WildWarwickshire Magazine Issue 157 Winter 2017

Issue 157 Winter 2017

Wild WildWarwickshire

An act for nature Plus 2016 Annual Report Summary

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Ra W ce ild to W pro or p A k ag L D at S ay e s, ch O N am I w ew w pi N w Tr on T .w us p H ar te ea I w es r t S ic ks , B re I hi ad e, N S re ge e S U w ild r c ws E lif ul fr et lc o ru an m st 't Bu .o be b rg .u ju ben k st h ifi all ed ,

Dormouse reintroduction in Warwickshire

Issue 157 Winter 2017

In this issue

4 Dormouse reintroduction

Audience with Les Moore's 6 An 10 Nick Baker Lasting Legacy

12 People and/or Wildlife?

17

Peregrine Watch 2018

pint of 20 ADormouse

Contact Us Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

Brandon Marsh Nature Centre Brandon Lane Coventry, CV3 3GW 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

Parkridge Centre Brueton Park Solihull, B91 3HW 0121 704 0768 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

21 Wild Work Days 27 Badger Cull

WildWarwickshire magazine is produced three times a year in March, July and November.

Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Trust.

Magazine Editor / Designer Steven Cheshire Marketing and Media Officer Warwickshire Wildlife Trust steven.cheshire@wkwt.org.uk 024 7630 2912 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a registered charity #209200 and a company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England, #585247.

28 The stuff of life

Radway Meadows in winter Š Sue Steward 2017

2016

30 An act for nature

Wildlife Trusts focus on EU Withdrawal Bill Welcome to the winter 2017 edition of Wild Warwickshire magazine!

I hope you’re enjoying the change in seasons and managing to find time to enjoy the changes our wildlife are going through as the days shorten.

Change is all around us, as ever.

I’m writing this on the morning that a delay was announced to the progress through parliament of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The Wildlife Trusts have been working hard with Ministers, MPs and civil servants, and other conservation organisations, so that the opportunity is taken to ensure continued firm legal protection for our wildlife, here in Warwickshire and across the UK. We welcome the Government’s commitments in the draft Bill to keep all existing EU law intact, but remain concerned that; »» All EU environmental principles are also transferred - these are the polluter pays, sustainable development and precautionary principles.

Currently this is not guaranteed.

»» Wildlife and environment laws are upheld - the enforcement functions currently carried out by EU institutions should be passed to well-funded public bodies after Brexit. Currently the Bill gives government the power, but no obligation, to do this. »» Future potential changes to these laws are considered by Parliament - the Bill appears to give future Governments substantial powers to legislate or de-legislate by Statutory Instrument, with limited scrutiny, should it choose or feel under pressure to do so.

Continuing the theme of periodic change, two longserving Trustees, Robin Gibbs and Graham Harrison, stepped down at the recent AGM where members also enjoyed an inspiring talk from the RSPB Director for the Midlands, Emma Marsh. Timing and space means that Graham and Robin's contribution will be properly

acknowledged in the spring edition of WildWarwickshire.

At the same time we welcomed five new Trustees who are introduced to you on page 24 and 25 and who over the next few weeks will be getting to grips with their new responsibilities!

Sadly we have also recently said goodbye to two people who volunteered for the Trust in very different ways, Alistair Lorimer and Angela Martin (pages 10 and 11). They will be greatly missed by all at the Trust.

However you personally choose to help us, may I thank you for your continued support, and take this opportunity to wish you all have a very Happy Christmas.

Ed Green Chief Executive 024 7630 2912

Enclosed with your magazine Along with your copy of WildWarwickshire, you should also find enclosed a copy of our 2018 events guide packed full of activities for the whole family, plus your reserves guide update and 2018 car window sticker.

If any of these items are missing from your mailing, please contact the Membership Team on 024 7630 8972 or email membership@wkwt.org.uk

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CONSERVATION

Dormouse reintroduction in Warwickshire Ian White from the People's Trust for Endangered Species explains why the species is in decline, how locations for reintroductions are chosen and provides an update on the recent reintroduction of dormice into a Warwickshire woodland in June this year.

The stability of an animal population can be measured both by the land range it occupies and the population density within its range over time. By these parameters hazel dormice are in trouble.

For dormice we know that their range has reduced from 49 counties in 1885 to 32 counties in 2017 – from being widespread in England and Wales, they are now restricted to an area almost entirely south of a line between Shropshire and Suffolk. The population is declining as well – since the year 2000 we have lost 38% of our dormouse population and the decline continues at a rate of about 5% a year.

There are considered to be three primary factors behind this decline in dormouse numbers:

1

Dormice are very sensitive to climatic factors. The species hibernates due to a lack of food availability in winter but between 40% - 70% of them will die in hibernation.

Our woodlands used to be cut more regularly in the past, often in a style of management known as ‘coppice with standards’.

Dormice can occupy similar habitats but these are becoming increasingly rare in the UK.

Variable winter temperatures may cause dormice to wake from hibernation and each awakening requires the use of energy that the animal has stored in its body. If they have insufficient fat resources, or they wake too frequently, they will simply run out of energy and die.

2

Dormice are almost fully arboreal and so they spend the active part of their life in the tree and shrub canopy.

They may be able to live in a wood but unless there are continuous hedges or scrub margins linking woodlands in the landscape, the juveniles are unable to disperse and establish themselves in new woodlands.

Due to their physiology, dormice naturally live at very low densities. An extreme event could wipe out the dormouse population in a woodland and it may be impossible for it to be repopulated due to our fragmented landscape.

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3

Hazel dormice live in young woody scrub habitats that are about eight to twenty years old. To maintain this type of habitat, trees need to be cut and allowed to regenerate.

Once out of hibernation, they need to find food to restore the energy lost over winter and prepare for breeding. Poor weather in the spring can impair their opportunities to feed.

In general, females only produce one litter of young between late July and early September.

Mature females occasionally produce a litter in late May or early June and although it is a rare event, it is an important one.

This may allow the mother to produce a second litter while the females from the first litter may breed in the same year.

CONSERVATION

There are a number of conservation measures in place to try and arrest the decline of the hazel dormouse in the UK, of which the Dormouse Reintroduction Programme plays an important part. When the programme started in 1993 as part of English Nature’s Species Recovery Programme, it was based on scientific research that had shown the best methodologies to employ to establish a dormouse population at the release site.

While these methods are still valid, and the population released in a Cambridgeshire woodland in 1993 is still present and expanding, they have been refined. There is a wellestablished protocol to obtain healthy dormice, where they are bred by the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group and go through a quarantine process with the Zoological Society of London and Paignton zoo.

The more difficult part of the programme is to find a woodland suitable as a dormouse release site and an assurance that this will be maintained in the future.

To further complicate the issue, as the aim is now to establish dormice in a landscape rather than just a woodland, two suitable woodlands within close proximity to each other need to be found with consideration on how a landscape project might be

implemented to improve linear woodland and scrub links, which includes hedgerows, between the woods.

The final element needed for a successful reintroduction is a team of keen and enthusiastic volunteers. Members of Warwickshire Mammal Group have been instrumental in the post-release feeding programme.

They will also undertake regular nest-box checks to monitor the success of the project.

In 2017, everything was in place for the fourth reintroduction in Warwickshire at a woodland owned by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), 40 dormice were put into the wood in soft release cages at the end of June as part of the Princethorpe Woodlands Living Landscape Scheme (PWLL).

Ten days later, small holes were made in the cages and the dormice were then free to start exploring their new home. Food and water was regularly put in the soft release cages by a team of volunteers so that the dormice had a source of food if they were unable to find enough naturally.

The first monitoring check was undertaken at the beginning of September and we were delighted to find 29 adult dormice and 20 young animals from six litters; some of these dormice turned up in nest boxes sited away from the release site.

This means that already, two milestones have been reached; when more dormice have been found at the site than were released and that they have All photographs © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

started to disperse through the wood into new areas. An additional reintroduction is planned in the next couple of years as part of the HLF funded PWLL scheme. This is a promising start to establishing dormice in Warwickshire.

Further information, visit; www.princethorpewoodlands. com or read an article on 'The hunt for Warwickshire’s dormice‘ in the August 2017 edition of British Wildlife magazine.

Ian White Dormouse and Training Officer People’s Trust for Endangered Species @PTES

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EDUCATION

Fun is FREE for Family Members!

Do you have a family membership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust? We want to remind you that as part of your membership you can now receive a free educational activity per child, per season. This amazing opportunity means you can entertain your little ones and encourage them to discover the delights of the great outdoors whilst saving a little bit of money.

Along with this edition of WildWarwickshire you will find enclosed a 2018 Activity Record Card. This needs to be brought along with you to your free activity. Don’t worry if you have more children, you can collect extra cards from either of our Visitor Centres.

Session types available include Nature Babies, Nature Tots, Holiday Workshops or the After School Club. To book your free activity please contact the Membership Team at membership@wkwt.org.uk or call us on 024 7630 8972.

Philippa Truman Membership Engagement Officer 024 7630 2912 philippa.truman@wkwt.org.uk

Take a look on our website for more information www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on

An audience with Nick Baker Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce that our 2018 celebrity speaker is Wildlife Presenter and Author Nick Baker.

In the comfort of the Royal Spa Centre, Nick will share his part autobiographical, part hard hitting call to action talk.

Expect a journey that spans the last 44 years and zings all over the planet.

From experiences in familiar UK habitats to stories from more exotic shores.

Nick touches on subjects as broad as how keeping caterpillars in a jam jar lead to working with Britain’s rarest butterfly, how playing with grass-snakes helped him tackle a cobra and why the most endangered species is a child playing free in nature.

There will also be the opportunity to meet Nick at the end of the talk as he will also be conducting a book signing.

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Perhaps you already have a copy of The New Amateur Naturalist or you can buy a copy of his latest book – ReWild: The art of returning to nature.

Join us on Saturday 10th February 2018. Tickets are available from the Royal Spa Centre Box Office.

Doors and bar open at 6.30pm, the talk starts at 7.25pm. There will be an interval at which time you can post your questions for Nick Baker to answer in the post box in the downstairs bar.

Proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the work of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

EDUCATION

66,000 reasons to celebrate The Trust has been awarded a second grant of £66,000 thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. This will enable our education team to continue its outdoor learning programme for children in Coventry, Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Lessons with Nick Baker

TV wildlife presenter and writer Nick Baker visited St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Coventry as part of a nationwide tour organised by The Wildlife Trusts to celebrate outdoor learning projects supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Children in Year 1 at the school in Willenhall have been taking part in weekly Nature Club sessions with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and during Nick’s visit every class had a chance to get outside. Nick worked with our education team to help pupils learn about hedgehogs, food chains and marvellous minibeasts – and to build a grand bug hotel.

Hotel Bugtopia - named by Year 6 pupil Keelan Aze was made with pallets kindly delivered by MKM Building Supplies in Leamington.

It’s been a really good day. The take away from today is that I just see the kids enjoying themselves; that’s the magic of this whole thing. We know it’s good - it’s good for kids, it’s good for teachers too!

Nick Baker, TV Wildlife Presenter

Two groups of around a dozen young people aged 11 to 17 spent five consecutive days at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve taking part in Call of the Wild during the summer holidays, developing survival skills, confidence and friendships and a newfound appreciation of what makes our living landscapes so important not just for wildlife, but for people too.

Feedback about their experiences was full of enthusiasm - exciting activities like lighting and cooking over an open fire and making wild jewellery to identifying plants and trees, wildlife encounters, developing friendships and making unexpected discoveries about themselves and the natural world.

All kids should have a chance to experience this!

Ismail aged 13 - Call of the Wild

Stealth games were among the highlights and the very same skill gave them an equally special memory to take home when they spotted a kingfisher! While few teenagers would sign up to a week of bird watching, Call of the Wild appealed to their sense of adventure and enabled them to engage with nature and discover the wonder of it.

Paula Irish Communications Officer (PPL) 024 7630 2912 paula.irish@wkwt.org.uk Photo left - Call of the Wild at Brandon Marsh © 2017 Paula Irish (WWT).

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Illustrations © 2017 (Shutterstock)

Call of the Wild!

Nick Baker with the children of St Anne's School © 2017 Paula Irish (WWT).

IN MEMORY

A male and female Wall Brown collected at Bubbenhall Wood in June 1939 and a Swallowtail from Hickling Broad, Norfolk. Below centre, a Pearl-bordered Fritillary collected at Bubbenhall Wood in June 1937 © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

Les Moore's lasting legacy Les Moore from Coventry had an interest in wildlife from his early childhood. This love of nature remained with him throughout his life and he was well known and respected amongst fellow wildlife enthusiasts. He was a member of the Coventry Natural History Society (CNHS) and has been a member of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust since 1981.

His family contacted the Trust asking for advice about his butterfly and moth collection.

They were keen to ensure that the collection stayed in the county and would be properly cared for. After several phone calls and emails, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry agreed to take the collection.

Les's family kindly allowed me access to his notebooks which provide a wonderful account of his travels both in

Warwickshire and beyond. These combined with his collection of butterflies, moths and hoverflies offer a valuable link to the past.

The collection contains species now rare in the UK. Glanville Fritillaries from the Isle of Wight, Chequered Skipper from Cambridgeshire, Swallowtail (see above) from Norfolk and Duke of Burgundy from Northamptonshire, but its the specimens that Les collected in Warwickshire that are of particular interest.

The Wall Brown for example has been extinct in Warwickshire for over 10 years with the last confirmed sighting at Fisher's Mill near Middleton Lakes in 2007. Les collected several specimens from Bubbenhall Wood in 1939.

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is another species that is no longer found in Warwickshire.

It was last recorded at Oakley Wood in 1968. In 1960, Les states in his notebooks that he was "pleased to see four or five at Bubbenhall Wood, as I feared them to be extinct after the [clear] felling". Not long after, Les's fears came true.

High Brown Fritt. Several about in Bubbenhall Woods 3/8/41. Caught one!

Sadly, Les died earlier this year but his legacy lives on. His passion for wildlife was reflected in his Will. He left £1,000 to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, vital funds that will be put to good use saving wildlife in our region.

I would like to thank Teresa and Jim Douthwaite for allowing me access to Les's precious notebooks and Ali Wells from the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum for allowing me to photograph the collection.

One of Les's illustrated note books and a rare Ringlet butterfly aberrant form lanceolata collected from Wappenbury Wood in August 1937 © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

Les Moore (right) with Charlie Wale (CNHS Entomological Group) running the moth trap in Peter Cooke's Earlsdon garden in August 1970. © 2017 Peter Cooke.

Steven Cheshire Marketing and Media Officer 024 7630 2912 074 7103 3557 steven.cheshire@wkwt.org.uk

8 Photos of butterfly specimens taken with kind permission of the Douthwaite family and the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery.

REGIONAL NEWS

Race to propagate champion pear tree Standing close to South Cubbington Wood, the pear tree could be over 200 years old and is the second largest known wild pear tree in UK. Efforts to save the tree and large parts of South Cubbington wood have failed, despite a petition to the Parliamentary Select Committee on HS2 for a bored tunnel under the wood. HS2 Ltd recognizes the value of the tree and said they would either attempt propagation from seeds or grafts or preserve its DNA, but local people feared that HS2 Ltd would not allow enough time in their construction programme to obtain a successful graft.

(RHS) Level 3 students. He had succeeded with another ancient variety, the Warden Pear, a tree mentioned in Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”. Cuttings were dispatched to the college over a two year period, but grafting proved difficult due to the age of the tree.

Unexpected help came from Paul Labous, a lecturer at Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire, who offered to graft cuttings from the tree with his Royal Horticultural Society

The next step was to make sure that the DNA of the crown growth of the original tree and the new maiden tree (sapling) matched. Leaf samples of both were collected and the match was confirmed.

Paul Labous of Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire holding the grafted pear with his RHS level 3 students © 2017 Paul Labous.

Finally, this year, Paul was able to report a successful graft from new growth taken in early 2016 from the base of the tree.

Further propagation from the maiden tree is continuing at Shuttleworth College, prior to it being brought 'home'.

Although there can be no adequate compensation for the residents of Cubbington for the loss of a muchloved tree, I am very grateful to Paul and his students for their work in securing for us a source of saplings that should ensure that future generations will once again have their springs brightened by the sight of a mature pear tree in blossom Peter Delow, Chairman of Cubbington Parish Council

Frances Wilmot Publicity Officer Cubbington Action Group Against HS2 01926 426597 fwilmot@open-air.biz

The Cubbington Pear Tree © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

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IN MEMORY

ALISTAIR LORIMER 1961 - 2017

Trustee, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust from 2007 to 2017 From an early age, Alistair enjoyed being out doors trying to find, identify and collect specimens.

At the age of nine, he moved with his family to South Africa, where the opportunities to study wildlife were never ending.

Alistair returned to the UK to study Botany at Reading University where he was inspired by a tutor who was an authority on native orchids. Alistair went "orchid hunting" whenever possible with Box Hill in Surrey being one of his favourite places. Walking around the countryside, preferably off the beaten track, was a life-long interest and he would invariably pause to examine plants, identify them and photograph them.

This developed into an interest in gardening. He was always tinkering and creating things like a bird table to his own design and bug and insect houses. His mantra for attracting wildlife was "if you build it, they will come" so log piles started to appear in the borders, weeds were to be treasured and when the lawn was no longer used as a football pitch, more and more was left to nature and a natural pond created.

The desire to leave the crowds behind took Alistair and his family to the Isle of Mull in 2002 and it has been their retreat ever since. The plants, birds and mammals were all there to be spotted, identified, counted and recorded by Alistair and he recruited his whole family to contribute to his log books.

He joined Warwickshire Wildlife Trust shortly after he moved to Warwickshire

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in 1986 and loved to explore the Trust's nature reserves. His favourites were Crackley Woods, Ufton Fields, Hampton Woods and Snitterfield Bushes.

In 2007 Alistair became selfemployed as a retail development consultant specialising in Garden Centres. It was now that he decided he wanted to give a proportion of his time to charity. Wildlife was still an interest and the environment was becoming increasingly important to him and his family. He decided to explore the opportunities that Warwickshire Wildlife Trust had to offer and little did he know what this would bring at the time. He found his role as a trustee very interesting and absorbing, an opportunity to meet some great people who became his friends.

When Alistair was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, his role with the Trust and how it developed became an important part of his life. He was instrumental in developing the marketing activities of the Trust leading the Marketing Working Group and supporting the marketing team until 2013.

He became Vice Chair of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and was Chair of Middlemarch Environmental between 2014 and 2017.

Alistair always found time to have a quick chat to those he met. He was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed by everyone who worked with him at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Forget-me-nots Š 2017 Christine Cheshire.

IN MEMORY

ANGELA MARTIN 1945 - 2017

Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre Volunteer from 2005 to 2017 It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Angela Martin.

As a volunteer on the reception desk at Brandon Marsh, Angela was a familiar face for many, as she greeted thousands of visitors to Brandon during her time here.

A gift to nature Forever

Angela lived in Rugby and was very keen on motor sports. She even used to race cars herself.

After volunteering for almost 13 years in our visitor centre, she will be sorely missed by our regular visitors and everyone at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Neville Jones, a dear friend of Michael Senior tells us a little about Michael and his passion for Warwickshire’s natural heritage.

To be out in the field botanising with Michael Senior was an experience both humbling and joyful.

We are incredibly grateful to the generosity of the following wonderful individuals who chose to remember nature in their Wills by leaving a gift to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Knowledge poured from him as every plant was encountered; one was treated to a garrulous explosion of facts and stories associated with the plant of the moment. Michael’s memory was truly humbling yet at the same time it was such a joy to be on the receiving end of the enthusiasm which Michael radiated.

»» »» »» »» »»

Botany was not Michael’s only passionate interest though it must be described as the principal recipient of his intellectual energy.

He could talk learnedly on a range of subjects as diverse as church architecture, archaeology and Shakespeare.

Mr Michael Senior Mr Anthony William Pratley Mr Leslie Ernest Moore Barbara Elisabeth McLauchlan Maureen Theresa Duffy

Remembering Nature in your Will If you would like more information on remembering nature in your Will or you would like to receive the Trusts new brochure ‘A Gift to Nature’ please contact Pip Bradley Vigor.

024 7630 8972 pip.bradleyvigor@wkwt.org.uk

Michael raged against so much of the ugliness of the modern world with particular ire reserved for the iniquitous HS2. The thought of the destruction to be caused by this project had him bitterly scornful.

Warwickshire was more than just his home county to Michael. He revelled in the botanical richness which its central location provided with some plants at their Northern limit and others at the Southern end of their range. He used to claim that any botanist parachuted into a Warwickshire meadow and otherwise unaware of his location would be able to identify the county easily from its flora; something not so simple elsewhere.

It is fitting that Warwickshire Wildlife Trust should be the principal beneficiary of his estate.

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PEOPLE & WILDLIFE

People and/or wildlife?

In part, through your generous support of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, our region is fortunate to contain many areas that are still havens for wildlife in a landscape under increasing pressure from developers and people seeking a moments respite from the modern world.

With that increasing pressure, should we consider excluding people from nature reserves to protect them purely for the benefit of wildlife?

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust exists to protect and enhance wildlife, natural habitats and geology whilst encouraging a greater awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

So, we tread a fine line between protecting rare habitats and species, adhering to rules and regulations while allowing people to experience all that the natural world has to offer.

However, surely all our efforts to protect wildlife and wild places would be in vain if we do not ensure there are people committed to protecting wildlife in the future?

To truly protect the fragile whilst ensuring that people are able to engage with and appreciate wildlife comes down to an informed, balanced approach to conservation and education.

Some of our nature reserves are more resilient to human activities than others. Some are managed for wildlife on behalf of local authorities and landowners with pre-existing conditions of use while others are wholly owned by the Trust.

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Photos © 2017 Vicky Page (WWT).

For example, Draycote Meadows, awash with thousands of delicate, precious greenwinged orchids is a place where you wouldn’t want people to do anything more than enjoy the spectacle of the floral display, but more robust settings like Rough Hill Wood, where the construction of dens and the climbing of trees helps form an important part in the formative “falling in love with nature”must be encouraged.

My childhood, probably like yours, was spent climbing trees, building dens and generally immersing myself in nature and it’s these childhood experiences that drive my passion for wildlife.

So how can we ensure these places are used appropriately without damaging habitats or disturbing wildlife?

Often there are differing opinions when it comes to the 'appropriate use' of a particular

place. Fundamentally, our nature reserves are for wildlife but we need to manage them to ensure people can also access and enjoy them too.

We actively encourage people of all ages to get closer to nature and experience it for themselves, in the hope that more people come to value wildlife, respect it and protect it for many generations to come.

There will always be incidents of inappropriate use on our nature reserves but sometimes inappropriate use is hard to define. We rely on volunteers, members and visitors to be our eyes and ears so we can all play our part. With limited resources, our staff cannot be everywhere at once so knowing about any issues as soon as they arise allows the Trust to resolve them effectively.

So it can't be just for people or just for wildlife. It's the balance between People and Wildlife that is vitally important when ensuring we maintain our nature reserves for today and for future generations to enjoy.

Karl Curtis Director of Reserves and Community Engagement 024 7630 2912 karl.curtis@wkwt.org.uk

PEOPLE & WILDLIFE

Jaffa the Hedgehog Monday 26th June was an exciting time at The Parkridge Centre as Jaffa the hedgehog was released!

Jaffa is no normal hedgehog; he has been made by the team at Unipart Baginton from recycled materials. At Unipart Baginton they are committed to good environmental practices but they also want to do their bit to help their local wildlife.

In October Unipart invited Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to be part of their annual Green Day where our staff spoke to Unipart about our work and the nature reserves they have on their doorstep.

Unipart raised £47.65 by selling cakes and buying pin badges.

The idea for a hedgehog made out of recycled materials was born and the fundraising has carried on! Once the hedgehog sculpture had been created by Edmund and Sam it was time to name him and so the staff ran a name the hedgehog completion raising £185.46 for The Help for Hedgehogs Campaign.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the Help for Hedgehogs team would like to thank Steve, Michael, Simon, Edmund and Sam for creating Jaffa and to all the staff at Unipart Baginton for all their support.

Why not pop along to The Parkridge Centre to see Jaffa yourself enjoying his new home in a wildlife friendly garden?

Jaffa in his new home with Michael, Simon, Sam, Edmund and Steve from Unipart presenting Simon Thompson, Senior Hedgehog Officer with their donation for Help for Hedgehogs © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

Jo Hands Fundraising and Events Officer 024 7630 2912 jo.hands@wkwt.org.uk

MP revealed as Hedgehog Champion The Rt Hon Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom & Ewell and Secretary of State for Transport has become the new ‘Species Champion’ for the UK’s native hedgehog.

The team behind Hedgehog Street have presented Chris Grayling with a special ‘Species Champion’ certificate at his Ministerial Office in the Houses of Parliament, to celebrate starting his new role.

Photo © 2017 Hedgehog Street.

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PEOPLE & WILDLIFE

News from Bubbenhall It’s been another fun year at Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow with lots of things going on and lots of wonderful wildlife to be seen!

Wildlife Surveys Our Survey Force team visited the reserve a number of times this year to record data in regards to Flora, Butterflies and Dragonflies. Local surveyor Carol Timms, spotted a female Purple Emperor Butterfly (Apatura iris) ovipositing (laying eggs) on a Willow, just 40 yards from the members car park in June. The first spotted at the reserve in three years.

Jim and Carol also spotted a Valezina form of Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), only the second one they have ever seen and the first one for the reserve. Typically only between 5% and 15% of the females in a colony are of this form, and at one time they were confined to the southern coastal counties of Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex. In recent years however, they appear have been spreading further northwards.

Purple Emperor butterfly © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT) Thumbs up at Bubbenhall Wood © 2017 Vicky Page (WWT)

Oral History update We are wrapping up our oral history project this autumn, after interviewing Bubbenhall residents, past and present. If you have memories of the site, historic documents or photographs that you are happy to share, we would love to hear from you. We are particularly keen to talk to anyone who worked at the neighbouring quarry.

To get involved in the oral history project, please contact Faye Irvine.

Events We’ve hosted twelve FREE events this year thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which allowed people of all ages to discover more about this special place. It was lovely to see so many members as well as meeting lots of new faces too.

Looking forward, we have lots going on next year for those wanting to learn something new, get active or have fun exploring the wood. Take a look at your 2018 events guide enclosed or visit our web site for more FREE events at Bubbenhall Wood and Meadows.

Work Party We now have an active work party volunteer group who are assisting us with the management of the reserve. The group meets weekly throughout the winter on Thursdays. If you are interested in being active outdoors, with likeminded people, please contact volunteer@wkwt.org.uk.

Birdscreen and way-marked trails Keep an eye out for some exciting new additions this autumn/winter, including our fantastic new willow bird screen! The screen provides cover in which to enjoy sweeping views over the pools.

Way-marked trails coming this winter will lead visitors around the wood and meadow and in time, on to further trails around Ryton and Wappenbury Wood.

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New willow screen at Bubbenhall Wood © 2017 Faye Irvine (WWT)

PEOPLE & WILDLIFE

A Greener and Healthier Rugby So far this autumn we have held four volunteer work party sessions, welcoming an impressive number of new volunteers. We’ve focused on improving some of the important grassland areas and opening up the canopy in the woodland to allow more light down onto the woodland floor, encouraging a greater diversity of species, especially wild flowers and insects.

We work on a variety of practical conservation tasks to help care for the nature reserve and its wildlife at Newbold Quarry, but there’s always time for a cuppa and a chat too! If you live locally to Rugby and would like to get involved, drop in on the day or contact Faye Irvine for more details.

Everyone is welcome and no time commitment or previous experience is required. All training will be provided!

A Greener and Healthier Rugby is Funded by Warwickshire County Council Supported by Rugby Borough Council

Faye Irvine Wildlife Engagement Officer 024 7630 2912 faye.irvine@wkwt.org.uk

The Green and Healthy Rugby project offers people a chance to get outside and get active!

The new volunteer work party at Newbold Quarry is up and running, with sessions held fortnightly on Tuesdays from 10:00am to 13.00pm.

Winter work party dates: 14 and 28 November 2017 12 December 2017 09 and 23 January 2018 06 and 20 February 2018 Photo © 2017 Fiona Bennett-Mere (WWT)

Found an injured or sick wild animal?

The Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary rescues sick, injured and abandoned birds and animals. They provide medication, rest and recuperation in preparation for release back into the wild.

024 7634 5243 info@nuneatonwildlife.co.uk

www.nuneatonwildlife.co.uk 15

PLANNING

Wetland for Water Voles at Meon Vale Warwickshire Wildlife Trust was invited out to see how the new wetland habitats at St. Modwen’s development site ‘Meon Vale’ were establishing after the initial landscaping had been completed earlier this year.

The site located at Long Marston near Stratford-upon-Avon contains an interesting mix of mature woodlands, grassland and wet ditches which provide homes to a bats, great crested newts, reptiles, water vole and numerous birds and insects. This diverse range of wildlife provided both a challenge and opportunity for St. Modwen.

Meon Vale housing development © 2017 Annie English (WWT).

Thankfully, opportunities to enhance the wider area for wildlife and create access to nature for the new community were taken.

In particular, effort was made to enhance the site for the water vole which is of particular conservation concern in this area.

As part of a sustainable drainage scheme, the ditches have been re-profiled to create a more natural watercourse meandering through the site, following the ‘Greenway’ public footpath. This watercourse feeds into a newly created wetland area that will act to provide storage for flood water. A large reed bed will clean the water before it leaves the site, eventually flowing into the river Avon.

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The wetland has been designed, with an island in the middle and different ‘peaks’ so that water voles and wetland birds are protected from cats and other predators. Predation from pets is one of the biggest risks to small mammals and birds when houses are built near wetlands.

The ‘peaks’ provide bank habitat which is what water voles need to burrow into, and will be available even in times of flood.

More time is needed to allow the vegetation to grow, but already it was being used by six grey herons and a flock of swifts feeding over the water when we walked by. Hopefully by next year, the islands will have been colonised by plants such as Reed Sweet Grass and Yellow Flag Iris which water voles particularly like to eat, and

the surrounding meadow will be full of wildflowers. The Trust has also made some suggestions to enhance the area further by introducing ‘deadwood’ habitats.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust hopes that other developments take inspiration from this site, and maximise the benefits of green infrastructure for people and wildlife.

Annie English Planning and Biodiversity Officer 024 7630 8991 annie.english@wkwt.org.uk

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

Annual Report 2016 A summary for members

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust exists to achieve our vision of an environment rich in wildlife for everyone in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. We were established in 1970 to protect our local natural heritage and encourage people to engage, enjoy and get involved with the natural environment.

Bubbenhall Wood in early spring © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT) and inset, Fungus Foray at Bubbenhall Wood © 2017 Faye Irvine (WWT) and © 2017 Vicky Page (WWT)

We would like to offer our warm thanks and sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to our success in 2016 and, most of all, for helping make our region a better place to live and work.

We can be justifiably proud of what we are achieving.

Keep up the superb work and thank you for being part of it!

!

Thank You

A full version of our 2016 Annual Report is available on our website; www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/publications Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

2016

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Nature Reserves »» More than 21,000 reed plugs planted at Brandon Marsh »» Agreement reached to manage four Local Nature Reserves in North Warwickshire for the next 15 years »» Funding secured to review the management plans for the Trust’s woodlands The Newlands Reedbed at Brandon Marsh was expanded with over 21,000 reed plugs generously and meticulously planted by the Brandon Marsh Voluntary Conservation Team to improve and increase the valuable wetland habitat.

Four nature reserves were added to our portfolio through an agreement with North Warwickshire Borough Council.

Engaging local people and working in partnership has increased our presence and prominence in this area of the county.

The Trust embarked on a review of its woodland portfolio, to take forward our greatest assets for wildlife and ensure they are resilient and well managed in to the future. The work in 2016 initiated a revision of the various management plans and the development of a sustainable woodland strategy.

Elsewhere, the Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow Heritage Lottery Funded project entered its first year and access and infrastructure improvements were a priority alongside recruiting new volunteers. The Coronation meadows project had further success: 20 green winged orchids have established themselves at Dunchurch meadow, the receptor site for green hay and plug plants in 2015.

2016 saw a review of our Reserves Practical Work Party Leaders handbook, whereby the Trust, in parallel with the review of the organizational health and safety policy, ensured our volunteers were supported in the responsibility of leading groups – making sure everyone stays competent and up to date with processes and procedures.

Newlands Reedbed at Brandon Marsh © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

Wetlands »» Delivered Guphill Brook Wetland Enhancement Project in Coventry »» Commenced delivery of Water Vole Recovery Project in North Warwickshire »» Progressed improvements to wetlands at Hampton Wood & Meadow The Guphill Brook riverine enhancement project was delivered in partnership with Middlemarch Environmental Ltd, Environment Agency, Coventry City Council and Wild Trout Trust using £24,500 of funding secured from the Warwickshire Avon Catchment Partnership through DEFRA. The works increased flow diversity along the Guphill Brook (a tributary of the River Sherbourne) with the addition of two slack water pools. New lowland meadow and wet meadow were created with help from over 24 local community members on several volunteer days totalling 65 hours work. We also delivered a training day which provided two beneficial woody debris structures along the section of brook to increase bed scour and form oxygenated gravel ramps and Installed 15m of woody debris bank cover for fish fry and instream invertebrates.

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The Water Vole Recovery Project delivered water vole survey training, hedge laying training courses and habitat enhancement works across 12 volunteer days.

Volunteers donated 261 hours, restored over 50m of hedgerow through traditional hedge laying and surveyed 14 sites. Data were uploaded onto a Geographical Information System to monitor water vole population in North Warwickshire and to help focus areas for habitat improvements. Match funding was secured including £12,000 from Tesco Bags of Help.

Thanks to funding from Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust good progress was made on Hampton Wood Meadow Wetland enhancement works. Site visits were undertaken with Environment Agency and site wardens in September to obtain levels and work up a design. Excavation works are scheduled for end of summer 2017.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

2016

Planning »»

»»

»»

Mammal passage incorporated into bridge design at Jaguar Land Rover Whitley following an objection by the Trust to the scheme Another objection helped save Loxley Meadow Local Wildlife Site as planning permission was refused (in part) due to the impacts on ecology At the Stratford District Council Local Plan examination hearing we requested that the protection of Racecourse Meadow SSSI was explicitly written within the policy for the South West Relief Road proposed only 10m away from it

In 2016 the Planning Team, supported by 80 days of volunteer time, identified 148 planning applications that were then screened for any likely impact on wildlife. We responded to 52 of these via the planning consultation process and objected to six of these due to the proposed loss of Local Wildlife Site. Of the six one application was refused because of the LWS and 3 approved, despite our objections.

Only 30% of applications required us to request a Biodiversity Impact Assessment (compared to 45% last year) demonstrating a continued increase in its use,

and therefore that of Biodiversity Offsetting.

We ran in-house training on Biodiversity Offsetting for the planning officers at two Local Planning Authorities and received 45 planning related public enquiries of which 96% were responded to within the target timeframe.

In February the Trust appeared for the second time in front of the HS2 Select Committee asking for increased compensation for lost ancient woodland and reiterating our ask for net gains for biodiversity.

Gina Rowe, Living Landscapes Manager at the HS2 Select Committee © 2017 WWT.

Habitat Biodiversity Audit »» »»

»»

The HBA project celebrated 20 years of continuous surveying The European OpenNESS report on the Warwickshire Ecosystem Services case study by Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute was published using the HBA Phase 1 habitat data Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) Ecology and Geodiversity report completed by the HBA and published by NBBC as part of the green infrastructure plan for the borough

A conference showcasing the work of the HBA was held at Ryton Garden Organics on the 29th June: 70 people attended the event which was open to all the HBA partners, associated wildlife groups and individuals.

16% is between 2005 and 2010, with the remaining 29% pre 2005. A volunteer habitat survey training session was held on 15th April at Brandon Marsh with10 participants.

The HBA Manager, Chris Talbot, presented at the European Ecosystem Conference in Antwerp 1923rd September. The title of the presentation was “Ecosystem services in the context of biodiversity offsetting; practioner experiences from Warwickshire, UK”

The Local Wildlife Sites 2016 survey season surveyed 54 core sites in addition to the Duke Bridge Meadow, Coleshill commissioned by the Tame Valley project.

Notable sites surveyed during the year included the Blythe Valley Park in Solihull; a resurvey of Whittleford Park for Nuneaton and Bedworth BC; excellent speciesrich grasslands at Packwood House National Trust property and the extensive acid woodland at Coughton Park, for the Heart of England Forest Trust.

In November 2016 55% of the Warwickshire sub-region data is currently up to date (i.e. within the 5 year target),

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

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2016

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership (TVWLP) »» 2 large-scale wetland and river restoration projects completed »» A new 6 hectare community wetland was created at Kingsbury Water Park »» 4,422 people engaged face-to-face through engagement activities The HLF-funded TVWLP Scheme continued a full programme of work throughout 2016 to improve the 104km² landscape between Birmingham and Tamworth for people and wildlife.

In the wetland created at Kingsbury Water new reedbeds, scrapes and pools were created, along with a sand martin bank, a new visitor viewing platform and interpretation and seating. A 140m new channel and island in the River Tame was also established at Tameside Local Nature Reserve in Tamworth. Both projects will help to restore the river and its floodplain, enhancing biodiversity and people’s connection to nature. Thanks to Biffa Award, Environment Agency, Heritage Lottery Fund, The Howard Victor Skan Charitable Trust, Tamworth Borough Council, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Warwickshire County Council for their support.

Youth group controlling invasive Himalayan Balsam © 2017 WWT.

Led by Scheme staff employed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB, 1,358 young people and school children were engaged through 65 sessions; 32 events were also delivered with 2,457 attendees; and 58 training sessions were held with 607 attendees. The scheme also had one full-time apprentice and six trainees.

Through the TameForce volunteer group, corporate days and other volunteering, 7,784 hours were generously volunteered towards the delivery of the Scheme, with an estimated value in match funding of £75,600.

A new website (www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk) has also been launched allowing people to start discovering the Tame Valley Wetlands for themselves. The website had 25,198 page views over the whole year, with 138,893 engagements through social media.

Princethorpe Woodlands Living Landscape »» The development phase was completed in August 2016 »» Delivery Phase plans and activities were detailed in the submission documents »» The £1.1 million bid was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2016 As part of the development phase, we engaged with 20 landowners and 16 partners to develop projects including surveys and management of woodland, meadow, pond and hedgerows, and a variety of access and interpretation schemes.

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Extensive community consultation was carried out by project staff and consultants with over 300 questionnaires completed, eight public consultation events and meetings held with all partners and key contacts.

Trials of engagement activities were undertaken, including education sessions, youth activities and wildplay events. A detailed assessment of partner skills and requirements was completed, and recommendations for training in the HLF delivery phase were written.

A successful heritage event at Brinklow Castle was held in October to engage people in the project.

Trials of engagement activities were undertaken, including education sessions, youth activities and wildplay events, which were all evaluated.

A detailed assessment of partner skills and requirements was done, and recommendations for training in the HLF delivery phase were written.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

2016

LNP and LBAP Partnership »»

»»

»»

First Nature Improvement Area (NIA) designated by Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Local Nature Partnership (LNP) Tame Valley Wetlands Catchment Plan produced and priority projects identified for Warwickshire Avon Catchment Partnership Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Progress Report 2016 produced based on input from 80 partners

The Local Nature Partnership Board approved the Tame Valley Wetlands as the first Nature Improvement Area (NIA) for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull in October, following development of the NIA designation criteria by the LNP Implementation Group. Solihull MBC approved a proposal to include the River Cole, Kingfisher Country Park and north Solihull wards in the NIA. This extension which will be assessed by the LNP Board in 2017.

The Local Biodiversity Action Partnership expanded to over 80 organisations and groups reporting on progress towards revised targets. Ruth Moffatt, our key volunteer, co-ordinated the reports, covering five habitats and six species plans in 2016 and helping to assess state of nature across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Highlights include over 67 km of

hedgerow restored, four times the target, improvement of habitat at eight quarries and good progress via agri-environment schemes for wildlife rich field margins and farmland birds, opposite to the national trend.

The Trust has been active in two Catchment Partnerships supported

by Environment Agency, engaging new partners and landowners in projects. In the Tame Anker Mease, the Trust, working with Severn Trent as lead host, developed priorities for funding and revision of the Catchment Plan. In the Warwickshire Avon the Catchment Plan was produced by the Trust, consulting with partners to describe the catchment and state key priority areas. A Project Implementation Plan was produced, with projects categorised by stage of development.

Phase 1 habitat plan © 2017 HBA.

Health and Well Being »»

»»

»»

Secured £372,304 from the Big Lottery for a 3 year project to improve the mental health of people in Coventry through activities in the natural environment Delivered over 200 funded sessions specifically aimed at improving peoples mental and physical health through activities in the natural environment Over 1,250 volunteer hours spent improving sites for people and wildlife

This area of the Trust’s work has grown a great deal in 2016 and has led to new and exciting partnerships, most notably with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind which helped to secure Big Lottery Funding for The Environment and Me (TEaM) Project, which is set to start delivering in 2017 and will work with 300 people over three years.

In Coventry, the Go with the Flow Project, funded by Coventry City Councils Public Health team, worked with over 60 people engaging them with the outdoors to offer both physical and mental wellbeing benefits.

The participants worked on a wide range of sites from woodlands to allotments, and the learning from this

project supported the application to the Big Lottery for the TEaM project.

In Solihull the Your Wild Life Project, funded by the Metropolitan Borough Council, worked with over 30 new volunteers. One individual who takes part in the project said ‘this has changed my life, I was down and depressed and my drinking was high, but now I am off the drink and my depression has lifted’. In 2016 as well as working with adults the Your Wild Life Project also worked with children, families and young people thanks to additional funding from SMBC allowing us to run over 120 sessions and engage with over 300 children and young people.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

4

2016

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Training »»

»» »»

Nine trainees from the 2015 -16 cohort successfully completed their placements and 10 new trainees started across seven partners The Trust continued to act as the Learning Centre for other Trusts running training programmes We helped to steer the Career Routes Into Nature Conservation (CRiNC) research, led by TWT centrally

In total 90% of the first cohort of the Heritage Lottery funded Wilder Career Choice trainees completed their certificates in Work Based Environmental Conservation in March 2016. One trainee has stayed on within the Trust’s Education Team, and a further 7 have gone on to get jobs within the sector. Ten new trainees started their Wilder Career Choice traineeships in arch 2016, and have made very good progress across the year.

Their feedback on the scheme after just 6 months was very positive, with all 10 trainees saying they felt their skills were improving and they were getting a chance to

experience what a job in the sector is really like.

The Trust has benefited from being involved in the CRiNC steering group, getting to see and hear the key findings of some national research commission by TWT into training provision across all Wildlife Trusts.

This research has helped to highlight both the challenges and opportunities of delivering training programmes and will help inform how the Trust takes its vision for training forward after the Wilder Career Choice project ends in 2018.

Volunteers »» More than 38,300 volunteer hours were donated to help the Trust in 2016 »» Donated time equivalent to an additional 21 full time members of staff »» Volunteer policy review Once again, our volunteers stepped up to the cause and generously volunteered a magnificent 38,500 hours to the Trust and these are just the hours that we have managed to record! There is huge amount of unseen effort from our volunteers that often goes unrecorded.

Support at this level benefits both individual teams of staff, the organisation as a whole and the individuals involved who gain a huge amount from volunteering. We want to say a huge thank you for all of the support our volunteers give.

We continue to develop our volunteer roles so we have a range of opportunities on offer, meaning that there is likely to be something for everyone. Our health projects in Rugby, Coventry and Solihull have brought new volunteers to the Trust and have seen significant improvements for wildlife in these areas as well as providing the volunteers with the opportunity to improve their physical or mental health.

Our Volunteer policy was reviewed in 2016 and we continue to see volunteer enquiry numbers increase and many new volunteers joining us to help to maintain some of Warwickshire’s wildest places!

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Volunteers working at Ryton Wood © 2017 Alex Murrison (WWT).

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

2016

Education »» A total number of 21,198 children took part in education activities »» 243 wildlife themed parties delivered across Brandon Marsh and the Parkridge Centre »» 124 school groups visited us for curriculum based activities lead by our Education Team and Volunteers 2016 was a record year for education with our highest engagement numbers to date. The education team secured funding again from Children in Need to deliver outreach work in children’s centres and also received funding from several charitable Trusts and from both Warwickshire and Solihull Councils. This allowed us to work with two special needs schools weekly and work with several deprived schools in North Solihull.

The education team also delivered a record number of school trips, parties and uniformed groups’ sessions.

We also launched our new nature babies’ session at The Parkridge Centre and saw almost 700 visits of parents and their young children engaging in wildlife themed play – with edible sand being popular.

Our success in 2016 was finished off by receiving £50,000 from the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

This project will deliver forest school, activities across 2017 and offer sessions to schools in Coventry, and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Youth Engagement »» 1,163 hours of volunteer time contributed by the 11 – 24 age group »» Completion of Heritage Lottery Fund Welcombe Hills project with successful launch of Trust’s first audio trail »» 18 young people completed work experience with the Trust 2016 has seen us working in partnership with a wide range of organisations, demonstrating our ability to work successfully at delivering outdoor and nature based activities suited to young people. This has included school holiday work with youth centres, volunteering experiences for University and college students on our reserves, and the delivery of programmes for secondary schools and those seeking work experience placements.

The breadth of diversity shows that Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is in a good position to expand its capacity for youth engagement in the county.

We have completed several funded projects including the Welcombe Hill Audio Trail project which is now available online that provides a new way for those visiting the site to experience it. We completed projects with Coventry University and Lillington Youth Club increasing opportunities in these places for young people to get out and experience nature.

Lillington Youth Club © 2017 Matt Cox (WWT).

This year we supported 18 young people through work experience placements. This has been the most popular year yet for work experience and next year we will be looking at refashioning how we provide work experience to cater for increase interest from young people.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

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2016

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Community Work »» »» »»

21 volunteers recruited to the Green and Healthy Rugby Project A standard and easily updated signage format was developed for all Trust nature reserves Community engagement at Bubbenhall Wood – 9 events, engaging with 160 people, living in Bubbenhall and the surrounding villages

A new format for corporate volunteering was established through research and collaboration with other trusts.

A robust plan will ensure these Wild Work Days are profitable and meet clear objectives/criteria. The model will go live in spring 2017.

We secured funding from Warwickshire Public Health to deliver the Green and Healthy Rugby project which aimed to get people in Rugby active, outdoors on our reserves at Cock Robin Wood and Swift Valley. We hosted 10 taster sessions over 5 months, increased volunteer numbers and both work parties are now at capacity. Four volunteers also trained as first aiders, increasing the capacity of both groups. Data relating to mental and physical health was collected after the first, four and sixth session to track changes over time. Data collection will continue until February 2017.

Delivery of the HLF funded project at Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow Nature reserve started in July 2016.

Nine events were held over the course of the year, engaging with 160 people including members and nonmembers. In addition, we launched an Oral History project to capture people’s memories of the wood and the changes in the landscape over time, to feed into site interpretation. Currently five people have been interviewed, with at least another five planned in 2017.

Funding from the Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme helped to improve visitor experience and boost engagement at Ufton Fields, River Arrow, Swift Valley and Brandon Marsh. Improvements included waymarked trails, new interpretation boards, infrastructure and habitat enhancements such as wildflower meadows and hedgelaying. Projects are due for completion in summer 2017.

Hedgehog Improvement Areas »» Launch of Rugby Hedgehog Improvement Area »» Hedgehog friendly planning prescriptions added to the Rugby Local Plan. »» Funding secured from British Hedgehog Preservation Society for next two years The Solihull Hedgehog Improvement Area continued throughout 2016.

Sixteen surveys of local authority greenspace were undertaken, with hedgehogs being found at 4 of the sites. A total of 196 footprint tunnels were monitored for hedgehog activity across the borough, acting as a fantastic vehicle for engagement and increasing our understanding of hedgehog presence and absence.

Five key primary schools were engaged with the project, with repeat visits throughout the year facilitating hedgehog surveys led by children. A total of 900 children were engaged with the Solihull HIA throughout 2016.

In April, our second Hedgehog Improvement Area launched in

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Rugby. The project aims to increase engagement activity in a more rural and rapidly developing area of the county. In 2016 the Rugby project engaged with over 2,000 people, provided education sessions to 1,300 children and notably worked in close partnership with Rugby Borough Council (RBC) to include hedgehog friendly planning prescriptions in the supporting text of RBC’s Local Plan.

This work extended to the Radio Rugby housing development, where targeted engagement of the site’s ecologists led to plans being finalised for hedgehog friendly fencing in 183 properties. These plans should come to fruition during phase 2 of the house building in 2017-18.

Hedgehog © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT).

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

2016

Visitor Centres »» 24,090 people visited Brandon Marsh Nature Centre in 2016 »» Brandon Marsh shop takings were up 12% on 2015 takings »» Improvements have been made to Brandon and Parkridge Visitor Centres Both sites saw an increase in visitors on the previous year which subsequently generated an increased income from the Visitor Centres.

Improvements to Brandon Visitor Centre include the completion of new office and meeting space, and new interpretation boards have been installed by the geological wall. The Barn has been updated to improve the visitor experience for those hiring the Barn. The Badgers tea room was taken under new management in 2016.

At Parkridge we have continued to develop the wildlife garden and a new nest box camera was installed along with a buggy shelter for visiting mums. The classroom has had new flooring which has been greatly welcomed by the thousands of families visiting us each year.

A defibrillator has been installed on the outside of the Parkridge Centre thanks to Solihull Lions, West Midlands Ambulance and Fast Aid. New geology wall interpratation at Brandon Marsh © 2017 WWT.

Membership »» The Trust had 22,632 members and 9,872 subscriptions in December 2016 »» Membership income increased by 1% »» Retention rate increased by 2% Recruitment in 2016 remained challenging particularly managing recruitment through our recruitment company, Wildlife Fundraising Central Ltd (WFC), which the Trust co-owns with six other Wildlife Trusts. As a result of under performance in this area of recruitment, the decision was made to reduce recruitment targets for WFC half way through the year. In an attempt to fill the gap, the Trust increased our own internal face to face recruitment activities on nature reserves, at our visitor centres and at local venues and events.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is very grateful to the following people who remembered local wildlife and gave a lasting gift to the Trust in their wills this year: Eva Grace Burdett - £56,629.63 Anthony Stewart Greaves - £1,000 David Cottrill - £200 Pauline Marianne Whitehead - £50,000* *

Corporate membership stood at 27 businesses. As well as providing income through subscriptions many of our corporate members also contributed to conservation activities on reserves through volunteering time as well as providing donations for materials. Businesses have been hugely supportive with donations and raffle prizes.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

interim payment

enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

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2016

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Communications »» 13% of new members join via the Trust website (an increase of 1.2%) »» 16% increase in Twitter followers and 31% increase in Facebook followers »» 13% increase in sessions by website users In 2016 we sent out 17 press releases gaining media coverage in local newspapers, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio plus national coverage in The Telegraph and internationally in the Wall Street Journal.

All our members received three editions of WildWarwickshire magazine with articles on a wide range of topics. Our spring edition included news of the Trust attending the HS2 Select Committee meeting in London, we announced the Trust’s new nature reserve at Dunchurch Meadow and the launch of the Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme.

We also remembered Alban Wincott who sadly died in 2014. He was instrumental in forming the Brandon Marsh Conservation Group in 1967.

Our summer 2015 magazine was the 150th edition of the Trusts Members Magazine. We invited readers to take a look at back issues (25th, 50th, 75th, 100th and

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125th editions) of the Trust magazine via the Layar App and we told the story of Warwickshire’s Geology through the new geology wall installed at Brandon Marsh in partnership with the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group.

E-newsletters go out monthly to over 5,800 recipients and quarterly to our volunteers and local businesses.

We have been broadening the range of social media we use for communications, expanding our Instagram and YouTube channels. Our social media community is growing strongly, with a 16% increase in Twitter followers to 8,812 followers and a 31% increase in Facebook to 3,297 followers, both driving traffic to the website, promoting membership and events, project news and wildlife highlights. We continue to showcase the wide variety of work going on at the Trust through these channels.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

2016

Financial review

A B C

D

E

F

Income 2016 £3,016,334

H

G

A

Interest - £7,336

0%

B

Fundraising - £25,717

1%

C

Donations - £86,237

3%

D

Visitor Centres - £104,231

3%

E

Legacies - £107,830

4%

F

Middlemarch Gift Aid - £474,020

16%

G

Subscriptions - £643,393

21%

H

Grants - £1,567,570

52%

Income 2016 Total £3,016,334

The Trust continued to secure funding from a wide range of sources, providing stability should any particular source of funding reduce or cease. In 2016 the Trust secured £3,016,334 of income, of which £1,567,570 (52%) came from grants and £643,393* (21%) from membership subscriptions. *This type of income is unrestricted.

A B C

D E

J

Expenditure 2016 £2,257,295

F

G

I

H

A

Governance - £16,209

1%

B

Volunteer Costs - £25,863

1%

C

Nature Schools - £66,000

4%

D

HBA - £96,874

4%

E

Marketing - £167,153

7%

F

Visitor Centres - £212,011

9%

G

Membership Servicing - £216,854

10%

H

Health & Training - £294,395

13%

I

Nature Reserves - £520,055

23%

J

Living Landscapes - £641,881

28%

Expenditure 2016 Total £2,257,295 A large part of the expenditure, £520,000 (23%) was invested in the maintainance of our nature reserves. We also invested £294,395 (13% of our expenditure) in health and training.

We continue to work hard to ensure we keep our administration and running costs to a minimum.

Restricted Funds - Funds - which have been given to the Trust for a particular purpose. *Unrestricted Funds - these funds can be used wherever we think the need is greatest.

A full version of our 2016 Annual Report is available on our website; www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/publications Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

enquiries@wkwt.org.uk

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2016 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Annual Report Summary

Highlights and Achievements

• 2100 reed plugs planted on Newlands Phase III at Brandon Marsh • A new 6 hectare community wetland was created at Kingsbury Water Park as part of the Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership • The £1.1 million bid for the Princethorpe Woodlands Living Landscape project was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2016 • Secured £372,304 from the Big Lottery for a 3 year project to improve the mental health of people in Coventry • More than 38,300 volunteer hours were donated in 2016 • 21,198 children took part in education activities • 124 school groups visited us for curriculum based activities lead by our Education Team and Volunteers • 24,090 people visited Brandon Marsh Nature Centre in 2016

twitter.com/wkwt facebook.com/warwickshirewt wkwt.wordpress.com flickr.com/wkwt youtube.com/wkwt Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. 024 7630 2912 enquiries@wkwt.org.uk Registered Charity (Number 209200). A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247.

REGIONAL NEWS

Report a Wildlife Crime Wildlife offences often involve cruelty and the unlawful killing of wild mammals and birds, some of which are protected species, the destruction of fauna and flora by large scale developments, all non-domesticated animals, wild plants and other organisms. Wildlife crime also involves the buying and selling of endangered species from around the world, in a multi million pound trade.

The enforcement of wildlife crime often involves and requires partnership with other agencies outside the police, including governmental and nongovernmental bodies.

Police work in partnership with other agencies, when either leading an investigation or supporting one, these include the National Wildlife Crime Unit, Natural England, The Environment Agency and a wide range of environmental and animal charities.

All wildlife crime should be reported as any other crime by calling 101 or 999 for an emergency.

www.warwickshire.police.uk/wildlifecrime

Peregrine Watch 2017 What a fantastic year for the Peregrine Watch Team this year. Our volunteers spoke to hundreds of passers-by in Leamington and Coventry about this fabulous bird of prey. Coventry has been slower than usual with the birds deciding to move around a lot more and so they were seen less frequently than in previous years; however, the birds in Leamington Spa have been very encouraging!!

For the first time in Warwickshire Wildlife Trust's history, we managed to install a web-cam on a Peregrine nest site and watch live footage via our web site as the parents raised four chicks, all of which successfully fledged.

We are also working with Warwick District Council to see how we can improve the webcam experience and we may also have another venue for Peregrine Watch 2018 but you will just have to wait and see.

The web-cam proved extremely popular and was viewed an impressive 72,000 times with the average viewing time of 8 minutes. We hope many of you got to view it too.

Looking forward, we are starting to look at dates for our 2018 Peregrine Watch so please keep an eye on our website and social media for these.

Peregrine Š 2017 Shutterstock

Philippa Truman Membership Engagement Officer 024 7630 2912 philippa.truman@wkwt.org.uk

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FUNDRAISING

Recycling brings in the money Many thanks to those of you who bring your used stamps to Brandon Marsh for recycling; this is proving to be a great source of funding for us.

We are delighted to announce a new recycling scheme called Recycling for Good Causes. You can continue to bring your stamps to Brandon Marsh or post them directly to: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust PO Box 16992, Sutton Coldfield, B73 9YA. We can also turn postcards, unwanted coins, bank notes, medals and jewellery into vital funds for our work. These items (except for coins) can be posted directly to: Freepost RSXA-GJBY-ARRZ, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Unit 14, Amber Business Village, Amber Close, Tamworth, B77 4RP or drop them off at Brandon Marsh.

You could have your own Recycling for Good Causes box at your workplace. We can provide you with a collection box and Recycling for Good Causes will arrange free (minimum 10kg) collections so all your need to do is fill the box and give them a call when it needs emptying!

Why not recycle your old phones and ink-jet printer cartridges for wildlife too?

Recycle 4 Charity will recycle your old mobile phone and ink-jet cartridges and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust receives a donation for each item.

You can place your unwanted mobile phone and used ink-jet cartridges into the boxes at Brandon Marsh or the Parkridge Centre, or if you know a place that gets through lots of phones and ink cartridges, they can provide you with your own collection boxes plus free collection for 25+ items.

Alternatively, you can order free-post envelopes for ink-jet cartridges to be deliver directly to you or you can choose a box, simply head to this website: www.recycle4charity.co.uk/Register/C72239 Don’t have an ink-jet printer? There is a separate scheme for other forms of print cartridges that will still benefit wildlife in Warwickshire: www.zerowasterecycling.co.uk/charity/C72239

By using the web links above, all of our details are already filled in for you so you can rest assured that the money from your recycling will go straight to supporting the work of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Taking steps for nature Nordic Walk at Morecambe Bay

£1 ,2 07

22 brave people set off on the last weekend of September to Nordic Walk Morecambe Bay in aid of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. The group of Nordic Walkers enjoy regular sessions at our reserves and so they wanted to do something to give a bit back as thanks for access to these wonderful green spaces. They raised an amazing £1,207.00 (at the time of print) for us which will go a long way to making sure these beautiful wild places they enjoy stay wild.

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2018 Virgin Money London Marathon Warwickshire Wildlife trust has been lucky in securing a charity place for the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon!

Our willing volunteer who will be running in aid of the Trust is Katie Wheeler who has been a supporter for several years. Her father was an avid wildlife enthusiast but sadly died of cancer three years ago, and Katie would like to raise money for the cause that he was passionate about.

If you feel able to sponsor Katie please head to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KatieWheeler1

FUNDRAISING

Raffle raises hopes for wildlife

£5,25 8

We are delighted to announce that our 2017 raffle raised a staggering £5,258! Thank you so much to those of you who purchased tickets or sold them for us. Here's a few examples of how we hope to spend the money raised for the benefit of wildlife in our region*.

1

A site survey and report by the Habitat Biodiversity Audit team looking at rare plants and habitats.

£2,5 00

5

Advice and guidance to a landowner on how to manage their land for the benefit of water voles.

2

Two days work to take a hay cut at one of our rare native wild flower meadows.

£1,0

6

Responding to a planning £25 0 application giving nature a voice when it comes to developments.

3

The cost of a ranger to lead three days of Nature Force, our volunteer team who help care for our nature reserves.

£750

7

Twenty metres of laid hedgerow to create or restore vital wildlife corridors.

4

A single day's work to pollard £30 trees allowing other species 0 to flourish below the tree canopy.

8

16 wild flower plug plants to £8 provide vital nectar and pollen sources for our important pollinators.

00

£25 0

£20

0

*Illustrative examples. Funds raised by the raffle are unrestricted.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust would like to thank the following organisations for generously providing the prizes: Brandon Hall Hotel & Spa, Badgers Tea Room, Ettington Park Hotel, Hatton Adventure World, Snitterfield Arms, Hilltop Café, Compton Verney, Touchwood Shopping Centre, Coventry Golf Club, Oaks Farm Shop, Steve Crowe & Son Kenilworth, Camp Farm Pet Shop, Kenilworth Books, Go Outdoors, Ellisons, The Entertainer, Coventry Photo Centre, and Majica Photography.

Jo Hands Fundraising and Events Officer 024 7630 2912 jo.hands@wkwt.org.uk

Members only events success We would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to all of you who attended one or more of our special Member Only events this year. We have received some wonderful feedback from the events designed specifically for our members.

For those of you that did attend these events, we hope you enjoyed them as much as we did! If you haven't attended a members only event yet, do take a look at your 2018 events guide enclosed for more information or visit our website.

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BUSINESS NEWS

A pint of Dormouse please!

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust launched a brand new ale at its beer festival in September at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre. Malthouse Dormouse was created to celebrate the re-introduction of endangered hazel dormice earlier this year to a secret location in deepest, darkest Warwickshire.

Malthouse Dormouse is a light, fruity ale, with hints of citrus and orange. Money raised from sales of the new ale will support the work of the Trust.

Photo Š Shutterstock 2017

Keep an eye on our social media channels and we will let you know which locals pubs are stocking it. Why not ask your local if they would be interested in stocking it as a guest beer too?

I was inspired by the work of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and wanted to give something back. I really hope this beer can raise some funds for this great charity and help them continue the fantastic work they undertake in the Warwickshire countryside Gavin Leach, Director of Windmill Hill Brewery, Leamington Spa

The beer festival sponsored by Cartwright Hands was a great success with a range of local beers, ciders and food available.

Guests enjoyed entertainment from Coventry Morris dancers and James Edgar Music.

The event raised ÂŁ1,340 to support our work protecting Warwickshire's wildlife.

Jo Hands Fundraising and Events Officer 024 7630 2912 jo.hands@wkwt.org.uk

Nature Schools update

Since the announcement of the General Election in April the application process for new free schools has been put on hold, meaning the opportunities to take nature schools forward, which we were expecting in Spring and Autumn, never materialised.

We wait for further announcements but in the meantime the consortium behind this initiative have responded to a call by Devon County Council with a proposal for a nature school in Okehampton.

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www.natureschools.org.uk

BUSINESS NEWS

Wild Work Days

Team days that makes a difference in the local community!

The good weather we experienced bought out local business in their droves this summer! We’ve been inundated with support from local businesses keen to help out on our nature reserves around Warwickshire. Wild Work Days are designed specifically with businesses in mind! This is team building with a difference, whilst simultaneously benefiting local wildlife and the community too.

Siemens

Severn Trent staff have assisted us with river improvements, including helping the watervole recovery in North Warwickshire and plug planting with the Tame Valley Wetlands project.

National Grid

St. Michael’s Hospital A team from Warwick continued the work completed by Cadent Gas and have completed more path improvements around the reserve! Big thank you from us and the Brandon Marsh Conservation volunteers!

Jaguar Land Rover

Is your business is interested in a Wild Work Day with the Trust this winter?

Contact Faye Irvine for more information.

Volunteers from JLR helped to remove invasive species from Tasker's Meadow and re-laid woodchip in our Mouse Manor, giving the children’s area at Brandon Marsh a real boost.

Cadent Gas

Staff from Cadent Gas joined the Brandon Marsh Conservation Volunteers to restore a number of footpaths at Brandon Marsh.

The team put in a fantastic effort and the new path will improve access around the reserve.

LM

The environment team created a fantastic natural amphitheatre at The Parkridge Centre, perfect for all the kids who use the reserve.

Faye Irvine Wildlife Engagement Officer 024 7630 2912 faye.irvine@wkwt.org.uk

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Photo © 2017 Tracey Doherty (WWT)

We welcomed two teams from National Grid this summer.

The first team did a fantastic job re-vamping one of the bird hides at Ufton Fields. Team two removed a staggering amount of invasive ragwort from Bubbenhall Meadow!

Photo © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT)

We hope to have worked with 100 Severn Trent employees by the end of the year, giving 440 volunteer hours and creating 3,000 meters of river improvements!

A team from Siemens helped our reserves team give Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre little TLC by repainting all our picnic benches and flower pots. They also cleared nettles and bramble from our Orchard.

Photo © 2017 Joe Stuart (WWT)

Severn Trent

MEMBERSHIP

Christmas shopping sorted!

A gift membership of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a gift that any nature lover would be thrilled to receive this Christmas.

A whole year’s worth of wildlife enjoyment from crisp winter walks to the sights and smells of summer at one of our beautiful nature reserves.

Membership of your local Wildlife Trust is the perfect gift for that special someone to enjoy.

We are also offering half price species adoptions with all gift memberships purchased in time for Christmas.

Half Price Adopt a Species with any gift membership

Gift Memberships

start from just £36 for adults and £19 for Children.

Why not inspire the little ones in your family to get close to nature too, with a Wildlife WATCH gift membership? Benefits of Wildlife WATCH membership include a starter pack, magazines and four free educational activities throughout the year, which include den building, pond dipping, Nature Tots and Nature Babies. You get all this and much more for just £19 for the entire year!

Order online today Visit www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/ membership or call our membership team on 024 7630 8972. Also available to purchase at our Visitor Centres.

Buy a gift membership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in time for Christmas and take advantage of this fantastic reader offer.

Choose a species adoption for half the price!!!

Only £12.50 with offer code – DUOGIFT17.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, please call our membership team on 024 7630 8972. This offer is only available by speaking to one of our membership team or at our visitor centres.

This offer is not available via our web site.

Please place your order by 5pm on Friday 15th December 2017 for delivery in time for Christmas.

Terms and conditions. Gift memberships can be purchased for any non-member of the Trust. Payment by cash, cheque or annual direct debit only. To receive this offer, you must purchase the gift membership and species adoption by calling the membership team on 024 7630 8972 or speak to a member of staff at Brandon Marsh or Parkridge Centre reception quoting DUOGIFT17. Please order by 5pm on Friday 15th December for delivery in time for Christmas. Gift memberships and species adoptions will be sent directly to the payer. Multiple purchases available. Choice of five species to adopt, whilst stocks last. Limited reader only offer available until 15/12/2017.

Raise funds while Christmas Shopping Easy Fundraising is an online scheme that doesn't cost you a penny but can raise vital funds to suppprt the work of the Trust.

Register online at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/wkwt, download and install the donation reminder software to your computer and click the 'activate donations' button before you check out when shopping online.

Teemill Store We also have a fabulous range of organic t-shirts and jumpers for sale via our Teemill Store.

All items are made using organic fabrics in an ecofactory and the Trust receives a donation for every item sold. warwickshirewildlifetrust.teemill.co.uk

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MEMBERSHIP

A thank you to our members As the evenings are drawing in, and small creatures are asleep, we can look back over 2017 and be rightly proud of our many achievements. The Trust has worked extremely hard to protect and preserve the wildlife and wild places of our region, and this has only been possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

We recently asked our members to continue to help us by increasing their donation by an amount they could afford, and we have been overwhelmed by the response.

We are also thankful to so many of our members who were able to increase their regular subscription rates, resulting in an increase of £5,551.84* annual membership income, all of which will help us to deliver our ambitious plans to provide space for nature, to be enjoyed by people today and for many generations to come.

We are delighted to announce that, to date, we have received £3,582* in one-off donations, which is a fabulous amount and will help us to train staff and volunteers, and supply tools and equipment, all in aid of reserve maintenance and habitat protection. * Amounts correct to 03/11/2017

Photo © 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT)

Thank you so very, very much for your ongoing and generous support. We couldn’t do it without you!

Your membership subscription helps us to maintain 65 nature reserves in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, safeguarding them for wildlife and for the future – thank you.

The alternative works Christmas Party!

Fed up with the same old Christmas Party?

Fancy doing something a bit different with your colleagues this Christmas?

During November and December we will be hosting alternative Christmas parties at our flagship reserve, Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, CV3 3GW (close to Birmingham, Coventry, Rugby and Leamington Spa). £399 +VAT (inc. team leader, PPE, tools, materials and refreshments).

A lunch of Baked Potatoes and choice of two fillings (beans and/or cheese) cooked on a campfire can be provided for an additional cost of £150 +VAT. Lunch will be enjoyed as a team.

Interested? Speak to Faye Irvine, Wildlife Engagement Officer 024 7630 2912 faye.irvine@wkwt.org.uk

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TRUST NEWS

New trustees Frank Almond Frank was born and brought up in the countryside, when the natural environment was very different to that which we see today, and nature has been a constant backdrop to his interests and much of his professional life. That professional life started as a Chemical Engineer in the steel and petrochemical industries, before moving into small enterprise creation, overseas development, conservation and the environment. More recently, Frank has been a sustainable development consultant working with businesses, overseas governments and nongovernmental agencies.

Frank has seen at first-hand how resilient nature is, and how it can bounce back given the right habitat and conditions. The Trust gives nature that chance, through its reserves and its wider outreach.

Geoff Litterick

Susan Juned Susan was raised on a farm and qualified first as an ecologist, then as a botanist studying the wild relatives of our crop plants and their response to changing climates.

Her career has spanned research and policy development, resource management, sustainable development and renewable energy. She was responsible for the setting up of both an energy efficiency advice centre and a centre of excellence for local authorities delivering commercial waste recycling. She has recently retired from a small consultancy company.

Susan hopes that she can now use her time and expertise to support the diversity and biodiversity of Warwickshire’s wildlife and countryside.

Duncan McCardle

Geoff has had considerable involvement with the Trust as member and volunteer. He has been a Voluntary Work Party Leader on Kenilworth Reserves for ten years and has recently taken on a similar role at Bubbenhall Meadow and Wood.

He would like to build on this by representing the volunteers on the Trust.

Duncan enjoys the wonderful countryside we have in our region and by having the Trust's Parkridge centre on his doorstep, has witnessed the amazing work the Trust does for the area. He has been a Trust member for over ten years. Becoming a Trustee allows him the opportunity to directly contribute to its further development.

Professionally Geoff can bring advice on business planning and investment appraisal. He is a qualified accountant who spent most of his working life in the water industry in senior positions at SevernTrent Water and the Environment Agency.

As a strategy director, he helps organisations grow and develop. He has worked in the environmental, utilities and construction sectors and currently for a financial services company.

For the past ten years he has coordinated the local WaterAid support group of WaterAid which promotes awareness of and raises funds for the charity.

36 24

Duncan's lifelong passion is the natural world and he is driven by a sense of urgency and need to help more people understand its value. Helping the Trust to develop is a great opportunity for him to enable more people to positively engage with, and enhance, Warwickshire’s wildlife.

TRUST NEWS

New staff Laurence Wilbraham Laurence responded to the advert in the summer magazine which invited applications for Trustees from people with particular experience of, amongst other things, town planning. Laurence's career in planning has spanned over three decades and he has worked in both the public and private sectors.

The majority of his work has been in the preparation and negotiation of planning applications, and the legal agreements which often run in parallel, for a wide variety of developments including housing, industrial and leisure projects.

Laurence has also been a member of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust for many years and becoming a Trustee will enable him to use his knowledge of the planning system to enhance the Trust's role in responding to planning applications and both safeguarding existing habitats and creating new ones as part of new development.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Board of Trustees October 2017

Crishni Waring - Chair Frank Almond Helen Brittain Michael Bunney Andrew Gabbitas Luke Hamer Ron Hill Susan Juned Geoff Litterick Duncan McCardle John McKenzie Martin Randall Kay Reeve Laurence Wilbraham

www.warwickshirewildlifetrust. org.uk/trustees

Joanne Swain

Director of Marketing and Fundraising 024 7630 2912 joanne.swain@wkwt.org.uk

Joanne joined in June this year as Director of Marketing and Fundraising. She heads up the team delivering membership engagement, fundraising, events, visitor centre experience and marketing communications.

She brings with her a background in consumer research, business strategy and marketing, spanning over 16 years. Before joining the Trust, she was Marketing Manager for Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust, a local charitable organisation supporting the local community.

Her most precious 'wild life' memory is walking in Crackly Wood in the springtime with her grandparents to marvel at the carpet of bluebells.

She now visits the wood every May to remember her loved ones who inspired her love for Warwickshire's wildlife.

Thanks Steve!

We bid a fond fair well to Steve Batt, long term volunteer and ex Trustee of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Steve is moving to Cornwall and everyone at the Trust would like to thank him generously for his enthusiasm, help, dedication and the hundreds of hours of brush cutting at Ashlawn Cutting in Rugby and at many other Trust nature reserves.

His passion for wildlife and dedication as a volunteer will be sorely missed.

We are in no doubt that Steve’s commitment to nature will continue once he has settled in to his new home in Cornwall. We wish him all the best for the future.

Steve Batt at Ashlawn Cutting Š 2017 Steven Cheshire (WWT)

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COMMUNITY

Quinton Pool in 2017 Š 2017 Bill Sutton.

Memories of Quinton Pool Quinton Pool is a picturesque stretch of water containing an artificial island set amongst gently sloping mowed grass planted with trees. Swans, gulls, pigeons, duck coots, moorhens and large flocks of Canada geese make the pool their home.

Early maps show a cottage complete with boathouse on the north shore and a sheep dip near the outflow which runs into the River Sherbourne.

The surrounding land was all farmed until construction of the surrounding housing estate began in the 1930s.

When I was a child in the 1950s the pool was surrounded by trees, bushes and brambles. Some land had been cultivated in the dig for victory campaign during WW2, but had reverted back to nature. Skylarks sang above the

grassland in summer and a badger made its sett under a bush by an old stone lane.

Blackbirds, thrushes, wrens and finches nested in carefully hidden locations.

A clear spring bubbled out of the sandy ground near Cecily Road and we often quenched our thirst with the cool water. Swans often nested on the pool but with limited success but we never saw any Canada geese.

A concrete platform at the head of the pool was used by fire engines to fill their water tanks during the war and this was an ideal spot for catching tadpoles with our nets made from old net curtains and a bamboo cane. Frogs spawned in their thousands, but the pool also contained leaches, water snails, beetles, dragonfly larvae and

numerous other creatures.

The land between the pool and Daventry Road is now carefully mowed grassland, but in the 1950s the pool was a jungle of willows and reeds.

In summer the area burst into life. Dragonflies patrolled over the water, moorhens nested in the reeds and warblers could be heard calling. We even heard cuckoos calling.

When I stand and look at Quinton Pool today I understand that in our carefully manicured environment things will change, but my memories of this place will always be precious to me.

Bill Sutton Warwickshire Wildlife Trust member

I consider myself lucky to be born just after the war to parents who encouraged us to enjoy the countryside and educate us in the ways of nature. This created an interest that has stayed with me throughout my life. We explored many of the woods which are now trust nature reserves long before they were protected.

Bill Sutton, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Member

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REGIONAL NEWS

Badger cull can’t be justified In September, the Wildlife Trusts called on the UK government to make the development of a cattle vaccine a top priority to tackle Bovine Tuberculosis.

As a fresh wave of badger culling in now underway over a much wider area than in previous years, The Wildlife Trusts are calling on the Government to stop the cull as this approach will not eradicate Bovine TB in cattle.

Badger culls have been given the go-ahead in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire and Somerset. Almost 15,000 badgers have been killed since culls began in 2013[1]. The Wildlife Trusts are concerned that culling is putting local populations of badgers at risk and are urging Natural England to publish the information they hold on the impact of the badger cull on the wider environment[2].

The Wildlife Trusts believe that vaccination of badgers is a more humane and effective solution to helping stop the spread of bTB than culling. A shortage of BCG vaccine put a temporary halt to badger vaccination in 2016 and Defra did not find alternatives.

But this year some Wildlife Trusts sourced vaccine independently these Wildlife Trusts are now recommencing badger vaccination.

It costs a Wildlife Trust just £82 to vaccinate an animal, compared to the cull which cost £6,785 per badger between 2012-2014[3].

More information about the badger cull is available here www.wildlifetrusts.org/ badgers.

The Government spent almost £450,000 on communications equipment alone to support the culls between 2016-2017[4], money that could have been invested in cattle vaccine research or to vaccinate nearly 5,500 badgers.

Warwickshire Badger Group A web site packed full of information with an extensive downloads section, the group also record and monitor badger setts across our region. www.warwickshirebadgergroup.co.uk

We work closely with many farmers and we recognise the pain and hardship of those whose cattle herds have been devastated by bovine tuberculosis (bTB), but killing badgers will not solve the problem. Badgers are not the primary cause of the spread of bTB in cattle: the primary route of infection is cattle-to-cattle contact [5]. The Government's badger cull is flying in the face of science.

Stephen Trotter, Wildlife Trust's Director for England Three young badgers outside their den © 2017 Shutterstock.

These figures are available on the Gov.uk website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/bovine-tuberculosis-bovine-tb The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ruled that Natural England must release this information or face the High Court.

[3] These figures were provided in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, available in full on the Gov.uk website.

[4] The Government publishes all spending over £25,000 here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/financial-transactions-data-defra.

[5] Carter et al., 2012. BCG Vaccination Reduces Risk of Tuberculosis Infection in Vaccinated Badgers and Unvaccinated Badger Cubs.

[1] [2]

39 27

NATIONAL NEWS

The stuff of life Unsustainable farming practices are pushing our soils to the edge.

Agronomist Caroline Corsie explains why we need to save this precious resource.

It may not look like much, but soil is one of the most important substances on earth.

The quality of soil underpins society – how we grow food, how water is stored and moved through the landscape, and how carbon is locked up. It’s the foundation of life on earth and we all depend on healthy soils to survive. Civilisations have risen and fallen because of the quality of their soils.

Increased carbon emissions, increased flood risk and reduced water quality are having an impact on homes and businesses, not to mention the thousands of species of plants and animals in the UK that rely on rich, healthy soils.

Soil is made from lots of ingredients blended together in a complex recipe. Minerals come from bedrock beneath the surface breaking down, creating soils from below. Organic matter from plants and animals decays on the planet’s surface, feeding soils from above. About half of

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What farmers can do now?

The Wildlife Trusts work with thousands of farmers each year. The best farmers work hard to look after their soils, working with our microscopic allies, bacteria and fungi. Good soil management on arable soil is made up of air. The space this creates provides paths for water, roots and crucial habitats for wildlife.

Pull up a handful of soil, and you’ll notice it feels cool and wet. Most soil creatures need this liquid to live in and move through, and thrive in this dark, damp environment. And there are a lot of them: at least a quarter of the Earth’s biodiversity can be found in the soil. These life forms – from fungi to earthworms – form intricate networks beneath our feet, and play their part in keeping soils healthy. Interplays between organisms form a complex web which fertilises our crops and plants.

But across the UK, the quality of our soils is declining. Healthy soils are fundamental to our society, and estimates put the cost of soil degradation in the UK as high as £1.4 billion per year. Some of our most productive arable land is at risk of becoming unprofitable within a generation due to the loss of soil organic carbon.

farms really helps to increase soil organic matter and reduce soil compaction and erosion.

This includes: »»

»»

»»

Planting ‘catch-cover’ crops to keep the soil covered up Replacing artificial fertilisers with natural organic matter (poo!)

Ploughing less often or stopping tillage altogether

Modern agricultural systems are exhausting our lowland soils, stripping them of their organic matter and natural nutrients.

Some farmers are totally reliant on fertilisers to grow crops, along with high levels of pesticides.

Nutrients aren’t being fed back into soils, and this (alongside regular tillage) is damaging soil structure. This in turn can’t support bacteria, fungi and invertebrates – the powerhouse supporting other wildlife up the food chain.

In the uplands, soils are suffering from compaction. When livestock numbers are too high, or pressures from feet and traffic too continual, soils become hard.

The ground can’t absorb rainfall, so water pours off the hillsides.

As well as causing flooding downstream, the runoff gets into water supplies, literally muddying the waters and taking with it vital nutrients needed to keep the soil healthy.

Our soils are also releasing their carbon stores. Peatlands are one of our most important and

NATIONAL NEWS Ploughed field © 2017 Erica Olsen (FLPA)

er A quart rth n ea of life o

ilience and res es y it il t r e ecad Soil f p over d rough builds u th illennia, m n tween e v e or ions be t c a r e t of in ungi. billions ts and f re n la p , ls es he anima e schem that e r h t e h t T to reboo t p m e t t a . process

endangered habitats, covering 12% of the UK. Not only do they support unique wildlife, but the formation of peat by sphagnum mosses captures and stores carbon, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. In the last 10,000 years, UK peatlands have locked up around 5.5 billion tonnes of carbon. And yet, 80% of our peatlands are in a poor condition because they’ve been drained of water or damaged by extraction over several centuries.

We have a huge job to undertake in restoring our soils, for people and wildlife. Luckily, there’s plenty we can all do to reverse this downward trend.

Caroline Corsie Agronomist and Farm Manager Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Time to plan far ahead In turbulent times wildlife can bring great solace.

World politics spins around us at an unprecedented pace, but even in winter there is joy and beauty to be found in nature. It may take more determination to get out of the house as the days draw in, but there will certainly be a Wildlife Trust nature reserve very close to you and perhaps a Wildlife Trust café with welcoming people and a fabulous view.

For some people it is very hard to get to see wildlife, but we believe that no-one should be deprived of that opportunity. We have projects up and down the UK helping to break down the barriers to people’s contact with the natural world.

Your support is helping us do this, and also means we can stand up for wildlife so that it can thrive in town and country and at sea. And recently we have had some great successes across the Wildlife Trust movement: saving Lodge Hill’s nightingales from housing development in Kent; bringing beavers back to Scotland, Kent and the West Country; and ensuring more kids than ever have a chance to take part in forest schools.

Everything we do is much easier to achieve if we have the certainty of strong legal protection for our most precious wildlife sites and tight rules about pollution. As the UK leaves the European Union, we need to make sure we retain high levels of protection and set the right direction for farming and fisheries. It is a big ask, and even then it won’t be enough. We

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will need new ambition if the country is going to look and feel and sound as we would all love it to in 25 years’ time. We will need a new Act of Parliament that provides the framework for restoring our damaged ecosystems, bringing wildlife into our towns and cities, and allowing an abundance of wildlife to return to our seas. Please support our campaign for a new Environment Act.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive The Wildlife Trusts @stephhilborne

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NATIONAL NEWS

An act for nature The Wildlife Trusts are calling for an Environment Act: an ambitious piece of framework legislation that would give our wildlife and wild places a unique opportunity to recover.

Overlooking Amwell Reserve © 2017 Matthew Roberts

Imagine taking a train journey through the countryside in 25 years’ time. From the window, you see red kites gliding across beautiful farmland and woods.

Bees are buzzing in the vibrant field margins and thriving hedgerows.

You whizz past a vast wetland teeming with egrets, herons and, although you don’t see them, water voles. There are no stories about flooding in the news – the recent heavy rainfall has been locked into the landscape, caught upstream.

Last week, when you went to the seaside on holiday, the beach was pristine: no plastic bottles, rockpools full of life. Seabirds were fishing just offshore. The fish’n’chip shop was doing a roaring trade selling local catch – since the seas have been recovering, both people and

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wildlife have benefited. Whales, dolphins, vast shoals of tuna – they’re a regular occurrence now.

When you arrive in the bustling city, the air you breathe is just as clean as it is in the countryside.

Above the urban hubbub, blackbirds, robins and dunnocks are singing loudly. You stroll over a river: earlier this morning, an otter swam beneath this bridge, a fat brown trout in its mouth.

In a park across the street, schoolchildren are having a lesson in the shade of the trees.

They look happy and focused.

This doesn’t have to be a dream.

We have a chance to act now, together, and give wildlife a real chance to recover. If we’re ambitious enough, we really could be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it.

A wildlife-rich world is important for its own sake, but we also know it is the foundation of our society and economy. Ultimately everything we eat and drink; the air we breathe; our fuel, clothes and shelter derives from the natural world. So does everything we value: our health, wellbeing and possessions.

Yet, we have taken it for granted; mined the natural world mercilessly. Isn’t it time for us to enter a new era in our relationship with nature?

Acts of Parliament are an expression of what a nation values. Acts have ushered in healthcare and education for all, and made us safer in the workplace. The 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act and its successors protected some vital rich wildlife sites. But we know

NATIONAL NEWS

What can you do?

ould be k there sh If you thin r lives, re in all ou tu a n re o m ur MP and write to yo now. let them k ils are on All the deta sts.org/ wildlifetru tact en environm

Everything we value derives from nature

this is not enough, and soon we won’t have the safety net of the EU courts either.

The UK and each country within it needs visionary legislation that explicitly aims for nature’s recovery on land and at sea. Only Governments can ensure there is a long-term framework that puts nature back into our landscapes, townscapes and society.

We all deserve a world-class environment: clean air, clear water, a stable climate, healthy seas and thriving wildlife in the places we love. So do future generations. If we all make enough noise, and explain this is what we want, it can happen.

What would it look like?

An Environment Act to: »»

»»

Set ambitious, measurable, long term aims for nature’s recovery Establish the key environmental principles that should guide decisions at every level including the principle of access to nature

Restore nature

Set limits

»» Make sure vital wildlife sites are protected on land and at sea »» Set plans for expanding and joining up habitats »» Map out where new habitats should be established

»» Control emissions and discharges of pollutants »» Minimise use of natural resources like water and sand »» Restore the health of our soils in hills and floodplains

So that there is:

»» Air and water is clean and our soils high quality »» Future generations can grow food »» Heavy rainfall causes less flooding

»» A greater diversity and abundance of wildlife everywhere »» More wildlife-rich woods, meadows & wetlands »» More thriving seagrass beds and reefs at sea

So that:

Achieved with »» »» »» »»

■ Highly effective regulators ■ Serious investment from both private and public sectors ■ Financial incentives for environmental benefits ■ Evidence-based, tailored advice and guidance

Checked by Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive The Wildlife Trusts @stephhilborne

»» »» »» »»

■ Airtight accountability and transparency ■ Regular monitoring of progress towards targets ■ Appropriate penalties ■ Access to environmental justice through the courts

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one Adopt me or s? of my friend

Adopt a Species this Christmas The perfect gift for friends and family

Five species to choose from available in adult and child versions.

Adopt a Species this Christmas, the perfect gift for a loved one who loves wildlife.

Each adoption includes a cuddly version of the species chosen (even the grown-ups get one too), an adoption certificate, pin badge, fact sheet and updates during the year.

Species include hedgehog, badger, peregrine falcon, owl and bat.

Order online today Visit www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/speciesadoption or call our membership team on 024 7630 8972. You can also purchase adopt a species packs at our shop at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve or the Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park, Solihull.

Adop t a Sp ecies just

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