Warwickshire
Transcription
Warwickshire
Warwickshire The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Summer 2009 wild Issue 132 In this issue... An Introduction to Area Groups Planting for Pollinators Species Focus Butterflies and Bees Reserve Focus on Brook Meadow Protecting Wildlife for the Future Us and Wildlife Contents Despite the continuing popularity of wildlife programmes on the television, their newsrooms still tend to focus on wildlife as the ‘cuddly animal’ story at the end of the news. It is as if wildlife were that ‘optional extra’ rather than having direct value to our lives. 02 Cars and Wildlife - Andy Tasker 03 An Introduction to Area Groups News in Brief 04 Brueton Park and Smith’s Wood Heritage Projects 05 Parkridge Centre Goes Wild Forest Schools 2 years on 06 Membership on the Increase Hello to… Andy Tasker 07 New Project Partnership Many Thanks Darren Chief Executive Warwickshire Wildlife Trust 08 Sowe Valley Project 10 A Room With A View 11 Your Questions Answered Features 12 Species Focus - Butterflies and Bumblebees 14 Reserve Focus on Brook Meadow 16 Planting for Pollinators 18 Corporate Business Cover photo: www.istockphoto.com We welcome articles and photographs for future editions - please send your contributions to Pip Vigor, the Editor at the Trust address. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a registered charity (Number 209200) and a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, Number 585247. Warwickshire Wildlife Magazine is produced three times a year for Trust Members. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Trust. Warwickshire Wildlife Magazine is produced on FSC stock, using vegetable based inks. Advertising: Vera Brown, Telephone: 024 7630 2912 Email: [email protected] Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Brandon Marsh Nature Centre Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW Telephone: 024 7630 2912 Fax: 024 7663 9556 Email: [email protected] Web: www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Parkridge Centre Brueton Park, Solihull B91 3EN Telephone: 0121 704 0768 This issue was highlighted by Prince Charles the other day, in his Dimbleby Lecture on BBC1. As national patron of The Wildlife Trusts, it was good to hear him saying the things he did. Firstly he made clear the connection between the maintenance of the world’s natural ecosystems and the economic well-being of nations: "We are standing at a moment of substantial transition where we face the dual challenges of a world view and an economic system that seem to have enormous shortcomings, together with an environmental crisis - including that of climate change - which threatens to engulf us all.” More importantly, he added: “We must remember that the ultimate source of all economic capital is Nature's capital. The true wealth of all nations comes from clean rivers, healthy soil and, most importantly of all, a rich biodiversity of life.” So if we all depend on the natural world, how come we’ve all forgotten the links? And how should we think differently about our own impacts on the world? For most of us, driving is our biggest controllable impact on the environment, adding to CO2 emissions for each mile that we drive. We know that if CO2 levels continue to rise at their current rates, average temperatures will keep rising, which will impact on the planet, on wildlife – and on us. So the more all of us can do to reduce emissions from all sources, the better our future will be. The good news is that average new car emissions in the UK fell by 4.5% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2008, to reach a new low of 153.9g CO2/km. And there are now lots of new cars available with CO2 levels around 100g/km. So a further question is for how long we can continue to equate ‘luxury’ in cars with big fast vehicles that use two, three or four times more fuel than they need to. And then why do we decide to buy them, knowing that they are contributing to a faster finish for us all? The answer, as the Prince put it, is that we are “at an historic moment - because we face a future where there is a real prospect that if we fail the Earth, we fail humanity. To avoid such an outcome, which will comprehensively destroy our children's future, we must urgently confront and then make choices which carry monumental implications.” Somehow we need to change our thinking about what we want, and add an environmental component into the mix. We need to make the links between our choices and the future for both wildlife and ourselves. And part of the Trust’s role is to make the connections between wildlife and our lives, so it’s not just the ‘cuddly animal’ stories at the end of the news. Andy Tasker Design and Production Rapport Design www.rapport-design.com Printed by Centreprint UK Ltd. www.centre-print.co.uk You can hear extracts from Prince Charles’ speech at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8141490.stm 02 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust An Introduction to Area Groups We currently have four local groups across the county, made up of dedicated volunteers who highlight local issues, raise awareness at local events, raise funds and organise a variety of popular events and talks on behalf of the Trust in their local area. Volunteers at Cock Robin Wood Stratford Area Group Stratford Area Group has been organising monthly wildlife based talks in Stratford upon Avon for over 25 years. Talks are held once a month in the Annex to the Methodist Hall, Old Town from October through to March. Members of the group are also involved with the management of two local Trust nature reserves: Hampton Wood where volunteers meet every Sunday and Snitterfield Bushes where they meet most Saturdays to carry out a range of habitat management tasks. The Rugby Group Rugby Area Group mainly focuses on practical conservation and in recent times have been lucky enough to gain a healthy number of new volunteers. They are always eager for more hands to help achieve even more for nature conservation and provide the opportunity for the local community to enjoy it to the full. They work closely with our friends and colleagues from Butterfly Conservation to ensure a harmonised and balanced approach. Rugby Area Group carry out much of their work at Ashlawn Cutting (also known as Great Central Walk) where they strive to keep the grasslands open for the benefit of much wildlife including wildflowers, butterflies and moths. Work parties venture out on Sunday mornings between October and May. Work is also carried out at Newbold Quarry and the Malpass site by the cement works. Activities include brush cutting, raking and clearing, controlling the scrub and trees and removing the leaf litter to help the wildflowers flourish. They have recently been lucky enough to obtain a grant to open up more grassland and will certainly need new volunteers to lend a hand. Recently Derek Lill has also set up a group to focus on Cock Robin Wood and they have carried out various tasks to tidy up the woodland, to encourage wildlife but discourage some of the anti-social behaviour it had become renowned for, with marked success. This group meets on Monday at 10.00 a.m. Contact Derek Lill on 01788 521069 or e-mail. Solihull Area Group Solihull Area Group organise a varied programme of activities throughout the year. For some, the most interesting place to start would be to attend one of their many illustrated talks which are held at the Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, Solihull. For those of you interested in guided walks, Solihull Area Group works with Solihull Park Rangers to deliver guided walks around Brueton Park. For the more active, Volunteer Wardens Ron Hill and John Clarke regularly hold work parties at Clowes Wood and Temple Balsall nature reserves; carrying out a variety of habitat management tasks on the reserves on Sundays. The group also organises the delivery of the Trust’s magazines throughout Solihull with its team of volunteers. Sutton Coldfield Area Group Sutton Coldfield Area Group holds a number of talks from October through to March at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church Hall, Sutton Coldfield. They also organise a number of guided walks and visits to a variety of locations throughout the year with previous excursions including a visit to Ladywalk Reservoir and bird ringing demonstrations in Sutton Park. All local groups are run by much valued volunteers. New members are always welcome, so why not find out how you can get more involved by contacting your Local Area Group representative? If you would like more information on up coming events please see our event guide for details. Rugby Area: Phil Parr – Telephone 01788 578272 Solihull Area: Anne Adams – Telephone 0121 743 5288 Stratford Area: Chris Ivin - Telephone 01608 685695 Sutton Coldfield Area: Harvey Skelcher – Telephone 0121 605 9823 If you are interested in an area not listed, please contact Amanda Henshaw at the Trust office. www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 03 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk News in Brief All photos by Ben Mochrie Brueton Park and Smith’s Wood Heritage Projects Young people from Solihull are taking part in the Brueton Park and Smith’s Wood Heritage Projects. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, working in partnership with Solihull schools and youth groups, has secured funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund and Solihull Partnership to enable us to offer the projects to young people of Solihull. The aim is to encourage young people to research the heritage and natural history of Brueton Park and Smith’s Wood nature reserves, documenting and recording their findings through a variety of digital media. Groups are also involved with practical conservation tasks at the sites, all of which are to be recorded. The film footage, audio recordings and photographs will be used to create short documentary films for display in schools, Solihull Central Library and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust visitor centres. Participants are also able to take part in the Arts Award and John Muir Conservation Award to gain some recognised accreditation for their work. involved in the project. With the help of Youth Engagement Officer Ben Mochrie and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s Local Nature Reserves Officer, Gary Farmer, they have planted a new native hedgerow in Brueton Park’s grassland reserve. As part of their personal development programme, year 10 pupils from Forest Oak School have taken part in the project, working with hazel in Smith’s Wood and on their school site to create pea and bean poles for their newly planted allotment. The group also built an invertebrate habitat at the Parkridge Centre and completed the John Muir Award at Explorer Level. The projects are ongoing and open to young people between the ages of 13 and 19 from Solihull, so why not get in touch with Ben on 0121 704 0768 if you would like to take part? A group of year 9 and 10 pupils from Alderbrook School are currently 04 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Parkridge Centre Goes Wild in the Garden Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has been awarded £1000 from SITA Greenprints to create a wildflower meadow and wildlife garden within the grounds of our Parkridge Centre with young people aged 13 – 19 years. The meadow and garden will attract butterflies, moths, bees and other insects, as well as increasing the availability of food for birds. Increasing the floral biodiversity within the park will directly support and enhance the diversity and abundance of wildlife at the Centre. The area will be made available to schools and during school holidays, workshops will be run to increase people’s appreciation for, and understanding of the natural environment and wildlife. As a result, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will be encouraged to behave in a more responsible, sustainable way in the future, perhaps even inspiring them to apply what they have learnt in their own gardens. NOTICES Food & Farming Fair CANCELLED Sunday 13th September WWT Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is with great regret that we have had to cancel the Food and Farming Fair this year. The site at Parkridge Centre where the garden will be created Forest Schools Two Years On The Forest School project has just reached the end of the second year of a three year funded project. It aims to train teachers and educational professionals from Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull to become Forest School leaders and run their own programmes of outdoor learning. WWT The project had an initial target to train 90 teachers - a tall order for a level 3 training course (A-level equivalent) which takes 9 months to complete. To date, the Forest School team have successfully trained 68 people and supported them through their qualification. The training has been well received and so far, students have attained a fantastic 100% pass rate. Senior Forest School Coordinator, Sarah Klaes said; “We are very proud to support new Forest School practitioners as they develop their own sites and take their first steps towards some serious outdoor education. It is a privilege to see how much people grow and blossom as they get a taste for helping children to learn about our natural environment”. This leaves only 22 people to train in the final year of the project before reaching our target! www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 05 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk News in Brief Membership on the Increase Despite the economic uncertainty, the Trust is both relieved and delighted to report that membership is still climbing. A fantastic 2,819 new members have joined this year to date which means we are only just short of a staggering 22,000 members. ever and we are immensely thankful to all our members for supporting Warwickshire Wildlife Trust through this difficult period. Because of you – our members - we are able to carry on with vital work across the county, ensuring that, despite the downturn, Warwickshire’s wildlife can and will continue to flourish. Quite simply – Thank you. At times like these charities need the support of their members more than Dave Payne Undoubtedly one of the first things we all did at the start of 2009 was to look at ways to tighten our belts, and unfortunately charities are the first to feel the effects of economic constraints as supporters cancel memberships and donations. Sadly, environmental charities have historically been the ones hit hardest. Although the Trust has indeed experienced an increase in members resigning, and a decline in general donations, the continuing stream of new members joining us more than makes up for this. Hello to… Jenny Lee Hi, I’m Jenny Lee and I’m the new WildPlay Co-ordinator. I studied for a degree in business and leisure at Manchester Metropolitan University. Once graduated, I went to live and travel around Australia for a year, doing voluntary conservation work around the State of Victoria. I then went on to work for First Choice, as a holiday rep based in Europe where I organised fun, exciting activities for children and families. After three seasons, I settled back in the UK and began an events organiser role. I started volunteering with BTCV and the Wildlife Trust’s education team, based in Brandon. Whilst volunteering, I discovered WildPlay and felt very passionate about the project. I am very excited to be involved in the project. Tim Haselden Hi, I’m Tim Haselden and I’m the new Wetlands Living Landscape Officer. I joined the Living Landscapes team from Solihull Council where I worked as a Park Ranger and also in environmental management. This role included habitat management, working with volunteers and the community, and delivering events, education and general park improvements. My new role here will encompass wetland projects around the area and at a landscape scale, whilst also focusing on community development and reserve management in North Warwickshire - all with the aim of getting local people, landowners and organisations involved in helping wetland conservation and wildlife in general. 06 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Nicola Perryman I recently joined the Wildplay team as a part-time WildPlay Ranger. I have been running outdoor activities in various schools and parks including painting with mud and lots of wildlife games. It is great to help children enjoy themselves and keep active out of doors, in a safe environment. Before moving to Warwickshire last year, I lived in Kent and worked as an Education Tutor with Kent Wildlife Trust. I love being outside whenever possible and at home I am trying to grow lots of fruit and vegetables in my garden. Also, my son has dug me a big pond and in just a few months it is already full of life! New Project Partnership Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is working on a new and exciting project in partnership with Bishops Itchington Parish Council. The Yellow Land Natural Heritage Project will be developing an acre of land in Bishops Itchington into a wildlife and conservation area thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The primary focus of the project will be to encourage local people to become more aware of the wildlife and wild places on their doorsteps. alongside local schools where a programme of children’s activities will be run. Oral history recordings of local people’s memories of the site will be documented and interpretation boards and leaflets will be produced. The project will take approximately eighteen months to complete and recruitment of a Project Officer is underway. Work will begin in earnest towards the end of July so keep your eyes peeled for more details once it is underway. Working alongside the Trust, the Parish Council is planning a programme of conservation work which will include scrub clearance and wildflower planting. A path and seating will also be installed at the site, enabling the local community to enjoy the scenery further. In edition the project will involve working Izumi Segawa Many Thanks Darren Darren Tipper, from Protec Engineering Services (Bham) Ltd. kindly offered his services for free to help Warwickshire Wildlife Trust deliver a successful community event, building a bird watching feature in Lavender Hall Park, Balsall Common. The park became a public open space in 2000, and it has been improved massively by the local residents, volunteers and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) over the years. The new woodland was planted in 2006 and 2007, through the local residents and The Rotary Club of Meriden, receiving grants from the Big Lottery and private fundraising. This year, the club has been awarded more funding from the Big Lottery to further improve the woodland. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust organised and led a successful community event in July to build a bird feeding enclosure in the park. This was hugely helped by Darren and his colleague Keith Busst, head-starting the project by driving posts into the hard ground on the very hot sunny day. Izumi Segawa, Living Landscapes Officer for Solihull said: “I am very grateful for their generosity, and they have been extremely reliable. They have done a really good job and the local people also had a good time completing the enclosure. Hopefully people will come back to do some bird surveys with us so we can create a bird information board for people and wildlife.” The Trust is currently working in partnership with SMBC to set up a ‘Friends of Lavender Hall Park’ group to encourage local people to get involved and influence what happens in the park. If you are interested in finding out more about the group, please contact Izumi Segawa on 024 7630 2912 or at [email protected] www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 07 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk News in Brief Karen McAree Sowe Valley Project We are delighted to announce that the Trust has secured £211,512 funding for the Sowe Valley Project, from Natural England through Access to Nature as part of the Big Lottery’s Changing Spaces programme. This would not have been possible were it not for the overwhelming generosity of our members who have donated a fantastic £14,263.13 to the Sowe Valley Appeal, which brings the total funding secured for the project to £264,390. The aim of the Sowe Valley project is to engage local people, community groups and schools in a range of activities, training opportunities and events along the river corridor, over a three year period. The project will see increased access to natural spaces to improve health and well-being, increased access to training opportunities for the local community and improved green spaces for people and wildlife. The Trust will work closely with its partner organisations and local people to deliver a range of community events, training, conservation and children’s activities to local people living within the project’s target areas. These activities will be conducted at eight sites and be open to as many members of the public as possible. The sites chosen for the project were established through current plans and strategies for the area, detailed consultation with the local communities and those identified by the Trust’s Conservation Team as having poor habitat quality. Similarly, the activities to be conducted as part of the project were chosen 08 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust following detailed consultation with the local community. The responses to the project from the communities involved were overwhelmingly supportive and the Trust has worked hard to develop a good relationship with all of the communities surrounding the sites. We have incorporated all of the activities the residents wanted to see as part of this project. The Trust believes passionately in the benefits people can gain from increasing their access to natural spaces. This project is an excellent opportunity to help not only communities most in need of the physical, mental and social benefits that nature can provide, but will also aid in improving the habitats and wildlife value of the area for the community, both during the life of the project and long into the future. We are currently in the process of recruiting two new members of staff to deliver the project – a Project Coordinator and a Training and Education Officer. It is intended that staff will be in post from August with a view to the project activities starting in October. In the meantime, if you would like more information about how you can get involved, please contact Claire Cunniffe, the Trust’s Community Manager on 024 7630 8985 or at [email protected]. Karen McAree Eddie Asbery Karen McAree So, thank you once again to those of you who donated to the Sowe Valley Appeal, the project would not be able to take place without you. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bovis Homes, Keepmoat Homes and Westbury Partnerships, Environment Agency and Coventry City Council who are all also donating funds and/or staff time to the project. Trust Nature Reserves in the Sowe Valley. www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 09 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk News in Brief The Trust is currently re-vamping the viewing area adjacent to the tea room at Brandon Marsh to enhance the area for both wildlife and people. The project has been kindly supported by HSBC who have not only provided £5,000 worth of funding, but also donated staff time to improve the area. It was identified that although the viewing area provided excellent opportunities for feeding birds, it lacked suitable provision for insects and other animals. Work started by erecting rabbit proof fencing around the site. This will help protect the wildflowers and plants which are being planted, hopefully preventing them from being nibbled by greedy rabbits. Once established, the plants will provide excellent nectar sources for insects including bees and butterflies. Further improvements to the area will include the installation of insect houses and a wider variety of feeders, additional electronic viewing equipment and habitat enhancement work to the pond later in the year. Why not bring the family along to Brandon Marsh Nature Centre and check out our new viewing area for yourselves! 10 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Sharon Moreton HSBC A Room With A View I have read about the parasite that is threatening honey bees, but didn’t think that bumblebees were affected? No, the good news is that the varroa parasite doesn’t affect bumblebees, which also pollinate many crops, although not as many as the honey bee. Philip Precey Your Questions Answered Bumblebees are however suffering from habitat loss, so the best thing you can do is to plant the flowers that they need in your garden such as traditional cottage garden species (see the article on page 13). Letting your garden go a little ‘wild’ will encourage other wildlife too. You could also provide a nesting box in your garden to encourage them – the shops in our Visitor Centres stock them, but if you fancy making one yourself visit: http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/nest_boxes.htm Did you know? Bees are vegetarian. They derive carbohydrates from nectar and protein from pollen. Wasps are vegetarian as adults but feed their young on insects, spiders and other arthropods. This difference in habit is evident in their shape. Bees have lots of fuzzy hairs to help them collect pollen, wasps are smooth. I noticed in the last issue that you are removing Himalayan Balsam to help water voles, what does it look like? It is the tallest annual plant in Britain. It has hollow, jointed pinkish-red stems which are sappy and brittle. The leaves are shiny, dark green and spear-shaped with a dark red midrib and up to 150 mm long. The flowers which appear between June and October are fragrant, purplish-pink, slipper shaped and held on long stalks. Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera The numerous seeds are widely scattered by an explosive seed capsule, and can travel along water ways into new areas. When the plant dies back in the autumn it leaves bare patches which cause particular problems along riverbanks which then become prone to erosion. It can be seen along the banks of rivers, in wet woodland and on waste ground. Your reserves have grid references like SP 380 769, but I don’t know how that works? The Ordnance Survey has produced a comprehensive step by step guide to reading a grid reference, to view it go to: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/gi/national grid/nationalgrid.pdf. Don’t forget to shop at Brandon ...where every sale saves wildlife – Vine House Farm bird food – Many types of nest boxes – Bird tables and feeders – Greetings cards – Opticron binoculars – Wildlife books …and much more Wildlife Gift Shop, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW Tel: 024 7630 2912 Open: Mon-Fri 9am - 4.30pm | Weekends 10am - 4pm | Credit cards accepted | Plenty of parking www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 11 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Species Focus Butterflies People tend to perceive butterflies in one of two ways; either as ‘those pesky cabbage white’ destroying the valiant efforts of budding ‘Good Life’ gardeners, or preferably, as something with an enigmatic presence in the countryside. Beyond knowing that they start out as caterpillars, most people actually know very little about these wonderful creatures. Comma Polygonia c-album With approximately 60 species found across the UK, Warwickshire is home to an estimated 38 of these butterflies. Unless you have a particularly butterfly friendly garden already, the range of species visiting may be restricted. You may be lucky enough to view some of the more common species found here in Warwickshire such as comma, gatekeeper, orange tip and ringlet. These are able to exploit habitats where there is a good mix of nectar-rich flowers and sunny or sheltered spots to bask. Our gardens can provide vital places for butterflies to feed and lay their legs and turning yours into a butterfly haven couldn’t be simpler (see article on page 17). But what of the unfamiliar species where do they fit in to the picture? These lesser known species tend to be heavily dependent on uncommon food plants and certain types of habitat such as wildflower meadow and woodland. Due to the significant loss of the natural habitat which they rely on, their numbers are declining at an alarming rate, both locally and nationally. Our changing weather patterns also threaten many butterfly species. The wet Peacock Inachis io Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Butterfly images are kindly supplied by one of our members, John Carter. To see more of his wildlife photography go to his website: http://www.john-carter-images.com If you would like to contribute to future Trust publications contact [email protected] summer of 2007 was a disaster for butterfly populations. The summer of 2008 proved even worse; the second poorest on record since monitoring began by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. According to the survey, at least 12 species reached their lowest ever population levels in 2008. Habitat loss and unsympathetic management coupled with two successive wet summers greatly concerns the Trust and butterfly enthusiasts alike, and action must be taken to reverse their decline. This cements the importance of our nature reserves and the habitat enhancement work we carry out across the county and the Trust’s Living Landscape approach will work to address habitat loss, bringing more areas of land under sympathetic management. 12 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Large White Pieris brassicae A great example of this work is reflected in our Princethorpe Woodland Project which focused on improving conditions for the wood white butterfly which depends upon limited food plants and shady woodland edge habitat for their survival. Ryton Wood SSSI is now a beautiful reserve where conditions are perfect for the wood white. The reserve is full of the sights, sounds and smells of summer so why not take a stroll there to see if you can spot one of Warwickshire’s butterfly gems? Eddie Asbery, Woodland Project Officer To find out more about butterflies why not visit http://www.warwickshire-wildlifetrust.org.uk/Trust/ partners.htm#organisations Bumblebees Rachel Scopes Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum Common carder bee Bombus pascuorum Warwickshire bumblebees: Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) White tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidaries) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) Due to decline of habitat and various environmental factors the British bumblebee is under threat and in worrying decline. Britain once had 27 species of bumblebee but sadly three are now thought to be nationally extinct, with six others designated UKBAP species. BBCT Richard Burkmar Joan Burkmar Ask anyone “what is the sound of summer?” and most people will say the buzzing of a Bumblebee. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating many of our flowers and crops, they are a keystone species and our countryside would look very different and dull without them. Buff tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris White tailed bumblebee Bombus lucorum Warwickshire once supported fifteen species of bumblebee; today only a shocking six species remain common across the county (see box on left). Two of the rarer species that are still surviving in Warwickshire are the brown banded carder bee (Bombus humilis) and the large garden bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus) both of which have suffered severe national declines. workers. It is now that the queen lays both female and male eggs. Females are given extra food as they will become the next season’s queens. Once they have hatched, flown and mated they find a safe place to burrow underground until the following spring. The remaining queen and workers die off in the autumn and the nest decays; the whole cycle will start again the following spring. Bumblebees are social insects and live in a colony with a queen and her daughters (workers). As they have an annual lifecycle it is the queen that starts a new nest in the spring. She can be found from February onwards feeding on early flowers and searching for a suitable nest site. For some bees this will be underground whilst others prefer areas of dense grass or leaf litter. There are many reasons for the decline of the bumblebee, the main one is loss of suitable sites of flower rich habitats for foraging and nesting. There are many simple things we can all do to help the bumblebee which will also help other wildlife. Julie Turner, Living Landscape Officer Once a stock of pollen and nectar has been gathered, the queen will lay her first batch of eggs. These hatch a few days later and start the task of helping their mother in expanding the nest and gathering food. For ideas on what you can do today to help butterflies and bumblebees check out our ‘Planting for Pollinators’ article on pages 16 and 17. They can be seen out foraging in the early hours as well as later into the evening collecting pollen and nectar for their brood. By the time summer comes one colony could hold several hundred If you would like to find out more about bumblebees why not visit http://www.warwickshire-wildlifetrust.org.uk/Trust/ partners.htm#organisations www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 13 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Reserve Focus This 1.73 Ha (4.27 acres) meadow is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its herb-rich flood meadow grassland. It is home to a wide variety of plants characteristic of traditionally managed flood meadows. These include devil’s-bit scabious, meadow vetchling, autumn hawkbit, and cuckoo-flower. The meadow is also one of two localities in Warwickshire for meadow thistle, and conservation management since 1998 has encouraged this plant’s return. The diversity of the flora is enhanced by the presence of wetter areas which encourage flowers such as marshmarigold, ragged-robin and greater bird’s-foot trefoil and as many as sixteen species of grasses have been recorded here. The management of the nature reserve is largely carried out in partnership with local farmers. In recent years this has involved a late summer hay cut (after the wild flowers seeds have shed), followed by light grazing with belted galloway cattle through the autumn until the weather conditions prevent it from continuing. Volunteers have improved and maintained the boundary fences and help to keep the brambles from encroaching too much on to the meadow. In November 2008 the Trust entered the site into Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. This farming scheme will help support the management work undertaken on the site for the next ten years, supplying valuable funding for maintenance and improvements. 14 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi Eddie Asbery Brook Meadow is situated in central Warwickshire, on the border with Solihull and is located just east of Darley Green. It is a traditional, species-rich hay meadow, surrounded by hedgerows of mature trees and shrubs. Cuttle Brook forms the western boundary, flooding or water-logging the field each winter on its way to Temple Balsall Nature Reserve. It became a Trust nature reserve in 1992 and the Trust took ownership in 1995. Julie Turner Eddie Asbery Brook Meadow Meadow brown Maniola jurtina on Common knapweed Centaurea nigra Want to Help us ? The best time to visit this nature reserve is undoubtedly during the spring and summer when you can witness the magnificent displays of wild flowers. Richard Burkmarr the Trust has a mini baler it is hoped that it can be achieved at some of our nature reserves, so watch this space! Ian Jelley, Reserves Manager S. Leszczynska The Trust is currently in the early stages of planning an exciting new seed translocation programme where seeds are harvested from nature reserves like Brook Meadow and are used to try and improve some of our less floristically diverse meadows elsewhere in the county. This has been undertaken with varying degrees of success on other sites elsewhere in the country, and now If you want to help us manage nature reserves in Warwickshire contact Ian Jelley on 024 7630 2912 or email [email protected] Belted Galloway at Brook Meadow Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 15 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Planting for Wildlife Einstein suggested that ‘if bees died out then humans would follow four years later.’ The humble bee, does it deserve this level of attention and just what impact, if any, would its demise have on our lives? Without them there would be no fruit or vegetables on the shelves of our local shops, followed by the disappearance of meat and dairy produce. Eddie Asbery Planting for Pollinators A life without bees – do you want to take the chance... Many flowers and shrubs provide colour and interest in our gardens and are laboured over by keen gardeners, however we invest time destroying the insects that live on these plants using pestcides to keep these so called ‘pests’ at bay. Beyond our own gardens since the 70’s a staggering 97% of our grassland meadows together with acres of wood and heath land have been destroyed as we make way for new homes, roads and the trappings of a more modern existence. But at what cost? The destruction of these natural habitats has seen a massive decline in our native bee, butterfly and moth populations - the ‘pollinators’ and now the many eco systems that depend on them are under threat. Peat bogs are an important habitat for many rare butterflies along with many other animals so using an alternative to peat in your garden will help conserve this vanishing habitat. So what steps can we take to help these ‘pollinators’? 1. Plant pollinator friendly flowers. Bees and butterflies rely on garden flowers to provide them with pollen and nectar which provides them with a diverse diet and fuel to keep them flying and breeding. You can support and encourage them into your garden by planting flowering plants, herbs and vegetables. Pollinators require nectar-rich flowers all year round but crucially during spring and autumn months. Early flowers are important for butterflies and bees that are just emerging from winter hibernation and late autumn nectar sources offer them a good food store to last them over the winter period. Although flowers like pansies, petunias and bizzie lizzies add colour into our gardens the best plants for pollinators are the traditional cottage flowers and our own native wildflowers. The ideal would be a wide variety of different flowers that provide nectar throughout the seasons. It is also important to consider that some butterflies and moths prefer certain plants for laying their eggs on as their caterpillars are very particular about their food source. Some important plants for caterpillars are listed below: • Stinging Nettle - food plant of the red admiral and comma butterfly caterpillars • Garlic Mustard and Cuckoo flower food plant of the Orange tip and Greened-veined White • Holly - food plant of the Holly Blue 16 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Philip Precey It does not matter about the size of your garden - we can all make a difference, from the smallest plant pot or window box to creating a mini wildflower meadow in your garden. Foxglove Digitalis purpurea White Clover Trifolium repens WWT We are all familiar with pollination - the process of transferring pollen grains from flower to flower, ensuring that a plant will produce fruit or fertile seeds capable of germinating - and we take for granted that this process with little interference from us will just happen; however our interference is indeed having a major impact. Common Primrose Primula vulgaris Here are just a few examples: Spring/Summer Primrose Bluebell Clover Daisy Lilac Dead nettle Rosemary Summer/Autumn Buddleia Common knapweed Foxglove* Lavender Honeysuckle Catmint Sunflower * Please note, all parts of the foxglove are poisonous 3. Stop using pestcides in your garden. Adopt organic gardening methods; avoid using pesticides, herbicides and fungicides try to use organic pest control. Companion planting is a good alternative to avoid pest problems in your kitchen garden e.g. Large and small white butterfly caterpillars (commonly known as cabbage white) love nasturtiums so plant these with your cabbages to deter them. Instructions: – Gradually fill the container with twigs, canes & leaves. – Break the twigs etc to fit in the container and finish when you can’t fit any more in. – Push a few dead leaves in between the twigs if there’s room. 4. Provide a ‘home’. – Place the container somewhere off the ground or suspend from a wall or fence, ideally on a sunny south facing wall. 200 species of solitary bees need a home - this can be a simple as placing six inch cut bamboo canes inside a plant pot. – If you have an old coconut doormat, roll tightly with a few old bamboo canes cut to size in the middle and secure with ‘securing material’ of your choice. The shop at Brandon sells a range of insect homes but you could also try your hand at making one. – (Tubes for mason bees need to be 5 7mm diameter, but 7 - 10mm for leaf cutter bees.) You will need: – There is a temptation to use glass or polycarbonate tubes but these sweat inside, encouraging mould to form on the stored forage. – The wish to encourage insects into your garden. – An old discarded container, preferably made from natural material – Or an old coconut doormat – Dead twigs and/or old bamboo canes – Dead leaves Dave Payne Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines WWT If you do have the space then let an area of your garden go wild and create a wildflower meadow. You can achieve this by letting the grasses and plants already there grow; these can be supplemented with wildflower plants or seeds. It will only need mowing once a year in late summer once the seeds have been set. You then need to make sure you take off the cuttings and you will have a beautiful meadow the next summer which will attract lots of butterflies like ringlets, meadow browns and small skipper. John Carter 2. Do nothing - be a lazy gardener 5. Learn a little more Visit the Trust’s web site to discover how to join our campaign to create 1000 wildlife friendly gardens, it's free and if you take just a few simple steps then the Trust will recognise your commitment and send you a plaque to display in your garden, so go on, befriend a bee. http://www.warwickshire-wildlifetrust.org.uk/WildlifeGardening/home.htm A range of insect homes available at the Brandon shop www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 17 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Corporate Business Our Corporate Members March 2009 GOLD BMW Plant Hams Hall Coventry Telegraph Jaguar Land Rover National Grid SILVER Birmingham International Airport BRONZE Consumer Insight Ellisons Lafarge Aggregates Microstat Rugby Borough Council Serious Waste Management Ltd xoserve STANDARD Birse Britannic Fire & Security Systems Ltd Coventry Telegraph Strikes Gold with Trust THE COVENTRY Telegraph has become the first newspaper to become a gold corporate member of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. something back into nature when, as a business, you might not be able to do that directly.” Warwickshire Wildlife Trust presented the Telegraph with a stunning certificate to mark the occasion. Chief executive Andy Tasker said: “Corporate membership is a demonstration of your commitment to the environment. There are a range of corporate membership levels, giving local businesses a way to engage with the local community. It’s also a chance to put Andy Tasker presenting Editor David Brookes with their Gold Member certificate Woodside Conference Centre Feed the Birds Jerry Toth, Operations Director at Sundial Group kindly stepped forward when asked by the Trust to host an outside broadcast from BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Radio as part of their ‘Do One Thing for Nature’ campaign. Jo Preston, Communications Manager at the Trust said “Whilst Springwatch was on the television the Trust and local BBC radio station got together to produce an outside broadcast each morning, highlighting different nature activities that listeners could do themselves. We wanted to highlight the work our corporate partners do to support wildlife and Woodside, with their varied bird feeding stations set in the magnificent grounds of their conference centre in Kenilworth, seemed an obvious choice.” Jerry Toth from Sundial said “It was great to be asked to be involved with this campaign. Woodside is very fortunate to be located in such a beautiful setting and we can boast woodpeckers amongst our regular visitors.” Collins Extrusions Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce The Design büro Hanson Building Products Irwin Mitchell Solicitors JLT Online Keller Ground Engineering North Warwickshire Borough Council Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Sundial Venue and Events Group Tarmac Limited Tompkins Construction WWT Harris and Sheldon Valpak staff get to work. Roundhouse Rollicks On Wednesday 3rd June, staff from recycling company Valpak started work on Brandon Marsh’s latest addition – an Ancient British Roundhouse. Staff worked tirelessly for two days with the roundhouse specialist, David Freeman, to clear the site, build an enclosure and construct the roundhouse itself, learning green woodworking and willow weaving skills along the way. The team also built raised flowerbeds which, when planted with wild flowers, will enable children to learn about cold water dyes and herbal medicines. In a thank you letter sent to the Trust, Valpak’s CEO Steve Gough said; ‘‘The feedback from our staff is that this year’s summer team building event was the best yet; they all agreed it was an enjoyable and very rewarding experience.’’ 18 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Corporate Business Ecological Surveys Are Still In Demand Despite the doom and gloom constantly reported in the media, Middlemarch Environmental Ltd is pleased to report the demand for ecological surveys is still high. Wholly owned by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Middlemarch hopes to follow the success of the last financial year where a £3 million turnover resulted in over £200,000 being passed by Gift Aid to the Trust to fund local conservation projects. Phil Fermor with two of the new vans at Citroen Coventry Based in Coventry, the team of 39 ecologists travel throughout the UK to provide ecological surveys of our native flora and fauna. With such a wide range of clients, the team can find themselves surveying for water voles for a major company such as Severn Trent Water in one area, while bat surveys are carried out for a private land owner looking to develop a barn in another. Dr Philip Fermor, Managing Director of Middlemarch Environmental commented; Middlemarch Chair Eamon Collins and Katy Read with the BSC award “No two days are ever the same and although we have noticed a shift in client requirements, we are encouraged by the amount of work still being commissioned at this difficult time for UK developers. Bat surveys are on the increase this summer, evidence that land and property developers understand the issue of ecology and the importance of completing the works during the appropriate ecological window”. Proud of the quality of their work, the team was recently honoured by the British Safety Council who awarded Middlemarch an International Safety Award. Coupled with the ISO 14001 which proves commitment to environmental issues within the workplace, Dr Fermor is justifiably proud of his team. Recently Middlemarch purchased seven vans from Citroen Coventry. You can be sure that more species are being identified and protected across the UK when you see one of the brightly liveried vans on the road! To learn more about the work of Middlemarch Environmental please visit www.middlemarchenvironmental.com The Simple Carrier Bag Makes All The Headlines The seemingly innocent carrier bag has in recent months become more talked about than the products they transport, but Debenhams in Coventry has found a way of combating this debate. Ed Booth from Debenhams takes up the story… “17.5 billion plastic carrier bags are thought to end up in landfill each year and so, here at Debenhams, we wanted to do our bit for the environment we all share. Having looked at various ways that we could reduce our carrier bag usage we decided to ask our shoppers if they needed a bag at the point of purchase and, if they did, charge them a nominal fee, which in turn is donated to the Wildlife Trust. We are delighted to support the work that the Trust does to enhance wildlife habitats and species. Feedback from our customers has been enormously positive and we are looking forward to developing this relationship further. We will soon be housing an in-store display telling customers what the money has been spent on in Warwickshire.” Yvonne Stevens, Corporate Manager at the Trust said, “It’s fantastic that a company as well known as Debenhams is taking this issue so seriously. The money they have donated so far has supported the management of Nature Reserves in the Coventry area such as Tocil Wood and Harvest Hill.” www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk | 19 www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk Give it some Welly for local wildlife! Wear your Wellies for Wildlife Week 19th-25th October 2009 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is calling all members and supporters to fundraise for the Trust whilst wearing your ‘Wellies for Wildlife’ during the week of 19th – 25th October 2009. The idea behind ‘Wear your Wellies for Wildlife’ is simple. Choose a day to wear your wellies, whatever you are doing, and encourage your friends, colleagues or classmates to do the same. We suggest each person joining in makes a small donation, for example £1, for the privilege! Wear your wellies wherever you are and whatever you are doing and send us your photos for the next issue of Warwickshire Wild magazine! The funds you raise will go towards helping wildlife habitats in your area. To find out more, or request your fundraising pack, please return the coupon below or email your address to [email protected] ✂ Yes, please send me my Wellies for Wildlife Fundraising Pack today! NAME EMAIL ADDRESS POSTCODE 20 | Warwickshire Wild | The official magazine of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Please cut out or photocopy this slip and post it to: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust FREEPOST NAT19399 COVENTRY CV3 3BR (If you use a stamp, more money goes towards the work of the Trust). Thank you!