Lapwing | Winter 2023 by Lancashire Wildlife Trust

WINTER 2023

Our connection with nature — Growing good health — Bringing carnivores back to our peatlands

It’s time to step up for wildlife www.lancswt.org.uk

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Senior Trust Officers Patrons Edwin Booth, Dame Caroline Swift President Chris Davies Honorary Vice Presidents Baroness Williams of Trafford Vice President Ted Jackson MBE Chairman Julian Jackson Vice Chair Hazel Ryan Honorary Treasurer Nicholas Williams Chief Executive Tom Burditt Director of Conservation Tim Mitcham Director of Marketing Lindsey Shaw Director of Development Mick Weston Director of Nature and Wellbeing Daveen Wallis Head of Finance Steve Wood

Editors Alan Wright E. awright@lancswt.org.uk Sub Editors Alex Critchley, Amy Shakeshaft, Hannah Stevenson, Jenny Bennion, Kirsty Tyler, Lydia German, Roland Howard & Sam Siddique Trust Headquarters The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6BY T. 01772 324129 www.lancswt.org.uk Design www.nectarcreative.com Cover photography Water vole, by Terry Whittaker 2020VISION

Lapwing is produced for the Members and Supporters of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Trust. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is a Registered Charity (No.229325) and a Registered Company (No.731548) dedicated to the protection and promotion of wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying North of the River Mersey.

Winter is a time of revival There is something refreshing and reviving about winter, it’s a great time to get out of the house in your fleece or woolly jumper, and to feel the tingle of cold air on your skin. In the case of our staff and volunteers, it is the time once again for wellies and gloves as this is our busiest time of year, preparing habitats in the dormant months before wildlife’s annual explosion of new life in spring. Our teams are out and about in all weathers, taking care not to disturb any important plants or creatures as they recharge for the warmer weather. It is a good time to spot birds and mammals with few leaves on trees to act as cover. If you’re lucky you might spot deer, foxes and badgers. The roe deer certainly changes its coat for winter, a dull coat blends in with the winter landscape, and we look at one of our favourite mammals on pages 14-15.

KEEPING IN TOUCH You can change the way we contact you, or update

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Blackbird, by Vaughn Matthews

Winter fox, by Danny Green 2020VISION

Brockholes in winter, by Ian McGill

Those of you providing a regular bird table buffet will be seeing the return of old friends. Blackbird numbers increase as their Scandinavian cousins arrive for a winter warmer, and redwings and fieldfares are flocking in our fields.

"Over the coming months we will be asking you to #VoteWildlife, whichever political colour you favour."

Help us 'Step up for Wildlife' lancswt.org.uk

As we head into the inevitable General Election, we will campaign along with our colleagues from across the UK, to ensure nature gets a higher place on the agenda.

The jays have gone crazy this year in my garden, planting the fruits of a wonderful acorn year everywhere they can find space. Birds of prey are more active in winter, stretching territories to seek out scarce but more obvious mammals, also desperately seeking food (pages 36-37). It has been a year where our work has been recognised in the media and projects have progressed strongly, but we know that we are entering the most crucial time for wildlife we have ever seen. It’s a time for strong action and local wildlife needs your help.

On a smaller scale, but just as important, we look into the new planters that have not only added We will continue to use hard evidence colour to Brockholes over summer to back up our arguments that we really and autumn but have also brought need one in four people to take action in a diverse range of insects for nature, or we are heading for a (pages 12-13). world without many of the species we know and love. And let’s not forget a special winter migrant who will be arriving at Over the coming months we will be Brockholes in December. Santa will asking you to #VoteWildlife, whichever be coming to the Visitor Village for political colour you favour (pages 8-9). our first Christmas Fayres – who can resist floating festive markets? We are also asking you to help us 'Step Tom Burditt, up for Wildlife' through our biggest ever Chief Executive fundraising appeal (pages 10 and 11). Officer Wildlife lovers will appreciate our Director of Conservation, Tim’s, celebration of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will support our work across the region (pages 16-19).

your details by speaking to our membership team: E: membership@lancswt.org.uk (01772) 324129

@Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

Nature & Wellbeing

At the heart of our community Damian Sharkey tells us all about The Bay’s Morecambe Hub. In January 2023 we took over an empty shop unit in the Morecambe Arndale shopping centre as a space to use for The Bay’s work in Morecambe. Thanks to the generosity of staff at LWT and support from the Eden Project we were able to source some lovely furniture and make it a welcoming, comfortable and useful space. The Hub gained interest immediately, with people popping in just to see what was going on with the space, with the lovely marine-themed displays causing more than one child to stop and point at the jellyfish and a huge turtle donated from the Living Seas North West team! Supporting the local community was a huge part of having this space, and we registered the shop as a warm space to help people in one of the coldest winters of recent times. We followed this with a partnership with Fareshare Go to further help the community and help prevent food going to landfill. Since the beginning of March we have given away 1,250 kilos of food to the people of Morecambe, representing nearly 3,000 meals and 4,000 kilos of CO2 savings – equal to driving a car over 10,000 miles. The Hub has been a safe space to meet new people wanting to sign up to our wellbeing sessions – along with being a warm, dry place to host those sessions when the weather hasn’t played along!

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Alex, our Nature and Wellbeing Officer, has run all sorts of activities from the space, introducing people to the relationship between green and blue spaces and mental health. Laughter yoga sessions were particularly interesting, with one attendee saying ‘I’m able to approach daunting things with more confidence knowing that I can laugh off any mistakes I might make.’

Alex and Sally at the Hub sharing out excess food, by Sally Bradley

Since opening, the Hub has engaged over 1,500 people in workshops, nature crafts, mobile rockpools showing local marine life, and talks by local wildlife experts. We help the community to see the wonderful nature on their doorstep and engage with opportunities to both help nature and use the five ways to wellbeing in their lives. We’ve reached out to other community groups in the area to collaborate and increase the collective offer to the community this working allows. We have worked with More-music, the Wordsworth Trust, the Eden Project’s National Wildflower Centre and in September we threw our first bottle top sorting party in collaboration with Relic Plastics, encouraging people to bring in plastic tops which we sorted by colour for recycling. We now have these planned as a regular monthly event to help reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill and learn how recycling really does help.

Bottle top sorting to help the environment, by Sally Bradley

Find out more about The Ba y’s Nature and W ellbeing Programme at thebay.org.u k

So, what’s next for the Hub? We’ve already started working with Morecambe Bay Partnership and the North Lancashire Wildlife Group, we’re in talks with Lancaster University about holding art exhibitions, and of course, the Eden Project Morecambe is on the horizon. We’ve got a wonderful new Community Engagement Officer, Amber, starting soon who will be continuing the fabulous work that our trainee Sally has been doing. And most importantly we’ll be continuing to share our love and passion for Morecambe Bay’s wildlife and the importance of nature for our health.

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Laughter meditation during yoga, by Damian Sharkey

"The Hub has been a safe space to meet new people wanting to sign up to our wellbeing sessions" 5

Restoring Peatlands Round leaved sundew with prey, by Vicky Nall

Predatory peatland plants return after 100 years Carnivorous plants have been reintroduced to Winmarleigh Moss. Alex Critchley finds out more about this incredible project on one of our precious peatland reserves.

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Yes, you read that correctly, carnivorous plants are back preying on our Lancashire peatlands! We have at least 11 species of these insect eating plants native to the the UK, most of which inhabit our peatlands. They disappeared from Winmarleigh over 100 years ago due to habitat destruction, but we have been working hard to restore the land and they’re now back where they belong. Thanks to £30,000 funding from the Lancashire Environment Fund, Whitecroft Lighting and Natural England, we have reintroduced 17,500 of these missing plants. These include the carnivorous greater sundew and oblong-leaved sundew, along with bog asphodel and white beak sedge. Sundews can be quite hard to spot among the boggy undergrowth. They’re small plants and blend in well with the sphagnum moss.

"In time, we hope that these plants will naturally spread to the surrounding peatland sites, which are also undergoing restoration in the area."

Tray of peatland plug plants, by A.J.Critch Wildlife

Oblong leaved sundew, by Bruce Shortland

White beak sedge Round leaved sundew, by A.J.Critch Wildlife

Greater sundew, by Mark Hamblin 2020VISION

Specialist contractors planting on Winmarleigh

"Sundews can be quite hard to spot among the boggy undergrowth. They’re small plants and blend in well with the sphagnum moss." Their tiny green leaves are surrounded by long, tendril-like red hairs, each with a sticky droplet on the end. It’s this substance that will trap unfortunate prey passing by. Once its meal has been secured, the leaves will wrap around the insect and the plant will begin to digest its prey. These spectacular plants have needed to adapt in this way to survive. A healthy bog should be acidic and will offer little nourishment to most plant life. This is why these specialist carnivores have explored other avenues in order to get the nutrients they need. It’s not just carnivorous plants that we’ve unleashed back onto Winmarleigh, we have also reintroduced bog asphodel and white beak sedge.

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These plants will help bolster the population of the large heath butterfly on the reserve, as well as other pollinators, helping them to spread further across the moss. The large heath butterfly on Winmarleigh have played a key role in recent years, as they were the donor population for a successful reintroduction project at Astley Moss in Greater Manchester, where the locally named ‘Manchester argus’ had been missing for around 150 years. Bringing back lost plant species is not as simple as just popping them into the ground, however. The first stage was to clear the area of unwanted scrub vegetation as it outcompetes and hinders the growth of our native peatland plants.

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Once this was achieved, we were able to start getting the plants in the ground. This was done by specialist contractors and volunteers, planting by hand to keep disturbance of the bog to a minimum. In time, we hope that these plants will naturally spread to the surrounding peatland sites, which are also undergoing restoration. We aim to keep increasing the biodiversity in the region and restoring these sites to their natural state, so we can create the perfect peatland paradise for our wildlife to thrive in.

#VoteWildlife Otter, by Luke Massey 2020VISION

Making a difference for wildlife With next year’s General Election looming and our nature in crisis, what can you do to help? It sometimes feels like every time you tune into the news it’s filled with nothing but doom and gloom about the state, and the future, of our environment. As just one person is there really anything that you can do to make a difference?

Find out more to can lloutyou aboutCa how go here #VoteWildlife xxx at lancswt.org.uk/ vote-wildlife-2024

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How you can take action for nature... Write to your MP

Contact your MP or prospective parliamentary candidate and let them know what you want our future government’s priorities to be.

Share our #VoteWildlife campaign on social media

We want as many people as possible to make their voice heard and make sure that our next government prioritises nature’s recovery.

The Bay team at Grizedale Bridge near Garstang, by Owen Fawcett

Support our ‘Step up for Wildlife' appeal

We urgently need to raise £300,000 to step up our fight to bring wildlife back in Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside. We know our work makes an impact, but wildlife is declining faster than we can respond. Will you help us 'Step up for Wildlife' before it’s too late?

We are working to restore carbon capturing peatlands - Little Woolden Moss, by Jenny Bennion

Laying wildflower turf at the Chorley Allotments, by Jo Humphreys

"Remember that as a member of Lancashire Wildlife Trust you are already part of a massive voice and movement for wildlife." First, please remember that as a member of Lancashire Wildlife Trust you are already part of a massive voice and movement for wildlife. With over 30,000 members right here in your local area, and over 870,000 nationally, we can work together to shout out and make our voices heard. Whoever forms the next government, they are likely to be the last ones before we hit 2030. Let’s not forget that even with the recent relaxation of net zero targets, the government has pledged to dedicate 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030. And now we need to work together to hold them to this promise.

That’s why we are asking people to #VoteWildlife We are calling on the government to support five key targets to help secure the future of wildlife, nature and our environment.

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1. Bring back our lost wildlife

One in six of our precious UK wildlife species are at risk of extinction, but we can make a difference. Just three years ago the iconic Manchester argus butterfly was locally extinct in Greater Manchester and now it’s not only back but thriving! Bringing back our lost species will make our environment richer and more resilient.

2. End river pollution

Every river in our region is polluted. Surely this startling fact alone is enough to make us demand stronger environmental protections to ensure our waterways are a clean healthy place for wildlife and people.

3. Fund wildlife friendly farming

Farming and nature conservation can go hand in hand, but our farmers often need support to achieve this. We are undertaking pioneering wetter farming trails on drained agricultural peatlands to provide the real-world data that is so vital to the uptake of these climate and nature friendly practices.

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4. Green our communities

The importance of access to nature and green spaces for our health and wellbeing simply cannot be underestimated. Our Nature & Wellbeing teams provide vital support to people to improve their health and wellbeing, helping to save the NHS vast sums of money. Our government also needs to support nature through regulated building and development. That’s why we act as a guardian against anti-nature planning, checking hundreds of planning applications every year.

5. Tackle the climate emergency

Our nature and climate crises are inextricably linked; we can’t solve one without solving the other, and we need our next government to recognise this. We are already forging ahead working to conserve and restore our peatlands, meadows, woodlands and the Irish Sea.

By Jenny Bennion

Step up for Wildlife Could we lose our precious badgers? by Bradely Hamer

Imagine a world without wildlife Lindsey Shaw asks us all

to ‘Step up for Wildlife’

My love for nature and wildlife comes from fond memories of being a muddy-kneed, messy haired toddler desperately trying to stay still in the hope of spotting a red squirrel in Formby.

I have been privileged enough to work for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust for the past 15 years and in that time, I struggle to recall a day where I wasn’t completely amazed by the work we do, and the dedication and passion of all of you, our supporters.

Or sitting on my grandma’s knee looking through the 'Collins Book of Garden Birds' and seeing which ones we could spot. We would leave food out for hedgehogs, and I still remember the feeling of glee at hearing the little snuffles outside our back door.

My time at the Trust has been a real eyeopening journey so far. One thing is for sure, nothing in nature conservation is black and white - except for perhaps, the distinguished face of our beloved badger.

Whether you’re a supporter or work in conservation, there’s one thing we all have in common, our love for wildlife.

It is a complex world in need of expert support to thrive – and luckily, we have those experts in abundance. But really, it’s the power of our expertise and your passion that creates real solutions.

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Find out how you can donate and help us ‘Step up for Wildlife’ at lancswt.org.uk

Nature holds so many answers to the struggles our society faces; from our superhero carbon-storing peatlands, the benefits nature has on our wellbeing, to being a fundamental part of providing the food we eat. And yet, wildlife is still declining, and habitats are in desperate need of restoration, and I find myself trying not to shout, “the answers are right here!”. So, what does a world without wildlife look like? It’s a vast world of childhood memories that will never be made. It’s rising seas and temperatures, it’s iconic species such as the water vole, the bumble bee, the red squirrel and the hedgehog gone forever.

The Manchester argus was brought back from local extinction, by Chester Zoo

Water vole, by Tom Marshall

"There’s one thing we all have in common, our love for wildlife." Willow tit, by Jo Kennedy

Hedgehog, by Amy Lewis

While tailed bumblebee on lavender, by Alan Wright

Red squirrel in snow, by Peter Cairns 2020VISION

The rare willow tit, by Peter Smith

Its livelihoods lost, supermarket shelves bare, and barren landscapes which were once a tapestry of ancient woodlands, moorlands and rolling sand dunes. It’s too difficult to even imagine – but I know we can change the story.

That’s why we are launching our biggest ever appeal and asking everyone to ‘Step up for Wildlife’. We have a huge target of £300,000, but also a huge job to do. Nature and wildlife are in crisis, and we need to ramp up our work. The time for action is now. We cannot let our iconic wildlife disappear on our watch.

@Lancashirewildlifetrust

We have already saved many of our precious peatlands and we are working hard to restore them. We have brought the Manchester argus butterfly back from the brink to its rightful home in Manchester. We have created habitats for willow tits in Wigan, and worked to secure the first ever urban National Nature Reserve there. We have inspired hundreds of mini nature reserves through our My Wild Garden initiative, and we are changing, and often saving, lives through our groundbreaking nature and wellbeing programme. We are shouting loudly for wildlife in the places that drive change, and we are working at all levels from communities to landscapes making a difference to nature’s recovery every day.

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The only barrier in our way is a lack of funds to do more. We all have a chance to take our place in history, and I hope one day to tell my grandchildren (if I am lucky enough to have them!) that I was there when wildlife needed it most, and it was a battle we won. I will be donating to our ‘Step up for Wildlife’ appeal, because it’s not only the biggest appeal we have ever launched, but also the most crucial. I hope you will join me too, because every penny is a step closer to nature’s recovery and a legacy we owe to future generations.

Brockholes

Brockholes in bloom Lindsay Griffiths tells us how she’s

been improving biodiversity on our floating Visitor Village. The Visitor Village at Brockholes is an amazing structure and was designed to blend into the natural landscape. With the grey Lancashire skies, this often felt a bit austere and didn’t reflect the wonderful array of colours nature has to offer throughout the seasons. Around about seven years ago change began and we decided to install several pots of various unmatched sizes and shapes filled with (mainly) wildflowers. And so it began! Those first pots were eventually replaced by five wooden planters made by the wonderful Dirt Works team (teenager volunteer group). These really kickstarted the revolution and several substantial planters were purchased, initially put together by a corporate team, then bought externally. These have now been properly planted up and the Visitor Village is able to connect with the reserve in terms of wildlife. My focus has always been insect-friendly and native (where possible) wildflowers mixed with garden perennials to hopefully give year-round colour and interest. The addition of cultivated plants is not without its problems and whilst the majority of the wildflowers also grow on the main reserve, a few have not usually been found there. Plants self seed and spread, which generally isn’t a problem but when they spread off the village and onto the wider reserve it may be. I am under strict instruction from Reserve Officer, Lorna, to look out for escapees, and whilst I can get away with yellow toadflax appearing by the office, the appearance of cosmos would be quite another matter!

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Alongside the Visitor Village looking more colourful and interesting, another benefit of the plants has emerged. A whole wealth of insect (and mammal) life has descended onto it with butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies in abundance. Bringing plants onto the visitor village has resulted in nature being closer and more accessible to people, not only for those whose mobility may prevent them from getting further around the reserve, but it has also brought wildlife closer to those who are avidly looking for it. One of our regular visitors spotted a pine ladybird, a first for the reserve, and red admirals and other butterflies have been feeding on the buddleia. An extension to the Visitor Village ‘garden’ are the waterlilies that have been planted around the boardwalks. These have proved to be extremely popular with our dragon and damselfly populations. As a result these visitor favourites are regularly spotted around the Visitor Village area and are a great talking point for visitors who may not have noticed them in the past.

New planters have been filled with insect-friendly species of wildflowers, by Matthew Swift

The new planting is a magnet for people and wildlife, by Matthew Swift

The planters will continue to be maintained and monitored, with more insect-friendly plants added to brighten up the area and show our visitors how just a few plants can make a huge difference to the environment, benefiting wildlife and humans alike. Red admiral feeding on the buddleia, by Ken Hayes

"One of our regular visitors spotted a pine ladybird, a first for the reserve, and red admirals and other butterflies have been feeding on the buddleia." Pine ladybird, by Rachel Scopes

Bees have been loving the scabious and other wildflowers, by Lindsay Griffiths

The new planters add a splash of colour to the Rockholes visitor vilage, by Matthew Swift

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Wildlife xxx

Catching sight of roe deer Jenny Bennion explores the winter habits of one of our most recognisable mammals, the roe deer.

One of only two species of deer native to the UK (along with red deer), roe deer have a special place in many of our hearts. Nimble, silent and fleet of foot, roe deer bound across the landscape with amazing agility and grace. Their impossibly slender legs seem liable to snap at any moment as their dainty feet leave potato-print tracks in their wake. Many of us will have caught a glimpse of the white rump of the roe deer on an early morning walk, or when first entering a previously deserted glade, as they speed from view. Or maybe you have even been lucky enough for the roe deer to pause to sum you up before then vanishing into the misty undergrowth.

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Whilst roe deer are active throughout the year, their behaviour changes in winter meaning that you may be even more likely to catch sight of them. Rather than their usual solitary behaviour, in winter roe deer can often be spotted in small loose groups, possibly to provide additional lookouts when there is less foliage to provide cover.

Roe deer will usually follow the path more trodden, preferring desire lines and known paths, so keep your dog on a lead, tread gently and go softly on that early morning walk for the best chance of a sighting. They are also more likely to be out in the open after periods of heavy rain or frost, avoiding the sploshes from thawing or dripping trees.

Also, as roe deer are most active at dawn and dusk, we are more likely to see them when these times overlap more with our periods of activity. So keep your eyes peeled in woodlands, field boundaries and areas of scrubby undergrowth. Some of our best reserves to spot roe deer include Brockholes, Mere Sands Wood, Longworth Clough and traversing the bunds at Little Woolden Moss.

Their appearance is also affected by the seasons. In summer roe deer have a bright rusty red coat, but in winter this deepens to a slate grey, maybe reflecting those gloomier skies overhead. Their coats are punctuated by their distinctive white rumps, along with white patches on their chins. Does also develop a small white ‘tush’ or tuft of hair similar to a tail at the base of the rump patch during the winter.

Roe deer female with her winter tush, by A.J.Critch Wildlife

Roe deer stag showing off his antlers which are lost in winter, by Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography Roe deer on Belmont Moor, by Alan Wright

Roe deer at our Brockholes nature reserve, by Alan Wright

Roe deer at Brockholes, by Leslie Price

This helps to identify the genders, as stags cast their short three-pronged antlers around November or December, ready to grow another set which will be covered with downy ‘velvet’ until the following July.

With their dramatic startled eyes and an air of life being ever so slightly too much for them, roe deer must be one of our winter favourites. A mere glimpse of their graceful beauty brightening up these darker days.

Although now one of our most common deer species, roe deer numbers collapsed nearly to the point of extinction in the 19th century due to over-hunting and deforestation.

"Keep your eyes peeled in woodlands, field boundaries and areas of scrubby undergrowth."

However, thanks to strategic reintroductions from Europe in the Victorian era and habitat recreation, their numbers have now recovered. You can now spy flashes of those white rears across England, Wales and Scotland, but they are absent from Northern Ireland.

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Roe deer in snow, by Nigel Barnes

Nature Recovery

Rebuilding wildlife - we need a plan! Local Nature Recovery Strategies could provide a bright future for our environment, but only if we work together, says Tim Mitcham The British Isles is one of the most wildlife-depleted areas on earth, according to David Attenborough. Turning the tide on this is a tall order, especially in the light of climate change and the physical and social changes happening around us, but it is possible if we all work together. An opportunity for strong local leadership exists through the production of a local nature recovery plan, written by us for us.

The new Environment Act became law in November 2021. It identified the need for planning and has paved the way for strategies to be drawn up across England over the next two years. These plans have a working title of ‘Local Nature Recovery Strategies’ and within our Wildlife Trust boundaries, there will be plans developed for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.

Why plan?

"An opportunity for strong local leadership exists through the production of a local nature recovery plan, written by us for us"

Wildlife needs a range of things to thrive just as humans do. Each species often needing quite specific things at certain points in their lives, which also often have interdependencies with other species. Humans impact upon the ability of organisms to survive as we are continually changing the environmental status quo through things like farming policy, building new housing, and even our decisions around where we go on holiday. This results in quite a complex web of life and knowing what to do for the best for humans, and the vital species and habitats we depend upon, is a big and complex question. Climate change just adds a new level of complexity. If we want wildlife to thrive, we need a plan, a strategy for making the right decisions and doing the right things in the right places.

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Things are just getting started on the coordination of the three plans and Lancashire County Council, along with the combined authorities in Greater Manchester and Liverpool, are leading them. The government has provided useful guidance on how the plans should be prepared and what they should contain. Plans will be constructed so that they match up with the adjacent plan area - providing a ‘sum of its parts’ detailed national strategy. One thing is clear from the guidance; the preparation of this plan is a job for all of us.

A traditional scene of sheep farming in the Ribble Valley

There is, of course, a role for experts on water, farming, tree planting, wildlife etc, but also on health benefits, greening business and carbon reduction. The plans should also capture the good ideas of community groups and individuals as local knowledge will be invaluable in deciding the work that needs doing and who can help. The challenge for the plan coordinators is to ensure that there are opportunities for people to contribute and that these are well advertised in a timely way. Your Wildlife Trust will help to pass on information through our networks and through newsletters to our members, volunteers and contacts.

Urban garden and fungi

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An oasis for wildlife in an urban garden

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Nature Recovery

First steps The area coordinators are currently working on gathering local environmental information to produce a set of informative maps. These will be publicly available online and will help to inform discussion and decision-making. They will include information on where wildlife is currently and how common it is. It will also consider current land use and whether there are significant issues holding back wildlife’s recovery. An example would be the extent of upland peatland in poor condition and thus unable to retain water and capture carbon from the atmosphere. A further example would be where high water temperature is affecting the breeding success of fish such as trout. A second stage in the mapping is to identify where opportunities exist to do beneficial things on the ground. We need to get better at identifying where to plant trees, for example supporting planting that facilitates the greater movement of woodland species but does not do so at the expense of rarer habitats such as herb-rich grassland. The big advances in nature’s recovery will be achieved where large areas of land can be influenced in such a way that there is a win for wildlife, society, and those that earn a living through managing land.

Habitat surveying at Bickershaw in Wigan

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Our utility companies are challenged by the Environment Act to work for nature’s recovery, and they can take big decisions that could have significantly positive impacts. However, there is also a crucial role for individuals and community groups. Local environmental leadership often comes down to the people and groups who decide to do something positive for their locality. This may be suggesting local solutions, helping to manage community owned greenspace through volunteering, recording and monitoring species, supporting national projects locally such as installing swift boxes, planting native trees in gardens, helping pollinating insects, and sharing nature with our children to pass on knowledge and skills.

The popular Astley Park, close to Chorley town centre

Strategies are good at setting direction and priorities, but discussion will also focus on who will take a lead on the work identified and what resources are needed. The plans will develop over the next two years, and it is hoped that action on the ground will grow in momentum along with the plan’s development. The production of the plan is only a step in nature’s recovery but a crucial one that signposts how we can work together for future generations. We hope you will get involved.

Woodland close to homes in Astley Park

The Wildlife Trust’s staff and volunteers will be actively involved in the plan’s preparation along with many other organisations and individuals. If you, or a group that you are active in, would like to be involved and informed about consultation events, please contact:

Lancashire: Ollie Mackrill lnrs@lancashire.gov.uk lancashire.gov.uk/council/strategies-policies-plans/ environmental/local-nature-recovery-strategy

Liverpool City Region: Emma Galbraith LNRS@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/energy-environment/ local-nature-recovery-strategy

Greater Manchester: Rachel Morrison naturerecovery@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk gmgreencity.com/greater-manchesters-nature-recovery-plan/

YOUR LAPWING TEAM... ED BAILEY

Head of Commercial

.......................................................... JENNY BENNION Senior Communications Officer

.......................................................... TOM BURDITT Chief Executive Officer

.......................................................... LUCY COXHEAD Fundraising Officer

.......................................................... ALEX CRITCHLEY Tree planting projects can make a huge difference, by Ross Hoddinott 2020VISION

Peatlands Communications Officer

.......................................................... LYDIA GERMAN Senior Content & Campaigns Officer

.......................................................... LINDSAY GRIFFITHS Brockholes General Assistant

.......................................................... JENNY JOHNSON Head of Marketing & Income Generation

.......................................................... MEGAN KELSALL Partnerships Officer

.......................................................... TIM MITCHAM Director of Conservation

..........................................................

@Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

AMY SHAKESHAFT Communications & Campaigns Assistant

.......................................................... SAM SIDDIQUE Lunt Meadows Communications Officer

.......................................................... DAMIAN SHARKEY The Bay Programme Manager

.......................................................... MATTHEW SWIFT Marketing Officer

.......................................................... ALICE WOOD Marketing Support Assistant

.......................................................... REBECCA WITCOMBE Senior Nature & Wellbeing Officer

.......................................................... ALAN WRIGHT Head of Campaigns & Communications

.......................................................... ROB ZLOCH North Lancashire Wildlife Group

.......................................................... LINDSEY SHAW Director of Marketing

..........................................................

Christmas xxx

Christmas for everyone This year will see our most inclusive festive season yet, says Edward Bailey.

Christmas is coming and many of our thoughts are turning to making this year the most magical, and nature-filled, yet. Across many of our nature reserves there are teams of busy elves working away behind the scenes to infuse magic and wonder into our festive events, whilst simultaneously raising vital funds to support our work.

This event will feature our acclaimed indoor artisan market, traditional fayre games, soulful carol singers, and riveting performances from local artists.

This year, spearheaded by the dynamic duo, Caroline and Edward, the team is revamping our much-loved traditional grotto and Father Christmas’ post box trails. And that's not all! They are introducing an enchanting ‘Winter Fayre’ spanning two evenings.

A point of pride for us this season is our emphasis on inclusivity. We believe in the joy of Christmas and its spirit of giving. Hence every event at Brockholes and beyond has been curated with accessibility at its heart. It’s not just about providing entertainment; it's about ensuring every individual feels included, welcome, and cherished.

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To add a touch of festive magic Father Christmas himself will also be present, delighting guests and culminating each evening with a grand light switch-on.

Our Father Christmas' post box trails, while giving visitors a wild and immersive journey through our reserves, will also cater to those using wheelchairs or with mobility challenges. At our Father Christmas' grotto we have included autism friendly sessions with modified settings to ensure comfort. Additionally, British Sign Language interpreters and Makaton assistants will be present at select slots, ensuring every child gets a chance to communicate their Christmas wishes directly to Santa. In collaboration with local organisations, we are thrilled to donate tickets to the communities surrounding our Preston and Bolton sites.

"It’s not just about providing entertainment; it's about ensuring every individual feels included, welcome, and cherished."

For rese rv and mor ations e details , please v isit the What’s O n on our w pages ebsite This year’s grotto will be even better than last years

"A point of pride for us this season is our emphasis on inclusivity. We believe in the joy of Christmas and its spirit of giving... with accessibility at its heart." @Lancashirewildlifetrust

This initiative aims to bring joy to children whose families might be facing financial constraints. Furthermore, both Brockholes and Moss Bank Park in Bolton will be hosting a heartwarming lunch with Father Christmas for these families. Those who might not have the means to celebrate Christmas will be invited to join us, free of charge, for a festive two-course meal. They will share in the joy and warmth of the season and enjoy a personal visit from Father Christmas himself who will deliver gifts to the children to open at the event plus an extra one to take home for Christmas Day.

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We have lots of different events going on across Brockholes in Preston, Mere Sands Wood in Rufford, and Moss Bank Park Cafe in Bolton. The revenue generated from our ticketed events isn't just a number. It's a lifeline that supports our charity's objectives. So, when you partake in our festive celebrations, know that you're also supporting the conservation work we do in your area.

Let’s celebrate the season of joy, giving and togetherness. We can't wait to share this festive journey with you!

Mere Sands Wood Rufford Hide, by Martin Oldham

What’s new at Mere Sands Wood? New paths, new viewing screens, new places for wildlife. Jenny Bennion finds out what’s been going on at Mere Sands Wood. Mere Sands Wood is one of our most beloved nature reserves. A joyous riot of heath, sandy wet meadow, lakes and deciduous and conifer woodland collide to provide over 40 hectares of wildlife paradise. This year we have been working hard to make it an even better place for people and nature.

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Rufford Hide, by Matthew Swift

A brand new Rufford Hide This hide had come to the end of its life and become unsafe.

New path, by Matthew Swift

Path improvements Many of the paths at Mere Sands Wood have undergone a fantastic transformation. Whereas previously they were narrow and uneven there is now an array of lovely wide trails around the reserve. Not only does this make accessing nature so much easier for all of our visitors, but it also allows our reserve officers to move vehicles around the site meaning that they can undertake vital conservation work much more quickly and effectively.

Regular visitors may also have noticed that many of the narrow, chicken wire topped bridges have disappeared. Whilst the chicken wire helped to stop the old wooden boards from becoming slippery, it inevitably ended up lifting and causing a trip hazard – so a slippy problem was replaced with a trippy problem! To solve this, we have installed culverts with wide paths above them making it safe and accessible for all.

Could yo up for W u 'Step ildlife' a support our new nd appea Find out more at l? lancswt .org.uk

Mere Sands Wood is one of our most beloved reserves, by Caroline Brahimi

The old hide has now been dismantled and replaced with a brand new hide clad in timber from the reserve that had been felled as part of our woodland management plan. We hope you’ll agree that it looks great!

Tern rafts You also might spot some new floating tern rafts on the lakes, all ready for our summer visitors. Just remember that these elegant birds can turn feisty if disturbed, so the rafts make the perfect place for them to nest in peace. We’re always working hard to make Mere Sands Wood a safe and special place for people and wildlife, so why not come along and discover the changes for yourself.

A safe platform

Bat hibernaculum

The old Marshall Hide had also come to the end of its life and is being replaced with a brand new viewing screen and platform looking out over the main lake. Again, this will be much more accessible for all of our visitors and really open up the vista, allowing people to get up close and personal without disturbing our wonderful wildlife.

We have created a wonderful new home for our lovely flying mammals, our precious population of bats. The dedicated bat hibernaculum, or bat roost, is already being used as a daytime bedroom for these wonderful species.

We are also restoring the End Lake platform and moving it slightly away from its current position. This is in order to protect the mature oak tree in its immediate vicinity, protecting its roots from the compaction of footfall.

Bat hibernaculum, by Martin Oldham

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Marshall Hide, by Matthew Swift

Oak tree, End Lake platform

Tom’s View

Our connection with nature Last Saturday I went on my first ever forest bathing session – the simple Japanese shinrin yoku art of being quiet and calm amongst the trees. With 12 other people from towns across Lancashire, Warrington and Merseyside I spent the morning meditating, smelling moss, touching tree bark, feeling the gentle breeze and the autumn light, listening to the plump clear pebbles of the raindrops, the acorns and even the coloured leaves falling softly onto the woodland floor. It was a beautiful, emotional, even spiritual, re-connection with each other and with the natural world.

I was struck with how much all of us as participants felt an outpouring of biophilia: the love of life, and of living natural things, that is an intuitive and deeply held natural human drive (according to famous entomologist and environmental writer E.O. Wilson). That humans feel biophilia was also highlighted by the incredible outpouring of love, loss, grief, passion and comment following the illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. Some commentators pointed out that it happened on the same day that the most recent UK State of Nature report was released, and which caused barely a ripple in conventional or social media.

The report starkly stated that, in what is already one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, and despite all the best efforts of the Wildlife Trusts and of you, our supporters, in just a decade we have moved from having one in ten species threatened with extinction to one in six. All this is a reminder that we as humans find it hard to connect emotionally with nature through statistics, reports, data, policies and big long-term threats from things like a changing climate or the slow tide of agricultural intensification. Ours is a personal, visceral connection with the wild places, green spaces, waterways, individual trees or bird-feeder visitors that form part of our daily lives.

"I was struck with how much all of us as participants felt an outpouring of biophilia: the love of life, and of living natural things, that is an intuitive and deeply held natural human drive "

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"Ours is a personal, visceral connection with the wild places, green spaces, waterways, individual trees or bird-feeder visitors that form part of our daily lives."

The team from Blackburns Farm getting their award

Earlier this month I visited Blackburns Farm, an arable farm near Kirkham, to present them with the Wildlife Trusts' coveted Biodiversity Benchmark – the first farm ever in the UK to be awarded the standard.

Conservation officer, John Lamb, inspecting the new pond at Blackburns Farm

Such a scheme needs positively motivated people to be a success but it also needs to operate in a society where such things are enabled by a supportive policy environment with the right laws, procedures and funding.

I did this as part of an Open Day held by the owners on their farm, amongst a dog show, food growing demonstrations, wildlife stands, an opportunity to see the new wildlife and countryside education centre, and to inspect the newly created farm ponds, already teeming with dragonflies. The ponds were created under a scheme called District Level Licensing, supported by government policy and administered by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, which delivers three new ponds (minimum 150m2 each) for every one affected by new development.

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This is why some of the debates playing out in the media around seemingly abstract concepts like ‘Biodivesity Net Gain’ or ‘Nutrient Neutrality’ are so important, and why your Wildlife Trusts campaign and lobby politicians.

Make sure you are confident that they will support laws and policies that will leave us – at the end of their terms of office – with more wildlife, not less, with mechanisms that support land managers, farmers and communities to look after that wildlife, and who won’t sacrifice the things that are so dear to us for short-term political gain.

So, when you vote in the upcoming General Election (and please DO vote), please make sure it is for a candidate, and a party, who love the natural world as much as you do.

@lancswildlife

WINTERING 7-SPOT LADYBIRDS © PREMAPHOTOS, NATUREPL.COM

Wildlife

Insects have an incredible trick for surviving the harsh weather of winter, as entomologist Dr Ross Piper reveals. Magazine Name | Summer 2023

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uman ingenuity and technology have enabled us to thrive in every corner of the globe, from the chilly polar regions to the sweltering tropics and everywhere in between. Insects might lack our technology, but this hasn’t limited their own ability to colonise and thrive in just about every terrestrial and freshwater habitat there is. How are these animals able to survive extremes of temperature: the cold winters of temperate locations and periods of intense heat and drought? These six-legged marvels have evolved a number of ways of dealing with extremes, from waxy exoskeletons that minimise water loss to behaviours such as migration. However, they also have an ability that makes them more-or-less immune to the vagaries of the environment. It is known as diapause. This phenomenon is easily overlooked and is as remarkable as it is subtle; a

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period of seeming calm and inactivity that belies extreme changes at the cellular level. In response to challenging environmental conditions, insects can stall their development, effectively pressing the pause button until conditions improve. The diapausing animal is still alive, but its cellular machinery shifts from cells dividing and organs developing to a state of ‘tick-over’ and maintenance. With that said, some diapausing insects may even remain active, but they feed less and their reproductive development will be slowed or halted. How does this differ from the hibernation we see in mammals? In hibernation, metabolism slows and body temperature drops, but in essence, it is a very deep sleep. In contrast, diapause is a much more extreme form of inactivity, as the life of an insect in this state is effectively ‘paused’.

PRESSING PAUSE

Hide to survive In a deep state of diapause, the insect can’t respond to danger and flee from predators, but usually diapause takes place in the soil, behind flaking bark, deep within a plant stem or in some similar sheltered location, offering a degree of protection from these external threats. If you go out searching for insects in the depths of winter, it’s not difficult to find lots of examples of diapause. You might discover beetles, wasps and lots more besides under the bark of a dead tree, a whole community of diapausing species in a grassy tussock, or eggs and myriad larvae in the upper parts of the cold soil. Across the vast diversity of insect life, diapause is extremely common; however, for any given insect species the phenomenon only typically occurs in a single stage of the life cycle. Often, diapause happens in the immature stages of the life cycle – the eggs or the larvae – but it can also occur in the pupae as well as the adults. Take, for example, the peacock butterflies you might find in your garden shed in the depths of winter. These are in diapause and in really cold snaps you can even see ice on them. Shutting down for the colder months, the bodies of these diapausing

butterflies will undergo some radical changes, such as the production of anti-freeze chemicals and the shrinkage of their flight muscles, which will grow back to normal size as diapause comes to an end. How is this strange state triggered? It’s not as though a jaded insect suddenly decides one day that it needs a long rest. The actual triggers are environmental and rather subtle. In insects that need to survive the winter, it is falling temperatures and shorter day length that trigger the cellular changes needed for diapause. For example, blowfly maggots frantically feeding on a carcass in autumn will respond to the decreasing day length and falling temperatures by guzzling the decaying matter they need, before crawling out of the carcass and burrowing into the soil. Normally, the maggots would pupate straight away, but the physiological response to the shortening days and lower temperatures is stalled development, so the maggots don’t pupate until the following spring. The raft of changes that occur inside the body of the diapausing insect can include the production of compounds and proteins that protect delicate cellular structures from the ravages of extreme temperatures.

Dr Ross Piper is an entomologist, ecologist, author and presenter. His pursuit of insects, especially beetles, has taken him around the world.

ROOSTING PEACOCK BUTTERFLY © GARY K SMITH, NATUREPL.COM

In some insects, flight muscles get smaller at the onset of diapause and then increase in size again towards the end

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PRESSING PAUSE

The UK’s insect populations have suffered drastic declines, with far-reaching consequences for wildlife and people. Find out how you can help reverse these declines at

wildlifetrusts.org/action-for-insects

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EGGS ON A PUSS MOTH CATERPILLAR © ROSS PIPER

Biding their time With its life on pause, a diapausing insect is capable of some extremely impressive feats of survival. Take the large copper butterfly (which was once found in the UK but is now sadly extinct here); the caterpillars of this fenland species can handle being completely submerged in fresh or brackish water for 28 days with no impact on survival. They can go on for much longer too, at least 84 days, but beyond 28 days fewer of them make it through the ordeal. This underscores just how little metabolism is going on in the diapausing insect; it must be using a vanishingly small amount of oxygen to survive underwater for such a long period of time. Perhaps the most nefarious exhibition of diapause is in parasitoid wasps and flies. The female parasitoid will deposit her eggs, either singly or en masse, into or onto the unfortunate host. Depending on the species, the development of the eggs or young parasitoid larvae will be stalled until the host becomes acceptably plump and ripe for being devoured. As well as the normal triggers of diapause, these parasitoids may be able to pause their development by detecting levels of certain hormones in the host that indicate when development should be stalled and when it should be kickstarted. The active larva of the remarkable, albeit ghoulish small-headed flies seek out their host, a spider, and tunnel into its body, often through the leg joints. Once inside, the larva will make for the book lungs (the spider’s respiratory system) and there any further development will be halted, sometimes for many years, until the spider is sufficiently sized for the fly larva to grow and pupate. When the spider is pleasingly plump the larva jolts into action, swiftly consuming the innards of the doomed host. Sometimes, and adding insult to injury, the larva induces the host to spin a protective web that will shelter it during pupation. This ability to slow or halt development is one of the cornerstones in the success of the insects. It allows them to sit out extreme conditions, sometimes for very long periods, waiting for the better times to return.

A parasitoid wasp (Netelia vinulae) laid these eggs on a puss moth caterpillar. Development of the larvae within the eggs will be paused until after the host has spun a cocoon to pupate in

Biological Recording Lapwing are important farmland birds, by Mark Hamblin 2020VISION

Get recording for nature Knowing what wildlife is where and when is a vital part of helping wildlife, says Roland Howard.

People have been recording their observations of wildlife in the UK for hundreds of years, and obtaining biological records is becoming ever more important in this era of rapid ecological deterioration due to climate change and habitat loss. Having an accurate record of how different species are faring is invaluable in knowing where to target conservation efforts. And what’s more – it’s great fun! Whilst biological records are required across the country, in Greater Manchester there is currently a big push for people to get involved in collecting biological records.

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Volunteer citizen scientists are being encouraged to sign up to survey a one kilometre square and record their findings – especially of certain ‘identifier’ species including farmland birds, wetland birds, dragonflies, plants, water voles and willow tits. Dr Mark Champion, Senior Landscape Recovery Officer, said; “The citizen science project in Wigan, where your Wildlife Trust was involved with partners such as the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, was instrumental in being able to provide the evidence in getting the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh recognised as a National Nature Reserve. This just goes to show the incredible value of the community in helping to collect this vital data.”

You can submit your records at gmlrc.org/ wildlife_record ing

Bumblebee, by Jessica Fung

What makes a good biological record? For any biological record to be accepted, it must have four basic components: Who? the name of the recorder and the person that identified the organism. These can be the same or different individuals. What? the name of the organism seen, the species, genus and family. The use of scientific names is preferred in most cases. Where? the location where the organism was seen, ideally a georeference such as a grid reference. When? the date the organism was observed or collected. You can help to make your record even better by adding further information such as habitat, life stage, sex and abundance of organisms.

Not sure what yo u’re looking at? The iNaturalist app is a great w ay for you to submit biolog ical records wherever you ar e. Just snap a photo, choose from the suggested identifi cations and submit it!

How can you get involved?

Additional details of survey methods and providing site names can also help scientists to verify, compare and cross-reference records.

If you are already confident with your ID skills, you could contact the Greater Manchester Local Records Centre to find out more or submit your records online.

Dragonflies are important habitat indicators. Brown hawker, by Jamie Lawson

Pond dipping at Wigan Flashes, by Jessica Fung

Tufted vetch at Kirkless Landfill, by Karl Horne

Willow tit numbers have dropped by 94 per cent, by Adam Jones

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Mute swan, by Jessica Fung

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If you are just starting out, then why not join a BioBlitz? These are a really fun race against time to record as many observations from a location in a set amount of time. There are usually lots of experts on hand to help with identification, and often involve other activities too such as pond dipping, field surveys and wildlife walks. Stuart Fraser from the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit adds, “For me, biological recording is important for two key reasons. First it encourages people to get out into nature and enjoy its benefits. It also gives recorders an opportunity to highlight the nature they find, pay back on their experiences, shout about local greenspaces, contribute to understanding of species populations, and perhaps in a small way influence site management or policies.” So, whether you are an experienced recorder or just starting out, why not give it a go?

Book Reviews

Book worms As winter draws in what better excuse to curl up with a wonderful nature themed book, says Lydia German If you’ve ever been stuck looking for a new nature-themed read, a Wildlife Trust book fair could be the answer! We held our very first one recently to raise funds for our Lunt Meadows nature reserve. Hundreds of books occupied tables at Ego at The Punchbowl, just round the corner from this wildlife haven. The fair was a great success with lots of people coming along to look at the huge selection of publications and chat to Trainee, Kate, and Communications Officer, Sam, about the work we are doing on the reserve. All the money raised will go to Lunt Meadows, where we are close to opening the new learning centre. Thank you to all our contributors who gifted us books, journals and magazines: Museum of Liverpool, Soroptimist International Crosby, Oxford Archaeology and Formby Methodist Church. A huge thanks also goes to all of our volunteers, members and staff who donated books. We were also delighted to have had donated copies of some of our latest favourite reads...

The Singing Cicada – Ivana Fletcher The Singing Cicada is an educational children’s book which follows the story of Cyril the Cicada and his woodland friends, who think their single sounds are boring and repetitive. Cyril meets Ross the Robin, who has a beautiful singing voice following lessons with Miss Nightingale, and offers to take him on a journey through Urwood Forest to see her.

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On the way they meet characters such as Chris the Cricket, Gary the Grasshopper and Rositta the Rose Chafer. Ivana, who lives in Bolton, wrote the story after missing the sounds of the cicadas from her native Croatia. The book is beautifully illustrated by Taysa Nabiella and includes educational resources at the back of the book for each species mentioned, including some of our own information from The Wildlife Trusts website. The book can be purchased via ivanafletcher. com. Use code CICADA23 for free postage and packaging.

Through a Vet’s Eyes – Dr Sean Wensley FRCVS This book is a must-have for any animal lover who wants to understand the reality of how we treat animals, whether that be for farming purposes or domestic captivity. Dr Sean Wensley brings together keen scientific insight with beautiful reflections on the natural world, many of which take place around our region, such as Cabin Hill NNR in Formby and Ainsdale NNR. The contrast between the gorgeous descriptions of animals in the wild and the hard-hitting reality of how we treat captive animals is a saddening, but much needed, wake up call. Dr Sean explains the conditions on some of the farms he had to visit during his veterinary training and shares his thoughts on the debate of whether animals experience emotions just like us. We highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to find out more about the ethics of how we treat our animal companions.

You ca also sup n p by donat ort us in g to our 'Step up for Wild life' campaig n

The mystery books proved a big hit

Setting up our first Lunt book fair

A growing collection of gardening books

A SHOUTOUT TO OUR PARTNERS Ava Goes Green ‘Ava Goes Green’, book one of the ‘MASC to the eco-beat’, is an educational resource series for children, featuring a unique and enjoyable fusion of fiction and nonfiction. The environmental issue of plastic pollution is told through an integration of music, art, stories and creativity. The original music, artwork and stories as explained by children, birds and animals have been specifically designed to develop imaginative thought, independence, and to help stimulate curiosity in the arts and the environment. Keep an eye out for Book 2 ‘Ava Gets Active' where Ava and friends get to work helping the environment!

Budding wildlife fanatic...

... and junior nature lover!

Light on the Wing We adore ‘Light on the Wing’ a luxury coffee-table book which not only depicts the beautiful landscapes and wildlife spotted in Lancashire, but with every book sold, £5 is donated to Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The photography publication is by Irene Amiet, freelance writer and international photographer. Kate and Sam enjoying the book fair

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Wildlife

One of the North Lancashire Wildlife Group’s recent field events

Wildlife in North Lancashire Fancy delving deeper into our wonderful North Lancashire wildlife?

North Lancashire Wildlife Group (NLWG) are a volunteer group who are a friendly, local group of Lancashire Wildlife Trust. We arrange lots of ways to help people to engage with and support nature. We meet throughout the year to share our interest in the natural world. Anyone who enjoys nature is welcome to join us – no knowledge or experience necessary! In spring and summer we organise outdoor wildlife events and in autumn and winter we hold indoor wildlife talks. We also offer identification workshops, and a major part of our work is the production of an annual magazine all about our amazing local wildlife. Our wildlife walks are mostly easy and are open to all, beginners are very welcome and they’re free of charge. People join our walks for lots of different reasons.

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"We arrange lots of ways to help people to engage with and support nature. We meet throughout the year to share our interest in the natural world. "

Learning new skills at an ID workshop

Most enjoy an easy-going walk while hearing about the wildlife that we find along the way. Some like to photograph what we see, and a few submit records to help keep track of how species are managing locally. Some of our events are focused on a particular theme such as fungi, bats or trees. Every winter we put on a programme of wildlife talks by guest speakers. We hear fascinating accounts on interesting subjects such as particular animals or other wildlife topics. This is followed by refreshments and an opportunity to socialise with other nature lovers. NLWG have also started offering identification workshops on popular subject areas for those who want to develop their interest in wildlife further. Recent workshops have concentrated on bees and wildflower families.

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Next year we’re looking forward to holding our first wildlife fair with free admission, activities and lots more, so come along to discover exhibits, displays, moth traps, pond life, leaf litter life, children’s activities and more.

It includes reports by Wildlife Trust officers, articles on topics from beetles and bats, to botany and butterflies, field event reports, and lots more. You can check out the contents and sample pages on our website.

There will be introductory guided walks throughout the day on topics such as flowers, spiders, birds, lichens, grasses and insects. You could also have a go at the 10 minute pollinator survey.

People come to our events from all over and readers from Manchester, Liverpool and further afield buy our magazine every year. If you want to keep in touch with what NLWG is offering, why not become a member? It’s free and you’ll receive occasional emails about upcoming events and other news.

Another way that NLWG tries to promote and encourage interest in wildlife is with the production of an annual wildlife magazine. The 2023 issue, with 72 pages and 40 reports and articles as well as over 300 wildlife photographs, is an extensive account of our local wildlife and the work of NLWG.

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Find out more about us, how to join and lots more at nlwg.org.uk, or contact me at robszsz@yahoo.co.uk

By Rob Zloch from the

North Lancashire Wildlife Group

Wildlife

Gracing our winter skies Amy Shakeshaft rounds up some of the birds of prey you can expect to see this winter. It’s slim pickings for birds of prey over the winter season, as their usual larder of mammals go into hibernation, smaller birds migrate to warmer climates and competition for tasty treats becomes even fiercer. However, there’s still plenty to surprise and delight over the darker months in the UK. Looking to the skies, we are fortunate to be home to several species of birds of prey, circling and swooping over our grasslands, towns, motorways and wetlands. An abundance of raptors is a sure sign of a healthy ecosystem, with enough food to sustain and support them where they fly at the top of the food chain. Naturally, these graceful birds are more active in spring, but they are still here, gracing our winter skies with their predatory prowess.

A buzzing population Buzzards are the most widespread hawk in the UK - which is a far cry from the brink of extinction on which they found themselves in the 1900s. The buzzard is a delightfully common sight, with numbers reliably increasing. You’re likely to hear their trademark ‘kee-yaa’ mewing call as they circle high in the sky before swooping in for the kill. Common buzzards have been photographed on our Lunt Meadows reserve by volunteers and visitors alike, capturing their signature fanned tail and ‘V’ shaped flying style.

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Hibernal hawks The sparrowhawk is one of the smallest birds of prey who stay with us over winter, and the one you’re most likely to see in your own back garden, searching for finches, sparrows, and tits to eat. Distinctive for their piercing yellow eyes, rounded wings and long tail, the males can be as small as a collared dove with a beautiful blue-grey back, banded by orange.

Male sparrowhawk, by Mark Hamblin 2020VISION

Versatile and clever, sparrowhawks often double bluff their prospective meals by rapidly changing direction to catch them.

Falcons in the frost In the falcon family, red kites are another success story; saved from the brink of extinction by national reintroduction projects, although spying a red kite in our patch is still a rare treat. Silhouetted against the sky, you can see their kite-shaped tail and magnificent reddish, black-tipped wings. They are, in fact, scavengers, helping to clean up our countryside and preying on smaller mammals.

Our beloved Kes A national treasure, kestrels hold great affection in the hearts of British people, due in part to the renowned 1960s novel ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’ by Barry Hines. Closer to home, at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, we have our own iconic figure in the form of ‘Kevin the Kestrel’, who frequents Brockholes nature reserve, rewarding photographers with fantastic candid images and providing children with a rare close-up of a delightful but deadly bird of prey. These are the most common birds of prey you can hope to enjoy on our reserves this winter, but it’s worth mentioning the many hen harriers, merlins, peregrines and short-eared owls who will be dining on our winter wetlands. Grab your warmest coat, binoculars, and head out to marvel at our native raptors.

Three red kites in flight, by Andy Rouse 2020VISION

Common buzzard, by Amy Lewis

Kestrel over Heysham nature reserve, by Janet Packham

Kestrel at Lunt Meadows, by Kevin Hall

Kestrel in flight, by Russell Savory

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My photography competition journey My name is Ilse and I am a landscape and wildlife photographer under the name Ilse’s Imagery – and I love entering the LWT photo competition! For the August competition the subject was dragonflies and damselflies. As there are loads at Brockholes nature reserve, I chose to go there for a walk late in the afternoon and see what was on offer. The sun was shining, and I finally spotted a common darter resting on a fence post. I thought about a trying macro shot, getting really close. Why not try it? What’s the worst that can happen? I tried to get closer and closer to show as many details of the head as possible. As you can see, I got pretty close. After entering this photo in the competition, it was a waiting game. Via social media the news came that my shot got third place, how wonderful! What a great experience and great to see who won and who came second. An added bonus - there is a chance to do this all again next month with a new subject. I hope you will join me by entering your photo. Good luck and have fun!

By Ilse Bogerd

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Winter has arrived! Cold temperatures, crisp leaves on the ground and hibernating wildlife are some of the amazing sights we see around us during the autumn and winter months.

The photography competition continues to be sponsored by in focus, the binoculars specialist, who very kindly offer a £100 voucher as the prize each month. Based in the Lookout hide at Brockholes nature reserve, in focus have a wide selection of binoculars and scopes to help you keep a closer eye on the incredible wildlife we are blessed with on our reserves.

As we leave summer behind for another year, we watch as the landscapes of our incredible nature reserves change from luscious green to the stunning autumnal hues of orange and brown.

arnes

The air around us becomes crisp and makes us wrap up warm as we head out and explore nature, watching as the seasons change before our very eyes. Each month photographers from all over Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside send in their incredible images of the stunning wildlife and landscapes of the natural world. Take a look at some of our incredible winners from the past few months! In June, we received some beautiful entries under the theme of ‘butterflies and moths’. Ken Hayes took home first place with this stunning image of the small copper butterfly. Our judges loved how Ken captured the amazing detail of this delicate butterfly and portrayed the gorgeous orange and brown colours perfectly. This beautiful photograph of a hummingbird hawk moth was taken by Stephen Catterall. The way it shows how this incredible moth feeds on the sweet nectar by hovering above the flower is really impressive. The top spot for July was award to Nigel Barnes with his fantastic image titled ‘Vole out of the Hole’. Taken in his back garden, this stunning little vole fits the theme of ‘garden wildlife’ perfectly. The way that it looks directly at the camera gives the viewer a fantastic opportunity to see its cute little nose and long whiskers.

This beautiful beetle, in the process of taking off, was taken by Michaela Moville. We loved the way she captured this action shot of the beetle about to fly off with such clarity. The detail of the wings is just incredible! The theme for August’s photography competition was ‘dragonflies and damselflies’ and we received some incredible entries. Andrew Bradley was our winner, with his wonderful photograph of a female emperor dragonfly in the stunning summer light. We loved how his image highlights the intricate features of this dragonfly and also how he managed to capture a perfect mirror-like reflection in the water below. If you feel inspired to get out in the natural world and capture some wildlife shots after viewing our recent entries, why not enter our competition? Take a look at this month’s theme and submit your entries to photocomp@lancswt.org.uk

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Fundraising Matthew Pennington and his brother-in-law, Jack, with their medals after completing the challenging coast to coast walk

Our fantastic fundraisers Get ready to feel inspired by our fundraisers, says Lucy Coxhead.

Walking across the UK from one coastline in the west, to another in the east is a challenge that most would only dream of doing - but that is exactly what Matthew Pennington did this summer, all in aid of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust! Matthew was keen to set himself a personal challenge this year, and he decided to walk the Coast-to-Coast Path; a 192-mile long-distance trek from the Irish Sea at St. Bees Head in the west, to the North Sea shoreline at Robin Hood's Bay in the east. Matthew’s challenge brought him closer to the nature he loves and was inspired to protect. He challenged himself to raise an amazing £750 – which he was over the moon to exceed, raising a grand total of £1,031! Another group who took on a fundraising challenge this summer was the wonderful school council at Dolphinholme CE Primary School.

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They organised sponsored wildlife walks, and together raised an amazing £814.65! One of their favourite wildlife discoveries was a blackbird looking after a nest of eggs in the hedges around their school grounds. The children said they felt so lucky that they have beautiful wild spaces to explore around their school and wanted everyone to be able to experience the joys of discovering wildlife, which is why they chose to fundraise for us. We want to thank everyone who has fundraised for us this year. Every step taken, every activity embraced, and every penny raised results in a positive change for Lancashire’s wildlife. If these incredible efforts have inspired you to tick something off your own bucket list, check out our new fundraising pack on our website.

Lucy and Laura from our fundraising team thanking the Dolphinholme school council for their amazing achievement

"We want to thank everyone who has fundraised for us this year. Every step taken, every activity embraced, and every penny raised results in a positive change for Lancashire’s wildlife." Please g et in tou ch with the team at membe rs lancswt hip@ .org.uk to find o ut more

Cyril stands proudly with his 101st birthday leaf

101 YEARS OF LOVING WILDLIFE FOR OUR MEMBER, CYRIL When Cyril Leeke’s 101st birthday was approaching in 2022, his daughter, Veronica, and their family decided to surprise him with a memory leaf on the tree of his favourite LWT nature reserve, Brockholes. It was wonderful to meet Cyril and hear about how he’s loved visiting Brockholes over the years and been present as the reserve developed into the wildlife haven it is today. Thank you once again to Cyril and his family for remembering his special birthday with us. Our memory leaves are also a lovely way to remember your loved ones, and a moment of quiet reflection in their favourite wild place can bring comfort in difficult times.

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We’d like to send our condolences to the Kippax family, who have chosen to remember their loved ones, Ian, Liz and Janet with a leaf at Mere Sands Wood. This is a place especially close to their hearts, as Ian volunteered at Mere Sands Wood for 25 years. We hope they can take some comfort when they visit the reserve, knowing that they are helping to protect the place he loved and dedicated many years to. Your leaf, whether in memory or in celebration, will help us to protect the special places nature calls home.

Nature and Wellbeing

Growing Good Health Rebecca Witcombe, Senior Nature and Wellbeing Officer, tells us all about her latest exciting project. I’ve lived and worked in Burnley for a number of years, and the Chai Centre has always had a special place in my heart as part of my Lancashire Wildlife Trust journey. When I started as a volunteer I would head there for a healthy lunch after running nearby school activities, and when I got my first job with the Trust I attended training courses and community events there. To be back there now with our Nature and Wellbeing Service, engaging the local community in environmental activities and creating growing spaces for this community to enjoy, feels like I’ve come full circle! For people who have limited access to green space, are experiencing health inequalities, exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis, and feeling lonely and isolated, this project, Growing Good Health, will improve mental and physical wellbeing as well as creating vibrant growing spaces and wildlife areas. Our open day launch event saw people coming from all over the town to see what we are up to: local residents keen to get involved, staff from the NHS, Social Prescribers and other local community groups. It was a great way for the Nature and Wellbeing Team to show how our nature-based wellbeing activity provides excellent outcomes for those currently nature-deprived, with low wellbeing and self-esteem.

www.lancswt.org.uk

Starting well into growing season, we began by sowing lots of quick-growing leafy veg and salad items. Ladies from the Bengali Chit Chat group took home bundles of spinach, rocket and greens. We had a great crop of radishes, and the side garden was abuzz with bees and butterflies attracted by beds of nasturtiums and herbs. This year’s harvest of apples, pears, plums and currants from the garden was exciting (and delicious) and we can’t wait to increase that with the creation of a new miniature orchard. Mulberry bushes have been requested time and time again by the community around the centre, so they’ll definitely be included! The next few months are looking to be exciting too; we’ve got the construction of a covered outdoor learning area in the New Year, which will mean we’ll be able to run our sessions outside, surrounded by our crops even when it’s a typically rainy East Lancashire day. On top of that we are currently building more raised beds, added to those created by the Prince’s Trust, sowing some overwintering crops, and we’re beginning to build our community compost area.

The Prince's Trust Team run by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service created a raised planter out of pallets

As a partnership project with Guild Park in Preston we are also really looking forward to some joint adventures such as species recording and monitoring, seed collection and sowing, and habitat box creation. Of course, there will be lots of joint harvesting and cooking too. The Growing Good Health project at the Chai Centre in Burnley has been made possible thanks to funding from the Greener Communities Fund, managed by NHS Charities Together in partnership with Starbucks and Hubbub.

"This project, Growing Good Health, will improve mental and physical wellbeing as well as creating vibrant growing spaces and wildlife areas."

Chamomile with parsley and fennel in the background, for herbal teas and adding to meals

Open Day activities at the Chai Centre - making paper pots and chatting gardening with the Mayor of Burnley

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Our Corporate Friends Staff from Cavendish Nuclear enjoying their Welly Workout

Partnering business with nature Partnerships Officer, Megan Kelsall, explains how businesses can make a real difference to our environment.

Despite many organisations having greener intentions, with the speed of nature's decline and the seemingly fragile state of the consumer landscape, businesses are feeling uncertain as to how to approach the needs of splintering ecosystems and climate breakdown whilst navigating the challenges of their own industries. With policy changes, and government advice spinning on its axis it is understandable that teams of senior managers, sustainability leads and CEOs across the region are feeling disorientated and unsure of how to progress to a healthier natural world. Could nature itself offer the solution? Organisations are in a privileged position to welcome nature and the environment into their boardrooms, onto their agendas and to implement positive change for the planet.

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Faith in Nature, a valued Wildlife Trust partner, made headlines when they made the decision to make nature a director of the company— giving the natural world a voice and a vote on all they do. "It’s an assertion that Nature, in all of its multi-species glory, has inalienable rights. And if we truly believe that statement — as I do — then there is an onus upon us to change the way we operate in relation to the natural world." Simeon Rose Creative Director, Faith in Nature Could your organisation make a difference too? When becoming a partner, business teams are invited on to site to learn about the projects they are supporting and give staff opportunities to give back to the landscape they are living and working within.

about To learn more ort business supp ail em opportunities g.uk or t. csw business@lan dy or fill in our han e lin form on

Staff are encouraged to engage in nature campaigns and learn about how scientific findings are informing the work of our conservationists. We offer a nature and wellbeing service to support individual staff members in their efforts for better mental health and our conservation experts can supply support when businesses face new environmental challenges. As Partnerships Officer my role is to get know your business and understand how we can support you and your team through this time of eco-anxiety and offer you opportunities to take positive action for nature recovery.

CORPORATE MEMBERS GOLD – Beechfield Brands – Close Brothers – Eric Wright Group – Gresham Office Furniture – Little Green Feet – JBI Ltd. – Mace – Northstone – Places for People – Siemens – Standby Productions – Volker Stevin – VP plc – Victrex

SILVER – Decordia Ltd – Fort Vale Engineering Ltd – Making Energy Greener – MJ WIlkinson Plant Hire

BRONZE – Stowe Family Law – Wienerberger – Cavendish Nuclear

LOCAL BUSINESS MEMBERS

One of the great bug hotels at the Places for People Clayton Brook community fun day

NEW MEMBERS THIS WINTER We are delighted to welcome our new corporate partners Victrex, joining us as gold corporate members this year. Situated along the estuary, Victrex has been a part of the Wyre landscape and community for 30 years and is now partnering with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to take action for nature, enhance the biodiversity on their site, and engage their staff in the wonderful wildlife Lancashire has to offer. We also welcome Places for People as another gold level corporate supporter. Working ‘across the full spectrum of placemaking’, Places for People's goals are to build homes and communities where everyone is welcome, and everyone can thrive – including wildlife!

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We were happy to attend this year's Clayton Brook community fun day, where our fundraising team were able to connect with the local community and understand more about how they interact with the green spaces in their areas. It was wonderful to see their already busy bug hotels and learn about the other projects they have planned for the rest of the year. Our Manchester mosses have also seen several of the Cavendish Nuclear team regularly offer their time and energy to our volunteer group. As well as getting involved in the peatland habitat restoration, Cavendish Nuclear has committed to supporting your Wildlife Trust with a bronze corporate membership.

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– Hoofs & Paws – Worthington Sharpe Ltd At Lancashire Wildlife Trust we believe that business charity partnerships should be mutually beneficial and based on shared values. Our partnerships are bespoke, not ‘one size fits all’ packages. It’s important to us that we get things right at the start to make sustainable long-term relationships. We believe that your company can benefit greatly from a partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust as we help your business and your staff to connect more with nature and thrive from the health and wellbeing that happens from connecting with their outdoor environment.

If your company is interested in being a corporate member go to lancswt.org.uk/ how-you-can-help/business

What's On this Winter

What’s On Winter is the most wonderful time of the year. Our nature reserves transform as colder weather sets in and seasonal wildlife flocks to our shores. Wrap up warm, get outside and explore one of our fantastic reserves this winter.

Santa by the Lake

Numerous dates throughout November and December Brockholes Nature Reserve £13 per child Santa is back at Brockholes! Come and meet him in his workshop set against the backdrop of our beautiful Meadow Lake. .................................................................

Santa’s Post Box

Numerous dates throughout November and December Brockholes Nature Reserve and The Hive at Moss Bank Park £7.95 per pack Write your letter to Santa at home, before heading off on a winter walk to Santa’s Post Box following our self-led trail. .................................................................

Christmas Artisan Markets at Brockholes Numerous dates throughout November and December Brockholes Nature Reserve Free! Located on our unique Visitor Village floating on Meadow Lake, we are inviting artisan businesses from around the North West to showcase their products and create a brilliant, unique market.

www.lancswt.org.uk

Skies and Pies with The Starsmith

14th December, 4th and 18th January Brockholes Nature Reserve £22.50 per person Join us for an enchanting night with astrophotographer, Lee Hunt, as he unveils the wonders of Lancashire's night skies. .................................................................

Cookie Decorating with Mrs Claus

Head to lancswt.o rg.uk/ events fo r more informatio n, booking details an d even more eve nts for you to en joy.

Breakfast with Santa at Moss Bank Park

Numerous dates in December The Hive at Moss Bank Park £9.50 per adult and £10.50 per child Join us for our super special 'Breakfast with Santa' event to add that extra bit of magic to your child’s Christmas this year. .................................................................

Fylde Sand Dunes Guided Walk

Numerous dates throughout the winter North Beach Car Park, St Annes Free! Come along and discover the wonders of the Fylde Sand Dunes with our passionate and informative volunteers.

Numerous dates throughout December The Hive at Moss Bank Park £9.95 per child ................................................................. Join Mrs Claus at Moss Bank Park to show off your cookie decorating skills. Nature Tots at Heysham .................................................................

Christmas Artisan Markets at Mere Sands Wood

Numerous dates in December Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve Free! Located in our new visitor centre, we are inviting artisan businesses from around the North West to showcase their products and create a brilliant, unique market.

6th and 8th December Heysham Nature Reserve £3 per child Join us to explore the natural world out on the reserve in this interactive Nature Tots session at Heysham Nature Reserve.

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Brockholes Nature Reserve, £6 per adult and £12 per child Step into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas lights, artisan markets, delicious food and drink stalls, and even a chance to meet Santa himself. Get into the festive spirit with live music and traditional fairground games, the Brockholes Winter Fayre is the perfect way to kickstart your seasonal celebrations.

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Gift a future for wildlife. Leave a lasting legacy.

Robin by, Alexander Mustard 2020VISION

The urgency to act for wildlife has never been greater. A gift in your will is the lifeline nature needs. We're here to talk when you're ready. jjohnson@lancswt.org.uk 01772 324129

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Thank you for all of your support