Lapwing Spring 2016

Spring Issue 2016

The Last Brown Hare

RED ALERT IN YOUR GARDEN www.lancswt.org.uk

GIVING THE FLOODS SOME WELLIE

WIN A WALKING HOLIDAY

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Senior Trust Officers

THE SUPERB WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO READY OUR RESERVES FOR SPRING IS TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CAN PERFORM NEAR MIRACLES IN ANY CONDITIONS. WELLIES WERE DEFINITELY IN FASHION AS THE WINTER WAS WASHED AWAY.

Chairman Steve Garland Honorary Secretary Duncan Craig Honorary Treasurer John Drury Chief Executive Anne Selby Head of Finance and Services Ian Pollitt Head of Conservation Tim Mitcham Head of Development Lindsey Poole Head of Operations Mick Weston Head of People and Wildlife Daveen Wallis Editor Alan Wright E. awright@lancswt.org.uk Sub Editors Alison Whitham, Julie Colvin Trust Headquarters The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6BY T. 01772 324129 F. 01772 628849 www.lancswt.org.uk Design www.nectarcreative.com Cover photo Brown hare Š Amy Lewis 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.

Printed on FSC accredited paper using vegetable based inks.

All packaging is biodegradable.

fsc logo

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Tweet along with the birds this spring The shoots and buds of spring have been with us since the first days of 2016 and the birds have been tweeting their excitement for weeks.

It has been mild but it has also been wet, which explains the large numbers of wildlife pictures which have been sent to our Facebook page and from Twitter followers who have been tweeting in their own way. Anyone with a computer can pop into our Facebook pages and see how social media has come alive this year. It is a great way to share your exceptional photographs of wildlife and the countryside.

Our favourites have been the short-eared owls which have been hunting over Lunt Meadows and Cadishead Moss.

These beautiful birds have been flying over wider areas because of the flooding but appear to enjoy being in the limelight with some spectacular displays.

I will speak more about the floods later (Page 10) but the superb work that has been done to ready our reserves for spring is testament to the fact that our staff and volunteers can perform near miracles in any conditions. Wellies were definitely in fashion as the winter was washed away. And spotting the huge range of wildlife is just one reason why you should be getting outdoors over spring and summer. Our 30 Days Wild Campaign will encourage everyone to get out and do something wild each day in June (14-15).

Imagine your delight if you were to spot a brown hare bounding across the fields or a female boxing away an amorous male. You can learn more about hares while supporting our appeal (4-5) to help this iconic Lancashire mammal to survive.

The chances of spotting a red squirrel are also getting better as these gorgeous creatures recover from another pox outbreak. We are now keen to get them back into parks and gardens, so you can help with their fightback (8-9).

In April, The Wildlife Trust expects.

Yes, like expectant parents we are looking forward to the birth of our spring lambs. These little boys and girls will grow up to be the conservation sheep of the future (6-7). Keep and eye on Twitter and Facebook in early April for news of our new arrivals.

Our young wildlife expert Harry is offering tips (12-13) and the Biodiverse Society team will tell you five things to look out for over spring (18-19). There is also a fantastic chance to win holidays (20-21).

This is going to be an exciting year for The Wildlife Trust in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside so keep an eye on our website for some fantastic news. And spread the word, your friends and colleagues may want to jump on board as members as 2016 reveals some special events and projects.

Whatever the weather there is plenty to do over spring and summer. And if you are out there and you see something special, tell us about it so we can share it with all your fellow wildlife enthusiasts.

Anne Selby

Chief Executive Officer

Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

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Over 80% of Britain’s iconic brown hare have disappeared. We do know that the national hare population was around four million in the late 1800s, it is now down to about 800,000.

The Last Brown Hare?

It’s spring so hop out of bed just before the sun rises, get out onto the moors and mosses and look out for one of our wildlife wonders, the brown hare. The sight of the brown hare bounding through the landscape is one of the most precious nature moments you can experience.

We have spotted them dashing across the car park at Brockholes, diving into the woodland at Mere Sands Woods and suddenly bolting out of the undergrowth and hurtling across the mosses in Manchester. Sitting as still as a statue, brown hares will often wait until the last second before dashing to avoid their predators. The white flash of a tail as they reach phenomenal speeds makes it easier to keep track of them; you could almost be forgiven for imagining you are on an African landscape.

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As spring arrives, the boxing brown hares provide a spectacular show. Spring sees the start of the mating season and male brown hares will often become territorial around their chosen female, fighting off any new hares trying to steal their lady’s attention. However, the females can be equally as handy with the punches, if the male gets too close she will happily put him in his place.

Sadly these are all experience that future generations may not experience, as over 80% of Britain’s iconic brown hare have disappeared. We do know that the national hare population was around four million in the late 1800s, it is now down to about 800,000.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A BROWN HARE IN THE WILD THERE ARE PLACES IN LANCASHIRE WHERE YOU CAN GO “SPOTTING”:

Ways you can help...

— Early mornings at the Brockholes nature reserve, Preston

Report any strange activity in the countryside which you believe is illegal hare coursing.

— Little Woolden Moss in Salford and Winmarleigh Moss near Garstang — Mere Sands Wood nature reserve in Rufford — Heysham Moss in North Lancashire

We as a Trust need your help to act now and ensure we protect this magnificent species for the future. Look out for your brown hare leaflet enclosed with this Lapwing edition for more information.

— Wigan Flashes nature reserve in Greater Manchester — The West Pennine Moors

Lancashirewildlifetrust

Learn and understand more about this wonderful animal through The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Lobby Government for increased legal protection for hares and to ensure that existing legislation is enforced.

Share your experiences of hares in the wild with photographs, videos, paintings or drawings on our Facebook Page – The Lancashire Wildlife Trust If you do see a brown hare we would love to know where.

You can submit your records at http://www.lancswt.org.uk/species-to-record.

@lancswildlife

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A light flickers through the mists

Lambing time - we’re so excited

Natural England – the UK Government’s official adviser on nature and landscape in England, which designates Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - has recently announced that the West Pennine Moors will form part of its interim programme for the 2016/17 financial year.

We are all getting broody as April approaches and the news that 18 of our conservation grazing ewes are in lamb. A lambing shed has been built at Freshfield Dune Heath by our wonderful Merseyside volunteers and conservation shepherd Sian Parry is getting a few more tips to add to her lambing experience.

Sian said: “We are expecting to lamb the beginning of April this year with 18 ewes currently in lamb. “Although this is only a few we thought it would be a good idea to get them checked so we have an idea of how many lambs to expect.

The cows – longhorns, redpolls and Galloways – are all characters and a popular sight on the reserves as they munch their way through the grasses, leaving perfect dipping grounds for a variety of wading birds.

“We rounded them up and got them scanned, we’ve then marked up whether they are expecting singles, twins or triplets. It helps for several reasons, we can monitor them at lambing time more efficiently as we know if they may have got into difficulty or if they were only having one lamb and also we can adapt their extra food between now and then accordingly so they get enough.”

The sheep – Hebrideans and – also cut the grasses in a certain way that creates ideal ground for native plants to grow.

This brings in many insects and birds.

Its Cheshire to Lancashire Area Team will be considering detailed planning and timing and “will be in touch with interested parties in due course”, about designation.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are those areas of land and water that Natural England considers to best represent our natural heritage - its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms, or a combinations of such natural features. They are protected by law and eligible for funding to conserve and enhance the wildlife and habitats for which they’ve been recognised as being nationally important.

The arrival of the lambs in April, will probably win the award for our “cutest volunteers” – no offence to our lovely human volunteers!

The sheep were moved to their new home so they could get used to their new surroundings. Sian’s sheep and cows have transformed some of our reserves with longhorn cattle making their mark on Brockholes, Freshfield Dune Heath, Wigan Flashes, Lightshaw Meadows and Cutacre.

Our particular thanks to Mr Jake Berry MP (Rossendale and Darwen) and Rt Hon Lindsay Hoyle MP (Chorley) for their support, and to the long-running efforts of local naturalists and members of the former West Pennine Moors Biodiversity Working Group, who have kept this show on the road over very many years.

And a special thank you to those of our members who’ve helped us all to get this far.

THE ARRIVAL OF LAMBS IN APRIL WILL PROBABLY WIN THE AWARD FOR OUR “CUTEST VOLUNTEERS” – NO OFFENCE TO OUR LOVELY HUMAN VOLUNTEERS! 6

www.lancswt.org

It’s not a done-deal yet, but things are looking hopeful.

Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

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Anna’s on red alert for squirrels Red squirrels on the Sefton Coast have received a helping hand from a student at Liverpool John Moores University. Red squirrels have been declining across the UK due to the introduction of the American grey squirrel in 1876.

The threat grey squirrels pose to our native reds is two-fold – they outcompete them for food and resources and carry the deadly squirrel pox virus. Grey squirrels do not suffer any symptoms of this disease but are carriers so can pass the disease to red squirrels to which it is fatal. Reds develop ulcers and lesions around the eyes, mouth and paws, become unable to eat and drink and usually die within two weeks of contracting the disease. In 2008, 80 per cent of north Merseyside population was lost to an outbreak of this virus.

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Lancashire Wildlife Trust has been working with local landowners and volunteers to conserve red squirrels in North Merseyside and West Lancashire for over 20 years. This work brought the population back from the brink and now red squirrels can be seen regularly at National Trust Formby and in gardens throughout Formby, Ainsdale and Blundellsands and into West Lancashire.

Anna Starkey fell in love with red

squirrels while volunteering on the Lancashire Wildlife Trust Red Squirrel project. Now she is using the knowledge she gained to study these wonderful mammals as part of her Zoology degree.

Anna is in her final year of a Zoology degree at Liverpool John Moores University and as part of her studies was required to design and carry out a research project on a topic of her choice.

She has been volunteering on the red squirrel project for almost two years now and has fallen for their charm.

Anna said: “They are incredibly intelligent and beautiful creatures, but are vulnerable due to the threats they face from the introduced American grey squirrel, so I didn’t hesitate to focus my research project on red squirrel conservation.”

She has been investigating the effect of supplementary feeding and the use of feeders by red squirrels and carried out this research at Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve. ‘We are really proud of our long running role in supporting the fantastic work of the Wildlife Trust’s Red Squirrel Project’ said Dave Mercer Natural England’s Senior Reserve Manager. ‘Anna’s research is the latest chapter in the important story the Sefton coast has to tell about the conservation of this threatened species’.

The results are still being analysed but use of the feeders was much greater than anticipated. Cameras set up to monitor the traps caught multiple squirrels visiting them at any one time. “I feel very lucky to have seen so many red squirrels foraging and playing at the tops of trees.

After receiving such positive results, I am hoping that my work will be influential and inspire others to help protect the red squirrel” said Anna.

Rachel Miller, Red Squirrel Field

Officer at Lancashire Wildlife Trust said:

“We wouldn’t be able achieve what we do without the co-operation of the many landowners and support from our dedicated volunteers. It is great when everyone can work together for the benefit of a species such as the red squirrel.”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SIGHTING OF A RED OR GREY SQUIRREL, OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT RACHEL ON 07590 745862, OR EMAIL RED.SQUIRREL@LANCSWT.ORG.UK

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@lancswildlife

LWT hope to continue their work and bring red squirrels to even more people in their gardens and local parks. Now is a fantastic time of year to watch red squirrels. January usually marks the beginning of the breeding season and squirrels can be seen performing the ‘mate chase’ where they chase each other around the trunk of a tree. The first litters are usually born the beginning of March so the females will be busy getting their dreys ready.

Natural food is also becoming scarce though and the stores they have built up in the autumn are depleting so they will also be very active at feeders. When feeding red squirrels it is important to feed a variety of food, such as nuts, seeds, apples, carrots. Don’t forget to clean feeders regularly, disposing of old food. Always provide some fresh water too.

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After the flood

Did Marriot Edgar, the famed Lancashire poet, know something we didn’t when he wrote his poem about Mr Noah and the timber merchant?

Forget the pain get outdoors

It rained and it raine d for a fortni’t, And flooded the ‘old countryside.

It rained and it kep’ on raining, ‘Til the Irwell was fif ty miles wide.

The ‘ouses were soon under water, And folks to the roo f ‘ad to climb.

They said ‘twas the rottenest summer That Bury ‘ad ‘ad for some time.

The rain showed no sign of abating, And water rose hour by hour, ‘Til the only dry land were at Blackpool, And that were on top of the Tower.

But at the age of 54 - or 55 by the time many of you will be reading this magazine – I am refusing to let my aches and pains slow me down.

My experiences of working for The Wildlife Trusts have shown me that age is no barrier to getting out and doing your bit for nature.

From Three H’appenc e a Foot

by Marriott Edgar 193 2

There have been predictions of warmer wetter winters and this was certainly one of them. Lancashire was lashed by various hurricanes and the ground was so waterlogged and the rain so persistent that we had serious flooding. The Wildlife Trust has had a few footpaths washed away, a landslip on one of our reserves and ironically, Brockholes was closed for several days.

I say ironically because we built a floating building, a bit like Mr Noah, in an attempt to adapt to flooding. Brockholes did indeed rise majestically about 1.8metres on its anchors as the floods came but unfortunately the pathways leading to it were under water, so the facilities had to close at one of our busiest times.

So we are now saving up for some floating pontoons and walkways to ensure we are not caught out again and that our clever adaptations to cope with flooding are not sabotaged. Any spare pontoons or floating walkways gratefully accepted.

(We can afford’ three h’appence a foot’.)

It is clear that we will have to learn to cope with more frequent events of this nature. The Wildlife Trust has been arguing for some time that we need a catchment approach to water management.

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If we have land management practices that let the water run off too fast from our uplands we are unlikely to be able to cope with such levels of rain lower down the river systems. So we need to look at the bigger picture for solutions.

United Utilities started an innovative scheme some years ago called SCAMP – (Sustainable Catchment Management Programme) which did exactly this.

There is strong evidence that we can slow the flow of water by good upland management. This could be a win – win situation if hard pressed upland farmers were incentivised to undertake work to slow the flow. When the water gets down to the lowlands then there are opportunities to allow flood plains to do what the name implies and hold flood water.

We have worked with the Environment Agency at Lunt Meadows, near Formby, on the River Alt to deliver such a scheme.

The land was purchased by the Agency and taken out of agricultural production to allow the River Alt to flood into a large wetland area, which we are managing as a new nature reserve. Ultimately this will save many houses from flooding in Formby and be of benefit to wildlife.

In the meantime much wildlife has been impacted by the floods. Voles will have been flooded out of their burrows, sand martins will return to traditional nesting sites which have been washed away. The consistent wet weather will have impacted on insects and butterflies which are unlikely to breed as well this next year. Many of the micro-organisms in the soil will have been washed away, worms drowned which doesn’t bode well for soil health.

Animals who depend on such food, hedgehogs (already declining) and badgers may well be hungry. Members have seen barn owls hunting by day which means they are hungry.

One up side was that three otters moved into a lake at Brockholes to get away from the flooded river and have been entertaining volunteers and visitors with their antics. So as we start the repairs to our sites, our sympathies go to those who lost livelihoods and homes in the deluge.

Anne Selby CEO

Old age has a way to creeping up on you and giving you a clip round the ears – or in my case the shoulders, where the doctor now tells me I have arthritis.

IF WE HAVE LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT LET THE WATER RUN OFF TOO FAST FROM OUR UPLANDS WE ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COPE WITH SUCH LEVELS OF RAIN LOWER DOWN THE RIVER SYSTEMS. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE FOR SOLUTIONS. Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

In fact every day I meet volunteers up to 20 and 30 years older than me who are still out every week chopping, digging and generally doing super work for wildlife. The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has more than 1,000 volunteers regularly working on our reserves. It is great to see older “vols” passing on their knowledge to the youngsters, who definitely add to enthusiasm and energy levels.

The day before I visited the doctor with my aching bones, I spent a day helping to erect signs on Little Woolden Moss and that involved a lot of digging and lifting. You know, I didn’t feel any pain because I was out in a wild and wonderful place.

And I felt better the next day just because I had been exercising.

And our 30 Days Wild Campaign will once again try to get people out into the North West countryside doing things like bird spotting, pond-dipping, whale and dolphin watching and lying on their backs looking at clouds.

But our hard-working and friendly gangs would love to see more people getting involved. Why not give it a try?

You are in the outdoors, getting fit and healthy and meeting friends. We have even had romance blossoming among the native flora on our reserves. Love is always in the air, especially in spring.

It’s already been a bumper year.

I have seen a kingfisher (third time in my life) at Foxhill Bank in Oswaldtwistle, watched short-eared owls displaying at Lunt Meadows and watched and listened to a robbin “sing-off” at Spodden Valley in Whitworth. Listening to the robins was a wonderful moment and it made me realise that I have no reason to feel grumpy with all this spring happiness going on around me.

All this ties in with campaigns.

The Wildlife Trusts is running locally and nationally. The first is the attempt to press Government for a Nature and Well-being Act, encouraging health professionals to use the natural world more as a tonic to today’s stresses and strains.

So get out, get healthy, make friends and learn a little bit more about the astonishing amount of wildlife which will be hopping around on your doorstep.

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Happy 5th Birthday Brockholes

Pond dipping for tadpoles

Can you believe it is five years since Brockholes opened its drawbridges to the public? Yes, this spring we are celebrating the nature reserve’s fifth birthday.

Since opening in 2011, the reserve has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, both people and wildlife. The reserve itself has become a significant site for breeding waders in the spring along with a host of wildflower and dragonfly in the summer and some spectacular fungi in the autumn. Some exceptionally special visitors include the annual appearance of bittern, great white egret, night heron and otter. Brockholes has really begun to mature as a nature reserve.

Reserve officer Duncan Goulder explains “Brockholes began as a big experiment, with more unique conservation methods being trialled to create the fantastic mosaic of habitats we have here today.

The reserve is growing and changing all of the time and it’s worth visiting throughout every season to get the full benefit of what the reserve has to offer.”

Donalda Willia ms, Brockholes General

Manager is very excited about the next phase for the reserve. She said: “I have been at Brockholes now for six months and I am amazed at the array of wildlife and the dedication of the staff and volunteers here.

“Turning five is a real milestone and marks the start of a new era here, as we look to develop our whole offer further.

I would urge any visitors to take part in one of our guided walks so you can really enjoy all Brockholes has to offer”

Anne Selby, Chief Executive of the

Lancashire Wildlife Trust explains how it all began. Anne said: “We have been working to secure Brockholes, the former sand and gravel quarry site, for over 20 years. We always wanted to reclaim this area for nature and with the location next to the motorway, use Brockholes as a way to engage even more people and create more generations who love and respect the natural world. I am very grateful for the support of our members through this journey, without them this simply wouldn’t have been possible.

Saturday April 23 – our Fifth Birthday Party, 10am-5pm Join us for a fun-filled day to celebrate our fifth birthday. The theme will be a traditional family birthday party/fete with the opportunity to celebrate what we have achieved. You can enjoy a range of stalls such as hook a duck, tombola and raffles alongside arts and crafts, reserve trails and a range of guided walks and talks. There will also be a barbecue from 3pm.

Saturday April 23 – our Fifth Birthday Party – private event From 5pm we will close to the public and then become a “ticket only” Birthday Party with a barbecue or hog roast and a live band and/or DJ, and potentially a raffle with a big prize! We would like to invite our members to join us for this event, as Brockholes would not have happened without your support.

More details on the website www.brockholes.org 12 www.lancswt.org

Spring is a great time of year for pond dipping. If you want to be successful with your pond dipping, you will need the right equipment for the job. You can use a fishing net and don’t forget a magnifying glass and a large tray so you can inspect your bugs closer.

If you want to be really creative you can make your own pond dipping net from a garden cane, a wire coat hanger and a pair of tights, have a look at www.wildlifewatch.org for more instructions.

Be an experimenter and try to guess how many of each species you will find and then record them.

At the end of the day, did you find the exact amount of species you guessed? Did you find everything you wanted to?

WE ALWAYS WANTED TO RECLAIM THIS AREA FOR NATURE AND WITH THE LOCATION NEXT TO THE MOTORWAY, USE BROCKHOLES AS A WAY TO ENGAGE EVEN MORE PEOPLE AND CREATE MORE GENERATIONS WHO LOVE AND RESPECT THE NATURAL WORLD. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, WITHOUT THEM THIS SIMPLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

Some of the species you can find are: – Tadpoles – Water boatmen – Fairy shrimp – Water scorpion

Who knows what else you will find lurking in the deep! Share your pond dipping pictures on the Lancashire Wildlife Trust Facebook page, ask a grown up to help you!

Happy Dipping!

Harry, Wildlife Watch member, aged 9

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@lancswildlife

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Can you take the 30 days wild challenge?

We love to tell you about what we are doing on Twitter and Facebook - and we like it even better when you tell us what you are up to.

Here are a few of your recent messages...

Chorley in Pictures @InChorley The Pigeon Tower. #blue #skies @BBCLancashire @ChorleyTweetup @ChorleyChitChat @VisitLancashire @RivingtonTG pls RT

Last year, as part of the My Wildlife campaign, Wildlife Trusts across the UK challenged people to do something wild every day for 30 days. The response was fantastic as we saw hundreds of thousands of people taking the challenge up and down the country.

Register online at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild to receive a special pack to get you started.

Emily Corner @newgroundcgm Beautiful bug beds at #HodgeHouse Eco Club! @TogetherHousing @nwgrnd @Lancswildlife

This year, we want to show that Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside are the wildest in the UK. We want more of you than ever to take the challenge and do something wild each day.

This is a great opportunity to get involved with friends and family, group and even at your workplace. You could even encourage people to sponsor you and raise money for the Trust! Most of all we want to hear about your random acts of wildness....share them with us:

#30DaysWild

John Barton @JodBart @Lancswildlife Crisp Winter’s day at Brockholes, but signs of Spring on the way! #nature #birds #WildlifeWednesday

Lancashire Wildlife Trust @lancswildlife

Come and join our Twitter followers @lancswildlife and like us on Facebook at Lancashire Wildlife

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@lancswildlife

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Supporting Your Wildlife

VolunTEAers, it starts with Tea

Tetley tea have confirmed they will be powering our army of volunteers through the year with free tea! As part of their ‘it starts with tea’ campaign, Tetley have generously agreed that they will continue to boost our volunteers by providing them with free tea, which is set to make significant savings across the Trust leaving more vital fund to spend directly on conservation.

Keep an eye on our twitter and facebook to see the Teamendous impact this will have!

There’s never been a better time to volunteer with the Trust, register your interest today at www.lancswt.org.uk.

Northern Polytunnels to the rescue!

You may remember in the last edition of Lapwing we told you about the shocking vandalism which struck at Brockholes, leaving the polytunnel completely destroyed. A huge thank you to all of you who wrote in with your letters of support and donations, which will help us replace some of the equipment damaged. Northern Polytunnels, a Nelson based company have come forward and donated us a new polytunnel, which is now in place at Brockholes much to the delight of our staff and volunteers.

Wild Holiday Fun

Our education team have been working with Ribby Hall Village, in Wrea Green near Blackpool to deliver a host of wild sessions to their guests from all over the UK.

Thank you to our corporate sponsors Gold EH Booths, EDF Energy, United Utilities Silver Amey, Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, Freedom Renewables, Hanson Cement, Manchester Airport, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lafarge Tarmac Bronze Albany Training, Aggregate Industries, eni UK Ltd, Bourne Leisure (Marton Mere and Cala Gran), Community Gateway Association, Ecospeed, Electricity North West, Hoghton Tower, Knotweed Eradication, Little Achievers Nurseries (Rosy Apple Childcare), Myerscough College, Neales Waste Management, Pets R Pals, South Ribble Borough Council, Derek Fox and Sons (Timber), Dugdale Nutrition, Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom, Fort Vale Engineering, Herpetosure Ecological Solutions, Responsible Mailing, Shared Services Connected Ltd, Trade Plate Logistics, UCLAN, Wienerberger, Wilkinson Cameras.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust holds a special place in people’s hearts and it is wonderful when we are remembered after they have gone.

We would like to acknowledge the generosity of our kind supporters who after taking care of their loved ones chose to leave a gift in their will to The Lancashire Wildlife Trust:

We would also like to thank everyone for their kind donations made in memory of: – Bill Cragg – Mick Bowden

Our CEO Anne Selby remembers long-term member Ian Cheetham...

– Annie Smith – Margaret Dempsey – John Michael Purcell

Natural Carbon Capture Scheme EcoSpeed - Level 2

Tha nk you to our recent funders Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Leyland Trucks, Nurture Lakeland, EDF Energy, Mrs D M France-Hayhurst Charitable Trust, Charles and Edna Broadhurst Charitable Trust, Joy Welch Educational Trust, The Winton Charitable Foundation, MOD Community Covenant, The Poppy Factory, Sport England, John Grant Davies Fund, Tonge and Breightmet UCAN, Rotary Club of Bolton Daybreak Charity, Tonge with Haulgh Community First Panel, Pilkington General Charity, Esmee Fairbairn, LEF Dirtworks, LEF Main Grants, Cory Environmental Trust, Viridor Credits, Veolia Environmental Trust, Wren, United Utilities, Johnson Matthey Clitheroe, Eric Wright Construction, Duchy of Lancaster, Windfall Fund, Rotary Club, The Hamamelis Trust.

Contact Ruth Gaskell on 01772 324129 or rgaskell@lancswt.org.uk

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REMEMBERING...

Annie was a member of the Trust with her husband Mark for 22 years and sadly passed away aged just 64 years. Annie touched many lives and will be greatly missed. Her sense of fun always shone through, even though her health had deteriorated greatly in the past few years.

Annie supported many charities and loved animals and wildlife, we are incredibly grateful for the gift she left in her will.

Margaret supported our charity as a member for more than 36 years and made regular donations to projects close to her heart. She was born and brought up in Lancashire and became involved with wildlife activities after she moved back to the county in 1980. Margaret supported a number environmental organisations and devoted many hours to the study of the natural world, particularly birds and insects. We are very grateful to Margaret for choosing to leave a gift in her will to our work which will ensure that her legacy lives on...

Lancashirewildlifetrust

Bill was a regular volunteer at Freshfield Dune Heath for more than 10 years and was a key member of the team.

Our reserve manager Fiona Whitfield remembers Bill: “He had brilliant practical skills and was an ideas man being a retired engineer, he designed and supervised the build of our Hay Shed and was instrumental in the plumbing of the troughs. Before his wife died they both enjoyed the reserve, once on his own he brought his family to check the animals. He always ensured a lively debate and will be greatly missed.”

Fiona and the team wish to thank Bills family and friends who decided to make a donation in lieu of flowers to The Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The donation will be used to purchase much tools needed for the conservation of Freshfield Dune Heath, Bills favourite nature reserve.

@lancswildlife

Ian was a planner and an environmentalist. He was Director of Development Services when I was a planner at Bury MBC, so he was my boss before I came to the Trust. Sadly Ian was struck down with MS at the height of his career and spent his latter years in a wheelchair, cared for by his wife Janet. He never lost his passion for the environment and took a keen interest in the Trust, as a member and keeping a watchful eye on what his ex member of staff was doing as the CEO. Janet and Ian generously donated to the Mere Sands Wood Appeal and I know the new facilities and the opportunity to reconnect people to the natural world at Mere Sands would have been close to his heart. In keeping with his connection to nature Ian had a green burial. Our sympathies go to Janet for her loss.

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Five things to watch for in spring

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Spring is a busy period for nature with plants starting to grow and bursting into life, which in turn attracts more insect life such as bees and butterflies, birds are singing, and for many species finding a mate and successfully breeding is a top priority.

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The Biodiverse Society Project needs your records of all kinds of wildlife, why not enjoy the longer daylight hours by searching for these species:

1

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Common toads emerge from hibernation in late February and start a hazardous journey to their breeding ponds. Toads have dry warty skin, large warty glands behind the eyes called the parotoid glands, short back legs and a round blunt snout.

They vary in colour from olive-brown to brick red and walk rather than hop.

The spawn of the common toad is easily distinguished from that of the common frog as it is laid in strings around aquatic plants not clumps. Although widespread along with other amphibians they are declining across the country due to the drainage of land for agriculture and the loss of ponds through development.

18 www.lancswt.org

2

Swift (Apus Apus) After spending their winters in Africa, swifts will start to arrive in the UK in late spring. Larger than swallows and martins these fast-flying and streamlined birds have long curved wings and a short-forked tail. Appearing black all over in flight the swift lives an aerial life, even sleeping on the wing and coming down only for a short period each year to nest.

Breeding populations of swifts have been declining over recent decades, with the swift’s preferred nesting cavities in buildings, such as those under eaves, are becoming few and far between.

3

Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Our hedgerows support all kinds of wildlife, providing vital food and shelter and in spring the buds of Hawthorn burst into life and new shiny deeply lobed leaves appear. Hawthorn is also known as the May-tree, due to its flowering period, it is the only British plant named after the month in which it blooms.

Common hawthorn is a rich habitat for all kinds of wildlife supporting over 300 insects such as hawthorn shield bugs.

Its flowers are eaten by dormice and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The haws are rich in antioxidants and are eaten by many migrating birds such as redwings, fieldfares and thrushes, and small mammals.

4

St George’s fungus (Calocybe gambosa)

St George’s fungus are widespread and fairly common, with a fleshy, white to beige coloured fruitbodies and a domed cap, underneath the cap are creamywhite gills. The stem is white and stubby and it grows in groups, sometimes in fairy rings in grassy places, roadside verges and woodland edges, but rarely in them.

The main distinguishing feature is its strong smell of fresh meal (like freshly ground flour) which is unmistakable.

Usually appearing in late April close to St George’s Day (23rd April), hence the popular name.

Lancashirewildlifetrust

5

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

With their furry, colourful bodies bumblebees are one of the most loveable insect visitors to any garden and are a vitally important for pollinating hundreds of plant species, including many crops.

They are however under threat from loss of habitat and the increasing use of pesticides and herbicides, therefore helping to monitor their progress nationally is important. From February look for the larger queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation searching for suitable nesting sites.

@lancswildlife

If you spot any of these species, we’d really like to know! All you need to do is remember when & where you saw it & then head to www.lancswt.org.uk/ submit-records to find out how to get your records to the right people.

You can also tweet us your sightings using #wildlifecounts & share them with us on Facebook.

Meet the latest BioDiverse Society trainees at www.lancswt.org.uk/news/ 2016/02/19/meet-our-2016biodiverse-society-trainees.

19

Win a short break in the Lakes We have teamed up with Could 9 Walking Holidays to bring you an exciting chance to win a short-break walking holiday for two in the Lake District.

The lucky winners will enjoy full board accommodation at the recently refurbished Haweswater Hotel for three nights and three days walking in the delightful Eastern Fells along with great food and a chance to discover some of the wildlife and history in this magnificent area.

About Cloud 9 Walking:

Three second prizes are available consisting of a Martindale Deer Watch Walk accompanied by former Lake District National Park Ranger, John White. John’s Deer Watch Walk receives rave reviews, and you’ll see plenty of wild red deer along with a look at wildlife and fascinating history of the valley of Martindale.

The selection of wonderful walks on offer combine fine walking with a chance to see and learn about more wildlife, history and culture of these special areas. Accommodation is special too – we use a combinations of high quality lodges, hotels, halls and houses – you’ll be well looked after and well fed!

Set up by former National Park Ranger and mountain guide, John White, Cloud 9 offer a range of unique walking holidays with a difference in the Lake District and Scotland and throughout Britain’s National Parks.

You’ll also directly benefit your local Wildlife Trust – with 8% of every booking fee going directly to support the Lancashire Wildlife Trust

20 www.lancswt.org

Lancashirewildlifetrust

@lancswildlife

21

UK NEWS

Lat newsest UK-w wild and issuide li e org/fnetrusts.s: ews

Learning about nature – and having somewhere nearby to experience it – is a right, not a luxury

Vote for nature ✗ on May 5th

Devol electi ved ons

Our shared earth

F

ed up with the politicians who don’t recognise nature’s importance? Well on Thursday 5 May, if you live in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or London, you can do something about it.

The elections decide the makeup for the next four years of the Welsh and London Assemblies, and for Northern Ireland and the Scottish Parliament for five years. In London they also determine who will be Mayor. Other cities, including Bristol, will also have mayoral elections.

Until now, few aspiring politicians have acknowledged nature as a driver of human wellbeing, and the backbone of a sustainable economy. These elections give parties a chance to commit to its restoration. A healthy environment gives us food, shelter, water storage, pollution reduction, flood mitigation, carbon

Healthy people

£2.1bn

If every household in England had good access to quality green space, it could save an estimated £2.1 billion in health care costs.

Healthy nature

£12m

The Alkborough Flats coastal realignment scheme in the Humber estuary cost £10m to build and provided £12m of storm protection benefits to land and property.

Other ecosystem benefits of the scheme contribute £1m a year.

Healthy economy

£350,000

One pair of ospreys breeding at the Cors Dyfi reserve in Wales has attracted 35,000 extra visits to the area, bringing in an estimated £350,000 locally.

WWW.JOANNEGLOVER.COM

Sources: Natural England 2009, Environment Agency and Wildlife Trusts Wales

Nature keeps us healthy, happy and alive. And that’s what politicians need to understand

capture, crop pollination and coastal protection. It is also where we walk, talk, think, listen, see and rejuvenate. It is the place that keeps us healthy, happy and alive. And that’s what politicians need to understand.

To help, The Wildlife Trusts have developed five questions (see right) for the people who want your vote. And they’re worth asking. Already in Wales, the National Assembly has passed The Well-being of Future Generations Act which requires all public bodies to work towards sustainable development, and a biodiverse natural environment. Next is the Environment (Wales) Act, to bring in an ecosystem-based approach to land management in Wales.

In Edinburgh, the recent World Forum on Natural Capital, hosted by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, brought together environmental economists from around the globe. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened the conference by acknowledging the debt Scotland owes to its wonderful landscape and the economic benefits it brings.

In London, prospective Mayoral candidates are realising that the environment is a strong concern for many of the city’s voters.

■ More at wtru.st/devolved-elections

JOHN FERGUSON

With would-be politicians in listening mode, it’s time to make your views count

Five big questions for candidates What is your plan for the restoration of wildlife?

1Wildlife habitats and species

need help. We want ambitious restoration targets and connection of natural green spaces to be set and achieved. This needs more resources and clear responsibilities. What will you do to ensure this happens?

Will you ensure at least 2 1% of the public health budget goes on accessible

natural green spaces?

We want this sum spent creating and promoting the use of natural green spaces for all, as part of the NHS’ preventative and treatmentbased healthcare.

What is your plan for 3 outdoor learning in schools?

We want to see outdoor learning and caring for nature

a key purpose for all schools.

This is key to children’s development and their future.

How will you better 4 protect and promote nature in local plans?

Local planning statements should map, protect and create areas for nature. We want wild places for people and nature in every neighbourhood.

How will you ensure a 5 strong voice for nature within Government decisionmaking?

Government needs to be a strong leader when it comes to nature’s recovery. How will you ensure that all Government departments, including housing, transport and health, take commitments to nature seriously?

The strandings of sperm whales on the beaches of Germany, Holland and England in January, although tragic, remind us just how phenomenal our sea life is. These ocean giants weigh up to 60 tonnes and have the largest brains on earth.

One theory is that a pod of young males strayed off course in pursuit of squid and hit the bottleneck of this shallow, narrow part of the North Sea. Disorientated, panicking and hungry, the whales could well have swum on to the beaches.

This time we could do nothing to save these wonderful creatures. But it reminded me that we are not as much of an island as we might think. We are joined to the rest of Europe by shallow seas which are no barrier to our fish, to our porpoises, dolphins and smaller whales or indeed to our migratory birds. And we are joined emotionally to our European neighbours as well, sharing the heartbreak and helplessness of watching these beautiful animals die.

For wildlife, the European Union is therefore very important. And it is no accident that the EU has the most substantial body of environmental legislation in the world. Without this, it is likely that our children would be swimming in raw sewage off our shores as we did, and that the Thames would still be devoid of salmon. It is true that EU policies on agriculture and fisheries have a less honourable track record in wildlife terms, but it is far from clear that nature would have fared any better if the UK had been left to its own devices: consider the agricultural deserts of the US and the collapse of Canada’s cod stocks.

The EU builds up policy slowly and carefully and rarely loses that which it has built. This offers a solid insurance policy for wildlife against short-term thinking, and our unquenchable thirst for economic growth.

Whilst we’ve lost those wonderful whales we do have something to celebrate: a recent massive expansion in the area of our seas afforded real protection (page 8). That progress was kicked off by the EU and taken forward by our Governments.

Artist Jo Glover’s vision of Pumlumon Mountain in mid-Wales – one of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s nature restoration areas Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

Together there are 47 Wildlife Trusts covering the UK, all working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone, on land and at sea. Contact us on enquiry@wildlifetrusts. org or 01636 677711. To join your Wildlife Trust, visit wildlifetrusts.org/joinus. Natural World, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1WT. Editor Rupert Paul Communications officer Emma Oldham. Layout editor Dan Hilliard Cover: Christmas day 2015 in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Pic: Getty twitter @wildlifetrusts facebook.com/wildlifetrusts

UK NEWS

Marine Conservation Zones help safeguard wildlife such as seahorses, cuttlefish and cold water corals.

Following years of campaigning to protect marine wildlife we are delighted to report that 23 new Marine Conservation Zones have been created – mostly in English waters.

These latest zones add to the 27 that were created in 2013.

Westminster has also committed to setting up a third round of Marine

Conservation Zones by 2018. This must be ambitious if we are to achieve the full network of protected areas so absolutely vital to ensuring the recovery of our seas. We’ll be asking for your help to ensure this happens.

■ Learn more and get involved at wildlifetrusts.org/MCZ

PAUL NAYLOR

2016 gets off to a good start with new protected areas at sea

A greater pipefish using the new Swale MCZ, off Kent Edible crab on a species-rich chalk reef off Cromer, Norfolk.This is what it has all been about: protecting the diversity of seabed life around the UK

Tony Juniper is our new President The well-known campaigner, writer and environmentalist has been appointed President of The Wildlife Trusts. Tony has been involved with the movement for “This over 30 years, and was the first organisation recipient of The Wildlife Trusts’ prestigious Charles Rothschild and is the very Miriam Rothschild Medal in 2009. backbone of In his new role he will help drive conservation our mission to support nature’s recovery on land and at sea, and to in the UK” put nature at the heart of society. “It is a huge honour,” he said. “This organisation is the very backbone of conservation in the UK and the work it does is vital in bringing huge benefits for people, nature and our economy. I am very much looking forward to adding what I can to the already huge impact of this amazing network.”

PAUL NAYLOR

Forest schools grow – yet again

The newlypublished Spring is a must for fans of nature writing

A new four-part anthology, published in conjunction with The Wildlife Trusts, celebrates the changing seasons. The editor is Melissa Harrison, an award-winning journalist, novelist and nature writer.

In the four books she brings together the classic works of great naturalists and pieces by

new writers. They describe moments of transition, from changes in urban settings to the shifting patterns of country life. All are threaded together to mirror the unfolding of the season. The full set of four will be published during 2016. You can buy the first, Spring, at wtru.st/seasons-spring

LYNDSEY YOUNG

A forest school with a difference: Nick Baker and friend

A huge thank you to everybody who responded to the Government consultation on MCZs

Spring is here

Tony at Cherry Hinton, an urban nature reserve owned by the Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust

Prophet and Loss A new ebook Prophet and Loss by award-winning author Simon Barnes explores the legacy of The Wildlife Trusts’ founder, Charles Rothschild. 100 years ago Rothschild recommended protection of 284 wild places in Britain and Ireland: areas of mountain, woods, bog and coastline ‘worthy of preservation’.

Prophet and Loss revisits some of those places and uncovers their stories. Available digitally for £1 from wildlifetrusts.org/prophet

As a learning experience you can’t beat it: seeing, smelling, hearing and touching the plants, animals and habitats that make up our world. So we’re delighted that our Forest Schools will grow again in 2016 to include Nottinghamshire,

London and the Bristol area. It’s all thanks to funding from many sources, but most of all from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Our schools boost children’s confidence and increase their knowledge and love of wildlife.

Wilfred Toadflax: trouble on a string

Be inspired by Brambly Hedge Brambly Hedge and The Wildlife Trusts have joined forces to help families explore and feel inspired by the animals that live close to them. Go to wtru.st/Brambly-Hedge for a wild recipe, colouring sheets, puzzles and much more. Plus a detailed look at the characters which are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year.

Bass Rock – one of the places revisited in Prophet and Loss

ELEANOR CHURCH

23 new Marine Conservation Zones

Did you know?

PEOPLE & WILDLIFE

Healthier and happier in 30 days

Go wild this June

The Wildlife Trusts would love you to commit 30 Random Acts of Wildness from 1-30 June. Are you up for it?

T

he UK’s leading nature challenge is back for 2016, and we are inviting you to take part.

Last year The Wildlife Trusts launched 30 Days Wild, when we asked people to do something wild every day throughout June. Thousands of you did, from the centre of London to the

Outer Hebrides. We were inspired by the amazing ideas people came up with for their Random Acts of Wildness.

Grown-ups danced in the rain and made cheeky nature cocktails out of natural ingredients, like elderflowers.

Children and families made wild works of art, went star-gazing and created

homes for wildlife in their gardens. Even people at work managed to find some time for wildlife, such as holding meetings outside in the sun. And in the busiest city centres people were finding their own little bit of wild and encouraging it to thrive.

But don’t take our word for it…

TIFFANY FRANCIS, 24, HAMPSHIRE “I already love nature, but this was an excuse to try different things. I made wild garlic pesto (that was awesome), listened to buzzards mewing overhead, and when it rained I looked at the newly-hatched chicks on the Rutland osprey camera. I even “I already love made elderflower champagne, which nature, but this tasted amazing and was an excuse luckily didn’t to try different explode! Every week I did a things” summary blog (http://tiffanyimogen.com); the activities were so diverse that it appealed to new people every time. Taking part in 30 Days Wild was just lovely.

It’s easy to take nature for granted and not go out as often as you should. Until you try it, you don’t know how much joy it can bring.”

ALEX WHITE, 12, OXFORDSHIRE “At first it was a bit of a struggle having to think of something new to do every day. But then it got really exciting and we started to think of loads of ideas. As it got easier I found that I wanted to spend more time outdoors. When it came to the end of June I “It got really didn’t want to stop. Some of our exciting. When it activities were came to the end around the house of June I didn’t and garden.

Other times my want to stop” mum, dad and sister, Amelia and I went for a day at the beach, or wild swimming. I took my camera with me, and blogged on appletonwildlifediary.wordpress. com. This year I want to get people from school involved: I found it really fun and inspiring, and I want to share that with people in my class.”

Many studies show that spending time regularly in wild green environments improves your health, happiness, and pro-nature behaviours. So, working with the University of Derby last year, we evaluated the impact of the first 30 Days Wild on our participants.

They took a quiz before June, straight after June and again two months later. The results were startling. People reported feeling significantly healthier and happier not just at the time, but months after the challenge had finished.

Taking part also led to a sustained increase in connection to nature, and pro-nature behavious. Great news for wildlife and people.

Free wall chart!

When you take the 30 Days Wild challenge

NICK TURNER/NATURE PL

KATHERINE DIXSON, 59, STAFFORDSHIRE

Do something wild every day from 1-30 June

“I’ve always loved getting out into nature, but 30 Days Wild focused my love of wildlife, and gave me an opportunity to improve skills like birdwatching. I had a much keener awareness of being part of nature. At the time I worked in Wolverhampton.

Even there I made “I had a much the most of wild keener places – having awareness of breakfast outside before I left for being part of work, or visiting (for nature” the first time!) the park near to my office. I don’t think I would have ever visited it, or done a spot of birdwatching on my way back from doing the shopping, if it wasn’t for the challenge. It was so fulfilling and made me realise the richness of wildlife, and how important it is to me.” waybeyondwords.co.uk/blog

DAWOOD QURESHI, 16, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE “I was in the middle of my GCSEs and it was a welcome break from revision. It gave me time to breathe a little, and actually I concentrated better when I was stuck at my desk. It was a great stress relief. Usually I could only photograph plants and insects or watch red kites above “It was a the house. But I welcome break also got the from revision… chance to build my own moth a great stress trap. There was a relief.” really big community, too, and I met lots of other young people like me, who love nature. There are loads of barriers for teenagers and children to experience nature – they don’t think it’s cool – but 30 Days Wild is a great way to unlock their love of wildlife.” heartofwild16.wordpress.com

Sign up and you’ll receive a beautiful pack filled with inspiration, ideas and resources to help you plan your wild month. Among them: a wallchart to pop up at home, a badge, and a selection of Random Acts of Wildness to carry out yourself or share with friends and family.

Sign up at: wildlifetrusts. org/30DaysWild

LIVING LANDSCAPES

December 27th: Emergency services rescue a family in York

H HIDSVIU SDGVIUGHDVS

ebden Bridge, York, Leeds, Tadcaster, Cockermouth, Pooley Bridge, Bradford, Glenridding, Aberdeen. Just some of the villages, towns and cities affected by the December floods. More than 16,000 houses flooded, and many businesses too. Tens of thousands of people have suffered the trauma and disruption of having their lives turned upside down.

Recovery takes months or years.

Prime Minister David Cameron recently called for an ‘attitudinal change’ on flood protection. Whilst we agree on that point, he wants to shift the focus away from protecting nature and towards protecting property. In fact, we must do both. We need to take a new, collective approach to finding long-term, effective solutions to these predictable and recurring floods. They are the result of a combination of factors:

More than 16,000 houses have been flooded, and many businesses

ANNA GOWTHORPE/PRESS ASSOCIATION

Stephen Trotter The Wildlife Trusts’ Director, England is passionate about wildlife and wild places, and what they can do for people.

Something has to change With serious floods now a part of life in the UK, it’s time to flush the old ways of thinking down the drain. Stephen Trotter sets out The Wildlife Trusts’ alternative

■ Our natural defences (habitats, water catchments and river ecosystems) have been dismantled and damaged by intensive land management – often driven by Government subsidies intended to increase food production.

■ We lack an integrated approach to flood and drought alleviation, water quality issues and wildlife decline. The solutions to these challenges need to be woven together, not sat in separate silos.

■ We have spent decades ignoring Environment Agency advice by building in the wrong places. Floodplains are not suitable for housing and other developments.

■ Urban areas lack the vegetated wild spaces needed to absorb water safely and release it slowly. Poor planning, too much hard landscaping and paved-over front gardens don’t help.

The most fundamental factor in any catchment is how the land is managed.

For example, research by Devon Wildlife Trust and Plymouth University shows that wilder ‘culm’ grassland absorbs 4.5 times more water than sown and fertilised pasture. Trees are better still. So well-wooded catchments and those with

wetlands and wildflower-rich grasslands are much better at coping with extreme rainfall events.

Ploughing-up of densely-vegetated wild habitats, over-grazing, digging drains and straightening rivers have all had disastrous consequences for our landscapes, which now have a severely reduced capacity to absorb and store water. Once a catchment is saturated, the speed of run off determines whether a flood becomes an extreme incident.

Often the land manager’s objective is to get the water away as quickly as possible. But this simply passes it on downstream – where it can become someone else’s bigger problem.

Then it hits the floodplains which we have developed and constrained – the spaces into which they could naturally

Carefully designing more absorbent habitats can protect towns and cities expand during intense flood events. Far too often, society has failed to respect or value the functioning of this natural process.

There has to be a better way and there is: to work with natural processes rather than against them. By carefully locating and designing more absorbent habitats like woodlands, wetlands and floodplains,

SOME EVIDENCE FOR A RETHINK

we can increase the water-holding capacity of landscapes near towns and cities. This can be good for people and good for wildlife – and often far cheaper than the hard concrete solutions we hear so much about.

Natural approaches help avoid the extreme peaks that can be so damaging.

Plan land use at a catchment scale Use ecological network maps to create large, new multi-functional areas at strategic locations around vulnerable villages, towns and cities.

2

Stop building on floodplains Planning policy must rigorously prevail against urban floodplain development. Too often, concerns are dismissed with disastrous effect.

Culm v cropped Devon’s culm grasslands hold 4.5 times more water than intensively-managed grasslands.

3

The magic of trees

155 million litres

Welsh peatland dried out by ‘improvements’

DAN HILLIARD

Lunt, North Merseyside

Rotherham, Yorkshire

Thacka Beck has been rerouted through a purpose-built reserve, allowing wet grassland to act as a floodplain when water levels rise – protecting the nearby town.

Lunt Meadows nature reserve sits next to the River Alt and acts as an overflow when water levels rise. In heavy rain, water enters the wetland area, protecting communities downstream.

The Centenary Riverside urban nature reserve is also a flood storage area. Last winter it kept floodwaters from the River Don away from surrounding streets and buildings.

AMY LEWIS

Penrith, Cumbria

Centenary Riverside fills up

Short-eared owl – often seen in wetlands that can help to fight floods Designing more places like these three into local plans can help us deal with future flooding – and provide much-needed space for wildlife. A real win-win.

LAURIE CAMPBELL

PAUL HOBSON

How nature reserves protect homes

Leave that dead tree Six large woody debris piles in a Northumberland stream doubled the travel time for the flood peak 1km downstream.

4

Ditch-blocking 250 ha of peatland in Pumlumon, Wales raised the water table by 5cm.

That’s an extra 155 Ml held back.

If all of the tributaries in a catchment spill their water into main rivers at slightly different times, it has been shown the most severe flooding can be avoided – making a huge difference to the number of homes and businesses affected.

There is a role for hard defences and dredging in some places but they won’t work everywhere. We need an approach that looks at underlying causes – from the headwaters to the coast. Everyone needs to work together to find local solutions that work for people and wildlife across whole catchments.

The same peatland after ditch blocking was completed

Renaturalise rivers Introduce more meanders, dead wood and rocks to slow the water. Recognise that the floodplain is part of the system, even if it is dry most of the time.

Water soaked into tree plantations in Wales at the rate of 100cm/h. On grazed pasture the rate was negligible.

One branch at a time might not look like much.

But over time beavers are nature’s wetland engineers

Protect soils Encourage farming practices that restore soil and its ability to intercept run-off – especially near streams and rivers.

Wildlife Trusts are doing this across the UK, for example in the ‘Slow the Flow’ projects we’re implementing. We just need more of them in more places. This is why we are calling on the Government to invest in smarter natural solutions for flood control (see right). Evidence shows that in most places working with the grain of nature is more effective, and more affordable.

■ Read more at wildlifetrusts.org/flooding.

5

Rebuild absorbent uplands Keep more water in the hills for longer by restoring wet peatlands, and letting broafleaf trees regenerate naturally in critical places.

6

Rip up city paving Permeable surfaces, green roofs and wild areas in communal outdoor spaces should be part of all new development.

7

Create buffer strips Strips of grasses and flowers along watercourses in towns or countryside slow the flow of water and reduce levels of pollutants.

8

Design and protect buildings better Help vulnerable householders to adapt their houses so that a flood is less of an issue and life can return to normal more quickly.

9

Ensure farm payments reward helpful practices Public payments should be for public benefits such as flood alleviation and the restoration of wild habitats.

10

Commit fully to tackling climate change Properly commit to the Paris Climate Change agreement. Set up a National Natural Infrastructure Commission to lead and coordinate activity.

JACK PERKS

After

s Overflow slip at Lunt Meadow

1

times more

Blocking drainage ditches on the Exmoor Mires reduced storm flows to 32% of the pre-restoration level.

Before

10 ways to help nature help people

4.5

68%

less flow

6FT HUMAN

Penrith’s flood reduction sys tem

SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY, PUTTOCK & BRAZIER 2014

SHEFFIELD WILDLIFE TRUST

MONTGOMERYSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

LIVING LANDSCAPES

Celebrate at Brockholes!

UE N E V Y T R A P G N I T A O L F ’ S LANCASHIRE

Brockholes is the perfect place for your very special occasion.

Our floating venue is the most unique in Lancashire and promises you and your guests an unforgettable event whatever the occasion.

We have a dedicated function centre that can accommodate all sorts of celebrations from weddings and anniversaries to birthday parties and christenings. Choose from a flexible range of onsite catering options serving quality, locally sourced products.

Summer 2016 Wedding Offer

June to August, Mon to Thurs: save £1000 on room hire!*

Located just off the M6 motorway at junction 31.

Call: 01772 872005 Email: info@brockholes.org www.brockholes.org

*This includes a minimum spend of £4,058.50, consisting of arrival drink and toast drink, with a 3 course meal for 50 people and a ‘Brockholes Buffet’ for 80 people as evening food. Images by Kirsten Platt and Bentham Imaging.