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April 2016 – Issue 61
Birds, boggles, lambs and foxes nature column by Wendy LeVoi
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HIS afternoon I was surprised to see a barn owl hunting over the boggles,in brilliant sunshine; surely this is another sign of climate change affecting our wild life. I watched in disbelief as it hovered ever closer to the ground, totally oblivious to our presence on the embankment until it decided to fly up towards us, stalling at the last minute and banking off in a seaward direction as huge brown eyes met mine. I wonder how it manages to see its prey in these bright conditions? Green plastic now surrounds the picnic bench and the area around it, as the developers plan their next move. Last week the sea was as calm as a mill pond, the tide was high, and the breakers were rolling gently onto the shore. Common ringed plovers idled the hours away by the waters edge, whilst groups of aptly named sanderlings chased the waves back into the sea, taking off at intervals in one perfectly synchronised group to skim the glittering water before coming to land further along the shore. Today Braystones beach is an altogether different place, with the tide out as far as it can go, revealing an ancient world of stones, with Black
Combe straddling the southern horizon. Today it is almost White Combe, being liberally sprinkled with snow, with the village of Seascale looking for all the world like a mountain village, nestling cosily beneath it. Strange how I never saw this side of my village when I was growing up. Returning via the railway bridge I notice what looks like a small fox lying in the shallow waters of the Ehen. But it is a little lamb, which must have been washed down the river from the nursery fields. Sadly it didn't survive, though it was lying as if asleep on the river bed by the railway tunnel. My spirits lifted again further along the embankment, when a siberian chiff chaff {YES!!} came into view in my binoculars. These birds are a rare but regular visitor, arriving in early March, frequenting coastal bushes, willows and thickets near water. This little chap sat on a fence post and chiff-chaffed away to its heart’s content. There is a new picnic bench, where the old one had to be removed to complete the new drainage channel onto the boggles. “How am I supposed to sit and have a picnic or spread out my Sunday papers on here?” complained a fellow rambler. “You'd need to be an orangutan to reach it.” Let's hope it's a temporary installation until a state of the art one can be made, preferably situated out of the wind, though that would probably mean it would be facing the new nuclear power station. As I make my way home I watch a kestrel in the distance, hovering high in the sky over the boggles, wings beating ten to the dozen to sustain its position. Words cannot express how I feel too, to be free like that kestrel, to roam through this wonderful coastal landscape that is linked so closely to the land of lakes and mountains on the horizon. To lose it, even a bit of it, to my mind would be a terrible travesty.
Egremont and Cleator Moor 2Day
The Invasion has taken over The Beacon ALIENS, doctors and characters from a galaxy far, far away are just some of those among the Invasion that has taken over The Beacon, Whitehaven, from March 5 to June 5. The exhibition boasts to have dozens of costumes, props and features from some of the greatest sci-fi films and shows. From cult-programmes such as Red Dwarf, Doctor Who and Star Trek to blockbusters such as Star Wars, Planet of the Apes and Alien (including the actual case Sigourney Weaver lay in), there is something for everyone. Alex Farthing, curator of the exhibit and development officer at The Beacon, said: “We initially bought the exhibition for families, but when we put it up all of the staff were so excited with all the models and for adults it’s so exciting to get so close to the models and the costumes that were worn by the actors that the exhibition offers something to such a wide rage of ages.” The exhibition is the start of a new expansion for The Beacon as it begins a new focus on science as well as history. Ms Farthing said: “18 months ago we went into collaboration with Sellafield and opened the Sellafield story, which has meant a lot more people have come here with an interest in science, so over the next three years, we’re adding science to our history, heritage and culture themes.” Invasion not only allows visitors to get up close and personal - and to snap a selfie - with some of their favourite film and television show characters, but offers a range of activities for young people during the Easter holidays. The Small and Large scientist’s will be there to amuse and entertain children of all ages, making Alien refreshments and even toothpaste using blue alien blood and green alien snot. The exhibition runs from March 5 to June 5 and information about free science sessions and book-able events visit: thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk
The Force is strong at The Beacon: From Star Wars and Star Trek to Planet of the Apes, there’s something for everyone. - photos by Robert Haile
It’s alive!: The scientists are here until June to make some weird and wonderful creations with alien blood and snot!
North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust launches a new pancreas and HPB service
A NEW specialist surgery service is launching at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for patients with benign (non-cancerous) diseases of the liver, biliary system and pancreas.
This is the first time pancreas and hepato pancreato biliary (HPB) surgery will be offered by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust. Professor Ruben Canelo (left), consultant in general and hepato pancreato biliary surgery is pioneering the service. Originally from Italy, he trained in Germany and worked for more than 10 years at Imperial College, London. He is a professor of surgery, specialising in oncology and transplantation and is leading the programme for education and for F1/F2 trainee doctors since arriving in North Cumbria as well as conducting clinical research in surgery. The new multi-disciplinary service provides a team of experienced surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists, anaesthetists, intensive care physicians, nurse specialists and
dieticians, all dedicated to providing the best care for every patient. There is also a new team of HPB clinical nurse specialists who can provide advice and support on all aspects of patient care, from the point of diagnosis throughout the treatment and to follow-up care. The Trust treated 410 pancreatitis patients over the last two years and performed more than 470 cholecystectomies, bile duct explorations and benign liver pathologies. The new service means there will be a wider variety of treatments on offer as well as research opportunities where the Trust can contribute to an increased knowledge of HPB conditions. Professor Canelo, said: “It is exciting to be able to bring my experience to the Trust and enable us to offer a new service to our patients. “Patient care is the reason we are all here. The aim of the NHS is to offer a first-class service to patients and hopefully, both through teaching and my own clinical work, this new surgery will help further improve our patient care.”