Northumberland Wildlife Trust - Roebuck 147

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The Wildlife Trust Magazine for Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland

Issue 147 March - July 2019

Benshaw Moor Help secure a haven for wildlife!

Catch my Drift Exciting times for East Chevington

Precious Peat

More important than you might think plus news from around the UK

30 Days Wild

Have you signed up yet?

The HandleBards

Creating a tempest at Northumberlandia

10 Wild Things To experience at Kielder

Contents Reds stand up to be counted

4

Support pledged for crayfish

4

Benshaw Moor Appeal launched

5

Another great year for Coast Care

6

Cotswold Outdoor supporters’ offer

7

A home for hedgehogs

8

Do you ‘Catch my Drift’?

10

steven morris

Local news

Corporates Corporate listings

11

10

Funding Cash boost for Kielderhead Wildwood

12 12

Brave recruiter dips in

13

simon greener

‘Hide and Seek’ at Druridge Pools

Do you ‘Catch my Drift’?

Reserves & volunteers Spruce-up for Northumberlandia

14

Grazers need you

14

Another award for Hauxley

15

15

Conservation Find out more about precious peat

16-17 18-19

Birds, birds, birds!

20-21

UK news Environment bill update

For peat’s sake Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Kielder: alive and kicking

16-17

Hauxley updates

22-23

Secrets of geese revealed

24

Young people head to Westminster

24

HS2 ploughs through woodlands

25

No border control for butterflies

26-29

The house that Jack built

30-31

Join the ‘Wilder Future’ campaign

32-33

Orchids galore

34-35

Patrons: Conrad Dickinson, Bill Oddie & Chris Packham President: Chris Mullin Vice Presidents: Charles Baker-Cresswell & Angus Lunn Chairperson: Sandra King Vice Chairperson: Ian Armstrong & Graham Gill Honorary Secretary: Ailsa Dobson Treasurer: Derek Coates

20-21 Beautiful birds

22-23 Environment bill

Chief Executive: Mike Pratt Head of Living Landscapes and Conservation: Duncan Hutt Head of Marketing and Fundraising: Sheila Sharp EcoNorth Managing Director: Vicki Mordue

Find us on: NorthumberlandWT @NorthWildlife NorthWildlife

Chief Executive’s comments

jacky seery

Steven lipscombe

When politics matters

12

Tim mason jennifer care

Geoff Dobbins

Ready, steady, plant!

Times are confusing it seems, and nothing in life is certain and we should always expect change, but things in the politicaleconomic realm are so unstable and unpredictable that no one knows how things will pan out in the Post-Brexit world. A no-deal scenario will threaten much of the protection we have in place via the EU for a range of habitats and species, such as the specially protected landscapes at Whitelee and the Border Mires, and important marine species such as the porpoise. This could potentially threaten to plunge us back to the poorly protected days of the 1970’s, at least until we untangle it all.

Whitlee Moor

Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd Garden House, St Nicholas Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

NE3 3XT Tel: (0191) 284 6884 Fax: (0191) 284 6794 Web: nwt.org.uk

This is unlikely but still possible, and it is the uncertainty and lack of confidence invoked by all of this that is already affecting wildlife and conservation efforts. Lack of certainty in the economy is making people less likely to donate or join us and there is more competition for funding.

Nevertheless, the main danger is not that legislation will cease to protect nature, or that the economy will dive to a point where all charities and wildlife schemes will be affected to differing degrees. No, this is not it at all; the main problem is that while everyone is arguing about Brexit, not enough political focus or energy is going into anything else, and the environment is in danger of slipping off the agenda.

The real issue for humankind generally is that while all this is going on, the state

Registered Charity No: 221819 Registered Company No: 717813 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 556 103264 Roebuck Editor: Fiona Dryden Roebuck Designer: Richard Clark Thank you to all contributors. online version available

of nature is in rapid decline and climate change is increasing, to the detriment of our natural systems. Numbers of insects could be halved and soils irreparably damaged in 50 years, threatening our food production and our very existence, so dependent are we on nature for our health and wellbeing.

To its credit, the Government has a 25-year plan for the Environment and Michael Gove as Environment Minister has been tireless and innovative in his support for conservation so far. Mrs May has even promised a new all-embracing and strong Environment Bill to come forward this summer and to set up a new environmental watchdog, all of which is good. However, all of it seems to get lost as soon as Brexit is mentioned, in a cloud of literally ‘rapidly warming air’. We need action not warm words and commitment to follow it through.

I have been meeting with MPs, as have many of you, (please do continue to talk and write to your MPs) and impressing all of this upon them.

Our big ask is, as a requirement of the new Bill, to have Nature Recovery Network Maps to ensure development happens in the right place and the right sorts of connected nature space is planned and created in the future.

Without this legislation will have no meaning on the ground.

The question is will we be heard amongst all the talk about the EU situation. How long will it take for things to settle down and we can address the bigger issues of climate? But one thing is for certain, we will, with your continuing support, stand up for nature in these challenging times and never stop reminding people, politicians included that, it’s not just ‘about the economy stupid’ and neither is it all about the ‘B’ word, it’s actually all about nature!

Mike Pratt Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive @Mike_Pratt_NWT

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is a member of the largest voluntary organisation 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: Short-eared owl © Danny Green/2020VISION All other photos © NWT unless otherwise stated

Roebuck is printed on

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Local news

Reds standing up to be counted

One of the biggest citizen science efforts in mammal conservation in the UK has shown red squirrel populations across northern England are stable and it is all thanks to over 30 community red squirrel groups working tirelessly to protect the red squirrels on their doorstep.

Over 160 people, mostly volunteers, completed the annual monitoring programme - the seventh consecutive year of the monitoring programme, led by the Trust’s Red Squirrels Northern England, to create an exciting picture of our native red squirrels’ geographical range in northern England.

The surveys take place in ‘red squirrel counties’ across northern England, where wild red squirrels can still be found: in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and parts of County Durham.

Repeating the surveys, the same time and at the same place year after year provides an indication of how reds are doing across the red squirrel range.

Results show that red squirrels are still widely distributed across six counties in northern England, with red squirrels found in 42% of survey sites and grey squirrels in 48%.

Grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and carry a fatal squirrelpox virus, which they are immune to, but when reds catch it, 99% die within two weeks.

In addition to the surveys, over 300 people sent in records of red squirrel sightings between March and May 2018, showing that reds were present in 350 2x2km squares and highlighting places where they were not seen during surveys.

The full report, ‘2018 Annual Squirrel Monitoring Programme Results’, can be found online at rsne.org.uk/squirrelmonitoring-programme.

Working to protect endangered crayfish The Trust, working with partners across Northumberland including Environment Agency and the Tyne Rivers and Northumberland Rivers Trust, has developed and pledged to support a new strategy to help protect the county’s endangered white-clawed crayfish.

Of particular importance is good ‘biosecurity’ when moving between river systems or even to points elsewhere on the same river system. The rise of non-native crayfish species has caused numerous problems for our native species, not least in the spread of crayfish plague - a water mould that infects crayfish causing death within a few weeks of being infected.

Care with cleaning equipment such as fishing gear, boots etc. can make a huge difference in protecting our native crayfish which have a number of important populations still thriving across the county.

The strategy also looks to acquire better data on native and non-native ranges and to implement more physical protection measures where these are appropriate.

4 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Northumberlandia

Blagdon Lane, NE23 8AU Tuesday 22nd August 18:30 - 21:30 (doors 17:00)

Tickets

Adults - £16 (on the door - £18) Under 10s - Free (with paying adult)

‘Early Bird’ tickets are available for £14 while stocks last. Visit nwt.org.uk/handlebards for more info and booking.

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B ird s

Curlew

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Bro wn hare

Insects

til lar ies

Ma

ea fri rl-b ordered

P l a n ts

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Bogbean

Adder

We need you to help secure 258 vital hectares of Northumberland as a haven for wildlife Please support our £135,000 Benshaw Moor Appeal This doesn’t happen very often! An amazing piece of land has become available for purchase and would make a wonderful nature reserve. We are already over 80% of the way to securing this important piece of remote and wild upland habitat but need your help to find the missing bit. Benshaw Moor lies in the Rede Valley, near Elsdon in Northumberland and includes blanket bog, grassland and heathland – all important landscapes nationally.

Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, legacies, charitable trusts and businesses - we have already raised an unprecedented £575,000 towards buying this land and its initial management costs. We are inviting you to donate and join this very special group of people who care deeply about the future of wildlife and the beautiful county of Northumberland.

Your donation is essential today as we must raise the final £135,000 before 29 April if we are to successfully secure this corner of Northumberland for wildlife and posterity.

Every £1 you give will unlock

£6

towards a new nature reserve

£700,000 £600,000 £500,000 £400,000 £300,000

You make the difference to unlocking the funding

£200,000 £100,000

3 Ways to Donate Go on-line at nwt.org.uk/benshaw-moor-appeal Call (0191) 284 6884 Complete the ‘target your donation form’ on the back of the letter accompanying this mailer and send it back to us

Thank you

Images: Hare - David Tipling/2020VISION, Curlew - Terry Whittaker/2020VISION, Butterflies - Tom Marshall, Bogbean - Guy Edwardes/2020VISION, Adder - Neil Aldridge, Newt - Philip Precey, Benshaw Moor Duncan Hutt, Short-eared owl - Danny Green/2020VISION

Local news

r cain scrimgeou

Coast Care, the volunteering initiative, designed to protect an area of the Northumberland coastline from Berwick upon Tweed to Amble, has reached its half way mark and is continuing to achieve fantastic results.

Since the start of 2017, over 750 people have actively volunteered with the initiative, amounting to an 11,480 hours being dedicated across the various roles on offer, with the role of site warden providing especially popular with 49 volunteers actively looking after their part of the coastline - equating to 3,500 hours.

However, despite what many may think, Coast Care is not just about beach cleans.

A fantastic project towards the end of 2018 involved the team working with Longhoughton Parish Council on the management of its coastal wildflower meadow at Boulmer.

Over 100 hours were cumulatively dedicated by volunteers who cleared cut grass and planted new wildflower seeds.

The volunteers are looking forward to seeing their results this spring (2019) and will be further assisting the Parish Council as it continues to encourage this area to thrive.

Volunteers have also been assisting Alnmouth Burgage Holders in the management and conservation of

6 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Becky Waring

No rest for Coast Care team Staff from Environment Agency’s Waste North team volunteering at Alnmouth

Alnmouth Common. The group has been assisting with practical maintenance tasks such as invasive species removal, planting native plants and wildflowers and installing a new pathway to improve accessibility to the village.

Included in this project was a Coast Care led corporate volunteering day with staff from the Environment Agency’s Waste North team who removed overgrown ivy from a section of the common to improve accessibility for walkers and encourage the growth of native wildflowers.

Elsewhere, on the coastline, the Coast Care Young Rangers, who are aged between 13-1 7 years, have been busy helping with a brand new task - the removal of gorse from Whin Sill at Kippy Heugh. Working with Jane Smith and Kristian Purchase, the youngsters are working with the landowner to expose the Whin Sill to enable and encourage rare grasses and flowers to grow as well

as gaining qualifications and learning new skills.

Coast Care is funded by players of the National Lottery through a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Volunteers play an important role in the protection and management of the beautiful Northumberland coastline. If you would like to help to conserve this area, visit coast-care.co.uk.

Local girl goes national As part of The Wildlife Trusts’ Parliamentary Reception last November where it lobbied MPs for a new Environment Bill (see page 24), a leaflet was produced for featuring 8 people who had appeared in individual trust recent ‘My Wild Life’ campaign material.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust supporter Georgina Moroney who was 16 at the time she was photographed for our campaign material, appeared in the leaflet.

With over 60 MPs attending the event and picking up a leaflet, it is great that our name had such prominence supporting such an important issue.

Local news richard clark

School pupils give hedgehogs a home

Northumberland Wildlife Trust garden group volunteers, Derek Statton and Joe Christie install the hedgehog box

A group of pupils from Newcastle Bridges School were very busy at the start of the year ensuring hedgehogs in the grounds of our St Nicholas Park reserve in Gosforth had somewhere to shelter this winter.

Led by teacher David Pearce, the school purchased wood and the pupils followed instructions to turn them into hedgehog boxes, which were then donated to the Trust and installed by members of the volunteer gardening group… just in time for the cold weather starting.

Pupils at the Gosforth based school are no strangers to the work of the Trust, paying regular visits to our St Nicholas Park reserve throughout the year and

last autumn (2018), they donated 12 wooden reindeer crafted from small branches, collected on their walks, which were sold at Northumberlandia’s Christmas Market in December.

It is great to see young people engaging with wildlife and doing what they can to help. Their kindness is much appreciated and their donating the hedgehog boxes and wooden reindeer to the Trust means that our valuable funds can be spent elsewhere within the organisation.

Book review: The natural history of Upper Teesdale (5th edn) Edited by Steve Gater Durham Wildlife Trust, 2018 Mosaic Design and Print, Middleton-in-Teesdale When Northumberland Wildlife Trust began in 1962 it was the Northumberland and Durham Naturalists’ Trust which split into three trusts in 1971: Northumberland, Durham and Tees Valley.

A main conservation issue of the joint organisation in the 1960s was the proposal to build a reservoir at Cow Green in Upper Teesdale, which was strongly opposed, but without success, on the grounds of the loss under water of an important part of the area’s unique vegetation, containing many rare plants.

Upper Teesdale is one of the most important areas in Britain for plants and vegetation, and for geology and animal species.

A first edition of this book was published in 1965, and since then much research on the area has been carried out, partly funded by ICI that was expected to be a major beneficiary of the reservoir. This new National Lottery 8 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Heritage funded edition, published by Durham Wildlife Trust, is fully revised and updated.

The chapter on Bedrock geology by Brian Young is exemplary, and while using modern stratigraphic names usefully reminds us of their older and perhaps more familiar equivalents. The Whin Sill is a very prominent feature of Upper Teesdale (including at High Force and Cauldron Snout), and we are reminded that “sill”, as a universal geological term, like many other geological terms, originated in common usage by miners and quarrymen in the North Pennines.

Likewise, David Evans does full justice to the Geomorphology and Quaternary glacial legacy, with new interpretations based on his original research. Ice sheets completely covered the area, including the highest tops, on several occasions, but he points out that during the last two and half million years “average glacial conditions” prevailed for much of the more limited glaciers perhaps confined to the upper valleys.

The core of the book is the two chapters respectively on Flora and

vegetation by Margaret Bradshaw, and on Origins and history of the Teesdale flora jointly by Margaret and Judith Turner which describe the discovery of the unique flora, beginning with John Ray and shrubby cinquefoil in 1677, and its origin as a relic of a flora once widespread in Britain after the last glaciation.

Remaining chapters examine human history, climate (it’s not good!) and conservation (very thoughtful) with emphasis on the importance of the farming community.

Altogether, it is a book for people in the North East and elsewhere to enjoy.

Angus Lunn Vice President Northumberland Wildlife Trust

steven morris

Local news East Chevington nature reserve

Do you

The Trust’s next major conservation project has received initial support from National Lottery funding to develop detailed plans to improve the land and habitat for people and wildlife on our East Chevington reserve on Druridge Bay. The project, aptly titled ‘Catch my Drift’ is a nod to the reserve’s history as it was once the East Chevington Drift Mine from 1882 - 1962 and an opencast coal site from 1982 - 1994.

Thanks to National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the project a £90,000 development grant to develop the plans and apply for a full grant of £415,800 in the future.

Following on from the success of our National Lottery funded Dynamic Druridge Project, which included the creation of our fabulous Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, we now have our sights firmly set on enhancing East Chevington as the next step towards creating a connected mosaic of habitats along Druridge Bay. The 185-hectare site passed to the Trust in 2003 and now consists of lakes, ponds, reed beds, woodland, pasture and arable farming that are homes to nationally significant species such as marsh harrier, red squirrels and great crested news.

It is also important to the local communities who use the site as an area for walking and access to the beach, 10 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

with an estimated 10,000 visitors each year.

Currently, the reed beds around the two main ponds are at risk of being lost due to silting up of the water, leading to the development of willow scrub and eventually carr woodland.

The plantation woodland put in place as part of opencast restoration is dominated by closely compacted Scots pine that needs partial removal to open up the woodland canopy, allowing more light onto the woodland floor to encourage the growth of woodland plants and flowers.

In addition, the reserve’s nine hectares of meadow are now of a poor quality, but the aim is to turn the area and a further 20 hectares of pasture into species-rich meadow which will have a positive impact on bees and butterflies currently in decline.

Development plan tasks include the appointment of a Catch my Drift project assistant, and the creation of a masterplan that includes new habitats, access routes and an update of the site’s management plan.

A hydrological study will also ascertain the sources of water on the site, where

Marsh harrier

it goes to and how levels change throughout the year.

Staff will be consulting regular users of the site, local communities, project partners and visitors on why the reserve is important to them, and feeding their responses into the design of our master plan.

The existing watching hides are unwelcoming, noisy metal boxes so an architectural brief has been included in the project’s development phase, which will see the Trust applying the construction skills, learnt during the construction of our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre to the facilities at East Chevington.

Anybody wishing to get involved with the project, whether it is volunteering or wanting to have an input into how the project is developed can contact catchmydrift@northwt.org.uk.

20VISION Andrew Parkinson/20

‘Catch my Drift’?

Corporates

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP - We offer 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 elizabeth.lovatt@northwt.org.uk.

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Albion Outdoors albionoutdoors.co.uk

Northumberland County Council northumberland.gov.uk

Harlow Printing Ltd harlowprinting.co.uk

Esh Group esh.uk.com

Bell Ingram bellingram.co.uk

Northumbria Byways northumbria-byways.com

Karpet Mills karpetmills.co.uk

Mears Ltd mearsgroup.co.uk

Blyth Harbour Commission portofblyth.co.uk

Ord House Country Park ordhouse.co.uk

Potts Printers Ltd potts.co.uk

NestlĂŠ Confectionery Ltd nestle.co.uk

Cottages in Northumberland cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk

Poltross Enterprises poltross.com

Riverside Leisure riverside-leisure.co.uk

Northumbrian Water Ltd nwl.co.uk

Geoffrey Lurie Solicitors geoffreylurie.com

Verdant Leisure verdantleisure.co.uk/riverside

Tarmac tarmac.com

Gustharts gusthart.com

Wardell Armstrong wardell-armstrong.com

The Banks Group hjbanks.com

holidaycottages.co.uk holidaycottages.co.uk

Thermofisher Scientific thermofisher.com

Howick Hall Gardens howickhallgardens.org Northern Experience Wildlife Tours northernexperiencewildlifetours. co.uk

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 11

Funding

steven morris

The Trust’s ‘Kielderhead Wildwood’ partnership, which it manages in partnership with the Forestry Commission, has received a cash boost of £5,000 from the Community Foundation, as part of The Lawrence Campbell Community First Fund and Three Valleys’ Fund.

The five year project is working towards establishing a low density, native upland woodland on 100 hectares of open land along Scaup Burn at Kielderhead.

Throughout 2018, 53 volunteers, including 23 students from local universities and colleges, spent 114 days planting over 5,300 trees, including alder, downy birch, hawthorn and Scots pine, complete with tree protection stakes and tubes on the lower slopes of the southern portion of the Kielder project area.

Now, thanks to the £5,000 from the Community Foundation, staff and volunteers are set to plant 6,500 downy birch and 300 holly trees along Scaup Burn - the northern and lower portion of the site, every Tuesday and Thursday, between March and the end of May. Anybody wishing to be part of this exciting project should visit nwt.org.uk/ wildwood. Volunteers will be able to experience the remoteness and wildness of Kielderhead, whilst learning new skills and acquiring knowledge of why this heritage is so important to conserve.

steven lipscombe

Ready, steady, plant!

Steven Lipscombe, Wildwood Project Officer

‘Hide & Seek’ on the Bay The Trust has received a grant of £9,600 for a new project on our Druridge Pools reserve, from the Ventient Sisters North Steads Windfarm Community Benefit Fund at the Community Foundation. The Fund allows community groups within a 5km radius of the windfarm to apply for funding of up to £10,000.

The aptly titled ‘Hide & Seek’ project will refurbish three existing wildlife hides and create a new viewpoint on the reserve which is a haven for bird life.

The hides and screens on the site have been in place for over 20 years.

During this time, use by members of the public and harsh coastal weather

conditions have taken their toll and the structures are in a very poor state of repair.

A team of staff and volunteers aims to complete the work by the end of April, however this is dependent on weather conditions and may be delayed even further to avoid the bird-breeding season.

Druridge pools nature reserve

Community benefit funds aim to enrich the lives of local people, and Northumberland Wildlife Trust is a fantastic example of this.

Pete Barrett, Senior Programme Advisor at the Community Foundation.

If any of these stories have inspired you to raise money for wildlife, visit our website nwt.org.uk/fundraise for tips on how you can get involved.

12 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Funding updates A big grotto thank you The Trust held its fourth Santa’s grotto event at Northumberlandia on Friday 14 - Sunday 16 December and would like to say a huge thank you to: • Newcastle Bridges School: handmade wooden reindeer donation • Yorkshire Trading Co and Steve’s Books & Gifts: discounted Christmas decorations • Laverock Hall Farm: straw bales donation for Santa’s grotto • Bay Plastics Ltd: transparent plastic donation for large robin money box • Northumberland County Council Countryside Section: donation of five loads of woodchip for new and existing paths • Asda Cramlington: donation of mince pies for elves and £275 for arts, crafts and lighting and Jackie Burt, Asda Cramlington Community Champion for assisting with Trust fund raising activities.

• Suzanne Ackroyd: crafting two photo boards • Morris Selby: creation of large robin donation box

Taking the plunge for wildlife Trust Membership Recruiter Ann Colman took part in the annual Newbiggin Boxing Day Dip, raising funds for the Trust as well as enjoying the invigorating experience.

Celebration tree starting to flourish Our Hauxley Giving Tree is starting to flourish which is great news.

In case you have not seen it yet, it is an elegantly sculptured tree situated in The Lookout Café at our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre.

Anybody with a love for nature can commemorate a special person (in lieu of flowers or in memoriam) or occasion with a beautiful leaf, inscribed with an individual message.

The leaves are then pinned to the tree and a permanent acknowledgement is kept in the Giving Tree records book.

There is a minimum donation of £100 for the ‘bronze’ leaf, £250 for the ‘silver’ leaf and £500 for the ‘gold’ with proceeds going towards the running of the centre and reserve, unless indicated otherwise.

If you would also like to be present when the leaf is installed on the tree, we can arrange a private ceremony for you and provide refreshments in The Lookout Café.

For more details visit nwt.org.uk/giving-tree or to order your tree, telephone the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre on 01665 568 324.

Amble shoppers support wildlife

Naked Wines member voucher offer has, to date raised £576.

A massive thank you to the generous shoppers in Amble who raised a whopping £5,819 for our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, via the Co-op Members Local Community Fund (LCF).

Over the course of 2018, each time a LCF Member shopped in the Co-op Food and Funeralcare store on Queen Street branch in Amble, 1% of what they spent was donated to a charity of their choice, with the money raised together with money from carrier bag sales helping local projects. Since September 2016, more than £20 million has been raised nationally.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 13

Co-op amble

Co-op Food and Funeralcare staff in Amble with Trust Head of Living Landscapes and Conservation Duncan Hutt (centre)

peter ernst

Reserves & volunteers

Volunteers help the Trust stand up for wildlife

Northumberland Wildlife Trust volunteers at Northumberlandia

richard clark

Jordan Spurling (22) from Belfast is a third year student at Northumbria University where he is studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Business with Economics.

Getting spruced up for spring

david sargent

A team of 10 Trust volunteers braved the wintery weather in January laying new paths and edging at Northumberlandia, using wood from trees which had been felled on the site.

Each year, dozens of volunteers work tirelessly to keep the ‘Lady of the North’ looking marvellous for the 90,000 plus annual visitors, so needless to say there is a lot of wear and tear around the site.

Our aim is to ensure the park is enjoyed by everybody, so the support from our volunteers is invaluable.

Join our conservation grazers Thank you to David Sargent for this wonderful image of Hebridean sheep on our Hauxley reserve.

These wonderful sheep are part of the Trust’s Flexigraze conservation grazing project and do a fantastic job mowing grass on many of our reserves - all for the benefit of wildlife.

Hebridean sheep are a hardy, primitive breed and range from black to dark brown (although like us they can go grey with age!). They also have a second set of horns giving them a rather demonic 14 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

appearance!

To find out more about Flexigraze visit nwt.org.uk/flexigraze.

Whether you like being indoors or outdoors, there are always volunteering opportunities with the project ranging from checking and moving stock and helping with manual vaccinations to assisting at events, marketing the Flexigraze wool and meat and managing its social media sites.

Register today at nwt.org.uk/ volunteer.

He has been a marketing volunteer with the Trust’s Marketing Team at our Gosforth Headquarters since October 2018, having searched online for marketing volunteering opportunities.

An asset to the very busy team, Jordan, who has in interest in corporate sustainability, assists with social media postings, marketing activities, events organisation and their promotion and updating the content on our new look website.

Jordan is proof that you do not need to head outdoors to volunteer with us as we have many indoor opportunities to get involved in, so contact us today.

Anybody interested should register at nwt.org.uk/volunteer.

As a charity the Trust relies on volunteers, so I am more than happy to give up one day a week in the Gosforth office and assist with its marketing activities in any way I can. It’s a great way to make new friends and learn new skills and I would recommend people to try it for themselves.

Jordan Spurling

simon greener

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre: the popularity grows Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre has had an incredible 2018, attracting over 85,000 visitors and scooping armfuls of awards for the building, community benefit and sustainability. However, the high visitor numbers have taken their toll and we now need to undertake road repairs and add extra car park spaces, courtesy of the Coastal Revival Fund.

Work should be completed by the end of March (weather permitting), but please call Trust headquarters on (0191) 284 6884 or visit our website northwt.org.uk for updates as the reserve will be closed while work to the access road is carried out.

Whilst we upgrade facilities, it seems an appropriate time for us to make another change. There is no entry fee to the Centre because we want to encourage people to experience the wonder of nature. It costs at least £500 every day to run and without government funding we rely heavily on donations to support it, but unfortunately, these have not come anywhere near what is required. This being the case, from Monday 1 April, we will be introducing a car parking charge of £2 per car (based on the results of our 2018 summer visitor survey) for all day parking. There will also be a daily charge of £5 for mini-buses and £10 coaches and the charges apply to blue badge holders.

Regular visitors may like to buy an Annual Parking Permit which provides fantastic value and allows you to visit as many times as you like for £25 from 1 April to 31 March. You can purchase this from The Lookout Café in the Centre or online at nwt.org.uk/parking.

The Trust has taken advice from VAT and tax consultants to try to find a way to offer members a discount on parking charges. However, any benefits to our members, that non-members do not receive, will make the entire membership subject to VAT. This means we would lose 20% of our income from membership donations, which would have a major impact on Trust finances.

neet

Bronze end to an award winning year from last year, were then reduced to Hauxley celebrated the end of 2018 57 finalists who gathered at Newcastle with a bronze award in the Small Visitor Civic Centre for the awards Attraction of the Year category of the ceremony.

North East England Tourism In addition to the 85,000 Awards. It was the most human visitors in 2018, 161 bird contested category species and 17 species of with 28 entrants. butterfly touched The Awards, which down on the celebrate businesses that make the reserve. Hauxley tourism industry also continues to a success, saw a be the best place record number in the north of applications east to spot red this year. squirrels, stoats, Sheila Sharp (Northumberland Almost 150 otters and tree Wildlife Trust Head of Marketing and entries, up 25% sparrows.

Fundraising) with Andy Laurie (ALCC)

As part of The Wildlife Trust’s national 30 Days Wild challenge, the Trust will be holding the ‘Big Wild Weekend’ at the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre this June.

Saturday (15th) & Sunday (16th) 8:00am: Reserve opens early 8:30am: Coffee and croissant breakfast in The Lookout Café 8:00pm: The Lookout Café closes 8:30pm: Reserve closes later – catch a glimpse of an otter putting on its PJs Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm: Introduction to Wildflowers 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Wildwood walk and talk Sunday 8:00am: Join volunteers emptying moth traps 9:00am - 10:00am: Moth talk 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Guided walk around reserve

P.S. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our 2019 Adult Education leaflet.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 15

Conservation

Jennifer care

Peatland restoration with coir logs at Whitelee Moor

For peat’s sake, it’s precious!

‘An accumulation of partially decomposed vegetation or organic matter formed in waterlogged conditions.’ It doen’t sound like much, but this is peat and it is marvellous stuff!

With an ability to hold 20 times its own weight in water, peat is an important resource for water management. Healthy peatland acts like a sponge, soaking up, filtering rainwater, and helping to reduce flood risk.

A lack of oxygen and waterlogged conditions in peatland mean the plant material that forms the peat does not rot completely, making it a great store of carbon. Peatland covers less than 3% of the land surface of Earth, but is thought to contain twice as much carbon as the world’s forests!

Peatland provides important habitats for wildlife, with sundews, cranberry, bog asphodel, cotton grasses and many species of moss and sedge just a few of the plants that thrive on peat.

It also supports a range of butterflies, dragonflies and birds, including snipe, 16 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

curlew, hen harrier and skylark.

Peat is slow to form, growing at only around 1mm a year. This provides an amazing opportunity to see into the past as peat preserves a record of past vegetation, people and landscapes.

However, human activities can have massive impacts on peat. Commercial extraction of peat for fuel or horticultural compost can remove 500 years of peat ‘growth’ in just one year. This is not, however, the main threat to peatlands in Northumberland…

Between the 1960s and 1980s it was common to create drainage ditches or channels, known as grips, to drain peatland to allow intensified agriculture.

This work could be grant aided and many thousands of kilometres of grips were created. However, we now know that peat needs to remain wet to provide its services of carbon storage, water management, specialist wildlife habitat and preserver of archaeology!

Gripped peatlands drain water more quickly from the peat’s mossy surface

layer, which may then thin or disappear completely. As the vegetation changes, the way water moves through the peatland is altered; instead of trickling through and across the upper peat surface, grips provide channels for rapid flows of water, eroding and drying out peat around the grip, increasing silt levels in our watercourses and affecting downstream flood risk. Dry peat, exposed to oxygen in the air, decomposes, releasing carbon as carbon dioxide, so contributing to global warming. Dry peat is also susceptible to fire, as exemplified by fires on peat last summer, including at the Otterburn Training Area.

Another risk to our peatland is invasion

by Sitka spruce seedlings from nearby forestry. These trees have a cumulative drying effect on the peat and reduce the availability of light, through shading. This can result in damage to the surrounding vegetation and eventually the peat. Most native trees do not naturally grow well on peat and any that do turn up tend to

Focus on Benshaw Moor Jennifer care

Location: the edge of Redesdale, between the A696 and the Winter’s Gibbet road.

Total area: approx. 2.6km2 Peatland: in the form of blanket bog with peat depths of up to 4.5m recorded, (that is 4500 years of peat formation!).

Other habitats present: marshy grassland, acid flushes, transition mire and a mosaic of heathland and acid grassland.

Condition: generally in good condition, but has been invaded by Sitka spruce seedlings over much of the peatland. Old grips are present, some are naturally vegetating over, but one, of 118m in length, runs through an area of blanket bog and would benefit from blocking.

Volunteers removing Sitka spruce trees at Benshaw Moor

How you can help:

■ If you need to buy compost, buy peat-free.

■ Join the Revitalising Redesdale team of practical volunteers (other

volunteering opportunities are also available) and help the project team block grips and remove invading Sitka spruce - it is physical work on tricky terrain, but there is friendly company and an opportunity for wonderful views and interesting wildlife! Visit nwt.org.uk/volunteer for more details.

■ Donate to our Benshaw Moor appeal, nwt.org.uk/benshaw-moor-appeal be kept small by browsing wildlife such as roe deer. However, Sitka spruce can invade these areas and are less palatable to our herbivores. Trees in otherwise open areas, such as peatland, can also provide cover for predators, increasing the vulnerability of ground nesting birds such as golden plover and curlew to predators including crows, foxes and mustelids (such as weasels, stoats and badgers).

Peat provides carbon storage, water management, specialist wildlife habitat and preserves archaeology!

We’re taking action! Through Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership, supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have been able to step up our efforts to restore peatland at Whitelee Moor National Nature Reserve by blocking grips, and the gullies created where grips have seriously eroded, to re-wet and restore

the peat. There are a number of different methods available to block grips. The method used on a site depends on the conditions there. At Whitelee Moor, the project is mainly using coir logs, but will also be installing leaky stone dams.

Revitalising Redesdale is also working with landowners across the catchment of the River Rede, an area of 347km² from Redemouth up to Carter Bar, to help restore peatland by blocking grips and removing invading Sitka spruce. This is just one of their projects to celebrate Redesdale’s rich cultural heritage and to protect and enhance the area’s landscape and wildlife. For more information on Revitalising Redesdale, visit their website revitalisingredesdale. org.uk, find them on Facebook.com/ RevitalisingRedesdale or email info@ revitalisingredesdale.org.uk.

Jennifer Care Revitalising Redesdale Farming and Wildlife Officer

Flora observed: includes cranberry, bog asphodel, at least six species of Sphagnum moss, round-leaved sundew, limestone bedstraw, bogbean and grass-of-Parnassus.

Fauna observed: includes roe deer, fox, adder, common lizard, meadow pipit, short-eared owl, swallow, giant wood wasp, dark tussock moth, small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly and more!

Progress so far: with permission of the landowner, Revitalising Redesdale with the help of Northumberland Wildlife Trust volunteers have removed invading Sitka spruce. However, this site is currently up for sale and so is at risk of a new owner being less sympathetic to protecting and managing the important habitats on this site.

EXCITING NEWS! Northumberland Wildlife Trust has the opportunity to purchase this wonderful piece of land and restore and protect its important habitats and wildlife for everybody, but it needs your help! See page 5 for more details on how you can donate to the Benshaw Moor Appeal.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 17

hilary norton

Conservation

Kielder: alive and kicking Kielder Water & Forest Park is always particularly beautiful at this time of year and now five new, short walking trails have been created for all the family, so wrap up warm, head to Kielder and enjoy a little fresh air, wildlife, nature and spectacular scenery.

All the wild walks are included on the popular (and free) walkers ViewRanger app. Simply install the app on a smart phone and search for Kielder Wild Walks before you visit.

The app not only gives directions and details on what to look out for, but also offers fascinating wildlife information at each waypoint.

Visitors can also listen to audio clips of Kielder wildlife experts talking about all the varied species living in the area and how they are cared for, including clips about ospreys and red squirrels by Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Katy Barke.

All the trails, features, signage, accompanying digital and on-site information was commissioned

by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust are part of the ‘Living Wild at Kielder’

project, which has been made possible through the support of players of the National Lottery via a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

One of the new wild walks is to Bakethin Hide and includes a visit to the ‘Wild it Up Clearing’ in Bakethin Nature Reserve - it is a unique outdoor space for all ages to explore wildlife.

The clearing includes a periscope to give users a bug’s eye view of the forest floor; a mirrored disk to look up by looking down, an artist’s pallet to match natural items you can find with the colours and a bug hotel!

The approach to the clearing boasts a beautifully carved wildlife bench, crafted by award-winning, self-taught Consett wood carver Tommy Craggs.

It really is worth taking a look at the four very lifelike otters that provide the arms and shoulder rests while salmon swim along beneath, and an osprey with outstretched wings, alights from the rear.

Speaking of ospreys, people in the region will soon be looking skywards for the return of the beloved birds on their way back to Kielder.

The ospreys typically arrive in late March and April, and once they have

paired back up on the nests, it is only a few weeks before we see the first eggs being laid.

As with previous years, Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be running Osprey Watch from its cabin behind the Boat Inn at Kielder Waterside once on Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holiday Mondays (and extra Wednesdays in July and August) from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 18 August, between 10:30am and 5:00pm.

Osprey Watch is delivered almost entirely by a fabulous team of volunteers, it is free, but donations are always welcome to ensure the team is able to continue running this great activity into the future If you would like to join the wonderful team of Osprey Watch volunteers, visit nwt.org.uk/volunteer and register your interest. It does not matter if you feel like you don’t know enough about the birds as full training will be given before the season begins and you will always be in the company of experienced volunteers. It is a great deal of fun and you will be made most welcome.

Ten wild things to experience at Kielder 5 9 1 Osprey Watch is back at Kielder Waterside. View the nests through the scopes and get the latest action from nesting to fledging.

2

Wildlife and Osprey Cruises take to the water for another year. Visit calvert-trust.org.uk/kielder for more information. Book in advance and book early to guarantee your place.

Follow the Ratty Explorer Trail.

Pick up a leaflet at Kielder Castle and head off into the wonderful world of water voles.

6

Cycle or walk from Kielder Castle or drive to Ratty’s Retreat, the new water vole watching hide on the Forest Drive (seasonal toll road, check opening times beforehand).

3

7

4

8

Visit Bakethin nature reserve, rest in the Wild it Up clearing, marvel at the new Bakethin Hide, and take a seat on the beautiful hand chainsaw carved bench.

Watch red squirrels from the hides at Kielder Castle and Kielder Waterside.

18 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Walk or cycle the 26 mile Lakeside Way and enjoy the art, architecture, nature and tranquillity of the surroundings Celebrate the centenary of Forestry Commission England at a number of events around Kielder.

Visit forestryengland.uk/100.

Try the new waymarked walking trails around Bakethin Nature Reserve, Kielder Castle and Tower Knowe. Download the View Ranger app to discover the wilder walks. It is packed with wildlife information, ID pages, walks and directions. Download before you leave home.

10

Get up close and personal with one of the largest collections in the North East at the Kielder Birds of Prey centre, home to over 60 birds including eagles, owls, falcons, hawks and vultures, along with a family of wallabies.

The ‘Wild it Up Clearing’ at Bakethin reserve, on one of the new Kielder Wild Walks Luke Massey/2020VISION

tom marshall

Water vole

Red squirrel

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 19

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Conservation Osprey

Birds:

one of the great wonders of nature Many years ago, before the North Tyne Valley was flooded to form Kielder Water and close to where one of the osprey pairs now nest, four keen birders, including me, were lying in heather at the top of a low ridge waiting for the appearance of a pair of hen harriers which we knew had been seen displaying in the area.

Eventually we heard a bird calling, and out of the heather appeared a female hen harrier to be eclipsed a few moments later by the arrival of the silver-grey ghost of a male. To see a pair of these lovely birds together is a real privilege, but to then have the male sky dancing in its courtship flight was something very special.

This beautiful bird danced about the sky in a series of switchbacks, whilst every now and then, plunging towards the heather, pulling out at the very last minute before it crash-landed.

Heather moorland is a habitat extensively used by hen harriers in Britain, but is also a habitat, which is heavily managed in many places to 20 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

increase the population of red grouse to an artificially high level for the benefit of the driven grouse shooting industry which has turned out to be the greatest problem faced by hen harriers. Back in the days before the North Tyne flooding, we worried about the conifers of Kielder Forest covering more and more of the Northumberland uplands and shutting off for good vast swathes of land for the harriers. That has happened but with a much more enlightened attitude to nature conservation, the management of the forest has produced a diverse and interesting range of species.

The contrast between that and management of driven grouse moors is stark. The bird which matters most to owners and keepers, is the red grouse, and a range of methods are used to produce artificially high numbers of birds to fly over the guns to be shot during the shooting season.

Birds of prey generally and particularly hen harriers are not welcome in this situation and, in spite of being fully protected under law are removed.

Several scientific papers over the years have left no doubt that systematic illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of hen harriers and other birds of prey on driven grouse moors has reduced the English population of harriers to a point where they are only just hanging on.

Satellite tagging has made it possible to pinpoint where, and sometimes how, these birds are being killed and along with that an understanding of where they get to in their short lives.

Understanding where and what birds do for the majority of their time is very fascinating and even the common birds we see every day at our garden feeders may have much more interesting lives than you might imagine.

Take great tits for instance researchers working in Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire discovered that the population of great tits in the wood have a complicated social network where birds gather in loose foraging flocks, based on their personalities. They were able to show who affiliated with who and which birds foraged at the same

Luke Massey/2020VISION

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

derek moore

Red grouse Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Hen harrier

House sparrow

place together. So, those little groups of great tits at your feeders are probably all friends, mind you they can be aggressive friends.

The same feeders will no doubt have house sparrows as well. This very familiar resident is nowhere near as common in Britain as it was just 20 years ago and seems to have declined imperceptibly.

We should have noticed because it is a species, which is very much associated with us humans, and its Latin name, passer domesticus suggests that.

Studies of this sparrow show they are extremely adaptable and prepared to find nest sites in the most unlikely places especially around human habitation.

They do not go very far from where they are born, which makes it even more astonishing that, following introduction they were able to colonise North America very rapidly.

Prior to 1850 there were no house sparrows in North America but following a serious attempt to introduce them into Brooklyn in 1851 to control a plague of moths, they made rapid progress

Red-necked phalarope

over the continent, so much so that by 1889, sparrow clubs were being formed to eradicate them. It did not work and now house sparrows are the most widely distributed bird on the planet, with Antarctica being the only continent where they do not occur.

The greatest revolution in recent years in tracking birds has been the availability of geolocators weighing less than a third of a gram.

All sorts of remarkable data is being collected using these tiny locators, but probably none more so, than the discovery of the wintering area of rednecked phalaropes breeding in Shetland.

It was not known where these birds spent the winter, but it was assumed they went to the Arabian Sea like others of the European population.

A male carrying a geolocator was re-trapped in 2013 and the unlikely location was discovered. The bird had crossed the Atlantic to North America, followed the east coast south to Panama, crossed over to the Pacific and wintered off the coast of Ecuador

before making the long journey back to Shetland.

I was reading recently that the expression “ bird brain “ for scatter brained people was first introduced into the English language in the 1920’s because it was thought birds had no capacity for thought at all.

Modern techniques have shown just how wrong that idea was, with examples of species that are capable of mental feats comparable to those found in primates, others who can remember where they buried thousands of seeds ready for winter and many, like the slender-necked phalaropes, travelling thousands of miles every year on migration.

Birds are just simply one of the great wonders of nature, but do not just take my word for it, head outdoors and see for yourself.

Ian Armstrong Northumberland Wildlife Trust Vice-Chair and Trustee March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 21

UK news

BREXIT update

Shaky start for new

Environment Bill The Government has published a draft Environment Bill. We say they could do much better

22 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Government’s plans fall well short of what is needed.

We need the new environmental watchdog to be much more independent and able to hold the whole Government to account to begin to match the environmental enforcement powers currently held by the European Commission and European Court of

The plans fall short of what we need to tackle the challenge

tom marshall

Just before Christmas, the Government faced the first real test of their commitment to our natural world as the long-awaited part one of the draft Environment Bill was published. It was a result of successful lobbying by The Wildlife Trusts and our partners in the Greener UK coalition.

This draft Bill aims to create a replacement environmental governance system after we leave the EU. Published alongside this was a policy note setting out the Government’s ambitions for part two of the Bill, expected in Spring 2019.

The Wildlife Trusts have fought hard for the Government to recognise the need for an ambitious Environment Bill to help our natural world recover.

However, in their current form the

Surveys show that thousands of once-common species are declining sharply

Justice.

What’s more, it is vital that the Bill makes it a statutory requirement to produce Nature Recovery Network

Have your say Turn to page 12 to change the Bill fo r the better

“Every space in Britain must be used to help wildlife.”

Sir David Attenborough The UK has thousands of nature reserves – the Wildlife Trusts alone look after 2,300 of them. These reserves perform an essential role in species protection. But wildlife has still disappeared at an alarming rate.

Main pic above: a pyramidal orchid about to disappear on a site in Kent being cleared for development

For wildlife to recover and thrive, parks, housing estates, farms and city centres must be wildlifefriendly: a network giving wildlife the freedom to move around. This can be achieved with a strong Environment Act.

maps. These must influence decisions both about built development and about farming to give wildlife room to manoeuvre.

As part of our Wilder Future campaign we are encouraging our supporters to meet with their MPs and ask them to stand up for wildlife and create a bold visionary piece of legislation proportionate to the vast environmental challenge we face.

Unless Ministers and MPs improve upon this draft Bill, we will continue to see a decline in our wildlife and the health of our ecosystems for generations to come.

Late news st UK-wid e a wildl nd issues ifetru : org/n sts. ews

A network to put nature into recovery While the political battles rage on, wildlife faces its ongoing battle to survive. Despite political upheavals, there are some things that are certain: nature needs our help, butterflies don’t recognise borders and wildlife won’t recover if we don’t act now.

Wildlife Trust members have formed a movement and fought off thousands of risks to wildlife. Hundreds of wildlife sites are still here because we’ve saved them: Askham Bog in York, Rampisham Down in Dorset, Eithinog in North Wales…. We’ve campaigned to end the use of pesticides that all but killed off our otters, and helped bring otters back. We’ve secured over a hundred Marine Protected Areas. As charities, we care for over two thousand wildlife refuges and we’ve started to piece things back together with landscape scale initiatives.

This is all great stuff, but we have been swimming against the tide. Much stronger laws are needed to halt and reverse nature’s decline. This is the only sure way to remove barriers to the free movement of wildlife across our islands.

So the solution we are calling for is this: statutory Nature Recovery Network maps. These would map out how to join-up important places for wildlife that are currently isolated, identifying where habitat needs to be put back. These would result in better planning decisions and better targeting of farm support and funds from developers. After all, we are part of nature, so this will also benefit us through reduced flooding, cleaner air and better health.

With your help we can ensure that the Westminster Environment Act planned for 2019 is improved to make provisions for this. But individual actions are also important. Wherever you live, you can help create more space for nature. Why not install a bee brick in your wall or have flowers in a window box as a service station for a passing pollinator?

Together we can create a Wilder Future.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts @stephhilborne

The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Rd, Newark, Notts NG24 1WT Website: wildlifetrusts.org Tel: 01636 677 711 Email: enquiry@wildlifetrusts.org Twitter: @wildlifetrusts Facebook: wildlifetrusts Instagram: @thewildlifetrusts Charity No: 207238

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 23

UK news

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Knowing where species go helps conservation groups to protect them

Goose migration secrets revealed New research shows how brent geese get to Siberia round trip. Individuals were recorded in the Netherlands and the Baltics as they flew east. Last winter, several were spotted back in Essex.

The Wildlife Trusts work with the BTO to monitor migrant birds on many of our reserves, which are important feeding grounds. Studies like this demonstrate the need for a global approach to conservation.

david tipling/2020vision

How do the UK’s 91,000 dark-bellied brent geese migrate to their summer breeding grounds in Siberia? Research at Essex Wildlife Trust’s Blue House Farm reserve is finding out.

In January 2018, experts from the Southern Colour Ringing group, licenced by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), ringed the legs of 18 geese on the reserve, to help track their 5,000-mile

Research shows the geese migrate to Siberia via the Netherlands and Baltics

chris wood

60 MPs make time to meet The Wildlife Trusts’ young stars

Barry Sheerman MP meets Moustafa Atta and Liam Jackson of Sheffield WT

24 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Last November, the Wildlife Trusts hosted a Parliamentary Reception in Westminster. Over 60 MPs attended to meet our young staff, trainees and volunteers.

It was a chance for our young stars to highlight the need for an ambitious Environment Bill.

Georgina Umney of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said in a speech: “Everyone has the right to freely

access and defend the natural world.

No young person can avoid being an environmentalist as it is defining our future.”

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts said: “Young people are a vital part of our movement. They want to guarantee a more positive future for our natural environment.”

BREXIT update

Work by The Wildlife Trusts will ensure UK fishing is sustainable

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales have discovered new genetic diversity in the mid-Wales red squirrel population. Analysis of hairs left on sticky pads in a feeding station has identified a unique sequence of DNA. This is great news for the squirrels, as it means their diversity is better than scientists thought. That variation will help them adapt to changing environments.

The research was part of the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project, a branch of Red Squirrels United. paul harry

As part of the arrangements for leaving the EU, MPs and Peers have recently debated both a new Fisheries Bill and a new Agriculture Bill for England. These two key parts of the legal Brexit jigsaw will have a significant impact on the health of our natural environment on land and at sea.

On the Agriculture Bill, we have worked hard to ensure there will be long-term funding at the right level to restore and reconnect wildlife habitats on farms, and to create a Nature Recovery Network. On the Fisheries

Toby Roxburgh/2020VISION

Farming and Fisheries Bills need more work

Red squirrels more diverse than thought

Bill, we have sought to strengthen its sustainability objectives to ensure a healthy marine environment.

The study obtained DNA from hairs stuck to sticky pads in the feeder

kathye dewitt/alamy

A new home for bees

Farm subsidies will enable farmers to reconnect habitats

HS2’s proposals pay little heed to the amount of nature the project will engulf

HS2’s newest phase, due to connect Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds, offers ‘derisory’ consideration of wildlife, The Wildlife Trusts said in a consultation last year.

The 176 miles of track will seriously damage 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 111 Local Wildlife Sites and 19 ancient woodlands.

“HS2 Ltd’s work lacks sufficient proposals to compensate for nature’s loss,” says Katherine Hawkins, Senior Living Landscapes Officer. “We have challenged it to create and restore more wild places than are being destroyed and damaged, and to save irreplaceable wetlands and woodlands.”

green & blue

ARUP

HS2 dooms 19 ancient woods

Solitary bee homes are hard to find in modern gardens, but an ingenious solution – the bee brick – can turn a wall into a bee hotel. Bee bricks are full of holes in which solitary bees can lay their eggs. They can be used on their own, or built into a wall.

Last summer, The Wildlife Trusts’ Adam Cormack fitted a bee brick to his house. Six months later he found several bees in residence. Adam shared his find on Twitter and more than 46,000 people ‘liked’ his tweet. Individual actions like this are key to creating a wilder future.

A red mason bee (an excellent fruit tree pollinator) investigates a brick

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 25

UK news

main pic: matthew roberts. inset: Papilio/Alamy

Patrick Barkham is a natural history writer for The Guardian and author of The Butterfly Isles

Butterflies without borders With luck, you’ll see a lot of butterflies visiting gardens this summer. But the story of how some species get there is incredible

26 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

migrants were spotted everywhere from the Highlands to central London, and produced millions more offspring. Two fields in Cornwall contained 500,000 painted lady caterpillars.

The painted lady is our best-known migratory insect but there are many others, including moths, dragonflies, ladybirds, hoverflies and even aphids.

Climate change will bring more to our shores. It seems far-fetched that insects can cross continents, but we now know they do. Satellite tags are still too large, but other technologies are shedding new light on the marvels of insect migration.

Each autumn, given favourable winds, moth traps fill with exciting continental arrivals such as the enormous convolvulus and death’s head

hawkmoths, and the delicate vestal moth. Enthusiasts call these migratory moths, but Richard Fox of Butterfly Conservation distinguishes between margaret holland

Swifts, cuckoos, wildebeest and basking sharks – we admire these creatures for their epic seasonal migrations. But there is another, far bigger group of species who undertake even more audacious journeys: insects.

During the Second World War, military observers reported a golden ball drifting over the Channel. What they feared was a cloud of poison gas was actually a huge mass of migrating clouded yellow butterflies. In 1846, the Canterbury Journal reported a “cloud” of small whites so dense that it obscured the sun as it passed over a Channel steamer.

These mass migrations are not ancient history. In 2009, 11 million painted lady butterflies arrived in Britain from southern Europe. These strong-flying

from Clouded yellows migrate to the UK North Africa and the Med

A single painted lady butterfly can cross Europe and the Sahara

insects that are simply dispersing as widely as possible after a successful breeding season, and “obligate”, or true, migrants.

Most migratory moths are on a fairly fruitless dispersal. “The killer piece of evidence is that the best time of year to see migrant moths is the autumn,” says Fox. “To me as a biologist they can’t be ‘proper’ migrants because the habitat here in winter is not going to support their breeding cycle and they are unlikely to survive.” In other words, Britain is a dead-end.

In contrast, obligate migrants build their life-cycle around migration. For British butterflies, the big challenge is to survive winters when caterpillars’ food plants don’t grow. Most do this

It seems farfetched that insects cross continents by hibernating. But migrants such as the clouded yellow survive by moving south, to warmer climes. It was long assumed that the painted lady retreats to Morocco but scientists have recently discovered that it also crosses the Sahara. Then, when it gets too hot for the sub-Saharan African generation, they move north again. The painted lady migration route can span up to 7,500

miles but this may be via three or more quickly-reproducing generations. Such insights have been gathered using new forensic techniques, analysing chemicals found in painted lady wings to discover where individuals grew up as caterpillars.

Until the 2009 painted lady invasion, it was unclear if Britain was a deadend for the species. People observed painted ladies arriving but never saw them depart and their offspring couldn’t survive winter.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 27

UK news

margaret holland

Scientists solved the mystery using Rothamstead Research’s two upward-facing radars in Hampshire and Hertfordshire. These special entomological radars identified painted ladies flying southwards at the end of the summer: the butterfly previously evaded detection because it rises to an average of 500 metres to take advantage of prevailing winds, flying south at 30mph.

These radars have also revealed the miraculous powers of Britain’s only confirmed obligate migrant moth, the Silver Y. “We suspected they might have some pretty cool capabilities but when we saw the data for the first time it was an exciting surprise,” says Jason Chapman, associate professor at the University of Exeter.

Chapman discovered that the Silver Ys were choosing the altitude that bequeathed most advantageous tailwinds. Radar also revealed that Silver Ys could even orientate their bodies in the correct direction to compensate for cross-winds. Most incredibly, Silver Ys were revealed to be travelling as fast – and sometimes faster – than migrating birds such as thrushes. This was because the moths identified the best spot in

the air column for favourable tail-winds, whereas the larger birds didn’t bother.

But how do these insects know which way to go? Lab tests have revealed that the lengthening or shortening of days is the painted ladies’ cue: caterpillars growing while days are lengthening become adults who fly northwards.

When days shorten, the butterflies are born with an awareness of the need to travel south, to warmer climes. The painted lady orientates itself using the sun, but night-flying moths can’t use a sun compass. A study of Australia’s bogong moth reveals they use the Earth’s magnetic field to guide them.

As the climate changes, some dispersing insects will take up permanent residence in Britain. Charismatic arrivals could include the continental swallowtail and the long-tailed blue, but here’s a tip: the southern small white is making remarkable progress across northern Europe and was first spotted in the Netherlands in 2015. It could soon cross the North Sea into East Anglia.

Many gardeners will not welcome another “cabbage white”. Some insect migrations are portrayed as problematic.

Tabloid newspapers reported “swarms” of harlequin ladybirds “invading” last

ra a h a S

In summer the Silver Y moth moves from southern Europe into Britain, the Netherlands and Scandinavia

autumn. Ladybird expert Professor Helen Roy worked with Rothamstead’s radar to identify harlequin and sevenspot ladybirds flying as high as 1,100m.

Ladybirds, says Roy, are dispersers rather than true migrants. “Generally ladybirds are a little bit bumbly. The harlequin ladybird is a real opportunist.

Because it is generalist in what it eats, it doesn’t matter so much which way it’s going – its main motivation is to move out of overcrowded habitat. They can get across the Channel but mostly they are making more local movements.”

The harlequin ladybird’s rapid spread across Europe has been assisted by us, however. New research from Croatia reveals that harlequins are attracted to the lights on ships – they are literally being ferried around Europe.

For all the scares about marauding “invasive” insects – and there is genuine concern about the honeybee-devouring Asian hornet – most migratory insects 28 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

A migration miracle

Spring migration north Autumn migration south

perform crucial “ecosystem services”.

Jason Chapman has studied the Marmalade hoverfly, our commonest species. To his surprise, these show an ability to choose favourable days for wind-assisted migration. Hundreds of millions arrive in the spring; up to a billion depart each autumn. “The really exciting numbers,” says Chapman, “are when you calculate how many aphid pests are eaten by the hoverflies’ larvae. You rapidly get into the trillions. We think they are doing an incredible service of free biological pest control.”

For all the great insect clouds of old, only now are we gaining a sense of the true scale of insect migration. Migratory ecologists looking at radar data have revealed a startling fact: a biomass of 3,200 tonnes of migrating insects.

Imagine 270 London buses made from solid insects passing over southern England each summer. Or, if you prefer, roughly 3.5 trillion insects.

That’s an awful lot of bird food. And each one a minuscule everyday miracle.

Gloucestershire Wt 37 species. Second largest known population of large blue.

Hutchinson’s Bank London Wt 35 species recorded. This is one of the UK’s best sites for the small blue.

Lydden Temple Ewell Kent Wt 34 species including the Adonis and chalkhill blues.

One of Europe’s finest chalk downlands.

Llanymynech Rocks Montgomeryshire Wt 33 species, including the very rare pearl-bordered fritillary.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 29

ray lewis

They do an incredible service of free biological pest control

Daneway Banks

london wt

Key

Our nature reserves are home to dozens of butterfly species, including (see below) some of the UK’s rarest. But for these insects and other wildlife to thrive, we also need country-wide networks of wild spaces, and you can help. For tips on butterfly-friendly gardening, visit wtru.st/butterfly-garden.

ellen winter

desert

Species: Painted lady Weight: 0.2-0.3g Range: 5,000+ miles We’re used to strong-flying insects migrating to the UK from Europe.

But the painted lady butterflies we see in warm summers easily beat that.

Most specimens start as caterpillars in the Sahel region of Africa. As spring begins they move north over the Sahara, some making it to Southern Europe and the Med, others only getting to North Africa.

With summer on the way, the next generation continues the journey north. Research shows some individuals hop directly from North Africa to the UK. Others filter through Central Europe and then into the UK across multiple generations.

But here’s the amazing bit: in the autumn, they’ve been found to fly 5,000+ miles back in a single generation!

Top sites for butterflies

UK news

The House that

Jack Built I first visited Hem Heath gripping tightly to his mum’s Woods three years ago, hand. when I started working as a Next time he brought a Wildplay officer. This hidden friend along. With growing gem, in the middle of a city I confidence, he showed his had worked in for ten years, friend how to balance on the quickly became my favourite slackline, and the best place to place in Stoke-on-Trent. build a den. Later, at a different I can still remember one of park, with another friend, he the first people to arrive for built bug hotels, followed Writer Katie my debut Wildplay session. picture trails and created Shipley is He was a rosy-cheeked fourobstacle courses.

Wildplay Officer year-old boy hiding behind Any challenge we set, Jack at Staffordshire his mum, wide-eyed and shy. took up with great enthusiasm.

Wildlife Trust His mum encouraged him “We’ve never been to this park to say hello and listen as I before!’ his mum exclaimed – explained the activities on offer. He then and then a little later she asked, “Jack disappeared into the woods to build a wants to know if you can bring Wildplay den and hunt for bugs. At the end he to his park?” left slightly muddier than when he had So we did, and it was really popular. arrived, with a silent wave goodbye.

Jack had told all his friends about At the next session the boy was back, Wildplay. He had also told his teachers, eagerly tugging at his mum’s arm: “He who invited us to come in and deliver hasn’t stopped asking about when he Wildplay at his school. can come back to Wildplay.” This time Three years later, Jack and his mum are he braved a wobble on the slackline, still regulars at our sessions across the city. He has joined Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, declared himself a Wildplay Ambassador and even sponsored me to run the London Marathon last year with his own pocket money, happy in the knowledge that he was supporting the work we do.

Jack’s mum tells me that Wildplay has had a huge impact on his life: he is more confident, outgoing, independent and adventurous. He has developed a great love of the outdoors. Stories about wildlife even encouraged him to start

staffordshire Wildlife Trust

main pic: helena dolby

We asked the Wildlife Trusts to share their favourite stories.

Here’s one: meet four-year-old Jack, who loves nature

Another ten species ticked off: Jack and Katie at a Wildplay session 30 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Jack is proud he has provided a place for birds to nest

reading.

Wildplay has given Jack a lot. He has given back in return, in small ways and big ways. Not only have we been able to talk to more people about what we do; he has provided a home for a family of birds.

Last February he came to one of our workshops and built a bird box. He took it home to hang up in his garden. Over the spring a family of birds moved in.

Jack told me how he loves watching the birds, and is proud that he has provided a place for them to nest. I hope his

Jack’s story – and research from across the world – shows that messing around in natural environments has huge benefits for children

passion for wildlife continues to grow and lasts a lifetime.

I hope the same for all of the young people that we work with, because the future of our wildlife sits in their hands.

If we can inspire and educate young people today, then we have done the very best we can to protect our wildlife for the future.

We’re growing nature-friendly schools Everybody has the right to experience wildlife in their daily lives, and children are happier, healthier and more creative when they’re connected to nature.

That’s why we’re proud to be leading a project to bring children closer to nature in school. Thanks to a £6.4 million grant from the Department of Education, Defra

and Natural England we’re helping children and teachers discover the joy of wildlife. With our partners YoungMinds, Groundwork, Sensory Trust and the Field Studies Council we are showing schools how to deliver lessons outdoors in natural spaces, to improve children’s mental health and wellbeing.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 31

UK news

It’s time to join

our campaign for a Wilder Future

We need massive public support to bring about nature’s recovery – everywhere

david tipling/2020vision

Like so many species in our degraded landscapes, brown hares are finding it hard to survive

Our natural world is in a critical condition. The laws and systems to keep it healthy are failing. More than 60% of plants and animals in the UK are now under threat. One in eight face extinction.

This is our problem too. Nature is vital for our physical and mental health, yet plastic litter, pesticides and dirty air are a fact of life. Our obesity problem is the worst in Europe. Floods are becoming more common and more destructive.

Damage to farmland soils costs us around £1bn a year.

These issues show that our lifestyles overlook the value of natural systems – systems that underpin everything we do. We need healthy soil to grow food 32 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

Nature is vital for our physical and mental health in, clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and green space for exercise and relaxation. No one disputes this, yet our farming, planning and economic systems have often taken us in the opposite direction. Our wild places are becoming disconnected – and people disconnected from them too.

The Wildlife Trusts want a Wilder Future. A future where existing

wildlife sites are better protected, and connected to more space for wildlife, and people too. A future where nature is in recovery.

Do you share our vision? If so, we need your help. We need you to explain to your local politician that more wildlife is better for us all, so that they support new laws – which are being debated right now – that will succeed in achieving nature’s recovery.

We also need you to help us create new wild places, and protect those we already have. From April onwards, we will share actions you can take in your personal life to help.

Please join us in creating a Wilder Future. We can make a difference.

From this

To this

Our homes

■ A Nature Recovery Network A joined-up network of existing and new habitats that provide space for wildlife to recover and allows people to thrive.

Avon wildlife trust

Darren tansley

Many streets are now sealed under tarmac and concrete

Plants and trees improve the atmosphere and help reduce flooding

Two-thirds of amenity grassland is closemown...

That is truly independent from Government to hold them to account on decisions that destroy nature – and helps people challenge this behaviour.

...but research shows meadows benefit people and wildlife

Our cities

shutterstock

AFL ARCHITECTS

Green roofs and spaces absorb heavy rain and cool things down

Our roads

Major roads are impassable barriers for many species

The more people who show they care about bringing back nature, the stronger our case becomes.

Visit wildlifetrusts.org/wilderfuture where you can find out how to help. Or search #WilderFuture on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Spread the word

highways agency

gov.uk

What you can do Show your support

The sheer mass of concrete in cities heats them up in the summer

Green bridges allow wildlife to shift as the climate changes

Our farmland

Share your love of nature with family, friends and colleagues. Could they become supporters too?

Help nature in your daily life

Darren tansley

Darren tansley

■ Legally Binding Nature Targets For example, clean air to breathe in our cities – which politicians must report on regularly and ultimately achieve.

■ A Nature Watchdog

helen hoyle

helen hoyle

Our public spaces

Grazing too close to riverbanks erodes soil and destroys habitats

What new laws should contain

With a fence the bank becomes stable again and plants return

Join a beach clean. Take up wildlife gardening. Walk and cycle more.

Shop for food without packaging.

Sign up to Wilder Future for more ideas.

March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 33

UK news

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Top places to see

Orchids

Colourful orchids might seem too exotic for our wind-swept islands, but we have more than 50 native species. Here’s where to find them

Orchids aren’t just beautiful. They’re also ancient. Fossilised pollen suggests they’ve been around since dinosaurs walked the earth, and in that time they’ve evolved a spectacular range of reproductive strategies.

Some, such as fly orchids, mimic insects to seduce unsuspecting pollinators into ‘mating’ with them and carrying off pollen. Others take the more traditional route, luring specific insects in with bright colours, delicate nectars and powerful scents.

The first orchids bloom in April. How many can you find this year?

34 ROEBUCK 147 March - July 2019

1

Talich Wildlife Reserve Scottish Wildlife Trust There’s a proliferation of orchids in this Easter Ross reserve, including fragrant, heath spotted and the rare lesser butterfly orchid.

Where is it? Near Tain, IV20 1TP Map reference: NH 850 786

2

Coatham Marsh Tees Valley Wildlife Trust A wetland reserve in an urban landscape, with a wide variety of flowers including swathes of northern marsh orchids and clusters of bee orchids.

Where is it? Redcar, TS10 5BQ Map reference: NZ 586 247

3

Mere Sands Wood Lancashire Wildlife Trust This reserve’s mosaic of habitats encourages an impressive array of plants to flourish, including marsh helleborine and common spotted, early marsh, southern marsh and bee orchids.

Where is it? Near Rufford, L40 1TG Map reference: SD 447 159

4

Llanymynech Rocks Montgom/Shropshire WT

Share experieyour nces Twe

7

Morgan’s Hill Nature Reserve Wiltshire Wildlife Trust This scenic reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its orchids, butterflies and chalk grassland. Look for lesser butterfly, frog, musk, fly, burnt and green-winged orchids.

Where is it? Calne, SN10 2LW Map reference: SU 025 672

Orchid starters

et us yo ur b orchid photos est from your da y @wildli out fetr #LoveW usts ildlife

Greater butterfly orchid

philip precey

Graceful night-scented flowers attract big moths.

June is the best time.

Early purple orchid jim higham

A good first orchid: out alongside bluebells in May, often in good numbers.

philip precey

Fly orchid

Common spotted orchid

Straddling the border between England and Wales, this former limestone quarry has a great selection, from early purple orchids in spring to autumn lady’stresses in September and October.

Where is it? Oswestry, SY22 6HD Map reference: SJ 262 216

5

Tasker’s Meadow Warwickshire Wildlife Trust A beautiful grassland site with abundant wildflowers including the county’s largest population of greater butterfly orchid.

You can also find twayblade, and bee, common spotted, green-winged and

Our commonest orchid, easy to spot and often in big clusters.

May to June.

paul lane

Gwent Wildlife Trust’s New Grove Meadow is one of Britain’s wildflower wonders. Green-winged orchids galore

pyramidal orchids.

Where is it? 1km north of Stockton, CV23 8HQ Map reference: SP 437 651

6

Dunsdon Devon Wildlife Trust This is a very special place: one of the best remaining Culm grasslands in Devon, with a rich range of wildflowers that includes southern marsh and lesser butterfly orchids.

Where is it? Holsworthy, EX22 7JW Map reference: SS 302 080

Chafford Gorges Essex Wildlife Trust An orchid haven thanks to its chalky soil. Seven different species are found here during spring and early summer, including man orchid, bird’s nest orchid and bee orchid.

Where is it? Grays, RM16 6RW Map reference: TQ 588 793

mark hamblin

Found in the open on grassland that has escaped intensive agriculture.

Best in May.

New Grove Meadows Gwent Wildlife Trust In May and June thousands of orchids give a wonderful display of colour. Look for green-winged, common spotted and greater butterfly amongst the wildflowers.

Where is it? Trelleck, NP25 4PD Map reference: SO 501 066

9

Easy to miss until you get your eye in. Looks incredibly fly-like. May, South-East.

Green-winged orchid

8

10

Slievenacloy Ulster Wildlife Tucked in a valley in the Belfast Hills, this grassland reserve is particularly important for orchids, birds and fungi.

You can find frog orchid, small white and lesser butterfly orchids flowering in early summer.

Where is it? Lisburn, BT28 3TE Map reference: J 245 712

For a more extensive list of places to see orchids visit

1

wtru.st/ orchids

10

2 3 4 8

5 7

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9 March - July 2019 ROEBUCK 147 35

Gourmet dining courtesy of players of

People’s Postcode Lottery

There’s always something tasty in the feeders for the resident red squirrels and ‘Houdini’ the stoat at the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and it’s all made possible by support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Why not go along and see the wildlife for yourself and sign up to play one of the largest charity lotteries in the world?

Photo: Tim Mason

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been helping Northumberland Wildlife Trust care for wildlife since 2008.

People’s Postcode Lottery manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different charities. For details on each week’s society lottery visit: www.postcodelottery. co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar. 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 £10 for 10 draws paid monthly in advance, a minimum of 32% goes directly to charities. For a full list of prizes visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes Postcode Lottery Limited is incorporated in England and Wales and is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission under licences 000-000829-N-102511 and 000-000829-R-102513.

Registered office: Postcode Lottery Ltd, Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR. Company reg. no. 04862732. VAT reg. no 848 3165 07

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