Wildlife Matters July 2012 issue by HMWT

July 2012

wildlifematters

NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST AND AROUND THE UK

WATER

Living rivers

NEW FOUR YEAR PROJECT WITH BIG AMBITIONS TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS WATERWAYS MORE ON 14

CHALLENGIN

MALCOLM BROWN

HIGH SPEE R AIL D 2 More on 6

PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE

UK NEWS

RESERVE FOCUS

Riverside walk: Frogmore Meadow Wet wet wet

Chalk isn’t cheap

Recent rain won’t solve all ouri idrought problems thoughi

How destroying our preciousi chalk landscape threatensi our water supplyi

Explore the wonderful Chess Valley

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contents July 2012

NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST AND AROUND THE UK

LOCAL NEWS 4

LOCAL NEWS

From the editor Water water everywhere...

Woodland work starts Improvements at Balls Wood and Gobions Wood

UK NEWS

High Speed Rail 2:

10 Wetlands under threat

MORE ON 6

Swift uptake of nestbox scheme Tenants set to house homeless birds

THE STORY SO FARI

despite rainy spring The way we manage our water supply must change

LIVING LANDSCAPES

CONSERVATION

20 How to build a Living Landscape: farmland 14 As precious as rainforest Chalk streams are globally important – and drying up. The Living Rivers project is here to help

PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE 18 Why chalk is so special

17 Invasive species

How the geology of our region is vital for our water supply – and the threat from High Speed Rail 2

Alien invaders on our waterways can be a costly nuisance

wildlifematters HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST

Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, Herts AL3 4SN 01727 858 901 info@hmwt.org www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

October issue copy deadline: 27 July 2012

Editor Sarah Buckingham 01727 858901 x 228 sarah.buckingham@hmwt.org Membership Alan Cotterell 01727 858901 x 234 alan.cotterell@hmwt.org Design TU ink www.tuink.co.uk

Find us on

The second in a four part series that explores what it takes to create The Wildlife Trusts’ vision 23 A farmland living landscape in action Easneye Farms near Ware

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Registered Charity No: 239863 Registered in England: 816710

OUR HISTORY 24 Rothschild’s List The UK’s first nature reserves – how many are still protected now?

DAYS OUT 26 Ten great places to see mega-flocks in the UK 28 Nature’s calendar Wildlife to look out for in July, August and September

All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced without written permission from the editor. The publishers do not necessarily identify with or hold themselves responsible for the views expressed by contributors, correspondents or advertisers.

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RESERVE FOCUS 30 Frogmore Meadow near Chenies Bookworm Micro habitats

32 34

LOCAL NEWS

Huge thanks to all the staff at Bourne Leisure HQ in Hemel Hempstead who wore green for the day as part of our GO4GREEN campaign in June. They raised a mighty £231.89 towards local conservation work.

NAME THE BADGER We have a fantastic new addition to the team... but our badger needs a name! Any ideas? Send your suggestions to badgerneeds aname@hmwt.org HMWT

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knowledge of these wonderful places. There will be lots of machinery in and around the woods while the work is going on and some paths and areas may need closing off temporarily.

HMWT

Water, water everywhere – but is it helping the drought? Recent deluges have helped enormously to refill our reservoirs; but the same is not so easy to say of groundwater supplies. In Hertfordshire and elsewhere in the south east, this source of water is critical. Most of our water here is abstracted daily from the underlying chalk, where groundwater levels still remain worryingly low. As Haydon Bailey points out in his illuminating article on the wonders of chalk (18-19), it can take years for water to filter through to these underground reservoirs. Sometimes we get the ‘wrong type of rain’ – heavy flooding rain like we’ve experienced recently can run straight off into the rivers and streams, completely bypassing these vital underground stores. At the same time, developments like High Speed Rail 2 (6-7; 18-19) threaten to damage this precious resource. The unpredictability of our weather and increasing consumption means we need to safeguard our water supply, not only for humans but of course for wildlife too. Our new Living Rivers project (14-16) has big ambitions and will take action for some of our most threatened waterways, including chalk streams, which have been over-abstracted. With only 200 chalk rivers in the world, it’s vital that we protect them. Some have run totally dry. We can all do our bit to save water (10-11) – turning the tap off while you brush your teeth can save 6 litres a minute! One less litre used is one more litre in our rivers.

his summer access will be improved and new signage installed at Balls Wood Nature Reserve in Hertford Heath and Gobions Wood Nature Reserve in Brookmans Park, as part of the Woodlands for People and Wildlife Project. Susannah O’Riordan, South Herts Woods Living Landscape Officer, says: “At Balls Wood we will be installing new fencing and gates, upgrading the bridges and improving the drainage and surfaces of some of the rides and footpaths. We will also be putting in new seats and benches, as well as entrance signs and information panels. At Gobions Wood we will be installing new signs and information panels too, as well as upgrading some of the gates, bridges and steps. This work will make access around the woods easier for visitors, as well as enhancing everyone’s enjoyment and

Hospital radio with a twist The latest news on our work with Lister Hospital in Stevenage: a soundtrack of swift calls has been set up to play on a continuous loop, to attract birds to nest in the specially designed boxes which were built into the maternity unit last year. Pictured: Tim Ing-Simmons, Construction Manager at Osborne who built the Lister Hospital Maternity Unit, installing the speaker system – emitting swift ‘screams’ on a regular basis!

HMWT

From the editor

Woodland work starts

SWIFT UPTAKE OF NESTBOX SCHEME

AMY LEWIS

Take care walking in Balls Wood and Gobions Wood over the summer as improvements are being made – some paths may be closed

Stevenage Homes tenants were given the opportunity to have a swift nest box installed for free during routine roof work, as part of ongoing efforts by Stevenage Borough Council and the Wildlife Trust to improve the town for wildlife. Twenty five tenants have taken up the offer of a box, which are maintenance free and do not cause noise or mess problems for householders. Tim Hill, Conservation Manager for the Wildlife Trust explained: “The population of swifts has dropped by 40% in the last 15 years because of the loss of breeding sites. Without the help of local people swifts could be extinct within twenty years.

MARKUS VARESVUO

ALLEN BEECHEY

Please take extra care during this time and take heed of any warning signs on site, particularly if you have any children or dogs with you who might be tempted to run off into the undergrowth.”

The new boxes will replace traditional nesting sites in older buildings that have been lost due to renovation works and modern building methods.” Roofing contractor Breyer is installing the boxes as part of their commitment to improving the environment. The first to have a swift box installed was Terry Paterson of Walkern Road. He said: “Swifts are the most aerobatic and entertaining of migratory birds. When performing in small flocks their aerial antics and shrill calls are truly fascinating. I’d like to thank Breyer, the Council and the Wildlife Trust for providing a splendid nesting box for swifts at my home.” Swifts will spend around four months in the UK over the summer, breeding and raising their young before heading back to Africa. The birds usually return to the same area every year.

SA THE VE DAT Mem E be

Satur rs’ D d See e ay 27 Oct ay: ober nclos 20 ed more detai brochure 12 – be q ls and to for uick, book are li as places mited !

Small blues back again

HMWT

Butterfly surveys at Aldbury Nowers Nature Reserve near Tring have shown that the small blue butterfly has returned to the reserve for the third year running, after being extinct from Hertfordshire for eight years. The Trust carried out extensive restoration work there in 2008 to encourage chalk grassland species like the small blue back.

Centenary celebrations

HMWT

Over 100 long-standing members of the Trust gathered on Saturday 19 May at Capel Manor Gardens to celebrate the centenary of The Wildlife Trusts. The event brought together people who have supported the Trust for over 20 years, including some of our founder members. Memories of the Trust’s early days were shared over afternoon tea. A special thanks to Capel Manor Gardens for providing a beautiful venue for the day. >> From left: Sir Simon Bowes Lyon KCVO, Jane Durney, Michael Clark, Mike Master and Anna Clark with celebratory cake July 2012 wildlifematters 5

LOCAL NEWS

High Speed Rail 2: Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is campaigning against High Speed 2 (HS2)i because a proper environmental assessment was not carried out before thei route was chosen. Together with four other Wildlife Trusts, the Trust submittedi a complaint to the European Commission this springi

28 February 2011

Government launches public consultation

A flawed process

Challenging the decision

Korda Lake, part of the Trust’s Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve, will be obliterated by the high speed line

“The Trust is not opposed to rail development; we believe that high speed rail could have a role in a national transport strategy. However, it is vital that decisions about major infrastructure projects like HS2 are taken with a thorough understanding of the impacts on our natural environment. A proper appraisal of the impacts should have informed the decision about which route to pursue at the very beginning of this process. It didn’t – and we believe this sets a dangerous precedent – which is why we are challenging Justine Greening’s decision to approve Phase 1 of HS2” Jane Durney, Chief Executive, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

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HMWT

The government did not carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) before the HS2 route was decided upon. The SEA would have required a thorough investigation of the environmental impacts of the route – and viable alternatives.

31 May 2012 11 The Wildlife Trusts respond to HS2 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scope and Methodology consultation. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust participates in response The Wildlife Trusts feel that the report on the proposed EIA scope and methodology is deficient in many respects. There is no clearly defined overall footprint for the scheme (the full spatial extent of the development), an absence of clear objectives in terms of managing the impacts and effects on ecological receptors (for example species, habitats, ecosystems) and a lack of detail in some elements of the methodology. In addition there appears to be no mechanism in place to engage effectively at a strategic level with the community of organisations outside the statutory and local authority sectors, which have a wealth of technical expertise and practical experience relevant to the ecology topic of the EIA. Also there is no process or audit trail in place for the refinement of the EIA scope and methodology, taking into account consultation responses. These present significant barriers to effective consultation on the proposed scope and methodology and the delivery of the EIA.

SUPPORT OUR DECISION TO CHALLENGE THE PROPOSED ROUTE – WRITE TO YOUR MP TODAY. YOU CAN FIND YOUR LOCAL MP’S CONTACT DETAILS AT THEYWORKFORYOU.COM OR WRITE A LETTER TO THEM AT HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1A 0AA

the story so far 3

8 April 2011

Right Lines Charter published National charities including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust set out a Charter of core principles to put pressure on government. The Charter calls for a national transport strategy, better future-proofing of big transport proposals and a more strategic approach to minimising adverse impacts.

14 June 2011

CEOs of Wildlife Trusts write to David Cameron Chief Executives from across The Wildlife Trust movement call on the Prime Minister to ditch plans for HS2 (Phase 1) until a strategic review of high speed rail has been carried out and alternatives explored fully.

The threat to wildlife The portion of the high speed rail link planned between London and the West Midlands will run through the Colne Valley, ripping across Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve near Denham. The area is home to nationally important numbers of waterbirds which will suffer significant habitat loss. In addition Daubenton’s and pipistrelle bats, which are European Protected Species, could be threatened. The River Colne at Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve is one of the most important sites in the UK for Daubenton’s bats.

27 April 2012 10 HS2 Ltd requests permission to undertake surveys The Trust allows HS2 Ltd access to Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve, to carry out surveys for protected species including bats, badgers, great crested newts and reptiles.

29 March 2012

Wildlife Trusts lodge complaint with European Commission Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and and three other Wildlife Trusts write to the European Commission to complain that the UK government chose the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands without taking proper account of its environmental impacts. The letter is supported by other conservation groups and the HS2AA, one of four other organisations that submitted a request to the UK Courts for a Judicial Review of the decision to go ahead with Phase 1.

29 July 2011

Public consultation closes Over 50,000 responses: two thirds of respondents are against the high speed rail line.* The Wildlife Trusts respond to the consultation. A summary of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s response to the consultation: Our key concerns relate to the process followed to examine the impact on the natural environment of the route alternatives through the AoS [Appraisal of Sustainability]. In our view the nature of the High Speed Rail proposals is such that they should have been subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). We believe that the failure to carry out an SEA has led to key environmental impacts of the route being ignored or overlooked, which also suggests that the government has failed to fulfil its duties under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act to have due regard to biodiversity.

10 January 2012

Secretary of State Justine Greening gives go ahead for HS2 (Phase 1)

25 March 2012

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust attends protest march from Colne Valley Visitor Centre

25 February 2012

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust attends a Stop HS2 public meeting in Harefield and meets Nick Hurd MP

Further reading Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust: bbowt.org.uk/hs2 Stop HS2: stophs2.org HS2AA: hs2actionalliance.org

13 February 2012

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust shows formal support for Judicial Review HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA) intends to challenge HS2 plans through a Judicial Review. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, together with two other Wildlife Trusts, notify the Department for Transport of their formal support for the HS2AA letter, setting out environmental grounds for a challenge to the decision to proceed. This letter is a necessary step in the process of seeking a Judicial Review; it does not commit the signatories to any further action being taken. The Trust takes the highly unusual step of supporting such a letter because of extensive concerns about the way the decision was taken to proceed with HS2.

FOR THE LATEST ON HS2, VISIT HERTSWILDLIFETRUST.ORG.UK/HS2 *Source: Dept for Transport: http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hs2-supplementary-analysis/hs2-supplementary-analysis.pdf July 2012 wildlifematters 7

LOCAL NEWS

Rare pondweed found in Stevenage

HMWT

Adopt-a-Pond scheme The Wild Stevenage project is looking at five different community ponds around the town and encouraging local people to get involved in its ‘Adopt-a-Pond’ scheme. Local community action through the project has already helped some of these previously neglected habitats, which are now teeming with life. For more information contact the Wild Stevenage Project Officer Ann Favell wildlifetrust@stevenage.gov.uk 07909 914 963 or visit hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/ wildstevenage

rare plant has been found in a community pond in the middle of Stevenage, during an education day for local residents organised by the Trust. The opposite-leaved pondweed is described as nationally vulnerable. This rare aquatic plant has made its home at Poplars Meadow Pond, once neglected and litterstrewn but lately transformed as part of the Wildlife Trust’s Wild Stevenage project, with help from the Stevenage Scouts, who have adopted the pond. Dr Jeremy Biggs, the Director of Pond Conservation who made the discovery (pictured left), was amazed: “Oppositeleaved pondweed is one of our most threatened water plants and has disappeared from large parts of the countryside because of water pollution and habitat destruction. Finding it in the pond at Poplars Meadow was a wonderful surprise and confirmed again how important ponds are as refuges for the most endangered freshwater plants and animals.” Tim Hill, Conservation Manager at the Wildlife Trust said: “Ponds provide homes

for a huge variety of wildlife but sadly thousands have been lost in Hertfordshire due to filling in, pollution or neglect. The biodiversity action plan for Stevenage identified the work needed to restore the town’s ponds. The Poplars Meadow Pond is the first to have been restored and we are delighted that the work has resulted in the finding of this rare plant. Large numbers of toads are breeding there too – quite a success story. It is great news that the pond has been ‘adopted’ by the local scout group which means that it is in safe hands for the future. The Trust will continue working with Stevenage Borough Council to ensure all the town’s ponds are in good care.” The pond day was funded by Natural England and Heritage Lottery Fund. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is working in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council and SoStevenage on the Wild Stevenage project.

Plans for Bayfordbury office – update In December 2011 Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Hertfordshire were granted planning permission valid for five years subject to entering into a S106 agreement by June 2012. Both Boards of Trustees decided that the S106 agreement should be entered into. Given the prevailing economic environment, both boards have decided not to commence fundraising for the project yet, but to keep this under review.

HMWT

Marks and Spencer staff got stuck in and cleared litter at King’s Meads Nature Reserve in Hertford, as part of their recent Plan A campaign to prevent pollution of our waterways. If you would like to book a corporate work party please visit our website for more information at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/corporate or email sarah.mee@hmwt.org.uk

8 wildlifematters July 2012

HMWT

LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORE CHECKS OUT KING’S MEADS

Warm welcome to new members Over 60 people took part in our first ever welcome event for new members in May, at Stocker’s Lake Nature Reserve in Rickmansworth. Members enjoyed a guided walk around the reserve and had a chance to meet Trust staff, while enjoying tea and cake!

HMWT

Nearly 300 people signed our petition to protect marine wildlife on a wonderfully sunny day on St Albans market in March. Anne Main MP was glad to support the cause. Our fish templates were soon covered with shiny, signed scales and will be making their way to Parliament in no time.

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s f t h e jo b st t h re e o t o h s p a a Ju st a sn ried out i n t h e l u ed r we ’ve ca h a n k s to conti n rs! t mont h s, ro m ou r m e m be f su pport ld Pa rk O t a l e 2 f ha z t in 900 m o piced to let ligh p Wood co e wildf lowe rs pe n ou ra g a n d e n c t a re clea red to o to 1 / hec ms 2 a for m at u re e l u p a re bion s Wood ea red at Go f lou rish d sh e e p f lock sh e Sh etl a n ted wit h vet rezi n a n d t rea st rik e t f ly to preve n

The Trust was very kindly remembered by longstanding member Ms Esther Muriel Wells and keen rambler and lover of the countryside Mrs Madula Parker, who both left legacy gifts to support local wildlife. Mr Edward Graham Elliott also left a very generous legacy gift. He has supported

The Trust has been awarded a grant by Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK (Landfill Communities Fund) and East Herts Council of over £13,500, to carry out vital work at Rye Meads Nature Reserve in Hoddesdon. Luke Shenton, Reserves Officer for Rye Meads Nature Reserve, said: “The funding means we will be able to make the reserve even better for wildlife. New fences will be built to allow us to graze more of the reserve, making it more diverse. We will cut channels in reedbeds to provide better feeding habitat for rare bitterns and water voles. The channels will also make it easier for visitors to get closeup views of nature.” Tim Hill, Conservation Manager for the Trust, said: “Grazing meadows is very important to encourage wildflowers that would otherwise be

shaded out by taller, faster growing plants. In turn, the flowers attract insects, which provide food for other animals further up the food chain, so grazing is a key part of our conservation programme. We are very pleased that Lafarge and East Herts Council are supporting our work at Rye Meads.” Richard Millican, Lafarge Southern Restoration Manager, said: “One of Lafarge’s main priorities is to operate as responsibly and sustainably as possible and a major element of this is partnership working to protect, promote and enhance biodiversity. We are delighted to support this fantastic project with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust which will improve the habitat at Rye Meads and also enable the local community to get closer to nature.”

DRAGONS’ APPRENTICE RAISES MONEY FOR WILDLIFE We were delighted to receive a cheque for over £900 from Sandringham School in March, as part of the Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge 2012. The scheme, run by St Albans Centre for Voluntary Service (CVS), was set up to inspire and encourage local support from students and businesses for charities in the area. Together with Premier Foods, their local business ‘Dragon’, the students organised a whole host of events including refreshment stalls, a Year 7 and 8 school disco, a vintage fashion show, a raffle and cake sales. Well done!

Thank you our conservation work for the past 25 years as a member, and continues to do so through his bequest. Our thanks and condolences to the family and friends of John Hepworth, Stephen Pash, Ken Fletcher, Derek Fryer and Frederick Young,

all of whom made thoughtful donations to the Trust in their memories. It is only through the support of others that we are able to safeguard our natural heritage. Donations made in this special way allow us to continue protecting beloved wildlife and wild places for future generations to enjoy.

Rare sight at Stocker’s

A little bittern was spotted on the River Colne near Stocker’s Lake Nature Reserve in June. Little bitterns are extremely rare in the UK – it’s only the fifth sighting in the county since 1900! July 2012 wildlifematters 9

ALAN REYNOLDS

Petition Fish goes swimmingly

SIMON STEBBINGS

Meadow wildlife in Hoddesdon gets help

UK NEWS

Wetlands under threat despite a rainy spring The Wildlife Trusts call for changes to the way water is used and managed after two dryi winters bring wildlife to the limit in many parts of East Anglia and South East Englandi

he Wildlife Trusts are calling for a revolution in the way we use and manage water after two dry winters have brought some groundwater levels to their lowest on record. “Climate change means the extremes of drought and flooding during winter and spring 2012 could be a snapshot of the future,” said Helen Perkins, Living Landscape Development manager for The Wildlife Trusts. “We have to learn from this year’s events. This is not just about temporarily reducing our water

consumption in drought or trying to fix things up after the latest flood. We need more permanent solutions.” Parts of the UK had the wettest April on record this year. But much of East Anglia and the South East remains in drought because the drinking water in these areas tends to come from slower-filling groundwaters – naturally occurring underground reservoirs which also feed our internationally important chalk streams (see also 14-16; 18-19). Even after the rain, many groundwater supplies are

at similar levels to those of the 1976 drought. And when supplies continue to be taken for drinking water and crops, there is less available to find its way into rivers and wetlands. “Putting water back into the landscape by making space for natural wetlands will help reduce flooding and help protect wildlife in drought conditions,” said Helen Perkins. “We also need government to help permanently change our patterns of water consumption.” The Wildlife Trusts will be campaigning for the government to use its forthcoming Water Bill to speed up abstraction reform and to roll out metering everywhere.

Chalk streams at risk: a 12-month snapshot Chalk streams are fed by groundwater and are therefore particularly vulnerable to overabstraction. In Sussex, for example, around 70% of the county’s water comes from underground, increasing the fragility of local chalk stream systems during dry periods. Chalk streams are globally important habitats that support species such as brown trout, grayling, lamprey, water vole, white-clawed crayfish, southern damselfly, otter, and rare invertebrates and plants. While surface-fed rivers and lakes can refill quickly, groundwater supplies are slow to recharge because they rely on water percolating down over a long period. March 2011

March 2012

Map key G Exceptionally high levels G Notably high levels G Significantly above average G Normal range G Significantly below average G Notably low levels G Exceptionally low levels

These two British Geological Survey maps show groundwater levels at sites around the UK just one year apart. The situation for March 2012 is one of the worst on record. Updates at the BGS website: wtru.st/BGSmaps

>> AROUND THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS LINCS WT

MANX WT

N’MBERLAND

STAFFS WT

MONT WT

SCOTTISH WT

A three year project to regenerate the county’s coastal grazing marshes is underway. A Heritage Lottery Fund-backed Landscape Partnerships Grant will support conservation work by local farmers.

The Trust’s Andree Dubbeldam has identified and mapped the island’s ancient woods for the first time. Many of them are likely to be survivors of the prehistoric forests that once covered the Isle of Man.

Thanks to funding from DEFRA and the Environment Agency the Trust is beginning survey and then restoration work on two rivers: the Lyne and the Blyth. Both currently fail the EU’s Water Framework Directive test.

The Trust is leading the new Churnet Valley Living Landscape partnership. Community projects and conservation work will restore wildlife habitats and the heritage of the Churnet Valley.

In a first record for the county, three bean geese visited Dolydd Hafren reserve in January. These overwintering geese usually stay on the east coast of England and rarely travel as far west as Wales.

A new Trust report on Scotland’s lowlandraised bogs shows they are badly damaged but can recover. A fraction of the cost of one major road scheme, £21m, would restore all the lowland raised bogs in Scotland.

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Ospreys breed across the UK

The Wildlife Trusts have set up long-term projects to safeguard the future of chalk streams in Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and elsewhere. More at wildlifetrusts.org/ chalkstreams

Tips on saving water The Wildlife Trusts are working with water companies to help promote water efficiency. “The drought and the recent heavy rain have both been sharp reminders of just how reliant we are on nature to provide us with the water we need to live,” says Andy Brown, Climate Change and Environmental Performance Manager at Anglian Water.

Nora (left), a Dyfi osprey born in 2008 at Rutland Water, with her mate Monty earlier this year Ospreys have once again returned to Wildlife Trust reserves across the UK. At Scottish WT’s Loch of the Lowes, ‘Lady’ has now laid more than 60 eggs, and studies show that she and her mate favour trout and pike. Webcam: http://tinyurl.com/849wynp Meanwhile the Rutland Osprey Project, supported by Anglian Water and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, has been radio tracking the birds on their return migration. Osprey 09 spent the winter in Senegal before beginning a 16-day return journey. Webcam: ospreys.org.uk/webcam The Dyfi Osprey Project in Wales has also satellite-tracked some of its birds from last year. Parents Monty and Nora are breeding again in Cors Dyfi reserve near Machynlleth. Updates, pictures, videos and a lot more: dyfiospreyproject.com

Go to wildlifetrusts.org/savewater for tips on using less water. You can also find an extended article by Andy on the drought.

SIMON BROWN

12 NIAs: it’s a start, at least The government has chosen 12 initial areas in England to share £7.5m over three years to ‘enhance and reconnect nature on a significant scale’. More than 70 potential Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) were considered. The Wildlife Trusts are involved in most of the final 12 NIAs and are leading five: • Birmingham & Black Country (BBC WT) • Humberhead Levels (Yorkshire, Notts and Lincs WTs) • Meres and Mosses of the Marches (Shropshire and Cheshire WTs) • Nene Valley (BCN WT) • Northern Devon (Devon WT).

The others are Morecambe Bay Limestone and Wetlands, South Downs Way Ahead, Wild Purbeck, The Greater Thames Marshes, Marlborough Downs, Dearne Valley and The Dark Peak. “It’s good news, but if the government is to take nature seriously this is only a starting point,” said Living Landscape Officer Katherine Hawkins. The new National Planning Policy Framework recognises NIAs and Local Wildlife Sites. This should help local authorities build ecological networks into local plans. More information at wildlifetrusts.org/NIA

WILTSHIRE WT

SOMERSET WT

CHESHIRE WT

ULSTER WT

WARKS WT

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2,000 walkers, runners and mountain bikers joined forces to raise funds for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by tackling the Sarsen Trail, a 26 mile ‘neolithic’ marathon route between Avebury and Stonehenge.

A visionary scheme for the Avalon Marshes has been awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Local match funding means there will be £2.5m to invest in the wildlife and cultural heritage of the area.

A local appeal and support from The Banister Charitable Trust will extend Danes Moss near Macclesfield by an area the size of 22 football pitches. The reserve is the largest lowland-raised bog in Cheshire.

A local appeal has secured over £10,000 for an ‘Action for Barn Owl’ project. The Trust will monitor barn owl activity, providing advice on sympathetic land management and erecting nestboxes for owls.

A new project will enhance ancient woodland habitat in the Princethorpe area and restore hedges to improve connectivity between existing areas of woodland with the help of SITA Trust funding.

There’s a new reason to visit East Yorkshire: the Yorkshire Nature Triangle. The Trust is supporting this inland and coastal wildlife tourism project. Details on: yorkshire naturetriangle.com

July 2012 wildlifematters 11

EMYR EVANS

Help for England’s chalk streams

TOM MARSHALL

UK NEWS

Trusts celebrate 100 years Commemorative events around the UKi included Sir David Attenborough presentingi iLincolnshire Wildlife Trust founder Ted Smithi iwith a centenary awardi

The Wildlife Trust movement celebrates its 100th birthday this year. What began on 16 May 1912 as a society to establish nature reserves has grown into a mass movement with more than 800,000 members. The man who started it all was Charles Rothschild, a Northamptonshire banker and expert entomologist. With Britain’s natural heritage at risk from rapid

modernisation he pioneered the idea of saving the moors, meadows, woods and fens where wildlife lived. In the 1950s and 60s, led by Ted Smith (above)Trusts formed across the UK, and Rothschild’s society became their national body. Today The Wildlife Trusts own and manage 2,300 nature reserves. And we have a plan which will take us into the

Watch, read and browse

Watch The Wildlife Trusts: 100 years of nature conservation. The film features Sir David Attenborough, Prof Aubrey Manning, Simon King, archive footage and some of our best reserves from around the UK. See it at wildlifetrusts.org/100

12 wildlifematters July 2012

Read Tim Sands’ book Wildlife In Trust (£25), which charts the history of our movement with hundreds of photos and maps. Find where to buy a copy and view sample pages at wildlifetrusts.org/ wildlifeintrust Visit the new online archive of Charles Rothschild’s list (see 24-25) at wildlifetrusts.org/100. The records of all 284 of his ‘wild places’ are there, along with a gallery of period photographs.

next 100 years. Thanks to your support, on land we’re leading more than 120 Living Landscape schemes to help nature to recover in town and country, and restore the ecosystems we will need to survive. At sea we’re continuing to press for a network of Marine Protected Areas, and introducing today’s generations to the wonders of our marine life.

Events across the UK All this year Wildlife Trusts have been running themed events focussed on particular habitats to celebrate our 100th. 28 July-12 August National Marine Week 8-9 September Our Wetland Wildlife

TO FIND ONE OF THESE EVENTS NEAR YOU, VISIT WILDLIFETRUSTS.ORG /EVENTS ON TWITTER #OURWILDLIFE

COMMENT

What is nature worth? Silly question obviously, but bankers, insurers, investors and the business world needs to start to recognisei the economic value of healthy ecosystems and the cost of ignoring naturei

Stephanie Hilborne OBE is Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

lost and a reservoir was built to supply water to a factory that didn’t actually use it: “Cow Green has shown in an uncomfortably clear light that the forces of expansion are considered to be A recovering bog in Montgomeryshire, where the local Wildlife justified in themselves; Trust has shown that restoration is cheaper than business as usual that they are unaccustomed (and not much encouraged world. It goes deeper than the species by authority) to bend at all from a narrowly present, to the wider functions of the economic policy and that other values are ecosystem. This could be the water storage given short shrift”. capacity of a well-managed upland; the In 1987, Charles Rothschild’s daughter carbon lock-up potential of a peatland; Miriam described the threats that had or the opportunity for high quality meat befallen her beloved Ashton Wold during production from a species-rich grassland. the Second World War: “Maybe this is not a It is clear that much of the value of very scientific viewpoint, but I think that in such places can never be counted in our hearts many of us believe that a nature pounds, but our society tends to underreserve is worth infinitely more than the value even those parts that can. sum total of its species, rare or otherwise.” Trying to put a monetary value on So how much is such a place worth? Can nature’s services is risky, but the UK it be measured in numbers? And who is it National Ecosystem Assessment 2011 does of value to? Carrying the burden of proof this well and cites some unquantifiable over the years has forced conservationists aspects too, such as spiritual benefits. And to hone our moral, intellectual, and political if it encourages people to see the natural case for nature. Now we must build the environment as an asset, then any decline economic case as well. starts to register as an economic loss so

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Since Charles Rothschild set up our organisation 100 years ago, many vital decisions affecting the future of the natural world have been taken. Some of these - the building of the M25 and A3 through my local countryside – propelled me into conservation. As a teenager I felt it was immoral to press ahead with such destruction. I assumed it could only have happened through a combination of “stiff upper lip” and ignorance of the value of these places. I saw things as being about hearts and minds and was probably less aware of the politics: the pressure the decision-makers of the day felt they were under from their peers and their electorate. Throughout the first 100 years of nature conservation The Wildlife Trusts and others have sought to influence hearts, minds and politics to convince those in positions of power to value the natural world. We have made slow but steady progress. For example it took 30 years for the government to wake up to Rothschild’s idea of protecting the most valuable wildlife habitats on land. State-backed nature conservation was not born until 1949, and strong protection for nationally important wildlife sites was only secured in 2005. Marine conservation started in earnest in 2009. In the post-war era, the emphasis of our arguments was on the scientific value of habitats as measured by the species present. This focus on evidence was a signal that, even with governmental recognition, our movement would always bear an unusually heavy burden of proof. This is reflected in Habitat magazine’s comments in 1967 on the hard-fought battle to save unique upland habitats in Upper Teesdale. In the end the battle was

Even with governmental recognition, our movement would always bear an unusually heavy burden of proof

In this way biodiversity and ecosystems will no longer be viewed as being the preserve of government and organisations such as ours. They become material risks and opportunities for bankers, investors, insurers and traders. Two developments are making this clear, and combine to create a unique window of opportunity for us to engage in this field. First, the recession waking us up to the fragility of our current economic model; second, the head of steam gathering to properly value the environment. The science of ‘ecosystem assessment’ assigns a value to elements of the natural

it becomes worth investing in. I am glad that the next step with the National Ecosystem Assessment is to apply its principles locally - to establish the value of ecosystem services in real places. After all, the non-monetary value of nature is most obvious when you are standing in an extraordinarily beautiful and rich place. Perhaps this recognition of the infinite complexity of the natural world and our connection to it is what lay behind the idea in 1919 that the legend accompanying our logo should be ‘Nature is above all wit’.

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July 2012 wildlifematters 13

CONSERVATION

TIM HILL

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As precious as I I I I

HERTFORDSHIRE IS HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTIONI OF THE WORLD’S CHALK STREAMS – AND THEY ARE UNDERI THREAT. CHARLIE BELL EXPLAINS HOW THE TRUST’S NEWI LIVING RIVERS PROJECT AIMS TO CHANGE THISI

want you to imagine something. Let’s pretend, for a minute, that here in Hertfordshire we have rainforests. Right here, on the outskirts of Stevenage, Welwyn, Hertford and St Albans. They are beautiful, lush, and unique; to visit them on a Sunday afternoon is to be bombarded by sounds, colours, smells. The animals and plants that we see in the forests are amazing examples of creatures perfectly adapted to their surroundings and are found in few other places. How incredibly lucky we are to live so close to such an amazing and rich natural habitat. Sadly, many of Hertfordshire’s rainforests have been damaged – polluted, destroyed, and ravaged by invasive species introduced, intentionally or by accident, by people. However, some pockets of healthy forest remain, a reminder of what used to be and what, with care and management, could be again. Of course, this is all make-believe. We know perfectly well that Hertfordshire doesn’t have any rainforests. But bear with me. I’d like you to read the above paragraph again. And this time, replace the word ‘rainforest’ with the words ‘chalk stream’. Everything else can stay the same. Only now, you don’t have to pretend. Globally important Few people realise the global significance of Hertfordshire’s chalk rivers. There are around 200 chalk streams in the world – that’s fewer than the remaining number of giant pandas, sumatran tigers and snow leopards. Most chalk streams are found in the UK (mainly here in the south east), with a handful in northern Europe, and that’s it – they exist nowhere else on Earth. Hertfordshire therefore has a significant proportion of the world’s chalk streams; the Mimram, Beane, Rib, Ver and Ash, to name some of them. They are beautiful and iconic ecosystems, supporting a wide range of native wildlife (think Wind in the Willows, set on a chalk stream). Importantly for us, they also help provide our public water supply. 14 wildlifematters July 2012

Charlie is Living Rivers Project Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

However, these rivers face numerous threats. All of Hertfordshire’s chalk streams are classed as ‘over-abstracted’- too much water is taken from them. Our tap water must come from somewhere, and local rivers and the groundwater that feeds them are a cheap and convenient source. Pollution is another threat, whether in the form of run-off from agricultural land, misconnections from our domestic water pipes, sewer overflows or discharge from roads and urban areas. Invasive species, such as American mink and signal crayfish, are wiping out native species like water voles and white-clawed crayfish.

Destruction of bankside habitat, from construction, agriculture or mismanagement, can destroy the homes and food sources of many species. And of course the current drought situation is putting even more pressure on already scarce water supplies. What we’re doing The Living Rivers project is a new four year project, funded by the Environment Agency and led by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. It’s an incredibly exciting and timely project, and, as the newly appointed Hertfordshire Living Rivers Officer, I’m

looking forward to getting stuck in! The overall aim of the project is broad: to help achieve landscape-scale conservation in Hertfordshire’s river valleys. This focus on a landscape scale makes perfect sense – rivers interconnect with each other and, via the water cycle, with the land (or ‘catchment’) which they drain. A key part of my role will be to raise awareness of the importance of our rivers and the wildlife they support, through work with the media and with local communities. I’ll also be promoting a better understanding of the link between the water that comes out of our taps and the water that flows in

our rivers. Here in the south east our water use is around 175 litres per person per day, 18% above the national average and even further above the government’s target of 130 litres per day. It’s hard to emphasise enough the importance of using our water efficiently; every litre we save is an extra litre left in our rivers. The farmed landscape Working with local landowners and land managers will be crucial to the Living Rivers project’s success. Agricultural land covers a large proportion of Hertfordshire, and

rainforest

A healthy stretch of the River Mimram at Tewinbury Nature Reserve. We want all of our chalk streams to look like this, supporting iconic species like kingfishers and water voles July 2012 wildlifematters 15

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CONSERVATION

farmers can therefore play a huge role in improving the health of our chalk rivers. Many local land managers are already using farming techniques which are bringing real benefits for the waterways on their land. For example, by fencing off the river grazing animals are prevented from eroding long stretches of bank, which can result in large amounts of sediment entering the water. Fencing also prevents their urine and faeces from entering and polluting the channel directly. Creating vegetated buffer zones between arable areas and rivers helps

Ways to get involved • Volunteer with the Living Rivers project. Help with practical management work, or be our eyes and ears on the river as a volunteer River Warden. • Save water! Water saving kits and tips are available free of charge from the Veolia website: www.veoliawater.co.uk/ drought (see also 11) • If you own or manage land near a river, and would like to know more about Catchment Sensitive Farming or about getting involved in a restoration project, please get in touch. • Join a local Rivers Group (for example, try an internet search for ‘Friends of the Mimram’ or ‘River Beane Restoration Society’). • Spread the word. The more people who know about the importance of our chalk rivers and saving water, the better. • Share your hopes, visions and ideas for the rivers. We’re always happy to hear from you, and are open to any ideas or suggestions you might have.

16 wildlifematters July 2012

Chalk streams should be teeming with life

prevent herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers from draining off agricultural land into nearby river channels. In addition, buffer zones can also provide valuable habitat for animals like otters and water voles (see Easneye Farms, 23). Such water-sensitive farming methods are termed Catchment Sensitive Farming, and, as well as improving water quality in our chalk streams, they can also make financial sense for farmers. As Living Rivers Officer, I’ll be working closely with local landowners to promote and support Catchment Sensitive Farming, helping those farmers who want to do more to make their rivers even better. Restoration plans There is no doubt that lack of water is one of the major problems facing chalk rivers such as the Mimram and Beane. However, there will always be areas of river where sunlight can still sparkle on water, and where trout can still dart their way upstream. These areas become even more important in times of low flow. It is vital that such areas are well managed in order to support the species which find refuge there. Together with the Environment Agency, I’ll be planning some practical restoration projects to enhance existing river and bankside habitat. Such restoration projects will benefit individual stretches of river, but will also allow areas of good quality habitat to be linked together; these restored rivers will act as corridors

of green and blue, allowing wildlife to move through our landscapes. As part of the Living Rivers project, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is hosting catchment management plans for our most important chalk streams. However, we won’t be taking the lead on writing these plans. Planning the management of a catchment is a huge task; no one person or group can do it alone. Instead, by hosting the plans, we will help to bring together people and organisations with an interest in the river; the role of the Wildlife Trust will be one of facilitation and coordination. This approach emphasises the importance of collaboration, and focuses on taking a ‘bottom up’ approach to river management, driven by local people. The vision is for a management plan developed and implemented together by a partnership of interested people, including farmers, local community groups, fishing clubs, landowners, charities and statutory bodies. Get involved – these are our rivers, and we all have a part to play. Hope for the future I’m sure most of us treasure some special memories of our local rivers and streams. For me, it’s the dark brown velvety back of my first ever water vole; for a lucky few, it might be the splash of an otter’s tail as he dives for a fish. Rivers hold a special place in our hearts, and I’m thrilled to be starting work on such a worthwhile and important project. I’m sure the next four years will fly by, and I’m hopeful that, by 2016, we’ll be able to see our chalk rivers changing for the better. I’ll be blogging about the project, so you can follow our progress – details can be found on the Trust’s website: hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/livingrivers

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE LIVING RIVERS PROJECT, OR WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED DIRECTLY, PLEASE CONTACT CHARLIE.BELL@HMWT.ORG 01727 858901

Himalayan balsam; pretty, but persistently choking our wetlands

Invasive species I PLANTS CAN HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON OUR WETLAND HABITATS.I I WATER VOLE CONSERVATION OFFICER MARTIN KETCHER REPORTSI

A costly impact Defra estimate the cost to the British economy of removing invasive species at £1.7 billion every year. One of the main habitats affected, especially in Hertfordshire and Middlesex, is wetland. When invasive species take a hold on our waterways they cover the river, block out light for native plants, change the water temperature, make the use of boats difficult or impossible and affect water flow with the potential consequence of flooding. As a result the Environment Agency (EA) is keen to limit the impact of invasive plants. Volunteer effort In Hertfordshire and Middlesex the EA is working in partnership with the Wildlife Trust to monitor, record and control invasive plants. This will enable effort and resources to be prioritised. An important strand of this partnership is that the EA are partfunders of the part-time Water Vole Conservation Officer post based at the Wildlife Trust. Part of the water vole conservation programme is carried out by a team of trained and committed volunteer surveyors. Between them they survey stretches of our rivers and lakes, typically

ADRIAN DAVIES

500 metre sections, from near Uxbridge in the southwest to Ashwell in the north-east. This year they have been given the additional task of recording Water fern invasive species choking a river associated with wetland. The species that are being looked for are floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii), parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), creeping waterprimrose (Ludwigia peploides), giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Canadian and Nuttall’s waterweeds (Elodea species) and water fern (Azolla filiculoides). Some of these plants can grow at 25cm a day! They can also push their way through tarmac and concrete, cause severe burn-like damage to skin and many of them form monocultures, so reducing biodiversity. Large amounts of floating pennywort have already been removed from the River Colne between Rickmansworth and Uxbridge, adjacent to the Wildlife

lants growing in the garden where we don’t want them are called weeds. Plants growing on our nature reserves and in the wider countryside that are not native are known as invasive species and can be a much greater problem than the weeds in our gardens. The sad thing is that the presence of these invasive species, whether deliberate or accidental, is almost entirely due to the activities of people.

Trust’s Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve. Trust staff and volunteers have removed vast amounts of Himalyan balsam from Tewinbury Nature Reserve; Purwell Ninesprings Nature Reserve had some New Zealand pygmyweed while Silvermead, managed jointly with the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority, has water fern. Things we can do There is little hope of eliminating these invasive plants from the British countryside, so the best we can hope for is to manage and control them. What can we do to help this process? It is important not to transfer material from garden ponds into ponds or rivers in the wider countryside. The intention may be simply to relocate a few tadpoles, but it is impossible to know what other material is being transferred as well. If we learn to recognise invasive plants we can be more careful not to transfer material accidentally on our boots when moving from one wetland site to another. Help combat the invasion For those who wish to contribute more directly there are work parties on reserves to control one or more of the invasive plants. You could also become trained as a water vole surveyor and help in the mapping of invasive plants across Hertfordshire and Middlesex.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAY PLEASE CONTACT THE WATER VOLE CONSERVATION OFFICER, MARTIN KETCHER: MARTIN.KETCHER@HMWT.ORG July 2012 wildlifematters 17

AMY LEWIS

Martin is Water Vole Conservation Officer at the Trust

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PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE

Why chalk is so sp I HAYDON BAILEY EXPLAINS WHAT CHALK IS, HOW IT STORES THE WATERI WE DEPEND ON – AND WHY THIS VITAL RESOURCE IS THREATENEDI I IN THE CHILTERNS BY THE PLANS FOR HIGH SPEED RAILI

What is chalk? Chalk is made up of the fragmented skeletons of billions of microscopic single-celled plants (algae) called coccolithophores, or coccoliths for short. These plate-shaped discs of calcium

Chalk exposed during the construction of the Baldock bypass. Faults and fractures picked out by the offset flint bands 18 wildlifematters July 2012

Hexton Chalk Pit Nature Reserve in North Hertfordshire, part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

he countryside in the Chilterns is renowned for its sweeping chalk grasslands and wildflowers, its magnificent beech woods, sparkling chalk streams, deeply wooded valleys, and quiet lanes. The geology beneath this landscape shapes the way the landscape itself looks. The chalk gives rise to particular plants, which in turn attract particular species of butterfly and other invertebrates. Chalk streams support a very special and diverse range of wildlife, from brown trout to water voles. The UK’s chalk streams are in fact globally important (see 14-16). This landscape is much loved – but did you know it also serves a vital function in relation to our water supply? To understand how, we first need to understand the unique properties of chalk.

carbonate rained down upon the sea floor during a period of time stretching from about 100 million to 65 million years ago. During this time the whole of northwestern Europe was covered by continuous open sea, stretching beyond Poland to the east and, to the west, this sea was part of the newly opening Atlantic Ocean. It was subtropical with warm, clear surface waters. The sea was full of marine life from the smallest coccolith to Nautilus-like ammonites and vast Mosasaur marine reptiles at the top of the food chain. Sponges, originally living on the sea floor, had skeletons made of opaline silica, which dissolved after they died and were buried in the layers of carbonate mud which would eventually harden to become chalk. The silica from these sponges became concentrated along levels previously rich in burrowing organisms. It eventually crystallised to form the regular layers of nodular flint that you can see in chalk cliffs today. Water storage The chalk beneath us in Hertfordshire and Middlesex is between 84 and 100 million years old. This rock, formed in such a unique way, provides us with the most important aquifer (an underground layer of rock or other material that holds water) in southern England. It is its formation by all those minute coccoliths that make it so special. Because coccolith plates are so small (5 – 30 microns in diameter; a micron is one thousandth of a millimetre) the pore spaces or gaps between them are correspondingly extremely small. Any water that soaks into the chalk would normally tend to stay there or at least move through it very slowly, providing us with an opportunity to draw on this vital resource. The final piece in the chalk aquifer

Haydon Bailey is Chairman of Hertfordshire Geological Society and Geological Adviser to The Chiltern Society

jigsaw is the presence of numerous fractures or joints. These were formed long after the chalk had been deposited, during the time when the soft chalk muds were converting to rock. It is these fractures that vastly increase the permeability of the chalk, or its ability to allow water to pass through it and on occasions to be stored within it. Lots of rain – but little gain Rain falling onto chalk hills such as the Chilterns needs time to soak deep into the underlying rocks because of the microscopic size of the pores. This situation is made worse in this region by the layer of “clay with flints” which rests on top of the chalk on many of the crests of the hills. Any rain falling on top of this clay will tend to run off into streams and rivers, eventually ending up in the Thames valley. Put together, these different elements start to explain why all the rain falling in the area since April this year will have little effect on our water supplies. Most of our water is taken from boreholes drilled deep into the chalk, often intersecting with

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those fractures and joints described above, which carry much of the groundwater deep into the chalk aquifer. It takes months, if not years for rainwater to soak through the chalk and to slowly replenish the stocks we draw on daily through our taps and showers - at a rate of over 150 litres per day per household. The microscopic porosity of the chalk also acts as an incredibly efficient filter which cleans the water as it passes through. This is one of the reasons why it is so bug free and safe when it reaches us. We live on top of an extremely important natural water supply which we frequently take for granted. We really canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to do this any longer and we have to conserve and take care of this basic life-giving resource. The impact of development Whatever we do in this region will potentially have an impact on our water

<< The dry river bed of the River Misbourne at Chalfont St. Giles; a feature which will be the norm if High Speed Rail 2 goes ahead supply, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building more affordable homes or developing water-demanding industries. Both of these are important to our regional and national economy, but they should only be done whilst taking our water supplies into consideration. Water is not an infinite resource, but it is a sustainable one. If you build a motorway or railway through our region it has to cross or cut through the chalk. By doing so any built structure will have an impact on the underlying aquifer and the water it absorbs and stores. A road or railway built on the surface will have little direct impact on the underlying groundwater, however as soon as you start to tunnel or excavate cuttings then water flow through the chalk will be altered. This is why the original proposed route for High Speed Rail 2 through the Misbourne Valley would have had such a dramatic impact on water supplies. There

were six public water supply boreholes within 300 metres of this route which would have been directly affected by the proposed excavations. The revised route has taken this factor into consideration and has now been curved through tunnels which run first to the east and then to the west of the Misbourne river, but still crossing the valley at a geologically unsound location, just to the north of Chalfont St. Giles. The Chiltern Society and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have both raised the issue of the impact on river habitats that this proposed rail route would have. They have also drawn the attention of our politicians to the effect that building tunnels and creating cuttings would have on the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water supplies. We are privileged to live in a region that started its existence 100 million years ago. It would be a pity to damage it so much in less than a decade. July 2012 wildlifematters 19

LIVING LANDSCAPES

How to build a Living THIS ISSUE: FARMLAND Farming is such an important land use in Hertfordshire; farmers are the stewards of the majority of our local ecosystems. There are lots of opportunities to restore nature, and agri-environment funding schemes are available to help. When building a Living Landscape across farmland, the key is to choose appropriate measures for different locations and to ensure they join up, to maximise habitat connectivity across both individual and neighbouring farms.

Woodland management

Ponds

Wildflower-rich field margins Hedgerows with trees

Habitat creation in field corners/ on poor soils

20 wildlifematters July 2012

Well-kept farm buildings

Ditches

Reduced chemical use

ALASDAIR BRIGHT

Landscape

As demands for housing, agriculture and land for development have increased, so the room for wildlife has decreased. This is where the Trustsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Living Landscape vision comes in. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about turning the whole countryside into one big nature reserve. Instead it is about providing wildlife with corridors and natural places amongst existing land uses. This new fourpart series explores how different places can contribute to a Living Landscape in different ways.

Riverside fencing and cattle drinkers Buffer strips along rivers

July 2012 wildlifematters 21

LIVING LANDSCAPES

Farm buildings At the heart of the farm, well-kept barns and stores will ensure that farming operations will not have a detrimental effect on the landscape – slurry from cattle barns and the liquor from silage clamps will all be collected and processed properly. Drainage will be well maintained to ensure that nothing harmful enters ditches or watercourses.

How to build a Living Landscape: FARMLAND Wildflower-rich field margins Native wildflowers and grasses along field margins will support a diversity of crop-pollinating insects and allow whole ecosystems to thrive. Six to ten metrewide strips are ideal. It’s important to link margins up between fields, to make habitat corridors. The margins are best planted with a native wildflower seed mix, appropriate to the area and soil types. Hedgerows Hedgerows, particularly in association with other habitats, can make great wildlife corridors and contribute to an area’s distinctive landscape character. Thicker, taller hedges with regular trees provide

the most benefits. Where hedges have gaps, a mixture of tree planting and traditional hedge-laying can restore them. As well as providing shelter, hedgerows act like a larder for all sorts of wildlife: nectar in the spring supports butterflies and other insects, while berries help small mammals and birds such as redwings and fieldfares through the winter months. Habitat creation on poor soils Reverting arable land back to species-rich grassland can be a way of achieving grant income for fields with poor crop productivity. The most valuable grasslands are made up of species native to the area and take into account the local soil and drainage characteristics.

Buffer strips along rivers Buffer zones of longer vegetation between farmed land and rivers prevent erosion of the river banks by livestock, and pollution of the river water from livestock urine and faeces. A buffer zone also helps to prevent herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers from draining off fields into the river. Otters, water voles and other aquatic and bankside wildlife will benefit. Buffer strips can be provided either by fencing, or by leaving three metres unploughed next to the river bank. Where cattle need to access the river, concrete ‘drinkers’ can be installed to prevent soil erosion.

Awkward corners Areas left to go wild and return to nature because they are impossible to get to with machinery provide great refuges for wildlife. Finches will feast on the seeds from burdock and thistles during winter. Small mammals will hide there, catching the attention of kestrels hovering above. 22 wildlifematters July 2012

Reduce chemical use Reducing chemical use to optimum levels can be more cost-efficient, whilst also benefitting wildlife and watercourses. Chemical use can be optimised through soil analyses, soil nutrient management planning and targeted application rates.

Ditches and ponds These are important wetland habitats where water voles and birds such as reed buntings may breed. Bats will feed along and over them. The better the water quality, the more wildlife there will be. Woodland Wooded areas provide shelter for animals such as deer and daytime roosting places for bats which may feed widely through the local area by night, using the network of hedgerows to navigate through the landscape.

NEXT ISSUE: HOW TO BUILD A LIVING LANDSCAPE ACROSS OUR TRANSPORT NETWORK

A farmland Living Landscape IN ACTION INICHOLAS BUXTON FARMS THE EASNEYE ESTATE,i WHICH LIES ALONGSIDE THE TRUST’S AMWELLI INATURE RESERVE, NEAR WARE. SARAHi BUCKINGHAM WENT TO MEET HIMI

he Easneye Estate has just recently won the Cambs and Herts FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) Farm Conservation competition, and it’s not hard to see why. On my visit, Nicholas hands me a list of the work he and his team have done over the last six years – it’s an impressive one. From restoring hedgerows and managing woodlands to improving the state of the River Ash, Nicholas is working with the Wildlife Trust and a whole host of other conservation charities and partners to try and achieve the best results, both for the farm and for wildlife. Links across the landscape The estate is a mixed landscape, with areas of steeper ground that were once dairy pastures, arable land with hedgerows and spinneys, blocks of ancient woodland and the River Ash running through. The key, Nicholas explains, is to try to link areas together – connecting bits of woodland with hedgerows, hedgerows with field margins and field margins with grass margins that run down towards the river. River restoration After wading through long grassy margins on the edge of the arable fields, Nicholas showed me the River Ash. Previously sluggish and damaged by dredging in the 1970s, work has been done to improve the flow with the help of nifty in-channel deflectors and channel narrowing. The non-native signal crayfish has so far not invaded the upper reaches of the river, and native populations of trout and grayling are growing. Sightings of cormorants have increased, indicating there is plenty for them to feed on. Over 5,750 metres of grass buffer strips now run alongside the river, which, as well as providing habitat for bankside wildlife such as water voles, will prevent arable run off and flooding. It’s likely that the work along the river to control mink has resulted in the return of the water vole to Widford dairy pastures nearby.

Nicholas Buxton standing in one of the many buffer strips that help wildlife on the Easneye Estate

Hedges, trees and margins Hedgerows and trees are very important for wildlife (see 20-22). So far at Easneye over five kilometres of hedgerow coppicing and gap-filling has been achieved, with more than one kilometre of new hedgerow planted through Entry/Higher Level Stewardship. These are grant schemes open to all farmers to help with environmental management. In addition hundreds of hedgerow trees have been planted. Nicholas is confident about the work carried out so far: “The tree planting and hedgerow work is already yielding benefits, but over the years ahead it should be a real improvement.” For farmland birds, Nicholas points out the importance of providing field margins, so that hedges don’t just lead straight into the arable crop: “You want to have that brood cover, with plenty of insects, through the spring, which is a very important time for chicks.” Grey partridges and lapwings breed on the farm. Seed mixes are planted to provide for birds and nectar/pollen mixes for insects, which are so important for pollinating crops. Hazel and hornbeam coppicing work started last year, as part of an ongoing programme with the help of the English Woodland Grant Scheme. Thinning allows light into the woodland floor, encouraging wildflowers to emerge and associated wildlife to thrive. The wood that’s removed is sold on as firewood, or used to fuel a woodchip boiler on the estate, making it not only a good solution for wildlife but for the farm’s economy too. The drought has made tree and hedgerow planting difficult over the last two years, but with the wet spring Nicholas is hopeful that the 360 oak trees just planted in hedgerows will take well – and looks forward to them flourishing in the future: “In twenty years I hope to be able to look back on this year as a good thing.” Sensitive, sensible management As Nicholas says as we head back from our trip, estates like Easneye need to be managed and after a number of lean years in farming, there is now the opportunity to put them back in good heart. Active management is as important here on the farm as it is on the Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves. Man has been shaping the landscape for thousands of years; there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue to do this but in a sensitive way, not only for our own benefit but for the protection of our natural environment and its wildlife too.

July 2012 wildlifematters 23

our history

100 years on: Rothschild’s special places

Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia – a small upland lake which is now a RAMSAR site, SSSI, NNR, SAC and part of the National Park

In 1912 Charles Rothschild began the first wildlife survey of Great Britain and Ireland – andi drew up a list of 284 potential nature reserves. Stephen Moss finds out what happened to themi

hen the wealthy banker and amateur entomologist Charles Rothschild set up the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves in 1912, it was a momentous event for nature conservation. Today it is regarded as the launch of the Wildlife Trust movement. Rothschild was no mere dilettante. He was a leading entomologist, specialising in fleas. But it was his visionary realisation that 20th century Britain would need permanent havens for wildlife that marks him out as the true father of nature conservation. By 1915 he had produced a list of 284 wildlife sites in Britain and Ireland, which he felt were ‘worthy of permanent preservation’ (see wtru.st/rothres). Today it is hard to imagine just how revolutionary an idea this was. Very few people yet understood that the rapid growth of Britain’s population – which had increased more than fourfold since 1800 – was beginning to have a devastating effect on our landscape and its wildlife. But Rothschild did. So what happened to these special places? How many have fallen under the plough or concrete, and how many still exist? It turns out that the vast majority now enjoy some sort of protected status, and around 35 are managed by The Wildlife Trusts. Some are classic nature reserves such as Wicken and Woodwalton Fens, Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, Kenfig in South Wales, and

Broadcaster Stephen Moss is Vice President of Somerset Wildlife Trust. His latest book is The natural history of an English Village

24 wildlifematters July 2012

Blakeney Point in Norfolk. Sadly others have been devastated by development, or simply vanished. Harlestone Heath in Northamptonshire, once one of the county’s most important botanical areas, is now a tiny fragment of acid grassland. Red Lodge Warren in the Suffolk Brecks has been cut in two by the A11. Freshney Bog, on the edge of Grimsby, was destroyed when it became a rubbish dump during the Second World War. Other sites have undergone changes Rothschild could never have foreseen. Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall is home to a satellite tracking station, yet is still an excellent example of heathland. A nuclear power station has been built at Dungeness, yet the peninsula remains a haven for birds. For me the most heart-warming stories are those where a Rothschild site came to the very brink of destruction, but has since been reclaimed and restored for wildlife. Greenham Common in Berkshire was famous during the 1980s for the women’s peace camp, protesting against the US nuclear warheads there. But since the airfield closed in 1993, Greenham has been reclaimed as one of the best areas of lowland heath in southern Britain. Just down the road from my home, Shapwick Heath is part of the Avalon Marshes complex, a vast area of wetland with otters and egrets, bitterns and marsh harriers. But during the second half of the 20th century Shapwick Heath was almost destroyed by peat extraction. Only when the conservationists stepped back in did the wildlife finally return. As I watch dragonflies and waterbirds there with my children, I am grateful that a century ago one man had the vision to put places like this on the map. Sadly, Rothschild did not live to see the fruits of his labours, dying in 1923, aged just 46. But thanks to him, and those who followed in his footsteps, we still have some wild places where people and wildlife can co-exist, now and in the future. Read a longer version of this article and browse the Rothschild survey archive at wildlifetrusts.org/100

Dovedale in Derbyshire. Now an NNR and SSSI in the Peak District National Park

Oib promontary, Loch Sween, Argyll, noted for its marine life. Now an SSSI and SAC

Rothschild’s sites in England, Wales and Scotland*. Even many of today’s protected sites have suffered habitat loss and damage over the past century MAP KEY l Mostly destroyed or status unknown l Protected by law SSSI: Site of Special Scientific Interest NNR: National Nature Reserve SAC: Special Area of Conservation RAMSAR: international wetland

Aldbury Nowers near Tring, still cared for by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust today

Kynance Cove, the Lizard, Cornwall. Now an SSSI and NNR, and managed by the National Trust

St Catherine’s Hill near Winchester – now a Hants & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust reserve and SSSI *A list of the Irish sites is available at

wtru.st/rothres

July 2012 wildlifematters 25

DAYS OUT

great places for 0 1

Mega flocks

Brownsea Island

Thurrock Thameside Nature Park

Cumbria Wildlife Trust Southern tip of a shingle island at the end of the Furness Peninsula. Gull colonies in spring, plus breeding oystercatcher, shelduck, eider. In winter, huge numbers of waders and wildfowl. Where is it? Signed from Barrow; follow road past Biggar to South End Caravan Site. Buses from Barrow to Biggar. OS96, SD225620.

Dorset Wildlife Trust Open via boat from Sandbanks, Poole AprilOctober. You’ll see up to 10,000 wading birds close-up. Largest recorded avocet flock in Britain (1,360), up to 2,500 black-tailed godwits, plus curlew and oystercatcher. Where is it? In Poole harbour half a mile SE of the city centre. OS195, SZ032878.

Essex Wildlife Trust Opened in 2012, this huge, state-of-the-art park has a spectacular hide looking down onto Mucking Flats, used by thousands of dunlin and knot in autumn and winter. Also large numbers of other waders, ducks and gulls. Where is it? Trains from London and Southend to Stanford-le-Hope (a mile’s walk). Buses from Southend and Grays. OS162, TQ 687 810.

Tring Reservoirs

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust These four spring-fed reservoirs have some of the best birdwatching in southern England: flocks of lapwing, golden plover, goldeneye, wigeon, shoveler, tufted duck, goosander, gadwall and pintail in autumn and winter. Where is it? Near Tring, off B489 Lower Icknield Way. Parking at Wilstone Reservoir OS181, SP904134 and Startop’s End Reservoir SP918140. Postcode HP23 4PA.

Gibraltar Point

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust The wader flocks here are one of the wonders of the natural world. Up to 100,000 knot, dunlin, oystercatcher and sanderling congregate in vast whirling patterns. There are thousands of migrants and winter seabirds too. Where is it? 3 miles south of Skegness (follow brown tourist signs). OS274, TF556581. 26 wildlifematters July 2012

East Chevington

Rye Harbour

Lower Moor Farm

Montrose Basin

Northumberland Wildlife Trust One of four Druridge Bay reserves (Cresswell Foreshore and Pond, Druridge Pools, and Hauxley – all great for birds). Wigeon, teal, greylag and pink-footed geese over-winter in large numbers, as can 5-6,000 starlings. Where is it? Red Row, Druridge Bay. Take lane by Red Row turning. OS325, NZ270990.

Sussex Wildlife Trust Shingle, saltmarsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reedbeds and farmland. Always good for birds (279 recorded species). Large winter flocks of ducks, especially smew, and waders. Where is it? A mile SE of Rye, off A259. Hourly trains to Rye, 312 bus to Rye Harbour. Postcode TN31 7TU. OS125, TQ942189.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Fantastic aerial displays of starlings around 4pm Dec-Mar as they gather to roost. Watch near the Heronry Hide. Large redwing and fieldfare flocks, plus teal, goosander, red crested pochard and gadwall. Where is it? From Cricklade A419, left on B4696 to Somerford Keynes. Entrance L after crossroads. OS168, SU008938.

PAUL HOBSON

South Walney

Scottish Wildlife Trust Tidal basin with mud, fresh and salt water, saltmarsh, reedbed and grassland. Pink-footed geese peak in November at 20,000-40,000. There are also about 2,000 overwintering redshank and eider, 3,000 wigeon, 4,000 oystercatcher and perhaps even more knot. Where is it? 30 miles north of Dundee on the A92. Regular trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow, bus from Aberdeen. Main car park OS382, NO669591.

Lakes 10 Lackford Suffolk Wildlife Trust A former gravel pit complex by the River Lark with meadows, woodland, reedbeds and streams. Superb for wildfowl in both winter and summer, Lackford attracts tufted duck, teal, pochard, gadwall, shoveler and goosander. The large winter gull roost can number 28,000. Where is it? Off A1101 at Lackford, 5 miles NW of Bury St Edmunds. Postcode IP28 6HX. OS155, TL800706

DAVID CHAPMAN

RICHARD REVELS

From early autumn onwards experience one of the UK’s best natural spectacles: bird gatherings

See thousands of knot at many winter reserves, including Montrose Basin

A flock of starlings gets ready for bed. See this winter marvel at Lower Moor Farm

9 6 Tring Reservoirs plays host to large numbers of the beautiful golden plover in winter

MATT COLE

1 5 8

Wigeon gather in autumn and winter at East Chevington

Avocets are great on their own. In flocks of more than 1,000 at Brownsea Island they’re something else

4 10 3 7

BEFORE YOU GO

KEITH WARMINGTON

ROSS HODDINOTT

Flocking birds are highly mobile and don’t always turn up when you hope. To see what’s about, contact the reserve manager via the relevant Wildlife Trust website. Disabled access and local public transport: check with the local Wildlife Trust via wildlifetrusts.org. Wider public transport: Google maps and transportdirect.info. National cycle routes: sustrans.org.uk

The highest tides of the year produce the biggest flocks at Gibraltar Point

FOR WETLAND EVENTS AROUND THE UK ON 8-9 SEPT GO TO WWW.WILDLIFETRUSTS.ORG/EVENTS July 2012 wildlifematters 27

THE TRUST’S CONSERVATION MANAGER TIM HILL SHARES SO IEXPERIENCES AND TELLS YOU WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR DURIN JULY A nice scream anyone? In July there’s nothing I like better than to sit in a back garden or town park and listen to the screaming above. During July young swifts are leaving their nests and at this time, adults and young gather in sorties, as many as 20 strong, careering through the Swift summer skies screaming (calling) to one another as they go. This is ‘joie de vivre’ – with knobs on! For most of us townies, the great thing is that this wildlife spectacle happens right on our doorsteps. Naturally nesting in caves or crevices within cliffs, swifts have adapted to urban living by nesting in cavities in the roofs of buildings. However, it’s not straightforward to know if you have swifts nesting in your neighbourhood. Due to the speed of their flight, it’s often easy to overlook if they are using your local buildings. They enter their nesting hole at incredible speed – blink and you miss it!

Common blue butterfly

MARKUS VARESVUO

nature’scalendar

DAYS OUT

Swift decline In the past, the construction of buildings was such that there were open eaves, loose tiles and holes in the walls, designed to provide ventilation but all of which provided nesting habitats for swifts. However, with modern construction techniques eaves are sealed or with grilles, tiles are butted tight with no gaps and walls are built with no holes. The situation is made worse by the fact that even on old buildings, nesting and roosting sites are being lost due to repairs and restoration work. Swift Conservation estimate that the UK’s swift population has dropped by 40% in the last 15 years and it is predicted that they may be extinct within 20 years if replacement nesting sites are not provided. Making new homes The Trust included a conservation plan for swifts in the Biodiversity Action Plan it prepared recently for Stevenage Borough Council. Subsequently the Trust has been working with Stevenage Homes this year to provide new homes for swifts, advising on the inclusion of nesting boxes into the re-roofing of social housing in the town.

Tim is Conservation Manager for Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust 28 wildlifematters July 2012

SEPTEMBER Striped assassins Warm September days are a good time for watching our largest wasp species, the hornet. Adults can grow up to 5cm long and emit a very loud buzzing in flight. In my experience, one of the most reliable places to observe them is Broadwater Lake Nature Reserve, near Denham in the Colne Valley. A walk along the shore is almost guaranteed to get you up close, but hopefully not too personal, with the yellow and black striped assassin. In September, the hornet’s annual life cycle which began back in April is nearing the end. Queen hornets which mated the previous autumn emerge in spring and after feeding to regain strength, will select a nest site, usually a hollow in a tree. I have also seen hornets use bat roosting boxes for nesting places on more than one occasion. Eggs are laid and within a couple of weeks the first new hornets appear – workers, which will have a busy time during their short lifespan. Their lives are spent nest building and

ME OF HIS FAVOURITE WILDLIFEI G THE SUMMER MONTHS AHEAD....I

Common blues lay their eggs on bird's-foot trefoil

Where to see common blues The meadows at Bunkers Park near Hemel Hempstead are a great place to see them. The park is one of the best examples of habitat creation in Hertfordshire. In the 1990s the Trust prepared detailed plans for Dacorum Borough Council to create a new park and nature reserve from agricultural land. Nearly 20 years later there is a wonderful mix of grassland, hedgerows and woodland, which are maturing to provide habitats for many types of wildlife. Much of the land was sown with wildflowers and grasses to create meadows. One of the species that has flourished is bird’s-foot trefoil. This is one of the main plants on which the common blue lays its eggs and on which the caterpillar then feeds. Lots of bird’s-foot trefoil = lots of common blues!

feeding the larvae in the colony. Unlike bees, hornets do not have wax glands to create honeycomb nests. Hornets scrape off wood with their strong jaws and mix it with saliva to create a paper paste which is used to create the cells into which eggs are laid by the queen, and in which the larvae develop. Hornets are helpful When not nest building, hornets are busy hunting. They prey on other insects which, if they can’t be overcome immediately, are dispatched with a sting. Hornets and other wasp species will consume vast amounts of insects each summer, many of which are regarded as garden pests. So the next time someone asks you what purpose wasps have in the world tell them they are our natural pest controllers. Once dead, the victim’s appendages are removed and the body is returned to the nest. It is then chewed up by the hornet before being regurgitated

Best time to go The butterfly has two populations each year. The first adult population emerges in June and is derived from caterpillars that overwintered. These butterflies breed and lay eggs and the second population from these eggs then emerges from late July, with a peak in August. To enjoy the blue bonanza take a visit to the ‘bottom field’ at Bunkers on a warm sunny day. There is a seat which looks over the trefoil meadow and gives far-reaching views across the valley towards the Trust’s Long Deans Nature Reserve. Settle here and it won’t be long before the butterflies will dance across the flowers in front of you. If you have binoculars you may even be able to see them laying their eggs on the soft new leaves of the flowers! Look up and you will probably be treated to red kites, kestrels and buzzards wheeling overhead.

and fed to the larvae as a highly nutritious gloop. When I think about this, I’m very glad that I’m not smaller than your average hornet! During the latter part of summer, the hornets rear males and females which are the breeding individuals for the next generation. At about this time, the nest community begins to disperse and this is when the hornets become more visible at places like Broadwater Lake. Queens will be looking for hibernation sites and the workers will be kicking their heels, jobs done, looking for calorific food such as fruits and tree sap, before they eventually die when temperatures fall through the autumn. TOM MARSHALL

NATUREPL.COM/ROS HODDINOTT

A butterfly bonanza “Blue, blue, electric blue. That’s the colour of my room, where I will live”. These are the opening lines from one of my favourite songs by David Bowie, Sound and Vision. If I were able to create the most perfect blue to decorate a special room, it would be that of Polyommatus icarus, the common blue butterfly. However not even Dulux, with their high tech computer mixing gizmo, could ever create an emulsion with the subtlety, yet vividness of this stunning insect. The hot days of August provide a great opportunity to get out and see these tiny bundles of blue.

NATUREPL.COM/ROS HODDINOTT

AUGUST

Peek-a-boo! Hornets aren’t bad – they help to control pests in your garden

July 2012 wildlifematters 29

RESERVE FOCUS

Frogmore Meadow and the Group out walking at Frogmore

ground level. Chalk streams are typically shallow, fast-flowing with gravel beds, and are renowned for their clean water. This ready supply of clean water is one of the reasons the Chess Valley was historically known for its watercress production.

HMWT

STOP OFF AT THIS HAVEN FOR WATER VOLESI ON A SUMMER’S DAY OUT ON THE CHESSI

THE TRUST’S RESERVE Located on the banks of the River Chess in the Chess Valley, Frogmore Meadow is a fine example of unimproved neutral grassland. The reserve makes up around

half of the Frogmore Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest. The majority of the reserve consists of damp, species-rich alluvial meadow – a habitat which has declined significantly throughout the region during recent years, largely as a result of agricultural intensification. On higher, better drained ground, the habitat changes to dry, acid grassland. Clear waters of the Chess At the south-eastern edge of the reserve flows the River Chess, a chalk stream. Chalk streams are fed by groundwater, which is stored in underground aquifers, layers of rock or other material that hold water. When the aquifers are full, this water flows out at

What to look out for A number of aquatic species can be seen along the river as it flows through the reserve. These include dragonflies and damselflies, which can be spotted hunting over the meadow in the summer months. Good populations of water voles are known to live along the River Chess. This shy mammal can be hard to spot. In 2010 a viewing platform was built overlooking the Chess adjacent to Frogmore Meadow – and this may afford the best opportunity of sighting this elusive little creature. Fish, in particular brown trout, are much easier to spot due to the clarity of the water. Kingfishers hunt fish along the river; look out for a sudden flash of turquoise as their plumage catches the light. Summer is a great time to visit Frogmore Meadow as many of the distinctive plant species found here are in bloom throughout June, July and August. In particular look out for the bright yellow flowers of the marsh marigold, also known as the kingcup – due to its resemblance to a giant buttercup; the delicate pink flowers of the ragged robin, so called because of the ‘untidy’ appearance of their narrow, lobed petals; and the small cream flowers of the meadowsweet, named

GETTING THERE

To get to Frogmore Meadow, take the A404 from Chorleywood to Amersham. Turn right towards Chenies. Go through the village past the manor and turn right at the bottom of the hill. Parking for the reserve is very limited. It is possible to park two cars on the lane not far after the bridge over the River Chess. The nearest postcode is WD3 6ER. OS Map Ref: TQ 022 988. See your Reserves Guide for more. Join the Chess Valley Walk on your visit 30 wildlifematters July 2012

OY ENJ IDE ERS RIV LKS? e WA rotect thesto

p n – tur us to Help us places ut how o o preci 16 to find in our d page t involve rs e e g i R o t g v Livin ject o pr

COURTESY OF PAUL JENNINGS

Look out for dragonflies and damselflies, like the banded demoisellee

roads. Much of the route is on agricultural land, so if you’re taking a dog, be sure to keep it on a lead.

The River Chess

for their sweet aroma. The reserve is home to a number of rush and sedge species – one of which, the common yellow sedge, is regionally rare. In the summer you should be able to spot a variety of butterflies including meadow browns, marbled whites, skippers and ringlets.

some of the most attractive countryside in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The route can be followed in either direction and is clearly waymarked. Most of the Chess Valley Walk follows public footpaths, but there are short sections along

Make it a day out A visit to Frogmore Meadow on its own might take half an hour to an hour. However, the reserve lies alongside the route of the Chess Valley Walk and could be a lovely stop off on a day out walking. Make sure you bring wellies with you in case the ground is damp.

Take the train! Parking along the route is very limited. However, public transport links are excellent; try parking near to Rickmansworth Station, catching the train to Chesham and then walking back through the Chess Valley to Rickmansworth. You’ll be rewarded with views of water mills, manor houses, water meadows, wildlife and more. Look out for the site of a Roman farm-villa at Latimer.

Ragged robin

MORE INFORMATION

HMWT

CHESS VALLEY The Chess Valley Walk stretches from Chesham in the west to Rickmansworth in the east and covers a distance of around 10 miles. It passes through

TOM MARSHALL

Nature Reserve Chess Valley

da yS

You can download a Chess Valley Walk leaflet from the Chilterns Conservation Board website chilternsaonb.org or call 01844 355500 to request a copy. The website also provides information about an alternative two mile stile-free walk through Chenies and the Chess Valley.

FOR MORE INFORMATION TO PLAN YOUR DAY OUT, VISIT HERTSWILDLIFETRUST.ORG.UK July 2012 wildlifematters 31

BOOK WORM

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder Richard Louv. First published 2005, updated edition 2012 Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, NC, USA 390pp. Paperback $14.95/£9.99 in UK bookshops (also available as an ebook) ISBN: 9781565126053 (156512605X) “One evening when my boys were younger, Matthew, then ten, looked at me from across a restaurant table and said quite seriously, “Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid.” I asked what he meant. “Well, you’re always talking about your woods and tree houses, and how you used to ride that horse down near the swamp.” So begins this wonderful and important book, set in the US, where it was a best-seller. It surveys how difficult it is for today’s children to spend time with nature and also how much is being done to improve things. It should be read by parents, educators, and public policy makers. Richard Louv is a journalist and keeps the narrative moving with many personal stories supported by studies, statistics, and facts. He examines the changes over ‘three frontiers’: the first

frontier explored by Lewis and Clark (1805); the second romanticised by Teddy Roosevelt (1905, and peaking with Walt Disney in the 1950s); and the third populated by today’s children. This third frontier is explored through five trends, which might be summarised as physical and mental distance from nature, the outdoors and real experience. The baby boomers and older can easily identify with Richard’s stories of how it used to be. I grew up in the states in the 40s and 50s. When I go back, there are always discussions with friends about our childhood, how free and easy it was, and the limits everywhere now. It wasn’t just being able to walk every day to the woods, and build tree houses and explore. It was also that our parents didn’t worry about where we were all day. My own children grew up in a London suburb in the early 70s with similar freedom and woods nearby – and my youngest is providing a similar upbringing for his children in Wales. But it’s very difficult. If the changes to the environment and to parents’ lives and expectations can be controlled, if the schools’ lack of time for outdoors

FIND OUT MORE THROUGH RICHARD’S BLOG AT RICHARDLOUV.COM

and nature can be overcome, if all the health and safety issues can be worked around, one is still up against ‘the car’. “Fear is the most potent force that prevents parents from allowing their children the freedom they themselves enjoyed when they were young ... Fear of traffic, of crime, of stranger-danger, and of nature itself.” The bad news is that things are worse than I thought, the problems persist in many countries, and the UK is catching up. For example, a study in The Lancet in 2004 showed that three year-olds were physically active for only 20 minutes a day. A key issue may be producing the environmental activists of the future. In one study most environmentalists “attributed their commitment to a combination of two sources in childhood or adolescence: many hours spent outdoors in ‘keenly remembered’ wild or semi-wild places, and a mentoring adult who taught respect for nature.” I assume Louv will be able to publish an updated edition every five years or so to keep the book current. A good edit might reduce the book by 50 pages and improve the index. He ends very positively with ‘Building a Movement’, and then adds three appendices: Notes, 100 Actions We Can Take, and Discussion Points. Among the easy things I will certainly do with my grandchildren: “place a butterfly on your child’s nose. If she holds still the butterfly may stay for a minute or two. The sensation changes the child’s experience of all butterflies.” Reviewed by Paul Knutson, HMWT trustee Man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; (the Lakota) knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too. Luther Standing Bear (c.1868-1939)

32 wildlifematters July 2012

e f i l d l i W n e d r a G r u O

d n e k e e W n e d r a G n e Op OPEN GARDEN PASSPORT Are you visiting more than one of our Open Gardens over the weekend? The Open Garden Passport gives you access to all four garden sites for only £6.00. Passports can be purchased from Grebe House or at any of the Open Gardens.

2 1 0 2 y l u 5J 1 y a d n u S o t 4 1 y a Saturd Visit a number of very different, but very special, wildlife havens.

Participating gardens Saturday 14 July

Sunday 15 July

Grebe House Wildlife Garden St Michael’s Street St Albans AL3 4SN

34 The Broadway Wheathampstead AL4 8LP

Coldharbour Lane Allotments Coldharbour Lane Harpenden AL5 4NQ

dvertised the date a n o m p 0 m to 4:0 om 12:00p fr n e p o re a • Gardens fee: £4.00 e c n • Entra otments e dogs) y ur Lane All xcept guid o (e rb s a g h accessibilit o ld d ir o a o C h t lc •N a e e le h b ation on w ents availa • Refreshm e for inform s u o H e b ntact Gre • Please co

Volunteers needed!

Do you enjoy visiting gardens and meeting people? If so, get in touch! You will be helping us with a variety of tasks, including collecting donations at the gate, refreshments and car parking duties. Volunteers are needed on both Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July. Please contact Danielle Porteous on 01727 858 901 or email volunteer@hmwt.org

MICRO HABITATS

THE NATURE OF... a

Garden Gardens provide most of us with the first and most regular contact with wildlife each day – our neighbourhood nature. Remember too that your garden is one of hundreds, possibly thousands in your village, town or city – together they add up to create an urban ‘living landscape’.

ITHERE ARE OVER 460,000 DWELLINGSI IIN HERTFORDSHIRE. EACH AND EVERYI IONE OF US LIVING IN ONE OF THESEI IDWELLINGS WILL HAVE NATURE IN,I ION OR AROUND OUR HOMESI

Lawns It may be easy to dismiss close-cropped grass as worthless to wildlife. As long as the lawn isn’t sanitised through application of weedkiller and fertilisers, it can contain a rich diversity. Low growing plants such as speedwells, black medick and bird’s-foot trefoil thrive due to the regular mowing, existing happily below the cutting blades. If birds are feeding on the lawn there must be food – ants for green woodpeckers and leatherjackets (crane fly larvae) for starlings.

TIM HILL

Low-growing plants in the lawn can attract wildlife

Flower beds Availability of pollen and nectar through the year is the key to a thriving wildlife garden. From hellebores in March to sedums in autumn, the flower bed is the engine room of the garden’s ecology, providing food for insects, which in turn provide food for birds, bats and small mammals. Shrubs and trees Not only do shrubs and trees provide cover for nesting and roosting, the best species provide food early in the season for insects when in flower and nourishing berries through the autumn and winter. Rowans are a particularly good choice, attracting hoverflies to their flowers – and magical waxwings adore their fruit. Ponds Frogs, toads, newts, grass snakes, dragonflies, birds and bats – these are just some of the animals that will be attracted to a garden pond. Like a good home, the key to a good pond is location, location, location. The best will be near to the habitats needed by the species when they’re not using the pond, such as dense cover for newts to spend the winter. The other prerequisite for the best ponds is good water quality – many aquatic insects are incredibly sensitive to pollutants. Fill ponds with collected rain water if possible. Messy corners If ignored, those awkward corners in the garden quickly develop an untidy, dishevelled character, not unlike a teenager’s bedroom. Like a teenager’s bedroom it’s also never certain what might be found! More than likely there will be nettles and a few thistles. Whilst not always a feast for the eyes, messy corners will usually be buzzing with insects, feeding on the feast of nectar and pollen that these ‘weeds’ provide.

ALASDAIR BRIGHT

34 wildlifematters July 2012

Helping hands Whilst it would be great if our gardens provided everything our neighbourhood nature needs, sometimes it’s appropriate to provide a little help in the form of a nesting or roosting box for the local birds or bats. During the harshness of winter, providing food in the form of peanuts, sunflower or niger seed and fat balls may well prevent some of the local birds from starving.

Every time you buy bird seed direct from Vine House Farm

5% of your sale will go to Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Vine House Farm also supply bird feeders, next boxes, wildlife camera kits and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; take a look at the full range online...

To order, visit www.vinehousefarm.co.uk

2012 PHOTO COMPETITION Can you capture the landscape of Hertfordshire and Middlesex? Call for entries

1 April to 31 July 2012 The theme

A living landscape

FIRST PRIZE • A pair of Opticron Countryman BGA T PC Oasis binoculars, RRP £249 • A copy of our 2013 calendar – with your photo on the cover!

RUNNERS UP X 11 • A copy of our 2013 calendar – with your photo featured!

Full terms and conditions on how to enter are available on our website hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/photocomp