summer and winter roosts still occur. So it was brilliant to hear that Norley scouts are to make Bat boxes to put up around the village, Ged Ryan of Cheshire Bats has agreed to advise where. This is marvelous, but Ged reminded me that a major reason for the decline in bats is simply not enough food ie fewer flying insects. Now some people might say “Good, I hate bugs, those horrible Daddy long legs!” But they would be wrong the Bats are acting as a barometer for something profoundly disturbing. The reports that there seems to have been a massive decline in flying insects especially in areas which are intensively farmed is very worrying with profound impacts on human society. Talk of an unprecedented ecological disaster is not some wild fanciful tale. Prof Dave Goulson of Sussex University, and part of the team behind the new study said “Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on Earth but there has been some kind of horrific decline. We appear to be making vast tracts of land inhospitable to most forms of life, and are currently on course for ecological Armageddon. If we lose the insects then everything is going to collapse.” I went to see Bladerunner 2049 a few weeks ago and joked that perhaps it was a horrific future which predicted such an ecological collapse but at least the human race had survived and “spoiler alert” so have honey bees ! Its Director said “There are a lot of problems with bees in the world right now. They are disappearing, so the fact that here you can see those creatures still alive and still present, was for me like a little spark of hope in this dystopian universe.”
and Cheshire Badger Group (WCBG) (http://wcbg.org. uk/) I had a most useful conversation with Dave Wright who confirmed that Norley was once known as being a haven for “That most ancient Briton of English beasts.” The good news is that the cull will not include Norley (for the present) and that also goes for those in the area set aside for the vaccine trials. As for bad news, the illegal killing of badgers, still goes on, there are many former setts where “they killed the badger there, Dug him out and gave him to the hounds” (quotes from The Combe by Edward Thomas.) His good advice: Support the WCBG, donations are vital, identify where the setts are and keep a record. If anyone sees something suspicious phone the police, not the WCBG or me. That goes particularly for the people who told me anonymously that they “knew” Norley badgers were being unlawfully and deliberately killed. I have no magic wand to stop this happening. Only fines, jail terms and the confiscation of digger’s equipment, including vehicles and dogs can do that. Other news; all 5000 snowdrops were planted around the wildflower memorial walk; come February you’ll have to try and find them. Plans for making footpaths through the “Tanglewood” in the Memorial garden and the “Wildwood” next to St John’s are being made and meeting a favourable response. We just need to find the money! I’ll report back about our Flaxmere workday last month and how much we collected on our remembrance day walk 11th November 2pm St Johns On Breech Moss, Katie Piercy CWT and I treated all the Japanese Knotweed. Hope fully the meeting to explain what is happening on the Moss and to build on the programme as set out in the Neighbourhood plan will take place this month.
If only it were that simple no magic wand can conjure up the massive changes needed to reverse the damage that we have already inflicted upon the planet, and ourselves, climate change, deaths from air pollution, plastic engulfing the oceans …..I could go on! But “Hope springs eternal in the human breast”. We at least can do our best to make Norley as much a haven as possible and work with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust to join up all the dots viz wildlife corridors. As for the persecution of badgers I contacted the Wirral
Our work day 25th November is cutting rhododendron on Breech moss. Major Job - so volunteers please! Meet Village hall car park 10 am. Next meeting of NWG is our AGM on Wednesday 22nd November in the Snug at 7:00 pm Tigers Head, all are welcome - come along and have your say! Remember see our website for updates and revisions.
Norley News | November 2017 | norleynews@mail.com