work. We are truly thankful to them both for their ongoing commitment to the Trust. In their own garden, wildlife flourishes. Regular visitors to their feeders include many starlings and goldfinches, but Barbara particularly enjoys when the dunnocks come to call. Neil has also set up cameras so that their visiting wildlife is recorded. Sightings over the years have included many hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and even a woodcock. One day, the neighbours’ son asked for Barbara’s help. A barn owl had fallen from her nest and needed someone to help hand-rear her. What started as two
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Strawberry clover
Red-crested poachard photo: Derek Moore
weeks of help soon became 15 years. Hoot, as she became known, ended up as part of their family. Owls are still a passion of hers today. Barbara and Neil have sorted their affairs for the future, and decided to leave Essex Wildlife Trust a gift in their Will, to continue protecting wildlife for many generations to come. The Trust is honoured to have supporters like Barbara and Neil leave a gift in their Will. Even the smallest amount makes a big difference to Essex Wildlife Trust and for the wildlife and habitats in Essex. For more details on leaving a gift in your Will, call our Legacy team on 01621 862987, visit www.essexwt.org. uk/gifts-in-wills or scan the QR code with your phone.
Sheepleas flowers photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Wilder learning What makes learning in and about nature so beneficial?
Girl with magnifying glass photo: Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Spending time in nature boosts: • • • •
Physical health Mental wellbeing Educational attainment Nature connectedness
Young people, part of The Wildlife Trust’s Our Bright Future partnership, are calling for outdoor learning to become a regular part of the education system. You can show your support by signing our petition. Visit:
www.wtru.st/outdoor-learning
Love Essex • Love Wildlife Registered Charity No. 210065
Re-Cycle
your bicycle We need your used bike!
Our mission is to send recycled bicycles to rural communities in Africa. By donating your used bicycle to Re-Cycle, you will be enabling people to have access to transport and better life prospects in Africa. Sed Ut Pe
For more information about Re-Cycle and our bike drop off locations, please visit re-cycle.org or call us on 01206 617865
Help change lives and protect the planet Re-Cycle (Bikes to Africa) Unit 8, The Grove Estate, Wormingford, Colchester, Essex CO6 3AJ Registered Charity No: 1063570 - Company Number 03337853.
Win for
Wildlife Play your local lottery to protect the future for wildlife and win cash prizes. From £1 a week, you have a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000. It could be you! Sign up to the Essex Lottery and help keep Essex wild.
win a head turning
House sparrow photo: Fergus Gill/2020VISION
£25,000! www.essexwt.org.uk/wildlife-lottery Players must be 16 or over and located in the UK. The Essex Lottery is set up to support community projects in the local area. By supporting Essex Wildlife Trust, 50% of your ticket will be used to fund the work of the Trust and 10% will help other good causes in Essex. Always play responsibly. For more information on responsible gambling, please visit www.begambleaware.org. The Essex Lottery is promoted by Essex County Council, a local authority lottery licensed by the gambling commission. (Gambling Commission Account No: 49258)
Love Essex • Love Wildlife Registered Charity No. 210065
Spring Wildlife Gardening
ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH BAILEY, PHOTO © SARAH CUTTLE
Spring
Wildlife Gardening Our gardens come alive in spring. Ponds fill with mating amphibians, borders buzz with the season’s first bees, and everywhere else, from trees and hedges to fences and roof panels, birds are busy singing to defend territories, mating or feeding young. It’s an exciting time of year.
While all of this goes on around us, there are things we can do to make our gardens even better for wildlife. First, take a look at your borders — in early spring they should be carpeted with flowers such as spring-flowering hellebores,
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lungwort, primroses and other primulas, and bulbs like crocus and snake’s-head fritillary. Later grape hyacinths, alliums, cranesbills, bugle and cuckooflower take centre stage. The early flowers are the most important as they provide food for pollinators emerging from hibernation — remember that daffodils and tulips are usually ignored
Kate Bradbury is passionate about wildlifefriendly gardening and the author of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything in association with The Wildlife Trusts.
by bees. Make a note of which flowers you have, and fill gaps with pollinator favourites. Ponds are full of mating amphibians and invertebrates, so are best left alone now. However, it’s important to check that wildlife can enter and exit your pond safely — add a log or large stone to help wildlife access the water safely. If you don’t have many plants in the pond you can add more now, as long as you don’t disturb the water too much. Aim for a mix of floating, submerged and deep-water plants, with around two-thirds of the surface of the pond covered. Plants absorb nitrates from the water and therefore inhibit the growth of algae. They also provide hiding places for tadpoles and other larvae from
Spring Wildlife Gardening
predators such as diving beetles and dragonfly nymphs. Choose native marginals such as brooklime and water forget-me-not, floating plants such as frogbit, and oxygenators like hornwort and water crowfoot. Around the pond, think ahead to summer, when froglets and toadlets may be exiting the water for the first time. Let the grass there grow long and grow plants to protect them from predators. Cranesbill geraniums and birds’ foot trefoil work well around ponds, providing plenty of shelter for amphibians big and small. If you have a meadow then cut it back in early spring and remove clippings, then let it grow until autumn. As well as providing wildflowers for pollinators, the
long grass will provide foodplants for caterpillars and shelter for beetles and other invertebrates, plus amphibians, small mammals and even hedgehogs. Get more wildlife-friendly gardening tips at wildlifetrusts.org/gardening
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HOW TO HELP WILDLIFE
Your step-by-step guide to making a bee B&B. Spring is the perfect time to give solitary bees a helping hand. Unlike honeybees, solitary bees – as their name suggests – rely on wild habitats for their nests. They may not produce honey, but are efficient pollinators, making them vital members of our ecosystem. As habitats have been destroyed, solitary bees have lost many nesting sites. Bee hotels can provide tunnel-like replacements for the likes of mason bees, leafcutter bees and yellow-faced bees to lay their eggs.
What will you need:
• Bamboo (hole diameter of 2mm – 10mm to attract a range of species) • String/rope • Empty tin can(s) • Any other foraged materials e.g. pinecones, twigs, bark
St a rt
Step 1
Gather your materials – go for a walk and forage for additional bee-friendly materials.
Step 3
You can add multiple versions using more tin cans and different foraged materials, to attract a variety of insects to your B&B.
Arrange your bamboo so it fits snugly in the tin can. Add foraged material for extra texture and protection.
Step 4
Tie your different cans together to create a multi-purpose bee B&B, with lots of wild materials for them to create their home.
Step 5
For DIY lovers looking for an extra challenge, why not create a wooden structure for your bee B&B? Fill in the gaps with extra foraged goods such as twigs, flower stalks, bramble or reed.
We’d love to see your own creations. Send your pictures to magazine@essexwt.org.uk. WILD SPRING 2022
Step 2
Use string or rope to hang your tin can. Hang in a sheltered area in your garden, at least 1m from the ground and ideally south-facing.
For more details on making a wooden bee B&B, or other ways to help wildlife thrive in your garden, visit our actions page: www.essexwt.org.uk/actions
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Leafcutter bee photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Planting a wildflow er patch nea rby will p rovide the nutrie nts that b ees need all ye ar round knapwee d, hellebor e and honeysuck le are all bee-appro ved.
AGRICULTURE AND FARMING Advising farmers, landowners, farming businesses and farming-related organisations for more than 250 years.
Our areas of expertise: Land and property transactions
Farm accidents
Farm business tenancies & grazing licences
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Options, overage agreements & conditional contracts
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We offer burial & ash interments, funerals, services and wakes. Memorial Services and Celebrations of Life. Adaptable to any ceremony and a completely personalised service from plaque to music including webcast facility. The option to reserve a plot in advance is also possible. Assurance of a caring and compassionate experience.
Tim Logan, Senior Partner 01473 556900 Tim.Logan@ellisonssolicitors.com www.ellisonssolicitors.com
COLCHESTER | CHELMSFORD | TENDRING | IPSWICH | BURY ST EDMUNDS
Coppice Lane (behind the Butchers Arms Pub), North End, Between Chelmsford & Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 3PL Tel: 01245 806332
info@oldparkmeadow.co.uk
www.oldparkmeadow.co.uk
Photo: Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography
Ellisons Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA Number 49336
A study of Wildlife Trust volunteers showed that 95% of participants with low mental wellbeing at the start of volunteering reported an improvement in six weeks. Discover upcoming opportunities at www.essexwt.org.uk/volunteering
Love Essex • Love Wildlife Registered Charity No. 210065
Our President, Professor Jules Pretty, gives an update on the climate crisis, and sets out what each of us can do to help
Photo: University of Essex
The Essex Climate Action Commission
Professor Jules Pretty OBE
Jules Pretty is Professor of Environment and Society at the University of Essex. He is the author of many books, including The East Country, The Edge of Extinction, This Luminous Coast and The Earth Only Endures. Jules has been the President of Essex Wildlife Trust since 2019.
The Essex Climate Action Commission Place-based and regional commissions are becoming new leaders in galvanizing change towards net-zero counties and cities in the UK (www.pcancities. org.uk). The Essex Climate Action Commission has recently appointed Professor Jules Pretty as its new Chair, following their publication of more than 100 recommendations for a commitment to Net Zero by 2050 (www.essex.gov.uk/ climate-action). This sets out radical changes needed in Land Use and Green Infrastructure, Energy, Transport, the Built Environment, Waste, Community Engagement, and the Green Economy. All recommendations were accepted with unanimous cross-party support in the County Council in November 2021. We saw that the COP26 in Glasgow made some notable progress on limiting methane emissions, electric vehicles and green finance, and yet was unable to foster agreement on leaving all fossil fuels in the ground. It did, however, just manage to “keep +1.5o alive”. Place-based commissions are building partnerships and platforms for collective change, and have focused on the need to cut emissions by 50% this decade, followed by two successive further 50% cuts by 2040 and then 2050. This would be sufficient to begin to return carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere back towards 350 ppm, the safe space for humanity, last experienced in 1990. But it will be very hard, perhaps the greatest challenge faced by humanity. It looks bad, but there is still time. Just enough. If each of us were to adopt ways of living that only produce one tonne of carbon dioxide and equivalent other greenhouse gases, then this would prevent the worst of the crisis.
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Let’s look at the numbers. The world emitted 53 Gt (billion tonnes) of CO2eq emissions last year, an average of 6.8 tonnes per person worldwide. The UK carbon footprint is 7.7 tonnes each. If the total emissions were to fall to 10 Gt, this would be a safe place for humanity. This roughly equals to one tonne per person worldwide. This contraction and convergence model implies some growth in carbon emissions arising from increased consumption for the poorest countries: 1.65 billion people in 60 countries already have annual carbon footprints of less than one tonne per person, and 2.0 billion people in 31 countries emit between 1-2 tonnes per person.
So how can you do it? Thirty for 30: thirty carbon reduction options for each of us in five domains of food, home, mobility, stuff and leisure.
Try this: Choose one new behaviour per year.
Start where you feel comfortable. After one year, select another. Then tell someone else. And at the same time, try doing things that make us happy and live long: healthy food, being in nature, physical activity, togetherness with others, creative pursuits for personal growth, a spiritual or ethical framework and, of course, sustainable consumption. The good life is low carbon. It does not cost the earth. But then, of course, tell someone else, and persuade them to act too.
The Essex Climate Action Commission
Thirty for 30
nt for 2030 Thirty personal behaviours to reduce your annual carbon footpri (tonnes C saved per person per year) 1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
Vegetarian diet Vegan diet 2 meat-free days per week or low carbon meat Eat only sustainable & organic foods Only eat local food Reduce food waste Install solar PV panels
Listen to the Louder Than Words podcast
Install heat pump for home Switch electricity to only renewable sources
The Louder Than Words podcast is about ideas that improve lives. Professor Jules Pretty created the podcast and is host. Louder Than Words shows how research can deliver solutions to global problems, how we can improve people’s lives and how we can inspire people to take action now. Listen at louder-than-words. castos.com (and on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts and Google Podcasts).
Renewable heating sources only Refurbish home with best insulation Lower house temperature Install smart meter Co-housing living & collective living Replace fossil fuel car with Electric Vehicle (EV) Replace fossil fuel car with Hybrid vehicle Go car free High active (cycle, walking) & public transport Car pooling & sharing Cut one return flight London-Rome or Malaga Cut one return flight medium haul to Europe Cut one return flight London-New York or Dubai Reduce new textiles and clothing Recycle all plastic Recycle all paper/card No disposal of clothing (wear me 30 times) Working from home No pets Full part of sharing and volunteering economy Plant ten trees (10 years to save 1.0 t)
The Essex BioBlitz 2022 The University of Essex and Essex Wildlife Trust are jointly launching the BioBlitz 2022 project, and need your help! Climate change is shifting the times that plants flower; it is threatening our favourite places, trees and plants. The aim is to build knowledge and pride in the nature and places of Essex by drawing attention to the fingerprints of climate change in every local environment, and setting a platform for selecting low-carbon ways of living. There are 450 schools in Essex and nearly 250 parishes and towns. We’d like to get people in every location to contribute. Download the iNaturalist app (freely available), and take photographs of plants in flower. The picture and location is recorded on the app, and the plant is identified by an AI-based model on iNaturalist and their peer-community. You’ll be asked to record 5 or more plants in flower each week over a 30 week period. We will then be able to gather data from the app and record results for all parishes and towns of Essex.
How to get involved: 1. Visit www.essexwt.org.uk/ essex-bioblitz-2022 to find out more information.
2. Download the free iNaturalist app. 3. Take photos of five flowering
plants in Essex and submit them on the app.
4. Repeat this each week, for 30
weeks between March - October.
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Photography competition in Essex
Overall Winner of the Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2021 Category winner Nigel Harris Category Captivating Colours Title Collecting Pollen Location Billericay
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Photography competition in Essex
Our
bee-autiful winner has captured the county’s heart!
T
he Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition has become a staple entry in the diaries of wildlife enthusiasts across the county, and last year’s competition was no exception! We were delighted to receive so many extraordinary entries, and we are sure you will agree the standard has once again exceeded all expectations. So, how do these talented photographers manage to capture such magical wildlife moments? We explore the story behind each category-winning image.
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Photography competition in Essex Category winner Karl Price Category Wilder Essex Title Juvenile Female Sparrowhawk Location Rainham Marshes
Collecting Pollen by Nigel Harris This year’s overall winner, Nigel Harris, captured the county’s heart with his stunning shot of a bee collecting pollen. The image manages to showcase the beauty of nature’s colours in incredible detail and portrays a delicate moment between bee and flower. Before being voted as our winner in the public vote, Nigel’s image was chosen as our ‘Captivating Colours’ category favourite and we are sure you will agree it is a perfect example of just how captivating the natural world can be.
“I am lucky to have Lake Meadows close to my home in Billericay and I often go there with my camera to connect with nature and try to capture some images of the wildlife that I encounter on my walks. The park offers something different throughout the seasons and the colourful flower meadow is always beautiful in summertime. I like to stop there awhile and look for insect life to photograph against the bright colours and that's how I came to take the 'Collecting Pollen' image. I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have won and consider it a huge honour, especially in view of the extremely high standard of entries this year from so many talented photographers. I would like to thank everyone who voted and of course the judges for choosing my photo as one of the category winners.” Juvenile Female Sparrowhawk by Karl Price The mirror image of a juvenile female sparrowhawk at the water’s edge was chosen as our ‘Wilder Essex’ category winner. This was a moment in time captured perfectly at Rainham Marshes; Karl tells us the story behind this oncein-a-lifetime shot. “I had seen images of a gorgeous juvenile female Sparrowhawk at Rainham Marshes photography hide and booked myself a slot. Within a few hours the hawk arrived and proceeded to bathe right in front of the hide. It was an amazing experience and just goes to show how wildlife of all species benefit from a bit of wilding right on the doorstep of London.” It also goes to show what can be discovered at bird hides, and why they are worth a visit!
Red Mason Bee in Nest Tunnel by Neil Phillips After noticing a resident at his garden bee hotel, Neil managed to capture the astonishing close-up image of a red mason bee that was selected as our ‘Gardener’s World’ category winner. “One evening I noticed some of the red mason bees in my bee hotel were sat in their bamboo tunnels for the night, so I set up my tripod and LED light and used the focus bracketing mode on my camera and stacked the images together.” One of the many benefits to helping wildlife in your garden is getting to witness their fascinating behaviours.
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Photography competition in Essex Category winner Neil Schofield Category A Wildlife Motion Picture Title Barn Owl with Prey Location Kirby Brook
Category Winner Neil Phillips Category Gardener’s World Title Red Mason Bee in Nest Tunnel Location Essex garden
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Photography competition in Essex
Category winner Ben Rumsby Category Young Blood Title Spotted Flycatcher Location Chafford Gorges
Category Runner up Chris Larkin Category Pattern and Texture Species Dandelion Location Manningtree
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Category winner Jennifer Spittle Category Pattern and Texture Title Loveheart Ladybird Location Essex garden
Photography competition in Essex
Barn Owl with Prey by Neil Schofield “The barn owl was hunting along Kirby Brook between Holland-on-Sea and Frinton, and unusually it came away from the kill with the prey in its beak.” Neil recalls his first encounter with the enchanting barn owl that helped him become winner of our ‘A Wildlife Motion Picture’ category. “I believe this was done to land on a post in the nearby reeds and consume the vole itself, which it duly did. It’s not something I have seen done before, and so for me was unusual and a pleasure to see.” Neil’s image truly encapsulates the power and beauty of this bird of prey and offers a unique insight into its hunting techniques.
Loveheart Ladybird by Jennifer Spittle You would be forgiven for not spotting the signature feature of our ‘Pattern and Texture’ category winner straight away, distracted by the exquisite patterns and kaleidoscope of colours. “I took this photo on my Nikon Z6 with my Nikon 105 macro lens,” Jennifer explains “I love macro photography and close-up detail. It had been raining and the ladybird has small droplets of water on still… then I noticed the loveheart on its back.” We love how Jennifer’s image portrays the complex patterns and textures found in nature, and the way macro photography can transport you into another wildlife world.
Spotted Flycatcher by Ben Rumsby Our ‘Young Blood’ category celebrates the talent of Essex’s young wildlife photographers, and Ben’s shot of a spotted flycatcher is the perfect example! A tricky species to photograph, Ben’s patience paid off and he was chosen as the category winner. “I was checking birds in my local patch hoping to find a migrant. I was really pleased to find the spotted flycatcher as it was the first time that I had ever found and seen one at the Gorge. It was my target species and I found it by following a tit flock. It was flying in and around some trees when I managed to get a couple of photos, but it took about an hour for me to get this photo. I was really pleased it was in focus with my Canon SX70.” We would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry, and we hope you continue to celebrate wildlife with your photography! If you are inspired to follow in our photographer’s footsteps, why not grab your camera and see what you can capture today?
Finding the WOW factor The Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2021 is kindly sponsored by High Chelmer, and we were delighted to have Natalie Rodrigues from High Chelmer join our judging panel in December. With so many astounding entries to review, the judging process was no easy feat. Natalie tells us more: "Being part of the judging panel of this year's photography competition was brilliant, the talent in every category was extraordinary and it really was very difficult to choose a favourite. The variety of entries in this year’s competition shows a breadth of creativity in Essex, as well as the diversity of wildlife right on our doorstep. We can't wait to showcase some of the outstanding entries at High Chelmer."
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Eco-friendly pieces for
your home Liga ice grey cork placemat and coast
er
ts and coasters (Set of 4)
Liga ice grey cork placema
Love Essex • Love Wildlife Registered Charity No. 210065
W
e can make a big difference with small choices every day. Taking a little extra time to find sustainably sourced products not only means you are supporting the environment but allows for considered purchases to become extra special additions to your home. Essex Wildlife Trust is delighted to partner with new stockist Liga at our Nature Discovery Centres. Liga are working to recycle wasted materials collected during beach cleans and transform them into beautiful eco-friendly homeware pieces you can be proud to own.
Homeware brand Liga (pronounced Leega) produce clean, contemporary eco-friendly pieces that evoke the spirit of coastal and country living to bring a natural sense of balance into the home. Cork is one of Liga's key materials. The eco-friendly process of cork harvesting enables the products to be made without the need for felling trees and without interfering with the delicate ecosystems of the cork forests, ensuring safety for wildlife inhabitants. Cork forests also play a vital role in combatting the climate crisis, by absorbing a huge 32 million tons of CO2 each year. Cork is a remarkable natural and sustainable material, with excellent thermal properties, is impermeable to liquids, super resilient, lightweight and hypoallergenic. Liga also has a Beach Clean collection which is made from a rainbow of recycled ocean plastics. Liga’s ethos is to make sustainable materials affordable and useable for everyday products.
Visit your local Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Discovery Centre to explore the new range and variety of eco-friendly gifts available.
www.essexwt.org.uk/visit/centres
Liga beach clean notebook
Seas of surprise
Sophie Pavelle @sophiepavs
ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS SHIELDS.
Seas of surprise As I write, it’s a moody, overcast Tuesday afternoon. Desk days like these make me crave the sea. I want to be fully in it, head and all, with (ideally) the sun streaking through. I’m lucky enough to have boomeranged home to Devon after university, and the southwest coast has lodged itself deep in my heart. I think of the sea daily, envisaging myself on, in or indeed under it… if possible. One of my favourite things about British coastlines is that they are never the same. The rhythm of the tide brings new sights, smells, colours and characters to our shorelines four times a day. Give me a spare spring hour and you may find me walking barefoot along the local beach, looking for snakelocks anemones at low tide. Aside from their striking green and purple colour, I love how it takes barely any water for them to sway their thick tentacles like hula skirts, dancing in their rockpools like a couple of TikTokers. On this same beach, a colony of breeding kittiwakes nest on the sandstone cliff face, coming home after a challenging winter in the Atlantic. As one of our most endangered seabirds, seeing them so free as they wheel with abandon about the clifftops, diving for food to feed their growing chicks, is a sight to raise even the gloomiest spirits. But for me, nothing quite compares to the sighting of a fellow mammal in the water. Last summer, I had a particularly memorable encounter with a grey seal— the larger of
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our two native species. I was paddleboarding on a calm April afternoon, when the water had this glassy appeal. Paddling in random circles and enjoying the rare absence of swell on this particular stretch of coast, I adopted a downwards gaze, unsure what I was really looking for. But then, there he was. About 10 feet away from me — an enormous bull grey seal. He was bottling as seals do, with only his (gigantic!) head above the water. Whiskers twitching, eyes watching. I stopped breathing, just in case. And then as quickly as he had surfaced, he disappeared below the waves. Off on some covert assignment, no doubt. Rather incredibly, the UK is home to 40 per cent of the world population of grey seals. Perhaps they enjoy the variety of the coast as much as I do? I think of that moment often and look forward to being surprised yet again by the beauty of the British seas this spring.
Find inspiration to get outdoors and discover your own spring surprises with our selection of seasonal spectacles! wildlifetrusts.org/spring-wildlife
OCEAN UPDATES
Discover more about our seas by signing up for our marine mailing! You’ll get an exclusive monthly newsletter packed with marine conservation news from around the world, exciting wildlife sightings from our amazing UK seas, and updates on the latest developments in protecting our oceans. wildlifetrusts.org/ marine-mailing
Sophie Pavelle is a science communicator and Ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts. Her first book Forget Me Not, Finding the Forgotten Species of Climate Change Britain is published 9 June 2022 (Bloomsbury)
Play Discover Learn Play Discover Learn Play Discover Learn Play Discover Learn
Happy, healthy and hungry to learn. Welcome to the Nature Nursery. We offer quality
childcare for 2-5 year-olds based on learning through nature.
Set in the grounds of Abbotts Hall Nature Discovery Park near Colchester, where children can enjoy both freedom and security, our outdoor nursery is run by early learning experts at Essex Wildlife Trust, the most experienced provider of outdoor education in the county.
Find out more:
www.naturenursery.org.uk Nature Nursery is part of:
Photos: Eleanor Church / Lark Rise Pictures
Registered Charity Number 210065
Spring
What’s on this Spring
What’s on this
S
pring has officially sprung and it’s time to get outside and experience the joys of the season. Colours appear kaleidoscopic after the muted palette of winter, birds chirrup in the treetops looking for their perfect partner and animals and insects bustle busily after their long slumber. With all this renewed activity, there are lots of wildlife encounters to be had, waiting around every corner.
Discover things to do and spot in
As winter’s icy grip starts to subside, we welcome the tingling sensation of new life beginning to emerge all around us. Gently at first, the sun starts to shine a little more brightly each day, slowly casting out her long fingers to awaken sleeping creatures and embrace the landscape in a golden hug from a long-lost friend. All at once, what was brown becomes green and flowers rise like jewels from their sleepy hollows, brightening our weekend wanders as we marvel at their perfectly plump petals. Nature is re-born and so is our hope for the year to come. Over the following pages, we highlight some of the species and spectacles which make this season a magical time to get outside and explore your local area. Whether you live in the countryside or an urban area, there are plenty of ‘wow’ moments to be experienced right on your doorstep. Don’t forget your camera!
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WILD SPRING 2022
What’s on this Spring
Species
Wild garlic: Donald Sutherland
Brimstone butterfly: Jim Higham
one t s m i Br
Ad
Spectacles
Wild garlic
Mad March hares
r e d
Adder photo: Danny Green/2020VISION
Mallard with ducklings photo: Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION
Hares Boxing photo: Donald Sutherland
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Spring Events and activities
Events spring and activities Spring is a wonderful time to get outside and experience nature bursting back into life. Essex Wildlife Trust is offering many events to help you enjoy the season to its fullest. For adults, we offer guided walks, training courses and seasonal activities. For children and families, we have a range of outdoor learning sessions and seasonal events to entertain everyone, whilst you enjoy the great outdoors.
Our regular events for children and families: Nature Tots at Abberton Reservoir, Belfairs and Langdon.
Join our weekly parent and toddler group where young children can explore, play and learn through nature, suitable for ages 18 months to 5 years.
Forest School Nature Tots at Abbotts Hall, Bedfords Park, Fingringhoe Wick, Hanningfield Reservoir, Ingrebourne Valley, Roding Valley and Thameside. Our weekly parent and toddler group in a woodland setting. Children ages 18 months to 5 years can engage with a range of fun wildlife-themed activities from bug hunting and leaf spotting to natural painting and crafts.
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Home education sessions at Fingringhoe Wick, Hanningfield Reservoir, Ingrebourne Valley, Pound Wood and Thameside. These specialised, play-based sessions hand over learning to the children whilst being facilitated by a trained leader. As a result, children thrive on the real-life experiences that occur in the stimulating woodland. Suitable for primary school age children.
SEND Forest Fun at Thorndon. Our regular forest outdoor learning sessions for SEND children, they can learn bushcraft skills, enjoy making natural arts and crafts and go for a nature walk under the guidance of an experienced on site Outdoor Learning Officer.
Spring Events and activities
Dates for your diary Belfairs Wellbeing Walks Tuesdays 6 – 28 March
Active Essex have organized twoto-three-mile sociable walks, lasting approximately 2 hours with regular stops, led by Essex Wildlife Trust’s Education and Community Officer. The walk is followed by a number of simple wellbeing activities from wildlife identification to natural woodland crafts. Free walk, open to adults.
My Menagerie: Rearing Shield Bugs and Ladybirds Monday 14 March
Havering Local Group are hosting Yvonne Couch at Fairkytes Art Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX. The Local Group AGM will take place immediately beforehand, 2pm-4.15pm.
‘From Shore to Summit’ – a talk on Scottish wildlife Thursday 17 March
Brentwood and Billericay Local Group are hosting Dr Julie Hutson at Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB. Dr Hutson will take us on a stunning wildlife tour of Scotland, covering species such as oystercatcher, otter, red deer, mountain hare and ptarmigan. 8pm-10pm, £3 donation.
Beach clean at Walton-on-the-Naze
The History and Future of Gosbecks
Colchester Local Group are holding a group beach clean to help remove some of the litter that collects on the strandline of this section of the Naze. All are welcome.
Colchester Local Group are hosting David Barbour at Shrub End Social Centre, Shrub End Road, Colchester, CO3 4SA. David is a former landowner and farmer and will talk about this popular green space and its benefits for both people and wildlife. 7.45-9.45pm, £3 donation.
Sunday 27 March
Easter holiday events
Monday 4 – Monday 18 April
During the school holidays we are running seasonally themed activities, with drop-off days, family events and centre activities. From creative crafts to pond dipping, woodland fun to bird box making, there is something for all the family to enjoy. See the full list at www.essexwt.org.uk/events/ school-holiday
What is living in the garden? Wednesday 6 April
Join our Education Officer as we explore Abberton Nature Discovery Park and all the things you might find in your garden. We will hunt for bugs and learn about trees and flowers. We will even make our own pots to plant seeds in to take home!
Experience the song of the nightingale Friday 22 April – Friday 6 May
Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park will be open until 9pm for self-guided nightingale walks, allowing you to hear the incredible song of the nightingale under the night’s sky. The centre will be open for refreshments and donations are welcome.
Wellbeing, Fires & Cooking Saturday 23 April
This adult course will explore wellbeing in the natural world with Forest School and experience different methods of fire lighting and cooking on a fire. All day course, £45 per person.
Forest Bathing & Natural Mindfulness Practices
Red squirrel talk
Join us at Langdon Nature Discovery Park from 10am-3pm for a day of forest bathing and mindfulness, as we experience and learn exercises that can be adapted for all ages in green spaces. Outdoor course is £45 per person.
Braintree Local Group are hosting Dougal Urquhart at St. Andrews Church Hall, Parsonage Street, Halstead, CO9 2LD. Dougal will talk about one of our most endearing mammals – the red squirrel. 7.30pm, £3 donation.
Friday 16 March
Thursday 21 April
Tuesday 19 April
Essex’s greatest symphony Sunday 1 May
Early risers will be able to visit Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park from 6am to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day. Be serenaded by the dawn chorus on our peaceful nature reserve, then treat yourself to a warm breakfast in the centre.
Discover many more events, find details and book online through our website, www.essexwt.org.uk/events. Girl in bluebells photo: Tom Marshall. Ladybird photo: Vicky Nall. White clover photo: Philip Precey. Nightingale photo: Chris Gomersall/2020VISION
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50 | Wild daffodils photo: Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
Wild daffodil
Grass snake
Wheatear photo: Amy Lewis
Bluebell photo: Tom Marshall
Wild garlic
Wheatear
Native bluebell
WILD SPRING 2022
Grass snake photo: David Chamberlain
Common blue damselfly photo: Les Binns
Common blue damselfly
Wild garlic photo: Ross Hoddinott/2022VISION
Brown hare photo: David Tipling/2020VISION
Cuckoo photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Ladybird photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Brimstone butterfly photo: Vaughn Matthews
Chiffchaff photo: Janet Packham Photography
Cowslip photo: Guy Edwardes /2020VISION
Spring species to spot
Spring
Species to spot We’ve created a handy checklist of flora and fauna to spot in Essex this spring. We really hope you manage to tick them off while exploring the great outdoors – let us know how many you encounter!
Brimstone Chiffchaff Cowslip
Brown hare Cuckoo Ladybird
Spring species to spot
March
Grass snakes ‘play dead’ when they feel
threatened. They can be quite theatrical and stay stock still with their mouth open, tongue lolling and eyes rolled back into their skull. Enough to put off any predator! Grass snake photo: Danny Green/2020VISION
Take a peaceful stroll down to your local lake or reservoir and you may witness the synchronised courtship ritual of one of nature’s best dancers – the great crested grebe. This graceful routine is a spectacle of mirrored manoeuvres, calls and fanning of their feathery ruffs – a display not to be missed. Having awoken from their long slumber, adders are another species who enjoy a boogie, and can be seen performing a dueling dance to fend off stiff competition from other males to mate. Listen for the familiar call of the cuckoo as it sneakily lays its eggs into the nest of an unsuspecting host bird and take a wander through a dazzling display of daffodils at our Warley Place nature reserve – you might even spot a warty toad popping up to say hello after emerging from hibernation.
April ladybird warn predators
that they are distasteful, although some birds may still have a go at eating them!
May Nightingales are very hard to spot but their joyful song is unmistakable. Full of trills, plops, whistles and gurgles, nightingales have one of the most dynamic ranges in the bird world - which comes in very useful when trying to attract a mate. One of the best places to hear this incredible display for yourself is at our Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park. Why not attend one of our special late night openings this spring to hear the song for yourself? Stag beetles are also on the lookout for love, so watch out for these impressive beetles flying on sunny evenings. You may even witness males duelling with their antler-like jaws trying to win over a female. Get a glimpse into the secret lives of bats and swallows on our wildlife webcams as both species prepare to raise their young – it’s addictive viewing!
Find new or familiar Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves to explore on our website at www.essexwt.org.uk/visit/ nature-reserves.
Ladybird photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Look to the skies and you may spot house martins and swallows swooping above following their long migration back to the UK from their African wintering grounds. Birds of both species like to reuse their old nests, saving them valuable energy to raise their broods, so leave any empty nests on your fascias alone, you never know who might turn up to use them! Delight your senses with a wander through our Shadwell Wood nature reserve with its stunning display of wood anemone, oxlips and bluebells. While you’re there, keep an eye out for fox cubs who will be starting to emerge above ground for the first time in late April. Head over to our barn owl webcam from early April and if you’re lucky, you may spot a breeding pair of barn owls laying their first eggs of the season.
o: Common blue damselfly phot Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
The bright colours of a
Common blue damselflies are a
pinkish-brown colour when they first emerge, turning sky-blue several days later. WILD SPRING 2022
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Time Tunnel
1978
...to give you a glimpse of our past and see what was happening at the Trust. Essex Wildlife Trust’s Spring 1978 magazine, edited by Malcolm Wright, wrote about one of Essex’s famous winter visitors, the dark-bellied brent goose.
• Sweden became the first nation to ban aerosol sprays after it was discovered they could be damaging Earth’s protective ozone layer. • Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura became the first person to reach the North Pole in a solo expedition. • The world’s first human conceived through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) was born on July 25 in the United Kingdom. • The world population reached 4.4 billion while the population of the United Kingdom was 56.17 million.
Brent goose photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
We travel back to...
What was happening globally in 1978:
Brent geese decline A year ago, in my editorial, I referred to the recent success story of the dark-bellied race of the brent goose in increasing its world population from a low point of 16,500 in the mid-1950s to a peak of about 110,000 in 1975/6. How quickly the picture can change in the natural world is well illustrated by the latest turn of events. When the brents returned from their Siberian breeding grounds in the autumn of 1977, hardly a juvenile could be found among the flocks and it was evident that they had suffered a disastrous breeding season, almost certainly due to a late, cold spring in those northern regions where they nest. It is known that the barnacle geese which nest in Spitzbergen had their worst breeding season for 20 years, less than 5% of the pairs rearing young. Counts during the winter have revealed how much the brent numbers have dropped – only 1,500 on the Blackwater estuary instead of 3 or 4,000; down from 3,000+ to 1,800 in the Walton Backwaters and so forth. The final figures are not yet available but it seems that there may not be more than about 70,000 wintering in Europe, a drop of more than one-third in just one year. What effect would a whole series of poor summers (or alternatively hard winters in Europe) have on their numbers? Such a drastic decrease reveals just how vulnerable the brent goose population is and just how much it is in need of continued protection on its wintering grounds. Let us hope that the summer of 1978 will be a better one in the High Arctic and allow the brents, which do so much to enliven our Essex estuaries in winter, to recover some of the lost ground.
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The UK now sees 102,000 wintering dark-bellied brent geese on its shores. These beautiful birds are still on the Amber List, and are incredibly sensitive to a number of factors – from climate change, the loss of key habitat, unfavourable weather conditions and commonly, the population of lemmings in the High Arctic. Lemmings, a small rodent living in the high Arctic follow a cyclic population trend from boom to bust due to their main food – moss. This foodplant regrows slowly, so it can’t support a large population of lemmings and their numbers suddenly crash. Arctic foxes predominately predate lemmings, however in years with limited lemmings around, the foxes find other food sources, including ground nesting birds. This can result in catastrophic breeding years for dark-bellied brent geese, leading to few fledglings surviving to adulthood. breeding year.
Arctic fox
The dark-bellied brent geese will be leaving our shores to fly back to Siberia in March, here’s hoping they have a safe journey and a successful breeding year.
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On the verge of recovery
ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL HUDSON ILLUSTRATION
Discover a roadside haven with wildlifefriendly verge expert, Mark Schofield oad verges make up 1.2% of the UK, some 2,600km2 — that’s an area the size of Dorset. This county-sized tract of land, hidden in plain sight, is home to over 700 species of wildflowers, representing 45% of our native flora. In many cases, verges act as vital corridors for wildlife and can often be the last stand locally for scarce or declining wildflowers, such as sulphur clover, spiked rampion, Deptford pink, and perennial flax. The safety of road users demands that verges are maintained with shorter turf on approach to bends and junctions and with safe pull-over zones. However, beyond these requirements there are huge opportunities to create more space for nature. Huge opportunities that are all too often missed. Many verges are mown too frequently and the cuttings left in place, which first creates a physical barrier to growth, then
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increases the soil fertility as the cuttings decompose. This gives an unnatural advantage to the most competitive plants. Spoil from ditch clearance is often spread across verges with similar effect. Conversely, too little mowing can also be a problem; many verges are left unmown and the strips of grassland are lost as they grow into scrub. Scrub is great for wildlife, but a mix of habitats which include scrub and wildflower areas is far better. A road verge that is well managed for wildlife can be a set of parallel worlds each offering different niches for wildlife. Tall, wide, diverse, native hedgerows at the back of the verge, complete with trees, can grade through infrequently trimmed tall herbs and tussocks to grassland meadows mown once or twice a year, where the cuttings are collected and removed. Here mowing is best done in late summer, to allow seed to ripen and insect lifecycles to complete, or even later where soil is poorer.
Removing cuttings simulates wild grazing and reduces fertility in the soil, maintaining more natural conditions that support a wider diversity of wildflowers and the invertebrates that rely on them. Open drainage ditches can add habitat for aquatic and marginal plants too, but spoil should be disposed of away from the verge where possible. Verges near you may be crew-cut strips that flank suburban crescents and cul-de-sacs, or they might be overgrown rural lane sides. Your local highways authority (typically your county council or unitary authority) will have these managed under contract. A local petition may be able to reduce the frequency of cuts in your area, delivering cost savings and lowering the carbon footprint for public services. Cutting and collecting the cuttings is the main challenge cited by authorities, but affordable machinery exists to achieve this; and it has been
implemented with success by some councils. There are roadside nature reserves across the UK that set the standard for roadside habitat, but we must call for better management of the rest of our verges if we want to achieve a national Nature Recovery Network.
For advice on where to start, visit wildlifetrusts.org/verges
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UK News
UK NEWS UK UPDATE
The weird, wonderful & worrying
Wally the Walrus made a surprise visit to our shores in 2021
WALLY THE WALRUS © JOE PENDER
OUR 2021 MARINE REVIEW
etaceans take centre stage in our round-up of marine news from the last 12 months, with success stories, tragic tales, and strange sightings. There was hope for humpback whales, with strong numbers recorded around the southwest and further sightings in Scotland. One individual, named Pi, delighted whale watchers on the Isles of Scilly for over two months. The surge in sightings in recent years reflects populations recovering after bans on commercial whaling. It wasn’t all good news though, with large numbers of seals and cetaceans reported stranded across the UK, including a minke whale calf that tragically had to be put down after stranding in the Thames. In Cornwall alone, over 170 cetaceans and 247 seals were stranded, with a further 51 cetaceans recorded stranding in Devon. Many of these animals showed signs of injury from fishing gear or propellers, including a humpback whale off Looe Island that was caught in fishing lines. One of the stranded animals in Cornwall was a striped dolphin, which are common in the Mediterranean but seldom seen around the UK. This wasn’t the only surprising cetacean sighting in the south of the UK. Two orcas from the Hebrides made a scene-stealing appearance off the cliff-top Minnack Theatre in Cornwall — the most southerly sighting of members of this group of killer whales in over 50 years — and white-beaked dolphins, usually found in subarctic waters, were seen in Essex for the first time since 2000.
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WILD SPRING 2022
Whales and dolphins weren’t alone in popping up in unexpected places. 2021 saw two walruses recorded in the UK, with one, nicknamed Wally, spending weeks in south Wales and then the Isles of Scilly; and a second (known as Freya) briefly visiting Northumberland before being spotted in Shetland. There was also a pufferfish found washed up on a Cornish beach, which is an oceanic species that rarely comes this far north. These unusual sightings provide further evidence of the impacts of climate change on our seas. Temperature changes can cause disruption to feeding habits and breeding cycles, driving animals to move out of their usual range. Some species are shifting their distribution completely. The ringneck blenny, a small fish normally found in the Eastern Atlantic or Mediterranean, has become common in Cornwall’s Fal estuary, with further signs of breeding in the English Channel. Our marine life faces many threats in addition to climate change, including disturbance from recreational activities. Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported that disturbances of marine wildlife have tripled since 2014, with an increase of jet skis and motorboats a major cause for concern. Elsewhere, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales witnessed a seal pup being abandoned after people got too close to it. Surveys by Dorset Wildlife Trust recorded damage to the seabed caused by the anchors of large cruise ships, moored off the coast due to the pandemic. But there was also plenty to celebrate last year, with good news for kelp forests,
seagrass meadows, oyster beds and many more habitats and species. In March, a new byelaw was passed to stop damaging fishing practices off the Sussex coast. To speed up the area’s recovery, the Sussex Kelp Restoration Project will restore a vast 200km² of kelp forest, providing feeding and nursery grounds for molluscs, shrimp, and cuttlefish. Seagrass habitats also got a much needed boost. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust transplanted seeds and plants to areas where seagrass has previously flourished, whereas Manx Wildlife Trust discovered a new seagrass meadow, Cornwall Wildlife Trust mapped seagrass regrowth in areas where moorings had been removed, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust carried out the first surveys of seagrass on mudflats off Walney Island for over 20 years. There are even more sea success stories in our full round-up, which you can read at: wildlifetrusts.org/marine-review-21
Ocean oddities Adders took to the surf as snakes were seen paddling in the waves on Wembury Beach, Dorset and off the coast of Anglesey, North Wales. Devon Wildlife Trust reported a surge of compass jellyfish, believed to be caused by the July heatwave. Scottish Wildlife Trust rangers were wowed by a white puffin on Handa Island. The pale puffin lacks pigmentation in its feathers, due to a genetic condition called leucism.
UK News
UK HIGHLIGHTS
UK UPDATE
Splatters matter The latest results from the Bugs Matter Survey show that significantly fewer insects were recorded nationally in 2021 than 17 years ago. These results add to the growing evidence that insect populations are declining across the world, with potentially catastrophic consequences for wildlife, wild places, and people. The Bugs Matter Survey, initially developed by the RSPB in 2004 is based on the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, originating from the observation that people find fewer insects squashed on the windscreens of their cars compared to several decades ago. The survey was revitalised and made more accessible in 2021, when Kent Wildlife Trust created the Bugs Matter App in partnership with Gwent, Somerset, and Essex Wildlife Trusts, and Buglife. The app makes it easy
Discover how The Wildlife Trusts are helping wildlife across the UK
Seabird power
for anyone with a smartphone or tablet to record the insects on their car, bringing meaningful citizen science to the pockets of thousands. Last year there were nearly 5,000 journeys logged, helping scientists monitor the alarming declines in our insects. Find out more and get involved at kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/bugs-matter
The Scottish Wildlife Trust has joined forces with alternative rock band Sea Power to raise awareness of the urgent need to tackle the nature and climate crises. The Wildlife Trust worked with the band to create a new video for their classic track “The Great Skua,” featuring footage of seabirds on Handa Island Wildlife Reserve. wtru.st/seapower
Failing farmland wildlife
Welcome to the team! The Wildlife Trusts are delighted to announce that GP and TV presenter Dr Amir Khan, and naturalist, TV presenter and author Iolo Williams, have become vice presidents of the charity. We also warmly welcome award-winning TV presenter Maddie Moate, and The Vamps’ lead guitarist, James McVey (pictured), as wildlife ambassadors. The nature enthusiasts will use their voices, influence and audiences to help The Wildlife Trusts shine a spotlight on the urgent need for nature’s recovery in the UK. Meet our new vice presidents and ambassadors at wtru.st/new-voices
includes a lot of the right rhetoric, but still lacks any clear details or urgency. The published documents failed to provide details on eligibility, the determination of priorities, or how Government will ensure these schemes achieve target outcomes. Read more at wtru.st/farm-reform
A city sanctuary Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust welcomed plans for a new ‘Green Heart’ in Nottingham city centre, after putting forward a bold ambition to transform a derelict former shopping centre into wildlife-rich greenspace. The vision is billed as a blueprint for sustainable city centres in a post-COVID world. wtru.st/green-heart
Wild in Wales Radnorshire Wildlife Trust has purchased a 164-acre farm in midWales, with plans to transform it into a haven for wildlife. Initial steps to bring nature back to the former livestock farm will include scrub development, to provide shelter for wildlife. The Wildlife Trust will work with neighbours, local farmers and landowners to create more space for nature in the region. wtru.st/mid-wales-farm
WILD SPRING 2022
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GREAT SKUA © PETER CAIRNS/2020VISION; HOVERFLY © CHRIS LAWRENCE
This January, the Government announced new schemes to reward farmers in England for supporting nature’s recovery. Farmland accounts for a huge proportion of our land use, so it’s imperative that we have policies that support farmers to help nature. The latest announcement
Wildlife quiz time Answers from Winter 2021: Across: Down 3. Array 1. Warren 4. Leucism 2. Vulpes vulpes 6. Pipistrelle 5. Parakeet 8. Catshark 7. Ling 9. Doe 12. Smew 10. Skylark 11. Jellyfish
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6 _________ moths are often mistaken for butterflies due to their colourful red and black wings. (8)
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What is the name of the only plant able to live in seawater and pollinate while submerged? (8)
7 What is the only UK bird that can climb head-first down treetrunks, holding on with their powerful toes? (8)
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Otter spraints smell like this type of oriental tea? (7)
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Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park is one of the best places in the country to hear which sweet singing bird? (11)
10 Which flower only grows where the counties of Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk meet? (5)
Cuttlefish live off the Essex coast. They are masters of mimicry, using specialised skin cells called chromatophores to rapidly change colour to match their environment. Cuttlefish photo: Alexander Mustard/2020VISION
4 This small white flower signifies one of the first signs of spring. (8)
11 This flying mammal can eat up to 3,000 insects per night? (3)
5 The particles of iron oxide within Essex's mudflats attach to seal's fur, turning them what colour? (6)
12 What is a young toad or frog known as while in its larval stage of development? (7)
8 Which small mammal is a barn owl's favourite snack? (4)
Relatively speaking, bats produce the largest babies in the animal kingdom. An eight gram mother pipistrelle bat may produce a two gram baby - which is 25% of its body weight!
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9 The name for a female fox. (5)
Master of mimicry
Pipistrelle pups
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Wildlife fun facts...
Common Pipistrelle photo: Tom Marshall
Meet the family
A male badger is called a boar, a female is a sow, and the babies are called cubs.
The answers will be revealed in our Summer 2022 edition of WILD Badger cub photo: Bertie Gregory/2020VISION
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Deer and jackdaw photo: Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
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The Wildlife Explorer podcast is back for season 2, and once again we will be delving into the secret lives of some of our best-loved wildlife. Featuring experts from across the Trust as well as special guests, pick up some top tips to help wildlife and learn some fun facts along the way. If you fancy a binge listen, catch up with season 1 where we talk about everything from bats to badgers and songbirds to seagrass. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a five-star rating to help us reach more nature lovers!
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