Northumberland Wildlife Trust - Roebuck 141

oebuck R

The Wildlife Trust Magazine for Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland

Issue 141 March - July 2017

A vole new world

Ratty’s release looms

The HandleBards Shakespeare at Northumberlandia

Kielder

It’s wild and alive plus news from around the UK

‘Coast Care’

Sign up to the volunteer army

Wylam Meadow Scoops top national award

Hauxley

Loyal supporter digs deep

Contents Still time to enter photo competition

4

Students head to Hauxley Reserve

4

The HandleBards are peddling back!

5

Going wild at Kielder Flying the red flag

katy cook

Local News

6-7 8

Funding Wildwood project puts down roots

10

People’s Postcode Lottery Gala

11

Reserves & Volunteers ‘Coast Care’ project needs support

12

Reserve vandalism causes outrage

13

8

Flying the red squirrel flag anna williams

Corporates £30k boost from loyal supporter

14

Cotswold Outdoor extends offer

15

Conservation Top community meadow in our area

16

Showcasing Northumberland

17

Golden plover under the spotlight

18-19

Holiday Park stands up for wildlife

20

Bringing the water vole back to Kielder

21

13

Lonesome pine returns to Shropshire Forest Schools for thousands

Cotswold Outdoor o margaret holland

UK News Green groups unite for nature

15

Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’

22-23 24 25

Top reserves for bluebells

26-27

It’s true, nature is good for you!

28-29

Viva el beaver

30-33

The amazing sea

34-35

Patrons: Conrad Dickinson, Bill Oddie & Chris Packham President: Chris Mullin Vice Presidents: Charles Baker-Cresswell & Angus Lunn Vice President & Founder: Tony Tynan Chairperson: Sandra King Vice Chairman: Ian Armstrong & Graham Gill Honorary Secretary: Nigel Porter Honorary Treasurer: Rachel Bell

18-19 Golden visitor

25

Alderney Bird Observatory

Chief Executive: Mike Pratt Director of Living Landscapes: Nick Mason Head of Conservation: Steve Lowe Head of Land Management: Duncan Hutt Head of Business Management: Jane Speak Head of Marketing & Fundraising: Sheila Sharp EcoNorth Managing Director: Vicki Mordue

Find us on: NorthumberlandWT @NorthWildlife NorthWildlife

Chief Executive’s Comments heinz traut

10

Putting down roots cotswold outdoors

offer alderney bird observatory

Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd Garden House, St Nicholas Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

NE3 3XT Tel: (0191) 284 6884 Fax: (0191) 284 6794 Web: nwt.org.uk

Challenges and achievements on the horizon We are used to challenge and change in the conservation game. As the biggest wildlife charity in the north-east, delivering for nature and people, we have been battling for resources and attention for the natural world for almost 50 years and, on the whole, succeeding, sometimes against huge odds, such as a widespread recession and funding cuts.

So what makes 2017 any different?

Well, quite a lot it seems. Like it or not, political and economic, not to mention social changes in attitude and priorities are all going through profound shifts this year - all of which will affect our organisation and what we care about most … wildlife and getting people of all ages and all walks of life to value and support us in our cause.

Insecurity relating to funding, fundraising, people and politicians putting the state of nature low on their list of priorities and even, at times off the radar, or some form of denial (climate change anyone?) can limit our effectiveness in maintaining and growing resources for what we need to do, namely, bigger, better, more joined-up things for nature which also support our human needs.

This is a year like no other in the extent of the changes that are taking shape and which will impact on us for many years into the future.

New and bigger challenges need new strategies and tactics in response. In anticipation of this we have reorganised our teams and how we prioritise our work in the immediate future, to ensure we don’t spread ourselves too thinly, and also so that we can take forward the real ‘game changers’ when it comes to improving the landscape for wildlife and reconnecting people to the value of nature.

So, expect to see us focussing even more of our efforts on taking to the next stage our ambitious plans for Druridge Bay and the coast beyond

Registered Charity No: 221819 Registered Company No: 717813 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 556 103264 Roebuck Editor: Fiona Dryden Roebuck Designer: Richard Clark Thank you to all contributors. online version available

our soon to be completed magnificent Wildlife Discovery Centre at Hauxley and developing new projects and funding ideas for the city to coast living landscape project, where we aim to demonstrate the importance of nature for everyone’s wellbeing knitting together green corridors and larger areas of wildlife rich land.

We have wonderful ideas for the wider Kielder area, two of which are featured in this issue on pages 6 & 7 which are aimed at developing opportunities for showcasing wildlife to people, from ospreys and red squirrels to open native woodlands.

But, that is not to say our marine environment and the rest of our area isn’t just as important and we will work wherever we need to, and whenever our resources will allow us to make space for nature.

Two unfailing kinds of support helped us to thrive in even the most difficult circumstances over the years; your membership and those who volunteer for the Trust. Through you we can achieve massive goals for wildlife and your loyalty and your hard work is inspiring. This year the completion and launch of our new centre at Hauxley, almost entirely built by volunteers, will stand as a monument to this support and effort; so, thank you to everyone for your dedication. Our founder Tony Tynan had the long term vision to realise Druridge Bay and Hauxley had a huge potential for wildlife and people and you have all helped make his dream and our dream come true.

Mike Pratt Chief Executive Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is a member of the largest voluntary organisiation in the UK concerned with all aspects of wildlife protection - The Wildlife Trusts. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Trust or the Editor. Whilst every effort is taken to check accuracy of the information contained herein, no responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions.

The contents are Copyright.

Front cover photo: Water vole © Jamie Hall All other photos © NWT unless otherwise stated

Roebuck is printed on

Still time to show us your photographs

Local News

Running wild The Trust still has places available for the 2017 Great North Run. The Race is due to take place on Sunday 10 September 2017 and, as in previous years, we ask that runners aim to raise at least £250 in sponsorship for the Trust.

If you would like a place in this

iconic race, please contact Christine O’Neil, Trust Membership Officer on: (0191) 284 6884 or via email at christine.o’neil@northwt.org.uk for further information.

We request a £75 deposit from each runner to secure their place which then forms part of their sponsorship.

Students say: “I can do!”

Funding from Players of People’s Postcode Lottery enabled a group of students from Newcastle College to experience a wild day out with our People & Wildlife team in February.

The students, aged between 16 - 20 years of age, who are involved in the Leonard Cheshire ‘Can Do’ project, headed to our Hauxley reserve where they got up close to nature. Their day included feeding the Flexigraze cattle and sheep, enjoying a walk around the reserve, and a bird and mammal identification session, before rolling up their sleeves and helping to plant a hawthorn hedge.

The students really enjoyed learning about nature in the great outdoors rather than in the classroom; getting hands-on and planting the hedge gave them a real sense of achievement and, in years to come, they will be able to look at the fully grown hedge and say to their family and friends: “I helped to create that.” tracy evans

There’s still time to enter the 2017 North East Wildlife Photography Competition.

Nestlé Fawdon, which has supported the competition since its launch in 2012, is the main sponsor, and, as with previous years, an array of great prizes are on offer including a wonderful £250 voucher from London Camera Exchange (which has an outlet in Newcastle), binoculars, photography workshops, wildlife watching trips, birdwatching workshops and photography equipment.

There are six competition categories, prizes for each category winner and runners-up, plus a prize for the overall winner.

Entry is free and open to everyone, but photographs must have been taken in the North East.

To enter, and for more information, visit northeastwildlifephoto.co.uk.

The competition can be followed via Facebook and Twitter.

Closing date: Midnight, Monday 15 May 2017.

Winners announced: Thursday, 6 July 2017 at Great North Museum: Hancock.

Newcastle College students

New Trustees wanted

4 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

seeking prospective Trustees with skills in finance, marketing and community engagement.

Applications must be made during May; the number of vacancies each year is limited and there is no guarantee that all prospective candidates will be elected.

All candidates for Trusteeship will need to go through a formal skills analysis and application procedure.

Jonathan gaunt

If you would like to join our team of Trustees, we would love to hear from you!

Whatever your background, if you think you have skills and experience which could benefit the Trust then please contact Jane Speak, Head of Business Management, on 0191 284 6884 or via email at jane.speak@ northwt.org.uk for further information.

For 2017/18, the Trust is particularly

Northumberlandia | Thursday 3rd august | 17:00 - 22:00 The HandleBards are the world’s first cycling theatre company. They pedal from venue to venue with all the set, props and costume necessary to perform environmentally sustainable Shakespeare across the globe.

Join their all-female troupe at Northumberlandia for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It! In usual HandleBards style, expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

tickets - £15 per person, under 12s FREE. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - £12 per person, book by end of May. Visit www.nwt.org.uk/handlebards to book and find out more!

“Gloriously eccentric and very, very funny” The Stage on A Midsummer Night’s Dream

“Bags of energy, good humour and tight teamwork” Northern Soul on The Taming of The Shrew

Local News

Kielder Castle. Photo: Kielder Water & Forest Park

Your chance to experience ‘Living Wild’ at Kielder Opportunities for members of the public dreaming of a wild life at Kielder are now a reality thanks to the support of funding of more than £330,000 from the National Lottery.

At the end of 2015, an initial Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £17,700 was handed to the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and its partners: Northumbrian Water, Forestry Commission, the Environment Agency and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, with the support of Northumberland National Park Authority and Newcastle University, to further develop the ambitious ‘Living Wild’ project.

The scheme has now been fully backed with an additional £336,300 from HLF. The wildlife that lives in Kielder Water & Forest Park is incredibly diverse and impressive, so the creation of an increasing array of opportunities for people to experience and learn about the species and habitats via a series of nature 6 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

hubs, to be complemented by a year-round programme of events and activities, is wonderful news for the project team operating out of Kielder Castle.

The funding will also allow the creation of wildlife trails from Stonehaugh, Falstone and Greenhaugh villages with support from the local community. It will also work with businesses to increase take-up of new, wildlife related events and activities, while wildlife ambassadors and volunteers will spread the word to visitors.

Building for wildlife at Bakethin The partners are working alongside Newcastle University School of Architecture students on the creation of a new wildlife hide and visitor welcome point on Northumbrian Water’s Bakethin reserve.

The unique design of the hide will include two different pods: the forest pod and the lake pod. The lake pod will have fabulous views over Bakethin reservoir and the new osprey platform, while the family friendly forest pod will look over the shoreline and into the trees.

Kielder water & Forest park

Kielder water & Forest park

Nature trails New nature trials are being planned around Kielder Castle, linking the castle to Kielder salmon hatchery and Bakethin Nature Reserve. A new app will be created to help visitors discover more about the nature that can be found on the new circular route. Other walks will also be created during the project and published in a walks guide.

Kielder water & Forest park

Osprey Watch Breeding pairs of ospreys have arrived in Kielder between March and September for the last 8 years, and activity on the nest tends to be mainly throughout July and August as the chicks hatch, are fed, learn to fly and hunt.

As the numbers of people visiting the area hoping to catch a glimpse of the birds increase each year, the Trust is launching its annual recruitment campaign for volunteers to spend weekends, from June - August staffing a visitor information area at Kielder Waterside, complete with live web camera footage and telescopes. This year, the Living Wild project is enabling us to employ a seasonal member of staff to assist the volunteer team to deliver Osprey Watch.

If a pair takes up residence on the new nesting platform on the Bakethin reserve the Trust will also need volunteers to protect the nest from April onwards.

For more details on how to become an osprey volunteer, visit nwt.org.uk/volunteer for more details.

For a weekend full of wildlife themed activities suitable for the whole family, join Kielder experts to experience the wilder side of Kielder Water and Forest Park.

There will be a huge range of activities to choose from including Wild Food Foraging by Northern Wilds, various Stargazing events hosted at Kielder Observatory, Wildlife Cruises, Fieldwork and Ecology

by Albion Outdoors, workshops on Surviving the Wild by Backcountry Survival, classes on Wild Flower Arranging from Adam Prest Flowers, family fun interactive strolls with Wild North Discovery to explore ‘Squirrel Stories’, as well as a packed Craft Fair at Kielder Castle.

For tickets and updates visit our website:

www.nwt.org.uk/wildatkielder

Northumberland W i l d l i f e Tr u s t

Backcountry Survival

The Trust will be teaming up with the Calvert Trust and heading out on to the waters of Kielder reservoir for a series of two hour motor boat trips between end of May and end of August. For more details go to nwt. org.uk/whats-on.

Back for a third year running, the trips are tailored to enable passengers to catch a possible glimpse of ospreys fishing and hunting.

Get ‘Wild at Kielder’ this May!

Cain Scrimgeour

Calvert Trust

13th & 14th May 2017

Local News

Red squirrel conservation across the UK is gathering momentum on an unprecedented scale after a £3 million funding boost from EU LIFE and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Once widespread across the UK, red squirrels are now facing extinction - it is thought there are less than 140,000 red squirrels remaining. It is widely established that this is due to the introduction of the invasive non-native grey squirrel from North America in the late 1800s.

The grey squirrel directly outcompetes the red squirrel for food and habitat and has replaced the red squirrel across much of England. This replacement is accelerated in areas where grey squirrels carry squirrelpox virus, which rarely produces symptoms in grey squirrels, but usually kills a red squirrel within weeks.

Red and grey squirrel distribution, 1945 and 2010.

Courtesy of Craig Shuttleworth, Director at Red Squirrels Trust Wales.

Red Squirrels United (RSU) aims to support local communities carrying out red squirrel conservation, to monitor populations and prevent the further spread of invasive grey squirrels. Our conservation work is underpinned with the latest scientific research so we can adapt our plans as we go through the project to achieve the best outcome 8 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

for our red squirrels. We also share knowledge and best practice on invasive species management both within the UK and Europe.

The RSU project delivers direct conservation action across nine red squirrel strongholds in the UK: four Northern Ireland, three in Wales and two in northern England.

The project delivery areas for direct conservation action. Courtesy of Simon O’Hare, Data Officer with Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE).

Ulster Wildlife Trust is focussed on protecting red squirrel populations in the four corners of Northern Ireland, engaging the public and community volunteers in active conservation as well as carrying out grey squirrel eradication in the Mourne Mountains.

In Wales, Red Squirrels Trust Wales, Natural Resource Wales and South and West Wales Wildlife Trust are all working together to protect the last three strongholds of reds, helping red squirrel populations to increase in size and eradicating grey squirrel from woodlands in Gwynedd.

In northern England, Lancashire Wildlife Trust is working to raise awareness of presence of red squirrels in the urban areas around Merseyside and Lancashire, whilst here in

katy cook

The reds are united Northumberland, we are working hard to keep Kielder, Uswayford and Kidland forests grey free.

This direct conservation action is also supported by the latest scientific research. Newcastle University is collecting data from our conservation partners, which is showing us that grey squirrel management is working effectively in these areas and is also helping us to make best use of time and resources by modelling trap sites and effort put into trapping to help us plan the most effective strategy.

Forest Research is carrying out surveys into public attitudes towards grey squirrel population management by doing surveys with volunteers, the public, project partners and other conservation organisations. This research is showing us that there are still a lot of people that don’t know much about the relationship between red squirrels and grey squirrels, so is helping us to focus our education and project communication work.

Over the past month, RSU received nationwide press coverage in its search for volunteers and has been inundated with responses from people wanting to help. We would like to thank all of our volunteers working across the United Kingdom, including those helping with the spring monitoring survey through Red Squirrels Northern England.

If you would like to get involved, complete the online volunteer enquiry form at www.nwt.org.uk/currentopportunities or telephone Lou Chapman, Volunteer Coordinator on: (0191) 284 6884 for an informal chat.

Cathleen Thomas Program Manager Red Squirrels United

VOLUNTEERS

northumberland wildlife trust

needs you!

If you would like to get up close and personal with wildlife this year, then Northumberland Wildlife Trust would love to hear from you. We are now recruiting volunteers for exciting projects, including Restoring Ratty (bringing the water vole back to Kielder) and Osprey Watch.

Osprey Viewpoint Assistant April - August Helping to run the Osprey viewpoint at Kielder Waterside and Bakethin Nature Reserve (if ospreys attempt to nest) under the guidance of a Team Leader.

Practical Conservation Worker Ongoing Assisting a project officer in the delivery of practical environmental tasks at Bakethin Nature Reserve and Kielder Waterside (formally Leaplish Waterside Park).

Osprey Guide – Wildlife Cruises May - August Helping to run the Wildlife and Osprey Motor Boat Cruises with trained staff from the Calvert Trust.

Biological Surveyors - Water voles March - October Maintain, construct and deploy mink rafts and undertake regular checks to determine if mink are present.

Undertake water vole surveys, record data using a simple app and assist with the capture and release of water voles.

Equipment will be provided.

To find out more or to apply for these and other volunteering roles please visit:

www.nwt.org.uk/volunteer Northumberland W i l d l i f e Tr u s t

Funding

Restoration project putting down roots The Trust, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, has received initial support for a grant of £368,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help develop the next phase of an exciting project to restore one of the wildest landscapes in England.

A development grant of £20,700 has also been awarded to help a team progress the plans, before applying for a full grant for the ‘Kielderhead Wildwood’ project, which would see native woodland making a comeback in one of the North East’s most remote landscapes.

Plans envisage the planting of around 10 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

30,000 trees on 94 hectares along a two-kilometre stretch of the Scaup Burn at Kielderhead nature reserve.

The aim is to plant Scots pine, alder, birch, mountain ash, willow, rowan and juniper over five years, returning the area to how it would have looked thousands of years ago, in what will not doubt be one of the most ambitious restoration projects in the county.

Kielderhead is adjacent to our Whitelee reserve - a 1,500 hectare site which makes it the biggest of all the wildlife trust reserves in England and is a site of European conservation importance due to its blanket bog and

heather heaths. The area is home to feral goats, deer and wading birds.

If successful, the new woodland would benefit from a wider range of wildlife, including the threatened black grouse and birds such as ring ouzel.

Seed will be taken from a handful of trees on William’s Cleugh, a tributary of the Scaup Burn, which are believed to be remnants of the area’s original Scots pine. Tests have shown the trees to be around 150 years old, while carbon dating from the bank of the burn showed the trees to be 6,000 years old.

Thanks a million!

The Trust is delighted to have attended the 2017 People’s Postcode Lottery annual Charity Gala where it was announced that £66.3 million was awarded to charities and good causes in 2016 - thanks to its players.

One one of 69 charities that benefitted from this incredible funding, with £225,000 received in 2016 alone, it takes the total we have received since 2008 to £1,144,941.

The annual celebratory gala took place in January, at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. The evening celebrated the phenomenal achievements of charities working across Great Britain and internationally that are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and was attended by HRH Prince Charles, Sir David Attenborough, broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan and TV presenter Fiona Phillips. people’s postcode lottery

Trust Chief Executive Mike Pratt (circled), Northumberland Wildlife

Three wonderful legacies support our work in the region heinz traut

Scaup Burn, Kielderhead

The Trust is delighted to have been named as a beneficiary in three recent legacies totalling £419,479.

Mary Louise Robinson from Newcastle, a Trust member for 40 years, bequeathed £111,347 to us, whist Peter Quick from Ponteland, a member for over 16 years left a legacy of £282,884.

Marion Bell from Belsay very generously bequeathed £25,248 to us.

This wonderfully selfless generosity is hugely appreciated and, it goes

without saying that the money will be used carefully to continue our valuable conservation work.

If you are inspired by the wildlife and landscapes in our region, please consider leaving us a legacy to safeguard them for future generations.

If you would like to find out more about legacies, visit our website nwt.org.uk/legacies or contact Jane Speak, Head of Business Management at the Trust on: (0191) 284 6884.

La mb joints available soon

Each half la mb has:

2 leg joints 2 shoulder joints 3 chu mp chops 12 loin chops and 1lb of mince

Why not try some of our delicious shearling lamb?

They will be available from April 2017.

For more information contact Stephen Comber at flexigraze@northwt.org.uk or call 07590 426 243.

F lex igraz e High Quality Shearling Lamb from Conservation Grazing

www.flexigraze.org.uk

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 11

Reserves & Volunteers

Volunteer army will care for the coast ‘Coast Care’, a project that will recruit and train an army of volunteers to look after the North Northumberland Coastal area, has been awarded a grant of £522,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Annstead Dunes reserve

The North Northumberland Coastal area, much of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is a stunning landscape popular with local people and visitors alike.

The ‘Coast Care’ area is the coastal landscape from Amble in the south to Berwick in the north and stretching west as far as Lowick, Belford and Alnwick.

The area includes wildlife habitats and historic buildings of national and international importance, and, importantly for us, four of our reserves: Evelyn Howick, West Fleetham, Arnold Memorial and Annstead Dunes, but it is a fragile landscape that requires careful management.

The ‘Coast Care’ project has all been made possible by National Lottery players and the HLF grant and will bring together the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Seahouses Development Trust.

A team will be based in Seahouses, the heart of the ‘Coast Care’ area, which will recruit and support volunteers who will help care for this special place.

The Trust’s volunteers will be joining forces with volunteers from the AONB and will, amongst other things, be surveying some of the remaining areas of whin grassland along the Northumberland Coast.

Volunteering Opportunity This very rare and unique type of grassland is found in only a small number of sites, mostly in Northumberland and along the coast and has specific plants associated with it and there will be chances to join us in surveying this fantastic grassland, with the opportunity to see species such as crow garlic and maiden pink and many other volunteering opportunities.

Anybody interested should contact the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership by email at info@ northumberlandcoastaonb.org or by calling: 01670 622 306.

Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ campaign transforms Hauxley play area

In January we received reports that trail bikes had been ridden across our Whitelee reserve in North Northumberland over Christmas 2016, but we didn’t know the extent of the damage until the ground had thawed.

Upon inspection, it was evident that the bikes entered at Carter Bar and were driven directly up the hill onto the blanket bog.

Peatlands counteract the effects of

Damaged caused to Whitelee Nature Reserve

climate change by locking up carbon; this is a gradual process, so to ride a trail bike over them is extremely damaging to the bog’s surface and could take a decade for the vegetation to recover!

This is immensely annoying as the Trust is now trying to repair the blanket bog at great expense.

Whitelee Moor is one of Britain’s most important upland nature reserves. A large part of its 1,508 hectares is rare

blanket bog habitat which is home to a variety of plants including sphagnum mosses, cloudberry, bog asphodel and cotton grasses.

The site, which is a National Nature Reserve, Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area for Conservation (SAC) was bought by Northumberland Wildlife Trust in 1999, following a public appeal and assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 13

geoff dobbins

Site damaged by trail bikers

Anna Williams

A new natural play area, which was funded by a £12,000 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help Campaign has been installed on our Hauxley nature reserve.

The supermarket teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help initiative, which saw grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000, all raised from the 5p carrier bag levy, being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects.

Eight million shoppers voted in stores up and down the country.

In 2016, shoppers at Tesco in Amble voted for the new play area on the reserve, which it is hoped will attract scores of children under the age of 12.

Over a number of weeks, a specialist playground company visited the site and installed the wonderful play equipment which includes two large oak climbing pieces, a tunnel made from reclaimed sleepers, a pull up rope to help children scramble along the rope, wood balance beams and a wildlife den.

The equipment was well and truly tested thanks to young journalist group ‘Artograffi’ the talented creators of the young people’s ‘Artograffi’ at Hauxley: Abbey Wallace, Bethany Sales, section of The Ambler Community Emma Jane Gregory, George-Anne Carnegie, Newspaper which is generated by Amble r Hope Vernon, Lily Tibbitts, Ava Tibbits and Louise Spuhle Development Trust.

Northumbrian Water Ltd

Corporates Christine Hall (NWT Volunteer) and Stuart Pudney (NWL Conservation and Land Manager)

Fabulous support from loyal supporter Northumbrian Water Ltd has been a Gold Corporate Member of the Trust for the past 26 years and, during that time, the water company has been incredibly generous with its funding of a number of projects and appeals.

So, imagine our delight when we received the news that the new environmentallyfriendly heating system in our new Wildlife Discovery Centre at Hauxley was going to be paid for with a £30,000 Northumbrian Water’s Green Scheme administered by Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Community Foundation.

Northumbrian Water’s Conservation and Land Manager, Stuart Pudney, visited the site at Druridge Bay, to switch on the system, which features underfloor heating and a boiler system that can utilise wood pellets and locally harvested logs.

The heating system is complemented by a clay and sand floor, which creates a large thermal mass that retains warmth.

Construction of the eco-friendly centre has utilised locally grown and traditional building materials, including more than 600 straw bales, all sourced locally, turf for the green roof from Ellington, and structural timber from the Trust’s Briarwood Banks reserve, in South Northumberland.

We are proud to have been able to support the re-building of this important visitor centre for the Trust and to have played a key part in the creation of such an eco-friendly heating facility.

Community

Stuart Pudney, Conservation and Land Manager, Northumbrian Water Ltd

Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Enriching lives through effective g iving

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP - We offer three levels of corporate membership which are designed to enhance your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, provide year-round benefits to your business and support your staff development, PR and marketing strategies. You choose the level that you feel reflects your company’s commitment to the local environment.

To find out more about becoming a corporate member contact our Marketing Office on (0191) 284 6884 or via email to sheila.sharp@northwt.org.uk.

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Albion Outdoors albionoutdoors.co.uk

Howick Hall Gardens howickhallgardens.org

Elanders Ltd elanders.com

Esh Group esh.uk.com

Bell Ingram bellingram.co.uk

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours northernexperiencewildlifetours. co.uk

Harlow Printing Ltd harlowprinting.co.uk

Tarmac tarmac.com

Karpet Mills karpetmills.co.uk

Mears Ltd mearsgroup.co.uk Nestlé Confectionery Ltd nestle.co.uk

Berwick Holiday Park haven.com/parks/ northumberland/berwick

Northumberland County Council northumberland.gov.uk

Blyth Harbour Commission portofblyth.co.uk

Ord House Country Park ordhouse.co.uk

North East Chamber of Commerce ne-cc.com

Croft Veterinary Hospital croftvets.co.uk

Percy Wood Leisure Ltd percywood.co.uk

Potts Printers Ltd potts.co.uk

Geoffrey Lurie Solicitors geoffreylurie.com

Poltross Enterprises poltross.com

Riverside Leisure riverside-leisure.co.uk

Gustharts gusthart.com

Sykes Cottages sykescottages.co.uk

Hexham Steeplechase Co Ltd hexham-racecourse.co.uk

Wardell Armstrong wardell-armstrong.com

14 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

Northumbrian Water Ltd nwl.co.uk The Banks Group hjbanks.com Thermofisher Scientific thermofisher.com

Conservation

Wonderful Wylam England’s top community meadow has been found and it’s right on our doorstep.

In July 2016, the Save Our Magnificent Meadows project, run by Plantlife and its partners which include Northumberland Wildlife Trust launched its national ‘Meadow Makers’ competition to celebrate the work of communities and schools working to protect the and increase meadowland.

Bursting with colour, seductive scents, the buzz of insects and alive with animals - a wildflower meadow is a jewel in nature’s crown that puts on a spectacular show in summer.

So, it is with great delight that the panel of judges made up of grassland specialists and a number of partners from the Save our Magnificent Meadows project including The National Trust, RSPB and UK Wildlife Trusts selected Wylam Community Orchard as the award winner.

Situated in the grounds of Wylam First School, The Community Orchard started in 2009, after a public meeting in the village, volunteers started work on creating the orchard which, under

manager Tom Martin, now has 85 trees producing apples, plums, pears and cherries. Soft fruits are also being grown.

Two years later, a biodiversity group was formed as part of the orchard project and a partnership was developed with the school, offering the children the wonderful opportunity to experience and understand the natural world as part of their everyday education and encourage more local wildlife.

Inspired by visiting a nearby wildflower meadow, the group set about the sowing of a wildflower meadow covering 2,000 square metres, which has been steadily developing and regularly surveyed for butterflies, moths, bees and bats, while a camera captures wildlife visitors.

In summer 2016, the Wylam meadow saw an abundance of yellow-rattle, ox-eye daisy, meadow buttercup, black knapweed, and meadow vetchling in the summer.

The site is used for community activities such as plug planting days

and nature exploration sessions with Naomi Waite, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer and Save our Magnificent Meadows Project Officer, not to mention an annual Apple Day. The prize, a crafted roundel will shortly be taking pride of place at the orchard’s entrance and Cath Shellswell, Save our Magnificent Meadows project advisor will be visiting the site.

As the Save our Magnificent Meadows project enters the final year of funding, the volunteers have been completing all of their practical work on the project sites such as the Trust’s reserve at Williamston and the Northumberland National Park Authority site at Walltown Quarry, which included a ‘hair-raising’ trip to one of the calaminarian sites with the mini digger being towed down a very steep hill!

With spring and summer approaching, the hard-working team is looking forward to heading out to survey these areas, plus the whin grassland sites to see how they are colonising with our key species: maiden pink, common rockrose, hairy stonecrop, annual knawel and wild chive.

Wylam Community orchard team and Lynn Johnston, Wylam First School Head Teacher (front row, right).

Photo: Naomi Waite

More and more meadows are being lost and native flowers are declining at a dangerous rate, so I am delighted that a community project with links to the Trust has scooped the first prize.

Naomi Waite, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer and Save our Magnificent Meadows Project Leader

g d n i n s a a l c r e w b o Sh h u m rt o N

janet wormold

d. an l r be m u rth o ,N ay B e dg i r u Dr

6.

01 2 t us g Au

Druridge Bay is a place worth visiting part of the Northumberland coastline, it is an area of beauty.

My day started well, and, after scrambling over fences, getting caught on the barbed wire, and if that wasn’t enough, tiptoeing through thistles and nettles, my destination was clearly visible.

Upon reaching the top of the dunes I was met with a wonderful sight! I have

seen many wonderful places in my time and if, I am ever stuck on what to say it is always a “wow” moment... and this was definitely one of those “wow” moments.

The wind was so strong, causing the reeds to blow to-and-fro, which in turn led to me taking a couple of photographs to get the result I was after. Moving and feeling very unsafe, I managed to get this final shot.

It was recently featured in The Sunday

Post newspaper, so imagine my joy at being able to share it with the paper’s readers.

Watching the waves, as the spray mixed with the wind, was very awe inspiring and it truly showed the beauty and force of nature that should never be taken for granted.

Urban flooding: In February 2016, Newcastle City Council and five of their partners launched a declaration on Blue and Green infrastructure, committing signatories to the prioritisation of Blue-Green infrastructure in managing flood risk.

In addition, the declaration highlights the importance of changing working practices towards greater collaboration through commitments

join it in making this contribution towards a more sustainable city.

for the end of May. Our written submissions have been forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.

to work with developers to maximise Blue-Green infrastructure in new developments; raise awareness and build capacity amongst communities to develop and maintain Blue-Green infrastructure, and; pilot new ways of working to realise the multiple benefits.

The Trust is pleased to announce that it has recently become a signatory of the declaration and would encourage others to

Marine designations for Harbour Porpoise: Ministers recently approved proposals for designation of five Special Areas for Conservation (SAC) for protection of harbour porpoise in UK seas.

The SAC in the southern North Sea area is very large, stretching offshore of

the Northumberland coast right down to Kent and butting up to the land in Norfolk and Suffolk.

These are now candidate SAC sites, pending full Commission approval, and so crucially material consideration of the site must be taken in regards to activities occurring within it.

Highthorn Opencast: A date for the public enquiry has been set

Janet Wormold, Wildlife and Nature Photographer

Dissington Garden Village: At the time of going to print, we are reviewing the outline application for this new development on the edge of Ponteland.

The proposals include significant potential environmental benefits including flood alleviation, although we are anxious to

ensure these feed into other works proposed in the catchment so biodiversity benefit is maximised.

We are also aware that a relief road scheme is required prior to development and this has yet to be submitted. morpeth County Hall: The Trust has raised a number of objections to this proposal which arrived over the Christmas break.

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 17

Conservation

The Golden Visitor

As a species, Golden Plover are a migratory, wading bird, regularly sighted on the north east coast of England after their breeding season in the Arctic Circle.

Number of individual golden plover

Over the winter months they frequently flock from roosting pasture. This would be achieved mainly by grazing, but also sites of large, open and grazed pasture, to feeding sites along through grass removal. the shore, although, recent data has shown these once very Golden Plover need their roosting sites to have a low sward abundant winter visitors may be on the decline, due to loss of height as they need to be able see any potential predators, their roosting sites and public disturbance on the shore. such as birds of prey, foxes, weasels, stoats and the like. The Focussing on the coastline from North Tyneside up to incentive for land owners to maintain a low sward height is Lindisfarne, we gathered and studied golden plover records at the moment mainly through the Countryside Stewardship from volumes of ‘Birds in Northumbria’ (2005 - 2014), Scheme, which is funded by the European Union (EU). published annually by The Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Methods for minimising disturbance of the golden plover Club, in an attempt to determine the most densely populated on the shoreline could include raising public awareness of areas along the coastline, and thus key areas to enhance and wading bird populations, through information boards at plover protect from further habitat deterioration. populated hot spots.

Flocking from feeding sites at the shore to roosting sites Past research has shown golden plover populations to is instigated by high tide. Habitat loss of these roosting fluctuate, however, contemporary research consistently sites cause the golden plover to fly further afield along showed wintering populations to be increasing; The the coastline or possibly further inland, to locate a suitable Northumbria Bird Atlas, 2015 states an increase of 19% roosting site, resulting in large energy losses. reported since 1981, and trends, according to a ‘European During low tide, they feed on worms and beetles at the Union Management Plan on Golden Plover’ (2009 - 2011) also shore; they are often and easily disturbed by predators and indicated an increase. A proportion of this increase could human presence, triggering a ‘flight’ response which requires be a result of increased survey effort over the years, which a great amount of makes it difficult energy. to predict how 3000 The greater future populations energy loss caused will develop. It is 2500 by increased beach feasible, with the visitors, combined aforementioned 2000 with energy loss in disturbances and the locating suitable loss of habitats, that 1500 roosting sites, a downward trend may significantly could occur in the decrease the population of golden 1000 chances of survival plover. for a substantial Threats to their 500 proportion of the population are population. imminent. Take the 0 Using ‘Birds US President Donald Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan in Northumbria’ Trump who, to begin Month which is filled with with, is looking to copious numbers renege on the Paris Figure 1 - Average monthly population of golden plover at Lindisfarne 2005-2014 of bird records, we Climate Agreement, collected all our golden plover information from nine editions. which is worrying, considering the USA produces 18% of the Focusing on approximately fifty coastal sites from the data, world’s greenhouse emissions. It would be a major setback a total of 311,577 golden plover were recorded over the nine to lose USA cooperation in reducing global warming and year period, giving an annual average of 34,620 on our north mitigating climate change and, even more worrying, President east coastline.

Trump could cause a domino effect and prompt other Equipped with this information we were able to create countries to remove themselves from the agreement. graphs to clearly display population patterns and densities The impact of climate change on golden plover could be at specific locations, such as Lindisfarne (shown in Figure 1), warmer and drier autumns frequently occurring in southern monthly average of individual Golden Plover (over a nine year England, and thus potentially the same in the north east. period) sighted at Lindisfarne. Data from editions of ‘Birds in These different climatic conditions could cause increased Northumbria’ (2005 - 2014). growth of grasslands and winter cereals to heights which Frequency of golden plover was then able to be mapped make an unsuitable roosting site for the birds according to a using these data, which in turn, highlight the most densely report by Mason & Macdonald, 1999. Hence the importance of populated areas on our coast. implementing conservation practice now, before favourable Action could be taken to protect and enhance these roosting sites vanish completely. wintering habitats, ideally to retain areas of permanent Countryside Stewardship Schemes are funded by the EU. 18 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

margaret holland

These schemes incentivise agri-environmental farming, so leaving the EU as soon as the summer of 2019 could potentially cause a loss of these schemes and therefore loss of possible pastures suitable as roosting sites.

Biodiverse coastal sites could become intensively farmed because of the likely absence of subsidies without the Common Agricultural Policy; the decreased available habitat could cause a reduction of not just golden plover but other wading birds.

Golden Plover have a wintering range across 21 countries in the EU. We may lose connections, shared conservation knowledge and data concerning this bird with our neighbours, which will be extremely detrimental to future research regarding not only this species but a whole host of migratory species.

To conclude, accumulating data regarding golden plover population densities from a wide range of sources will strengthen the Trust’s knowledge on their known whereabouts and where to focus conserving roosting and feeding sites.

As conservationists we feel passionately that protection from future threats such as climate change, habitat loss and political changes should be addressed to maintain abundant populations of this species and other wading birds.

Theodore Nickols & Bugge Vick Assistant Conservation Officers Northumberland Wildlife Trust

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 19

Conservation

Berwick in the Community

lot of time hand painting Berwick’s Park Ranger Brian O’Brien spent a nature signs and making bird boxes as visited Tweedmouth West in March gifts.

2016 to work with years one and Young people from The Grove two pupils making bird boxes, and ol visited the Park at the end of Scho class since then, children from each last year and we are currently putting have visited the park to take part in together a Nature Package for its activities such as rock pooling, bush students of all abilities, which should crafts and bug hunts. hopefully be completed in the next In addition, the park arranged a free few weeks. The pupils hadn’t had a pool party for year two students as a prom before and, as a thank‘well done’ for working so hard on their school school’s pupils, our owners the to you SATs. worked very hard running fundraising Throughout the year our team events and raised over £400 towards members have been busy around the the cost of it.

Park, with pupils from Berwick Middle This year promises to be busier than School and holiday home owners the last! We will be helping to create a and their children helping to create wildflower meadow and bog garden a nature trail, garden and outdoor at Berwick Middle School, running classroom. more events for Tweedmouth West Our owners, and in particular First School and have pledged to raise ed their children have really enjoy £1,000 for each school for gardening participating in the ‘Berwick in the and wildlife projects.

Community’ project, with the children putting in a lot of hard work digging Brian O’Brien out and laying the trail, making log Berwick Holiday Park Ranger bug , stack e beetl a piles and creating hotel and a bee B&B. They have also

brian O’Brien

Berwick Holiday Park (part of Bourne Leisure Ltd) has been a member of the Trust for the past 12 years. The scenery at the Park truly needs to be seen to be believed with striking clifftop views and stunning sunsets that make the park unique.

With both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sports facilities and fun activities such as Nature Rockz, whilst, away from the park, there are two beautiful beaches within walking distance and historic sites in nearby Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Last year, the park launched its ‘Berwick in the Community’ initiative and it has been a roaring success.

The park wanted to strengthen its links with the community, in particular local schools; most of our team are from Berwick and have either attended the schools themselves or have children or grandchildren who do. So far the park is working with three schools: Tweedmouth West First School, Berwick Middle School and The Grove School in Tweedmouth.

Doing their bit for nature

The work begins

The ‘Great Escape’ Plan 1. Soft release pens will be use as they are flexible and can be moved in the event of a flood. The pens will be positioned near streams/water bodies.

2. Water voles will spend between five and six in the pens, fed daily and checked twice daily.

3. After five days the door of the pens will be opened and replaced with a baffle to prevent large predators gaining access to them. At this time the water voles can come and go as they wish and feeding will be reduced. Straw will be in the covered end of the cage and voles will be fed one quarter an apple and one quarter of a carrot each day.

4. The great escape.

The first task of the project was to assist ecologists Roisin Campbell and Ben Wright from Derek Gow Consultancy in Devon with the capture of Water Voles from the North Pennines in September, with consent to capture being granted by Natural England and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Only voles weighing less than 160 grams were taken as these were juveniles born in the very last litter, and who had a slim chance of surviving through the winter of 2016.

A team of volunteers caught a total of 16 from the North Pennines, and as Derek’s consultancy already had water voles from a re-introduction project in Scotland, it took the total up to 40 healthy water voles to breed from for the project. It is important to only breed from water voles in the North East and Scotland in order to maintain the correct genetic haplotypes.

The water voles are now ‘overwintering’ at Derek’s consultancy in Devon and their progress is being very closely monitored, before being paired up in March, with the first litter of young expected to be born in late April. At the start of this year, ten project staff, volunteers and partners visited Derek’s team to check on their progress and to learn more about the breeding of voles.

A visit to Katy and David Anderson from the Trossachs Water Vole project is scheduled for this May. Our much valued volunteers are heading out into Kielder forest twice a month to check the mink rafts for tracks, and is a task which will remain hugely important throughout the next five years; we must maintain a mink free zone to facilitate a smooth release of water voles back into Kielder to be successful.

We are pleased to report that we have found no sign of mink since this project began, which is great news.

We are very grateful to Trust conservation officer Kevin O’Hara, for sharing his knowledge with us and helping us to decide upon release sites for our water voles. We expect the first release to take place in June.

Likewise, we are working with the Trust’s People & Wildlife team and their opposite numbers at Devon Wildlife Trust, forming a three-way school partnership with a school from Devon, the North Pennines and a local school to Kielder. This work will start in September 2017.

We spent the winter months working with the Forestry Commission, clearing ditches and coppicing in preparation for the return of the water voles. When spring arrives we shall be busy training our volunteers on field signs to enable us all to survey for water voles once they return to Kielder and observe their movements. We shall also be looking at the vegetation before the water voles start to eat it!

Kelly Hollings Restoring Ratty Project Officer

If you would like any more information on the project, contact Project Officers Kelly Hollings or Graham Holyoak at Kielder Castle on: 01434 250 898.

You can follow the progress of the project online: Web: www.nwt.org.uk/restoringratty Facebook: facebook.com/RestoringRatty Tumblr: restoringratty.tumblr.com

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 21

UK News

Green groups unite for

Following the vote to leave the EU, environmental organisations are asking Government to keep the

Farming

Environment

Keep

Keep Protection for important wildlife sites

nicholas watts

matthew roberts

Controls on pollution of our rivers, soils and seas

Introduce

Introduce

T

hirteen major environmental organisations including The Wildlife Trusts have formed a new coalition called Greener UK. Their aim is twofold: first, to ensure that wildlife’s fortunes improve when we leave the EU; and second, to persuade the UK’s Governments to seize this moment and lead the world in nature’s recovery.

The 13 organisations in the coalition speak for almost eight million members – but many more people support the coalition’s objectives. In a recent YouGov poll, eight out of ten British adults thought we needed the same or stronger levels of environmental protection after we leave the EU. “This coalition is powerful because its moment has come,” says Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts. “If these islands are to change fundamentally, let’s make that change a good one.”

Greener UK is concerned that wildlife

22 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

A world-leading Environment Act, and map nature’s recovery

UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

matthew roberts

Investment to restore our soils, rivers and countryside to full ecological health

could be forgotten in the rush to attract new investment or make new trade deals. This might reduce the protection we give our most important wildlife sites, or the vigour with which we control pollution.

The coalition is calling on the UK Government to keep as much of the EU’s environmental protection as possible when we leave, and uphold it into the future. It is also asking for sustainable and effective farming and fisheries policies, underpinned by safeguards for important wildlife sites and species, pollution control, and marine protection.

The Wildlife Trusts are asking

Government to: ■ Bring in a world-leading Environment Act and map nature’s recovery; ■ Invest public money in restoring our soils, rivers and countryside to full ecological health; ■ Complete the UK’s network of Marine Protected Areas and ensure we fish sustainably.

“We have secured real, tangible and positive change in the past and are determined to do so again,” says Stephanie Hilborne. “The people of the UK want their wildlife back. Now is the time to call for that, on behalf of this generation and the next.”

Eight out of ten adults think we need the same or more environmental protection

r nature

Lates news t UK-wide wildl and issue ifetru s: st news s.org/

Say what you believe

The Wildlife Trusts believe that nature matters in its own right and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of wildlife and wild places in their daily lives. Surely this is why it hurts so much to lose a favourite tree or see a kestrel killed on the road. It explains why our hearts leap at a murmuration of starlings; and why Keep we grimace when we hear of children who have never had the chance to run along a beach.

Momentum on banning discards and moving to We believe that people are part of nature and yet so sustainable fishing much of its variety and joy has been ripped slowly and painfully from our land and from our souls. Together, we must put wildlife back into our country and into our lives. And your support for your Wildlife Trust is helping us to do just that.

But there is unprecedented pressure to release new land for house-building, uncertainty about the future direction of farming, and a risk of trade deals lowering environmental standards. Perhaps the biggest risk of all is that, in the face of such turmoil in world politics and such urgency to ensure Britain Introduce is “open for business”, the environment is overlooked. Yet it is the foundation upon More protection for vulnerable which a healthy and prosperous society habitats, and let fish stocks recover depends. ked every MP In the last issue we as We know most people in this country UK lp make the to sign a pledge to he do care about nature and future l nta me viron a world leader on en generations.

But we need your help to te change, and protection and clima keep reminding those in the centre of the o signed restore nature. See wh whirlpool of change why they need to act .uk/ at green-alliance.org for the environment. Think of the impact we GreenerUK could have together if all 800,000 members of our movement wrote a short, heart-felt letter to our elected politicians calling for sustainable fishing and farming, and for improved protection for the environment.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say. But those Who are the Greener UK coalition? are usually the times that it matters most to say Greener UK is a group of 13 Trust and the RSPB. All of them something. So why not simply say what you believe?

e EU’s existing protections, and build on them

fishfight.net

Fisheries

Ps 180oM unting

paul naylor

and c

environmental organisations representing almost eight million people. It includes The Wildlife Trusts, the National

say that leaving the EU is the moment to restore and enhance the UK’s environment. More on wildlifetrusts.org/Greener-UK

Stephanie Hilborne OBE @stephhilborne Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

david chapman

Wherever you are in the UK, your Wildlife Trust is protecting and standing up for wildlife and wild places in your area. Contact us on enquiry@wildlifetrusts.org or 01636 677 711. To join your Wildlife Trust, visit wildlifetrusts.org/joinus.

Natural World, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1WT. Editor Rupert Paul Layout editor Dan Hilliard Communications officer Catherine Boggild @wildlifetrusts

wildlifetrusts

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 23

UK News

£1m needed to create a giant wetland here

Sir David Attenborough is backing Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s biggest-ever appeal – to raise £1 million to create a giant nature reserve in The Broads.

If the appeal succeeds, the purchase would expand Carlton and Oulton Marshes, and establish a 1000-acre wetland. All donations are most welcome: suffolkwildlifetrust.org

suffolk wt

tom marshall

This would be habitat restoration on a landscape scale. Can you help it happen?

The appeal has Sir David’s support

Terry Whittaker 2020 Vision

Pine marten back in Shropshire Shropshire Wildlife Trust are supporting what may be the only breeding population of pine marten in England.

The animals were first observed on a trail camera, and thought to be migrants from Wales passing through.

Subsequent monitoring revealed a small population in the woodlands of the Clun Valley.

Several woodland owners in the Valley have already agreed to manage their land with pine marten in mind and are working with the Trust to install over 100 den boxes. Local volunteers are helping with scat searches to further monitor the animals.

With improved denning options, the Trust thinks the marten can become fully established in Shropshire. More on shropshirewildlifetrust.org. uk/pinemartenproject.

24 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

Pine marten have been absent from most of England for more than a century

Aldernery bird observatory

The island’s gannet colony with – a sign of the times – nests made from discarded fishing nets

Bumper first year for Alderney Bird Observatory The Alderney Bird Observatory, set up in March 2016 as part of the Alderney Wildlife Trust, has ringed 13,000 birds and recorded 180 species, five of them new to the island. This has already

shown how important Alderney is as a stop-over point for migrant birds.

The first year’s work is a testament to the observatory’s warden John Horton and his team, who ringed 500

Launched in 2013 by HRH The Prince of Wales, the Coronation Meadows project has now created 90 new wildflower meadows, in 60 counties, aided by over 1,600 volunteer work days. Its aim was to reverse the catastrophic decline in these ancient habitats. The project is run by The Wildlife Trusts, Plantlife, The Rare Breeds Survival Trust and funding from Biffa Award.

Meadows completed 2013

2014

2015

2016

Find a Coronation Meadow near you on coronation meadows.org.uk

robin bell

HRH and helpers sow the 90th site – The Queen’s Meadow in Green Park, London

leicestershire and rutland WT

90 new meadows

storm petrels and 777 gannets. Their work will allow better monitoring of the population size and trends of Alderney’s birds.

Forest school: it beats double maths

Forest School for thousands Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, tens of thousands of children are getting a new chance to experience nature hands on.

In 2016, 15 Wildlife Trusts delivered over 500 Forest School sessions, letting children engage with their wild side.

With renewed support from PPL this will now be expanded. Several more Wildlife Trusts will be able to run more outdoor educational classes and Forest School sessions. More on wildlifetrusts. org/peoples-postcode-lottery

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 25

UK News

john morrison

Barkbooth Lot, an ancient wood looked after by Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Great places to see bluebells No photograph does a bluebell wood justice: you just have to see it for yourself. And in the UK we have some of the best displays in the world

O

f all our wild places, ancient woodlands are the ones most steeped in magic. Take one step inside and you can sense the sheer age of the trees and the soil.

But for a few weeks in April and May there’s something more magical still: an extravagant carpet of heavily-scented blue flowers.

The UK has half the world’s population of common bluebells, and their profusion here reaches a peak unequalled anywhere else on earth. A bluebell’s seeds only spread a foot or so from each plant, so their presence 26 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

denotes a truly ancient forest. And these beautiful flowers are an important early food source for bees and butterflies.

The Wildlife Trusts care for hundreds of bluebell woodlands. Here are just a few of them.

Bluebells denote a truly ancient forest

1

Moss Valley Woodlands WT for Sheffield & Rotherham A secluded reserve on the southern boundary of Sheffield containing a beautiful string of ancient woodlands.

Where is it? From Jordanthorpe to Norton, just to the south of Sheffield S8 8DZ. Map ref. SK 371807.

2

Emsworthy Mire Devon Wildlife Trust High altitude and a lack of trees means the bluebells only flower here when they’ve gone elsewhere. A ‘last chance to see’ in late May/early June.

Share your experiences

We would love to see your bluebell im ages and experiences on @wildlifetrusts #LoveWildlife

6

Cumbernauld Glen Scottish Wildlife Trust A patchwork of ancient woodlands and meadows that come alive with superb shows of bluebells in May. Where is it? Exit M80 for A8011. Follow signs for Cumbernauld Theatre. Park opposite the theatre. Reserve is a short walk. Map ref. NS 777 763.

7

Castle Woods WT of South & West Wales Ancient wood with mosses, lichens and veteran trees over the river Tywi.

Where is it? A mile west of Llandeilo.

Park by the fire station off the A40 and walk down Dinefwr Park Drive. Map ref.

SN 615218

8

Bunny Old Wood Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Some of the reserve may have been tree-covered since the ice age.

Where is it? Off A60 Loughborough Rd. NG11 6QQ. Map ref SK 579283.

9

Tony’s Patch Northumberland Wildlife Trust In spring the woodland floor becomes a carpet of bluebells, with wood anenome and wood sorrel.

Where is it? Near Haydon Bridge, Northumberland. NE47 6HN.

10

tom marshall

Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale Suffolk Wildlife Trust A mosaic of ancient woodland alongside fen meadow, and one of the best bluebell sites in the UK. Where is it? Near Assington, Sudbury.

CO8 5BN.

For more infomation and to find a bluebell wood near you visit

They smell good too: on a warm, sunn can overpower everything else in the y day it wood.

wildlifetrusts. org/bluebells Where is it? Off B3387 on the road from Bovey Tracey. TQ13 7TT.

Where is it? A mile north of Pontrobert towards Llanfihangel. SY22 5JF

3

5

Barkbooth Lot Cumbria Wildlife Trust A mix of open fell, grassland and ancient oak woodland, rich in birdsong and dragonflies.

Where is it? A mile west of Crosthwaite.

Map ref. SD 418 909.

4

Coed Pendugwm Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Bluebells to knock you off your feet, under majestic oak and beech.

Gobions Wood Herts & Middx Wildlife Trust Mostly wood, but also grassland, hedges, ponds and wetland.

The ancient trees and soil make it particularly rich in fungi: 558 species have been found here.

Where is it? Next to 18 Mymms Drive, Potters Bar. AL9 7AF.

6 9 3

4 7

1 10

8 5

2 March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 27

UK News

Feel Feel

Dominic Higgins is Nature and Wellbeing manager at The Wildlife Trusts @DomCHiggins

Research proves (again) that Nature is good for you

getty

A report by Essex University*, commissioned

by The Wildlife Trusts, adds to the ever-growing body of research which shows that Nature is good for you.

The key finding is that wildlife-rich environments don’t just keep you physically healthy. They also reduce stress, improve mood, and reduce social isolation.

The report includes work by the New Economics Foundation which is based on the work of 400 scientists around the world.

It proposes five evidence-based ‘Ways to

Wellbeing’. If you practice them in natural settings, you will improve your physical and mental health.

CONNECT Make friends with the people around you BE ACTIVE Go for a walk outside TAKE NOTICE Be aware of the wonders of nature around you KEEP LEARNING Try something new GIVE Volunteer or help other people

*Wellbeing benefits from natural environments rich in wildlife, Essex University

28 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

Outdoor participants at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Skylarks project

better outside better inside

Research continues to show that being active in nature helps us all to grow, live and age well. And that means green environments can help reduce the strain on the NHS london wt

P

eople in the UK are living longer.

On the face of it, this is good news. This rise in life expectancy, however, is not matched by equivalent levels of good health. For many, it means spending their later years in ill-health and loneliness.

This is a huge challenge for our local and national health services. For example, research by Holt-Lunstad (2015), shows that being lonely is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Fortunately, many studies show that accessible green spaces can work well as social connectors. Quite simply, they can cut the social and economic costs of ageing alone.

One solution for both problems is London Wildlife Trust’s Potted History project – a programme of nature-based activities that works with older people in the community and in care settings.

Each week, a group meets in Peckham where participants grow herbs, fruit and vegetables in raised beds, observe the wildlife of the garden and create art and craft inspired by nature.

The activities act as prompts for memories, and participants share their experiences, knowledge and thoughts with others – including recipes, gardening tips and jars of homemade chutney.

The effect has been extraordinarily positive.

Participants are happy to get out of the house, learn new things and interact with others. “I was really anxious before coming today, but now I feel really relaxed. It’s nice being outside,” reports one. “Since coming here I’ve

At London Wildlife Trust’s Potted History project, social gardening fulfils all five ‘Ways to Wellbeing’

managed to give up smoking,” says another. “I was depressed, but now I really look forward to coming here.”

Comments like these, alongside other feedback, shows that the London

them as best we can,” explains Angie, a volunteer for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which runs outreach support to a care home next to the Skylarks reserve.

“Skylarks is such a beautiful reserve, and it’s on the doorstep of the care home.

When mobility prevents us from getting outside, we hold wildlife quizzes and activities – but the overriding thing for me is the social aspect.”

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 gave local authorities new responsibilities to improve the health of their populations, and reduce health inequalities. Improving access to green space is probably the most effective way they can achieve these objectives.

Help spread the word Could you display a poster that shows the benefits of contact with nature? The more people who participate in our Natural Health Service, the better. Order your poster at: wildlifetrusts.org/wellbeing

Participants are happy to interact with others Wildlife Trust project has reduced social isolation. It has given people a regular opportunity to get out of the house, learn new things and interact with others. The experience of being outdoors in nature has also improved their mood and happiness.

Meanwhile, in the Midlands, a second Wildlife Trust project caters for more vulnerable people who cannot get outside. “We try to bring nature to March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 29

UK News

My beaver e

Bestselling author Tom Cox grew up thinking beavers were extinct in Britain. Then a small populati

Ron Walsh. inset: laurie campbell

I

did not travel to the River Otter, in east Devon, expecting to see wild beavers.

Just to be within 100 yards of them and see their teeth marks on the trees would have been exciting enough for me.

But as dusk fell, and my friend Sarah and I and Stephen from the Devon Wildlife Trust made our way quietly along the bank of the river we heard a loud splash. About 20 seconds later, two otters dipped past us at speed. They had a rattled look about them, like thugs who’d picked the wrong target. The size of the initial splash, Stephen said, suggested the commotion was about

Tom Cox is a writer and cat lover. His books include “Bring me the head of Sergio Garcia” and the Sunday Times top ten bestseller “The Good, The Bad And The Furry” @cox_tom

30 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

more than just otters. A larger animal had been involved: perhaps a dog, perhaps a beaver.

Nobody knows exactly how beavers first appeared on the River Otter, but

I worried that The Stranglers might alienate the beavers

sightings began in 2008. Not long afterwards, Devon’s new beavers began to breed. The government then decided to have them removed from the river.

Fortunately, the Devon Wildlife Trust opposed this removal and managed to get a licence for them to live on the river for five years and their effect on the landscape to be monitored. There are now thought to be around 20 beavers.

People were wild camping near the river as Stephen, Sarah and I walked along its bank. The 1980s anthem ‘Golden Brown’ by The Stranglers tinkled through the trees from a portable stereo near their tent just downstream.

epiphany

tion appeared near him. With Devon Wildlife Trust’s help, he went for a look I worried that The Stranglers might alienate the beavers but as Stephen, Sarah and I stood quietly in a dark spot under an ash tree and waited for the song to finish, almost exactly on cue with its final bars a beaver of not dissimilar colour to the one celebrated

by The Stranglers swam out from the opposite bank. It was more serene than I imagined, far more serene than the otters we’d just seen, but when it climbed out onto a small sandbank just upstream and began scratching itself that serenity quickly vanished. “It looks like a giant tea cosy,” said Sarah, accurately.

The beginning of a beaver dam

Beavers are vegetarians, and – contrary to what you might have read in CS Lewis – not the kind who sneakily eat fish as well. They were last seen in Britain some time in the 16th Century.

The thickness of their pelts and the fact that their castor sacs (scent glands) contained castoreum, which was used as a tincture in perfume, meant they were hunted to extinction. You don’t hear people wanting a perfume that smells of castor sacs these days so you’d hope that, were beavers to

Could this become a common sight again?

Devon Wildlife Trust believes there is a strong ecological case

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UK News return to the UK they’d have an easier time. Their ability to fell trees and build dams could also have a positive effect, slowing floods, and creating wildlife-friendly pools and bogs. After a grooming session this one swam 15 yards upstream and began to munch loudly through a bank of Himalayan balsam.

I thought of my mum, who’d had problems with balsam in her garden, and pictured me and the beaver ringing the doorbell on her birthday, and me telling the beaver to hide behind the hedge, just to make the occasion that bit more special.

Whereas otters live in holts, beavers live in lodges. This is one of many things I love about beavers. It tells you what you need to know about them straight

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Devon...

nick upton / naturepl

In 2011, with the help of Devon Wildlife Trust, two beavers were released into a fenced enclosure in the Tamar headwaters. Their activities and effects were studied closely (see box, right).

32 ROEBUCK 141 March - July 2017

She began to munch loudly on Himalayan balsam away: they’re a bit fancy, but not too fancy. This particular beaver’s lodge had been built in the bank of the river directly opposite us, amidst the roots of overhanging trees. Spotters from Devon Wildlife Trust had thought that there were three kits living with this beaver and her far more publicity-shy male friend – but six days after my visit a

resident of the local village took a photo which clearly showed five kits. Having seen this, I drove back that evening and, after sitting on the bank for very little time at all, I saw two kits swimming out, following the exact same route that their mum had the previous week, climbing the bank and chomping on the balsam, albeit with considerably less volume.

After a quarter of an hour a dog walker called David arrived. David has been watching the beavers for over three years, since before their presence was even revealed in the news. “The male never comes out,” he said. “The female’s very casual now, though. I held a branch of willow in the water for her not long ago and she started to chew it.”

Stephen said the adult beavers were around the size of a cocker

The beaver effect These three maps span five years of the Tamar beaver study. Their three hectare enclosure consisted of culm grassland encroached by willow, birch and gorse, with a trickle of a stream.

The beavers quickly felled trees and built dams to create the deep water they prefer. Within a year there were eight ponds with a combined area of 900m2.

The knock-on effects (see graphs below) were remarkable.

The female had kits in 2013

Lodge

Fence Watercourse Pond

2012

New pond

2016

Dam

Marshy area

mike symes

One of the dams in made by the Tamar beavers

2011

Foraging channels

More wildlife

600 Frog spawn clumps on site

500 400 300 200 100 2011

Slower flow

2012

2013

2015

2016

Flow in and out of beaver site

Flow (m3/sec)

Less pollution

■ Above the site ■ Below the site

0.10 0.08 0.06

20 30

0.04

40

0.02

50

3.45pm

4.15am

4.45pm

200

4

0.1

100

2

0.1

0

Sediment

Mg/litre

Mg/litre

10

■ Rainfall ■ Flow above site ■ Flow below site

0

Nitrogen

Rainfall (mm/hour)

00

0.12

Scientists measured flows into and out of the beaver enclosure. The results showed how the dams and ponds hold water back. Across a catchment, beavers might be able to stop floods being so severe.

Intensively managed farmland above the site produced soil, nitrogen and phosphate runoff. As the water slowed through the ponds, a high proportion of these pollutants were filtered out.

2014

0

Phosphate

March - July 2017 ROEBUCK 141 33

m. Elliott, c. Blythe, r. Brazier, P. Burgess, S. King, A. Puttock, C. Turner, (2016) Beavers – Nature’s Water Engineers. Devon Wildlife Trust.

From mosses to invertebrates to bats, a wider range of species used the site once the beavers had got to work.

Particularly impressive was the dramatic yearly increase in frog spawn clumps

Mg/litre

spaniel but, looking at David’s cocker spaniel, Willow, I decided this was an underestimation. The adult female beaver looked a fair match on the scales for his labrador, Bracken.

As dark fell and the kits returned to the lodge, David and I walked back along the river in the direction of my car. David, who clearly had more finely tuned hearing than me, stopped abruptly every minute or two to investigate a distant splash or a rustle in the reeds. I had to remind myself not to get complacent about this: in less than a week I had seen three examples of an animal that, just a few years ago, I’d assumed I’d never see here in during my lifetime.

UK News

‘‘The sea

Dan Hilliard

Enjoying the seaside is a fundamental part of growing up. Let’s help more children get the chance, says Leanne Manchester

Leanne Manchester is a whale lover and editor of Wildlife Watch magazine @Leanne_manch

A

s editor of The Wildlife Trusts’ children’s magazine, Wildlife Watch, I have the privilege of seeing the drawings, poems and stories sent in by our youngest members. It’s such a joy to witness the creativity that kids have. One of my favourites was by nine year-old Hazel, who made a beautiful whale using sticks she found on Clevedon beach.

You are never more than 70 miles from the coast in the UK, and the sea is an important part of our national identity. Yet many children living just a few miles from the shore rarely, if ever, visit their local beach.

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Children inspired by the sea will care for it In the coastal city of Sunderland, half of the nearly 500 children Durham Wildlife Trust worked with on their North Sea Explorers project had never been to the Seaham coast, just a few miles from their schools. You might think this would be different in a Cornish village geared

up for tourists and holidaymakers. But the disconnect is the same.

“I was shocked by the number of children who had grown up near Looe, so close to the sea, but had never been to the beach,” says Abby Crosby, marine conservation officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust. “For many children, this is a whole world that had not been opened for them.”

Connection with the natural world is an infectious one, and something that all children benefit from if given the chance. The letters I receive from children across the country clearly show that experiencing nature first hand is

is amazing’’ Tell Theresa!

This spring we’re asking young members to send a message to Theresa May about protecting our seas. The message will be a huge chain of friendship bracelets.

Children can download the bracelet at wildlifetrusts.org/ bluebelt, colour it in and send it to us at the address on the link. We’ll join all the bracelets up and give them to the Prime Minister, asking her to be a friend of the sea as part of our campaign for more Marine Conservation Zones.

The face says it all: Lola Hilliard in touch with nature in Cornwall

invaluable to developing a passion and a desire to protect it.

Ninety seven per cent of our planet is water, and our seas are our life support system, so we must ensure they are protected. If we can inspire our children to build a personal relationship with our seas, they are more likely to care for it in the future. “It’s not planet Earth,” said one 11 year-old. “It’s planet ocean. If we don’t keep it running the world won’t be as beautiful as it is now.”

Once children have formed a connection with the sea, we can encourage them to make decisions for themselves, and help them to realise

Nine year-old Hazel made this whale from beach driftwood

Here are a few from children who have already got colouring

that they can make a difference where they live. As Fiona White, from Kent Wildlife Trust, says: “Our projects are as much about giving children confidence and developing their self-esteem as they are about nature. Involving children in the decision-making process helps to lead their learning. Giving them positive experiences in wild places ensures they will have a deeper relationship with their environment later in life.”

Children and adults alike should be able to experience the joy of wildlife and wild places in their daily lives. If we help to lift barriers and provide opportunities, together we can make this a reality.

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