News

2 Wildlife Trust urges Government to drop cull... 10 Tony Juniper is our new President

Species

4 Otters in Nottinghamshire 5 Recording Nottinghamshire's reptiles

Reserves Update

8 Attenborough Nature Reserve at 50 9 Skylarks project update

Living Landscapes

6 Places to see urban wildlife

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Nottinghamshire

The Magazine of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Spring 2016

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife2

NEWS

NottinghamshireDormouse Project

In December, the Government announced it was suspending the sourcing of BCG vaccine for English badger vaccination schemes, that the 2015 badger culls were ‘successful in meeting their targets’ and confirmed it wants to see ‘badger control over a wider number of areas next year’, issuing new guidance to Natural England that significantly relaxes the current badger culling licence criteria.

These announcements left us exasperated as we condemn any intention to roll out badger culls, which have been found to be repeatedly flawed in their methodology. We have urged the Government to re-establish the supply of vaccine as soon as possible so we can continue with our vital vaccination programme in Nottinghamshire.

We are extremely disappointed that circumstances have required the suspension of vaccination programmes in England and we remain committed to the delivery of badger vaccination as a key measure against TB in cattle.

We met Defra to discuss the implications of the vaccine shortage for our project and those operated by sister Wildlife Trusts and it seems that Government has failed to plan ahead for its badger vaccine requirements – undermining the efforts of charities like ours to save badgers and help farmers. In the meeting we stressed the importance of minimising any delays and asked the department to consider sourcing the vaccine separately from the supply chain that is currently exclusively for human use.

Speaking about the vaccine shortage our Chief Executive Rob Fitzsimons said “We recognise the difficulties in supply, and of course accept the need to prioritise global human health, but the Government needs to take action to secure critical supplies for the vaccination programmes that it has initiated. We are at a loss to understand why Defra did not put in place long-term supply arrangements since, like many others, our programme is part funded by Defra. We committed to delivering it in good faith and so we currently feel very let down. However we remain hopeful that the programme will be resumed later in the year.”

Since 2011, more than 1,300 badgers have been vaccinated by Wildlife Trust programmes throughout England at an average cost of £336 per badger – far cheaper than the cost of killing badgers.

Wildlife Trust urges Government to drop the cull and get vaccination programme back on track

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust remains committed to protecting badgers and supporting farmers

© Elliott

Neep

One of the many dormice released into our woodlands

© Lorna G

riffiths

Following a lengthy hiatus, our Sponsored Birdwatch, once a popular fixture in the Trust’s calendar of events, was brought back to life last year thanks to support from two teams with close links to Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers.

The winning team recently picked up the refurbished ‘Kingfisher Trophy’ for raising £285 for the Trust and a selection of bird food and won a bird feeder for recording the most species with 114.

We are keen to make this an annual event once again and we have it on good authority that last year’s winners are determined to keep their hands on the trophy. We therefore hope some of the past winners will now want to try to wrestle it from their grip and new teams will come forward to take part in May.

Get involved!

For details of how you can take part in this fun fundraiser visit our website or email communications@nottswt.co.uk

2015 Sponsored Birdwatch winners John Ellis and Julie Straw

The Race is back on!

Get involved

You can directly support this project by making a donation to our Dormouse 'Hedge Fund'. To donate simply visit our Just Giving campaign page or text DORM16 £5 to 70070 (to donate £5). If you wish to donate a different amount simply change the figure accordingly - eg £2, £10, etc. Thank you.

By maintaining and enhancing hedgerows across approximately 5 km2 between the three woodlands we hope to encourage dormice to move between them and ensure long-term viability of the species in our county.

Whilst the focus of the project is the conservation of this charismatic species, it is a great example of our wider efforts to work at a landscape scale. By working with neighbouring landowners and identifying opportunities to link our reserves we hope to slow and eventually reverse the decline in native species that has taken place despite the creation of thousands of nature reserves across the UK.

Nature reserves in isolation cannot provide all the habitat our cherished species need to survive and thrive. But through initiatives such as this we hope to ‘turn back the clock’ and restore key species and to limit the impact of current threats (such as climate change) by enabling wildlife to move more freely through the landscape.

Following the re-introduction of dormice into our Treswell, Eaton & Gamston Wood reserves we are delighted to inform members

that we are committed to working with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), which oversaw these re-introductions,

and other partners, including the Nottinghamshire Dormouse Group, to deliver an ambitious programme of work to improve

connectivity between the woodlands.

Join us for a unique preview at Attenborough ReserveAs part of our Anniversary Weekend at Attenborough (see page 8) internationally renowned Nottinghamshire based wildlife artist Michael Warren will be exhibiting a selection of original artwork at the Nature Centre including a number of specially commissioned pieces featuring Attenborough and other Trust reserves.

The exhibition will run over the Bank Holiday week-end and a proportion of the revenue from sales will go directly towards management at Attenborough through our Love Attenborough, Love Wildlife campaign.

Other reserves featured include Ploughman Wood, Bunny Old Wood and Besthorpe.

Michael Warren (above), and 'Night Heron at Attenborough' (right).

3Spring 2016

Notes from the Chief Executive50 years ago a group of dedicated volunteers from the Nottinghamshire Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) celebrated the opening of Attenborough Nature Reserve. The NTNC, now known as Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, has grown to care for dozens of nature reserves covering over 1000 hectares and Attenborough Nature Reserve has become one of the best loved nature reserves in the country.

Our fledgling organisation grew out of the determination of a small number of people to protect the wildlife that had developed amongst the gravel workings at Attenborough from the threat of infilling with ash from the nearby power station. But rather than being satisfied with

saving the site, they had ambitions to create the best nature reserve in the country and, right from the beginning, they saw the reserve as a vital educational and community resource.

The wonderful reserves that we have around the county today and everything else we have achieved since is the result of a willingness to stand up for wildlife and a vision and determination to see the job through– all characteristics which still personify the Trust and its members today.

50 years on, whilst we have created a popular and wildlife rich nature reserve, it is not immune to external threats and continues to be at the centre of current debate. Attenborough sits above one of the areas of our county now licensed for exploration for energy minerals such as shale gas. If found in abundance this could lead to the gas being extracted by a technique called hydraulic fracturing, often referred to as fracking. Whilst as a Site of Special Scientific Interest Attenborough should be protected from drilling within its boundaries, a U-turn by the Government means that fracking could take place beneath the reserve and others around the county.

This has caused a lot of concern locally and groups from Greenpeace and Frack Free campaigns have staged marches and photo calls on site to highlight their concerns, concerns which we very much share.

We are very worried that the drive to produce more energy here in the UK will result in applications for ‘fracking’ being treated differently within the planning system. We will vigorously oppose this change as the threat of fracking operations affects dozens of our nature reserves, and countless other areas of important wildlife habitat within areas covered by exploration licences.

To date there have been no applications for fracking, but there have been a limited number of applications for exploratory operations. The most recent application is for test boreholes just 150 metres from our Misson Carr Nature Reserve in North Nottinghamshire. As you would expect, we have strongly objected citing concerns over air, noise and water pollution. Whilst all of these are potentially damaging, the risks linked to either water pollution or disturbance of this fragile wet woodland’s ecology through impacts on ground or surface water are our biggest concerns.

We will continue to fight such applications but weaknesses in the planning system and the nationwide drive for cheap energy mean we cannot do this alone.

50 years on from the success of establishing Attenborough as a nature reserve it seems that we are under an ever increasing variety of threats and we need to reinvigorate the spirit of those early pioneers who stood up for what they believed in.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is definitely not anti-development; we are pro-wildlife. Carefully sited and designed development can be beneficial for wildlife and we will continue to advise planning authorities and developers where this is the case. However, we will also continue to fight damaging development, whether for housing, industrial premises, transport links or energy minerals but we need your support.

Over 2000 people have registered objections and concerns to the planning application at Misson, an astonishing number for a local planning matter, and hopefully this strength of feeling will be taken into account. Over the coming months we will highlight the major developments that are a threat to wildlife where you live and aim to make it easier for our members and supporters to get their views heard.

Content highlights

ContributionsEditorial enquiries and contributions to: Erin McDaid

Copy deadline: Monday 30th May

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EA Tel: 0115 958 8242 Email: info@nottswt.co.uk www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Front Cover Herons nesting at Attenborough Nature Reserve photographed by Kevin Gray

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

Published by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Editor, Erin McDaid

A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 748865 Reg. Charity No. 224168R

President Sir Andrew Buchanan

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

04

070912

Go wild this June

Around the reserves

Garden Mammal Survey

Something has to change

15 Helping the Trust to build a sustainable income..

In November we received an invitation from Nottingham City Homes to the opening of a new sheltered housing scheme in the Lenton area of the City. The reason for the invitation was that a decision had been taken to name the development Palmer Court – after former Lenton resident and long-standing Wildlife Trust campaigner and volunteer Miss E.M Palmer.

Having worked with Miss Palmer when I first joined the Trust back in 1993, I was delighted to hear that she was being remembered in this way and I quickly contacted our Executive Vice President Tom Huggon, a personal friend of Miss Palmer, to see if he was available.

Nottingham City Homes were delighted that Tom and I could represent the Trust and Miss Palmer at the opening ceremony.

Miss Palmer spent many years surveying the plants of the city and noting the places she felt needed to be protected from development. She was a regular visitor to the City’s Planning Department and always happy to voice her concern over developments which she felt would damage or destroy precious habitat. She also inspired a generation of botanists though her career in teaching.

Whilst Miss Palmer passed away many years ago it is nice to think that her memory lives on. She would have been delighted that the Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme , set up to protect the City’s wildlife habitats will celebrate its 30th Anniversary this year.

City wildlife champion Miss Palmer remembered

You can read more about the creation of Attenborough 50 years ago in a special feature by Erin McDaid on page 8

Rob Fitzsimons - Chief Executive

Hon. Vice President Tom Huggon at the opening of Palmer Court

05 Recording Nottinghamshire’s reptiles

Erin McDaid - Head of Communications

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife4

SPECIES

Species

Nottinghamshire

news

Road casualties can often be an indicator that a species is doing well as the more there are the more likely they are to come into contact with us in this way.

In 2011 it was reported that otters had returned to every English county after a decline in the last half of the 20th century. By the 1970s they were practically extinct in England except for a few small remnant populations. Being a secretive and nocturnal mammal it’s not at all surprising that records from Nottinghamshire have always been few and far between but from the limited records we have it seems that a small population was present up until the 1970s. The last record was of two cubs seen in 1977 and only the year before another one was reported as shot! There were no records at all in the 1980s but in 1992 the first sighting for 15 years was reported. There was a spike in reporting in 2000 and 2001 following a major project promoting otter recording and encouraging reports.

Since then records have been collected on a casual basis and have slowly increased as shown in the table. As mentioned above, a good indication of how well a species is doing in the county is the number of animals reported being killed on the roads. Whilst this seems a strange measure to use the fact that more animals are killed must mean that the population has increased to a level where road traffic casualties are more common. To help us fully monitor the return of the otter please report any that you see.

Otters can sometimes be confused with the non-native American mink. Otters are much larger with a broad muzzle and flat head. Mink are usually much darker than the mid-brown coloured otter. An otter’s tail is long and tapering unlike the mink’s more bushy tail. When swimming an otter creates V-shaped wake which the mink does not.

Garden MammalSurvey 2015

We asked people to fill in an online form and asked that records be split into one of four different timescales depending on when they had last seen each species. 257 people took part in the survey from all over the county and a total of 24 species were recorded which shows just how important gardens are for mammals. The average number of species per garden was 4.3. Some species are probably under represented due to either their secretive nature or due to difficulties in identification. Bats are certainly under recorded to species level but a few recorders noted that they often see bats and a few recorders used bat detectors or have roosts in their house which enabled them to add a species record. House mouse was surprisingly high and there may be some confusion with wood mouse which can also be found in houses.

Not surprisingly the most recorded species was grey squirrel noted from 93% of gardens followed by hedgehog at 79%. Hedgehogs have been declining quite rapidly over the last few years and this decline is perhaps shown in this survey. When only records from the last twelve months are included hedgehog drops to 59% with significant numbers of people noting that they haven’t see one in their gardens for several years. One survey is not enough to establish any trends but by repeating this survey over the next few years we will have a better idea on how our garden mammals are faring.

During 2015 we asked members of the public to tell us about the mammals they have seen in their gardens over the last few years to give us some extra data for

our mammal atlas project.

Get InvolvedHelp us build up a more accurate picture of the county’s otters and garden mammals by taking part in the survey at www.nottsmammals.org.uk

Otters in

A report of an otter found dead on the road in Burton Joyce just before Christmas prompted a review of records of otters

held in the county mammal database.

Sigh

ting

s

10

20

30

40

50

1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s

60

Decade

70

80

1980s 1990s 2000s 2010-15

Otters in Nottinghamshire since the 1930s

0

Sigh

ting

s

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grey Squirrel

60%

70%

80%

Nottinghamshire Garden Mammals Survey 2015

0%

90%

Hedgehog

Red Fox

Wood M

ouse

Mole

House M

ouse

Brow

n Rat

Rabbit

Badger

Weasel

Stoat

Field Vole

Ban

k Vole

Brow

n Hare

Com

mon Shrew

Reeves' M

untjac

Water Vole

Roe D

eer

Fallow D

eer

Brow

n long-eared Bat

Wh

iskered Bat

Com

mon P

ipistrelle

Soprano Pipistrelle

Species recorded within the last 12 months only

83%

59%

49%

41%

25% 26%18%

14%8%

3% 1% 2% 2% 2% 1% 0.8% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4%

Hedgehog

© Steve Plum

e

© Elliot Sm

ith

Otter

5Spring 2016

SPECIES© Scott

Tilley

Adder

Recording Nottinghamshire’s reptiles

Nottinghamshire is home to at least three (possibly four) of the six reptile species native to Britain: common lizard, slow worm, grass

snake and, possibly, adder.

Grass snake and common lizard are the most likely of Nottinghamshire’s reptiles that can be found whilst the slow worm is more elusive. There have been no confirmed records of adders in Nottinghamshire for at least a decade, so their status is currently unknown. It is thought they could be extinct, although they could be present in small, isolated populations which are difficult to find. There is concern, both locally and nationally, that reptile populations are declining and one study highlighted that the adder in particular is very much declining in the Midlands. This is thought to be due to a number of pressures, such as unsympathetic land management, habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance and even deliberate killing.

Occasionally, adder sightings are submitted but they frequently turn out to be the much larger grass snake, which is still fairly widespread in Nottinghamshire. The grass snake, which is usually 75 - 100cm long, mainly lives close to water, feeding on amphibians and small fish. It is typically green but sometimes brown or greyish, and has regular dark banding along its sides. It usually has an obvious yellow collar behind its head and round pupils. When disturbed, they often play dead, revealing a ‘chequerboard’ pattern on the underside, which can be confused with the 'zig-zag' pattern of an adder.

In contrast, the adder is smaller (around 40-70cm in length) with a clear diamond zig-zag pattern down the centre of its back. Males are usually off-grey with black zig-zag and females light brown with a dark brown zig-zag. The adder lacks the yellow collar and has red eyes, with a vertical slit pupil.

We often receive reports of lizards (especially from gardens) which on further investigation we find are smooth newts. Newts spend much of their life on land, hiding beneath stones, logs and deep in vegetation. They don’t stray too far from water and when in their ‘terrestrial phase’ can be mistaken for lizards. Although they share a similar body shape, lizards have scales, are usually very active and have sharp claws, whereas newts lack scales and claws and move very slowly on land.

Slow worms are interesting creatures. They are, in fact, a legless lizard but often mistaken for a small snake. They are usually about 40cm in length (but can be longer) and are shiny in appearance. They are most often grey (sometimes brownish) in colour and females have dark stripes and sides. They are quite scarce in Nottinghamshire and are difficult to spot as they do not bask in the open.

Adders and grass snakes

Lizards and newts

Slow worms

Upside Down Grass Snake

© T

om M

arshall

Common Lizard

Slow worm

© A

my Lew

is

Reptiles are active from March to October and can be found on warm (but not hot) days.

They are found in a broad range of habitats but favour heathland, bracken and woodland, which makes places like the Sherwood Forest area a particular stronghold. Other habitats worth looking at are embankments, rough grassland, scrub, golf courses, and (for grass snakes) wetland areas.

Gardens can also be visited and compost heaps in particular are an attractive feature for slow worms and for grass snakes, which lay their eggs in large compost heaps.

Most reptiles bask in the open but like to have cover nearby which they can retreat to if disturbed. Sunny spots at the edge of scrub (e.g. bramble) are good places to look.

For more details about reptile identification visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/reptiles or www.arc-trust.org

Get involved If you have seen a reptile we would like to hear from you. It doesn’t matter if it was last year or 10 years ago. As it is easy to confuse some of our reptiles, we ask for photos to be submitted if possible (however, don’t worry if you didn’t manage to take one). We are after sightings from any location in the county (not just our nature reserves).

Likewise, if you are out and about in the countryside this springtime please keep an eye open for these shy creatures and let us know if you find any.

Reptile watching tips

Please send any sightings to info@nottswt.co.uk. As stated above, we would find photos particularly useful to help verify any records.

To make a record we need the following information:

Your name/contact details

Date. This could be year if seen a while ago

Location. Ideally, we would like to receive a grid reference, If you are unable to do this then please send us the site name, address or postcode

Other information, such as number seen.

We will send any records received to the county recorder and you may be contacted for verification.

Send us your sightings

Ben Driver

Conservation Assistant

© D

r Sheila Wright

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife6

LIVING LANDSCAPES

10 places to seeUrban wildlife

Who can resist a grin like that? According to wildaboutgardens.org, there may now be more common frogs in urban areas than in the countryside

© D

avid C

hapman, B

CN

Wildlife T

rust

CS Lewis Reserve, Risinghurst Berks, Bucks and Oxon WT

Thought to be the inspiration behind the Narnia books, this tranquil woodland belonged to the celebrated Oxford author. Toads spawn in spring and there are dragonflies and damselflies in summer, as well as songbirds. Where is it? Risinghurst, Oxford OX3 8JD. Park end of Lewis Close. Grid SP560067.

Ystradfawr, Ystradgynlais Brecknock Wildlife Trust

Once an industrial landscape with three collieries, the reserve has been left to nature for 60 years. With wet woodland and marshy grassland it’s one of the best areas in Wales for the rare marsh fritillary. The wild flowers are magnificent, and there are butterflies, grass snakes and common lizards.Where is it? Off Weavers Road, Ystradgynlais SA9 1SE. Grid SN796 108.

Cricklepit Mill, Exeter Devon Wildlife Trust

Once overgrown and disused, it’s now the Trust’s HQ, a working mill and an inspirational wildlife garden. A stream encourages grey wagtails, dippers, kingfishers and otters. There are also more than 150 plant species.Where is it? Commercial Road, Exeter EX2 4AB. 10min on foot from Exeter centre.

Gunnersbury Triangle, Chiswick London Wildlife Trust

Saved by local people from development 30 years ago, the reserve has birch and willow woodlands, a pond, and marsh and meadows. There are butterflies, amphibians, woodpeckers and sparrowhawks.Where is it? Bollo Lane, Gunnersbury, W4 5LW. Grid TQ 201 786.

Seller’s Wood, Nottingham Nottinghamshire WT

An ancient coppiced woodland managed by the Trust and the City Council. It straddles two bedrock types so there are oak, birch, ash and wych elm, with early purple orchid and wood anemone in spring.Where is it? On the NW edge of the city off Seller’s Wood Drive West, NG6 7FW.

St Nicholas Park, Newcastle Northumberland WT

A woodland, pond, grassland and wildlife garden. There’s a play area, and the pond has frogs, palmate newts and many damselfly species. Summer brings butterflies and a developing mix of grassland flowers including yellow rattle, cowslip and tufted vetch.Where is it? St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 3XT. Grid NZ 235 683.

3

42 1

5

67

1

2

3

4

5

6

Bog Meadows, Belfast Ulster Wildlife Trust

A mosaic of reedbeds, meadows, ponds, woodland, streams and hedgerows with nearly two miles of smooth paths. The abundant bird life has helped win it the UNESCO award for Urban Wildlife Excellence.Where is it? Off the A501 Falls Road near St. Louise’s School. Grid J312726

7

Wildlife under our noses often overlookedThe phrase ‘wildlife on your doorstep’ is one we use a lot at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. We are passionate about providing people with the opportunity to enjoy wildlife close to home. Whilst many people appreciate wildlife visitors in their gardens and know they might see common birds or a squirrel in an urban park, nature reserves are often viewed as something that exists in the countryside. Yet many of our finest wildlife areas are in, or close to, urban areas.

2016 sees us celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme, set up to champion the value of wildlife-rich green spaces in Nottingham and other urban areas and our revitalised Nottingham Local Group now has a programme of walks designed to showcase the green gems that our great city has to offer. One of the best woodlands in the county, Seller's Wood is included in this list of great urban nature reserves from across the UK. Why not pay Sellers Wood a visit this spring to see the wonderful wild flowers and if you happen to be near to any of the other sites listed, why not drop by to see what they have to offer?

For our full listing of places to see urban wildlife visit wildlifetrusts.org/urban-wildlife

Urban wildlife – it’s good for you!• Wild places can improve our mood, and increase

our sense of self-worth1

• Playing and learning in wild places can help children to develop meaningful relationships with family and friends2

• Children with easy access to nature are more able to cope with stressful situations2

• Wild places teach children about taking risks and making rational decisions2

• Children are happier, healthier and more creative when they’re connected to the natural world2

1: DCSF, 2010; Bird, 2007. 2: Wells, 2000; Wells and Evans, 2003, in Bragg, et al., 2014. MacKerron et al., mappiness.org, 2013

UK UPDATE

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

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

Last year The Wildlife Trusts launched 30 Days Wild, when we asked people to do something wild every day throughout June. Thousands of you did, from the centre of London to the Outer Hebrides. We were inspired by the amazing ideas people came up with for their Random Acts of Wildness. Grown-ups danced in the rain and made cheeky nature

cocktails out of natural ingredients, like elderflowers. Children and families made wild works of art, went star-gazing and created homes for wildlife in their gardens. Even people at work managed to find some time for wildlife, such as holding meetings outside in the sun. And in the busiest city centres people were finding their own little bit of wild and encouraging it to thrive.

But don’t take our word for it…

“I already love nature, but this was an excuse to try different things. I made wild garlic pesto (that was awesome), listened to buzzards mewing overhead, and when it rained I looked at the newly-hatched chicks on the Rutland osprey camera. I even made elderflower champagne, which tasted amazing and luckily didn’t explode! Every week I did a summary blog (http://tiffanyimogen.com); the activities were so diverse that it appealed to new people every time. Taking part in 30 Days Wild was just lovely. It’s easy to take nature for granted and not go out as often as you should. Until you try it, you don’t know how much joy it can bring.”

Tiffany Francis, 24, Hampshire

“At first it was a bit of a struggle having to think of something new to do every day. But then it got really exciting and we started to think of loads of ideas. As it got easier I found that I wanted to spend more time outdoors. When it came to the end of June I didn’t want to stop. Some of our activities were around the house and garden. Other times my mum, dad and sister, Amelia and I went for a day at the beach, or wild swimming. I took my camera with me, and blogged on appletonwildlifediary.wordpress.com. This year I want to get people from school involved: I found it really fun and inspiring, and I want to share that with people in my class.”

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

Alex White, 12, Oxfordshire

Dawood Qureshi, 16, Buckinghamshire

Katherine Dixson, 59, Staffordshire

“I’ve always loved getting out into nature, but 30 Days Wild focused my love of wildlife, and gave me an opportunity to improve skills like birdwatching. I had a much keener awareness of being part of nature. At the time I worked in Wolverhampton. Even there I made the most of wild places – having breakfast outside before I left for work, or visiting (for the first time!) the park near to my office. I don’t think I would have ever visited it, or done a spot of birdwatching on my way back from doing the shopping, if it wasn’t for the challenge. It was so fulfilling and made me realise the richness of wildlife, and how important it is to me.” waybeyondwords.co.uk/blog

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

They took a quiz before June, straight after June and again two months later. The results were startling. People reported feeling significantly healthier and happier not just at the time, but months after the challenge had finished. Taking part also led to a sustained increase in connection to nature, and pro-nature behaviours. Great news for wildlife and people.

Healthier and happier in 30 days

7Spring 2016

© N

ick turner/nature pl

Do something wild every day from 1-30 June

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Attenborough Nature Reserve at 50

To boldly go…

50

RESERVES UPDATE

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife8

If you can excuse what is possibly the world’s most famous split infinitive, I think that these three words are an apt starting point for an article highlighting the 50th Anniversary of the opening of Attenborough

Nature Reserve on Saturday 30th April 1966 by special guest David Attenborough.

To help celebrate the special place that Attenborough Nature Reserve has in the history of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and in the hearts of tens of thousands of people across the county and beyond, we have launched the Love Attenborough campaign. The aim of the campaign is to highlight the importance of the site and to help raise funds for its long-term management. It costs in the region of £135,000 each year to care for the reserve’s wildlife and deliver our education programme and we are looking to sign up new donors and to encourage Members with a passion for the site to make additional donations which will solely be used to fund work at Attenborough.

The words – to boldly go – seem apt because our wonderful reserve was opened in the same year Star Trek first appeared on TV screens and because the volunteers who helped create the site were, in my view, very bold indeed.

Not satisfied with saving the area’s wildlife from devastation, the volunteers had ambitions to create, ‘a nature reserve which is second to none in this country’.

A review of newsletters of the Nottinghamshire Trust for Nature Conservation (now Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) dating back to 1965, just two years after the group was formed, largely off the back of the fight to save Attenborough’s wildlife, it is clear that the volunteers had a vision to create a flagship nature reserve and saw the site as an educational and community resource. Five decades on we almost take for granted the value of greenspace and the benefits that outdoor education can bring to our young people, but for a small group of volunteers to have such ambition and dedication is inspiring.

Whilst it may have taken the Trust 39 years to open Attenborough Nature Centre, the passion for promoting educational use of the reserve and engaging with the local community is clear from the start. An entry from February 1966 – two months before the reserve was officially opened – described the reserve as “a site of great scientific, educational and recreational importance” and goes on to say “All local schools will be encouraged to take advantage of this ideally situated reserve which is so near to the centre of population and yet a peaceful haven for studying wildlife.”

Today the reserve is still of great importance with new species being recorded frequently. Our education team welcomes thousands of students each year and upwards of half a million people, mostly local, regular visitors, enjoy this special nature reserve annually.

The reserve was opened on Saturday 30th April 1966 to quite a fanfare, by special guest David Attenborough, then the Controller of BBC2 busy working on bringing colour television to our screens.

Reports from 1967 talk of huge efforts by volunteers to shape the reserve’s habitats including preparing islands to attract terns to nest, but also of the creation of a nature trail and construction of a viewing hide overlooking the Delta area. These few short lines illustrate the characteristic mix of wildlife enhancement and protection together with efforts to ensure people can see and learn about wildlife on their doorstep which still make Attenborough Nature Reserve special today.

Alongside fascinating snippets about the site’s wildlife; including reports of a single cormorant being present for 28 days (there are a few more now) and of hopes that the small number of Canada geese might stay and breed (be careful what you wish for!); the elements that leap off the pages are the importance of our volunteers and passion of those associated with the reserve.

Whilst we now have a wonderful Nature Centre in place of a caravan in the car park and the Trust now manages over 60 reserves and has professional staff; a huge proportion of our work is still carried out by volunteers. Whether staff or volunteers, the people who care for this site and our other reserves today retain the passion of those early pioneers such as Dr A. K (Tony) Kent, featured in the picture below. We very much hope to use our anniversary year to highlight the role that people have played in creating and caring for this special place down the years.

We will be having a relatively low-key celebration on the 30th of April, which by quirk of the calendar falls on a Saturday just as it did 50 years ago, but have plans for a number of events over the next 12 months including a whole weekend of activities on August 21st and 22nd.

Do you love Attenborough?

If you would be willing to make an additional monthly contribution specifically for work at Attenborough or would like to make an additional one-off donation, please call Alex or Stacey in our Membership Team on 0115 958 8242 or email membership@nottswt.co.uk

© R

ichard Rogers

View of Clifton Pit

© R

obert Mackin

Attenborough Nature Centre

A news picture from the opening featuring a young David Attenborough and Dr A K Kent (left)

Erin McDaid - Head of Communications

9Spring 2016

RESERVES UPDATE

Despite the raft of annual publicity surrounding attacks by dogs on livestock, particularly sheep, there continue to be an alarming number of incidents each year.

Last year we suffered a number of attacks on our own animals and as a result we have recently installed a range of new warning signs and information posters on sites we graze.

Whilst we welcome dogs to our nature reserves, all dogs must be under close control and preferably on a lead. The in-built hunting instincts can make even the mildest mannered family pet act strangely around livestock, so if you are visiting our reserves with your dogs please keep them on a lead. This is especially important around lambing time and throughout the bird breeding season when ground-nesting birds can easily be disturbed. Thank you.

Skylarks Project

Get involvedWe have a number of events and sessions for both families and young people at Skylarks planned for 2016 including our monthly Green Ranger sessions for 13-18 year olds from the Rushcliffe and Nottingham areas. We will also be hosting family events such as our ‘Wildlife Olympics and Picnic’ on Wednesday June 1st. Events will include ‘flower bombing’ and ‘willow discus throwing’!

On Thursday July 28th we will run another of our popular nature days. This will offer families the chance to ‘have a go’ at sweep netting, pond dipping, tree beating and a close up look at the amazing creatures that make Skylarks so important.

If you would like to get involved or know more, contact Andrew Shaw on 0115 958 8242 or email ashaw@nottswt.co.uk

If you would like to get involved in the experimental archaeology programme at the reserve contact Ruth Testa on 0115 958 8242 or email rtesta@nottswt.co.uk

update

Help us protect our sheep from dog attacks

A key part of our work to improve accessibility across the reserve we have been consulting a number of disability groups and individuals to help us ensure that our information and facilities are as accessible as possible. We have been working closely with Mencap and a group connected to the charity enjoyed a day exploring both old and new Skylarks, taking part in sensory and explorative activities. Speaking after the event Tony Barfield of Mencap said “We take the group out around the city to lots of different places but we have never visited a nature reserve and I have to say this is the most engaged they have been for an entire day that I have ever seen - Thank you.“

We also discussed how we could improve facilities such as bird viewing screens or change the way we present wildlife information to help improve visitors' experience and we look forward to working with them and other groups over the next couple of years.

Making the reserve more accessible

© D

i Fisher

Impressive starling murmurations were seen at Skylarks throughout the autumn and winter, including one which featured on BBC East Midlands Today. Whilst the birds were seen flying over Colwick Park, they were roosting in the reedbed on the older part of the reserve.

Reedbeds on the reserves have recently received attention thanks to funding through our major project at Skylarks, with lots of encroaching willow removed to allow the starlings to gather with a reduced risk of predation.

Some new floating islands have been installed by our volunteers. The combination of reed growth on top and the metal cages below the water line should make ideal places for young fish to thrive safe from predators. We are sometimes accused of focusing on life above the water but we are keen to ensure that the increase in bird numbers at the reserve, particularly cormorants, does not lead to a crash in the fish numbers before we have a better understanding of the site’s fish population.

Courses delivered as part of the project, including sessions led by the Notts Fungi Group and Notts Bat Group will help us build up our knowledge of species over the coming years and months.

In addition to enhancing the reserve's wildlife, we continue to work with Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Archaeology Team to recreate ancient items and artefacts found in old gravel workings in the Trent Valley. The team recently started work on a ‘Grubbenhaus’ structure using materials entirely sourced from the Trust’s reserve. We will have a more detailed update on this aspect of the project in the next issue of Nottinghamshire Wildlife.

Around the ReservesAt Moorbridge Pond, one of Nottingham’s most important wetland sites we’ve been busy opening up some of the reed and reed mace and a new recycled plastic boardwalk will be installed in March to make the site easier to access.

At Besthorpe Nature Reserve in the heart of the Trent Vale, between the villages of Besthorpe and Collingham, efforts to improve access are underway with plans for a new accessible hide/viewing screen, new surfaced paths and some additional RADAR access gates.

At Attenborough, following a major facelift inside the Nature Centre, the garden areas to the rear of the building has also had some TLC. The area will feature raised beds with native plants to stimulate the senses, a new living willow structure and more interactive facilities for children such as a special ‘mud kitchen’. The centre now features special floor graphics and signage to encourage visitors to visit our ‘reserve within a reserve' and the sand martin hide.

At Rainworth Heath, in the heart of our Sherwood Forest Living Landscape area, a series of new invertebrate and reptile banks were installed last year and woodlark were seen investigating them within weeks of them being completed. These will provide new habitat for insects and more basking opportunities for reptiles.

Rainworth Heath

© M

ichael Walker

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

UK UPDATE

Nottinghamshire Wildlife10

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

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

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

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

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

Whilst we’ve lost those wonderful whales we do have something to celebrate: a recent massive expansion in the area of our seas afforded real protection (page 11). That progress was kicked off by the EU and taken forward by our Governments.

Our shared

Stephanie Hilborne OBE

Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

Tony Juniper is our new PresidentThe well-known campaigner, writer and environmentalist has been appointed President of The Wildlife Trusts. Tony has been involved with the movement for over 30 years, and was the first recipient of The Wildlife Trusts’ prestigious Charles Rothschild and Miriam Rothschild Medal in 2009.

In his new role he will help drive our mission to support nature’s recovery on land and at sea, and to put nature at the heart of society. “It is a huge honour,” he said. “This organisation is the very backbone of conservation in the UK and the work it does is vital in bringing huge benefits for people, nature and our economy. I am very much looking forward to adding what I can to the already huge impact of this amazing network.”

This organisation is the very backbone of

conservation in the UK

Earth

Forest schools grow – yet againAs a learning experience you can’t beat it: seeing, smelling, hearing and touching the plants, animals and habitats that make up our world. So we’re delighted that our Forest Schools will grow again in 2016 to include Nottinghamshire, London and the Bristol area. It’s all thanks to funding from many sources, but most of all from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Our schools boost children’s confidence and increase their knowledge and love of wildlife.

Prophet and LossA new ebook Prophet and Loss by award-winning author Simon Barnes explores the legacy of The Wildlife Trusts’ founder, Charles Rothschild. 100 years ago Rothschild recommended protection of 284 wild places in Britain and Ireland: areas of mountain, woods, bog and coastline ‘worthy of preservation’. Prophet and Loss revisits some of those places and uncovers their stories. Available digitally for £1 from wildlifetrusts.org/prophet

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

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

Be inspired by Brambly HedgeWilfred Toadflax: trouble on a string

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

11Spring 2016

UK UPDATE

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

In the four books she brings together the classic works of great naturalists and pieces by new writers. They describe

moments of transition, from changes in urban settings to the shifting patterns of country life. All are threaded together to mirror the unfolding of the season. The full set of four will be published during 2016.

You can buy the first, Spring, at wtru.st/seasons-spring

The newly-published Spring is a must for fans of nature writing

23 new Marine

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

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

These latest zones add to the 27 that were created in 2013. Westminster has also committed to setting up a third round of Marine Conservation Zones by

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

Learn more and get involved at wildlifetrusts.org/MCZ

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

A greater pipefish using the new Swale MCZ, off Kent

Edible crab on a species-rich chalk reef off Cromer, Norfolk. This is what it has all been about: protecting the diversity of seabed life around the UK

© Paul N

aylor©

Paul Naylor

Conservation Zones

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

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife12

LIVING LANDSCAPES

has to changeSomething

With serious floods now a part of life in the UK, it’s time to flush the old ways of thinking down the drain. Stephen

Trotter sets out The Wildlife Trusts’ alternative.

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

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

They are the result of a combination of factors:

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

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

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

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

The most fundamental factor in any catchment is how the land is managed. For example, research by Devon Wildlife Trust and Plymouth University shows that wilder ‘culm’ grassland absorbs 4.5 times more water than sown and fertilised pasture. Trees are better still. So well-wooded catchments and those with wetlands and wildflower-rich grasslands are much better at coping with extreme rainfall events.

Stephen Trotter

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

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

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

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

Designing more places like these three into local plans can help us deal with future flooding – and provide much-needed space for wildlife. A real win-win.

Short-eared owl – often seen in wetlands that can help to fight floods©

Am

y Lewis

Centenary Riverside fills upOverflow slip at Lunt MeadowsPenrith’s flood reduction system

© Paul H

obson

© A

nna Gow

thorpe/Press A

ssociation

December 27th: Emergency services rescue a family in York

Local UpdateOur nature reserves here in Notts help provide natural flood prevention and we also work closely with landowners as Catchment Hosts for many of the county’s rivers.

13Spring 2016

LIVING LANDSCAPES

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

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

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

expand during intense flood events. Far too often, society has failed to respect or value the functioning of this natural process.

There has to be a better way and there is: to work with natural processes rather than against them. By carefully locating and designing more absorbent habitats like woodlands, wetlands and floodplains, we can increase the water-holding capacity of landscapes near towns and cities. This can be good for people and good for wildlife – and often far cheaper than the hard concrete solutions we hear so much about.

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

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

together to find local solutions that work for people and wildlife across whole catchments.

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

Read more at wildlifetrusts.org/flooding

10 ways to help nature help people

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Design and protect buildings better

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

Ensure farm payments reward helpful practices

Public payments should be for public benefits such as flood alleviation and the restoration of wild habitats.

Commit fully to tackling climate change

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

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Some evidence for a rethink

less flow

Leave that dead tree

The magic of trees

times more

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

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

Ditch-blocking 250 ha of peatland in Pumlumon, Wales raised the water table by 5cm. That’s an extra 155 Ml held back.

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

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

68% 4.5

6ft human

Source: Environment Agency, puttock & brazier 2014

© D

an Hilliard

155 million litres

Culm v cropped

© M

ontgomeryshire W

ildlife Trust

After

Before

Welsh peatland dried out by ‘improvements’The same peatland after ditch

blocking was completed

© Jack Perks

© Sheffi

eld Wildlife T

rust

www.nottinghamshirewildlife.orgNottinghamshire Wildlife14

We are delighted to receive donations as a result of staff fundraising and it never ceases to impress us how imaginative and hard working our supporters are.

NEWS

Corporate support is important to our work here at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and we are lucky to have a

number of partnerships with local and national companies who support us in a variety of ways. Quite simply, there are elements

of our work that would be impossible to fund any other way.

NaturalOr to put it

another way,

Which would feed:

1 Day 13 MonthsRobin’s lifespan

Thanks A Million!Thanks to one family’s passion for the natural world, across The Wildlife Trusts we are celebrating our partnership with Vine House Farm as their donations to support work to protect and restore areas for wildlife across the UK top the

£1,000,000 mark!In that time

Vine House Farmhas sold:

Long Tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Mealworms28,400KgSuet Fat Balls467,500KgSeeds13,000,000Kg

13,000,000Kg 467,500Kg 28,400Kg5.5m suet fat balls 200m live mealworms13,000 tonnes of seed

1.7BnSmall Birdsfor a day

4M Robinsfor their

entire lives

Robin

House Sparrow

That’s 1/3 of the UK population

One of the most important ways that companies provide support is by becoming a corporate member. This is available at three different levels to suit needs and budget. A list of corporate members can be viewed on our website and opposite.

We are delighted to receive donations as a result of staff fundraising and it never ceases to impress us how imaginative and hard working our supporters are. This year alone we’ve had a promise of skydiving however, for those of us that aren’t so brave, money raised from cupcakes is just as good!

We are fortunate to have some long standing relationships. 2016 marks 15 years since Castle Rock brewed their very first natural selection beer and in that time they have help us raise more than £130,000 for local wildlife. Much of this has been invested through our Landfill Communities funded projects which have taken place in nature reserves the length and breadth of the county, so it is likely that your favourite natural spot has had a helping hand from our partnership with Castle Rock. In recent years, they have created new fundraising opportunities for us such as the beer festival raffle and bucket collection. As well as helping to maximise mutually beneficial publicity with photo shoots in woodland, on allotments, in pubs (as you’d expect) and of course at our flagship nature reserves Attenborough and Idle Valley.

Hands-on help is always appreciated and in 2015 we were grateful when staff from Wates downed tools on their own project on Sneinton Market to help the Farndon Watch Group add some of the finishing touches to their watch hut. They provided the tools, materials and the knowledge needed to help plaster board the inside of the hut and add some electric points.

We also work with some companies , such as Albumedix (formerly Novozymes), Forest Holidays and Mayborn (Tommee Tippee), who like to support specific

areas of our work which align closely with their company objectives, such as Forest Holidays support for our work to protect habitat in Sherwood Forest. Our latest corporate partner will hopefully become very familiar to you, especially if you feed the birds in your back garden. We have now joined the nationwide partnership (organised by The Wildlife Trusts) with Vine House Farm supplier of high quality bird seed. We now stock the full range of Vine House Farm seed in our shops at Attenborough and Idle Valley and you can also purchase seed to be delivered to your front door via mail order. Since the partnership began, Vine House Farm has donated £1million to The Wildlife Trusts. Most of the seed is grown on their family farm in the Lincolnshire fens.

So there are numerous ways companies provide help and it really is a win-win relationship because working with us brings multiple benefits to the company too! Companies that support us are proud to know they are supporting their local environment and community. Customers and employees like to know that the company is doing good things locally and it boosts employee pride and loyalty in the company.

We aim to develop bespoke and sustainable partnerships that provide employee and customer engagement, PR and marketing opportunities. We are one of the few organisations in Nottinghamshire that can support the full range of outputs that companies look for as part of their community involvement; staff well-being (through wild work days), community investment (we work with thousands of school children and hard to reach groups each year) and environment (with 67 sites across the county, you are never further than 5 miles away from one of our amazing nature reserves!)

If you would like to find our more get in touch with Isabel Greed: igreed@nottswt.co.uk

Wild Bird FoodDirect from our farm

Support Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust by buying bird food from Vine House Farm

Order onlinetoday at

vinehousefarm.co.ukor call us on

01775 630208

Up to 5% of all orders go to your local Wildlife Trust

partners!

Isabel Greed, Fundraising & Marketing Manager

15Spring 2016

Corporate PartnersAlbumedix

A W Lymn

Castle Rock Brewery

CEMEX UK

Center Parcs

Chinook Sciences Ltd

EDF Energy

Forest Holidays - Sherwood Forest

Harworth Estates

HSBC Bank Plc

Mayborn Group (Tommee Tippee)

Turner & Townsend

Vine House Farm

Walter Harrison & Sons

Wildlife GuardiansAutofil Worldwide Ltd

Browne Jacobson LLP

Broxtowe Borough Council

Capital One

DutchTech Ltd

East Midlands Chamber of Commerce

Fred Hallam Ltd

George & Gagg Ltd

Tarmac

Lovell Beck

Make Hay Ethical E-Media

North Midland Construction Plc

Nottingham City Council

Nottingham Trent University

Opticron

Optima Graphic Design Consultants Ltd

Ransomwood Estates Ltd

Siemens Operational Services

Speedo International Ltd

XMA Ltd

Corporate Affiliate PlusAquatic Control Engineering Ltd

Hanson UK

Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board

Corporate AffiliateBio Dynamic (UK) Ltd

BWB Consulting Ltd

Our Corporate Supporters

On Saturday May 21st visitors will get a unique opportunity to find out more about the habitat restoration taking place at the former Rufford Colliery site and about the wildlife of the wider Rufford and Clipstone area.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is currently working with Harworth Estates on an ambitious restoration programme that will see over 100 hectares of heathland recreated alongside other habitats.

The event in May will enable people to see the restoration work first hand, highlight the tremendous

habitat restoration opportunities that exist in this crucial part of Sherwood Forest and provide information about local volunteering opportunities.

So, whether you live locally or are simply interested in Sherwood Forest come along and join us for what promises to be a fascinating day. There will be tours of the site, children’s activities and information about partner organisations. Find out about efforts to monitor and protect nightjars across Sherwood Forest and what wildlife thrives on heathland sites.

For further details about this event visit our website www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events

EMEC Ecology - which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year - provides advice to landowners and developers and has recently established a land management team meaning it can now deliver a complete service for clients, from surveys and advice through to delivery of habitat improvements or tree safety work.

Here, Senior Ecologist Steve Ralph gives us an update on recent activity at the company.

One of our Consultants (Richard Anderton) has successfully completed an arboricultural course and is now qualified to undertake tree surveys to standard BS5837 suitable for planning applications. Richard is also trained to climb trees safely along with other members of the ecology team. As a result we are now looking to market EMEC as having three separate divisions, namely EMEC Ecology, EMEC Land Management and EMEC Arboriculture.

Three members of staff have been trained to undertake badger vaccinations (against bovine TB), with Phil Bych (from our Land Management team) having been helping the Trust with its BEVS scheme.

Our small mammal expert, Lorna Griffiths, has been working on a water vole trapping project where a new bridge is to be built at the entrance to the main Boots site in Nottingham. The water voles are being housed over winter at an authorised

facility. They will be returned to site next spring and released into an enhanced section of dyke.

We are working on two significant great crested newt projects, totalling 5.2km of great crested newt fencing with pitfall traps. The fencing was installed by our land management team with the ecology team carrying out the pitfall trapping.

Adrian Dutton and Will Sheppard (our in-house entomologists) have been sampling invertebrates on SSSIs (by pitfall traps, suction sampler, net sweeping) at a range of sites in Lake District, Northumberland, Cornwall, Staffordshire and Shropshire. The work is all for Natural England to allow decisions on site management.

EMEC Ecology discovered a population of the protected native white clawed crayfish in Hucknall town centre in 2008. A section of the Bailey Brook is to be culverted as part of the Hucknall Town Centre Improvement Scheme (Nottinghamshire County Council), and therefore we were commissioned to obtain a licence from Natural England to move crayfish from this section to an unaffected section upstream where the habitat has been enhanced (by EMEC Land Management) with ‘boulder clusters’.

EMEC Ecology is one of two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the other being Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trading which operates the catering, retail and event activities at both the Attenborough and Idle Valley centres. These subsidiaries help generate income which the Trust can invest in our conservation and education programmes across the county.

If you would like more information on the services provided by EMEC Ecology please contact Steve Ralph or Sean Gallagher on 0115 9644828 or via email to mail@emec-ecology.co.uk or visit www.emec-ecology.co.uk

EMEC Ecology now has an Arboriculture team

Join us as we celebrate the restoration of Rufford Colliery

NEWS

Steve Ralph, Senior Ecologist

Helping the Trust to build a sustainable income for wildlife conservation

Lorna Griffiths, EMEC Ecology's small mammal expert

career route and how focusing on the common features in wildlife can be fascinating and rewarding. The series was rounded off nicely by celebrated author and wildlife writer Patrick Barkham with a topical and enchanting talk on man’s complex relations with the badger.

Exciting plans for 2016Due to the overwhelming success of the lectures, we are delighted to announce that the lecture series will start again in the autumn.

We can already confirm that former Wildlife Trusts’ President and Spring Watch presenter Simon King will be speaking in November and TV Naturalist and Wildlife Trust Wales President Iolo Williams will host our Christmas Lecture – so don’t forget to book early to avoid disappointment.

However, don’t wait until our lecture series re-starts before you visit Idle Valley. The reserve offers amazing opportunities for wildlife watching and has great family friendly facilities. The café offers wonderful views over the reserve and is now open daily from 10am to 4pm.

The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EATel: 0115 958 8242 www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org Printed on paper from sustainable forests

Both Attenborough and Idle Valley really are stunning places to see and enjoy wildlife. During 2015, for example, more than 1,000 species were recorded on Attenborough Reserve by just one person, including over 70 species that we didn’t even know were there!

Both are Sites of Special Scientific Interest noted for their overwintering birds, but they have so much more to offer. Breeding bitterns and sand martins at Attenborough and breeding barn owls and grass snakes at Idle Valley are just some of the wildlife spectacles that draw visitors from all over the country.

Observing wildlife on our nature reserves is an amazing experience, but understanding it takes the experience to the next level. During 2015 we’ve provided wildlife courses to hundreds of people at the centres on both reserves. Whether covering butterflies or wild flowers, bumblebees or birds, the courses have given attendees the knowledge to identify myriad species. Participants also learnt a bit about the biology behind the wildlife, and why we must conserve it for the future.

Speaking about our Bees for Beginners course Beth Mitchell said: “I had such a great day! There was just the right amount of classroom based and practical learning. The leader was knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. I loved that we got to use the knowledge that we learnt in the field”. After our Butterflies and Day Moths course Jean Noblett said: “the leader was dedicated, enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. 10/10! (Or even 11/10!)”.

All the courses were aimed at beginners but we still managed to cover some pretty tough topics! For 2016 we have a full range of inspiring courses aimed at all skill levels from beginner up to professional. We believe that an understanding of the natural world enhances the enjoyment of it.

Attendees are greeted with fresh coffee and biscuits on arrival and can then look forward to tuition from leading local and national wildlife experts. After lunch most courses take you out onto the Reserve to put newly acquired skills and knowledge into practice. We aim to ensure that every attendee leaves with the ability to identify species accurately and has the confidence to continue their learning after the course.

An update from our centres

In January 2016 we closed our Attenborough Nature Centre for the first time out of choice rather than necessity (other than for Christmas Day) to carry out repairs to the floor.

In addition to the necessary work we took the opportunity to completely renew the children’s nature corner and replace the graphics around the centre to give a more modern feel. We were able to complete this work thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as a legacy donation and we are delighted with the results and the feedback from our visitors has been excellent. We launched the new look on February 14th with a ‘Love Attenborough’ themed day and the illuminated building at the end of the day was spectacular.

The nature garden leading to the Sand Martin Hide behind the centre has also had a much needed makeover with new paths and willow structures. This area also has more to come with sensory planting and wildlife gardening ideas for visitors to take home and create their own nature garden. We have also installed new information panels inside the hide.

Training Course update

Ensuring our visitors get a warm welcome

Dr Ed Tripp

Assistant Manager (Trading)

The Nature Centre was illuminated to mark the re-opening

© T

im Sexton

© K

eren Young

A day flying burnet moth

Trish Evans, Development Officer

Idle Valley Lecture Series In 2015 we launched a new lecture series at the Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre. We felt that the centre, which is owned by North Notts College would make a stunning venue for evening events.

We had an exciting vision for our lectures, to invite inspirational and influential speakers and to bring new and passionate audiences together for what we hoped would be a series of fantastic and engaging evenings. Where best to hear about wildlife conservation than at our largest reserve? But to do this has taken great efforts from staff, volunteers and supporters.

But what is a lecture series without speakers? I was delighted to kick start the series with internationally renowned campaigner and writer George Monbiot. After spending a fascinating time out on our reserve with George, his lecture to our sold out audience certainly provoked fresh thinking around wildlife conservation and the rewilding debate.

It has been intriguing that each guest speaker has been keen to go out on to the reserve as part of their visit, as if needing to connect with nature as part of their experience and how personal each lecture has been presented. Mark Avery offered useful and practical resolutions for the New Year at our Christmas Lecture, reflecting his own goals and challenges whilst Mike Dilger shared a very intimate rendition of his accidental discovery of wildlife and

George Monbiot

For details of our 2016 Wildlife Training Course programme visit:www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk/trainingTo book call 0115 972 1777 or visit www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/shop