Wild Life - Summer 2023

Wild Life

Summer spectacles

Delve into the deep and see what’s beneath the surface

Chalk streams

Discover why these unique habitats are so special to southern England

Watery haven

Find out which reserve is a hidden gem of biodiversity, plus which bird species call it home

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Take the plunge to protect our rivers

habitats which flowing water creates.

I believe some of the most beautiful rivers in the world can be found right here in Hampshire. Our wonderful chalk streams and rivers are unique to southern England (along with Normandy in France). On page 18, we look into why these ecosystems, which were formed due to a rare combination of a temperate climate plus large chalk deposits, are so special and deserve our protection.

The gentle sound of a meandering river, as it slowly flows downstream, can easily hide the many challenges which face our fragile freshwater systems.

re-discovered living in the River Itchen: the white-clawed crayfish.

Inspiring the next generation to care about the environment is so important. On page 16, we meet Team Wilder local people, who are contributing their skills, knowledge and experience to help support the health of our rivers as well as support young people to connect with nature.

Whilst on page 30, we meet an inspiring landscape ecologist who is helping to spearhead the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme.

The arrival of summer brings a feast for all the senses to enjoy. From the scent of fragrant flowers to the chirps of newly hatched chicks or the gurgle of a babbling brook: this time of year is abundant with the sights, smells and sounds of new life.

Although our driest season, summer still of course brings with it plenty of water. And in this summer edition of Wild Life, we celebrate water and the diverse

On page 22, we investigate the state of our rivers and what needs to change in order to restore them back to health.

From invertebrates to mammals and everything in-between, a wide variety of species need daily access to water to survive. On page 26, we discover which reserves provide the ideal wetland habitats for dragonflies and damselflies. Whilst on page 10, we provide an update on an endangered species which has excitingly been

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Editor Helen Skelton-Smith

Designer Keely Docherty-Lee

Cover image Watervole (c) Shutterstock

Your support helps us to safeguard all the wonderful habitats and species which depend on a clean and healthy water source – thank you.

Debbie Tann, Chief Executive Twi er @Debbie_Tann

Please pass on or recycle this magazine once you’ve finished with it.

Website hiwwt.org.uk

● We manage over 60 nature reserves.

● We are supported by over 27,700 members and 1,200 volunteers.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is registered with the UK Fundraising Regulator. We aim to meet the highest standards in the way we fundraise.

You can change your contact preferences at any time by contacting Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust at:

Email membership@hiwwt.org.uk

Telephone 01489 774400

Address Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire SO32 2DP

For more information on our privacy policy visit hiwwt.org.uk/privacy-notice

Wild Life is the membership magazine for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Registered charity number 201081. Company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales No. 676313.

WILD SEASON

4 Your wild summer

The best of this season’s nature, including how to ID kingfishers.

8 Reserves spotlight

Take a closer look at Lower Test Nature Reserve in Southampton.

10 Wild news

A round-up of the latest Trust news, successes and updates.

14 What’s on

Find out what wildlife-themed events are taking place soon near you.

16 Team Wilder

Sharing stories of local people taking action for river nature.

FEATURES

18 Chalk streams

Discover Hampshire’s beautiful chalk streams; a unique habitat found almost nowhere else on earth.

22 Rivers under threat

Find out why our rivers won’t be in good overall health until 2063 unless we take rapid action to put them back into recovery.

REGULARS

26 Dragonflies and damselflies

From the four-spotted chaser to the southern hawker, discover six places to find dragonflies on the wing this summer.

28 Wildlife gardening

Advice on growing food with nature in mind from garden writer Kate Bradbury.

30 My wild life

Maggie Shelton, Community Catchments Officer, talks about her passion to inspire others to value and understand the natural environment.

DAVID KILBEY ROSS HODDINOTT / 2020VISION

CAROLINE MEECH

THEO VICKERS

Your wild summer

The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it.

Thank you

Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to protect and enhance chalk stream habitats and the precious wildlife that relies on them. Learn more about how your membership is benefitting chalk streams by visiting hiwwt.org.uk/watercressand-winterbournes

Resplendent chalk streams

The Chalk Stream is one of the rarest habitats on earth.

There are only about 200 chalk streams in the world and 85% of them flow through southern England.

Their crystal-clear waters, rising through chalk and flowing over it, are rich in minerals and oxygen.

This creates a unique ecosystem that offers the right conditions for a stunning variety of fauna and flora to thrive.

Hampshire’s three famous river valleys – the Test, the Itchen and the Meon - are exquisite examples of chalk streams, all entirely shaped by the geology of the land.

Having permeated through the chalk bedrock, they have a very stable flow and temperature, rarely deviating from 10 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

These stable conditions mean chalk streams can hold high concentrations of dissolved oxygen, which supports wildlife in myriad ways.

Chalk streams are extremely precious and deserve protection, this is exactly what our Watercress & Winterbournes scheme aims to do.

We explore the many wonders and benefits of chalk streams, as well as the threats and pressures they face, in greater detail from page 18

SEE THEM THIS SUMMER

 Winnall Moors Nature Reserve – The River Itchen flows through the length of this nature reserve, providing water for wet grassland, reedbeds, wet woodland and chalk streams.

 Greywell Moors Nature Reserve – The upper reaches of the River Whitewater flow through this reserve’s wet fen meadows, which H is for Hawk author Helen Macdonald described as “so lush and vivid and full of life in summer it can feel almost psychedelic.”

Summer evening on the River Itchen full of water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis).

Delving into the deep:

Discover the elusive, white-clawed crayfish!

Wandering through nature allows us to encounter a huge variety of wildlife. It’s easy to spot a butterfly overhead, or a bee buzzing past us – however, there are some animals that hide just out of view.

Freshwater habitats provide a home to over 100,000 species worldwide, and by peeking under the surface of the water, we can shine a light on these mysterious creatures.

Hampshire’s beautifully clear chalk streams provide the perfect habitat for white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, our only native crayfish, and the largest freshwater invertebrate native to the UK.

White-clawed crayfish are typically olive or bronze-coloured, with pale or rosecoloured undersides to their large claws. They grow up to 12cm and can live for up to 12 years! They inhabit a wide range of habitats including rivers, streams,

and lakes, hiding underneath rocks and within small crevices during the day before heading out to forage at night for invertebrates, plants, and dead organic matter.

The presence of white-clawed crayfish in our rivers indicates a healthy ecosystem as they require clean, welloxygenated and mineral-rich waters. Sadly, their numbers have declined significantly, and they are now classified as endangered and at risk of extinction.

Their decline has primarily been caused by the non-native American signal crayfish, who outcompete the white-clawed for homes and food, as well as carrying a disease called ‘crayfish plague’ which they are largely resistant to but is lethal to the white-clawed.

The Trust is working hard to secure robust and viable populations of white-clawed crayfish. Read the latest update on page 10

How to tell male kingf ishers from females

A blurred streak of electric blue is often all you will see of a kingfisher. As it skims over a waterway at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, These majestic birds are bona fide ‘A-listers’ when it comes to river wildlife, and good sightings are prized collectors’ items.

If you’re extremely lucky, however, you may spot one perched on a branch overhanging a stream or

river as it scans the water for potential prey.

If the bird remains stationary for long enough for you to train a pair of binoculars on it, it’s possible to distinguish whether you’re watching a male or a female.

Male kingfishers have an entirely black bill, whereas females have an orangeypink tinge to the lower part of the beak.

White-clawed crayfish.

Kingfisher

URBAN FIELDCRAFT

HEAR THIS

Witness the exodus of toadlets leaving their birth ponds as the young amphibians transition to a terrestrial lifestyle.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

DO THIS

Grab a magnifying glass and an ID guide, and head out for a DIY butterfly survey. You can submit your findings to the Big Butterfly Count.

3 species to spot Daubenton’s bat

Spend a warm summer evening by a riverbank and there’s every chance you’ll spot one of these ‘mini hovercra ’ bats.

Grayling

This member of the salmon family is known as ‘Lady of the Stream’ for its streamlined build and colourful dorsal fin. See them in the River Arle in Alresford.

Banded demoiselle

Males are metallic blue with dark blue patches on each of its four wings, while females are metallic green with translucent green wings. See these damselflies at Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve.

Daubenton’s bats have an average lifespan of five years but can live for up to 22 years.

Commonly referred to as the ‘water bat’, Daubenton’s bat has an unrivalled affinity with wetland habitats. These mediumsized bats skim the surface of lakes, slow-moving rivers and canals hunting for aquatic insects, such as midges, caddisflies and mayflies. They often fly only centimetres above the water’s surface, like a miniature hovercraft, and use their feet and tail to scoop up prey. During summer, Daubenton’s bats roost communally under bridges, in tunnels, in damp caves and inside tree holes - but always near water. Colony sizes often range between 20 to 50 bats but can number up to 200 individuals. The species is named after 18th-century French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, a pioneering comparative anatomist.

How to see them this summer

For your best chance of seeing a Daubenton’s bat, try scanning open bodies of fresh water during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.

A bat detector will pick up its echolocation calls which range from 35kHz to 80kHz but are loudest between 45kHz and 50kHz. Calls occur as a burst of machine-gun-like clicks that typically last five to 10 seconds. Daubenton’s bats are widespread in the UK and are not thought to be in serious decline. However, loss and degradation of riparian habitat could impact insect populations and have serious knock-on effects on the species.

Find out more on our website at hiwwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer

Swi

These famous summer migrants – nicknamed ‘sky-screechers’ for their piercing, high-altitude calls –will swoop over rivers and streams to catch airborne insects.

BRUCE SHORTLAND LIANNE DE MELLO

Discover Lower Test

Just a stone’s throw from Southampton Water and the docks, Lower Test Nature Reserve is a hidden gem of biodiversity. With its patchwork of floodplain meadows, marshes, and reedbeds, this stunning reserve is home to a huge variety of wildlife, making it an important site for conservation e orts.

One of the highlights of Lower Test Nature Reserve is the vibrant birdlife that calls this area home. During the summer months, the reserve comes alive with birdsong as numerous species take to the skies and the waterways.

One species that is particularly famous at Lower Test is the kingfisher. These dazzling birds, with their bright blue feathers and sharp beaks, can often be spotted darting over the water in search of prey. Their brilliant flashes of colour and acrobatic hunting techniques make them a spectacular sight.

The reserve’s wetlands and reedbeds also provide important habitat for a variety of waterfowl, including ducks, swans, and herons. Visitors to the reserve may catch a glimpse of elegant mute swans gliding across the water or catch

the graceful flight of a heron as it takes off from the marshes in search of food. In addition to its avian inhabitants, Lower Test is home to a rich array of plant and insect species. The floodplain meadows are covered with colour

during the spring and summer months, with wildflowers such as celery leaved buttercup, marsh marigold, and yellow iris painting the landscape in vibrant hues. These meadows provide important habitat for pollinators, including bees,

Regular saltwater flooding at Lower Test Nature Reserve protects the grassland from freezing in cold winters.

butterflies and other insects, which play a crucial role in maintaining the reserve’s delicate ecosystem.

Lower Test’s summer wildlife offerings

Lower Test offers diverse habitats full of a variety of flora and fauna, with excellent opportunities for birdwatching, providing a chance to spot some of the reserve’s rarer bird species, such as the elusive water rail or the striking bittern.

The reserve is carefully managed to maintain and enhance its diverse habitats, ensuring that it remains a haven for wildlife for years to come. Conservation measures include regular monitoring of bird populations, habitat restoration projects, and community engagement initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of the reserve and its wildlife.

Environmental designation

l As a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Lower Test Nature Reserve joins important, high quality conservation sites that make a significant contribution to conserving habitats and species identified in Annex I and II of the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC.

l Special Protection Areas (SPA) are protected areas for birds in the UK classified under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. As a SAC and SPA site, the Reserve forms part of the UK’s national site network.

l As a Ramsar site, the Reserve is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”.

Whether you’re a keen birdwatcher, a lover of wildflowers, or simply enjoy peaceful walks in nature, this reserve offers a unique and enriching experience. With its stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and important conservation efforts, Lower Test Nature Reserve is truly a haven for wildlife and a treasure to be cherished.

DID YOU KNOW?

Although tricky to find, the reserve is home to the nationally rare southern marsh orchid, which blooms with its stunning pink flowers in the summer months.

l Lower Test Nature Reserve joins some of the most important wildlife sites in the country, with added protection, as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

l Important wildlife sites, which contribute to the ecological network in Hampshire, can also be designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). SINCs are also known locally as Local Wildlife Sites. Almost 4,000 sites in Hampshire have been recorded as SINCs – including Lower Test Nature Reserve.

Things to do

† Visit Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve next door, a great place to explore and learn about nature with several walking trails and bird hides.

† Explore nearby New Forest National Park, a vast area of natural beauty that covers over 200 square miles and hosts many trails.

† Royal Victoria Country Park, offers stunning views of Southampton Water, as well as numerous walking and cycling trails and a miniature railway.

JOSHUA COPPING

ANDREW PARKINSON / 2020VISION

“The tranquil beauty of these wetland habitats is a sight to behold, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere for nature lovers to enjoy.”

WILD NEWS

All the latest news from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

White-clawed crayfish can re-grow missing limbs, including their front pair of legs which have the prominent claws.

Berried white-clawed crayfish collection

Following the successful release of 200 native white-clawed crayfish last October, this April members of the Trust’s Ecology Team met with partnership colleagues from Bristol Zoological Society to release another batch of crayfish that had been born in captivity, continuing to boost the wild population found on the River Itchen.

A few weeks later the team, including the Trust’s Chief Executive Debbie Tann along with recently appointed Trust President Megan McCubbin, met again further downstream to collect wild female crayfish carrying clutches of eggs. After a successful survey, eight female crayfish and their precious cargo were safely transported to the specialist hatchery facility at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site. There the eggs will hatch and the young crayfish will be reared until they have grown large enough to fend for themselves in the wild, continuing the cycle of a project that has seen 1,500 crayfish released since 2014.

Debbie said: “Seeing a white clawed crayfish in the wild in a Hampshire chalk stream has been on my bucket list for a long time and so I was absolutely delighted to finally have the chance to see not just one but many. The real highlight for me was finding a healthy berried female in my very first trap! What a thrill. It’s wonderful to know that the captive rearing programme is really helping to boost the local population of this endangered and very special species.” Megan said: “The sun was shining and the swallows were darting above our heads, but that didn’t detract from the mission - to collect egg-laden whiteclawed crayfish females. I was so excited to roll up my sleeves and get my waders on for this, as I had never seen one before. It was wonderful to see crayfish of all different sizes, indicating that this particular chalk stream habitat is healthy enough and the captive rearing programme is working.” Find out more: hiwwt.org.uk/southern-chalkstreams

IN A NUTSHELL

■ White-clawed crayfish mating takes place in late autumn and the females carry the resulting clutch of eggs with them throughout the winter until the young hatch in late spring. A er this the hatchlings will stay a ached to their mother for a further three weeks.

■ Female crayfish carrying eggs are referred to as ‘berried females’ as their clutches, carried beneath their abdomens, resemble small, dark berries, similar to the drupelets of a blackberry fruit.

■ White-clawed crayfish were once widespread throughout the British Isles, but their distribution and numbers have declined dramatically since the late 1970s. They were especially impacted by the introduction of non-native crayfish species from North America and a disease they carry known as ‘crayfish plague’.

White clawed-crayfish

Principal Ecologist Ben Rushbrook showing the Trust’s Chief Executive Debbie Tann, and President Megan McCubbin, this enigmatic endangered species for the very first time.

Pond habitat improved at Winnall Moors

Specialised amphibious machines were used to create more open water habitat at Winnall Moors Nature Reserve earlier this year.

The aquatic 1.5 tonne machines expertly removed the matted roots of reeds, known as rhizomes, in the nature reserve’s central pond. The hauled-out reeds were then used elsewhere to create small island refuges for water voles.

If the reeds were left unmanaged, they would continue to impede visibility for visitors and leave the pond at risk of eventually drying out.

As part of the habitat management works, the pond was also desilted. This will benefit wildlife including the resident toads, dragonflies and waterfowl.

There are further plans to replace the pond dipping platform to allow school groups to discover the wildlife, such as water boatmen, water beetles and dragonfly larvae, beneath the surface.

This work, together with a new log circle recently installed close to the entrance to Winnall Moors has been supported in memory of Lucy Howell, who loved to visit Winnall during her lifetime.

Seagrass planting and analysing

algal blooms at Langstone

4,000 dwarf eelgrass seeds. That’s what our Solent Seagrass Champions collected from the mudflats at Farlington last year … and then went on to sort by hand! This terrific effort and invaluable work led to the exciting completion of our first seagrass deployment of 2023.

‘Dwarf eelgrass’, also known by its scientific name of Zostera noltei, is the smaller species of seagrass found in the UK, growing mostly in the intertidal zone.

Some of the seeds were packed into hessian seed pods, whilst others were used to trial a pioneering new method of planting called Dispenser Injection Seeding. This method involves filling caulking guns with a sediment/seed mixture which is then injected directly into the mudflat.

The two planting methods were trialled across three plots in Farlington. Half of these plots will have any algal growth removed by hand to monitor whether algal blooms in Langstone Harbour are a factor reducing seedling germination success.

PARTNER UPDATES

Candover Brook

Named after the chalk stream that runs through the valley and featuring the white-clawed crayfish on its label, Candover Brook produces English sparkling wine from its vineyard in Preston Candover. Candover Brook has committed to donate 50p from every bottle sold via its website or within a 15-mile radius of its vineyard to support the Trust’s white-clawed crayfish project. candoverbrook.co.uk

VP plc

VP PLC is committed to mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss by minimising its own environmental footprint, whilst also investing in community and conservation projects. Over the next two years they will be supporting our seagrass restoration projects, enabling us to continue protecting and restoring this vital marine habitat. https://sustainability.vpplc.com

NOSY

Isle of Wight creative agency, NOSY, has nominated the Trust as its chosen charity through the One Percent for the Planet movement. The team of planetconscious creatives will be donating their time, expertise and money to support projects and activities on the Island to help create a Wilder Wight. nosy.agency

Habitat restoration work in progress at Winnall Moors Nature Reserve.

Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve turns twenty

Testwood Lakes is a tranquil wildlife haven in Totton where lapwing, oystercatcher and great crested grebe breed in the spring, and butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies gather in summer.

Many wildlife successes have been celebrated here over the last two decades, including increased numbers of breeding waders which have benefitted from the hard work of the team and special fencing to protect their nests and young chicks.

The reserve also offers a range of activities that appeal to all ages and interests, making it a popular destination for families and nature lovers. The team have successfully engaged with thousands of people on site and within local schools to create a better connection with

and understanding of nature.

Over the last nine years, Oliver Edwards has seen his children George and Evie progress through the Wildlife Tots and Watch sessions through to Wildlife Rangers, where they are now able to work independently and even teach him new things.

“Both children know so much about insects, birds and pond life. I will be devastated when they are too old to take part once a month,” says Oliver.

“The events, led by knowledgeable volunteers in such unique habitats, provide an opportunity for children to learn about nature and the environment in a way that would not be possible on a regular walk in the park. Thank you for all the hard work. Thank you for inspiring the next generation.”

Testwood Lakes is a beautiful nature reserve to visit with the family.

The Edwards family have enjoyed monthly visits to Testwood Lakes nature reserve for nearly 10 years.

Nitrate reduction at Wilder Li le Duxmore

In April, the Trust received positive results from the latest soil analysis carried out at Wilder Little Duxmore – the Trust’s first rewilding site, located on the Isle of Wight.

Formerly Little Duxmore Farm was receiving fertiliser inputs as part of its arable cropping regime, a large proportion of which ended up in the soil and were subsequently washed into the surrounding landscape. By taking on the ownership and management of the 42-hectare farm and taking the land out of intensive arable production, we have given nature a chance to bounce back.

The Trust’s rewilding approach, letting nature take the lead, has proved successful with increased species diversity, and the latest soil results

showed an incredible 47% reduction in soil mineral nitrogen. This reduction has made the soils less acidic, hopefully contributing to the future suitability of the site for chalk downland restoration. Our zero-input approach will lead to reduced nitrate pollution in the Solent.

This achievement is a positive step in promoting nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration through rewilding. The Trust hopes to continue to develop our Nature-Based Solutions Programme and inspire others to follow suit in restoring nature for future generations.

For more information please visit: www.hiwwt.org.uk/news/soilquality-improvement-at-wilderlittle-duxmore

Sabine’s gull spo ed

Groups of birders were drawn to Southmoor Nature Reserve earlier this year for the rare sight of a migrant Sabine’s gull.

Southmoor provided the perfect stop for the gull, offering opportunities for it to forage on the wing over open water, as well as wading to find insects and larvae and capture worms or small crustaceans on the mudflats.

The Sabine’s gull is small and delicate, with a small head and a slender, straight dark bill with a yellow tip. It has long, pointed wings and a forked tail. Breeding adults are white with a dark head and a threetoned wing pattern.

Rewilding network launch

We launched the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rewilding Network in April, becoming the 21st local network to join Rewilding Britain. The initiative aims to connect existing large-scale rewilders and landowners who are interested in rewilding, to raise the standard of rewilding through shared learning, access to specialist knowledge and improved ecological monitoring.

On the day over 50 rewilders came together at Wilder Little Duxmore and Wilder Nunwell. We shared our vision for how rewilding can make a meaningful contribution to local nature recovery,

so that at least 5% of our landscapes are rewilded as part of our 30% nature recovery goal.

The launch of this new network is a

significant step towards creating a wilder Hampshire and Isle of Wight. hiwwt.org.uk/hampshire-isle-wightrewilding-network

Wilder Little Duxmore

Sabine’s gull

WHAT’S ON

Here’s a guide to a selection of our wildlife walks, talks, activities and courses throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from August. Find out more about the events listed here, as well as many others, by visiting hiwwt.org.uk/events

Thu 3 Aug | 4.45pm – 7.15pm

Intertidal survey (Royal Victoria)

Sign up to this intertidal survey at Royal Victoria near Netley to discover and record the marine life that exists on the shore. The data you collect is vital to expanding our understanding of coastal wildlife.

Location: Ferrymans Quay, Victoria Road, Netley SO31 5RA

Price: Free

Mon 7 - Thu 10 Aug | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Wild Beach Leader Training Course

Four days of experiential learning in the marine environment including taking the Forest School ethos to the beach, risk benefit analysis, marine wildlife identification, understanding tides, shelter, games and activities.

Location: Lee on Solent & Hurst Spit

Price: £410

Sat 26 Aug | 10am – 12 noon

Wildlife Tots (Testwood Lakes)

Wildlife Tots is for children aged 5 years and under. The emphasis is on family learning and all children must be accompanied by adults. Activities are based mostly outdoors, in natural surroundings. Waterproofs and wellies are recommended.

Location: Testwood Lakes Education

Centre, Brunel Road, Totton, SO40 3YD

Price: £5 per child

Pond dipping is always a popular activity with children of all ages.

Tuesday 19 September | Conference 1pm - 5.30pm, Awards 6pm - 7.30pm

Wilder Conference and Awards (Portsmouth)

Our first in-person Wilder 2030 conference and awards ceremony will offer a fantastic opportunity to meet the individuals and organisations who are leading the way towards a wilder Hampshire and Isle of Wight. A range of well-respected and inspiring speakers and panellists will join us throughout the afternoon to discuss issues including rewilding, nature-based solutions and the urgent restoration of our rivers and seas. Our awards, hosted by Trust President Megan McCubbin, will celebrate the incredible achievements of individuals and landowners, communities, schools and businesses who are making a difference for wildlife where they live or work. Location: Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Portsmouth. Price: Ticket options and information available on Eventbrite.

Sat 30 Sep | 3.30pm – 6.30pm

Intertidal survey (Keyhaven)

Sign up to this intertidal survey at Keyhaven near Lymington to discover and record the marine life that exists on the shore. The data you collect is vital to expanding our understanding of coastal wildlife.

Location: Sea Wall Car Park, Lower Pennington Lane, Lymington SO41 8AJ

Price: Free

AMY LEWIS

AGM 2023

Notice of the 62nd Annual General Meeting of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Saturday 14 October 2023, 10am - 1pm

Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester, SO23 8UJ

Dear Members,

I am delighted to invite you to join us in person for our 2023 AGM on Saturday 14 October. Our agenda starts at 10am and finishes at 1pm with complimentary refreshments served during the break. As well as the formal AGM business, the meeting will include:

● Presentations from the Trust’s CEO, Debbie Tann, and other staff showcasing our work to deliver nature’s recovery across our two counties, highlighting our key wildlife successes and sharing our future plans.

● A Q&A session with myself and the speakers.

● The chance to meet other Trust members and supporters, as well as trustees and staff.

I do hope you can join us. It’s a great way to learn first-hand about the Trust’s work and how your membership benefits our local wildlife.

We look forward to seeing you there.

David Jordan OBE, Chairman

Agenda

Welcome by the Trust’s Chief Executive Annual General Meeting

1. Opening address by the Trust’s President

2. Apologies for absence

3. Minutes of the 61st Annual General Meeting

4. Report of the Trust’s Chairman on the year 2022–2023

5. Report of the Trust’s Honorary Treasurer on the year 2022–2023 and approval of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

6. Elections to Council*

7. Appointment of Auditors*

Tea and coff ee break

Presentations by the Trust’s Chief Executive and staff

Question & Answer session

* Details of the candidates standing for Trustee election and re-election, and information on the appointment of Auditors can be viewed on our website at hiwwt.org.uk/agm

This information can also be requested from the Trust’s office via email agm@hiwwt.org.uk or telephone 01489 774400.

If you would like to a end the AGM

We would be delighted if you can join us. To register to attend, please book your place online now by visiting hiwwt.org.uk/agm

Places are limited and must be booked in advance by 8 October

If the meeting becomes fully booked before this date, we will close the bookings earlier. The AGM business papers will be available on the door on 14 October. They will also be available to view and download from 20 September, via hiwwt.org.uk/agm

If you are unable to a end the AGM

You are very welcome to vote on the formal business via postal proxy vote. If you would like to register for a proxy vote, please call us on 01489 774400 or email us at agm@hiwwt.org.uk and provide your name and address (including postcode) and we will process your request. The deadline for requesting a proxy vote is 15 September

We will record the AGM so you can catch up on the proceedings after the meeting. We will post edited highlights on our website later in October at hiwwt.org.uk/agm

Questions about the AGM? Email us at agm@hiwwt.org.uk or call 01489 774400

TEAM

Welcome to Team Wilder, where this month we share the stories of local people coming together to take action for rivers and river wildlife.

Howard Boardman, Chalk Stream Champion

Howard has been a keen fisherman from a young age, and a River Keeper – a job that involves the management and maintenance of chalk stream habitats - for 14 years. He is a long-standing volunteer with the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme, having lent his support since the earliest development phase.

As a Chalk Stream Champion, he organises invertebrate displays at public events, performs redd surveys during the trout spawning season, and helps to inspire the next generation through education sessions for children and young people. He is currently working to establish regular

water quality monitoring on the headwaters of the River Itchen. He also supports scheme partner Wessex Rivers Trust with habitat restoration projects.

In addition to these activities, Howard coordinates a group of 25 Chalk Stream Champions who record invertebrate populations in the River Itchen headwaters. They use the Anglers’ Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) method for monthly surveys, and the SmartRivers method for more in-depth analysis twice a year. Thanks to their efforts, data on the health of our chalk streams is being gathered at several new locations.

After retiring from the NHS in 2021, Lynda decided to pursue her lifelong interest in conservation through the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme. Since becoming a Chalk Stream Champion, she has been on a journey of discovery that includes surveying for fish redds, removing invasive non-native plants, and restoring wildlife habitats. She is also involved with a group of citizen scientists who monitor invertebrate populations in the headwaters of the River Itchen. The presence or absence of certain species offers crucial information

about the health of our chalk streams, and the group’s surveys provide the Environment Agency with data that it can use to protect these precious places.

Lynda said of her volunteering, “I have very much enjoyed all the aspects I have undertaken and have learnt a huge amount. The scheme’s information sessions, both face-to-face and online, give us the opportunity to learn from experts in their fields. I have had the pleasure of meeting fellow volunteers, some of whom have an impressive level of knowledge, and all of whom are passionate about the preservation of our iconic chalk streams.”

Lynda Gray, Chalk Stream Champion

Rose and Willow Goodwin, Wildlife Watch and Wildlife Rangers

Testwood Lakes is a tranquil nature reserve in Totton offering a range of activities that makes it a popular destination for families and nature lovers, inspiring a new generation and giving them the opportunity to learn skills they would otherwise not have access to.

Dave and Emily Goodwin have been taking their children Rose and Willow to the Lakes for 10 years, since eldest daughter Rose was three.

They first heard about the centre’s wildlife tots programme from a friend and were drawn to the monthly sessions. Over the years, they have progressed through the different offerings at Testwood Lakes, with daughters Willow and Rose now attending monthly Wildlife Watch and Rangers sessions.

Dave says the infectious enthusiasm of the volunteers has truly inspired not only his daughters, but himself.

“We’ve had the opportunity to do so many different things. One month we’re making something like reindeer out

of logs or building bird boxes, the next we’re moth trapping or pond dipping; all opportunities we would never have been able to give our children without the help

Mr May, Wilder School Leader

Whitchurch Primary School has always allowed the children to gain valuable experiences with nature and connect with wildlife on the school grounds by offering Forest School and outdoor learning.

The River Test meanders around the edge of the school, and a public footpath running alongside the riverbank allows children the opportunity to walk to school next to the river, watching brown trout swimming and damselflies and dragonflies dazzling above the water.

The river’s wildlife shares the school grounds with the children. In particular, mallard ducks are often seen on the playing field, and annually a female mallard makes her nest safely tucked away in the corner of the wildlife pond. The children love to see the ducklings emerge as they make their way down to the river to continue their new life.

The Eco group in year four want to make a difference to local wildlife. Ideas from the pupils have included making bug hotels, creating more space for nature and increasing connectivity to

the river habitat, and litter-picking. The staff and pupils understand the importance the school grounds make to local wildlife, and the importance of maintaining, restoring and expanding habitats within the school grounds to make more space for wildlife to thrive.

of the centre and its knowledgeable volunteers. Hopefully, the next 20 years will see people who are just as interested as we’ve been for the last 10.”

Anyone can become part of Team Wilder. It doesn’t ma er whether you’re an individual, a local business, a school or a community group, as long as you are keen to help nature. If you’d like to find out how you can get involved, please email wilder@hiwwt.org.uk or visit our website for more information.

Right: River Test view across bridge.

Crystal Clear

The value of chalk streams

WORDS SOPHIE EVINGAR Watercress and Winterbournes Communications and Events Officer

When we think of globally rare habitats, we o en picture rainforests or the arctic tundra. But in Hampshire we are lucky to have something found almost nowhere else on earth: beautiful chalk streams. With only 220 worldwide, and over 85% of them in England, these habitats are incredibly rare on a global scale. Winding from the county’s northern reaches to its coast, they bring a unique vibrancy to the landscape.

Some of our chalk streamslike the famous Rivers Test and Itchen – are practically household names. Others, like the Candover Brook or Bourne Rivulet, are hidden gems known only to their closest communities.

Most enigmatic of all are those stretches that flow intermittently: ‘winterbournes’ that appear only in the wetter months, before transforming into grassy hollows for weeks or months at a time.

The key to this vanishing act lies within the landscape itself. Much of Hampshire’s bedrock is chalk - a calcium-rich rock formed from the remains of marine plankton. Riddled with tiny holes, it makes an excellent water-storing aquifer. Rainfall soaks into this porous structure and, when the chalk can hold no more, seeps back out again at the surface. These re-emergence points are the humble beginnings of our amazing chalk streams.

Watercress and Winterbournes is a Landscape Partnership Scheme which is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating the seven chalk streams that feed the Rivers Test and Itchen.

Flowing water has an awesome power, over millennia it can carve and shape a landscape, determine its natural pa erns and influence its history. All animalsfrom o ers, to freshwater, shrimp, to humans - are reliant on an abundant and reliable supply of clean water. Rivers sustain the natural environment, wildlife and people in equal measure.

A unique habitat full of benefits

When chalk rivers emerge from their aquifer, the water has been fundamentally changed by its journey. Its passage through the rock leaves it mineral-rich and filtered of impurities. It arrives at around 11 °C all year round, and with this coldness comes an abundance of dissolved oxygen. As chalk is so absorbent, relatively little rainfall flows into the streams from the land, which keeps sediment levels low and the water ‘gin-clear’.

While these qualities are all unusual,

the consistency of the water’s flow is also significant. The aquifer can feed our streams for many months after being ‘recharged’ by rain, and the stability this brings is hugely valuable for wildlife. Conversely, species in the winterbourne stretches live in harmony with their home’s transient nature; many insects, for example, have drought-resistant eggs that lie dormant until the water’s return. Unsurprisingly, our lives have long

been drawn to these special places. Our chalk streams, and the floodplains that embrace them, are peppered with evidence of this ancient relationship. Channels are straddled by mills that once made flour, cloth, and paper – some with their wheels still turning. Fields are scored by the ghostly lines of old water meadows. Heritage industries like watercress growing and fly fishing continue to flourish.

Chalk streams offer idyllic wildlife scenes

Imagine yourself standing by a chalk stream in summertime. The weather is warm, but a cool breeze drifts in your direction. Looking down over the verdant fringe at your feet, you see that the water beyond is glass-like in its clarity. Fronds of water crowfoot sway in the gentle current, their emerald leaves dotted with delicate white flowers.

Below the surface, the stream bed is a mosaic of colourful gravels. Freshwater shrimp scoot over the stones, passing caddisfly larvae in decorative cases. Scales shimmer as a brown trout swims by, its sleek body

moving against the flow. A white-clawed crayfish crouches between pebbles, foraging for food in the bed’s crevices.

Up on the stream banks, a water vole cautiously emerges from its burrow. Sheltered by the undergrowth, it nibbles eagerly on nearby plant stalks. Above its head, the hum of wings heralds a pair of southern damselflies. More slender-bodied than their dragonfly cousins, they flit through the foliage in search of a place to mate.

Higher still, a flash of bright plumage announces a kingfisher’s landing on a low tree branch. This perch offers

a close view of passing fish, and an ideal spot from which to take the plunge. When dusk falls, water-loving Daubenton’s bats will swoop down to the stream’s surface, attracted by clouds of dancing mayflies.

SIMON NEWMAN

SHUTTERSTOCK

Poor management strips the streams of their lush vegetation; simple actions like excessive mowing of the banks can turn a bustling wildlife highway into a wasteland. Invasive non-native species crowd out their native rivals, and heavy footfall causes banks to crumble, releasing sediment that smothers the stream bed.

When these pressures collide, their impact is felt beyond the streams themselves. Pollutants can reach the aquifer, only to wreak havoc when they re-emerge decades later. Many will travel downstream, to pollute our seas. The habitats they damage lose their ability to capture carbon and reduce flooding. The health of the streams is therefore doubly important – they are the precious start to a journey in which every step matters. Read more about the pressure on our rivers on pages 22-25

Find out more about getting involved hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes

Pressures facing chalk streams

In their serene loveliness, chalk streams can seem untouched by human hands. Yet in recent decades, they have come under ever-mounting pressure from our activities. We have spent centuries shaping them to suit our purposes – dredged them, straightened them, perched them, dammed them. We have remade them for our benefit, but at what cost?

What we are doing to help

Our Southern Chalkstreams project aims to protect these precious and stunning habitats, and the threatened invertebrates that call them home. It focuses particularly on the nationally and internationally threatened whiteclawed crayfish. Through the project, we provide technical support to boost the development of important habitat features and work with land and river owners and managers to encourage habitat enhancement.

hiwwt.org.uk/southernchalkstreams

Three ways to get involved in Watercress and Winterbournes

Habitat Restoration

Thriving wildlife habitats are the foundation of a healthy chalk stream. You can don your wellies and help us to restore streams to their former glory. Depending on the project, this could be adding brushwood berms or planting bankside vegetation.

Invasive Species Removal

Plants like monkeyflower, parrot’s feather, and Himalayan balsam can quickly out-compete native species. They also reproduce from tiny fragments, so can easily spread downstream. You can grab your gloves and help us to remove these problem plants.

Youth Education

Children and young people have a central role in deciding the future of our chalk streams. You can help us to run fun educational sessions for schools and youth groups. We might be in the classroom, on the stream banks, or even at a local heritage site.

Our Nutrient Reduction Programme is demonstrating a way of mitigating and reducing the impact of phosphates and nitrates from planned housing developments on our rivers and seas. The programme does this by creating new nature reserves on farmland that was formerly intensively managed, thereby creating new habitats for local wildlife and helping nature to recover. hiwwt.org.uk/reducing-nitratessolent

We are also one of 16 partner organisations in the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme. With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the partners are working to protect the Test and Itchen headwaters – the seven tributaries closest to their sources. The scheme sees us work closely with local communities to celebrate their rich heritage, enhance their vibrant present, and build their bright future.

hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes

DENNIS

BRIGHT

Chalk stream passing through the picturesque village of Cheriton.

Brown trout

e need for rapid river recovery

Sienna works at the Trust to tackle the climate and nature emergencies by leading advocacy campaigns and working with councils and MPs to ensure nature is top of the political agenda.

Our rivers won’t be in good health until 2063 unless we take rapid action to put them back into recovery.

WORDS SIENNA SOMERS Policy and Advocacy Manager

Blunt-fruited water-starwort in the crystal clear waters of the River Itchen near Ovington.

DID YOU KNOW?

Invertebrate monitoring by our volunteers as part of the Riverfly Census shows that chalk streams, including the rivers Test and Itchen, have lost on average 41% of mayfly species since 1998 (Wildfish, 2022).

There are no rivers in England, including our prized local chalk streams, that are healthy – and astonishingly the Government says they won’t recover to good overall health until 2063.

Rivers are the lifeblood of all species, including us. The beautiful and complex water system that flows like arteries through our country is much more than just the rivers we can see. It starts deep in the underground aquifers and high up on our rainy hillsides, then flows down to our coast, sustaining a wealth of unique and rare aquatic wildlife. They are a safe haven for the elusive brook lamprey, burrowing mayfly nymphs, majestic otters and wavy beds of water crowfoot, as well as supporting the aerial displays of birds, dragonflies and nocturnal bats, sweeping across the surface to feed.

But damaging actions all along the area that feeds a river, called its ‘catchment’, are building up to have devastating consequences. From agricultural soil, fertilisers and pesticides washed into our waterways, to antibiotics and painkillers flooding our rivers with a cocktail of chemicals. While unsustainable water abstraction for human use and increasing droughts due to climate change is reducing our rivers to a trickle at a time when nature needs water the most.

Here we explain the key threats to our fragile freshwater systems and what needs to change to restore our rivers in need.

LINDA PITKIN / 2020VISION

We are lucky to have some of the UK’s most important rivers and freshwater habitats in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Not only are these essential for wildlife but they are vital for our wellbeing too. Walking along rivers that are clean and clear, with the sound of a chalk stream gently flowing over gravel, where you can see the unmistakable flash of blue as a kingfisher dives for a fish or hear the ‘plop’ of a water vole as it leaves its burrow to swim along the bank, helps reduce stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

These incredible habitats are so precious but are under serious threat. Even the Test and Itchen rivers, two of the most iconic chalk streams in the world, are shadows of their former selves despite being protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Today, only 17% and 10% of the habitats along the Test and Itchen, respectively, are in ‘favourable’ condition (calculated through Natural England 2023 dataset. Last assessed in 2010 and 2011).

With UK freshwater species declining faster than in any other ecosystem, we urgently need to bring our rivers back from the brink and restore these treasured and invaluable habitats.

Under the surface... from sewage to slurry

We’ve all seen the news about the deluge of sewage entering our waterways and ending up in our seas – in 2022 a shocking 4,879 sewage spills were recorded across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (Rivers Trust 2023). Sewage pollution has been on an upwards trajectory since 2018 due to a chronic lack of investment. Wastewater (both treated and untreated) is now estimated

Reconnected water meadow carrier - a rich habitat for river wildlife.

ANDY MORFFEW

Until we get our rivers back into good health, it limits our ability to put nature everywhere back into recovery.

Kingfishers will sit on low-hanging branches over water, suddenly diving in to catch small fish.

MICHEL ROGGO

to be responsible for up to 36% of rivers failing to meet good ecological status (DEFRA 2021).

Sewage may be the issue in the news the most, but we cannot forget the impact of agriculture on our rivers which is now responsible for over 40% of our rivers failing to achieve good ecological status (DEFRA 2021).

At least 35% of the phosphorus that ends up in our rivers is due to agricultural fertilisers washing into them, causing eutrophication (Environment Agency 2019). This causes over-feeding of aquatic plants, especially algae, which smothers other species, causing oxygen levels to drop and water quality to decrease impacting invertebrates, plants and animals.

Farmers are generally using less chemical inputs now than they did thirty years ago, but as it takes decades for phosphates to filter through the chalk aquifers and into our rivers, even if we stopped all fertiliser runoff tomorrow it would take decades before the impact was felt in our ecosystems.

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink

While much of the attention on the plights of our rivers revolves around pollution, the increasing lack of water, from over-abstraction by water companies, increased demand and worsening droughts, are a significant threat to our freshwater habitats.

As water levels drop, water temperatures rise and the amount of oxygen that water can hold decreases, resulting in less oxygen available for aquatic organisms.

Low water levels also prevent certain species of fish from migrating. Once the iconic Atlantic salmon leaves the sea, changes to their bodies mean they can’t go back, and there is a race against time to climb up the river to breed before dying, but low flow traps them downstream with too little water to reach their spawning grounds.

Reviving our rivers

It is clear that we need to bring our rivers back to life and rapid change is needed. But the good news is that rivers can recover remarkably quickly given the right protections and the right management.

If we revive our rivers, it will kickstart recovery for all wildlife.

At Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, along the banks of the River Itchen, our award-winning river restoration work to improve habitats and reconnect relic water meadows has helped wildlife bounce back and it has built resilience in the ecosystems. This is especially valuable during times of extreme weather. For example, following the 2014 floods the extreme conditions didn’t destroy the habitats at Winnall Moors, as they did elsewhere. Instead, our efforts had created a naturally functioning floodplain, where wildlife was able to adapt and the channels were able to capture the excess water, preventing it from overflowing into the city.

For real change we need to ensure whole river catchments are functioning, through restoring and reconnecting riverine habitats across our counties through coordinated efforts by our water companies and councils to invest in ‘nature-based solutions’, incentivised by local and national government policy. We need to see our councils make better use of the planning system to direct where habitat restoration needs to take place to maximise benefits for both people and nature.

need to see is protection for all our chalk streams, as currently only a few lucky ones such as the Itchen and Avon have strong legal protections.

If we can bring our rivers back into good health well before 2063, it will help us secure a wilder, healthier and more resilient future for us all.

DID YOU KNOW?

Researchers have discovered that Atlantic salmon inhabiting our southern chalk streams are genetically distinct from other British and European salmon species.

Crucially, we need to curb the rampant exploitation of our rivers and drive a step-change in investment in our water infrastructure. To do this, we need bold, ambitious policies, targets and fines, as well as sufficient funding for our government watchdogs to hold the water companies to account. One policy we

Take action for our rivers

Demand stronger protections for all chalk streams

We can’t wait till 2063 for our rivers to be healthy! Ask your MP to protect our precious chalk streams.

Campaign to restore your local rivers

Sign up to be a Wilder Campaign Leader to build y our skills and campaign for change locally.

Become a chalk stream champion

One great way to help our chalk streams is to volunteer with the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme. There are many ways to get involved, from habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring to youth education and creative activities.

Find out more about our rivers and how you can take action hiwwt.org.uk/rivers

Above: Fuel oil pollution at Lower Test in 2021 due to inputs from the industrial estate on adjoining land following heavy rains, creating long-lasting damage to species and important habitats.

dragonf lies & damself lies 6 places to see

ragonflies and damselflies are some of our most enchanting insects. They’re large, often colourful, and have a fascinating, flickering flight. They dart above the water, starting and stopping like little clockwork toys as they hunt or patrol their territory. Both dragonflies and damselflies belong to an order of insects called Odonata, which means ‘toothed jaw’ – named for their serrated mandibles. Damselflies are generally slender, with their eyes on either side of the head, never touching. Dragonflies are usually bigger, bulkier and have much larger eyes that normally touch each other.

You can find them on all kinds of wetlands, from garden ponds to canals, chalk streams to bogs – and sometimes far from any water. They’re best looked for on still, sunny days in spring and summer, when they’re warm enough to fly. Here are six of our favourite nature reserves for spotting them…

Did you spot any dragons or damsels?

We’d love to know how your search went. Please send us your best photos by emailing webmarketing@hiwwt.org.uk or tweeting us @HantsIWWildlife

See the spectacle for yourself

1 Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

A hotspot for dragonflies, with species like the majestic emperor dragonfly and the bustling brown hawker thriving in the diverse lakes and wetland habitats, making it a true hotspot for these enchanting creatures. It’s a haven for dragonfly enthusiasts and offers opportunities for close-up observation.

Where: Ringwood, New Forest, BH24 3PJ

2 Sandown Meadows Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

With its idyllic ponds, lush reedbeds, and picturesque meadows, this location is a haven for a diverse range of dragonflies, including the striking southern hawker and the vibrant common darter. It’s the perfect spot for nature walks and dragonfly spotting, offering a glimpse into their fascinating life cycles.

Where: Sandown, PO36 9PS

3 Hockley Meadows Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

This tranquil location is a haven for dragonflies, boasting species like the elegant banded demoiselle and the vibrant azure damselfly, which can be found fluttering along the rivers. It’s a perfect spot for peaceful dragonfly watching and immersing oneself in the beauty of nature.

Where: Winchester, SO21 2BN

4 Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

This stunning wetland has been restored for wildlife over recent decades and is now home to many dragonflies and damselflies. You could see emerald damselflies, emperor dragonflies, or even the rare white-faced darter –they were reintroduced in 2010 and are now thriving.

Where: Near Witherslack, LA11 6SN

5 Amwell, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

One of the best places in the region to see dragonflies and damselflies, with 21 breeding species, including red-eyed damselflies. The dragonfly trail features a boardwalk for close encounters with these enchanting insects.

Where: Ware, SG12 9SS

6

The ponds of this scenic nature reserve are great for dragonflies and damselflies, including red-veined darters, migrants from continental Europe. Windmill Farm also has a good reputation for attracting rarer migrant visitors, like the lesser emperor.

Where: The Lizard, TR12 7LH

Windmill Farm, Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Gourmet Gardening for wildlife

Grow a garden full of food that both you and your wild neighbours can enjoy.

Traditionally, fruit and veg growers view wildlife as something that should be prevented from eating the food we grow for ourselves. We net berries to protect them from birds, remove ‘cabbage white’ caterpillars from our brassicas. We lay traps for things like earwigs and expose soil grubs so that birds might feast on them before they can do any damage. Some growers haven’t got the memo about insect declines and still use harmful bug sprays.

But what if we learned to share, or even deliberately planted crops that could be used by us and wildlife? I realise I may be in the minority here, but one of my favourite things about growing food is sharing it. I’m happy to share my soft fruit with the birds – my cherry trees produce more than I would know what to do with, and there are enough blackberries, raspberries and tayberries to go around. I laugh at the caterpillars eating my brassicas and I always leave some to flower, along with some ‘spare’ parsnips and onions, so there’s food for pollinators

in spring. If I cut only half of my herbs such as mint, oregano, chives and thyme, I can encourage flowers to grow for bees and butterflies, and if I avoid cutting back the mildewed leaves of my courgettes I provide food for 22-spot ladybirds.

There is a line between providing food for wildlife and having your crop destroyed, and only you can decide where that line sits. For me, there’s not really a line. I’m happy for other species to enjoy the food I grow and I go out of my way to provide a little bit more for them. I may have a reduced crop, but I never lose a crop – one of the great things about gardening for wildlife is knowing the ecosystem will take care of itself. This means there’s always something for everyone.

Get more tips for helping nature at home from wildlifetrusts.org/gardening

Kate Bradbury is passionate about wildlife-friendly gardening and the author of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything in association with The Wildlife Trusts.

Brassicas

Varieties like broccoli and kale will flower after harvesting, providing food for early spring mining bees. Many varieties can be sown or planted out in summer – plant in rich soil and firm well.

Courgettes

Buy ready-grown plants and plant into rich soil in early summer, and keep well watered. 22-spot ladybirds are very polite, leaving the fruit for you and eating only the leaf mildew.

Oregano

Plant from spring to autumn in pots or the ground. Leave some unharvested so it flowers for butterflies and bees.

Broad beans

Avoid removing aphids and you’ll provide food not just for them but for the ladybirds, lacewings and hoverfly larva that eat them. Sow direct in autumn or spring. Stake taller varieties.

Rosemary

Flowering in spring, rosemary provides nectar and pollen for queen bumblebees. Plant at any time of year in moist but well-drained soil.

Raspberries

Buy canes in spring or autumn and plant in rich, moist soil. The blackbirds will leave you some, I promise!

Carrots

Sow direct in pots or the ground from spring to late summer. Leave some to flower for pollinators.

Nasturtiums

Sow from spring to summer for a crop of fiery leaves and sweet flowers. Leave a crop for ‘cabbage white’ butterflies to feast on – you can move caterpillars from brassicas onto nasturtium leaves to protect them.

MY WILD LIFE Maggie Shelton

A landscape ecologist with a particular interest in botany and invertebrates, Maggie works within the communities of Watercress & Winterbournes catchments. Maggie uses her experience in both the ecological and education sectors to train and inspire others to value and understand the natural environment.

I grew up in urban Surrey, so our back garden and pond were very important to me. However, my earliest wildlife memories are from spending my holidays at my Opa’s farm in Northern Germany. At Easter, we watched white storks build nests on rooftops, and clatter their beaks in courtship displays on thermals. We saw hares leaping in the fields, lapwings tumbling in the sky and in the summer the swallows swooping

into Opa’s barn to feed their chicks. I loved watching the chicks peering out of the nests!

When I was little my dad inspired my passion for wildlife. He spent time with me in the garden exploring invertebrates, and I kept pet woodlice, ants, worms, beetles and craneflies. My parents tolerated me digging up an entire ant’s nest from the middle of the lawn, and I kept it in an outdoor container for 3 years

to watch their comings and goings! Now I love reading anything by natural historian Edward O Wilson. He was an ant fan, and his studies and books are wonderful.

After years of volunteering in the conservation sector and doing a variety of jobs (teaching, sales, marketing, event organising, establishing and running a Forest School), I decided to retrain as a mature student. I qualified

with an honours degree in Ecology and Conservation Management from the University Centre at Sparsholt College allowing me to pursue a career I was passionate about.

My job is to inspire others to take positive action for our precious chalk streams. These streams are globally rare and under many different types of pressure. I do this through walks and talks, presentations, surveys, or any opportunity that connects me with local communities in our Scheme area. As the ecologist on Watercress and Winterbournes, I train volunteers to be able to do water vole surveys and support their invertebrate surveys. I advise landowners on best practice to establish and maintain biodiverse chalk stream habitats. I run Open Chalk Streams, which gives people a chance to see hidden chalk streams. I love my job!

Being amongst nature is essential to my happiness. I particularly like deciduous woods and find it peaceful

to hear the wind in the trees and smell that lovely muddy woodland smell. I’m a curious person, so when I notice something different in nature, I can explore and learn something new. That always feels good.

Chalk streams are such rare places, but we don’t appreciate this as they are abundant in Hampshire and The Island. England has just under 80% of the world’s chalk streams, but we treat them like medieval open drains. We also take out too much water from the chalk, the aquifer, which means there is less for the streams (the water comes out of the chalk via lots of tiny bubbly springs along the stream bed). We don’t care about them enough and their biodiversity is suffering. This is so sad because we know what we need to do to help these streams survive.

Recently, because people are shocked about sewage in rivers and the sea, they are talking about the state of our rivers. I feel very positive about this raised awareness.

I really enjoy working at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. I love the way it feels like a family. We have a shared vision at the Trust and work hard to make a real difference for wildlife. I feel so proud when I wear my uniform.

Strangers always come up to me and share their wildlife stories. It is heart-warming when people care about the natural world, and it can lead to some interesting conversations and increased awareness.

I feel hopeful on a local level, where we see our scheme Watercress and Winterbournes gain momentum in communities, and because our funders, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, are happy with our progress. It’s good that people are noticing the state of our rivers. It is important to ask questions about what a healthy river should look like. The sewage problems and social media have helped raise the profile of rivers. I wish more could be done, more quickly.

I love to find out new facts about nature. I was amazed when I first discovered that we have tiny freshwater limpets and pea mussels in our chalk streams! Isn’t nature incredible?

“Being amongst nature is essential to my happiness. I’m a curious person, so when I notice something di erent in nature, I can explore and learn something new. at always feels good.”

EMMA HEALEY

Millennium Green Pond access works celebration event.

EMMA HEALEY

Our streams, rivers and wetlands form vital arteries through the natural world. They link habitats and provide essential resources for a wealth of species, from damselfly to kingfisher, water vole to beaver.

Over the years, gifts in Wills have been used to protect and enhance river habitats across our region, including funds to help us manage Winnall Moors on the River Itchen near Winchester, and to purchase Newchurch Moors on the Eastern Yar River on the Isle of Wight.

Can you help to protect and restore even more rivers and wetlands in the future by leaving a gift in your Will? It will cost you nothing now and can be of any size. All gifts are gratefully received, and all make a real impact for our local wildlife and wild spaces. Together we can create a wilder future for everyone.