Nottinghamshire Wildlife - Summer 2014 by OptiLiam

Nottinghamshire

Wildlife The Magazine of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Summer 2014 NEWS

Trusts fight to save grasslands New ways for companies to support our work SPECIES NEWS

Sherwood cuckoos’ African adventure Otter – back in Nottinghamshire for good? RESERVES

Explore wild quarries A personal journey LIVING LANDSCAPES

Can we re-wild Britain?

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

NEWS UK UPDATE

In some parts of England up to a quarter of wildﬂower-rich habitats have declined or disappeared since 2005

Species-rich hay meadows often only have Local Wildlife Site status. It’s not enough

Flower-rich meadows and grasslands are more threatened than ever, according to new evidence from The Wildlife Trusts. Despite 97% of lowland meadows in England having been wiped out by 1980, loss of these habitats continues. Since 2005 a quarter of Local Wildlife Sites with grasslands (99 out of a total 392) in Nottinghamshire have lost valuable species. In Cumbria, surveys of upland hay meadows show a 27% decline (35 out of 128 sites). In Worcestershire, 24% of grassland Local Wildlife Sites (48 out of 200) have been degraded or lost since 2005. After making these shocking discoveries, in May The Wildlife Trusts presented Environment Secretary Owen Paterson with nearly 9,000 e-petition signatures, collected in just four weeks, to urge better protection. The Government is about to take vital decisions (based on the Common Agricultural Policy) which will determine the future for many wild grasslands in England.

Wildlife-rich grasslands are vital resources. They store carbon and help purify and hold water. But on current trends they – and the insects and birds that depend on them – will vanish. We are asking the Government to: ■ Improve laws and policies to better protect important grasslands; ■ Reward farmers for managing important grasslands, and link their conservation to conditional payments; ■ Designate deserving grasslands as Sites of Special Scientiﬁc Interest; ■ Set up a national grassland inventory, with sustained monitoring of sites;

One grassland saved... just A hard-fought campaign over a city centre site in Derby shows how at risk our special places are. When Derby City Council proposed building a closedcircuit cycle track on The Sanctuary Local Nature Reserve (LNR) it was opposed by 16 conservation groups including Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the Derbyshire Ornithological Society, the local RSPB group and others. The Trust took legal action against the Council to save the site, which is the city’s only bird reserve. The Council designated the site as a LNR in 2006. It was widely welcomed as a great example of green development in an urban environment. It is home to an impressive array of species, given the small size of the reserve. Birds breeding here include little ringed plover, lapwing and skylark. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is now seeking to work positively with Derby City Council and to establish a ‘friends of’ group to ensure the future management and protection of this site. More at derbyshirewildlifetrust.org. uk/news/2014

■ Restore more wildlife-rich grasslands, and encourage restoration partnerships. Longer term, we are working with Plantlife, landowners and others to tackle the issues facing grasslands. More on wildlifetrusts.org/grasslands

Despite damage by diggers, 45 bird species have returned to The Sanctuary

Around the Wildlife Trusts BBOWT The 34th annual count of snake’s-head fritillary plants at Ifﬂey Meadows revealed a record 84,190 individual plants despite the site being under water for eight weeks earlier this year. wtru.st/RecordCount 1

Nottinghamshire Wildlife

B’ham & BC The Trust has taken on the historic Deer’s Leap Wood, on the boundary between the Edgbaston, Harborne and Soho Wards of Birmingham. It now has a secure future as a nature reserve. wtru.st/DeersLeap

Cheshire The Trust is undertaking major works to improve and enhance Red Rocks nature reserve on the Wirral. The SSSI is crucial to the survival of the natterjack toad, Britain’s rarest amphibian. wtru.st/RedRocksWork

Cumbria Since 2012 16 volunteers have been mapping distribution of the Lake District’s smallest tree, dwarf willow. Its habitat requirements make it a potential indicator species for climate change. wtru.st/DwarfWillow

Trusts fight to save grasslands

Notes from the Chief Executive © Andy Wickham

John Everitt, Chief Executive

In his new book, Feral, the environmentalist George Monbiot evangelizes about the concept of ‘rewilding’ as the answer to conservation in modern Britain. He claims that rewilding ‘should involve reintroducing missing animals and plants, taking down the fences, blocking the drainage ditches, culling a few particularly invasive exotic species but otherwise standing back.’ It’s an interesting thought and one which is taken up by Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Tony Whitbread in this issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife. Monbiot’s book focuses largely on the uplands as the best opportunity for re-wilding since there are fewer people, fewer urban areas and the farming is less proﬁtable. What is particularly interesting for us in Nottinghamshire is how you apply this concept in a lowland county that has its fair share of people, urban areas and rich farmland, with only about 7% of the land area made up of protected sites. If we step back and let nature take its course, would we quickly be left with woodland over much of the landscape, our important

grasslands lost, and sensitive habitats scrubbed over? Perhaps the answer, as Tony Whitbread explains, is to work with natural processes at every scale rather than hold out for a policy of non-intervention. At the Wildlife Trust we have tended towards this approach anyway, favouring natural regeneration of woodland over tree planting, and grazing animals rather than over-engineered management. Indeed, our vision of Living Landscapes is very much about reconnecting the landscape and taking a more hands-off approach. As well as exploring the idea of rewilding, this issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife also describes schemes that promote the use of natural processes and some of the species that will beneﬁt, such as the work to reintroduce dormice at Treswell Wood or our ambitions to restore large areas of Sherwood Forest. Projects like these will form the next phase of our Living Landscape vision as we develop our new Strategic Plan to run from 2015 to 2020. You’ll have a chance to contribute to this at events over the summer, and at our Member’s Day and AGM which will be held at the Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre on Saturday 18 October. See the website and the reverse of this magazine's coversheet for the full programme, and please come along to get involved in shaping the next 50 years of our history. George Monbiot writes that we might see the return of the beaver, lynx and elk to the UK landscape. This may or may not be possible in Nottinghamshire in the next ﬁve years but we will be looking for your support in helping us shape a similarly ambitious vision for the future.

Content Highlights

3 5 7 10 13 17 18 21

Species news Otter – back in Nottinghamshire for good? Explore wild quarries A personal journey UK Update Restoring Sherwood’s historic heathlands Champions of Sherwood Sherwood Forest to the Congo and back!

Contributions Editorial enquiries and contributions to: Erin McDaid Copy deadline: Monday 29th September. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EA Tel: 0115 958 8242 Fax: 0115 924 3175 Email: info@nottswt.co.uk www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org Front Cover Orchids at Wilford Claypit by Al Greer. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Wildlife Trust or its Council.

Dorset Volunteers have discovered a new species of starﬁsh in rockpools at Kimmeridge. The small cushion starﬁsh Asterina phylactica has never been recorded there before. wtru.st/Small Cushion

Devon The Greater Horseshoe Bat Project has received HLF funding. The project helps farmers to farm in bat-friendly ways so that vital feeding areas and ﬂight corridors are maintained. wtru.st/GHSBatProject

Durham The Trust has developed the Wildground Project – 118 traineeships in grounds maintenance to encourage a more natural approach. The aim is to improve biodiversity in built-up areas. wtru.st/WildGround

Published by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Editor, Erin McDaid A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 748865 Reg. Charity No. 224168R President Sir Andrew Buchanan Designed & Produced by Optima Graphic Design Consultants Limited www.optimadesign.co.uk

Summer 2014

SPECIES

Species news Sherwood Cuckoos’ African adventure During May, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust supported the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) as part of their exciting Cuckoo monitoring work. Three birds were ﬁtted with satellite tags in Sherwood Forest to gain information on their movements once they leave the forest. By early August they had all left Nottinghamshire and are now in continental Europe. Two of the Cuckoos were caught at Sherwood Pines and the third bird at Shirebrook; this bird has been given the name of Dudley, whilst the other two are to be named shortly. Dudley is currently in Spain, close to the coast and roughly half-way between Barcelona and Valencia, unnamed Cuckoo, 134955 is in eastern France, with the other unnamed bird, 134957, being in Belgium, close to the border with the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

During the next couple of weeks all of them will make their way south but each bird will take its own route. Eventually they will cross the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. They might not all make it to the wintering area in the Congo Rainforest, as the crossing of the desert is extremely tough and can take its toll, but the information that they provide as they make their way there will be vital in helping scientists at the BTO understand what might be driving the decline of the British Cuckoo; we have lost almost three-quarters of our breeding Cuckoos during the last twenty-ﬁve years. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is delighted to be supporting the BTO in their efforts to understand more about the enigmatic Cuckoo and the experience gained by our staff as part of this project will be useful in future species monitoring work. We will be following the progress of the birds from Sherwood Forest with great interest and very much hope they all return next year.

Cuckoo

Everyone can follow these three intrepid birds, and nineteen other satellite tagged Cuckoos, as they make their way south by visiting the BTO website, www.bto.org/cuckoos

A positive year so far for butterflies

2014 appears to have been a phenomenal year for orchids in Nottinghamshire. Displays on our own reserves such as Wilford Claypit and West Burton Meadow were spectacular and a number of members reported seeing orchids numbering in their thousands on a number of sites across the county. Wildlife Trust Member Al Greer sent us a series of stunning photos, including our front cover image, of orchids taken at Wilford Claypit. It would appear from this special image of his son Felix, that its never too young to introduce a budding botanist to the delights of native orchids.

2014 has, so far, been a good year for butterﬂies. The green hairstreak which is known from only a few sites has been recorded at Skylarks (Blott’s). Three were seen in separate areas of the reserve. In recent years there has been an increase in reports of fritillary species in the county. Fritillaries declined in Notts at the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries possibly due to the end of traditional forestry management such as coppicing.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife

Felix Greer enjoying the orchids at Wilford Claypit

Purple Emperor butterfly

Outstanding year for orchids

The return of coppice management in woodland can only improve the fortunes of all our woodland butterflies, especially these returning species. Both the silver-washed fritillary and the dark green fritillary have been recorded over the last few years, appearing at locations where they haven’t been recorded before. The most exciting find came in July with the report of purple emperor in a south Nottinghamshire woodland. At the end of the 19th century its stronghold was the Sherwood Forest area but it became rarely recorded in the early 20th century. Since then there have been rumours and anecdotal reports but so far as I know the records this year are the first for about 100 years.

SPECIES

What to look out for © Amy Lewis

Sloes

Look out for the colours of autumn leaves

November

This is peak migration season and a visit to Attenborough, Besthorpe or Idle Valley Nature Reserves should prove rewarding as the birds gather for their final feed on their way south, and there is also a good chance of seeing passage waders. With the autumn colours on the trees, why not visit one of the woodland reserves? There will still be dragonflies around so look out for the large hawkers and smaller darters. Depending on the weather it could be a good time to go fungi hunting, but remember to be certain about your identification if you intend to collect for the pot.

Remember, remember the 5th November, with fireworks and bonfires. By now the nights can be bitterly cold and bonfires can be attractive refuges for hibernating hedgehogs; you should always check them before they are lit, especially if you have used fallen leaves. Now that the leaves have fallen off the trees, it is a good time to visit a woodland reserve to enjoy some late autumn birding. Look out for small birds that are easier to spot, like goldcrest and coal tit. They are often joined by the occasional tree-creeper and nuthatch and if you are lucky, you might see a lesser spotted woodpecker. With every year that passes there are more reports of blackcaps and even chiffchaffs overwintering. Do not chase the birds round the wood; a far better ploy is to find a good spot and wait for the birds to come to you – you are sure to get better views. Winter wildfowl will be arriving and so duck numbers will be increasing on our reserves such as Attenborough, Besthorpe and Idle Valley. Look out for goldeneye and goosander.

September

Fieldfare Common sandpiper

October Birds are the main attraction for the next couple of months and this is the month when a rare specimen may turn up. Despite being miles from the coast, there are plenty of wetland sites in the county such as Kilvington or Netherfield Lagoons, as well as our own reserves at Attenborough, Besthorpe and the Idle Valley. There may still be some dragonflies on the wing – common darters can be around in good numbers at the beginning of the month. In October, autumn colour spreads through the hedgerows and woodlands. Hazel is one of the earliest native species to turn brown, and if you can beat the wildlife to them, hazelnuts are worth looking out for. Dependent on the weather, this is the beginning of the fungi season, but not all fungi are associated with trees. A visit to our Beacon Hill reserve will show old man’s beard in all its splendour, swamping large areas of the woodland with its abundant fluffy seed heads. Sloes become prominent on the spiky branches of the blackthorn as their autumn leaves fall away.

December Winter should now be with us so a nice wetland site should be on your list for a visit as wildfowl numbers increase – the birds will be in superb condition. Weather conditions on the near continent dictate numbers of birds escaping bad weather. Apart from the wildfowl, look out for increased numbers of thrush species like redwing, blackbird and ﬁeldfare. Check those goldcrest for the odd ﬁrecrest and keep an eye on the rowan trees in the supermarket car park for the possibility of waxwing.

Please send all species records, especially those for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserves to our Living Landscapes Monitoring Ofﬁcer Michael Walker, mwalker@nottswt.co.uk Summer 2014

SPECIES

Otter – back in Nottinghamshire for good? European Otter

The much-loved otter is one of the UK’s most iconic species. After decades in decline, these endearing mammals are today being heralded as one of the most visible examples of conservation success. By Erin McDaid.

Speaking about a spate of local otter sightings, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Landscape Records Officer, Michael Walker, commented: “So far 2014 has seen a good number of otters recorded in Nottinghamshire’s rivers. Records come in occasionally, but in the first week of June we had reports of three sightings in the River Trent, spread from the north of the county near Cottam, to the south where one was seen on two successive days near Attenborough Nature Reserve. The other record from that week was of two otters swimming in the Trent early one morning south of Newark.” Michael Walker, who is also the official Mammal Recorder for the county, continued: “Away from the Trent, otters are regularly seen in the River Meden and occasionally in the River Idle. Another sad but useful sign that otters are becoming established in the county is the number found dead by the roadside. In the last year dead otters have been seen on both the A1 and A46.” The presence of otters in our waterways is a valuable indicator of a healthy environment, and for too long the effects of long-term persecution and high levels of pollution kept them out of many of the UK’s river catchments. By the late 1970s it was not just Nottinghamshire where

Nottinghamshire Wildlife

otters were struggling - they were almost extinct in England. The future for the species looked grim, but those with a passion for nature and a determination to turn back the clock never gave up.

Taking action to bring back otters Today, thanks to years of concerted action by conservation groups such as the Wildlife Trusts, and the coordination of efforts to improve water quality by the Environment Agency and water companies such as Severn Trent, otters have returned to all English counties except Kent. Conservation groups, including the Wildlife Trusts, lobbied for better protection for otters and in 1978 otter hunting was outlawed. After dangerous pesticides, which had badly affected otters, were phased out in the 1980s, attention turned to the need to clean up our rivers and to restore some of the vital riverside habitats that had been lost. In the late 1990s a unique partnership between the Environment Agency, the Wildlife Trusts and the UK water industry, laid the groundwork for otters to gradually return to their former strongholds. The Otters and Rivers Project sparked a decade of massive investment in water treatment plants and concerted conservation efforts focused on enabling otters to return.

For further details on otters, download our fact sheet

Surveys and training A key element of the project was the training of volunteers to act as ‘Otter Spotters’ to help monitor the progress of otters as they re-colonised their former strongholds. Volunteers were also trained in practical skills such as the construction of artiﬁcial otter holts.

Investment in wetland habitats Over the past ten years, the focus of conservation effort has shifted from individual species to largescale habitat restoration schemes. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust alone has invested around £1million in major projects in the Idle Valley and at Besthorpe, north of Newark, to create new areas of wetland habitat to beneﬁt a wide range of species including otters, bitterns, water voles and wading birds.

Sensitivity and secrecy Surprisingly not everyone is happy to see otters making a comeback, with some angling groups and some fishery owners having concerns about possible impact on fish stocks. However, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is confident that otters pose no threat to angling interests. Where local problems do occur, solutions are available to limit any impacts. Speaking about the issue, our Head of Communications Erin McDaid said

SPECIES

Timeline for otter conservation in Nottinghamshire 1998 Launch of the Wildlife Trust and Severn Trent Water Otters and Rivers Project. 1999 First artiﬁcial otter dens, known as holts, constructed at sites across Nottinghamshire and ﬁrst evidence of otters found in Nottinghamshire. June 2000 Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust completes a survey for otters, water voles and mink on key county rivers. August 2000 New reedbed habitat established at Attenborough Nature Reserve.

2006 A report on Water for Wildlife, a joint Wildlife Trusts and Environment Agency partnership, shows that it has delivered almost 10,000 volunteer days for wetland conservation work with over 1300 otter surveys completed and nearly 50km of rivers protected or restored. 90% of Wildlife Trusts report that otter populations are stable. 2007 Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust launches its vision for the Trent Holmes area, a key area of traditional farmland and wetland habitat alongside the Trent in the Newark area.

2003 Results of National Otter Survey for England– records for the River Trent Catchment more than double the 1993 ﬁgures.

2008 CEMEX announces £10,000 investment in conservation work to beneﬁt otters and other wetland species at Attenborough Nature Reserve.

2005 New wetland habitats, including reedbed and an otter holt, created at Lound Quarry - now Idle Valley Nature Reserve near Retford.

2008 The Wildlife Trusts launch their national vision for creating a Living Landscape to over 100 MPs including Nottinghamshire Wildlife

“Whilst there can obviously be issues of conflict within commercial fisheries, healthy rivers and lakes can happily support wildlife and angling. Otters only return to healthy rivers where there is an abundance of fish, so they pose no threat to angling interests. Where there are isolated issues on artificially stocked lakes, measures such as fencing can be employed to prevent losses. Non-native mink can also cause problems on fisheries and the return of the otter may help push mink out.”

What next?

2009 Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust begins work on its largest ever wetland habitat restoration project at Besthorpe Nature Reserve in the heart of the Trent Vale. 2010 Keen local naturalist Alan Knightly photographs an adult otter at Attenborough Nature Reserve. 2010 Otters had returned to all counties in England except Kent, with evidence of otters found at 58.8% of survey suites – a tenfold increase on 1977/78. 2014 Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust observes a signiﬁcant increase in the number of otter sightings across the county.

Otter Facts ■ Otters have webbed feet, streamlined bodies, thick, rudder-like tails and dense fur for waterprooﬁng.

■ Otters have a range of about 40km. ■ An otter will make several homes at intervals along the river bank in special dens known as ‘otter holts’.

■ The body of an adult otter will be 55-90cm long with the tail adding 30-50cm to overall length.

■ The UK’s otter population is internationally important, since otters have declined across much of their western European range.

■ Adult otters weigh between 5 and 10kg.

Otter at Attenborough

Speaking about this possibility Michael Walker commented: “We’ve had otters back in the county for around 15 years now and, as they are regularly recorded in a number of parts of Nottinghamshire, we suspect that they have been breeding. However until we see a family group together, or someone photographs a mother with cubs, we won’t know for deﬁnite.” Hopefully the wait will not be too long.

Thankfully, today’s otters enjoy the maximum protection affordable to any species under current and European legislation – making it illegal to trap, kill, move or knowingly disturb them, so hopefully they are here to stay. Nevertheless, the next major milestone in the success story of the otter’s return to Nottinghamshire will be proof of breeding activity.

Trust Vice President Kenneth Clarke – MP for Rushcliffe.

Summer 2014

RESERVES UK UPDATE

Explore

Wild Quarries Pick your way through a moonscape of rocks and spoil heaps and you’ll find some amazing wildlife.

Houghton Regis Chalk Pit, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire. What a landscape to explore

1 Houghton Regis Chalk Pit

3 Clint’s Quarry

5 Llanymynech Rocks

BCN WT

Cumbria WT

Shropshire & Montgomeryshire WTs

This 100 acre former chalk pit hosts the country’s best display of the nationally scarce Chiltern gentian. Orchids and chalkhill butterﬂies thrive here too. The wetlands are home to great crested newts and turtle doves can be heard from the woodland in summer.

Quarrying for limestone started here in the 1600s. There is still a large lime-kiln in the woodland near the southern boundary. Northern marsh and common spotted orchid live in the damp patches. The drier parts have wild strawberry, centaury, mouse-eared hawkweed, bird’s-foot trefoil and knapweed – and bee and pyramidal orchids too.

The dramatic cliffs at Llanymynech Rocks watch over a botanical treasure trove: woodland twined in old man’s beard and grassland abundant in bee and pyramidal orchids. Bright yellow rock rose and aromatic herbs grow among the tramways, originally built to carry stone.

Where is it? Path from Lake View, off Houghton Rd. Grid TL 013 236. Post code LU5 5GJ.

2 East Crindledykes Quarry Northumberland WT Disused limestone quarry with a rich limestone ﬂora and interesting geological exposures. Flowers include autumn gentian, salad burnet, thyme, cowslip, hoary plantain, heath grass and crested hair grass. Where is it? On Stanegate, N of Bardon Mill. Open to Northumberland Wildlife Trust members only. Grid NY 848 673.

Where is it? A5086 N of Egremont. Park in layby after junction 100m from entrance. Grid NY 008 124, Explorer 303.

4 Miller’s Dale Quarry Derbys WT Until 1930 Miller’s Dale was still operational. The quarry floor is a special place, especially on a hot July day when the scent of fragrant orchids fills the air. Many other wildflowers flourish on the poor soil. Jackdaws and sometimes kestrels nest in crevices in the quarry face. Where is it? Wye Valley, 5 miles E of Buxton off B6049. Grid SK140731, Landranger 119.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife

Where is it? Underhill Lane, Bronwylfa. Grid SJ 267 218. Post code SY22 6HD.

6 Petershill Scottish WT An old limestone quarry now noted for its geological exposures. Fossil trilobites, crinoids and brachiopods have been found here. The high humidity and limestone encourage lime-loving mosses and liverworts of regional importance. There’s also common twayblade, greater butterﬂy orchid and water horsetail. Where is it? On NE edge of Bathgate. Grid NS984696, Landranger 65.

RESERVES

Dig a little deeper at former Nottinghamshire Quarries

F sites ind more wildl like these ifetru at /rock sts.org s

Alongside this round up of some of the best former quarry sites for wildlife across the UK, we thought we should showcase a few of our own. A quick look at our list of nature reserves reveals that a surprisingly large proportion of our sites have, at some time in their past, been subject to some form of quarrying or mining, including our largest and best known sites, Attenborough and Idle Valley. However away from the more famous gravel quarries, some of our less well known sites were also quarries supplying everything from clay for making bricks to, gypsum and even the stone used to build Trent Bridge.

Annesley Woodhouse Quarry

Before you go Download a reserve leaﬂet to make the most of your visit. Most Wildlife Trusts provide one on their website which you can reach via wildlifetrusts.org

Situated close to the M1 in the west of the county, Annesley Woodhouse Quarry is a fascinating site which is situated at the junction of the Permian Magnesian Limestone and Carboniferous Coal Measures. It is home to a wide range of birds, including breeding willow warblers, but its main interest comes from the diverse range of plants and grasses. Together with the adjacent Bogs Farm Quarry, it was designated as a site of Special Scientiﬁc Interest in 1981 and is now home to orchid species including bee orchid and common spotted orchid.

Beacon Hill Conservation Park This former gypsum quarry on the outskirts of Newark has a mix of habitats, from established woodland and hedgerows to more recent grassland. It is home to notable moth species including Haworth’s pug, a relatively rare moth for Nottinghamshire, which is dependent on clematis which grows in the site’s wooded areas. After quarrying ceased, the site operated as a landﬁll site and much of the area has now been restored as a wildﬂower meadow, providing an ideal picnic spot with views over the town.

Lady Lee Quarry This former quarry is located on a strip of magnesian limestone, which was quarried from as early as the 17th century up until the 1920s. Since then the site has partially ﬂooded to form a large shallow lake with well vegetated margins and several small islands. The other major habitat is woodland, with smaller areas of grassland and marsh. Impressive limestone outcrops around the edge of the quarry are of signiﬁcant geological interest.

Quarry Holes Originally established as a magnesian limestone quarry in the 15th century, this site in Nottingham supplied stone for the repair of Trent Bridge in 1458. Following the quarry’s closure around 100 years ago, natural colonisation and subsequent vegetation succession have resulted in the mixed woodland that dominates the site today. Tree species include ash, sycamore and hazel whilst herb species include lords and ladies, wood avens, dog’s mercury, red campion and weld.

Quarry Holes

4 1

Summer 2014

RESERVES © Scott Tilley

Rambling on the reserves

Day 6: Meeting up our President, Sir Andrew Buchanan (front right) at our Life Members' event at Hodsock Priory

Day 7: With Reps of Mansfield & Ashfield Group, Maun Conservation Group and the Flying High Academy Lincoln Red

It has been a very busy spring, but this seems to be how it is these days. Much of the work however has been an absolute pleasure and it is always good to share good news. What a spring! Looking through the woodlands early on was, as always, a real treat for me. It is where I am most at home. But the meadows this year have been something very special, with a riot of wildflowers, and it seems orchids have been jumping up everywhere. Of particular note, I wandered over Eakring Meadows and the diversity in the different fields was outstanding; the buzz of insects was loud and a comment that yellow and purple would normally clash made me think that somehow nature can get away with colours I certainly couldn’t! However if you are looking for botany, the Annesley Woodhouse Quarry is stuffed full of variety. We have been continuing to review the management of our grasslands, and large areas will be left without mowing on a number of sites. This has been happening for a while, but we are looking to increase the size of areas left. This is to ensure that some of the late flowering plants get a chance to produce seed, but also that the insects have a secure nectar source later in the year. Grassland cutting is important to maintain the botanical interest, and we can’t leave it all to the end of the year or it

Nottinghamshire Wildlife

Eakring Meadow

Charles Langtree Head of Estate Management

would not get done. However it does have a significant impact on the site and if everything is mown you can notice the change from the fact that the butterflies disappear as there is nothing left for them to feed on. Retaining patches and strips helps reduce the impact. Another grassland well worthy of note is Mansey Common. I have regularly written about this site. It is a very special place and the restoration of the grassland is coming along very well, with some great changes from grassland to scrub and its magnificent old oaks. It is still a site recovering from being scrubbed over, but has come a long way. We had a busy lambing time, and all the lambs are now out on various reserves and the older sheep have all had a trim as well. Our sheep play an essential role in managing the grasslands, but the cattle are also becoming increasingly important so it is good to note some new arrivals. We have three Lincoln Red calves at the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, and have bought two English Longhorns, each with a calf, for Misson Carr. All are doing well and settling into the various sites.

Day 2: A quick stop at Spalford Warren

Day 1: A great send off at the Idle Valley

Day 2: A great welcome from the Farndon Wildlife Watch Group

RESERVES

A personal journey When I set out to visit all Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserves by bike to mark the Trust's 50th Anniversary, I was more focused on the issue of whether my body would hold up than on what I was likely to see on the journey itself. Despite a few early aches and pains, as the journey unfolded I was able to concentrate more and more on the reserves themselves and on the landscapes in which they sit. Whilst I had visited all but one of the reserves (Clarborough Tunnel) along the route before, I had obviously never visited them all in such a short space of time and travelling by bike I was able to get a better perspective of how the reserves relate to each other and how close many of them are to each other. In choosing the route I had tried to avoid main roads where possible and many of our wonderful reserves are inherently off the beaten track, so long sections of the journey were on delightful rural roads or bridleways. Some sections also had wonderful views, which are easier to absorb when cycling especially when you pedal as slowly as I did on some sections. My favourite stretch actually came on day 1. Having started at the Idle Valley, I dropped down from Kirton Wood towards Knesall and the route gave excellent views over the Trent Valley. I also visited ﬁve other reserves Hunt’s Meadow, Eakring Meadows, Penny Pasture Common, Mansey Common and Duke’s Wood - which are all within about 4 miles – making me realize just how many sites we have in some parts of the county.

Day 3: A short break to photograph the cowslips at West Burton Meadow

As well as enjoying re-visiting sites I had not been to in many years, I also enjoyed meeting people along the way. I was waved off on my ﬁrst day by a group that had just experienced a dawn chorus walk at the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, while being greeted on day 2 by members of the

Erin McDaid Head of Communications & Marketing

Farndon Watch group gave me a real lift. Over the 10 days, which saw other highlights including visiting 13 reserves in and around Nottingham in one day and the dedication of a Meadow at Wilwell Farm Cutting to former Vice President Margaret Price. My only regret is that I didn't really have time to take in and enjoy the reserves properly whilst on my tour – although I did pop back to Sellers Wood in the evening with my family to get a better look at the woodland wild ﬂowers. As a result of my bike ride I now have a list of the reserves I plan to re-visit in the months ahead and a greater appreciation than ever of just how lovely the Nottinghamshire countryside can be. I am delighted that I have so far raised almost £1500 to help kick-start our new Sherwood Forest Restoration Fund and I hope that my efforts inspire other people to do something to raise funds for the Wildlife Trust but, even more than that, I hope that my trip encourages people to get out to enjoy more of our nature reserves across the county. With almost seventy different sites to choose from, there is something for everyone and the best thing is, you won't have to travel far to get there. Across the UK, we believe that most people live within three miles of a Wildlife Trust reserve – so why not get out a map, see which reserves are near to you that you’ve not been to and pay them a visit?

For further details and pictures about my journey and how you can donate to our Sherwood Forest Restoration Fund visit www.justgiving.com/erin-mcdaid Summer 2014

INSPIRING PEOPLE

Hello World Taking young children out? These are our experts’ tips to introduce them to the wonderful planet they are a part of.

15 great outdoor games Explore under logs, in crevices in trees, on leaves, in meadows, in streams. Children love holding millipedes that are ‘playing dead’ and watching them unfurl. For advanced ‘mini-beasting’ set an overnight pitfall trap: sink a yogurt pot to ground level and prop a rainproof roof over the top.

What sounds better? “Fancy going for a walk?” or, “Who’s up for a mission to go back in time and discover dinosaurs and ﬁnd their eggs?” It’s fun chasing imaginary dinosaurs through the woods. Stones are their eggs! Muddy puddles are footprints! Find objects and make up what they could be. A twig is a walking stick for a hedgehog. A catkin is a squirrel’s scarf. Children will really get into it and come up with some crazy ideas.

Roll down a grass bank and see who can roll the slowest – or who can get to the bottom ﬁrst!

Ask the children to pretend they’re an ant. They could put a piece of string on the ground and explore every minute detail along it as if they were very small. What do they see and what do they ﬁnd? What would it be like to be that creature?

bees: spot the pollen 7 Watch baskets on their hind legs, and their long tongues drinking nectar. Use the best binoculars available – a pair of taped-together loo rolls. This simple bit of kit will focus their attention on the smallest of habitats under a leaf, or features across a landscape. They’re light, durable and you can even stick them on the compost heap when you get home.

Lay a sheet under a tree and shake a branch. You will be amazed at how much is living up above your heads. In the woods, get the children to leave a trail, marking out arrows with stones, sticks or pine cones to show the way they’ve gone. Or leave some leaf art for other people to ﬁnd.

As you walk, make up stories about the unusual things you pass. Who really lives down that hole? Was that tree watching you?

Catch grasshoppers in long grass with a net made from light material and a wire coat hanger. Have a jam jar ready to catch ﬂying insects from the net for a closer look.

Building nest boxes is a brilliant activity for children. Readysawn wood and pre-drilled nail holes make it easier for smaller ones to get involved. Make a pond to attract wildlife with an upturned dustbin lid dug into the ground. Wait a few weeks in spring or summer. Then just lie down on your tummy and watch.

You can do a lot of fun things with a handful of mud

Stop, sit and be still in long grass or under a tree. Nature will come to you! A couple of minutes is all it takes!

Even your back garden becomes a jungle of exciting creatures after dark. Hang up a sheet and shine a torch to attract moths. Or search under stones or logs to spot nocturnal creepy crawlies.

Erin McDaid Head of Communications & Marketing Climbing over logs is so much better in bare feet

11 Nottinghamshire Wildlife

INSPIRING PEOPLE Go wild this summer Find a wild place near you to explore. See a list of our regular nature clubs. Download activity and spotting sheets. wildlifetrusts.org/ mywildsummer

Think like this

■ Embrace the great outdoors in all its wildness. You and your children are wild at heart. We are meant to be connected to nature. ■ Children who are engaged and buzzing with excitement take in and store that experience for the future. It also awakens their natural curiosity. ■ Get out there and enjoy the sunshine, wind, and rain. Children will follow your lead and will want to do the same. ■ Let yourself go: run around, get muddy, make silly shapes and noises. Children will thrive off the energy you give off. ■ Keep it simple, cheap and local. There’s no need for fancy expensive materials. ■ If you come across a bug you’re not sure of, think of a funny way to describe it. That way you’ll remember it to look up when you get home, if you want to. ■ Above all, give them the time and freedom to play, and to explore the outdoors for themselves.

■ Play with your children outside, regularly ■ Let them get wet and muddy ■ Encourage them to explore and discover ■ Let them grow plants they can eat ■ Climb trees, make dens, dip ponds, look for bugs ■ Go out at night to search for bats or minibeasts ■ Rear spawn into frogs or caterpillars into butterﬂies ■ Pick and eat wild blackberries ■ Use your senses: look, listen, touch, smell.

Don’t ■ Worry if you’re not an expert. Just aim to create a sense of wonder – happy memories which will set them up for life ■ Stay indoors if it’s raining. Take a change of clothes and see who can make the biggest puddle splash.

the next chapter Wildlife in the City Young Roots is a new project which builds on the success of our original project to connect people to their local urban green space. As the name suggests, the Young Roots project will focus on working with young people in the city, mainly in the Broxtowe and Bulwell areas, providing opportunities to learn about the natural heritage in their community.

Our Wildlife in the City programme has provided a wide range of oportunities for young people, like Luke, to learn new skills and help with management of valuable urban wildlife sites

Through this project young people will be able to really get stuck into looking after their local green spaces. We’ll provide participants with training and local opportunities to use their new skills to help us improve local green spaces. Although we’ll aim to create opportunities for hundreds of young people to get involved, we’re hoping that by working closely with a few really keen individuals they will be able to develop skills that could help them secure work in conservation or related sectors, and provide them with other lifelong skills.

Summer 2014

NEWS UK UPDATE © Elliott Neep

The Wildlife Trusts propose a greener HS2

Tackling bovine TB in cattle makes more sense than killing badgers, say The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts are calling for the controversial HS2 railway to become one of England’s biggest nature restoration projects, if it goes ahead. We oppose the current route because of the environmental damage it would cause. The proposed mitigation measures also miss the chance to achieve a net gain for nature. “Improved public transport is an important part of our transition to a low carbon economy, but this must not be achieved at the expense of the natural environment,” said Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape. We are proposing a 1km ribbon of wildlife-rich landscape either side of the railway, with regular green bridges, pathways and cycle tracks (‘Low Speed 2’) reconnecting communities and habitats cut through by the line.

Independent research puts the cost of establishing and managing the green ribbon at less than 1% of the overall HS2 budget of £42bn. Read ‘HS2 – A Greener Vision’ at wildlifetrusts.org/hs2

A greener vision for HS2

Ideas for large-scale nature restoration along the proposed route

In March Environment Secretary Owen Paterson conﬁrmed there would be no national roll-out of the badger cull in 2014. However, pilot culls will continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire as part of the Government’s strategy to tackle bovine TB (bTB) in cattle. Independent reports show the culls failed to meet targets for effectiveness and humaneness. The Wildlife Trusts along with many groups, politicians and

people oppose culling. Many Wildlife Trusts in the ‘edge area’ (where bTB is not yet widespread) are vaccinating badgers to help tackle the spread of bTB. “It’s time to stop seeing badgers as the problem,” said Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape. “The disease is mainly spread between cattle so the Government needs to do much more to address this.” More at wildlifetrusts.org/ bovineTB

“It could be planned, established and run by a partnership of residents, landowners and local groups,” explained Paul. “Recreated habitats would link and provide ‘stepping stones’ between wildlife sites. In time there would be new meadows, woodlands and wetlands for people to explore, alongside existing farms, communities and housing.”

Roll-out stopped – pilot culls continue

On Atten sale at Idle V borough al & Rese ley Natur r e throu ves and g onlin h our e sho p

New Wildlife Trust binoculars Thanks to a partnership with Opticron we now have ﬁve Wildlife Trust binoculars, ranging from £30 to £129. Sales will help fund work on our reserves, keeping them a great place to see wildlife. The range comprises 8x21, 8x32, 8x42, 10x42 and 10x50. You can buy them from optics retailers and selected local Wildlife Trusts. opticron.co.uk

There are five models in The Wildlife Trusts’ range

Around the Wildlife Trusts Leics & Rutland The Trust has been gifted a fabulous new nature reserve set in the Belvoir escarpment. Coombs Meadows (mainly marsh and grassland) boasts one of the ﬁnest views over the Vale of Belvoir. wtru. st/CoombsMeadows 13 Nottinghamshire Wildlife

Lincs The new Wildﬂower Meadows Network project will inspire local people to create and restore meadows, thanks to a £76,300 HLF grant. The aim is to develop a network of these rare habitats. wtru.st/LincsMeadows

London WT The Trust has a new reserve – Braeburn Park. A large brownﬁeld site, it has ex-Victorian landﬁll, a shooting club, an orchard and a geological SSSI. It’s notably rich in scarce invertebrates. wtru.st/BraeburnPark

Manx The ﬁrst juniper grove has been planted in Glen Auldyn just a few hundred yards from where the last native tree was dug up nearly 70 years ago. It’s part of the 30-year Ramsey Forest project. wtru.st/ManxJuniper

UK UPDATE NEWS © Mike Lane

Ospreys thrive on Wildlife Trust reserves

Alliance challenges fracking rules All protected wildlife areas, nature reserves and national parks should be frackfree zones. Each drilling proposal should have a full environmental assessment. The shale gas industry should pay the costs of its regulation and pollution clean-ups. That’s the message in a report by The Wildlife Trusts, the Angling Trust, the National Trust, RSPB, the Salmon & Trout Association and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust which challenges the way fracking in the UK is regulated. Weaknesses in the current regulatory framework could put species such as pinkfooted geese, salmon and barbastelle bats at risk and chalk streams could be contaminated or affected by water stress. More at wildlifetrusts.org/ﬁttofrack

Osprey revival

Somerset Two million baby eels were released into Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve and Catcott Great Fen by the Sustainable Eel Group, the Rivers Trust and Somerset Wildlife Trust. wtru.st/SomersetEels

S & W Wales The Trust is urgently raising money to continue critical breeding seabird studies along the Pembrokeshire coast. Government funding cuts are withdrawing support just when it is needed the most. wtru.st/SeabirdSOS

There are signs the UK’s osprey population is expanding with birds prospecting and fighting for nesting sites. In Montgomeryshire the regular Dyfi pair saw off stiff competition for their nest. At Rutland Water one nest was abandoned after territorial disputes. Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Foulshaw Moss saw its first clutch of eggs. And in Scotland the old female at Loch of the Lowes laid her 70th egg. wildlifetrusts.org/ospreys

Surrey Abandoned playing fields at Priest Hill are beginning a new life as a nature reserve. Bare ground and chalk encourage invertebrates and wild flowers, which in turn support many birds and butterflies. wtru.st/ PriestHill

Wiltshire The box bug Goncerus acuteangulatus has been found at the Trust’s Conigre Mead reserve in the centre of Melksham. Its name comes from its main food, the box tree. wtru.st/WiltsBoxBug

Summer 2014

LIVING LANDSCAPES UK UPDATE © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Can we re-wild Britain? Tony Whitbread is Sussex Wildlife Trust’s chief executive. He’s worked for The Wildlife Trusts since 1990.

And what could it mean for the landscapes our children and grandchildren will inherit? Dr Tony Whitbread investigates

Travel through rural West Sussex, between Wisborough Green and Petworth, and you will discover a wonderful old forest: tall beeches and oaks soaring above holly trees and a scattering of woodland ﬂowers. This ancient place is ‘The Mens’. It’s Sussex Wildlife Trust’s biggest woodland reserve and home to a long-running ecological experiment. There are no obvious signs of management here. Instead, The Mens has been deliberately left to its own devices since we bought it in 1974, and probably for decades before that. It is, arguably, one of the few places like a ‘natural’ wild wood in lowland England. So it’s a good place to start looking at ‘re-wilding’ – helping the natural processes that once drove the ecology of places to regain a foothold. Re-wilding is an idea ﬁnding its time thanks at least in part to George Monbiot’s recent book Feral. In it, Monbiot argues that we need large areas where we can experience something close to the full grandeur of nature. Places where we can re-wild ourselves, as much as re-wild nature. But that doesn’t just mean restoring trees and peat bogs to the sparselypopulated uplands. Re-wilding asks

15 Nottinghamshire Wildlife

deep questions about our relationship with nature, and how we look after it. In some places UK nature conservation is already heading in this direction. From upland forest regeneration in Glen Affric, peatland restoration in the Pennines to saltmarsh restoration in Essex, we see a move towards understanding and working with natural processes over large areas. But what did wild Britain look like before we took up the axe and plough?

We need large areas where we can experience something like the full grandeur of nature People generally picture a dense ‘wildwood’ that covered Britain perhaps 8,000 years ago. After all, many habitats in Britain, if left alone, will eventually develop into woodland. But that original wildwood must also have included all the precursors to the habitats we know today such as

Re-wilding is allowing nature to work (as much as possible) as it should. At Cossington Meadows near Leicester, semi-wild Exmoor ponies help to keep wetland habitats wild and healthy

grassland and heathland, as well as dense forest. These would have been formed as a result of natural disturbance, such as wind, ﬁres, grazing, ﬂooding and probably a great deal more besides. Evidence of oak and hazel in prehistoric pollen records suggests the wildwood would not have been continuous trees, as these species don’t regenerate well in dense woodland. And more than half of all our species need open, unwooded habitat, while many of the rest live on forest edges. So whilst trees may have been abundant in the wildwood we also need plenty of imagination when conceiving the wildness of our past and future landscapes. So what does this mean for nature conservation today? Re-wilding is about understanding how nature works and using this to shape our future landscapes, not recreate the past. There is some debate on the best way to re-wild – should we just leave areas completely, or should we restore natural processes where they are absent? If the aim is wild places with as many natural processes present as possible then a range of approaches may be needed.

LIVING LANDSCAPES This could mean encouraging the natural regeneration of trees such as at Dundreggan in Scotland (the ‘Trees for Life’ project). It could mean opening up large areas for ‘near-natural’ grazing such as in the Great Fen (a partnership led by The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants) and in the privately owned Knepp Estate in Sussex. It could also mean reintroducing the ‘ecosystem engineers’, such as beavers, as is being trialled in Knapdale by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Or it could mean kick-starting natural processes by reversing engineering works on some rivers or blocking ditches on peatlands. Putting the top predators back, however, may be more difﬁcult. The ecological need is clear – they are a missing part of our ecosystems and they drive diversity in nature. But we live in highly modiﬁed and populated landscapes and there are practicalities to consider. Nevertheless we should keep an open mind; in the long term our society needs healthy, functioning

ecosystems, with as many constituent parts as possible. For example the re-introduction of lynx to parts of Scotland is gathering support, both for ecological and socio-economic reasons. The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Landscape aim is for a wilder, more ecologically balanced landscape. To put it simply, we insist that wildlife should be abundant throughout the landscape, with natural processes restored where we can. This is why we are re-naturalising rivers, working with farmers to create wildness in farmland areas, reintroducing key missing species and blocking thousands of miles of upland drainage ditches. Ditch blocking in particular should improve the country’s balance sheet – in this case by reducing the cost of clean drinking water and storing carbon. Conserving what remains is the starting point, but it is not the best we can have. Restoring our wildlife and ecosystems is a work in progress but we must imagine, and do, better. And popular support for re-wilding can help to inspire that change.

To read a longer version of this article visit: http://bit.ly/1sl72fh

Naturalistic grazing at the Knepp Estate, Sussex

Natural tree regeneration at Blaeneinion in mid-Wales, Pumlumon Project

The Mens - a wood that has seen no human disturbance in decades

A natural approach Projects around the UK where natural processes are being restored. From a range of organisations. Local communities are often involved. Scale and methods differ.

Dundreggan Conservation Estate, 4000ha Who: Trees for Life Where: Glen Moriston, Scotland. What: Reforestation, using wild boar for natural regeneration, montane scrub restoration, tree nursery. treesforlife.org.uk

Soar Valley, 6000ha Who: Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Where: Leicestershire, England What: Floodplain, wetland, naturalistic grazing. lrwt.org.uk

Wild Ennerdale, 4300ha Who: National Trust, Forestry Commission, United Utilities, Natural England Where: Cumbria, England What: Re-naturalised rivers, naturalistic grazing, montane restoration, forest regeneration and native woodlandexpansion. wildennerdale.co.uk

Pumlumon, 9000ha Who: Knepp Estate Where: Sussex, England. What: Naturalistic grazing, wetland, scrub and woodland regeneration. kneppsafaris.co.uk

Alladale Wilderness Reserve, 9300ha Who: Suffolk Wildlife Trust Where: Suffolk, England. What: Natural reshaping of manmade coastal defences. Wetland. suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Scottish Beaver Trial, 4,400 ha Who: Scottish Wildlife Trust, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland & Forestry Commission Scotland Where: Knapdale Forest, Argyll, Scotland What: Trial beaver reintroduction. Wet woodland, Atlantic oak woodland, lochs and burns. scottishbeavers.org.uk For more information and links: wildlifetrusts/rewilding Summer 2014

INSPIRING PEOPLE

Berry Hill School at Rainworth

Samworth Academy A Level at Strawberry Hill

Restoring Sherwood’s Historic Heathlands

Karen Bennett Head of People & Wildlife

Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, over the past two years we have been able to realise our vision to restore the lowland heathland at Strawberry Hill Heath SSSI near Mansﬁeld and to educate local young people about the value of this precious habitat right on their doorstep.

Heathlands were once managed by grazing, burning and cutting but, when this practice was stopped, these areas were quickly overrun by bracken, gorse, scrub and woodland. At Strawberry Hill Heath we have been working on an extensive programme of selective tree removal and bracken clearance as well as protecting areas identiﬁed as potential ground nesting sites for nightjars. Although species like the nightjar are particularly iconic indicators of the health of the site, we have also been concerned with improving the whole ecosystem and have created diverse woodland edges by varying the habitat to suit species from invertebrates to bats. More recent threats to heathlands have been from antisocial behaviour such as ﬂy tipping and dirt-bike riding so our mission has been to work with local young people to instil 17 Nottinghamshire Wildlife

a sense of wonder and value about their local “wild space”. Ed Tripp, our Sherwood Education and Community Ofﬁcer, has been working with most of the local schools adjacent to the heath, creating memorable learning experiences for their pupils. Over the course of this project we have been able to offer 1200 pupil visits from 11 local schools and over 500 from local community groups ranging from our local Wildlife Watch group to after school clubs and scouts. © NWT

Although you may think heathlands do not compare favourably in the looks department to ancient woodland, this fragile habitat is home to a large number of rare and unusual species including reptiles, invertebrates and a number of threatened bird species such as the European nightjar. They also have an important place in our local and national heritage; Strawberry Hill Heath formed part of the lost, historic forests of Rainworth and Rufford, which were in turn part of Sherwood Forest.

Samworth Academy A Level at Strawberry Hill

We have also run successful summer celebration family events to inspire love of the heathlands at Vicar Water in partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council. We love to hear how the children have enjoyed their sessions and seen some amazing wildlife, but we also want to make a lasting impact. We therefore feel particularly proud when we hear how they have used their pester power to persuade their families to take them back to the heath for a self-led visit later on.

To encourage more visits by local people we have also been improving public access by creating ‘dead hedges’ using branches and brash to mark out paths and installing steps at Strawberry Hills Heath. We would like to thank our amazing volunteers who have worked so hard and with so much passion at Strawberry Hill Heath along with our Western Reserves Ofﬁcers, initially Ruth Testa, and now Gary Cragg. In the ﬁnal months of this project we are determined to leave a legacy and we are planning to create resource packs on heathland habitats for teachers to use with their pupils in the future and to run some teacher training sessions on using these materials. Ed is also working with a group of local teenagers to undertake surveys for invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and vegetation, and to guide a bat walk, as well as to undertake some habitat management tasks during the summer months. They will be working towards the John Muir Award which encourages young people to discover a wild place, conserve it and share their experiences with others. These budding conservationists will, we hope, become the future ambassadors for lowland heathlands, these special and unique wild places.

INSPIRING PEOPLE

Champions of Sherwood Forest In the last issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife we announced the creation of a new Sherwood Forest Restoration Fund to help us restore and reconnect Sherwood’s fragmented landscape. Over the past few months we have developed the Champions of Sherwood campaign to enable us to fund more work with partners across the whole of the Sherwood Forest area. By restoring and linking existing areas of habitat and by creating new habitat to replace areas lost to development or intensive agriculture we believe that we can play a crucial role in restoring much of Sherwood Forest to its former glory. The focus of our work will initially be in our Rainworth and Rufford Living Landscape area where we are already caring for Rainworth Heath and Strawberry Hill Heath; delivering signiﬁcant heathland restoration in partnership with Harworth PLC at the former Rufford Colliery and working with local communities through our Restoring Sherwood’s Historic Heathland project (see page opposite for further details). Over the coming months we will be highlighting our work in Sherwood and launching new initiatives to raise funds and this is where our Champions of Sherwood initiative comes in. The challenges faced in re-instating key areas of Sherwood Forest are so great that we can’t hope to do it on our own. We will

therefore be looking to build on existing partnerships in the area and to engage with new partners who want to help us do more. Individuals too will have the opportunity to become ‘Champions’ by providing additional support for our work in the Sherwood area. As members of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust you are already championing wildlife. Your support enables us to care for an unprecedented number of nature reserves in the county, give a voice to wildlife within the planning system and deliver a huge education and community engagement programme. Without your support we would not be in a position to take forward our ambitious plans for restoring the county’s wildlife in Sherwood Forest or anywhere else. Your membership support is vital but to do more in Sherwood Forest we inevitably need more resources and we would like to offer our members the chance to become Champions of Sherwood before we launch the campaign to the public and partners in the Autumn. To become a ‘Champion of Sherwood’ members simply need to make a one off donation – as many of you have

done for recent Appeals linked to our Treswell and Skylarks Reserves – or agree to make an additional donation each month. These additional funds will be ring-fenced to provide us with a pot of money to commit to management of sites in Sherwood or to purchase new sites as and when opportunities arise. If every member donated £10 to the fund, this would give us over £100,000 to kick start the next phase of our work in Sherwood Forest. If each member donated an extra £1 per month, this could enable us to invest over £600,000 in effort to restore our cherished Sherwood Landscape. If you would like to become a Champion of Sherwood by making an extra contribution all you have to do is contact the membership Team either by email so we can send you a simple form, or by telephone to make your donation or monthly pledge. You can also help by encouraging friends and family to become members via our new website www.championsofsherwood.com Further details of the Champions of Sherwood campaign will be provided in the November issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife, and in our regular email updates.

If you would like to become a Champion, or would like to register for regular email updates so we can keep you informed please email membership@nottswt.co.uk or call Alex Walls on 0115 958 8242.

Summer 2014

NEWS

Working with partners

Isabel Greed Development Manager

Our corporate supporters â&#x2013; Autofil Worldwide Ltd â&#x2013; Bildurn Properties Limited â&#x2013; Browne Jacobson LLP â&#x2013; Broxtowe Borough Council

New ways for Companies to support our work

â&#x2013; Caliba â&#x2013; Capital One â&#x2013; Castle Rock Brewery

Our Corporate and Community team have been busy developing new opportunities for companies to invest in local wildlife. Company support is really important to us. It helps to fund all of our work but is vital to our schools education programme.

â&#x2013; CEMEX UK

Our new corporate opportunities start from just ÂŁ100 and offer tangible beneďŹ ts for companies and local wildlife. Becoming a corporate supporter can help you fulďŹ l the demands of your corporate responsibility policy, enhance your company proďŹ le, improve your brand and reach new markets.

â&#x2013; Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce

You will be joining a network of local companies that support Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust in protecting wildlife for the future and make a tangible difference to your business and to the local environment where your customers and employees live. Our Corporate and Community team are experienced in working with companies of all sizes. The membership packages offer a straightforward solution to companies with smaller budgets or for those taking their ďŹ rst steps to sustainability.

â&#x2013; Center Parcs â&#x2013; Chinook Sciences Ltd

â&#x2013; EDF Energy â&#x2013; Fred Hallam Ltd â&#x2013; George & Co Press Ltd â&#x2013; Hanson Aggregates Ltd â&#x2013; Harworth Estates â&#x2013; HSBC Bank plc â&#x2013; Lafarge Tarmac â&#x2013; Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oreal Luxe (UK) Ltd

Contact Tracy Lawton at nwtcorporate@nottswt.co.uk for more information on the beneďŹ ts of becoming a Wildlife Trust afďŹ liate.

â&#x2013; Make Hay Ethical E-Media

For information on bespoke corporate partnership opportunities call Isabel Greed on 0115 9588242.

â&#x2013; North Midland Construction plc

â&#x2013; Mayborn Group â&#x2013; Nottingham City Council â&#x2013; Nottingham Trent University

1st new partner signs up to support Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

â&#x2013; Novozymes Biopharma UK Ltd â&#x2013; Optima Graphic Design Consultants Ltd â&#x2013; Ransomwood Estates Ltd â&#x2013; Siemens Operational Services â&#x2013; Speedo International Ltd â&#x2013; Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board â&#x2013; Turner and Townsend â&#x2013; University of Nottingham â&#x2013; Walter Harrison & Sons â&#x2013; XMA Ltd

This stunning picture won 1st prize in BWBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff photography competition, held to raise funds for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Our newest corporate supporter, BWB Consulting Limited, are the very ďŹ rst to join under our new programme and just weeks after joining at our new ÂŁ100 rate they had committed to holding their ďŹ rst fundraising event to raise more money for our conservation work. for ess

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Environment Team held a special â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wear Your Wellies to Workâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; day with staff paying ÂŁ1 for the privilege of wearing wellies for the day. Other activities included a rafďŹ&#x201A;e (having secured a range of prizes from other local businesses); a wildlife photography competition; a wildlife themed cake sale and a picnic at Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens in The Meadows. Local wildlife photographer and Wildlife Trust Member Jack Perks also gave a talk to staff with guests making donations to the Trust.

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If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to receive a copy of our new Corporate Supporter Opportunities booklet please email nwtcorporate @nottswt.co.uk

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NEWS

Novozymes Biopharma UK Ltd - 5 Year Anniversary

World Environment Day – Big Garden Party

Tracy Lawton presenting represetnatives of Novozymes with their Wildlife Guardians’ Certificate

This year saw our ﬁrst ‘Big Garden Party’ fundraiser. Novozymes Biopharma UK Ltd, a Danish-owned biotech company, has helped us to develop how we involve people with our work. Ranging from the Mini Meadows campaign to Wildlife on Your Doorstep they are keen to help everyone make a difference on their patch.

Thanks to all of you who got involved; Siemens Operational Services, Capital One, Mayborn Group (better known as Tommee Tippee), Novozymes Biopharma UK Ltd and BT (You may have seen their cow cupcakes on our facebook page!) You all held a great range of activities including rafﬂes, cake sales and quizzes.

They have also helped us to recognise wildlife heroes through our Green Guardians awards. Over the past ﬁve years, Novozymes have donated a total of £32,000 and every year they help us to manage the Kings Meadow Nature Reserve with an annual hay cut.

Your support created some great social media coverage too as we tweeted, retweeted and facebooked all of your fab pictures and stories. Money is still coming in but so far you have helped us raise almost £1,000!

Siemens Operational Services – a decade of support

EDF Energy in Focus

Our corporate partnership with EDF Energy has enabled us to deliver an innovative programme of outdoor education and grounds greening for children and schools in north Nottinghamshire. Wildlife Trust Executive Vice President, Tom Huggon (2nd from left) and Ruth Testa (right) presenting staff from Siemens with their Wildlife Guardians Certificate

Siemens Operational Services became a Wildlife Guardian in June 2004 and since then has donated £35,000! Siemens is the world’s largest engineering ﬁrm and its ofﬁce in Wollaton is just next to our Harrisons Plantation Nature Reserve where colleagues regularly get stuck in with practical habitat management. As well as helping us to protect local wildlife they have championed some of Nottinghamshire’s greatest wildlife heroes through our Green Guardians Awards.

Their invaluable support of nearly £700,000 over 15 years has enabled us to develop lasting relationships with schools, helping us to reach thousands of school children each year, giving them the chance to learn about and experience nature in their own school grounds, on our own nature reserves and at EDF Energy’s specially designed education centre and wildlife garden (pictured) at Cottam Power Station. Through EDF Energy’s support, we are also able to help schools improve their grounds to attract more wildlife through a small grant programme. As well as supporting our education programme, EDF Energy have supported our Green Guardians Awards and assist by annually helping us to clear the island at Idle Valley nature reserve providing better habitat for wading birds.

Summer 2014

Dormice released into second Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Woodland Following the release of dormice into Treswell Wood last year as part of a breeding programme co-ordinated by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), we are delighted to inform members that 21 male and 21 female dormice have now been released into a second woodland in our care. The site of the latest release is being kept under wraps whilst the animals settle in, but we very much hope that this latest release will mark the beginning of a prosperous future for the species in the county. The release took place in June, a year after the release at Treswell, where a number of nests have subsequently been found, suggesting that at least some adults survived the winter hibernation. Speaking about the latest release Ian White, dormouse ofﬁcer at PTES said: “This reintroduction is extremely exciting for us and a lot of people. Many reintroductions have been done before but this is the ﬁrst time two have been done in such close proximity. We hope that this will be a success and will consider it a success if the their numbers have doubled by the end of the summer.”

Birklands Ringing Group secures Heritage Lottery Fund investment

We are delighted to announce that the Birklands Ringing Group has received £60,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a ground-breaking research project. Over the next two years, staff from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust & EMEC Ecology will work with volunteers from the Ringing Group to monitor local nightjars and their migratory patterns.

The research will also help shape the future management of Sherwood Forest heathlands and help protect the habitat of the nightjar.

We will keep you posted with results of survey work from both release locations in the months ahead. To view videos ﬁlmed on the release day by the Nottingham Post visit http://goo.gl/uPkunG © Lorna Griffiths

21 Nottinghamshire Wildlife

Sherwood Forest to the Congo and back!

The project, which is also being supported by the Forestry Commission and the University of Nottingham, will create links with communities in Africa and help children understand the role that Sherwood Forest plays in the global network of habitats and the importance of the heathlands.

As with the previous release, a number of local volunteers and Wildlife Trust members are supporting the project and will help with initial feeding and future monitoring of the population.

Dormouse

Nightjar

Sherwood Forest’s nightjar population is the largest in the East Midlands, but in spite of investment in the development of its heathland habitats the population is in decline. It is hoped that the new research will provide a fresh insight into how the birds interact with the habitat, and aid the understanding of how management techniques are impacting on the birds. Andrew Lowe from Birklands Ringing Group: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this grant. Using the skills and expertise of our volunteers and the support of our partners we hope to showcase the fascinating habits of the Nightjar which travels thousands of miles every year to spend the summer in Sherwood Forest.” John Everitt – CEO Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust: “This is a great opportunity to carry out innovative community-led research which will provide information to help restore habitat for Nightjar in Sherwood Forest and also across the country.” A more detailed update on this project will feature in the next issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife.

Skylarks Appeal update

Over £1 million raised thanks to the backing of our members and supporters As a result of the unparalleled response from our members, members of the public and a range of funding partners we shall be able to complete the purchase of the land adjacent to Skylarks Nature Reserve (Blott’s Pit) that was the subject of our Skylarks Appeal.

■ The UK’s seas are home to half our wildlife: whales, dolphins, turtles, birds, ﬁsh and thousands of other weird and wonderful animals and plants ■ They should be safe, but in fact they are threatened by damaging overexploitation. Many habitats have already been destroyed, and species pushed towards extinction ■ Please join our campaign to persuade the UK Government to set up a network of Marine Protected Areas where wildlife can ﬂourish again ■ The Wildlife Trusts are campaigning for a joined-up network of protected sites in UK seas Yes! I’ll become a Friend of Marine Conservation Zones by going to wildlifetrusts.org/mczfriends

As a result of the Appeal, which secured over £90,000, a major project has been developed that will see new land, and the existing Skylarks Reserve transformed over the next 12 months with existing habitats enhanced and new habitats created to make the extended reserve one of our largest and most important wetland sites. In addition to funding from individuals and via a number of legacies we have received a range of grant funds to help us realise our vision and to help ensure that the site is accessible for visitors. We will also be developing a programme of training for volunteers and engagement for local schools and working with Nottinghamshire County Council to deliver a huge range of activities over three years. Whilst the success of this project over the past two years makes it difﬁcult to list all our funders, we would like to highlight a number of the more recent grant contributions. Lafarge Tarmac has provided £48,000 to fund elements of the restoration scheme and the Heritage Lottery Fund has agreed to contribute £607,000 to assist with both the purchase and the three year outreach programme. Other supporters include Rushcliffe Borough Council and Holme Pierrepont and Gamston Parish Council.

Further details about the project and the funding success can be found at www.ayeupmiduck.com Summer 2014

Edward, 6½, Duke’s Wood, Nottinghamshire

The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EA Tel: 0115 958 8242 Fax: 0115 924 3175 www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

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