Nottinghamshire Wild Life - Summer 2023

The member magazine for your Wildlife Trust

Summer 2023

Nottinghamshire Wild Life

Wetlands wildlife

WILD RESERVES

People making a difference down the decades

GOURMET GARDENING

Feeding you and the wildlife

No tt inghamshire Wildlife Trust

Notes from the Chief Executive

Building on the legacy of our forebears

Just over 60 years ago, a group of ambitious and dedicated people came together to form what is now the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Their motivation was a desire to arrest the loss of our precious wildlife and wild places and their approach was one of partnership and inclusion. Having resolved to form a new organisation to tackle nature’s decline, their first act was to consider which groups and organisations were best placed to help achieve their aspirations. Groups engaged in early discussions as to how the Trust should protect what remained of our county’s natural heritage included those responsible for planning decisions; care of our rivers and waterways, rural policy and those engaged in research and wildlife recording.

In reaching out to such a diverse and influential range of partners, our forerunners were both astute and ambitious – setting us on a path of collaboration which has stood us in good stead and enabled us to deliver some spectacular success in our county, not least the establishment of our wonderful suite of nature reserves.

Over the past six decades the Trust has rightly focused much of our energy on protecting precious wild places from damage and destruction – saving a range of wonderful sites from ancient woodlands and rare wildflower meadows to vital fragments of the Sherwood Forest’s heathlands.

Whilst our estate does indeed include fine examples of ancient and traditional habitats, it is telling that the bulk of our estate consists of restored areas of gravel pits – sites where we have been able to nurture nature’s recovery on a grand scale.

Restored wetland habitats at Idle Valley, Attenborough, Besthorpe and Skylarks nature reserves cover over 700 hectares – more than 50% of our estate. Our shared achievements on these sites illustrate both the Trust’s ambition to act at scale and nature’s capacity to recover. Sitting at key points along the Trent Valley flyway, these sites have long provided havens for both wildlife and people, but caring for such large areas of wetland wildlife presents real challenges - hence the focus of our Wetland for Wildlife appeal.

As we mark 60 years of effort to protect and restore nature in our county, we are acutely aware that the scale of the ecological and climate crises we face leaves no room for complacency – we must continue to act with urgency and ambition as we strive to build on efforts of all that have gone before us.

Paul Wilkinson Chief Executive @originalwilko

How you can get involved

Volunteer

See what role could suit you on our website. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/ volunteering-opportunities

Donate

We can’t do it without your support! Donate via our website donation form. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/donate

Include a gift in your will

This will help future generations to enjoy nature in Nottinghamshire as you have done. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/leave-legacy

Visit a reserve

Explore a new site or revisit a favourite one! nottinghamshirewildlife.org/nature-reserves

Online shopping

Get your bird food delivered straight to your door, as well as other wildlife products and homeware. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/shop

Contents

3 Your wild summer

Wetlands wildlife - the delights above and below the waterline.

5 Wild thoughts

Iolo Williams discusses reintroduction.

6 Wild news

Campaign updates from across the county.

8 Wild reserves

People making a difference down the decades.

10 Wild woodlands

April Windle explores a precious habitat that has long been overlooked by many of us –the British Isles’ very own rainforests

12 Wild wetlands

Learn more about the wetland sites in our care and available for you to enjoy.

14 Gourmet gardening for wildlife

Grow a garden full of food that both you and your wild neighbours can enjoy.

15 My Wild Life

Vice President and TV naturalist Mike Dilger shares his wild life.

Contributions

Dedication leaves

Commemorate a celebration with a dedication leaf. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/dedications

£Campaign

Play your part in raising awareness for a Wilder Future, Wilder Nottinghamshire. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/campaigns

£Join in our events

Keep an eye on our website for updates about our events. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events

Social media

Keep informed and join in with the daily wildlife updates online via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

E-newsletter

For more regular updates about Nottinghamshire wildlife make sure the Membership team has your email consent. Email membership@nottswt.co.uk

Editorial enquiries and contributions to: Rachel Rutherford

Copy deadline: Monday 11th September 2023

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EA

Tel: 0115 958 8242

Email: info@nottswt.co.uk

Web: nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Front Cover: Little Grebe © John Smith

Consultant Editor: Tom Hibbert

Consultant Designer: Ben Cook

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Wildlife Trust or its Council

Published by: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Editor in Chief: Erin McDaid

Editor: Rachel Rutherford

A Company Limited by Guarantee

Registered in England No. 748865

Reg. Charity No. 224168R

President: Sir Andrew Buchanan

Designed & Produced by Optima Graphic Design Consultants Limited optimadesign.co.uk

YOUR WILD SUMMER: Wetlands wildlife

Delights above and below the waterline

When considering wetland wildlife, it can be all too easy to default to the amazing birdlife that many wetlands are home to. Here in Nottinghamshire, we are blessed by a wonderful network of restored former sand and gravel quarries that now cover large swathes of the Trent Valley. Whilst these present some of the very best opportunities in the county to get close to nature throughout the year, in summer they are teeming with life – above and below the surface.

When considering wetland wildlife, particularly here in the Trent Valley, it can be hard to escape the varied bird life that our wetlands support. The influx of warblers, swifts, swallows and martins almost defines the summer at sites including our spectacular Idle Valley Nature Reserve, but to solely focus on birds would mean ignoring the complexity of our wetlands.

Many species of bird are attracted to these sites due to the abundance of insect food that thrive in the mud and margins - from the flies and mosquitos favoured by the swooping swifts and bats, to the dragonflies that are stalked by the hobby, our smallest UK falcon, during its brief summer sojourn in the UK.

Many species of insect spend time as larvae beneath the surface before taking to the wing, the most spectacular examples are our colourful damselflies and dragonflies. Species including the banded demoiselle and large red damselfly, black-tailed skimmer and four-spot chaser add welcome colour as we enjoy the long days of summer.

Insects and their larvae also provide sustenance for the myriad of fish that thrive below the surface. As the old saying goes, out of sight, often means out of mind, and this is all too often the case when it comes to fish. Despite their lack of visibility and somewhat underwhelming levels of recognition, they play a vital part in the ecosystems of our major wetlands and serve as prey to birds including diving ducks such as goosander as well as larger wading birds such as the elusive bittern.

Straddling the waterline

One of the most complex and richest of wetland habitats is reedbed. Whilst massively depleted across the UK, the restoration of former aggregates sites and concerted efforts by Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and others has led to a resurgence of this vital habitat. Beneath the surface of the water, reedbeds provide a fertile breeding ground for invertebrates as well as a safe nursery for fish fry and frog spawn. Along their margins they provide feeding and hunting habitat from species including the majestic herons and magnificent marsh harriers which are increasingly spreading out from their strongholds in East Anglia and now a more common site in the Trent Valley. Whilst damp areas support the greatest number of invertebrate species, drier areas may provide burrowing habitat for water voles and islands may be used by otters.

Above the surface, the reedbed’s dense vegetation provides safe roosting and breeding spots for everything from harvest mice to huge flocks of starlings.

Local naturalist dedicated to putting fish on the map

Whilst fish have often been overlooked when compared to other species groups by many naturalists, Jack Perks - who hails from Clifton in Nottingham - has been on something of a one-man mission to bring the wonders of our native fish species to a wider audience. Jack, often referred to as the ‘fish twitcher’ due to his determination to see and photograph different species, has carved out a reputation as a talented naturalist and photographer – and can often be seen presenting short films on series such as Springwatch.

Not many people are quite as ready to don a wetsuit or snorkel to delve beneath the surface as Jack and he has now published a number of books illustrated by his

stunning photography. Jack has photographed and recorded wildlife on a number of our reserves including Attenborough and is also a regular tutor on photography courses at our flagship nature reserves.

Get involved

On Saturday 26th August Jack will be leading a Macro Photography session at Idle Nature Reserve. For further details visit nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events

Species including the banded demoiselle and large red damselfly, black-tailed skimmer and four-spot chaser add welcome colour as we enjoy the long days of summer.

Jack Perks filming underwater

From beyond the brink

Reintroduction is a hot topic in conservation. It’s essentially bringing a species back to an area from which it has been lost. In my opinion, reintroduction should be a last resort. We should be working hard to hold on to what we’ve got without letting it get to that stage. We should have a government doing an awful lot more to stop wildlife from being lost, and to help threatened species recover.

But our wildlife is in a sorry state. It’s been said many times that we are one of the most nature depleted countries in the world – when I look around now and think about what we’ve lost since I was a young lad walking the fields of mid Wales, I can believe it. Curlews, lapwings, yellowhammers, linnets; pools full of frogs, toads, and newts – so many have now disappeared. It’s not too late to save these species, but for others, last resorts are all we have left. Where species have gone extinct from an area because of human activity, I think reintroducing them is very much justified. Especially so when species have a hugely positive impact on the environment, bringing benefits for a whole host of other plants and animals. Take beavers, for example. They create and maintain incredible wetland habitats, providing ideal conditions for many species, from water plants to amphibians to fish. This habitat creation is more important than ever as hot, dry summers become more frequent.

Thanks to reintroductions, there are now wild beavers back in Scotland, with a few in England too. But Wales is lagging behind. Beavers are back in Wales, but legally only in enclosures. I was privileged enough to be there when they arrived. It was an amazing feeling to be a small part of this event, but imagine how much better it would be to see them in the wild.

I’ve been quite shocked at the opposition to reintroducing beavers. I think a lot of it comes from a lack of understanding of beaver behaviour, and how many benefits they bring. Yes, there may be one or two areas of conflict, but there are plenty of measures to mitigate this. It’s already been done successfully in countries across Europe, where people now live happily alongside beavers. Any mention of reintroducing lynx raises even more opposition in some places, but I also think there’s a place for lynx in the UK. We have big problems with overgrazing as a result of high deer populations, and lynx could help with that. I’d be very interested to see them return and what effect they would have.

I’m obviously concerned about wildlife across the whole of the UK, but as a Welshman what I would really love to see is the reintroduction of both beavers and golden eagles to Wales. We had an escaped golden eagle set up home here for over 10 years and it had a fantastic reception from the local community, including farmers. Some were overawed by the beauty and the sheer size of her. It would be fantastic to see golden eagles back in Wales for good.

TRIED AND TRUSTED

The Wildlife Trusts have been involved in many successful reintroduction projects across the UK, including the return of beavers. We’ve also helped bring back water voles, pine martens, dragonflies, and butterflies to parts of the UK from which they’ve been lost.

Iolo William is a Welsh ornithologist, conservationist, and popular wildlife presenter, known for programmes including BBC’s Springwatch and Wild Wales. He has been supportive of the Wildlife Trusts for a long time and in 2021 took on the role of vice president of The Wildlife Trusts.

Iolo Williams

@IoloWilliams2

Campaigns update

Sending a clear message to local politicians

During the Local Elections in May we sent a clear message to City, Borough & District councillor candidates that we demand a wilder Nottinghamshire.

The campaign quickly resulted in positive contacts with councillors, including some with key responsibilities for environmental issues and we will be following up with all elected councillors over the summer.

As part of our 60th Anniversary programme we also reached out to all Local Planning Authorities to help ensure the ambitious Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Framework – developed with the Local Planning Authorities, Natural England and the Environment Agency - is adopted as policy. The framework is designed to ensure that any benefits in terms of future investment in BNG resulting from built development in Nottinghamshire are delivered as locally to the development as possible and definitely retained within the county. We are also seeking to secure commitments over and above the legal minimum for BNG across all districts and boroughs in Notts to support and encourage nature’s recovery.

Working with farmers to secure a Wilder Nottinghamshire

As we strive to secure more space for nature, farmers, landowners and land managers will be vital partners to ensuring the Nottinghamshire landscape supports nature’s recovery.

At the Nottinghamshire County Show, we were delighted to see Notts farmer and long-term Wildlife Trust member Tony Tapper recognised for his contribution to agriculture and his support in helping us care for many of our nature reserves down the years.

It was also pleasing to hear how many young farmers and land managers were committed to working with nature. A number of young farmers and land managers, including students from Nottingham Trent University, who received awards from The Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural

Society, highlighted their volunteering with environmental NGOs or at local country parks whilst others spoke of an interest in organic farming and beekeeping.

After the award presentations we grabbed Indy, Ellie and Christian, who’ve all volunteered with the Trust in recent years, for a quick photo alongside Tony, our CEO Paul Wilkinson and Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society President Patrick White. We think that the future of farming and conservation is in safe hands with them and their fellow students.

Supporter actions help trigger U-turn on key clause.

Back in May, the Government made a dramatic U-turn by scrapping the ‘Sunset Clause’ in the Retained (EU) Law Bill. It was clear that the passionate postcards, emails, and tweets to MPs from our supporters helped raise the alarm and we’re delighted that concerted pressure had an impact – but we must keep going.

Since the U-turn we again asked supporters to contact MPs ahead of a last-minute debate on this damaging Bill, which we fear will make it difficult for us to properly stand up for wildlife here in Nottinghamshire, in the hope we might secure further amendments.

STOP PRESS

As we write, the REUL Bill has been amended in the House of Lords. This is progress but the fight goes on.

City school issues rallying ‘SOS’

Earlier in the summer – whilst some swifts were still returning from Africa to breed – our friends at Nottingham based action group WildNG organised an inspiring ‘Swift Homecoming Parade'.

Hundreds of pupils from Claremont Primary School in Carrington marched enthusiastically through the streets, including a locally designated ‘Swift Street' - where around a dozen swift nesting boxes have been installed by residents. They then gathered in a local park to hear rousing speeches from Head Teacher Mr Campbell and Trish Evans from WildNG. Mr Campbell spoke of people’s ability to take action one step at a time and

the volume at which the children chanted ‘Save our Swifts’ suggests that many will take inspiration from the day and look set to be taking action for nature for years to come. This event, and the Swift Street project is proof positive that local action can make a real difference. In the words of Mr Campbell it's simply a matter of taking the first step, and then another, and a another...’

Volunteers, including members of our Keeping it Wild Group raising awareness of our demands for a Wilder Nottinghamshire ahead of the Local Elections back in May.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Paul Wilkinson (left) with Newark & Notts Agricultural Society President Pat White, Tony Tapper, Indy, Ellie and Christian at this year's County Show.

Trish (right), NWT Vice Chair Martin Willis and Mr Campbell with local PCSOs

Nature reserves along the route of HS2, like Calvert Jubilee in Buckinghamshire, have been destroyed.

UK HIGHLIGHTS

Discover how The Wildlife Trusts are helping wildlife across the UK

Birds not birdies

On the wrong track

ore than 100,000 people have signed The Wildlife Trusts’ open letter to the UK Government about HS2, after our latest report into the project highlighted major errors in HS2 Ltd’s calculations – meaning more nature will be lost along the line than was agreed by the Government, and attempts to repair the damage the scheme is causing will be inadequate. The letter urges the Government to oblige HS2 Ltd to accurately recalculate its figures, providing a more realistic picture of the scale of the damage. Our new report, HS2 double jeopardy, was the result of an almost year-long

audit of HS2’s official nature loss calculations. The report revealed a number of errors and causes for concern, including inconsistent mapping and modelling, wild spaces and habitats being undervalued, and huge numbers of trees entirely missing from the calculations. HS2 Ltd promised that nature would not lose out when much-loved natural areas and important habitats were destroyed to make way for construction of the high-speed rail line. Our report found that HS2 Ltd’s ‘accounting tool’ for assessing impacts on nature is untested, out of date and fundamentally flawed.

Our open letter called for HS2 to:

Re-map existing habitats along Phases 1 and 2a, correcting mapping errors, applying the correct nature values to habitats, and ensuring no habitats are excluded. Immediately pause all construction and enabling works and halt the passage of the Phase 2b Hybrid Bill while these latest audit findings are assessed by the Government. Recalculate the total impacts to nature, by using an up to date and proven methodology, such as one directly comparable to the government’s current Biodiversity Metric 3.1. If changes to the methodology are made these should be transparent

Construction on HS2 has already caused irreparable damage to precious wildlife sites; it’s vital that HS2 Ltd and the Government listen to our concerns and act accordingly. Now is the time to reflect on the failings of the scheme so far and rethink the next steps, to prevent further excessive damage to our natural world. The Government needs to learn from HS2 to ensure that future ‘green’ infrastructure truly can support nature’s recovery rather than exacerbating its loss. Find out more at wildlifetrusts.org/hs2

and evidence based. It is critical that HS2 Ltd ensure all data is made publicly available at the point the figures are released to facilitate transparency and enable independent scrutiny.

Change the scheme’s design and delivery to limit the adverse impacts and enhance biodiversity in a way that is commensurate with the scale of the damage i.e. by achieving a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain for replaceable habitats for each phase of the scheme. Once impacts have first been avoided, limited and compensated for, Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before the development took place by ‘delivering more for nature than is lost’.

Wild Isles on location with Wildlife Trusts

This spring, viewers were captivated by Sir David Attenborough’s latest documentary, Wild Isles. The show celebrated the wildlife of the British Isles, demonstrating to an audience of millions that the UK is home to incredible animals, dramatic battles for survival, and internationally important wild places. Many of the spectacular scenes shown in the documentary were captured on Wildlife Trust nature reserves. The cameras revealed the incredible lifecycle of the large blue butterfly at Daneway Banks in Gloucestershire, where caterpillars trick ants into accepting them into their nest. At Wiltshire’s Langford Lakes they filmed hobbies hawking for dragonflies, snatching them from the air with lightning

reflexes, whilst at Lackford Lakes in Suffolk they revealed rabbits being hunted by buzzards. Flowers featured strongly as well, from buzzing meadows to the fly-fooling lords-and-ladies, with visits to Avon’s Prior’s Wood and Hutton Woods, Gloucestershire’s Lower Woods, and Wiltshire’s Clattinger Meadows.

Sir David himself travelled to Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, to marvel at Manx shearwaters and sit amongst the puffins as he reflected on the threats facing our wild isles. The show didn’t shy away from discussing the worrying declines in our wildlife, or the actions that have led to them.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is part of a coalition of seven environmental organisations fighting to save rare coastal dunes from the construction of a golf course. Proposals to develop Coul Links in East Sutherland threaten irreparable harm to a vital and protected habitat. The proposals come just three years after a previous application was turned down due to the damage it would cause nature. wtru.st/coul-links-proposal

Fungi find

An incredibly rare fungus has been discovered in a survey by Manx Wildlife Trust and the Isle of Man Fungus Group, working with Manx farmers. The butterscotch waxcap, Gliophorus europerplexus, had never been recorded on the island before, with only 70 specimens of the species recorded worldwide. wtru.st/new-waxcap

Healing nature

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has launched a new 10-week nature-based-therapy programme for veterans and service leavers living with mental health issues. Wild Transitions will take place at the Trust’s Green Lane Wood nature reserve, providing a space for veterans to connect with nature and learn skills to help them transition into new employment or volunteer roles. wtru.st/WildTransitions

Wildflower meadows are essential habitats for pollinators

Long may they bloom

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Coronation Meadows, a restoration project launched in 2013 to celebrate 60 years since the coronation of Elizabeth II. As part of the project, many Wildlife Trusts provided seeds from their own meadows to create or restore meadows in other parts of their region. Wildlife Trusts also took on custodianship of some of the new meadows, helping wildlife flourish. A new audit has revealed the success of the project, with 101 new wildflower meadows created or restored over the last decade.

WILD RESERVES Around the reserves People making a difference down the decades

Our Head of Communications

Erin McDaid gives a personal perspective on some of the people who have contributed to the amazing legacy resulting from the creation and care of our nature reserves across the county.

Since our formation in May 1963 as the Nottinghamshire Trust for Nature Conservation, the protection of wild green spaces has been central to our work. Whilst our earliest work focused on diligently recording what remained of the county’s wildlife, led by people including the indomitable Miss Ena Palmer, and campaigns to safeguard threatened places – caring for wildlife rich habitats has been central to our approach, fuelled every step of the way by our passionate members and supporters.

the contributions of a much wider and almost countless list of people who’ve helped the Trust grow our wonderful estate of nature reserves over the past six decades.

One figure I feel I have to mention is A.K. Kent – known in the Trust as Tony. Tony was a pivotal link with the University of Nottingham in the very early days of the Trust and helped set in motion a relationship between Attenborough Nature Reserve and the University that is still very active today. Thanks to Tony’s early work, literally thousands of students have used Attenborough as a base for their research and in those formative days, many also donned wellies and wielded spades to help shape the reserve as well as contributing to recording its wildlife.

Our vocal campaign to prevent what is now the much loved Attenborough Nature Reserve from being infilled with ash from Radcliffe-on-Soar Power Station soon morphed into a partnership with the site’s then owners, Attenborough Gravels, to transform previously worked areas of the extensive sand and gravel quarry into a nature reserve for wildlife and people.

There have been many champions of our work to secure and care for precious wild places through the decades. Any account of this nature is bound to be subjective and as the years progress, it is inevitable that the names of some key figures will slip from the collective memory. In drafting this piece my aim is to highlight some of the people who I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the past 30 years and others whose contributions have been recounted to me down the years. In highlighting these individuals my aim is to underline the importance of people who’ve set out to make a difference and hope that their efforts represent

The list of key people connected with Attenborough Nature Reserve is almost endless but it would be remiss of me not to highlight the contributions of our first ever member of staff Norman Lewis – who I’m delighted was able to join us at a recent event to mark the 60th Anniversary of our inaugural meeting. The inspirational Keith Corbett helped drive the development of the nature centre alongside Brian Wetton and also introduced so many other passionate volunteers to the reserve. Mentions are also needed for both Tony Wood and Sandy Aitken who remain involved today.

Tony Kent went on to chair a number of the Trust’s key committees and later became a passionate advocate for our 2 Besthorpe Nature Reserve – a role that has been ably picked up by Andrew Hindmarsh who passionately guides a merry band of dedicated volunteers and continues to help secure funds for new facilities such as hides and wildlife viewing screens.

When I first joined the Trust back in 1993, the then chairman, John McMeeking MBE, already had decades of service to his name. This inspirational figure is closely associated with 3 Treswell Wood due to his long and dedicated contribution to the bird ringing programme at the reserve, but John had a hand in securing pretty much all of our nature reserves, often working alongside Norman Lewis to secure sites’ purchase or lease.

During the 1970s when the Trust was fighting to save 3 Treswell Wood, the first reserve ever purchased by the Trust, John McMeeking and Norman would have been working cheek by jowl with two other legendary figures passionate about the reserve – former Chair, John Walker and former Hon. Vice President Margaret Price. John McMeeking also took inspiration from figures including Eirlys Gilbert – a stalwart of our activities in the north of the county and responsible for helping secure the future of our 4 Ashton’s Meadow Reserve In my own time with the Trust, I have been lucky enough to have worked with and get to know many of the individuals who shaped our reserves and shaped the Trust. Gordon Dyne at 5 Wilwell Farm Cutting , Chris Terrell-Nield at 6 Bunny Old Wood, Derick Scott at 7 Misson Carr

Many of these names are well known across the Trust. Others, such as Tony Kennedy ( 3 Treswell Wood) and Derick Rudge ( 8 Wilford Claypit), who I first worked with when I was Volunteer Coordinator working on our City Nature Reserves in the 1990s, quietly put in decades of service caring for reserves they care passionately about.

Norman Lewis (left) with Margaret Price (5th from left) & John Walker (2nd right)

Margaret Price (2nd left) with David Bodger & Miss Palmer (right) at Spalford Warren

John McMeeking (left) with Trust luminaries including current Chair Nick Parsons (front centre) at Idle Valley Nature Reserve

Young Rangers at Skylarks

Our first staff member recently joined us for

As I feared from the outset, I have run out of space to credit all the people I have worked alongside or learned of their immense contributions to developing our nature reserves. Had I simply chosen to list folk alongside the reserves they’ve helped to shape I’d still not have had space.

Although I’ve merely scratched the surface in highlighting key contributions across our estate, I hope that I’ve given a flavour of the caliber and commitment of the people who’ve contributed – named or not.

In 2023, we continue to benefit from the amazing contributions of volunteers across the county- many of whom are on track to match the longevity and impact of those I’ve mentioned - and who knows – perhaps some of the Young Rangers working on reserves including 1 Attenborough 9 Skylarks and 10 Idle Valley will still be helping to care for our sites six decades from now.

Get involved

Share your stories

As we mark our 60th Anniversary we want to hear about the people who’ve inspired you or who encouraged you to get involved with the Trust. Share your stories with us via communications@nottswt.co.uk or write to us at The Old Ragged School.

For our current volunteer roles available check out our webpage nottinghamshirewildlife.org/volunteeringopportunities and consider getting involved, either as a Trustee, office support or out on the reserves.

Poems inspired by Attenborough Nature Reserve

After reading the spring edition of Nottinghamshire Wild Life and our request for members stories, Naomi Alder has kindly given permission for us to share some of her poems inspired by Attenborough Nature Reserve of which one is below.

Naomi’s favourite site is Attenborough Nature Reserve –“It's a place that I love so much that it inspired my MA Creative Writing dissertation, which was a poetry collection and an essay on the importance of close attention to local places for ecopoets.

Prior to writing this, I spent a lot of time at Attenborough, particularly during lockdown. Through going there I got really interested in birds (which was a new interest for me, and one that has continued to grow). It also made me think a lot about the interconnected relationship between humans and nature, i.e. how we are part of nature rather than separate to it.

My poetry collection is nine poems all inspired in one way or another by spending time at Attenborough and the things I observed, learned, reflected on and imagined through this experience.”

Water’s memory

was it always here, this place even before ice crept across the country sculpting wide valleys with its sharp tools was it formed when the ice melted, rivers rose and water rolled down the hills carrying mammoth tusks and rhino bones washing the valleys with alluvium did the birds live elsewhere before wet meadows and oxbows emerged where did they live, before

when hydraulic pumps drained the pits to claim sand and gravel did the company men smile when they found bronze age daggers and roman hammers did they smile at how men used to live or did they drag their barges forwards when the pits were exhausted and leave those memories behind did the birds live elsewhere before lakes, islands and woodland emerged where did they live before people planted reeds and children left handfuls of seeds what did they eat, before

did it rain so hard each year that lakes swelled and offered up buried treasure undigested from the water’s belly cotton bud sticks & bottle lids cigarette butts & takeaway cups did the people care, did they sweep the paths was the rubbish moved elsewhere or did they leave those colourful treats for the birds to eat

YOUNG RANGERS AT SKYLARKS © LAURA BACON, 60TH ANNIVERSARY CAKE WITH NORMAN LEWIS, SENIOR NWT STAFF ©

ASHTON'S MEADOW COWSLIP & GREEN WINGED ORCHID © ADAM CORMACK. ATTENBOROUGH NATURE RESERVE © JASON THOMPSON

Chris Terrell-Nield at Bunny Old Wood

Ashtons Meadow

member Norman Lewis (4th right) a 60th Anniversary celebration

Tales from the

The British Lichen Society’s April Windle

When you hear the word rainforest, your mind probably wanders to exotic lands thousands of miles overseas, to places such as the Amazon or Borneo, but unbeknown to most people, we have our very own rainforests right here on our doorstep.

Along the western seaboard of the British Isles, we have a network of internationally important woodlands, elegantly termed Atlantic woodlands. These are typically ancient woods, in clean-air situations that are strongly influenced by the oceanic (wet and mild) to hyper-oceanic (very wet and mild) climate. Some of these woods are remnants of the ancient wildwood that started appearing across the landscape after the last ice-age, making them some of the oldest living ecosystems found in the UK.

This series of woodlands, from western Scotland down and through to the south-west of England, is a spectrum of forested habitats, where Atlantic woodlands can be categorised into temperate rainforests and oceanic woodlands. This wooded landscape is of huge global significance and supports an exceptional diversity of wildlife, most notably the lichens, bryophytes, and ferns.

These rainforests are a world unto themselves and have such a mystical and enchanted feel to them. They are dramatic and prehistoric, with twisted and gnarled trees growing amongst the craggy terrain, with rivers that cut through the ancient treescapes and broadleaf canopies locking in humidity as a result of the high rainfall. The age of the forests and the high rainfall has resulted in spectacular habitats which are absolutely teeming with wildlife.

Lichen the location

What truly defines these rainforests (alongside the rain of course), are the lichens, bryophytes and ferns that make these woodlands so special. When you walk into these woods, the first thing that you notice is every available surface is covered in life. The rocks are carpeted in mosses and the trees cloaked in lichens. Many of the species found here are as rare, if not rarer than the habitat in which they grow. Lichens and bryophytes are fantastic indicators of temperate rainforest, because they have a distinct geographic shift from east to west as a result of the wet and mild climatic conditions. This isn’t necessarily witnessed with other groups such as flowering plants, trees, or animals.

Lichens are among the most bewildering lifeforms on the planet. Despite their plant-like appearance, lichens sit within the biological kingdom Fungi, where genetic studies show that fungi are more closely related to humans than they are to plants. Within our

rainforests, lichens can be encountered as mosaics of hieroglyphics on the ancient hazel stems, or as rich, leafy tapestries covering the twisted oak trunks. This lichen diversity is complemented by a medley of plant life. The rocks and trees are laden with a luxuriance of mosses and liverworts (collectively referred to as bryophytes) and ferns. Bryophytes are non-vascular plants, meaning they lack “true” roots and a vascular system. The bryophyte diversity in temperate rainforests is claimed to rival that found in the cloud forests of their tropical counterparts. Lichens and bryophytes are a beautiful and important component of these wooded ecosystems, where species, communities and climatic conditions bridge our British and Irish rainforests with other temperate rainforest habitats across the globe. It is these bespoke bioclimatic features that make our rainforests... rainforests.

explores a precious habitat that has long been overlooked by many of us – the British Isles’ very own rainforests…

Tumbling kittens (Hypotrachyna taylorensis), a lichen of acid, leached bark in high rainfall situations

Temperate rainforests are the perfect habitat for many species, including treecreepers

A rainforest resurgence

Temperate rainforest and oceanic woodlands more widely are an extraordinary aspect of our British and Irish countryside, and they are right here on our doorstep waiting to be explored. These woodlands are habitats of great conservation value, yet are subject to a variety of threats, ranging from habitat loss and degradation to tree pests and diseases, inappropriate management, and climate change to name a few. Over the years, there have been concerted efforts from various individuals and conservation organisations to raise the public profile and ensure the conservation of these globally significant woodlands.

The British Lichen Society (BLS) has a long history of working with charitable and government organisations, using the collective of expertise to generate evidence-bases that underpin management and decision-making. Collecting biological information is at the heart of the Society, with a national lichen database of over two million records and over a thousand survey reports listed on our literature inventory, many offering appropriate management advice. A significant proportion of this data has been generated in these western woodlands of Britain and Ireland.

In February 2023, the Wildlife Trust announced their exciting and ambitious 100-year project to restore and expand temperate rainforests along the western seaboard of Britain and Ireland. The BLS would like to thank The Wildlife Trusts for taking lead on this important initiative and looks forward to collaborating with the Trusts in driving forward these important works.

April Windle is a naturalist with a particular interest in lichens, especially those occupying the temperate rainforest habitats of Britain and Ireland. She also Chairs the Education & Promotions Committee for the British Lichen Society.

Restoring Britain’s Rainforests in partnership with Aviva

The Wildlife Trusts care for a network of Atlantic rainforest nature reserves. These beautiful sites, from the Dart Valley in Devon to Pengelli Woods in Pembrokeshire, or Shian Wood near Oban, Scotland, are incredibly important for wildlife, but also for people.

We know that the simple enjoyment of wonderful greenspace is more than just fun – it has a medical value, reducing stress and increasing exercise, in turn reducing cost to the NHS. This is an ecosystem service of immense value. Another valuable ecosystem service is carbon, and that’s where The Wildlife Trusts’ new rainforest programme comes in.

Aviva are on a journey to net zero that they hope to achieve in the 2040s. They are making great strides to reduce their direct emissions, but also want to reduce their indirect emissions within their investment portfolio. They have strong plans but struggle to identify the last part of the journey – the technical solutions are not quite in place. For this, they aim to insure themselves by investing in a nature-based way to suck carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back into nature over the next few decades, counterbalancing any remaining indirect emissions in the 2040s. By donating funds to The Wildlife Trusts to establish new Atlantic rainforest nature reserves in the 2020s, Aviva is investing in both climate solutions and the many other benefits of nature reserves.

This represents a rachet up of ambition for The Wildlife Trusts as we focus on the intensifying climate and nature emergency before us. We know our marginal soil farmers are going to struggle as agricultural subsidies reduce and new trading relationships allow importation of lamb and beef that is cheaper to produce elsewhere. Planting new rainforests might be part of the answer as we seek a just transition for farming on the western fringe. If meat production is no longer economic, agro-forestry (very low intensity grazing producing conservation grade meat) tied to nature tourism and carbon payments might provide a better prospect for the next generation of farmers.

By working with partners – farmers and other nature conservation bodies, especially Plantlife and the Woodland Trust in this case, we can create a grand alliance to restore the lost rainforests of the west. This April, we announced the first two sites to benefit from this programme. Creg y Cowin on the Isle of Man will see over 70 acres planted with native tree species, with around 20 acres allowed to regenerate naturally. Manx Wildlife Trust anticipates the return of redstarts and other oakwood birds, whilst the rainforest will also increase water purity for a nearby reservoir and help with flood prevention. At Bryn Ifan in Gwynedd, North Wales Wildlife Trust aims to establish over 100 acres of rainforest, through a mix of sympathetic native

Aviva are on a journey to net zero that they hope to achieve in the 2040s

Wetlands for wildlife

Get involved

Experience the wonders of our wetlands

As summer moves imperceptibly towards autumn, the species most visible on these spectacular reserves will switch from the delights of swifts, swallows, dragonflies and the much threatened turtle dove to the array of migrant birds which pass through on their journeys south and the huge flocks of ducks and other water birds that choose to spend the winter with us on our largest wetland reserves. Why not plan a visit in the weeks ahead so you can experience the wonders of these special reserves for yourself? nottinghamshirewildlife.org/nature-reserve

As part of our 60th Anniversary celebrations we'll be hosting Wonderful Wetlands events at both Attenborough & Idle Valley Nature Reservesso why not join us? More details at: nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events

Making our flagship wetland sites wetter and wilder is vital to our efforts to secure nature's recovery.

Male Marsh Harrier in flight

Lapwing

Redshank

Whilst we're sure no one thinks all our reserves are equal in size, few members are perhaps aware that just four sites make up over 50% of our estate.

Together, Idle Valley, near Retford in North Notts; Attenborough, south of the City of Nottingham near Beeston; Besthorpe, west of Newark and Skylarks Nature Reserves near Holme Pierrepoint just outside the City cover more than 700 hectares or over 1700 acres.

These four sites are home to some our county’s most iconic and threatened wildlife from bitterns, to otters, marsh harriers and turtle doves. When you consider the massive decline in UK wetlands in recent decades, our investment in these sites has provided a safety net for a range of species - along with unique opportunities for people to connect with nature where they live.

In the last 80 years, the UK has lost a staggering 45% of reed bed habitat, yet thanks to your support and our commitment to restoring priority habitats, these sites have seen massive gains in rare and fragile wetland habitats. In 2000 we created a special reedbed at Attenborough as part of our commitment to the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan. Now well established and overlooked by a tower hide giving amazing views over the reserve and Trent Valley beyond, this was the location of the only successful bitterns to rear chicks in Notts in modern times. Our continued investment in reedbed expansion across the reserve provides hope that this evocative species will soon return to breed.

A decade ago, we completed a transformational project at Besthorpe, still the largest ever undertaken on our reserves, to re-wet degraded reedbeds to benefit species including bittern, otter and marsh harrier. In 2015 we invested in reedbed and wet grassland enhancement at Skylarks Nature Reserve following the successful expansion of the reserve. More recently we’ve been able to witness the positive impact on reedbed of beavers – following their reintroduction to the county at Idle Valley Nature Reserve – the largest site in our care.

These four sites are the physical embodiment of the Trust’s commitment to nature recovery and with your support we are working to improve habitats year on year and to make the reserves even better places to see and experience nature on your doorstep.

During the challenging lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 these much-loved sites acted as lifelines for local communities. In addition to providing familiar refuge for regular visitors, these special sites were discovered by thousands of new people.

Whilst managing sites on the scale of these jewels offers the potential for ambitious habitat restoration, their sheer size presents real challenges. Alongside the difficulties of maintaining water levels, the single biggest challenge, and one we share with all wetland managers, is halting the inexorable establishment of trees and scrub in areas of reedbed and wet grassland. Whilst we all know and appreciate the virtues of scrub, especially its value as habitat for invertebrates, if left unchecked on wetland sites its encroachment leads to loss of feeding and nesting areas for wetland birds such as lapwing, redshank and snipe –and ultimately results in areas drying out - turning diverse wetlands into dense scrub and woodland.

Tackling scrub requires constant effort and a multipronged approach – with a combination of grazing with cattle from our conservation herd, use of hand tools by staff and volunteers and occasional large scale removal by specialist contractors. We even have fabulous Wild Work Days where local businesses join in with staff work groups, such as the recent one at Idle Valley by Explore Manufacturing - part of Laing O'Rourke. Not

only does it help support the Trust financially, it provides a number of benefits for staff and their employers. More information can be found on our website at nottinghamshirewildlife.org/wild-work-day. We now have an exciting additional string to our to our conservation grazing bow – in the form of our amazing beaver families - which are now helping to tackle scrub 24/7 in areas where machinery, volunteers or even our hardy Longhorn cattle can’t reach.

As we face up to the combined climate and ecological emergencies, our large wetland sites represent something of a front line in our battle to secure nature’s recovery. Investment in infrastructure such as water level control structures and fencing to allow the expansion of grazing across these flagship reserves helps us make significant advances - but long-term success requires constant effort.

As we reflect on the impact of the Trust over the past 60 years, the creation and development of these amazing sites must surely rank high on our list of achievements. But as with all areas of our work, there is no time to rest on our laurels. As we strive to maximize the value of these sites for nature and people, we need to secure ever greater resources to achieve our goals.

Otter at Attenborough

Harvest Mouse

A Longhorn grazing in Beaver enclosure

Gourmet gardening for wildlife

Grow a garden full of food that both you and your wild neighbours can enjoy.

Traditionally, fruit and veg growers view wildlife as something that should be prevented from eating the food we grow for ourselves. We net berries to protect them from birds, remove ‘cabbage white’ caterpillars from our brassicas. We lay traps for things like earwigs and expose soil grubs so that birds might feast on them before they can do any damage. Some growers haven’t got the memo about insect declines and still use harmful bug sprays.

But what if we learned to share, or even deliberately planted crops that could be used by us and wildlife?

I realise I may be in the minority here, but one of my favourite things about growing food is sharing it. I’m happy to share my soft fruit with the birds – my cherry trees produce more than I would know what to do with, and there are enough blackberries, raspberries and tayberries to go around. I laugh at the caterpillars eating my brassicas and I always leave some to flower, along with some ‘spare’ parsnips and onions, so there’s food for

pollinators in spring. If I cut only half of my herbs such as mint, oregano, chives and thyme, I can encourage flowers to grow for bees and butterflies, and if I avoid cutting back the mildewed leaves of my courgettes I provide food for 22-spot ladybirds.

There is a line between providing food for wildlife and having your crop destroyed, and only you can decide where that line sits. For me, there’s not really a line. I’m happy for other species to enjoy the food I grow and I go out of my way to provide a little bit more for them. I may have a reduced crop, but I never lose a crop – one of the great things about gardening for wildlife is knowing the ecosystem will take care of itself. This means there’s always something for everyone.

Kate Bradbury is passionate about wildlife-friendly gardening and the author of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything in association with The Wildlife Trusts.

HANNAH BAILEY, PHOTO © SARAH CUTTLE

Brassicas

Varieties like broccoli and kale will flower after harvesting, providing food for early spring mining bees. Many varieties can be sown or planted out in summer – plant in rich soil and firm well.

Courgettes

Buy ready-grown plants and plant into rich soil in early summer, and keep well watered. 22-spot ladybirds are very polite, leaving the fruit for you and eating only the leaf mildew.

Oregano

Plant from spring to autumn in pots or the ground. Leave some unharvested so it flowers for butterflies and bees.

MY WILD LIFE, MY PASSION

Raspberries

Buy canes in spring or autumn and plant in rich, moist soil. The blackbirds will leave you some, I promise!

Broad beans

Avoid removing aphids and you’ll provide food not just for them but for the ladybirds, lacewings and hoverfly larva that eat them. Sow direct in autumn or spring. Stake taller varieties.

Ecologist and TV naturalist Mike Dilger is probably best known for his regular wildlife features on BBC1’s The One Show. Mike, who studied botany at the University of Nottingham has been a Vice-President of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and despite his extensive travels to study and film wildlife across the globe is passionate about connecting with and conserving the wildlife on your doorstep.

I'm a passionate naturalist who has birded, botanised and entomologised in a huge range of countries, but I’ve always been passionate about watching and conserving the wildlife that’s all around us locally.

I started out teaching myself to identify birds in around my hometown of Stafford. When I moved to Nottingham to study, I often spent time at Attenborough Nature Reserve and on other gravel pits in the Trent Valley. I developed a real soft spot for the county - which is why I’m so delighted to support the Trust as a Vice President.

Rosemary

Flowering in spring, rosemary provides nectar and pollen for queen bumblebees. Plant at any time of year in moist but well-drained soil.

Carrots

Sow direct in pots or the ground from spring to late summer. Leave some to flower for pollinators.

Nasturtiums

Sow from spring to summer for a crop of fiery leaves and sweet flowers. Leave a crop for ‘cabbage white’ butterflies to feast on – you can move caterpillars from brassicas onto nasturtium leaves to protect them.

I’m very lucky in that my job means I get to see and enjoy wildlife across the UK and overseas, but I always relish the prospect of getting to grips with the wildlife close to where I now live with my family in the Bristol countryside. Watching and recording the wildlife in my local area and in my garden is now a passion I share with my son Zachary.

I also enjoy returning to old haunts. After leaving University I worked for the BTCV based at Burton Joyce on a range of conservation projects and even did a short stint with the Wildlife Trust – so I have many fond memories of the City and County. I hope to be back in Nottinghamshire soon so I can check out my old stomping grounds – especially Attenborough. I was so delighted when the Trust was able to complete the purchase as this special site that provides so many people with a chance to connect with nature – it really is a shop window for wonders of nature and I can’t wait to come back.

Be inspired and create your own Wild Life story. Have a look at our campaign online and to read more stories from Nottinghamshire and across the country. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/my-wild-life

Watching and recording the wildlife in my local area and in my garden is now a passion I share with my son Zachary.