oebuck R
The Wildlife Trust Magazine for Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland
Issue 134 November 2014 - March 2015
L CIArth E SP coNo ent E plim t sup ull-ou p
Hauxley Update We’ve got the land but still need your help
Nature & Wellbeing Time to get political
Badger Vaccination Report Vaccination returns practical results plus news from around the UK
MagniďŹ cent Meadows Photo Competition Marine Conservation New wildflower and grasslands project
Details of the new 2015 competition
Marine issues still important
Contents FIONA DRYDEN
Local News 40 YEARS YOUNG Ponteland anniversary
4
WATERY UPDATE on two major projects
5
GET SNAPPING enter the new photo competition
6
UP FOR ADOPTION and time to choose
7
ARCHAEOLOGY AT HAUXLEY update
8
REDS ARE ROCKIN’ and looking good
9
Funding ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS at Hauxley
10
ACORNS TO OAKS our natural wellbeing project 11
4 You’re Hired!
Corporates 12
HAUXLEY WISH LIST can you help?
13
BRIGHTBLUE STUDIO
CORPORATE MEMBER pitches in
Reserves & Volunteers EGRETS first for the County
14
LAND AHOY! land purchased at Hauxley
15
ST NICHOLAS PARK a wildlife haven
15
Conservation LIVING WATERWAYS project update
16
MARINE NEWS MCZs proposed
17
BEAUTIFUL BIRD kestrels need support
20
CAUSING A FLUTTER on reserves
21
13
14
Help for Hauxley
First for Druridge P
UK News VIVA EL BEAVER in Scotland
22-23
OFFSHORE TREASURES start searching
28-29
OSPREYS RETURN so who’s the daddy?
30-33
18-19
22
CHALLENGING WALKS tackle Whitelee Moor
34-35
Magnificent Meadows
Scottish Beavers
Patrons: Conrad Dickinson, Bill Oddie, Chris Packham & James Joicey President: Chris Mullin Vice Presidents: Charles Baker-Cresswell, Angus Lunn Vice President & Founder: Tony Tynan Chairman: Caroline Stewart Vice Chairman: Ian Armstrong Honorary Secretary: Nigel Porter Honorary Treasurer: Sue Loney
Chief Executive: Mike Pratt Head of Marketing & Fundraising: Sheila Sharp Head of Conservation: Steve Lowe Head of Land Management: Duncan Hutt Head of Business Management: Jane Speak EcoNorth: Vicki Sixsmith, Manager Director Red Squirrels Northern England: Nick Mason, Project Manager
Find us on: /northumberlandwt
@NorthWildlife
Chief Executive’s Comments
LAUREN OGILVIE
ECO Cen NOR tre TH pull page -ou t
Time for nature to get political 11 Might Oaks starting to grow IAN FISHER
Pools LAURIE CAMPBELL
Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd Garden House St Nicholas Park Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT Tel: (0191) 284 6884 Fax: (0191) 284 6794 Web: www.nwt.org.uk
We are months away from the General Election and The Wildlife Trusts have done the rounds of the party conferences to ‘talkup’ the need for a Nature and Wellbeing Bill to bring together existing legislation but also to create new legislative protection for wildlife. The need to speak up for wildlife has never been greater especially given the declining state of nature and the fading interest from those who make decisions and focus resources. Our current government is the government that talked of repairing lost biodiversity within a generation and meeting key targets on species and habitat loss by 2020; at the latest check, this government and indeed many of us, are going to fail on both counts. The economy, deficit reduction and further cuts in all directions take priority on any political agenda, so valuing our environment and wildlife is reduced to “green crap”, to quote one prominent politician recently. The Chancellor has stated many times that environment gets in the way of business and is in favour of less stringent planning and habitat protection to oil the wheels of business which means that the last few years have not been easy for our cause. Relaxation of planning laws, encouraging inappropriate development, badger and buzzard culling, the undermining of the Habitat Directive Regulations and even getting nature on any agenda at all these days have made our job very difficult, so your support as members is all the more valuable. I attended the Liberal Democrat Conference in Glasgow in October and was very pleased to see they have accepted the idea of a Nature Bill, which
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will be a manifesto commitment. There, at least, it did feel like nature and the benefits it brings in supporting our human lives was genuinely understood and that resources need to be harnessed to protect and develop it, even in hard economic times. It’s a start and we are pressing other parties to sign up for nature, whatever the style of campaign! All of us have to underline the importance of nature - whatever our politics or our interest, it’s not a luxury but a necessity. Sometimes we have to play politics and point out why nature matters to all of us. For this reason Northumberland Wildlife Trust is looking, as part of a new national campaign, for people related stories, to get our message across. We want to use everyone’s daily interactions with the natural world and what nature does for us, with real examples locally. So, what does nature mean to you? Is it you or your child’s play space, green gym, a place of reflection and inspiration, an outdoor classroom or workshop, a meeting or exercising place, a place for informal social networking without the technology? Fiona Dryden our Communications Officer would love to hear from you, your relatives and friends, so why not email her at fiona.dryden@northwt.org.uk. What does nature do for me, Mike Pratt? After a pause for thought, I would have to say that my interaction with the natural world actually makes life worth living. It simply blisses me out! So I guess you could say it is my indulgence, my drug, my energising fuel. How about you?
Mike Pratt Chief Executive Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Northumberland Wildlife Trust is a member of the largest voluntary organisiation in the UK concerned with all aspects of wildlife protection - The Wildlife Trusts. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Trust or the Editor. Whilst every effort is taken to check accuracy of the information contained herein, no responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions. The contents are Copyright. Front cover photo: Starling Song © Alex Penn All other photos © NWT unless otherwise stated
Roebuck is printed on Regency Satin Carbon Balanced paper.
Local News
The Trust’s Ponteland Wildlife Group celebrated its 40th anniversary this summer and shows little sign of slowing down in its help to conserve wildlife in the area. It was formed in February 1974 when a group of wildlife supporters decided to set up a local branch of the Trust in Ponteland. The original committee included the renowned local wildlife artist James Alder, professional photographer T.Geoffrey Willey who founded the Trust’s annual photography competition, June Walker, Frank Harrington and Barbara Thickett and her late husband Brian. During the 40 years, the Group has gone from strength to strength, raising awareness of the
DUNCAN HUTT
Ponteland Group celebrates 40 fabulous years Trust in the Ponteland area through walks and talks and encouraging many local residents to join us as members. Individual group members are also no strangers to fund raising on our behalf, holding street collections as well as donating raffle prizes and refreshments and selling cards, nest boxes, bird seeds and other wildlife treasures at a regular programme of speaker meetings. Members also get involved with volunteering for the Trust and, over the years, they have worked with our estates team on a number of our reserves and they can always be relied on to help
us at Trust events and shows around the Region. In recognition of the Group’s 40 year achievement, the Trust invited its members on a coach outing and guided walks around two of its popular reserves - Linton Lane and Hauxley. Congratulations on the first 40 years, here’s to the next 40. Thank you for the Group’s £500 donation, for which we’re extremely grateful.
Congratulations to Rita and Mike Pearce who have just celebrated 40 years with the Trust.
The Trust’s first successful apprentice is now in post, and we are hoping to eventually roll out an apprenticeship scheme across our whole organisation. Lauren Ogilvie our new People & Wildlife Apprentice spent a year in the VIth form at Benfield School studying for A Levels in Biology, Philosophy and Ethics, History and Sports Leadership, before deciding she needed a new challenge. Searching on the National Apprenticeship Service website (part of the Skills Funding Council) she spotted our advertisement for a People & Wildlife Apprentice, and the rest, as they say, is history. Starting work one week after receiving her AS Level results Lauren is now a very valuable member of our People & Wildlife team. Northumberland College is the training provider for her apprenticeship, advising the Trust on her personal development programme and supporting her as she studies for an NVQ Level II in Environmental Conservation.
4 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
FIONA DRYDEN
You’re Hired!
Crossed Signals and Mink Coats Cryptic it may be, but its importance to the Region’s wildlife cannot be under-emphasised! For the title refers to our recently launched crayfish project which seeks to conserve the native crayfish populations of Northumberland whilst putting effort into restraining the presence of non-native ‘signal’ crayfish.
It is a very complicated scenario, but with funding from SITA Trust (a not-for-profit company) and working in partnership with the Northumberland Rivers Trust, Northumbrian Water Ltd and the Environment Agency, we have come up with a ‘cunning plan’ to try and arrest the march of the signals and enhance the situation for the native white claws in places where they still exist. Likewise, our long-awaited water vole restoration plan got its first blast of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to establish the baseline for the re-introduction of the species into parts of Northumberland in the next few years, which is incredibly exciting news for us. Firstly, on the crayfish front, there are several significant steps we are taking over the next couple of years to help safeguard and enhance the current native white clawed crayfish population. The biggest and most important element is safeguarding populations on the Upper Pont and North Tyne catchments. In essence we are going to build a crayfish barrier on a narrow and constricted part of the River Pont to prevent nonnative crayfish from ascending further upstream into the River North Tyne via the Hallington Aqueduct. This ascent would be enormously detrimental, not only to the surviving native crayfish populations but also the rest of the very valuable North Tyne ecosystems, including the very rare and endangered fresh water pearl mussel populations and the economically valuable salmonid presence in the river. This barrier will prevent crayfish movement upstream, but will not be detrimental to future aspirations to improve fish passage in the River. We have the support of all the major agencies in this part of the project and hope to progress construction in the new year. Additionally, we
training and awareness courses are being delivered. The oral history of the location and the living memories of locals are being collected and used to drive the community ownership of the project, within and around the area. Following examples from the Scottish Cairngorms and the South West of England, in future we hope to roll out the project beyond its present boundaries, and re-establish water voles under the same method further afield in the Tyne catchment. We have researched the past presence of Kielder water voles and the present day habitats’ suitability; we have investigated the DNA of remaining water vole populations in the Region, as well as continuing to monitor the health and status of voles in the north Pennines working in collaboration with colleagues from the AONB. We will step up this monitoring in 2015 and monitor the donor populations with a view to starting the re-introduction elements in 2016. Early indications for this project are very positive, with continued support from all partners and HLF. We haven’t had any signs of mink in the area for a couple of years, so we are increasing the range and number of rafts to give us better coverage. Almost as importantly, populations of water vole in the North Pennines appear stable and prosperous with several training courses held over the summer in the Pennines finding extremely healthy and robust colonies across the whole area, giving the project ample scope to source donor animals for release into the Kielder catchment. Support from the communities in both areas has been very high, with a lot of interest being shown in the project and its prospects for the future, so long may this continue to help us safe-guard these wonderful creatures so our grandchildren can enjoy this legacy. Kevin O’Hara Conservation Officer Northumberland Wildlife Trust
KEVIN O’HARA
KEVIN O’HARA
will be enhancing the habitat of native crayfish populations in the Region to increase the numbers of native crayfish on the Upper Pont, Wansbeck and Tyne tributaries through river bank fencing instream structures and willow spiling with the generous assistance, yet again, of SITA Trust. This is vitally important, as a further element of the overall strategy is to foster the idea of crayfish ‘Arc’ sites, namely, for sites that are geographically isolated and environmentally suitable for native crayfish populations to be established through deliberate introduction. ‘Arc’ sites are chosen under a strict protocol of suitability where the healthy crayfish can be introduced; to date, several locations have been assessed in Northumberland and a number identified as host sites from which we hope to introduce the first native crayfish in autumn 2014. These sites will be monitored over the following months to assess survival and status before deciding on whether further introductions should be carried out or not. This is all very exciting stuff and we hope we can emulate this with our water vole project. We are working in partnership with the Tyne Rivers Trust and The Forestry Commission to reestablish water vole populations in the North Tyne catchment, initially above the Kielder Dam. As already mentioned, with support from HLF, we have appointed two people into the area to establish a community supported mink control area around the Kielder Water catchment. Using specially designed and strategically placed mink rafts, a ‘cordon sanitaire’ is being established around the area to monitor, record, then trap and remove any mink from within the area. The water vole was once a very common animal in this location, as elsewhere, but the presence of non-native North American mink in the Region, as elsewhere, has had such a severe effect on water vole populations that without the removal of mink and the direct intervention by reintroduction, there is no realistic prospect for the species in the Region. Volunteers and professionals alike are being drafted in to monitor the rafts, whilst community
November 2014 - March ROEBUCK 134 5
Local News MARTIN KITCHING WWW.NORTHERNEXPERIENCEIMAGES.CO.UK
Wildlife in Focus If you find yourself and your camera in the nirvana of a wildlife-filled landscape, what do you shoot? Everything that comes along? Something that you’re particularly interested in? It may seem counter-intuitive to put your camera down, but the space and time to think is an important weapon in the wildlife photographer’s armoury. If you can imagine an impressive shot from the ‘ingredients’ you have at your disposal then you can choose the subject to concentrate your efforts on, find the best angle for the available light, compose the image, adjust your camera settings … then hope that the subject wanders into the composition just where you want it! In early October I was offshore, with 100 White-beaked Dolphins around the boat, and taking shots of dorsal fins for our North Sea identification catalogue. I’ve done it regularly for five years, so it’s a fairly well-honed technique, but the behaviour of some of the dolphins brought an image to mind that I wasn’t going to get without adjusting my mind-set, at least for a little time. Reposition photographer … frame image … adjust depth of field … check exposure and depth of field … wait … wait … shoot! Martin Kitching Senior Guide Northern Experience Wildlife Tours www.newtltd.co.uk
Snap to it… new photo Roebuck goes electronic! competition launched
In a bid to reduce our postage and print costs, we are now offering members an email version of Roebuck and Natural World in a magazine format. If you would like to receive the magazine in an electronic format instead of a printed copy, please email Trust Membership Officer, Christine O’Neil at christine.o’neil@northwt.org.uk with your name and membership number, inserting ‘eRoebuck’ in the subject box. If you do opt for this new format we will also e-mail you the What’s On guide and any other relevant information, so you won’t miss out on any news or offers. Roebuck and our What’s On events guide will also be available online at www.nwt.org.uk.
The 2015 North East Wildlife Photography Competition has just launched with the three north east Wildlife Trusts, the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) and the Great North Museum: Hancock joining forces for a hat trick. With Nestlé Fawdon as the main sponsor and Simon King Wildlife and Opticron already coming forward with a selection of wonderful prizes, it’s well worth entering. There are six competition categories, prizes for each category winner and runners-up plus an overall winner prize of £250. Entry is free, it’s open to everyone, but photographs must have been taken in the North East.
Wanted - Membership Recruiters (part-time)
Closing date: Midnight Sunday 10 May 2015 Winners announced: Thursday 9 July 2015
6 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
ALEX PENN
Further details, plus full terms and conditions available at: www.northeastwildlifephoto.co.uk or alternatively contact Steve Ashton on: 01287 636 382.
We are looking for highly motivated sales people with a genuine interest in wildlife to help support the work of the Trust by increasing our membership by talking to the general public at places with high relevant footfall suchas country fairs, shows, garden centres etc. If you are a good communicator, enjoy meeting people, have an organised approach to your work and want to do your bit for the region’s wildlife, we want to hear from you! For further information and to apply visit www.nwt.org.uk/jobs.
Adopt an Animal with Northumberland Wildlife Trust Give an adoption as an unusual gift to family, friends and loved ones or buy one for yourself and help us to make a difference to the wildlife and wild places of Northumberland.
All adoptions are £20 and you can choose from: • • • • • •
Badger Bee Dolphin Hedgehog Otter Tawny Owl
To take out an adoption sign up online at www.nwt.org.uk/adopt-an-animal.
All adoption packs contain: • factsheet about your adopted species • certificate of adoption • Kenspeckle chocolate bar • sound card of your adoptive animal • a Northumberland Wildlife Trust car sticker • Northumberland Wildlife Trust Reserve Guide Please note that all adoptions for Christmas should be received by the Trust no later than Friday 12 December otherwise we cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Local News
Blooming success for Flexigraze FLEXIGRAZE
The involvement of the Flexigraze conservation grazing scheme, a Community Interest Company hosted by the Trust, at the Hanson Aggregates Keepershield whin stone quarry, situated at Humshaugh near Hexham, has been heralded a great success for a number of rare plants in Northumberland. The Quarry is home to the Scroggs Site of Special Scientific Interest, a nature haven which supports, amongst others, a species called the lady’s mantle (Alchemilla micans) and whose only home in the whole of the UK is Northumberland. This species lives in a rare and unique type of grassland that relies on specialised grazing where the grass is grazed to a short sward over winter, thereby allowing the flowers to grow in the spring without obstruction; without this, the flower would be lost, hence Hanson Aggregates opting for the Flexigraze scheme. The sheep were moved off the meadow for the summer allowing the plants to flower and set seed for next year, but with the help of Trust volunteers, Stephen Comber Flexigraze Manager and Jess the sheepdog, they were returned to the site at the end of September.
Annual General Meeting
8 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
A popular book resulting from the Trust’s HLF funded ‘Rescued from the Sea’ Project at Low Hauxley has just been published. Documenting the story of how a nationally important archaeological site was excavated from an eroding cliff-edge next to our Low Hauxley Reserve last summer. Priced at £10.00 (plus p&p) the book is available via our website www.nwt.org.uk and our Hauxley Visitor Centre Friday, Saturday and Sunday for £10.00 (less p&p).
It will be officially launched in the Clore Suite at the Great North Museum: Hancock on Wednesday 3 December at 6.00pm. Open to all, the launch will take the form of a wine and cheese event, with a 40 minute lecture from Clive Waddington, Lead Archaeologist on the project and rounded off by a book signing. Booking essential, call 0191 284 6884
ARS LTD
This year’s AGM was held at the Great North Museum: Hancock on Saturday 6 September.W In a change to the normal format, the presentation by Dr Clive Waddington, Managing Director, Archaeological Research Services Ltd, started proceedings. Clive gave a highly entertaining and informative talk about the discoveries made during the Rescued from the Sea project at Low Hauxley last summer (2013). It would appear that the site is of great educational importance to archaeologists, as it displays, in a series of layers which is very rare in one site, the history of human habitation from the Mesolithic right through to the Roman period. The site is also proving to be of interest geomorphologically, helping to strengthen the evidence for the huge tsunami which, over a relatively short time period, is believed to have finally created Britain as an island. Following Clive’s talk and an update on the work of the Trust over the last year, the main business of the AGM, including the election of Directors and adoption of the accounts, was concluded in a short time which was welcomed by members!
Hauxley dig book launch event
FRIENDS OF HOLYWELL DENE
Rockin’ Reds! With the sterling support of 38 volunteers committing 92 days of time in Northumberland, the Red Squirrels Northern England spring 2014 squirrel monitoring programme was completed in record time. The fifth repeat of this programme since spring 2012 found red squirrels still present right across northern England, with no overall change in the number of sites occupied by red squirrels. In Northumberland, we could not find reds in a handful of sites to which they had only recently returned. This was particularly evident in the Tyne Valley, where grey squirrel detection rose despite some excellent new conservation initiatives.
The first red squirrel to be seen at Holywell Dene in two decades
As ever, this highlights how variable squirrel populations can be year to year, particularly driven by food availability. Our conservation response will be a further refocusing in the Tyne Valley woodland systems in 2015, intensifying further our on-going grey squirrel management work. We are now reaching the end of three years of amazing support from our main funder Biffa Award. Their generosity has enabled the establishment of a conservation programme of the scale needed to safeguard red squirrel populations right across northern England. Our challenge now is to focus hard on maintaining the conservation elements essential for success. We are doing this by scaling down our research and monitoring efforts and continuing grey squirrel management across the red squirrel stronghold network in northern England. Wherever possible, we will support community partners in their work beyond these strongholds. Fundraising efforts also continue, focusing on building long term support. This includes recent work with the Ulster and Lancashire Wildlife Trusts, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and three other partners seeking to access EU and HLF funding to build a UK-scale red squirrel conservation network capable of stimulating new programmes in north Wales and Northern Ireland while safeguarding some of our northern English work. Last minute news comes from the Friends of Holywell Dene who have just spotted their first red squirrel for two decades. Thanks so much to them for sharing their wonderful news and photo with us. Nick Mason Project Manager Red Squirrels Northern England
PHILIP PRECEY
Building communities. Transforming lives.
Funding
Running wild! Anybody wishing to take part in the race next year on our behalf can register their interest with Christine O’Neil at the Trust on: 0191 284 6794 or email her at: christine.o’neil@northwt.org.uk
GEORGE SCOTT
Many thanks to all the runners who took part in this year’s Great North Run on our behalf. Unfortunately, none of them turned out to be the millionth runner, but we are sure they have a million memories of the day.
which is currently 25p for every £1 you give, at no extra cost to yourself. If you have not signed a form, but are eligible, please telephone Christine O’Neil, Trust Membership Officer on: 0191 284 6884 for a form. Likewise, if you are no longer a tax payer and have previously signed a Gift Aid form, please let Christine know so she can cancel your declaration.
Access for all will be easier following Road Fund boost The Trust has received £5,548 from the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund to improve the path on our Hauxley reserve that provides access to the coastal path. The current footpath linking the site with the Coastal Cycleway (National Route 1) is muddy and slippery in places and gets overgrown with weeds and overhanging trees. The new funding will now allow us to upgrade this path to a stone-surfaced permissive cycleway with new signage at either end thereby providing access for all-weather walking, wheelchairs and pushchairs, with regular passing places. As many of you know, the reserve is an important area for breeding birds, so work on the volunteerled project will be carried out over the winter to minimise disturbance. The project will take two weeks to complete and will be fully open to the public from spring 2015. 10 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
Many thanks to local farmers Rosie and George Barber who very kindly donated 800 bales of straw to us this summer for use in our new Hauxley visitor centre. Thanks also to David Knox for baling the straw in blistering heat. DUNCAN HUTT
Gift Aid provides a generous proportion of our income, and in 2013 alone the Trust received over £70,000 from Gift Aid. With your help we hope to continue, and possibly improve on, this amazing amount. To be eligible, the amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax you pay in each tax year must be at least equal to the amount of tax that we will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year. If you are a tax payer you will hopefully have signed a Gift Aid declaration when you joined the Trust. This enables us to claim back the tax,
Anne Robotham, from Catton, Allendale and a member of the Trust for 10 years has left us a bequest of £750 in her will. If you are inspired by the wildlife and landscapes in our Region, please consider leaving us a legacy to safeguard them for future generations. If you would like to find out more about legacies, visit our website www.nwt.org. uk/legacies or contact Jane Speak, Head of Business Management at the Trust on: 0191 284 6884.
‘Baled’ out by farmers
Runners (left to right): Dru Clarke, Russell Tait (RSNE Conservation Officer), Kieran Lough (9), Linda Scott, Charlotte Kennedy
Go on... Gift Aid it!
Leaving a living legacy to wildlife
SOMM project boost The Save our Magnificent Meadows (SOMM) Project has received a £10,000 boost from the Community Foundation’s ‘Out and About’ Fund. Established in 2009, the aim of the Fund is to encourage people of all ages to enjoy the countryside.
Community Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Enriching lives through effective g iving
Mighty oaks starting to grow
The Trust is delighted to have received a substantial grant to become part of a Big Lottery funded Well-Being programme to work with groups of military families in the Region. The ‘Well-Being in the East’ programme, being delivered by Enable East, aims to
LAUREN OGILVIE
raise the well-being levels of thousands of people in the East of England, North East and Lincolnshire through a number of local well-being projects and initiatives. According to the Children’s Education Advisory Service, military families experience frequent job/school/house moves and parental absences which can cause social isolation and stress, particularly for children. Armed with all this information, the Trust’s People & Wildlife team launched its ‘Acorns to Oaks’ project with six schools in the Region including those in
LAUREN OGILVIE
E LAUREN OGILVI
Longhoughton, Stamfordham, Alnwick, Ponteland and Bellingham all of which have a close proximity to Albermarle and Otterburn Barracks and RAF Boulmer and a high percentage of children from military families attending them. Spread over a thirteen month period, the Team started introducing a programme in each school to include three days on one of the Trust’s reserves nearest each school, a Family Celebration Day offering a chance for all families to get together and go wild, and a Nature Club which will ensure that the Project’s legacy continues, not to mention two assemblies offering children the opportunity to showcase their work to their school friends, parents and members of the local community. One particular school, Longhoughton First School has seen every one of its
LAUREN OGILV IE
Boosting children’s resilience and well-being through contact with nature.
pupils get involved with the project in some shape or form - each child made a pot and planted a seed while Reception and Year 1 classes had their own raised beds outside their classroom door, Year 2 took part in Forest School activities at our East Chevington reserve, Years 3 and 4 spent time growing, feeding and watering vegetables then making soup with the freshly grown produce. Connecting people with nature is now acknowledged as a therapeutic way of improving physical and mental well-being and is now featuring on the political agenda for all three main UK parties. It builds social skills through hands-on nature discovery and, in fact, MIND’s Ecotherapy Report of 2007 evidences that green exercise and therapeutic horticulture are valid options for reducing mental distress by lowering stress and boosting self-esteem.
Corporates
Six members of staff from Northumbrian Water Ltd, one of our Gold Corporate Members, headed to North Tyneside in August as part of the Company’s highly successful ‘Just an Hour’ volunteering programme. The staff, who are committed to undertake two environment days a year, rolled up their sleeves and provided a home for otters, by installing an artificial otter holt, made from recycled plastic panels, along the Seaton Burn in North Tyneside. The event, hosted by the Trust, was part of the Environment Agency funded Living Waterways Project (see page 16 for an update on the project), aimed at encouraging residents to look after their nearby rivers and green spaces, in an attempt to manage flood risk and address water pollution issues. The holt will provide excellent accommodation for otters, which are known to be particularly active along the Burn and are a priority species for British wildlife conservation and such habitat improvements along watercourses provide a huge boost to the quality of otter territory. The recycled plastic panels were funded through the Community Foundation Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF).
SARAH MARLEY
Just an Hour for wildlife
Community Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Enriching lives through effective g iving
Northumberland Wildlife Trust offers three levels of corporate membership which are designed to enhance your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, provide year-round benefits to your business and support your staff development, PR and marketing strategies. You choose the level that you feel reflects your company’s commitment to the local environment. To find out more about becoming a corporate member contact our Marketing Office on 0191 284 6884 or via email to sheila.sharp@northwt.org.uk
GOLD
SILVER
Esh Group www.esh.uk.com
Elanders Ltd www.elanders.com
A-one + www.aone.uk.com
Howick Hall Gardens www.howickhallgardens.org
Lafarge Tarmac www.lafargetarmac.co.uk
Harlow Printing Ltd www.harlowprinting.co.uk
Albion Outdoors www.albionoutdoors.co.uk
Mears Ltd www.mearsgroup.co.uk
Karpet Mills www.karpetmills.co.uk
Bell Ingram www.bellingram.co.uk
Northern Experience Wildlife Tours www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk
Nestlé Confectionery Ltd www.nestle.co.uk
Mountgate Caravans Ltd www.silvercarrscaravanpark.co.uk
Northumbrian Water Ltd www.nwl.co.uk
North East Chamber of Commerce www.ne-cc.com
Berwick Holiday Park www.haven.com/parks/ northumberland/berwick Blyth Harbour Commission www.portofblyth.co.uk
Percy Wood Leisure Ltd www.percywood.co.uk
Port of Tyne www.portoftyne.co.uk
Colton Excavations www.coltonplanthire.co.uk
Poltross Enterprises www.poltross.com
Potts Printers Ltd www.potts.co.uk
Croft Veterinary Hospital www.croftvets.co.uk
Sykes Cottages www.sykescottages.co.uk
Riverside Leisure www.riverside-leisure.co.uk
Geoffrey Lurie Solicitors www.geoffreylurie.com
Wardell Armstrong www.wardell-armstrong.com
Gustharts www.gusthart.com
Whitley Bay Golf Club www.whitleybaygolfclub.co.uk
The Banks Group www.hjbanks.com Thermofisher Scientific www.thermofisher.com
BRONZE
Hexham Steeplechase Co Ltd www.hexham-racecourse.co.uk
12 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
Northumberland County Council www.northumberland.gov.uk Ord House Country Park www.ordhouse.co.uk
Help make our wishes come true NEE
Time, DED: m & equ aterials ipmen t
In April 2015 we plan to start work on building the new Druridge Bay Wildlife Discovery Centre on our Hauxley Reserve. In response to the arson attack on our former visitor Centre in June 2010, North Tyneside based Architects, Brightblue Studio, have designed an eco-building that will be constructed mostly by an army of volunteers. Using locally grown and traditional building materials, including straw bales, clay plaster and timber, the project is intended to be the ‘greenest’ in the north-east and a nationally exemplar building. This new building, which we aim to open during the summer of 2016, will provide new opportunities for people to watch wildlife, engage
with the heritage of Druridge Bay, take part in activities and events and explore their relationship with the natural world. It will also house a dedicated education facility that a variety of groups will be able to use throughout the year. Although we expect some funding from the Heritage Lottery and we already have some donations and insurance money, this ambitious project can only be delivered with the help and generosity of our supporters, so we are appealing for people that can volunteer their time or donate building materials. The technologies that we will be using have been deliberately selected as these can be mastered by unskilled people with full training
being provided by professionals on site. Details on all the latest updates are now available on our website at: www.nwt.org.uk/ dynamic-druridge. If you are able to help us with materials and equipment, please contact Elaine More, Conservation Officer at the Trust on: 0191 284 6884 or via email: elaine.more@northwt.org.uk If you are able to help us with volunteering, please contact Lou Chapman, Volunteering Coordinator at the Trust on: 0191 284 6884 or via email: louise.chapman@northwt.org.uk This project has been possible thanks to a development grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Could you, or someone you know: • Dedicate a couple of weeks in summer 2015 to help us with the straw bale construction process • Help fix the external cladding • Spare a couple of days to help with painting and decorating the interior towards the end of the project • Fit out the kitchen area with units and equipment
• Provide 4 toilets and 6 washbasins • Supply IT equipment • Provide and install video cameras/ security surveillance equipment • Donate a flat screen TV for the reception area • Supply and/or fit solar thermal panels and heating system equipment
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 13
Reserves & Volunteers
First for the County and Druridge Pools Two little egret chicks were successfully reared at Druridge Pools, marking a first for the County. The adult pair of birds, a graceful heron species, nested on our reserve this summer and their two young egrets fledged the first week in August The little egret has colonised the United Kingdom from France as it naturally extended
Fifth Osprey Watch five facts
its breeding range. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989, and first bred in Dorset in 1996. There are now about 700 nesting pairs across the country. The birds were discovered by local birdwatcher and ‘Druridge Diary’ blogger, Iain Robson, who visits the Druridge Bay reserve most days. Read his updates at ipinswildlifeblog.blogspot.com IAN FISHER
IAN FISHER
1. Operated every weekend from Saturday 31 May - Sunday 10 August. 2. 3050 people visited the watch this year 3. Ended three weeks earlier this year as the birds nested earlier and therefore fledged earlier 4. Donations and funding received totalled: £5,552.64
FORESTRY COMMISSION ENGLAND
Holywell Pond reserve maintained its high standard at the “Northumbria in Bloom” Awards this year with its fourth consecutive gold placing in the Best Conservation Project class. Despite fierce competition, there was the unexpected surprise of being named the overall gold medal and trophy winner. This success has been achieved through the sheer hard work of the Holywell Wardens.
DUNCAN HUTT
Hooray for Holywell
5. Three of the healthiest birds have been tagged with a satellite transmitter, so their progress back to Africa can be monitored. This is being funded by an anonymous donor. Follow the birds’ progress via the Osprey Watch blog: www.kielderospreys.wordpress.com
RESERVES ROUND-UP HAUXLEY:
LINTON LANE:
Work has started on the stone surface path along the Willow Carr following the £20,000 anonymous donation received earlier this summer via the Community Foundation.
The Banks Community Fund (through the mining, property and renewable energy developer, the Banks Group) has provided funding enabling us to improve access to the two hides and produce a leaflet about the site.
14 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
DRURIDGE POOLS: Thank you to Northumberland County Council for up-grading the public right of way through the reserve on our behalf.
DRURIDGE POOLS & CRESSWELL POND: Funding from The Banks Community Fund (through the Banks Group) and People’s Postcode Lottery has enabled us to produce a new information leaflet on the two reserves.
WEST FLEETHAM: Trust volunteers have spent several days removing invasive species from Long Nanny Wood and Farm Pond. Carpets of ‘huge’ Himalayan Balsam plants were removed from the wood, whilst several soggy
volunteers removed the newly discovered Water Soldier infestation from Farm Pond.
Following months of negotiations, the Trust now owns the 5.26 hectares of farmland and woodland adjoining our Hauxley reserve. The land was purchased with the money raised by our 2013 Hauxley Land Appeal, so a massive thank-you to members of the public
along with a number of charitable foundations including Charles Hayward Foundation, the Northumbrian Water Branch Out Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for their overwhelming financial support.
Our first step is to install fencing to create the new reserve boundary before improving the existing pathway and incorporating it into a circular route around the reserve. For an update on our plans for the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, see page 13.
Digging deep
Supported by players of
A group of five pupils from Ashington Community High School have been spending the autumn term helping us safeguard great crested newts on our Hauxley reserve, and it’s all been possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. From September onwards, the Year 10 pupils have busy digging over 100 metres of deep trench in preparation for the installation of newt fences designed to stop the protected species going ‘walkabout’ on the site which may shortly resemble a building site. PHOTOS: LAUREN OGILVIE
An urban haven for wildlife
HOLBURN MOSS: Another step towards restoration of the hydrology of the bog was taken recently through the installation of several large dams. Estates staff and volunteers undertook the work under contract to Ford & Etal Estates.
BRIARWOOD BANKS: Trust volunteers were impressed to see the success rate of trees planted during restoration of the ancient woodland. This area now supports growing populations of Redstart and Pied
Flycatcher, two of the species it was hoped restoration would benefit. A number of Pied Flycatcher chicks were ringed earlier in the year and we hope they return to the reserve in future years.
The Trust’s St Nicholas Park site in Gosforth has been managed as a reserve since 1996. Over the years we have installed a number of visitor features including additional seating and new information panels and developed various habitats such as woodlands, wetlands and a wildflower meadow, turning an area in Newcastle’s suburb into a haven for frogs, bees, butterflies, badgers and foxes. Now, thanks to a cash boost of £2,000 from The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust, our People & Wildlife and Estates teams, together with our groups of regular volunteers have been able to make further improvements around the reserve over the summer and early autumn. Volunteers have re-laid the path area around the pond with whin stone dust and lifted and levelled the flagstones in the wildlife garden, replaced the broken ones and filled the gaps with a dry sand and mortar mix - not an easy task, but it will resolve the age old problem of the standing water on the flagstones and the endless weed removal from between the gaps. September saw volunteers planting of 250 native wildflower plug plants including cornflower, vipers bugloss and wild angelica and 500 bulbs including native bluebells, wild daffodils, winter aconite and wood anemones. All the work could not have been achieved without the endless number of hours the volunteers willingly give to help us, and because of this St Nicholas Park will continue to flourish as an urban reserve, serving local schools, joggers, dog walkers and those out for a stroll!
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 15
DUNCAN HUTT
Land purchase at Hauxley completed
Conservation
Living Waterways enjoys a great year 2014 has been great for our watercourses with the Living Waterways Project striving to improve water quality and riparian habitats plus manage flood risk for the benefit of people and wildlife in the North East. Working under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD), Living Waterways project officers and volunteers have been busy encouraging members of the public to engage with their local green spaces and watery areas, whilst also making plans for new sites across our region.
Ouseburn
Catch Burn
Rowlington Dene
At Red House Farm, a reed bed was re-profiled to encourage flow to the River Ouseburn and a foraging hedge planted for the area’s wildlife; so far the plants are thriving and fish, tadpoles and deer have been spotted utilising the area.
Living Waterways is looking to create wetland habitat on the Catch Burn in Morpeth over the forthcoming months - designs and plans are approved so we’re ready to go ahead.
In Ashington Living Waterways is seeking to improve saltmarsh habitat on a tributary of the River Wansbeck primarily to improve this internationally-important habitat and the nearby local nature reserve.
If you want to find out more about the Living Waterways Project or if you would like to get involved as a volunteer, please contact Sarah Marley, Living Waterways Project Officer on 0191 284 6794 or email her at sarah.marley@northwt.org.uk. The Living Waterways Project is a partnership between Northumberland and Durham Wildlife Trusts and the Environment Agency to reduce flood risk and improve urban streams for people and wildlife. SARAH MARLEY
Red House Farm
Reed shelf established
River channel reprofiled
When river flows, reed shelf will filter water.
CONSERVATION ROUND-UP CETACEANS: Northumberland and Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts, together with Marinelife, have just undertaken additional survey work for cetaceans in the Farne Deeps. A huge pod of 100 white-beaked dolphins was recorded during the last trip, just off-shore from Blyth and within the area proposed as an MCZ.
Further survey training is being organised for 2015.
TERNS: Natural England has just announced consultation on a Species Protection Area (SPA) for Terns off the Northumberland Coast. We would encourage comments to be submitted. Further details are available at: publications. naturalengland.org.uk.
16 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
CLEAN BEACHES: A beach clean event with volunteers from the Environment Agency and Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) collected a massive 330kg of rubbish from Druridge Bay in five hours. Thanks to everybody involved!
LIVING WATERWAYS: On the Seaton Burn, our living Waterways Project has worked with 1st Dudley Guides to build and install bug boxes and elsewhere residents spent a day removing invasive Himalayan Balsam on the Willow Burn. Living Waterways is currently organising works for the Catch Burn
in Morpeth, Green Letch in Sleekburn as well as Rowlington and Blackclose Denes in Ashington.
WHITEHOUSE FARM BIODIVERSITY OFFSETTING: We have remained engaged in discussions with North Tyneside Council on this issue and have continued to input
to the offsetting process. Currently, a site in East Cramlington has been ‘ear-marked’ for arable reversion and grassland habitat creation.
A1 ROAD WIDENING FEASIBILITY STUDIES: Steve Lowe, Head of Conservation at the Trust has been attending
Making new friends diverse community, not to mention edible crabs and common lobster. Locations along this stretch of coast provide a great opportunity to dip your toe in the water and start to learn more about our marine wildlife in the spectacular rock-pools. Farnes East lies 11 km offshore, east of the Farne Islands. It is a vital area for foraging seabirds, particularly auks such as razorbills, guillemots and puffins but also an important fishery for Nethrops (prawns). Huge amounts of effort go into protecting habitat for these seabirds on the Farne Islands but we also need to ensure our seas are thriving with fish for them too. Not only important for foraging seabirds but a key sport for feeding and breeding white-beaked dolphins. White-beaked dolphins live in colder temperate and sub polar waters, Dona te t with Northumberland sitting at their Seas o the Livin southerly limit. Farnes East therefore nwt.oappeal: g l i v i ngse rg.uk/ provides vital habitat for these asap peal dolphins in the North Sea.
MARK THOMAS
Far out to sea (a whopping 224 km) is Fulmar where sand and gravel sediments covering the seafloor make perfect habitats for ocean quahog, marine bivalves which like to bury themselves often leaving nothing but a small tube above the seafloor that they use to filter plankton out of the water.
Quahog can live up to an iimpressive 400 years and are an important food source for cod. As well im as being an important area for buried wildlife, Fulmar is also a key area for long range foraging seabirds like Gannets and (as the name suggests) Fulmars. Most people can’t visit Farnes East or Fulmar but that does not mean that you can’t benefit from their protection. A visit to the coast can give you views of some of the seabirds that use Fulmar as breeding grounds, or white-beaked dolphins and minke whale which feed in Farnes East. We need your help to let the government know that people care about our marine life and want to see it protected. To get the latest information about the consultation and hear more about your local MCZs become a friend of MCZs by going to www.wildlifetrusts.org/mcz and click on ‘Become a friend’. Aurelie Bohan Living Seas Officer Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Dead men’s fingers
ST. MARY’S WETLAND: A new volunteer group has been established to undertake maintenance on this site which has suffered from neglect. If anyone is interested in assisting, please contact the Trust on: 0191 284 6884 and your details will be passed on.
PEOPLE’S POSTCODE LOTTERY
meetings with the Department for Transport and Highways Agency regarding this Study, which was announced in the last spending review. There are currently 10 options, none of which would be environmentally benign.
MARTIN KITCHING WWW.NORTHERNWILDLIFEEXPERIENCEIMAGES.CO.UK
In July 2014, the UK took another step towards protecting and conserving our marine environment when Scotland designated 30 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). For England, 2015 will be our next chance to ensure the Government keep their promise and designate further Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) adding to this UK wide MPA network, with the public consultation expected for Tranche Two. But what does this mean for Northumberland? The waters off Northumberland had three MCZs designated in 2013 but this does not provide protection for a full representation of the marine wildlife we have. Locally, a further three MCZs have been recommended to help achieve a representative network of MPAs around the UK, not only imperative to restore our damaged seas but vitally important to ensure full protection of mobile species. The three potential MCZs are: Coquet to St Mary’s, Farnes East and Fulmar. Each MCZ has been selected to protect different habitats and the wildlife that lives within them, and they are all equally important. Coquet to St Mary’s potential MCZ covers an area from Whitley Bay to Alnmouth including both St Mary’s and Coquet islands, both well known for their seabirds and seals. This area has spectacular rocky reefs important in supporting a
NORTH EAST BUTTERFLY ATLAS: Butterfly Conservation is about to produce an updated atlas covering all species recorded locally. There appears to have been no loss of species, but some interesting changes in distribution. Add this to your Christmas list.
Volunteer beach clean-up at Amble Staff from People’s Postcode Lottery with Steve Lowe, Head of Conservation at the Trust
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 17
Conservation
Saving our Region’s magnificent meadows Meadows and other grasslands are an intrinsic part of the UK’s natural and cultural heritage: rich in landscape character, farming, folklore and history, they are as much a part of our heritage as the works of Shakespeare. It’s no wonder wildflower meadow planting is enjoying a huge popularity in gardening; they look beautiful and attract wildlife, particularly threatened pollinators. But real wildflower meadows are vanishing - and with them native flowers such as green-winged orchid, oxlip, dyer’s greenweed, and meadow saffron. There were once natural wild flower meadows in every parish - today only 2% of the meadows that existed in the 1930’s remain. Nearly 7.5 million acres of wildflower meadow have been lost so far and they are still being destroyed. Save our Magnificent Meadows is the UK’s largest partnership project transforming the fortunes of vanishing wildflower meadows, grasslands and wildlife. Conservation and restoration of wildflower meadows and other grasslands is focusing on the Fermanagh grasslands of Northern Ireland, the pastures of west Wales, Scottish grasslands from Edinburgh to Aberdeenshire, the calaminarian and whin grasslands of Northumberland and traditional meadows and pastures in southern England. The project is primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support locally from the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. In June we began this exciting new project here in Northumberland where we’re looking at restoring some of our most scarce grassland communities. The Save our Magnificent Meadows partnershipis led by Plantlife with 9 other organisations, including Wildlife Trusts, local councils and the RSPB, carrying out the work on the ground. So, you might ask, what are we doing here in Northumberland? We are concentrating on two scarce and unusual grassland communities; whin and calaminarian grasslands. Whin grasslands are pretty much unique to Northumberland. These grasslands have established on very shallow, well-drained soil formed on the hard rock of the whin outcrop. Because the whin rock, when it formed, forced its way through layers of sandstone, limestone and shale the resultant soils have a very varied chemistry and as such unusual species assemblages with rare plants. Species such as hairy stonecrop, wild chive, long-stalked
18 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
cranesbill and Northumberland’s very own lady’s mantle Alchemilla micans can be found in the community. The calaminarian grasslands are similar to the whin in that they have formed over shallow, well drained soils, but what makes these special is the high levels of heavy metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium. Where these toxins would ordinarily kill-off most species of plant, some unusual, and again rare, species colonise. These include mountain pansy, alpine pennycress, spring sandwort and thrift. Although not strictly speaking meadows, as grasslands they have suffered similar fates; lack of grazing, scrub encroachment, nutrient enrichment and colonisation by invasive non-native species. All these factors result in the loss of many of the rare and unusual species supported by these grasslands and as such it is here that we are concentrating our conservation efforts. In the four calaminarian grasslands and five whin grassland sites that we are working on, we have been beavering away removing scrub, bashing balsam, removing bracken, and stripping back deep soil. The reasons behind removing scrub and invasive non-native species are selfexplanatory but soil stripping may seem a bit more unusual. Both whin and calaminarian grasslands support species that thrive on shallow nutrient poor soils, but easily get out competed by more common grassland species as soils form and get deeper. To redress this we are stripping back deep soils to create the ideal habitat for both grassland communities. Over the next three years we will be keeping going with our practical work and surveying closely to ensure we’re on the right track. Throughout the project we will be running various events and training sessions so keep an eye out on the Trust website (www.nwt.org.uk) Facebook page and Twitter for these and we are also after volunteers so if you are an expert botanical illustrator, keen on bashing some balsam, a super baker who’d like to bake a cake for an event, wild flower seed collector or grower and would like to volunteer with the project then email Naomi Waite, Conservation Officer at naomi.waite@northwt.org.uk. To find out more about Save Our Magnificent Meadows visit www.magnificentmeadows.org.uk Naomi Waite Conservation Officer Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Special Edition Pull Out Survey Calendar ECONORTH
Slow Worms on the Move Slow worms, lizards and adders have all been relocated in a race against time before they hibernate at Crag End, Northumberland. In 2013, slow worms were discovered on the Crag End road slip site during EcoNorth’s ecological supervision of site investigation works to repair the road, by contractors on behalf of Northumberland County Council. An interesting find, given that slow worms are a protected species and are known to be locally rare in Northumberland, due to a lack of suitable habitats. This year, EcoNorth undertook a population estimate survey which revealed the number of slow worms onsite to be significant. This was needed to ensure that the impacts of the road repair works scheduled for 2015 would not harm the population and any other reptiles found on site. Once the designs were known in early September it became apparent that the slow worms would need to be moved before work could begin, and before they
Vegetation clearance as part of the reptile mitigation
ECONORTH
ECONORTH
ECONORTH
A pair of slow worms
management and fingertip searches for all reptiles. So far 13 slow worms, three common lizards and three adders have been successfully translocated to their new more attractive and secure homes. This translocation project requires the EcoNorth team to be out searching nearly every day up until end of October, a somewhat laborious task but one that has been most rewarding in seeing some of Northumberland’s fantastic reptiles.
went into hibernation from November onwards becoming virtually impossible to find. The race was on! EcoNorth identified parts of the site where the road repair works would have no impact upon and made them more attractive for slow worms and other reptiles by building hibernaculum; cosy places for reptiles to over winter in. Once built, the areas where slow worms were found were subjected to habitat
Adder for translocation
EcoNorth’s Survey Calendar Ecological work is seasonal, very seasonal. There are time limits on a whole host of species specific surveys and this can lead to project setbacks or hold-ups until such work can be carried out.
Jan Phase 1 Habitats
Feb
Bats
Apr
Sub-Optimal (Mosses & Lichens Only)
Badgers
Birds
Mar
Artificial Sett Building but NO Disturbance of Existing S Wintering
Breeding & Migrating
As Sep - Dec
Where B Limited
Hibernation Roosts Inspection Maternity Roost Works
Matern
Low Activity
Invertebrates Dingy Skipper
The good news is it doesn’t have to be like that. Contacting us early in the process prevents any shocks as we can plan any ecological work to be carried out all in good time.
Grayling Nest Searches
Dormice
Limited Limited Nut Searches
Otters
To be extra clear on what you need we have jazzed up our survey calendar so you can see yourself what can be undertaken and when. Save it, print it, memorise it (if you’re really keen), stick it up on your wall or wherevers handy so you have a good reference on when we can complete your work and therefore when to contact us.
Pine Martens
Water Voles
Al Work Permitted Initial Survey Habitat Works (Scale & Method Dependant) Sub-Optimal
Reptiles
Great Crested Newts Natterjack Toads
Red Squirrel
Scrub Clearance
Capture, Transloc Scrub Cleara Pond, Terrestrial Habitat &
Pond/Habitat Management
Pond & Land Tra
Pond Management Cone Searches
Transect Surveys
Tree Planting
No T
Happy Planning. Sub-Optimal
White-clawed Crayfish Other Aquatic Invertebrates
Habitat Works Sub-Optimal
Optimal
Pond Works For Coastal, Rive
Fish
Mitigation for Potection of Watercourses NO
For further information contact EcoNorth 0191 285 4412 0
enquiries@econorth.co.uk e
w www.econorth.co.uk
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Optimal
Nov
Dec
Sub-Optimal (Mosses & Lichens Only)
Sett & Activity Surveys. Optimal period Spring/Autumn
Setts
Sett Interference for Development Purposes (Under Licence) Breeding
As Jan - Jun
Breeding & Migrating
reeding Birds May Occur No Clearance
Wintering
Work Permitted (But Must Stop if Breeding Birds Found)
Summer Roost and Activitys
Limited
Hibernation Roosts Inspection
Transect Activity Surveys
nity Roost Works UP to mid-May. Hibernation Roost Works FROM mid-March.
Maternity Roost Works
Butterfly, Damselfly & Dragonfly (Timing Vary with Species)
Low Activity
Species Dependent Optimal Flight Period Optimal Flight Period Nest Searches Cage Traps & Hair Tube Nut Searches Limited
Clearance Works Most Effective Late Autumn - Early Spring
Mitigation Year Round BUT Avoid Disturbance of Breeding Otters
l Year But Optimal Spring/Summer. Breeding Den Surveys March to May. Work Permitted Activity & Field Sign Surveys
Initial Survey Habitat Works (Scale & Method Dependant)
Optimal
Sub-Optimal
cation & nce
Optimal
Capture, Translocation & Scrub Clearance
Scrub Clearance
Refuge Surveys
Sub-Optimal Scrub Clearance
Terrestrial Habitat & Refuge Surveys
apping
Land Trapping Only
Pond/Habitat Management
Breeding Surveys Land Trapping of Adults. Pond Trapping of Adults April-July.
Pond Management
Cone Searches & Sub-Optimal Transect Surveys
Transect Surveys
Tree Clearance Permitted Where Active Dreys Present
Cone Seaches
Tree Planting & Relocation
Torch Surveys
Optimal
Sub-Optimal
No Disturbance
Exclusion & Capture
Habitat Works
Sub-Optimal
Optimal
Timings Dependent on Species
Sub-Optimal
Pond Works
r & Stream Species Survey Timings Dependent Migration Pattern of Species Concerned
OT Seasonally Dependent. Mitigation for Specific Fish Species Need to be Timed to Avoid Their Breeding Season.
Survey
Sub-Optimal
Optimal
Mitigation
OLIVIA WINTER
Welcome to Olivia Olivia Winter (21) recently became the newest member of the team, being employed as a Trainee Assistant Ecologist, after a successful summer internship with the Company. Olivia offers part-time support with survey work and report writing, alongside studying for the final year of her BSc (Hons) Applied Biology degree at Northumbria University. As part of her degree studies, Olivia is currently writing a research paper on habitat suitability for great crested newts, looking into factors affecting newt populations, as well as assessing the usefulness of the habitat suitability index (HSI) as a tool. This work, in addition to previous
Assistant Ecologist Scott Mackenzie (23), won first prize in the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environment (CIEEM) Awards Undergraduate Project Category at an awards ceremony in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens this summer. Scott, from Rothbury in Northumberland and former pupil of, King Edward VI School in Morpeth, graduated from the University of Northumbria in July 2013 with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Management. As part of his degree course, Scott submitted an 11,000 word thesis on how insects and invertebrates, such as damselfly nymphs, living in a variety of streams, differ in terms of population and survival rates, with the data collated being used to demonstrate how land management can help improve water quality for humans and fish populations such as salmon and trout, which are caught locally. Scott’s thesis tutor, Dr Peter Glaves was so impressed by his work, he nominated him for the prestigious award. Just like Olivia, Scott joined the team in July 2013, initially on a summer internship, working hard to fine-tune his survey techniques and providing much needed administrative and GIS mapping support to the rest of his colleagues, but he proved to be such a worthwhile member of the team, that he was offered the role of Assistant Ecologist last year. Scott has since gone on to become an invaluable ecologist over a busy season where he has been surveying for newts, bats, badgers, squirrels, plants, habitats, otters and reptiles. Most recently, he has been advising EcoNorth’s range of clientele on how to protect key species and habitats to ensure the long term viability of the North East’s biodiversity.
ECONORTH
Scott scoops top award
experience surveying with great crested newts, has enabled Olivia to begin to apply for her class licence for this species as well as working towards having enough relevant experience to apply for a bat licence. During her summer internship, Olivia gained vast experience surveying for protected species such as bats, newts, otters and invertebrates; as well as developing the key report writing, data analysis and GIS skills that are essential to work in a successful consultancy such as EcoNorth. After excelling in her internship, Olivia was offered a parttime role within the team, to complement her ongoing studies. This employment utilises all the skills she developed during her internship, as well as giving her more responsibility and more direct input into projects. Olivia, originally from the village of Addingham in the Yorkshire Dales, studied at Skipton Girls’ High School before moving to the region to begin her university studies. Upon graduation in summer 2015, it is her intention to continue to pursue her career in ecological consultancy.
Most of the Save our Magnificent Meadow sites in Northumberland are in private ownership, but if you’d like to visit some of the grasslands on Trust reserves, then Williamston and Beltingham shingles have excellent examples of calaminarian grassland, with the Northumberland National Park Walltown Quarry hosting some fine examples of whin grassland.
Conservation
Kestrels: beautiful birds of prey needing support
BILL DOHERTY
Perhaps it had something to do with Ken Loach and Kes, a film that made me laugh and cry, based on Stan Barstow’s excellent novel “A Kestrel for a Knave”? It may be the fact that the bird epitomises a sense of freedom, but either way the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird I adore. Hanging motionless in the sky, they have the ability to keep their head absolutely still, even in windy conditions. Keen eyesight then ensures they can drop ontoprey - typically small mammals, birds and insects with pinpoint accuracy. Nests are usually old nests of other birds, but they also use ledges, building, boxes and tree holes. Sadly, over the course of the last 40 years, increasing pressures from agricultural intensification and changes in land use have contributed to a substantial decline in the size of the UK population and is listed as a species
of conservation concern across Europe. This decline appears to be less severe in Northumberland and they are still one of our commonest birds of prey, but for how long? It’s now easy to add your own observations to the dataset required to remain vigilant as the UK Kestrel Sighting Count www.kestrelcount.org aims to record sighting of wild Kestrels across the UK. Data obtained from this will help the Hawk Conservancy Trust identify those areas used by Kestrels and provide useful insights for the development of future scientific research projects. Records can also be submitted to the county bird recorder www.ntbc.org.uk or via ERIC (NE) www.ericnortheast.org.uk/recording-wildlife. Steve Lowe Head of Conservation Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Effortlessly at height hangs his still eye. The Hawk in the Rain, Ted Hughes (Poet Laureate: 1984 - 1998)
DAVE STEBBINGS
DAVE STEBBINGS
Butteries and Moths causing a utter
Small Tortioshell Butterfly
Dave Stebbings Butterfly Conservation
Red Admiral Butterfly
Silver-ground Carpet Moth DAVE STEBBINGS
DAVE STEBBINGS
Wall Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly
DAVE STEBBINGS
DAVE STEBBINGS
Ringlet Moths
The high summer months of July and August are the best time of year to see our butterflies and day-flying moths. More species are flying, and in greater numbers, than at any other time of the year. These insects only fly in sunshine so need good weather to mate and lay eggs; the long days of summer usually provide this. Many species, which have one generation each year, fly in July. Butterflies such as Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Small Skipper and Small Heath, and day-flying moths such as Six-spot Burnet, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Silver-Ground Carpet and Shaded Broadbar, all emerge as adults to fly in July, but what do we mean by one generation per year? Although the adults of these species may only live for up to ten days, they actually have a one year life cycle. They lay their eggs in summer, these then hatch into caterpillars and feed before the winter. The caterpillars hibernate for up to six months through the winter before becoming active again, to continue feeding the following spring. They complete their life cycle by pupating, before emerging as adults in the summer. There is another group of August flying butterflies which have two generations each year. These emerge from hibernation to fly in spring, mate and lay eggs. The caterpillars develop quickly through the summer to complete their life cycle and emerge as flying adults in August; so we see Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Small Copper, Wall and the Small, Large and Green-veined Whites twice a year, once in spring and again, in greater numbers, in late summer. Two other butterflies which are most commonly seen in August are our main migrant species, the Red Admiral and Painted Lady. These two species are powerful fliers and migrate from the Mediterranean region to Britain each spring. On arrival they lay eggs which develop through the summer and a new generation of adult butterflies emerges in August, often in spectacular numbers. These large and colourful butterflies are frequently seen in gardens, even in urban centres, and are especially attracted to Buddleia and other nectar rich flowers which provide them with the energy to make the return migration to their winter quarters around the Mediterranean.
DAVE STEBBINGS
DAVE STEBBINGS
Peacock Butterfly
Comma Butterfly
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 21
UK News
That could be the verdict on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s five year beaver reintroduction programme. We’ll know next year through coppicing trees, eating bark and leaves, and building dams. This can help other wetland species by improving habitat diversity, and perhaps reduce flood risk by improving an area’s water-holding capacity. However some landowners are concerned about damage. “There have been a few trees felled across forest tracks, but these can be easily cleared up,” says Simon. “In three surveys since 1998, between 73 and 84% of people who responded were in favour of reintroduction.” The Government has also allowed an unlicensed beaver population (probably started by animals from private collections) to remain in Tayside, east Scotland. A study of this group will also inform its decision. ■
www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-wedo/scottish-beaver-trial/
LAURIE CAMPBELL
It was the first official reintroduction trial in the UK. Five years on, beavers – a native British species until they were hunted to extinction in the 1500s – could return to the wild in Scotland. Four beaver families were released into 17 square miles of mixed forest and wetland in Knapdale, Argyll in 2009. “Three of the families bred, and all four built dams, though only one of those significantly expanded a body of water,” says Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Director of Conservation Simon Jones. Although SWT and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland managed the trial, Scottish National Heritage conducted the scientific study, which they will present to the Scottish Government in May 2015. A decision on the beavers’ fate is likely soon afterwards. The outcome is interesting because beavers have a unique ability to modify wetland habitats
SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST
Green light for beavers in Scotl
Other Wildlife Trust beaver proje Kent Wildlife Trust hosts the The Ham Fen Beaver Project which, since 2001, has used beavers to manage the last fen in Kent. They are kept in by 2.35 miles of fence. North Wales Wildlife Trust is considering adding beavers to a fenced reserve to improve the habitat diversity.
The beavers will remain at Knapdale at least until a Government decision next year
AROUND THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS HANTS
DERBYSHIRE
DURHAM
LEICS & RUT
BRECKNOCK
LANCS
‘Make a Wild Change’ is a new campaign by the trust to help parents and educators ensure that children have every chance to connect with local wildlife and spend time outdoors as they grow up. wtru.st/wildchange
The Trust has recorded a county first, after the successful breeding of a pair of lesser black-backed gull – a declining species – on its Carr Vale Nature Reserve near Bolsover. wtru.st/carrvalegulls
The Trust is taking over management of seven important wildlife sites from Gateshead Council. It is hoping to recruit local volunteers to manage them. Could you be one of them? More news at www.durhamwt.co.uk
In July HRH The Prince of Wales visited Rutland Water nature reserve to hear about a new Volunteer Training Centre being developed to foster heritage and countryside skills. wtru.st/HRHatrutland
2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Brecknock Wildlife Trust. The Trust is marking the milestone with a series of special events inc guided tours of its many beautiful reserves. wtru.st/breckevents
A project to restore the large heath butterfly to a moss in North Lancashire, after a disappearance for over 100 years, has already seen more than 50 of the butterflies flying around the peat bog. wtru.st/largeheath
22 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
Lat newsest UK-wid wildli and issu e fetrus es: news ts.org/
land?
Part of the site at Knapdale, where a beaver family’s dam flooded the forest and increased the size of a natural loch
Allowing nature’s return When I was a child an osprey broke its migration to feast on fish at Claremont near where I lived. Watching it just ten metres away was something I’ll never forget. I knew how rare it was and felt very lucky. I’ve since seen ospreys at Loch of the Lowes and in the Dyfi estuary. And I’ve been told that when in flight they will turn a fish forwards to improve aerodynamics. How impressive is that? Now, to my utter joy, I only have to venture a few tens of miles to Rutland Water to see ospreys. A great deal of visionary work to restore wildlife at a landscape scale is going on around The Wildlife Trusts. Most of this is about letting “nature gently reassert herself” as Lord Deben once put it. And this seems apt where we have gradually eroded the ability of our land to sustain life. Even where society has all but eliminated a species we would still prefer to encourage its gradual return, as with the otter, by readying its habitat. But every now and then, where the habitat is ready, an active reintroduction is called for. And the results can be awe inspiring. Such has been the impact of the dedicated people who have helped reintroduce the osprey to England and Wales, and are all set to return the beaver to Scotland. They are giving the next generation a chance few of us ever had: to see these awesome creatures in all their natural beauty.
ects Northumberland Wildlife Trust has done a feasibility study on reintroducing beavers. Radnorshire Wildlife Trust plans to introduce beavers to a fenced reserve when funds allow. Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust is considering an enclosed reintroduction to a 30ha former bog since used for forestry.
Devon Wildlife Trust is studying how beavers in a 2.8ha private compound are modifying their habitat. The results will be published in 2016. Wildlife Trusts Wales lead the Welsh Beaver Project, which could reintroduce beavers to the wild next year.
LONDON
RADNOR
STAFFS
SURREY
A network of ten reservoirs in Walthamstow is set to be transformed into Europe’s largest public urban wetland, close to the Olympic Park. The Trust will play a leading role in its development wtru.st/urbanwetland
Working with Llandrindod Wells Town Council, the Royal British Legion and others, the Trust planted wildflowers for WWI memorial events as a pollinator-friendly alternative to traditional bedding. www.rwtwales.org
The appeal to raise £30,000 to repair eroded paths on the iconic Staffordshire Roaches has now received over £10,000. The Trust is seeking further funds to ensure full restoration. wtru.st/roachespaths
Dame Judi Dench is the Trust’s new Patron, supporting the Nower Wood New Build Project which aims to secure the wood’s future as a unique site for outdoor learning. wtru.st/surreypatron
Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
There are 47 Wildlife Trusts. With more than 800,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving all the UK’s habitats and species. Contact us on mail@northwt.org.uk or 01636 677 711. To join your Wildlife Trust, visit www.nwt.org.uk/membership Natural World, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1WT. Editor Rupert Paul Communications manager Adam Cormack. Layout editor Phil Long twitter @wildlifetrusts www.facebook.com/wildlifetrusts
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 23
MATTHEW ROBERTS
UK News
Fix nature, help solve society’s problems With the election due next year, The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB are asking candidate MPs of all parties to support a Nature and Wellbeing Act. This new legislation would set a framework and targets for the recovery of nature in a generation, similar to recent legislation for climate change and reducing emissions. It would include the true value of nature in decisions about health, housing and other development, education, flood resilience and social cohesion. Steve Trotter, The Wildlife Trusts’ Director for England, says: “A healthy
natural environment is important in its own right. But it also underpins our health, wellbeing and economy. Obesity, diabetes and mental ill health are rising, but they can be avoided or reduced by better access to nature. There is an urgent need for a 21st century approach which enables nature to recover in every local community across the country”. There will be more on the Nature and Wellbeing Bill in the Spring issue. Meanwhile you can find out more and pledge your support at www.wildlifetrusts.org/election
The Bill would address our need to live near green space
ALEX MUSTARD
Meadows need friends
THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS
Wildflower meadows need drastic action or they will disappear forever, concluded a conference organised by The Wildlife Trusts, Plantlife and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. 97% of meadows vanished in the last century, and losses continue today. The conference produced a ten-point plan that encourages landowners to look after meadows, and give full protection to the few that remain. ■ www.wildlifetrusts.org/meadowsconf Now the race is on to establish MPAs for mobile species such as basking sharks
Scotland’s seas get 30 MPAs Following ten years of campaigning by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), The Scottish Government has created 30 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). They range from vast offshore areas to more familiar coastal zones and sea lochs. With effective management, and the support of marine users, they will safeguard seabed habitats, from deep sea corals and sponges to shallow kelp forests and seagrass beds.
“This is a huge leap forward,” says SWT’s Alex Kinninmonth. “Each new MPA forms part of a complex jigsaw that, when complete, will help turn the fortunes of our sea around.” SWT is now urging the Government to protect 18 more highly productive areas used by mobile species such as whales, dolphins, basking sharks and seabirds. Research by The Wildlife Trusts has already identified Scotland’s basking shark hotspots.
HRH The Prince of Wales speaking at the meadows conference
AROUND THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS TEES VALLEY
YORKS
WILTS
NOTTS
GLOS
ULSTER
With the support of a £24,000 HLF grant the Trust has started a new project encouraging young people to learn about the wildlife in and around the unspoilt valley of Hardwick Dene. wtru.st/deneyoungsters
A £498,000 boost from the Coastal Communities Fund, will help the Trust enhance nature tourism along the east coast, by helping to promote the area’s wonderful habitats and wildlife. wtru.st/coastfunds
A rare squash bug, commonly known as a box bug (named after its common food source), has been spotted on the Trust’s Conigre Mead nature reserve – a first sighting for the county. wtru.st/wiltsboxbug
The Trust is helping volunteers from Birklands Ringing Group to learn more about the endangered nightjar at Sherwood Forest. They hope to map the birds’ migration routes to Africa. wtru.st/nottsnightjars
At Greystones Farm the Trust is collaborating with local cheesemaker Simon Weaver. Milk from the reserve’s cattle is used to produce a Single Gloucester Cheese. wtru.st/ greystonescheese
The first phase of restoration work at Ballynahone Bog reserve (Northern Ireland’s second largest lowland raised bog) has been completed. This will help protect its unique wildlife. www.ulsterwildlife.org
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BCN WILDLIFE TRUST SAM STEWART
Caring for nature would be part of schooling
Welsh quarry reserve complete
STEVE TROTTER
Cemex UK has kindly donated the last 5ha of Marford Quarry to the North Wales Wildlife Trust, giving the Trust complete ownership of the 15ha site. The disused sand and gravel quarry near Wrexham is a SSSI with many rare invertebrates and plants. NWWT will now be in a better position to secure grant funding to help manage the reserve for wildlife and people.
Wildlife Trusts are demonstrating the effectiveness of badger vaccination
Vaccination helps tackle bTB Vaccinating badgers is more practical and cost-effective than culling them, say The Wildlife Trusts. Our Badger Vaccination report, published as the second year of culls began in Gloucestershire and Somerset, examines ten schemes over the past three years. It concludes that vaccination is practical, and that more people want to adopt it, but that other measures are needed too. “There is strong scientific evidence supporting vaccination,” says Paul
Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts. “However, addressing the disease in badgers makes, at best, a limited contribution. Cattle-to-cattle transmission is the most significant means of spread.” The report calls for a nationally coordinated and funded badger vaccination strategy; improved TB testing; better on-farm biosecurity; development of a cattle vaccine; stricter movement controls; and no cull. ■ wtru.st/vaccreport
Hen Harrier Day On 10 August almost 600 people gathered in the Peak District in pouring rain to protest against the illegal persecution of birds of prey. Supported by The Wildlife Trusts, the event was organised by wildlife campaigner Mark Avery and Birders Against Wildlife Crime. Research suggests there is enough habitat in England to support several hundred pairs of hen harriers. In 2013 there were no nests, and this year just four pairs successfully raised chicks. ■ www.wildlifetrusts.org/henharriers
KENT
GWENT
SUFFOLK
SHEFFIELD
ESSEX
WORCS
The Great Wilderness Down GrantScape Conservation Project is now complete, after restoring and creating 140 acres of chalk grassland, creating new wildlife corridors and twenty new ponds. wtru.st/greatwilderness
The Trust has been restoring precious wildflower meadows in Monmouthshire. “Projects like this enable us to help nature’s recovery,” says Conservation Manager Gemma Bodé. wtru.st/ monmouthmeadows
2013 was a bad year for barn owls but more than 70 chicks were recorded on the Trust’s reserves this year. With the Suffolk Ornithologists Group, the Trust has put up more nest boxes. wtru.st/barnowlbroods
The Trust is to carry out work to restore heathland habitats at Foxholes in the Rivelin Valley. The area is a crucial local habitat for priority species including nightjar, wood warbler and cuckoo. wtru.st/foxholeswork
Thanks to a successful appeal, the Trust has bought 33ha of land next to Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve to create new wetland. A small neighbouring woodland was also acquired. wtru.st/ fingringhoeextended
Youngsters from the the Trust’s Wyre Forest Wildlife Watch group have rediscovered the nationally rare violet web fungus at Wyre Forest during one of their monthly meetings. wtru.st/rarefungus
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 25
KARLI DRINKWATER
UK News
“I wasn’t sure about joining in – but this is brilliant!” Sheffield Wildlife Trust is one of many helping older people to rediscover the physical, mental and social benefits of being outdoors in nature. Karli Drinkwater reports
Jan’s just made a joke about elderflower smelling like cat wee, and has got the whole group chuckling along with her. The laughter may well be triggered by Jan’s riotous giggle itself. She clearly knows how to work a crowd. Jan Flamank runs the Wild At Heart project for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. The idea is to connect older people to nature – and each other. The sessions take place in woods, parks and green spaces, and help participants learn about wildlife and the natural world. For an older person who may have restricted mobility and memory loss, getting involved can simply mean a chance to get out and have a meaningful conversation. That might not sound much, but time spent in the natural environment
26 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
benefits us physically and emotionally, according to Natural England research. And studies by Age UK show that activities that bring older people together to mingle can create a better quality of life. At 101, Vera Gratwick is proof that the research is true: she says coming to the Wild At Heart get-togethers makes her feel free. “I love that it gets me out and I hope I can always get out. I’ve looked at dandelions, daisies and buttercups for years. But they’ve just been flowers; now I think about them more. And being out and talking to other people about flowers, birds and bees keeps me going.” Social isolation leading to poor health in older people is well documented and this project is all about reversing that trend. It flies a flag for an
oft-forgotten part of society, bringing people out of their homes for the first time in years, in some cases. Some need a walking stick, or an arm to lean on, but their hearts are young and their minds are inquisitive. Mary Gallagher is 81 and comes for the tea and biscuits as much as the bees and the butterflies. Sporting floral-patterned nails with stuck-on gems, she epitomises the Wild At Heart member. “I wasn’t sure about joining in, but this is so easy. You get picked up and dropped off, so I don’t worry about having to walk too far. And when you’re here, it’s brilliant.” It’s easy to see why Jan is such a hit. You instantly warm to her quirky style and unmistakable laugh. She patently enjoys being with those
How other Wildlife Trusts bring nature to older people CLAIRE WYLDE
Mary Gallagher (left) and her friend Kitty Fiddler at Sheffield Manor Lodge, an ancient site whose gardens and wildflower meadows are being restored
Roy York describes how the school children used to use Ring Res, a circular reservoir in Irthlingborough
Memories of the New Valley, Beds, Cambs, N’hants WT HLF-funded interviews to capture memories of outdoor play, wildlife, and quarrying at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve, resulting in a film and booklet. Growing Together, Ulster Wildlife Brought together a senior audience and primary school children to talk about once common experiences and beliefs with wildflowers and meadows.
A View to the Future, Herts & Middx WT Improving older people’s health and wellbeing through access to local reserves.
Fox Club volunteers, Cornwall WT Training older volunteers to run the Trust’s ‘Fox Club’ events for children.
Potted History, London WT Wildlife gardening and reminiscence to combat social isolation and poor mental health.
Central Scotland Volunteer Project, Scottish WT Volunteering for retired people from disadvantaged communities to improve health through exercise, access to nature and a social group.
Feed Folly, Avon WT Community gardening with Age UK to improve health, friendships, confidence, cookery and nutrition.
Many more examples on www.wildlifetrusts.org/ health ■
It takes us back. We used to go walking in Derbyshire for miles when we were younger Infectious laughter: Jan Flamank is the ideal Wild at Heart guide
taking part as much as they love listening to her. “It’s immensely rewarding to lead these sessions. The job is joyous and we have so much fun. We laugh an awful lot! “Introducing mature people to nature and sharing ideas, taking people out in a way that’s safe and comfortable, is the thinking behind Wild At Heart. I’ve been focusing on people who live in sheltered housing, because they’re often people who have extra needs. They may be isolated or dealing with long-term health issues and I hope to introduce something new into their lives.” The trips might not be as go-getting as in years gone by, but just being part of the natural world gets them reminiscing and smiling. June Jones, 83, comes with her husband Thomas, 91. Visiting
Ecclesall Woods in Sheffield makes her feel like a teenager again. “It takes us back. We used to go walking for miles in Derbyshire. We don’t get up there now, but doing a bit of walking with these groups reminds us of those times.” Being outdoors and enjoying the sunshine, sitting under a tree or listening to the buzz of a bee is helping everyone to open up. They’ve lived long and have stories to share – but will tell you they still have so much to learn. ■
Wild At Heart: www.wildsheffield.com
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 27
UK News
Offshore treasures
The UK’s last wilderness is at risk from damaging activities. Please join our campaign to save it Out of sight, out of mind. It’s been an apt description for some of our richest offshore areas. But these extraordinary habitats and their wildlife are the UK’s last true wilderness, and it’s about time we protected them. The UK sits on the western edge of the European continental shelf, in many places not far from the deep ocean. Our offshore waters are home to a huge variety of plant and animal life. Last year a handful of offshore sites around England and Wales were designated as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). More recently Scotland gained 30 Marine Protected Areas (see p24). But more are needed if our seas are to recover from decades of over-exploitation. Research by the regional Marine Conservation Zone Projects has identified 13 offshore sites worthy of protection from damaging activities. Currently unprotected, they are part of a proposed network of 37 potential MCZs (the others are inshore) which Government will consider early in 2015. ■ Please show your support for these offshore sites to become MCZs next year. Sign up today to become a Friend of Marine Conservation Zones – and help safeguard the UK’s last true wilderness. www.wildlifetrusts.org/MCZfriends
The 13 offshore sites 13
1
12
2
3 4
12
Compass Rose
Dominated by the hard rocky ground known as ‘Heartbreak Ridge’, Compass Rose provides spawning and nursery grounds for sandeels, and for commercial species including herring, plaice, sole and sprat. It is an important feeding ground for dolphins and seals.
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6 7 8
11
9 10
ILLUSTRATION: LYNNE HENDERSON
1. South Rigg 2. Slieve na Griddle 3. North St George’s Channel 4. Mid St George’s Channel 5. East of Celtic Deep 6. Celtic Deep 7. South of Celtic Deep 8. Greater Haig Fras 9. North West of Jones Bank 10. Western Channel 11. Offshore Brighton 12. Compass Rose 13. Fulmar
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Offshore Brighton
This area is rich in biogenic reefs – rocky structures made by Ross worms – and diverse gravel communities graced by dahlia anemones. These habitats provide a hunting ground for a wide range of species, including thornback and undulate rays.
6
Celtic Deep
Here frontal systems caused by warm and cool waters coming together provide an abundance of copepods, essential food for the gigantic basking shark. The copepods also attract smaller fish, and thus become a draw for whales, dolphins, porpoises and other sharks. One of the largest known gatherings of fin whales (a species which grows up to 90 feet) was observed within Celtic Deep.
1
South Rigg
This place has a deep, muddy seafloor carpeted with invertebrates. Among them are white striped anemones the colour of fried eggs, brittlestars which look like skeletal starfish, slender sea pens which jut up like feathers, heart urchins like bristly bedroom slippers and ocean quahogs – a kind of small clam
Who’s the daddy?
TIM MACKRILL
UK News
The return of ospreys to England and Wales is now a runaway success. And, as Tim Mackrill reports, one bird had more to do with it than any other If you were to be transported back to the days of Shakespeare, with a pair of binoculars at hand, you would have seen one of the UK’s most wellknown and much-loved birds of prey just about anywhere in England and Wales. Shakespeare uses the osprey’s fishing prowess as a metaphor in The Tragedy of Coriolanus, knowing that most people who went to see his plays at that time would have been familiar with this most spectacular of fish-eating birds: He’ll be to Rome As is the osprey to the fish Who takes it by sovereignty of nature This and various historical documents indicate that ospreys were a common sight throughout much of southern Britain in the 1500s and 1600s. Fast forward a few centuries, though, and the osprey’s liking for fish had got it into trouble. Decades of persecution were taking its toll and by the late 1840s the only ospreys left in the UK were in Scotland. Fortunately we now live in more enlightened times and the osprey is making a comeback. Stroll beside a reservoir in central England or an estuary in Wales and you might well be treated to the sight that Shakespeare refers to. So what’s behind the return of the osprey to southern parts? Let’s go back to 1997. It is mid-July and eight young ospreys have just arrived at Rutland Water. 30 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
Having been collected under special licence from nests in North-East Scotland by world-renowned osprey expert Roy Dennis, they had been driven 450 miles south to England’s smallest county. The birds were placed in specially-designed release pens and left to settle in to their new home. At six weeks old they were still a fortnight away from their first flight, and the pens would help them become acclimatised to their new surrounds before they were released. Each bird was fitted with a coloured ring to enable the team at Rutland Water to monitor their progress. It was part of a pioneering project that aimed to restore ospreys to England for the first time in over 150 years. A year earlier the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and Rutland Water’s owners, Anglian Water, had been granted a licence to translocate a small number of ospreys from the annually-increasing Scottish population to the reservoir in central England. Research in Scotland and elsewhere had shown that ospreys are highly site-faithful and so it was hoped that the translocated birds would recognise Rutland as home and return in future years to breed. In all a total of 64 young Scottish ospreys were relocated to the reservoir between 1996 and 2001. We didn’t know it at the time, but of the eight birds who arrived at Rutland Water in July 1997 there was one who would go on to have a profound effect on the future of ospreys in both England and Wales.
Tim Mackrill Is Senior Reserve Officer at Rutland Water Nature Reserve Leics & Rutland Wildlife Trust
The majestic 03(97), also known as ‘Mr Rutland’, poses with a recently deceased trout at Rutland water in August 2007. His genes have spread into most of the ospreys in England and Wales
UK News 03(97) – 03 being the bird’s ring number and 1997 the year of release – made his first flight just after 8pm on 27th July. He made a short but surprisingly competent two-minute flight before landing on a nearby dead tree. He spent the next six weeks growing in confidence and getting to know his adopted home. Then, 40 days after that first flight, he set off south on the perilous 3,000 mile journey to West Africa. He would have to negotiate at least two crossings of the Sahara before we stood a chance of seeing him again. Seventeen years later I’m standing at 03(97)’s nest close to Rutland Water as he flies in with a trout for his two newly-fledged juveniles. This year’s offspring – a male and a female – are the 31st and 32nd chicks he has fathered. Yes, you read that right. Over the past 14 years 03(97) – or Mr Rutland as he is nicknamed – has raised a total of 32 chicks at a nest that he built in the top of an oak tree in the summer of 2000. He bred successfully for the first time in 2001 and hasn’t looked back since. He’s reared young with three different females – including 14 with his latest unringed mate – all at the same nest in the top of the oak tree. It is a suitably regal setting for the most important osprey in the Rutland colony. Mortality among young ospreys is usually very high; as many as 70% of young birds fail to survive the first two years of their life. And yet 40% of 03(97)’s offspring who are old enough to have returned to the UK have made it back. Those 11 birds have, in turn, reared a total of 43
Three generations of 03(97) “Mr Rutland” Orange: translocated birds Blue: returned to Rutland as adults Black: birds from elsewhere Green: fledged, whereabouts unknown
♂
♀
03 (97)
05 (00)
Birds at the Dyfi Osprey Project
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Maya
♀
29 (10)
♂
30 (10)
♀
♂
32 ROEBUCK 134 November 2014 - March 2015
♀
Monty
♀
1R (13)
12 (10)
♀
2R (13)
♂
08 (97)
SN (04)
31 (10)
This family tree shows a small selection of Mr Rutland’s offspring
♂
♀
♂
SR (04)
AW (06)
♂
11 (10)
♀
3K (13)
♀
25 (10)
♀
4K (13)
♀
MR
♀
24 (10)
♀
5K (13)
♂
23 (10)
01(97) and family in 2008, at the nest where he has bred successfully every year since 2001
30(05) at her wintering site in Senegal
A 3,000 mile commute
chicks between them, and, to date, four of those 43 have gone on to breed successfully. So aside from being a grandfather 43 times over, 03(97) is also a great grandfather to 15 young ospreys. This dynasty has ensured that there have been plenty of ospreys to populate the growing Rutland colony. This year’s five successful nests mean that a total of 87 young ospreys have fledged from nests in the area since 03(97) reared the first chick in 2001. It would be fitting if ‘Mr Rutland’ returns to rear the 100th chick next summer. In many ways, however, the Mr Rutland nickname is a bit of a misnomer. It suggests that his legacy is confined to England’s smallest county, but it goes a lot further than that. In 2011 ospreys returned to breed on the Dyfi Estuary in mid-Wales for the first time in four centuries. The nest, on Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s Cors Dyfi Reserve, attracted the attention of the world through the BBC Springwatch cameras. Although the male was unringed, a white ring on the female’s right leg showed that she had fledged from 03(97)’s nest three years previously, in 2008. 03(08) – or Nora as she became known – raised four chicks over two successful summers
Each year the UK’s ospreys undertake a remarkable 3,000 mile migration to West Africa. Leaving their nests in late August or early September, they head across the Channel to France. Some fly right across the Bay of Biscay to Northern Spain; others follow France’s Atlantic coast. A few birds winter in Spain and Portugal, but most make the short hop over to Morocco. They skirt around the imposing Atlas Mountains before embarking on an arduous three or four day crossing of the Sahara. They end up wintering anywhere from Southern Mauritania to the Ivory Coast. Satellite tracking studies show that adult birds are faithful to the same wintering site each year. In contrast, juveniles wander widely when they first arrive in sub-Saharan Africa. These young birds remain in West Africa for over 18 months before returning to the UK for the first time as two year-olds. In 2013 one of 03(97)’s offspring, 30(05), flew just over 3,000 miles in 11 days before settling to winter on the Senegal coast midway between Dakar and St Louis.
This year’s five successful nests mean that 87 ospreys have fledged from nests in Rutland on the Dyfi. When she failed to return in 2013 her place was taken by 03(97)’s granddaughter, 12(10). The nest on the Dyfi has become highly sought-after and 12(10) has had to fight off the aggressive advances of her cousin, 24(10) – another of 03(97)’s granddaughters – to keep hold of the nest. Events on the Dyfi not only show how the Rutland translocation has completely changed the distribution map of ospreys in the UK, but how one bird in particular has been integral to the spread of ospreys through southern Britain.
Who would have thought that 17 years ago, on a balmy evening in Rutland, an osprey making its maiden flight would go on to have such a profound and lasting legacy on the osprey populations of England and Wales?
November 2014 - March 2015 ROEBUCK 134 33
UK News
Challenging walks Sometimes nothing will do but a gigantic yomp in the outdoors. Here are ten leg-burning ways to do it – each of them set in reserves offering beautiful scenery
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Ben Mor Coigach Scottish Wildlife Trust
Dominating the landscape north of Ullapool, Ben Mor Coigach is The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s largest reserve and part of the Coigach-Assynt Living Landscape. The 6,000 hectare site is a wild place, from its summit to the north west coast. Species include Atlantic salmon, wildcat, pine marten, eider, shag, black guillemot and common juniper. The six-mile Postie’s Path delivers spectacular coastal views. Where is it? Ten miles north of Ullapool. Grid NC075065, OS Map 15
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Whitelee Moor Northumberland Wildlife Trust
The high ground here is blanket bog and heathland, so this 1,510ha site is home to plants such as sphagnum mosses, bog asphodel and cotton grasses. On the lower slopes you may see merlin and buzzard, with adder, common lizard and palmate newt in spring and summer. A walk round the whole site takes eight hours. Where is it? Immediately W of the A68 on the Scottish/ English border. Grid NT700040
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Hutton Roof Crags Nature Reserve Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Come here to see some of the best areas of limestone pavement in Britain, and the specialist plants and animals which it supports. The limestone is mixed with woodland, scrub, grassland and heath. In summer look out for the silky blue flowers of blue moor grass on the
Ben Mor Coigach beckons in North West Scotland: more than enough to walk off the most indulgent Sunday lunch
thinnest soil. In late summer you may see the striking dark red helleborine and fly orchid. Resident birds include nuthatch, greater spotted woodpecker and woodcock, and brimstone and green hairstreak butterflies in spring. Where is it? 1 mile NE of Burton in Kendal, just off the A 6070. Grid SD548776
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Hedleyhope Fell Durham Wildlife Trust
One of the largest mid-altitude heathlands in the county, Hedleyhope Fell is a very wild and remote place to take a walk. The three-mile route is well signposted and offers a good chance for you to see up to five species of owl. The heather in autumn is magnificent. Where is it? E of Tow Law off B6301. OS map 207, Grid NZ149414, postcode DH79ET
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Spurn National Nature Reserve Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Not for the faint-hearted: a three-mile sandy spit with the Humber estuary on one side and the North Sea on the other. Make it all the way to the end and you can return over the dunes to appreciate the differences between the coastal and estuarine habitats. You must take note of tide
times, to cross the sandy strip in plenty of time. There’s also new wetland created at nearby Kilnsea Wetlands reserve, just north of Spurn. Look for golden plover, lapwing, merlin, hen harrier and Brent geese in winter. Where is it? Spurn Head, south of Kilnsea, Hull HU12 0UH. Grid TA419149.
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Cefn Cenarth Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
A remote upland oak woodland dripping with mosses and lichens, and great for pied flycatcher and redstart in spring. The reserve’s north and south sections are connected by a recently felled conifer plantation which is now being restored to oak woodland. The rich mossy land supports a wealth of colourful invertebrates including the brassy ground beetle and green oak tortrix moth. You can walk to the reserve from Pant-y-Dwr. Where is it? B4518 from Rhayader to St. Harmon. First L after Inn in Pant-y-Dwr, 1.3 miles then forest track. Grid SN966762.
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Cheddar Complex Nature Reserve Somerset Wildlife Trust
A chance to explore the desolate beauty of the Mendip Hills, the Cheddar Complex is made up of three Trust reserves: Velvet Bottom, Black Rock and Long Wood. The wild landscape is criss-crossed with traditional stone walls and offers panoramic views across the Levels and Moors. There are caves too, and the famous Cheddar Gorge is nearby. Where is it? Either side of B3135, 1.2miles NE of Cheddar. The National Cycle Network route is a mile to the E. Black Rock Grid ST 483 544.
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Catherton Common Shropshire Wildlife Trust
A sweeping heathland landscape with big skies. Subtle shades of tawny, gold and russet brown reaveal a marvellous diversity of life quite different from the bright green, intensively managed grassland in nearby fields. From late summer into autumn listen for the chirping of bog bush crickets, the singing of skylarks and the piping calls of meadow pipits. Linnets and yellowhammers are often here too. To extend your walk further, continue onto Cramer Gutter, another Shropshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. It’s a flower-rich meadow which has marsh gentians in late summer. Where is it? In the Clee Hills, off A4117 NW of Cleobury Mortimer DY140HP. Grid SO622778.
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Malling Down Sussex Wildlife Trust
Stand almost anywhere in Lewes and Malling Down dominates the view to the east, its chalk hills towering up and overlooking the town. It really is worth the climb to the top for the view that takes in the town, the wet meadows surrounding the River Ouse, the South Downs and the Low Weald. In summer look for the very rare silver-spotted skipper that has started breeding here. Where is it? You can walk from Lewes town centre. Postcode BN8 5AA, grid TQ423112.
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Helman Tor Cornwall Wildlife Trust
The Trust’s largest inland nature reserve. Centuries of tin mining have created a landscape of hummocks and hollows, and a patchwork of wet and dry heathland, acid grassland, willow and oak woodland and numerous ponds. All of these habitats are linked by the Wildnerness Trail – a five mile circuit that is brought alive in summer with birdsong and sundews among the sphagnum mosses. On warm days the pools are brimmed with dragonflies and damselflies, while in autumn the heathland is ablaze with colour. Where is it? 2.5 miles S of Bodmin. From A30/A391 roundabout N to Lanivet, first R, first L. OS map 107. Grid SX062615.
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FIND MORE SITES LIKE THESE AT WWW.WILDLIFETRUSTS.ORG/ CHALLENGING-WALKS
Before you go The weather can change quickly on high ground, so equip yourself with the right clothing, supplies and experience. For public transport options visit the local Trust website via www.wildlifetrusts.org
photo Alex Lister
Northumberland Wildlife Trust and People’s Postcode Lottery
Danny Morris, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Weekend Warden and the Hauxley Volunteer Group install fencing to stop the protected great crested newts wandering into danger.
“Support from People’s Postcode Lottery allows us to conserve the Region’s natural beauty in this ever-changing world”
Conrad Dickinson, Polar Explorer and Patron of Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Supported by players of
Over the past seven years, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, £669,940 has been raised for Northumberland Wildlife Trust. By playing you support hundreds of good causes. Find out more at www.postcodelottery.co.uk People’s Postcode Lottery manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different charities including Postcode Green Trust, a charity registered in Scotland (SC042544) and regulated by the Gambling Commission under licences 000-030268-R-311787-004 and 000-030268-N-311788-003. For details on each week’s society lottery visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/society Ticket price £2, with 5 draws each month and minimum £10 payable in advance. For a full list of prizes available visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes Maximum ticket prize is 10% of draw proceeds up to £400,000. Players must be 16 years or over. Only available to play with postcodes in England, Scotland and Wales. Not available in NI. Conditions apply. See www.postcodelottery.co.uk Postcode Lottery Ltd is regulated by the Gambling Commission under licences 000-000829-N-102511-009 and 000-000829-R-102513-008. Registered office: Postcode Lottery Ltd, Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR. Company reg. no. 04862732. VAT reg. no. 848 3165 07.