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NewsletterISSUE 07 September 2013
WatersideCare WelcomesThere are over 25 WatersideCare groups
now
in operation with several new groups joining
recently including three from south
Birmingham. Welcome aboard Manor Farm
Park, Friends of Ley Hill Park and Friends of
Kings Norton Local Nature Reserve
WatersideCare NetworkingComparing notes with another similar
group isalways useful so if you would like to arrange to
visit another WatersideCare site, just let us
know and we will help you organise a trip.
Featured Area: Sowe Valley, Coventry
Much of the Sowe Valley has a rural feel, yet it is never far
away from
housing and major roads. Since 2010, Friends of Sowe Valley have
been
caring for an 8.5 mile stretch of the river Sowe running from
the M6 in the
north to the A45 in the south. The valley includes three
Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust managed Local Nature Reserves. Other local
landmarks are
Walsgrave hospital to the west and Coombe Country Park to the
east.
Sowe Valley volunteers work along the river at least four times
a month.
They do river clean-ups, clear footpaths, remove invasive
species and
plant native bankside species as well as helping to encourage
water voles
to return.
So far, volunteers have been supported by the Wildlife Trust and
Coventry
City Council. However, current funding ends in November 2013, so
joining
WatersideCare means that Friends of Sowe Valley can continue to
run
their volunteer days. WatersideCare will provide all the
equipment,
insurance and support they need.
The Sowe Valley Footpath runs the length of the valley making it
easy to
explore on foot. You can download a very attractive Sowe
Valley
Footpath Leaflet from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust website.
For a
flavour of what they do visit
http://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/
sowe-valley-project or e-mail them at
[email protected]
Time to make Challenges andChoicesIn the last newsletter we told
you about theEnvironment Agency Challenges andChoices consultation.
Theres still time tosay what issues matter most to you. To findout
more
visit:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspx
The consultation closes on 22 December 2013
PhotoLucyHawke
r
Wolverhampton Wildlife WalkStudents from Heantun Housing Skills
for
Life group in Wolverhampton took part in a
WatersideCare Wildlife Walk on their local
Shropshire Union and Staffs & Worcs
canals. Afterwards they created artwork
based on the birds, butterflies, dragonflies,
damselflies and fish they had seen. Heres
their collage depicting red-finned roach
which they saw in the canal.
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Friends%20of%20Sowe%20via%20Warwickshire%20Wildlife%20Trustmailto:[email protected]?subject=Friends%20of%20Sowe%20via%20Warwickshire%20Wildlife%20Trusthttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33252.aspxmailto:[email protected]?subject=Friends%20of%20Sowe%20via%20Warwickshire%20Wildlife%20Trust
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Coded MessagesThe Healthy River Code features a set of 11 icons,
each one focussing on a different
way that we can change our behaviour and act to protect our
local rivers. Have a
look at the full code here: http://ow.ly/nX74XYellow Fish was
featured on BBC Country File
hp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b039tnl0/Countryle_Gower/
Focus on Wildlife
Water VoleWater Voles (sometimes called Water
Rats as in Ratty from Wind in the Willows)
share little in common with true rats. Water
voles are tiny with small ears and eyes,
short tails and rounded faces.cute!
Voles are difficult to spot; sometimes their
tiny paw prints in riverside mud are the
only obvious clue to their whereabouts.
They are expert swimmers and divers who
live in burrows excavated in the banks of
rivers, ponds and streams, normally near
slow moving, calm water. Water voles like
lush waterside vegetation where they can
hide from predators. They mainly eat
waterside grass and plants so look out for
nibbled grasses.
The water vole is the UK's fastestdeclining mammal. Since the
1960s, their
drop in numbers has been dramatic at
about 95%. Loss of their preferred
waterside habitat is a big factor as is the
presence of their main predator, American
mink. Surprisingly, water voles are found
in relatively healthy numbers in some
urban areas of the Midlands for example,
around Birmingham, on parts of the river
Tame and on the Staffs and Worcs canal
through Wolverhampton.
Louise 07918 054616/ Lee 07918 616907
Email: [email protected]
www.keepbritaintidy.org/watersidecare
Follow us on Twitter
@Watersidecare
Chocolate MoneyGalaxy Hot Chocolate Fund (UK)Through this Fund,
Mars are looking toaward 60 grants of 300 to help small,
localcommunity based projects and communityminded people improve
their localcommunity. The applications process isvery straight
forward.Applicants need totell Mars what their community could
dowith 300.http://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/fund/
In the Pink?The pink patches onthis Environment
Agency map show justhow widespread theproblem of diffuseurban
pollution is onour waterwaysthroughout much of
the Midlands.WatersideCareactivities such asYellow Fish
arehelping to addressurban diffusepollution.
You can help keep a
check on the water
quality on your local
patch using the testing
kits provided for you
by the EnvironmentAgency through
WatersideCare. Dont
forget to let us have
your results and
report any alarming
results immediately to:
If you need to call the
incident hotline
please mention that
you are part of
WatersideCare
The EnvironmentAgencyincident hotline is
(0800 80 7060)
Ifthere is evidence of sewage pollution, please also
call Severn Trent Water(0800 783 4444)
Healthy River Code
http://ow.ly/nX74Xhttp://ow.ly/nX74Xhttp://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/fund/http://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/fund/http://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/fund/http://ow.ly/nX74X
