Leicestershire and Rutland WildMembership magazine Summer 2020 THE SECRET LIVES OF SWIFTS They are masters of the air, but need our help HOW TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES Our top tips will encourage butterflies and moths to your patch

Welcome to a wild summer We’re ushering in the summer with sunny wild walks, wildlife experiences and 30 Days Wild! Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Welcome 12 14 Contents 5 We’re looking for Leicestershire Our Garden Havens and Rutland’s next top wildlife photographer It has never been more appropriate to say I 8 Melissa Harrison encourages you to hope this finds you safe and well. The sun is find your own secret garden shining and spring is here, but the situation is not what any of us envisaged at the 10 It’s the summer of wildlife and beginning of the year. We can all play a part we’ve got some great ideas to get in supporting our wider public health during you outdoors the COVID 19 crisis, and LRWT are adapting to changing 14 Find out why Coombs Meadows is working practices and establishing what this means for perfect for a summer stroll our future. As our members, you are a lifeline that enables us to achieve great things for people and wildlife; in return, 18 Discover how children in nature is a lifeline for all of us in our homes, with only an Leicestershire are telling stories to hour for exercise each day. connect with nature My garden has been a haven during this time and those of 20 Jo Richards explains what us lucky enough to have one can help wildlife by letting it The Wildlife Trusts are doing to grow wild. Our gardens are often the first place we engage 16 combat climate change with nature, building the enthusiasm that creates the next 22 Learn how to make your garden a generation of conservationists. This is true for adults and haven for butterflies children alike and finding beauty on our doorsteps shows how much we value the natural world. 24 Be inspired by local people who are making a difference for wildlife None of us want to pass on problems that future generations will pay the price for and we can start in our 26 Reconnect with an iconic summer gardens; going peat-free is a first step. A decimated and visitor – our swifts are back! sensitive ecosystem, our peatlands hold a wealth of wildlife 30 Sign up to take part in the wildlife and are a huge store of carbon. Restoring them would put challenge of the year nature and ecosystems at the heart of tackling the climate and ecological crises. We can work together to ensure nature’s recovery; even in these uncertain times we can all be involved in making changes for the better and the greater good, both now and once we are safely through COVID 19. I hope you enjoy our summer edition of Wild. Stay safe and well,

Front cover Marbled white © Guy Edwardes 2020Vision Tim Graham Silver-washed fritillary © Jim Higham CEO Wood Warbler © Andy Rouse 2020Vision Common spotted orchid © Paul Lane

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Get in touch 6 ways to get involved with WILD Leicestershire and Rutland is the Protecting and enhancing the wildlife and wild The Wildlife Trust Magazine Team Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust membership magazine for Leicestershire and places of Leicestershire and Rutland and engaging Editor Lucy McRobert Rutland Wildlife Trust people with nature. Designers Yarwood Associates Gift membership Give someone Legacy You can include a gift in your Wildlife Watch Inspire a wild Email [email protected] Consultant editor Sophie Stafford the gift of nature and sign them up to Will for wildlife and the future of our local child by signing them up for our junior Telephone 0116 262 9968 Consultant designer Tina Smith Hobson become a member. Find out how natural world membership, Wildlife Watch! Address The Old Mill, 9 Soar Lane, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust lrwt.org.uk/join lrwt.org.uk/legacy lrwt.org.uk/wildlife-watch Leicester, LE3 5DE Chairman Andrew Cotton Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily Registered charity number 210531 Hon. Secretary Maggie Morland those of the Editor, Director or the Council of the Website lrwt.org.uk Hon. Treasurer Ann Tomlinson Trust. Articles, letters, photographs and artwork are Donate From purchasing land to Businesses Become a corporate Osprey Webcam Tune into the facebook.com/leicswildlife CEO Tim Graham welcomed on the understanding that no liability for vaccinating badgers to helping bats flourish, supporter of LRWT and make wildlife part Rutland Osprey Webcam to stay in touch twitter.com/leicswildlife Head of Conservation John Clarkson their safe custody or return is incurred and the right we rely on your donations of your business with nature instagram.com/leiceswildlife Membership Officer Josephine Taylor to abridge or refuse publication is reserved. lrwt.org.uk/donate lrwt.org.uk/corporate lrwt.org.uk/rutland-ospreys

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Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust LRWT NEWS LRWT launches local wildlife photography competition Would you like to feature on the cover of The deadline is the 17th July 2020 and the Wild Leicestershire and Rutland? winning photo will be chosen by staff at LRWT is delighted to announce that LRWT. this summer, we’ll be running a wildlife Anyone of any age can take part. Photos can photography competition showcasing the be taken on any camera, including a phone, incredible wildlife and diverse habitats that but must be high resolution in order to make up our two counties. We want you to feature in print. We recommend at least 3MB Coronavirus and capture what local wildlife and wild places and 300dpi. If you edit your photos, please mean to you. Maybe you’re captivated by supply a copy of the RAW file, too. Only one Leicestershire and Rutland urban peregrines on Leicester Cathedral or photo can be entered per person. All subjects inspired by badgers in your local woodland. must be completely wild and in a wild setting. Perhaps you’re in awe of ospreys, delighted Wildlife Trust by deer or wowed by wildflowers. Whatever To enter, please submit your photo in digital local wildlife means to you we want to see format to [email protected] or via WeTransfer, Volunteers creating your best photo. along with the location of your photograph. You are welcome to accompany your photo homes for barn owls All entries must be taken in Leicestershire or Rutland and the winner will feature on with relevant background information about and kestrels the front cover of Wild Leicestershire and yourself and the subject. The wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and We had hoped to keep all our green spaces With the help of volunteers, LRWT open, but the wellbeing and safety of our staff and Rutland, on our social media, on our website Please refer to full terms and conditions on members is our upmost priority in this difficult has installed nest boxes for barn time, and we want to take this opportunity visitors is the most important thing at this time. homepage and in our e-newsletter. the website: lrwt.org.uk/photo-comp owls and kestrels on two reserves to reassure you of the steps we are taking We apologise for any inconvenience caused, we at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust know this is a difficult time for everyone and we in the Charnwood Forest: Charley hope you can understand. to do the right thing for people and nature. Wood and Lea Meadows. Both Please note, the COVID 19 situation is evolving Anyone who has booked onto an event or reserves have large areas of rough daily. We will always adhere to Government volunteering activity will have been notified and tussocky grass, which provides guidance and encourage others to do the by email, but if you are unsure please email ideal hunting ground. A fourth box [email protected] for volunteer related same. This statement is correct at the time of enquiries and [email protected] for anything else. was given to the Barns Charity in printing (mid-April 2020), but please check Desford, who look after old species- our website for the most recent developments We are encouraging everyone to stay connected to nature; why not try and get some fresh air in rich grassland fields surrounded regarding our nature reserves and events. the garden or look for signs of spring from the by old hedgerows and trees. The Following recent updates from the window? We will be posting lots on social media nest boxes have been funded by Government with regards to COVID 19 we over the next few weeks to keep our spirits up and the Charnwood Forest small grant, offer ideas on how to stay wild from home. have made the difficult decision to cancel all provided by Aggregate Industries our events and volunteer activities until the Most of our staff are working from home, so as part of our Charnwood Forest end of June. Birdfair (21-23 August), sadly, has please be patient with us as we may take a little been cancelled. Rutland Water Nature Reserve longer to respond to messages and phone calls. Living Landscape scheme. They is closed to the public until further notice, If you have any questions at all, please do not were built by the work skills group including access to Lyndon Visitor Centre, and hesitate to get in touch. at Glebe House, a charity based Charnwood Lodge will also be closed. We remain incredibly grateful to all our in Loughborough who work with wonderful members and supporters during this All our other reserves remain open, however people with learning disabilities. unprecedented time. As a charity we rely heavily The group are looking forward to please do not travel by car. If you are within on your support to continue our vital work for walking distance of a reserve, you can visit wildlife and protect our precious local wild places. visiting the sites to hopefully see the on foot as your form of daily exercise, but We will keep going to the best of our ability and boxes in use. Glebe House are always please take Government guidelines into are carefully monitoring the developing guidance looking for projects, so contact them consideration; only go out with members of and situation. Now more than ever, donations of if you are looking for next boxes of your household, do not meet in groups and any size will make a huge and valued difference. any size. please keep two metres away from any other Thank you for your continued support, we hope glebe-house.org.uk/workskills. Welcoming new staff to the LRWT family visitors. everyone stays safe and well. We’re delighted to welcome some new volunteers for Rutland Water, Birdfair

Loughborough Big Meadow © LRWT faces to the LRWT family. Laura Brady, and the Osprey Project, coordinate Lyndon Visitor Centre and Events bookings and events at the VTC and Coordinator; Libby Smith, Lyndon Visitor engage the local community. Finally, Centre and Events Assistant; and Abigail Helena Bolingbroke is our new Trainee It’s a new look online for LRWT Mustard, Osprey Information Officer, Reserves Officer. We are sad to say will all be working on the Rutland Osprey farewell to Mat Cottam, Rutland Water LRWT’s new website went live in place. We’ve made it easier for you to February and we hope you’ve had donate and buy gift membership, too. We Project, supporting volunteers, organising Reserve Manager, who is joining The a chance to look around. As well as hope that by having a one-stop-shop for events, supporting our education work, Conservation Volunteers and Seb Haggett, hosting the osprey webcam and Rutland all our work and projects, our supporters welcoming visitors and sharing osprey Trainee Reserves Officer, who will be the Water Nature Reserve, we’ve got lots will find it easier to see how much we updates from Manton Bay. Amelia new Natural Habitats Operative with of new information, including species do to protect wildlife in Leicestershire Woolford, Volunteer Training Centre Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and habitats profiles, revamped nature and Rutland. Look out for information on and Events Coordinator, will manage Council. reserves pages and all our events in one campaigns, appeals and latest news. Barn Owl © Russell Savory, Volunteers installing nest boxes © LRWT, Photographers © Terry Whittaker 2020Vision 4 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 5 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS

UK UPDATE A bottlenose UK HIGHLIGHTS dolphin leaps clear of the 100 miles wilder water in the Space for nature should be at the heart could support the current proposals for Discover how The Moray Firth of our planning and farming systems. housing, road and rail and stay within This is the only way we can create a environmental limits for nature, carbon Wildlife Trusts are 1 Nature Recovery Network, enabling and water. helping wildlife 2 wildlife to thrive across the landscape and Special habitats are under threat, across the UK bringing nature into our daily lives. including ancient woodland and 3 But current grazing marsh, which supports rare proposals for and declining wading birds like curlew developing and redshank. 1 Inspirational youth Over the last year, over 2,800 the land The Wildlife Trusts have created an young people aged 11-25 rolled up between alternative vision for this land: 100 miles their sleeves to help nature thrive Oxford and of wilder landscape in which people can in their local area. The Grassroots Cambridge do not live, work and enjoy nature. By protecting Challenge project, led by Ulster Wildlife, have nature at their and connecting the wildest places, we can UK UPDATE gave young people the opportunity heart. Without proper introduce a new way of planning that to unleash their passion, creativity and assessment, government has nature and people’s wellbeing at the potential to make a real difference to cannot know centre. Find out more their environment and community. A big splash for UK seas whether the area wildlifetrusts.org/100-miles-wilder ulsterwildlife.org/news/inspirational- youth - our 2019 marine review New leader for 2 Attenborough appeal Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trusts launched an appeal to raise £1 million to The Wildlife Trusts are delighted to safeguard Attenborough Nature Reserve, welcome Craig Bennett as their new Chief a wild oasis at the edge of Nottingham Together, the Wildlife Trusts form 2019 also saw a welcome boost for some Executive Officer. that’s home to large numbers of the UK’s largest marine conservation of our struggling seabirds. On Handa 2019 IN NUMBERS One of the UK’s leading environmental wildfowl. The appeal was supported by organisation. Our Living Seas teams Island, Scottish Wildlife Trust counted campaigners, Craig joins The Wildlife Trusts Sir David Attenborough and raised over are the eyes and ears of the UK’s coast. 8,207 razorbills, the highest number since n Over 5,000 volunteers supported from Friends of the Earth, where he was £900,000 in the first month. Throughout 2019, with the help of over 2006, though the population is sadly still coastal Wildlife Trusts with beach Chief Executive. nottinghamshirewildlife.org/ 5,000 volunteers, they did wonderful in trouble. In North Wales, Sandwich terns cleans, surveys and shore-based In a conservation career spanning over Craig Bennett says: “The Wildlife Trusts lifelineappeal things for the wildlife in our seas. had a bumper year, with 800 chicks fledging events. 20 years, Craig has led a movement to end are an extraordinary grassroots movement Careful monitoring revealed some compared to just 180 in 2018. peat cutting on important moorlands, that is uniquely placed to work with local fantastic good news stories around our Sadly, it wasn’t all good news. Several n More than 200 sharks, skates and 3 Spooky sighting helped secured better wildlife legislation communities to make this happen and shores, from bumper breeding seasons to Wildlife Trusts reported an increase in rays were tagged as part of Ulster A ghost slug was discovered in through The Countryside and Rights of Way ensure a wilder future, and I could not be amazing discoveries. disturbance. Jet skis, kayakers, boats and Wildlife’s SeaDeep project, helping the gardens of Devon Wildlife Trust’s Act 2000 and, more recently, led successful more pleased to have been asked to lead A new citizen science project logged 320 drones have all been recorded causing us monitor these vulnerable Cricklepit Mill. The origins of this campaigns to highlight climate change and them at this incredibly important moment.” sightings of cetaceans off Yorkshire’s east distress to marine wildlife like dolphins, animals. mysterious species are uncertain, but it’s to protect and restore bee populations. wildlifetrusts.org/new-leader coast, including minke whales, bottlenose seals and seabirds. thought to be a native of Ukraine. Since dolphins and harbor porpoises. There was Plastics, ocean litter and discarded fishing n Two giant gobies were among ghost slugs were first discovered in the good news for seals too, with Cumbria gear also continue to devastate marine 1,310 species recorded in just UK in 2007, there have been a scattering of sightings, mainly from South Wales. Wildlife Trust counting a site record of wildlife, though Wildlife Trusts around our 24 hours as Devon Wildlife An insect apocalypse It’s a predator of earthworms and may 483 grey seals at South Walney, including shores cleared up huge amounts of litter, Trust’s Wembury Marine Centre A new report commissioned by an cause problems for our native worms if it seven pups. Elsewhere, an individual seal, including 2.5 tonnes picked up by the Isles celebrated its 25th anniversary. alliance of Wildlife Trusts in the south west becomes established. nicknamed Tulip Belle, was discovered of Scilly Wildlife Trust. concluded that our insects are in trouble. devonwildlifetrust.org/news/ghost commuting between the Isle of Man All of this was made possible by the n 27 tonnes of litter and fishing gear 41% are facing extinction and they are and Cornwall. fantastic support of all our volunteers and collected by fisherman for Yorkshire dying out eight times faster than large Lara Howe, Manx Wildlife Trust’s marine members. For more amazing stories head to Wildlife Trust’s Fishing 4 Litter. mammals. But by working together, we officer, says: “It shows that seals will swim wildlifetrusts.org/marine-review-19 can change the future of insects. Starting great distances for food and a place to pup, right now, you can make small changes in highlighting the importance of a network of Get involved your home, lifestyle and community that Marine Protected Areas around the UK, so We need to put nature into will help. Take action today and download that wherever marine wildlife goes there are recovery on land and at sea. Join us on your FREE guide packed full of easy to follow healthy seas to support them.” our campaign for a wilder future: advice and tips. Our fight to secure this network saw wildlifetrusts.org/wilder-future lrwt.org.uk/take-action-insects a huge victory last summer, with the designation of 41 new Marine Conservation Zones. Bottlenose dolphin: John MacPherson/2020Vision Redshank: Tom Marshall, Marsh fritillary: Ross Hoddinott/2020Vision, Ghost slug: Phil Sansum 6 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 7 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust WILD THOUGHTS LRWT NEWS Wildlife Travel leading the way in ecotourism

Since 1988, Wildlife Travel have run flight-free programme with new holidays holidays for ecotourists, with the aim to the Dordogne and Cevennes in France, of raising and awareness and funds for and closer to home, shorter breaks in conservation. They have so far raised Dorset and Sussex. Conservation is at £230,000 for the Wildlife Trusts and the heart of Wildlife Travel. Tour leaders contributed more than £39,000 to the come from conservation backgrounds work of the World Land Trust by carbon- and have a wealth of wildlife knowledge. balancing their flights. They provide They work with local conservation travellers with an introduction to natural organisations in the countries they visit. history, conservation and culture. Their Visit their website for details about what Melissa 2020 brochure includes new trips such they have to offer: wildlife-travel.co.uk as the wildflower haven of Armenia, the Harrison butterfly-filled meadows of Slovakia and the spectacular mountains and savannas of Colombia. They are expanding their Discover your secret garden

When I lived in central that should come as a surprise, given that we A LITTLE BIT WILD Conservation London I had my very own evolved in nature, rather than separately from Secret Garden: it. We fare less well in myriad ways the further Find your team gets concrete a tiny pocket park a couple removed we allow ourselves to get. connection of streets away. That’s even Creating a life that’s connected to nature Create an ongoing support what I called it, as its real name was long relationship with your doesn’t have to mean moving to deep LRWT would like to thank Aggregate and humdrum and totally failed to capture special place in a way countryside, going on long hikes in technical Industries, who recently donated two how magical the place felt to me. An clothing, getting in the car and driving to a that works for you – lorry loads of concrete to help us with overgrown and largely overlooked half-acre national park or learning long lists of Latin drawing, meditating, improving the cattle handling facilities at created from the abandoned grounds of names for birds (though you can do all those writing or even going for our farm at Charnwood Lodge. a long-gone Victorian villa, there was a things if you like!). Nor is connecting to nature a run. Be inspired by our The concrete has been used to create pond, a single redwood, an old statue and something we should experience as a duty – 30 Days Wild Challenge! a hard-standing area where we can winding paths lost under ivy, brambles and one more thing to fit into an already busy life. hold cattle when we are undertaking bindweed. I found frog spawn in spring, lrwt.org.uk/30DaysWild All it requires is a little curiosity about the welfare checks, bTB testing and general and sometimes a heron visited. Long-tailed wilder world around you – whether husbandry. This will make jobs safer and tits chirruped in the branches overhead and that’s your garden, park, local beauty spot or less stressful for both the staff and the when it snowed neat lines of fox prints led Go Wild at Home! nearest Wildlife Trust reserve – as well as an cattle. The farm forms the base for our to a den deep beneath the brambles. During the school closures, we are ongoing interest in what’s living there, and a conservation grazing herds that enable For years my Secret Garden was a refuge inspiring our members and family willingness to find out what it looks, sounds, us to manage our grassland reserves in from the city and a source of inspiration, supporters with a weekly programme feels and smells like during all four seasons of the Charnwood Forest. even becoming a key location in my first of activities called Go Wild at Home. the year. Whether you have a garden or yard, novel, Clay. nature at To connect with a special place in this way live in a flat or a house, there are lots of For the two decades I spent in the capital home for all the family. taps into age-old instincts, answering deep, things you can do to stay connected to I relied on contact with nature to help make You can learn something new, have subconscious, but often unmet urban life not just survivable, but enjoyable. fun and take action for your local needs. Over time, your attention Finding special places like my Secret wildlife. You can also sign up for a will be repaid tenfold, it Garden proved transformative, keeping weekly email with more ideas and deepens and enriches your daily me connected to weather, wildlife and the activities. Complete eight Go Wild at life, filling it with wonder. ancient cycle of the seasons – all things Home activities and you can receive modern life can ameliorate or sometimes your Wildlife Watch Hedgehog Award, erase. Even in my twenties I instinctively too! Please share with your friends, knew I needed nature, and now the science The Wildlife Trusts are looking forward relatives and teachers and sign up at is bearing it out: spending time in wild to the release of The Secret Garden this Melissa Harrison is a nature writer and lrwt.org.uk/go-wild-home places eases stress, regulates our emotions, spring. Search for your own secret space novelist, and editor of the anthologies Spring, Pond making © Martha Rose boosts our immune systems and improves at your nearest Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Summer, Autumn and Winter, produced in Getting crafty with leaves © LRWT both physical and mental health. None of Visit wildlifetrusts.org/nature-reserves support of The Wildlife Trusts. Swallowtail butterfly © Derek Moore Illustration: Robin Mackenzie Pond making © Martha Rose LRWT Getting crafty with leaves © LRWT Cows © LRWT 8 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 9 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

With bright mornings, lazy afternoons and balmy evenings, summer is the perfect time to be inspired by wildlife. We’re here to help you discover and fall in love with wildlife in your local area.

hen you think back to the We’ve pulled together our top wildlife summers of your childhood, experiences. From making elderflower what do you remember? Ice cordial to identifying butterflies to creams, daisy chains, water enjoying an evening walk, there’s fights,W the smells of cut grass combining something for everyone. Don’t forget to with barbeques or feeling the coolness sign up for 30 Days Wild to kickstart your of a stream trickling over your toes? The wild summer. days seemed to last forever. Childhood summers make precious memories, and Please respect Government social there’s no reason why you can’t keep distancing guidelines when visiting creating those memories now. our nature reserves and check our A summer’s day is the perfect time to website for updates on closures. reconnect with wildlife and wild places, like you did when you were a child. It’s not all about holidays, with plenty to do and see in Leicestershire and Rutland. Our nature reserves are beautiful places to explore if you are close enough, or make the most of local footpaths, churchyards, lanes and hedgerows. Use all your senses to take in your surroundings. Smell the heady scent of wild herbs and flowers; feel long grasses Make your own between your fingers; listen to the sweet song of warblers; or enjoy the first of the elderflower cordial years’ sweet and sour blackberries. This is the time when wildlife is busy. Birds and mammals are feeding their Elderflowers are the taste of summer. The young relentlessly or maybe starting flowers, tiny, white and creamy blossom an ambitious second brood. Clouds of on the elder tree in May and June. Don’t mayflies might shimmer over ponds and mistake elderflowers for other similar damselflies will perch like little jewels flower sprigs at this time of year. They along canals and streams. Early in the should hang in clusters from the branches season you might hear cuckoos or even of trees, with a flat-topped appearance. The nightingales serenading the sunset. flowers are best when they have just burst Ospreys will be fishing the reservoirs open and they should smell summery. around Rutland Water, To make your own cordial, rinse off about Welcome to joined by swooping 30 elderflower heads in tap water, giving swifts, darting them a good shake, and remove the stems. swallows and Heat two litres of water in a large pan with raucous terns. 2kg of granulated sugar. Once the sugar Wildflowers has dissolved, turn up to a boil and then will burst into remove from the heat. The water should life. You’ll be become syrupy. Add the elderflowers, four able to enjoy sliced lemons and two teaspoons of citric your WILD butterflies, acid to the water and gently immerse it moths and all in the syrup. Cover and walk away for dragonflies, at least a day. Strain the liquid through a and as the muslin into a bowl. Decant into sterilised night draws in bottles for the perfect summer cordial! look for bats patrolling around gardens, Summer © Matthew Roberts Pyramidal Orchid © Guy Edwardes 2020Vision lampposts Swift © Stefan Johannson summer… or woodlands. Elderflower © Lucy McRobert 10 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 11 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

DISCOVER MORE Spot a summer butterfly Butterfly watching is the perfect way to spend a hot summer’s afternoon. You can encounter them on our nature reserves, in rocky quarries, buzzing meadows and dappled woodlands. Purple emperor Grizzled skipper This magnificent butterfly is a The smallest of the UK’s skippers, the recent colonist in Leicestershire and grizzled skipper can be seen on the Rutland, spreading northwards from its wing as early as mid-April. They favour strongholds in the south of England and sparsely vegetated areas, typical of chalk Northamptonshire. Found typically in or limestone grassland, and use disused mature woodlands where its caterpillar railway lines and recently abandoned food plant (sallow) is plentiful, this industrial sites, too. In Leicestershire and species takes to the wing in late June Rutland, they can be found at our Bloody or early July. Several records came from Oaks Quarry and Ketton Quarry nature the Charnwood Forest in 2019 and it has reserves in the east, and at a disused gained a foothold in the woodlands in railway site close to Melton Mowbray east Rutland. The male purple emperor is White-letter hairstreak at Asfordby. The grizzled skipper has a a stunning butterfly with a brilliant purple This once common butterfly has become striking brown-and-white checked wing sheen. Look for them feeding around much rarer due to the decline in elm, caused pattern. It is a fast flier, so is best observed the treetops in woodlands or on damp by Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and 1980s. in the morning as it basks in the sun to 1 ground, animal droppings or even carrion White-letter hairstreak still hangs on in areas warm up. It favours chalk grassland and in the morning. unaffected by the disease and is listed as a woodland habitats. 2 3 BAP species. Normally found in the treetops feeding on aphid honeydew, they will descend to nectar on flowering plants such as marjoram or bramble. They can be found at Cloud Wood and Launde Big Wood. Any Here are our top wildlife experiences elm trees are worth surveying for this elusive species. It gets its name from the white lines to have with family, friends or that form a ‘W’ shape on its underwing. grab a moment of peace and quiet Summertime for yourself… Nature Reserves 1 Cloud Wood, Breedon on the Hill, Marbled White Explore a wild woodland a record-breaking four chicks – what will they north west Leicestershire Silver-washed fritillary This unmistakeable butterfly can be seen Leicestershire and Rutland (particularly manage this year? You can keep up with all In summer, the woodland paths are covered the action on our website, as well as learn in marjoram which give off a delightful odour Another species undergoing a large at several of our grassland sites across Charnwood Forest) have lots of beautiful more about this iconic bird of prey and make as you brush past. Try counting the hundreds range expansion in Leicestershire and Leicestershire and Rutland. On the wing and wild woodlands, many dominated by the most of home education resources, too. of common spotted orchids. On still, sunny Rutland, this once rare butterfly can now from mid-june onwards, it can form large old oaks, which create a cool, dappled shade days, the flowers are visited by numerous be found at several sites. Cloud Wood colonies at grassland sites as it likes to beneath the canopy. Find a secluded spot Go on a garden bio-blitz butterflies and chiffchaffs can be heard has been a regular spot over the past few lay its eggs on long grasses. The eastern nearby and enjoy the butterflies dancing in You might be spending a lot more time singing in the trees. years, although it can also now be seen butterfly hotspots of Ketton Quarry and the glades, spot wildflowers blossoming in at home or in your garden this spring and in the Charnwood Forest at Ulverscroft Wall brown Bloody Oaks Quarry are known sites for the leaf litter and see how many trees you 2 Lea Meadows, Markfield, the marbled white, along with several summer, so this is the perfect time to get to Nature Reserve, and at Ketton Quarry and The wall brown has suffered a rapid decline can identify. Listen out for woodpeckers or central Leicestershire other spots in Rutland and a few in know exactly what wildlife lives with you. Using Bloody Oaks Quarry. The silver-washed in the past few decades but can still be see if you can spot a treecreeper or nuthatch Visit Lea Meadows and enjoy the peace and Leicestershire. This butterfly has shown the internet or books, you can start your very fritillary gets its name from the silver found in small areas of Leicestershire and flitting up and down the trunks. Listen for the quiet of this wonderful reserve in the heart evidence of a range expansion over the own mini bio-blitz by identifying all the species streaks on its underside. It prefers sunny Rutland. They favour areas with exposed mewing of a buzzard. Many forests are also of the Charnwood Forest. In late spring and last few years and has colonised a few new you can find. Check out bushes, log piles, grassy glades in woodlands. This species can be rocky outcrops, as they love basking in interspersed with some of the best meadows early summer you might be lucky enough to sites, too, so you’ve got a good chance of known to occasionally turn up in gardens, the sunshine. As such, they have found in the area, renowned for their richness and corners, under stones or in garden sheds to hear a cuckoo. Take a leisurely walk through bumping into this monochrome beauty. so keep an eye on your buddleia! the Charnwood Forest particularly to their diversity of flowers, plants and insects. see what creatures live on your doorstep. You’ll the meadows and see how many of the 240 probably already know the birds and mammals, different plant species you can spot. liking. Bardon Hill and Charnwood Lodge are Tune into the probably the two best places to see them. The so take the opportunity to meet less well-loved Bloody Oaks, Empingham, wall brown gets its name from the fact it rests creatures, like insects. 3 Rutland Ospreys east Leicestershire on any bare surface or wall. It is mainly pale If you’re stuck indoors for stretches of time You might be surprised! The species-rich limestone grassland orange with greyish-brown markings and this spring and summer, you can still tune If you’re stuck for supports a wide variety of summer flowering black eyespots, but be wary of confusion with into nature through our Osprey Webcam! You identification, post a plants and is a great place to spot butterflies other ‘brown’ butterflies. can livestream all the action from the Manton photo on social media on the wing. Plant highlights include autumn Purple emperor © Andy Neilson Bay nest at Rutland Water straight into your and an expert might gentian, yellow-wort, chalk milkwort and Silver-washed fritillary, Marbled White © Jim Higham living room, on your phone, laptop, computer be able to lend a hand! pyramidal orchids. Butterflies found here White-letter hairstreak © John Bridges or television – your very own real-life soap Grizzled skipper © Andrew Kerr Family enjoying a wild woodland include marbled white, green hairstreak and Wall brown © Amy Lewis opera! Last year, the Manton Bay nest fledged experience ©Tom Marshall dark-green fritillary.

12 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 13 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Continue towards the far Follow the public footpath west back side of the field. down towards the bottom of the valley, Take a Just before the far passing through a gateway into the field to hedgerow there is a your right and then on towards a low stile small enclosure on and bridge made of sleepers 8 . your left planted In this wet hollow there is a patch of giant summer stroll with alder trees. horsetail, which can grow 1.5m tall! Follow You can see the path up the slope and into a triangular around Coombs Meadows the upright field 9 . This is the richest of the fields for jointed stems botany and is designated a Local Wildlife of water Site. This field has wet areas, favouring Coombs Meadows (or Combs, Combes or horsetail, ragged robin, greater bird’s-foot trefoil and Coombes, depending on provenance!) are a a primitive the locally scarce whorl grass. In spring, marsh marigolds flower and betony plants suite of grasslands overlooking the Vale of plant related to ferns, now relatively uncommon in Leicestershire. bloom later in the summer. Belvoir. Let Andy Continue over the stream and up the Follow the footpath towards Stathern Lear take you on a opposite slope 6 . In the grass there are into a field with several low platforms 10 . stroll around this Along the stream by the fence and into one or two adder’s-tongue ferns, another These are thought to be remnants of an the woodland you can see soft shield-fern, species of old grassland. These are difficult old hall, once the home of Colonel Francis botanical haven common in western Britain, but unusual to find, but hopefully will spread Hacker, one of the officers supervising this summer… in Leicestershire with our drier across the reserve. the execution of Charles I during the Civil War. Hacker was tried and executed climate. Head towards the gate onto Coombs Meadows lies in October 1660, his property confiscated, Make your way down the slope Tofts Lane 7 . Here you south-east of the village of and the hall demolished. This field has towards a gateway on your right can appreciate the mosaic of Stathern. The walk starts a badger sett and the sandy soil attracts 5 . Head up the incline following small fields, hedgerows from the first gateway on rabbits. Pass through the gateway uphill a cattle track and past a patch and scattered scrub the left, up Mill Hill. Enter Coombs Meadows through the to the west and back into the first field. of gorse on the right. Gorse has which make up Bir You can see the top of Stathern church to kissing gate 1 . On the right is a pill box dating from the d’s bright yellow flowers throughout foo this piece of t t the north. The walk ends back near the Second World War. Walk up hill past the water trough, through re the year, but the best display is in f old countryside, o i pill box. the open gateway towards two trees, the last remnants of a l

the spring. Listen carefully: on hot sunny © now a haven

L former hedgerow grubbed out in the 1970s. Head for the top of e e days, the seed pods can be heard cracking for birds, bats the slope where the hedgerow meets the plantation. Here you’ll Sc as they split open to scatter their seeds. ho and invertebrates. have spectacular views across the Vale of Belvoir and fiield Trent Valley 2 . Follow the path with the wire fence on your right 3 . Toft’s Hill Much of the grassland was once sprayed with herbicides and is now species poor, but the area behind the fence is full of interesting plants including meadow saxifrage, a declining species of old grassland which flowers in May. 0 250m N The route now heads towards a pond, often dry in the summer 4 . On the uphill side is a marsh where common spotted orchids flower in June. Fact file The reserve is in the Belvoir escarpment. Toft’s Lane 7 (track) Two public footpaths cross the site with additional access points on the north side 8 from Toft’s Lane (track) or from Stathern. 9 There is permissive access to the rest of 10 the site. Please park on the verge on Mill 6 Hill by the gateway nearest to Stathern. 1 When walking around the site, please leave field gates as you found them, i.e. open or closed. The site is grazed by cattle 5 so please keep dogs on leads. Nearest postcode: LE14 4HQ Mill Hill 3 Size: 14.2ha For further information, please see our 4 CombsCombs PlantationPlantation Nature Reserves Guide or lrwt.org.uk 2

Common spotted orchid © Paul Lane Views across the fields at Coombs Meadows © Andy Lear Common Buzzard © Dennis Jacobsen 123rf.com Bird’s foot trefoil © Lee Schofield Meadow Saxifrage © Keiron Huston 14 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 15 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS 6 places to hear 1

Spring singers 4 5 2 Hear the symphony 3 for yourself 6

1 Ayr Gorge, Scottish Wildlife Trust In spring this wooded ravine comes alive with bird song, including warblers like chiffchaff and blackcap. Listen for the strange song of the dipper along the river. Where: Failford, KA5 5TF

2 Gilfach, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust In late spring the oak woodland echoes with the beautiful song of the wood warbler, an accelerating cascade often likened to the sound of a spinning coin. Where: Rhayader, Powys LD6 5LF

3 Catcott Complex, Somerset Wildlife Trust Ditches and reedbeds resound with the chattering of reed and sedge warblers and the explosive bursts of Cetti’s warbler song. Where: Near Burtle, TA7 8NQ

4 The Roaches, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust The woodland at Back Forest is a great place to hear the soft song of the redstart and the distinctive call of the cuckoo, as well as warblers including wood warbler. Where: Roach End, ST13 8TA

5 Kelham Bridge, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust This young nature reserve is bursting with life. A great site for warblers, listen in the early mornings and late evenings for the reeling of the grasshopper warbler – just like a fishing reel! Where: Ravenstone, LE67 2AN pring is a time of change. For our feathered friends, 6 thoughts turn from survival to more amorous Woods Mill, Sussex Wildlife Trust Listen for the beautiful song of the nightingale. There’s also the pursuits. As birds across the UK search for a mate, rare chance to hear the soft purr of the turtle dove, which sadly the landscape fills with song, the chorus growing is the UK’s fastest declining bird. Sas summer visitors arrive from farther south. Almost Where: Near Henfield, BN5 9SD any garden, park or nature reserve can offer a seasonal symphony, perhaps with the warble of blackcaps, the melodic voice of the blackbird and the flourishing finale of chaffinches. But to hear some of our most celebrated A chorus close to home singers, you may have to venture slightly farther afield. Wildlife Trusts across the UK run guided walks and events This spring, why not seek out the incomparable song of the to experience the joys of birdsong. Search for your nearest nightingale, the cascading chorus of a wood warbler or the at wildlifetrusts.org/events simple but splendid call of the cuckoo.

Wood Warbler by Andy Rouse/2020Vision

16 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 17 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Out of Africa: Rutland

than herself. The whole thing just spoke Schools and of a real appreciation of nature.” Ospreys First prize was a custom-built storytelling chair and area, providing the Ken Davies explains how perfect place for outdoor literacy lessons, encouraging pupils to write, perform and two Rutland schools listen to poetry and stories. The chair was are celebrating new crafted by Peter Leadbeater, a chainsaw sculptor and the ‘bookends’ behind it friendship links with were designed and painted by Emma partner schools in the Sheppard, a Leicester-based artist. These feature iconic wildlife-themed books such Tanji region of The as Charlotte’s Web and The Jungle Book Gambia. The Rutland alongside Phoebe’s own tale. ospreys travel from Phoebe found out that she had won live on BBC Radio Leicester when her their breeding sites story was read out on air. Annie Carter, All three children received certificates in Leicestershire and Headteacher at Christ the King Catholic and prizes for their schools. You can read Rutland down to the Voluntary Academy, said: “We were so the three winning stories and watch a proud of Phoebe when we found out that short film here:wildforestschool.org.uk beaches, marshes and her story had won first place. The chair is not only a wonderful way to celebrate mangrove creeks of Wild Phoebe’s creativity and imagination, but We have received valuable funding West Africa. also a beautiful legacy for her to leave in from players of People’s Postcode Students and teachers at Brooke the grounds of the school which will be Lottery, enabling us to run our Wild Priory School in Oakham and nearby used for years to come.” Forest School project since 2015. Whissendine School have been working Wild Forest School provides fun, with the Rutland Osprey Project and engaging opportunities for children the Osprey Leadership Foundation to stories “The children had in Leicester - some of whom have create unique relationships with their never had the chance to explore the counterparts at two schools at the clearly done their outdoors – to experience the natural southern end of the Osprey Flyway. are inspiring research about world and discover nature through a Earlier this year, a joint group of range of wild activities. osprey staff and volunteers from different species, 1,200 schoolchildren Rutland, Dorset and Cumbria delivered a generation… 39 primary schools letters and artwork to delighted their habitats and children and teachers at the African wild areas created Senior Education Officer Martha Rose explains how 5 schools and brought back replies and storytelling is bringing children in Leicester closer to nature features of them.” pictures to equally happy communities in Rutland. Ospreys were the first topic in the letters, but these young people, Last year, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust invited Supported by players of from such diverse backgrounds, were soon chatting about everything else – KS2 school pupils in Leicester to combine their creativity families, animals, school and (inevitably) with their love of nature and write their own short story their habitats and features of them. It football. The schools are now in regular was amazing how quickly a story could communication. about UK wildlife. The short story writing competition was develop in such a short piece of writing.” part of our Wild Forest School project; we want to inspire as The winners were: many children as possible to connect with the natural world. Phoebe, Christ the King Catholic 1 Voluntary Academy - The Day in the Storytelling encourages young minds to explore nature in new Life of a Squirrel and exciting ways, igniting their imaginations and increasing 2 Rafi, Leicester Preparatory School their understanding of the natural world. - The Tale of the Red Squirrel

The judging panel included BBC Radio writers used wildlife across the spectrum Ruqiya, Sparkenhoe Community 3 Primary School - The Striped Fox Leicester presenter Jimmy Carpenter, of characters - heroes and villains, friends To add to this wonderful story, male Leicester Mercury News Editor Linda and foes. Great stuff!” Phoebe’s story, about a squirrel called Osprey (056) who hatched in Manton Steelyard, Environmental Education Co- Twenty-six stories from seven schools ‘Scampy’ who lives in her garden, was Bay in 2019 and was celebrated as ordinator for Leicester City Council Lee were entered and all our judges were chosen as the overall winner. “She placed the 150th Rutland Osprey chick, was Jowett and LRWT Grow Wild gardener blown away: “I was really interested to herself in the story and it felt like she photographed just a few miles from the Matthew Herbert. They said: “They were see the breadth of knowledge about UK wrote about real experiences of enjoying Tanji schools in February. so imaginative and many of them were wildlife in her garden. Cleverly, she made wildlife. The children had clearly done Tanji Life Lower Basic school very original, interesting and fun. The their research about different species, the squirrel the main character rather Christ the King storytelling garden © LRWT, Grey squirrel © Gillian Day 18 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 19 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS NATURAL CARBON SOLUTIONS

Urban Urban greenspaces help make cities be er in a world that’s ge ing ho er. Peatland Young street trees take up carbon dioxide and urban woodlands help control the BY JOANNA RICHARDS Peatlands cover just 3% of the local climate by providing shade and earth’s surface, but store more carbon reducing the street temperature. than any other habitat on land (more Pleasant greenspaces can also than twice the carbon of all the world’s encourage people to walk and forests put together). But when cycle rather than jump damaged, as in the UK, they release in a car! carbon, contributing to climate change – so restoration is essential.

We face a climate emergency. Extreme weather events are on the increase and the impacts of a warming climate are becoming evident on our beloved wildlife, Woodland Grassland with some UK species being pushed to the furthest limits of their natural ranges. To tackle a crisis of this As they grow, trees absorb carbon Healthy grassland soaks up and scale, it is imperative every tool in the box is used, from the atmosphere, storing it in stores carbon in its roots and the and this includes the natural solutions offered by our their trunk, boughs and roots and as soil. Grasslands that are undisturbed planet. Over half of all carbon emissions released into organic ma er in woodland soils. So, by arable agriculture and protected new woodland creation – through the atmosphere by humans are re-absorbed by the from soil erosion through sustainable natural regeneration for example – management are important stores. Yet Earth’s natural systems. And yet, many of these systems helps to combat climate change. in the UK, we’ve lost 97% of our are broken, the habitats providing them damaged and semi-natural grassland and they degraded. Restoring these systems would allow even continue to be at risk. more carbon to be absorbed – and The Wildlife Trusts are playing a leading role in helping this happen.

At sea, the Trusts fought for the Marine Act 2009: properly implemented it restores our most important carbon absorber and the wildlife that lives within it, Seaweed including kelp and phytoplankton. On land, 9% of and kelp forests the UK’s surface is a huge carbon store with carbon locked up in wet peat. Carbon is also stored in organic Kelp grows incredibly quickly, sucking rich soils, especially those under grasslands and up carbon as it does. These underwater forests provide critical short-term woodlands. For decades, The Wildlife Trusts have carbon stores. When they die, bits of pioneered peatland restoration and sustainably kelp sink into the deep sea, where managed woodlands and grassland Seagrass they remain for a long time. meadows. This work continues, thanks to our supporters, helping in the meadows fight against climate change. Saltmarsh These aquatic flowering plants are Like peatlands and grasslands, responsible for around 10% of all carbon buried in the ocean, despite covering less Illustration: Hilliard Design intertidal saltmarsh provides an important carbon store in its soils. than 0.2% of the ocean floor. They store Saltmarshes also act as a buffer against carbon 35 times faster that rainforests, coastal erosion – although this and but estimates suggest that globally we rising sea levels is leading to the loss are losing an area of seagrass the of this habitat, with only 15% of its size of two football pitches historic range remaining. every hour. Marine sediments

Phytoplankton – miniscule marine algae – absorb carbon as they grow. When they die, some of the carbon they’ve taken up sinks to the ocean floor, where it can remain for thousands of years.

20 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 21 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE

Butterflies and moths have suffered huge declines in hedgehogs and amphibians. So by gardening for recent years. This is largely due to habitat loss, but moths, we can also help other wildlife. Gardening for agricultural pesticides and climate change have made As adults, most butterflies and moths drink life even more challenging for many species. Happily, nectar, but their caterpillars eat leaves and other there’s plenty we can do to help them on our own plant material. To make them truly welcome in our patch, no matter its size. The UK’s gardens take up gardens, we need to support all stages of their life Kate Bradbury more space than all of its nature reserves put together, cycle by growing nectar-rich flowers for the adults is passionate about moths and Grow nectar-rich flowers so if we all gardened with butterflies and moths in and foodplants for the caterpillars. We also need to wildlife-friendly Make sure something is in flower mind, we could help slow, or even reverse, some of accommodate the stage in between caterpillar and gardening and from March through to November, these declines. adult – the chrysalis (butterfly) or cocoon (moth). the author of starting with primroses, bluebells We tend to feel more fondly about butterflies than Many species spend the winter in this vulnerable Wildlife Gardening butterflies and forget-me-not in spring, then moths, which can be viewed with ambivalence as stage so leave a little patch to grow a bit wild for for Everyone and By day and by night, gardens large and small can provide a haven alliums, lavender and scabious in they fly at night and a few species eat our clothes. them. Making space for butterflies and moths to Everything in for Britain’s beleaguered butterflies and moths. Kate Bradbury late summer, and late-flowering But not all moths fly at night – the six-spot burnet feed, breed and hibernate in our gardens will make association with Verbena bonariensis, sedums and and hummingbird hawkmoth can be spotted during all the difference to these struggling pollinators. The Wildlife Trusts. rudbeckias in autumn. suggests nine ways to support all the stages of their life cycles the day – and many of them are just as beautiful as their day-flying cousins. Only about five of our Discover more ways to welcome moths Illustration: Hannah Bailey, Photo: Sarah Cuttle 2,500 species eat clothes and moth caterpillars and butterflies into your garden on our Plant some climbers are an important source of food for nesting birds, website: wildlifetrusts.org/butterflygarden Bare fences and walls are a wasted opportunity to help butterflies. Cover them with Grow night-scented plants Avoid cutting down plants and provide nectar-rich Plant groups of common jasmine, flowers and shelter for species, such plants in autumn Plant a mixed native hedge evening primrose, honeysuckle and as brimstones, to hibernate. If you Some butterflies, such as night-scented stock together, so that grow hops, comma butterflies may orange-tips, overwinter as If you have space, plant a native tree moths can find them more easily. lay their eggs on its leaves. chrysalises, which makes or two. Many moths lay their eggs on them vulnerable to tidying. the leaves of willow, dog rose, birch Leave plants intact over and hawthorn. Grow a climber, such winter and clear them in as honeysuckle, through the hedge spring instead. Always check to make it even more moth-friendly. for chrysalises just in case!

Provide caterpillar Leave some weeds foodplants Many moths lay their eggs on the Butterflies need the right leaves of nettles, brambles, dock and plants to lay eggs in your dandelions. Even leaving weeds at garden. Grow cuckooflower Add a window box the back of borders, where you can’t for caterpillars of the orange- If you don’t have a garden see them, will make a difference. tip butterfly, nettles for or your space is small, peacocks, small tortoiseshells grow nectar-rich flowers and red admirals, and holly in pots, window boxes or and ivy for the holly blue. hanging baskets. Choose low-growing primrose Don’t be too tidy and lavender for pots, and While some moths breed in nasturtiums for baskets. long grass, many caterpillars and pupae spend winter hibernating in grass or among leaf litter and other plant debris. Leave things where they are in autumn and winter, and tidy up in spring instead.

22 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 23 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust MY WILD LIFE

What wildlife have you seen since making the changes? This has all happened in the past year or so. The pond has only been in since June and there “It’s like entering a were birds immediately queuing up, including in a livery yard. A two-acre field came up for swallows taking mud for their nest, our first different world. sale close by, which we bought and moved the linnet and a yellow wagtail. There’s a green ponies in to. Being great stonking Highlands, woodpecker yaffling constantly and a great- We feel ‘at peace’.” they made a right mess of it. Then I had an spotted woodpecker on the feeder. We’ve even accident. I carried on riding, but it knocked had ospreys over the garden and fishing pond my confidence. We eventually sold the horses just behind us. but kept the field. I’ve always loved nature, so Your enthusiasm is infectious. What advice do You’ve got health problems, like severe back started birdwatching and wildlife photography you have for anyone wanting to transform their pain. Do you find having nature so close has again. I joined Leicestershire and Rutland land? helped? Wildlife Trust. Now we’ve got three miniature I would 100% recommend a pond. It’s not Oh gosh yes! A lot of the photos I’ve taken Shetland ponies who take up half the field, but specially planted and it’s easy to maintain. Any are through my window. Those birds and the rest we’re transforming for nature. size will do, and you can get advice on what will photography have kept me sane – just being We started by putting up this amazing work for you. Ben and Claire from LRWT came able to see the nature, right there, even in the wooden bird feeding station and nest boxes. to visit us and were so helpful. They carried out tiny garden, has made all the difference. There’s The next step was planting trees. We got advice a survey and advised us on construction, for so much going on and it’s just magic. from a local native tree expert called Hugh and example the southern end should be shallow Has this become a way of life? planted 75 trees. It was the weekend before and the edges wiggly. They have leaflets or you Absolutely. I’m a graphic and web designer Christmas, and it was can phone them for advice. and I’m trying to make my whole life as climate backbreaking! Species What else do you use this area for? positive as I can. We have an electric car, use were all UK native and We’ve camped out a few times. I’ve got an environmentally friendly power company, included cricket bat art materials, books and of course, my I buy as much second-hand as possible and willow, alder, guelder photography. We’ve even taken Phil’s teenage use an eco-friendly hosting company for my rose, wild pear, hazel kids down there. They thought they would hate websites. We do as much as possible and want and hawthorn. We’ve it (no signal!), but we toasted marshmallows to encourage others to make changes in their recently added and played old fashioned games and they own lives, too! another 200 native loved it. They’ve asked to come back and do it trees, so we’ll have a again. It’s our little piece of heaven. proper little woodland. Contact us if you or someone “It’s not conservation What would you like to do next? you know could feature in a But we knew that a pond would make I would love to put up a barn owl box. We future issue of Wild! We’re looking for the biggest difference, to get amphibians and don’t see this as ‘conservation’ – it’s creation. inspiring stories from people like you! provide water for other animals. I wanted a We’re creating this wildlife haven from nothing, – it’s creation” pond that was big, sloping, deep in the middle so the possibilities are endless. We’re not and shallow around the outside. We dug it Liz & Phil, Market Overton, Rutland conserving what’s here already – we’re making Liz & Phil; garden feeding station; Shetland ponies; ourselves but got advice from LRWT. it better. field pond © Lucy McRobert, Linnet at pond © Liz England n our new feature, we’ll be travelling around Tell me about your garden ILeicestershire and - It’s tiny but there’s lots going on… Rutland meeting some When we moved in, we had a tiny garden – amazing people who are literally some grass, a tree and hedge. There was nothing else. We wanted to change that. All the making a difference for bushes in our garden are planted for wildlife. wildlife in their own lives. We added water for bathing and drinking. There’s nest boxes and peanut feeders, coconut Lucy McRobert meets Liz halves, seeds and so on. There are bits of apple England and husband Phil on trees for blackbirds, and we’ve had fieldfares, from Rutland, who have too. We’ve got such a variety of birds here, including a semi-resident blackcap and even transformed a two-acre coal tits. horse paddock into a haven It’s amazing! But you’ve expanded a bit now? for wildlife. I used to have two Highland ponies that I kept 24 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 25 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS NATURE CLOSE TO HOME

Swifts epitomise British summertime with their screaming flight. But as fewer of these miraculous birds return to our skies each year, Sarah Gibson Sarah Gibson reveals how we can help them works for Shropshire Wildlife Trust. She’s met swift experts across Europe, raises local awareness of the The secret birds’ plight and revels in the aerial skill of lives of these awesome birds. swifts

wifts are not the quietest birds. Nor There was a pair nesting in the eaves aphids, flies, spiders, beetles, moths; even birds come to the UK when so many of extended feeding forays by the in walls, under roof eaves or inside are they given to skulking in the of the house next door. They would dragonflies, whirled into the sky, carried our summer days are rain-soaked, making parent birds during incubation pantiles (S-shaped roof tiles). Gathering undergrowth. They live their entire storm down the narrow gap between the on the wind. Swifts drink and bathe, sleep it difficult, you might think, to catch the and brooding can cause the materials takes time – all the feathers, lives in the open air, scything past buildings with a rush of wings, and perform and even mate on the wing. They fly closer insects they need to feed their young. nest to fail. Swift embryos, by wisps of grass, tree seeds and flower sepals Son crescent wings, often making piercing a handbrake turn to enter their nest hole. to the sun than any other bird, feeding and The answer must be that, apart from contrast, are resistant to cooling, must be found on the wing, blowing about screeches. Yet, like many people, I never Blink and you’d miss them. Sitting in the resting at altitude. the occasional particularly bad year, it except at the start of incubation. in the air. Inevitably, scraps of plastic are used to notice them. garden on fine, still evenings, I watched Swifts spend most of their lives in Africa, works for them – and has done for Chicks can become torpid (a now often found woven into the nest, a There had been swallows nesting in them gliding through the air, snapping up but they journey thousands of miles to millions of years. In fact, our northern state of lowered metabolism) to conserve shallow dish glued together with saliva. a barn near my old home in the Welsh insects, until the light drained from the sky breed in a vast swathe across the world, summers have a great advantage for energy, enabling the parent birds to feed Finding a nest hole is the most crucial borders. I’d see them swooping over the and the first bats emerged. from the westernmost fringes of Europe, swifts – long daylight hours, which allow elsewhere, until the weather improves. thing a swift has to do. Most individuals stable door, beaks stuffed with insects eastward to China. Around the globe there them to forage for 16 hours a day at the Once they are a few weeks old and have do not breed until their fourth year, but for their chicks. Later, I’d watch the Life on the wing are estimated to be somewhere between season’s peak. fat reserves, swift chicks can survive the young birds still make the migration fledglings practise flying in the safety Swifts are incredibly aerial birds, living 95 million and 165 million of them sailing Swifts have several unusual adaptations several days without nourishment, greatly journey and start looking for a safe, dark of the barn. When I moved to a nearby entirely on the wing for years at a time, across the skies, justifying their English that enable them to cope with our bad enhancing their chances of fledging in hole. Once they have found one, the young market town, I missed that closeness… rarely touching ground for even a moment. name of ‘common swift’. weather. The eggs and chicks of most variable weather conditions. birds pair up and start to bring until I discovered swifts. They catch all their food in the air: You may wonder why these well-travelled small birds are vulnerable to chilling, so Swifts make their nests in crevices in feathers and other nest materials.

Common swift: Robin Chittenden/Naturepl.com 26 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 27 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust NATURE CLOSE TO HOME

How to Swifts like high, deep Swifts migrate between the UK and crevices to nest, but as their wintering grounds south of the many old buildings have Sahara. They are the UK’s fastest distinguish swifts been lost and roof spaces birds in level flight, reaching Swifts are not hirundines (the family of filled, their numbers speeds of up to 69.3 mph birds that includes swallows and martins), have declined but they have a similar appearance and lifestyle, so are often confused with them

Common swift Slender, scythe- Apus apus shaped wings

Uniform dark brown all over

Pale throat patch

Swallow Hirundo rustica White underparts Glossy blue upperparts

The apparent joie de vivre of young because the homes and other buildings results in access to their holes being nesting bricks (a brick with a hole GET INVOLVED swifts is breathtaking. You hear them we constructed for ourselves have also blocked, while new housing tends to be behind which a nest box is fixed) Red face Long, deeply before you see them, screeching over the suited them. Today though, we make it sealed completely against nature. Modern written into local planning policy and and throat forked tail rooftops in gangs of seven or eight, racing much harder for these birds to survive. building materials, such as plastic soffits building conditions. Five ways circuits around buildings. As the poet Fewer insects is likely to be a factor – (part of the eaves), offer little potential for North Wales Wildlife Trust is particularly to help swifts House martin Ted Hughes put it: many other insectivorous birds are also future weathering and gaps opening up. active on behalf of swifts. Delichon urbicum Glossy Their lunatic, limber scramming frenzy in decline – but swifts are also up against We need to accommodate nesting swifts – Ben Stammers, the Trust’s people and Ensure nesting holes are kept blue-black And their whirling blades a catastrophic loss of nesting cavities. and urgently. wildlife officer, is passionate about the open when carrying out roof Black tail short and 1 upperparts Sparkle out into blue Renovation of old buildings almost always birds and, since 2014, has raised funds to renovations or insulation clearly forked Hughes also wrote the much-quoted lines Meet the swift champions install more than 300 nestboxes on schools, about the swifts’ return: Thankfully, an inspirational movement of houses, university buildings, Put up a swift box on your house. They’ve made it again, Renovation of old swift champions is coming to the rescue a community pub, a doctor’s surgery, 2 Make sure it’s at least five metres high Which means the globe’s still working, the buildings almost across the UK. Around 90 small groups are a theatre and a chapel in the area. Stop using garden chemicals to Creation’s taking action locally. They run surveys to More than 60 people have been trained 3 support a healthy insect population Still waking refreshed, our summer’s find swift breeding sites, work to prevent as surveyors and, so far, 500 swift Bright always results in Keep records of swifts entering Still all to come nesting holes from being blocked, install records have been submitted to their white holes in buildings and tell your This anxiety about whether or not ‘our’ access to swift nest nestboxes, share information and help raise database. Dozens of talks, walks and other 4 rump Underparts white local record centre swifts will return each May is something holes being blocked awareness through walks and talks – all events have engaged more than 1,000 local most swift-watchers can relate to, but with the support of their communities. people. Find out more about swifts and Sand martin concerns have escalated since Ted Hughes’s Several of these groups work with their Ben sums up what it means to him: 5 how you can help protect them at Riparia riparia poem was published over 40 years ago, with regional Wildlife Trusts, which are perfectly “Seeing joy in people’s faces when they wildlifetrusts.org/swifts Sandy brown above White belly a massive and alarming 57% decline in positioned to assist grassroots action, such watch swifts on their own patch is so and throat numbers in the UK recorded between as nestbox schemes in church belfries and uplifting. I hope swifts can become an Swifts & Us: The life of 1995 and 2017. public buildings. The Wildlife Trusts also inspiration for how we can share our living the bird that sleeps in For thousands of years, advocate the use of swift nest bricks – and space with wildlife, to the benefit of us all. the sky by Shropshire swifts have lived alongside us, nature-friendly green spaces – in new If we can’t find ways to help a species as Wildlife Trust’s housing developments. Several Trusts are fascinating and charismatic as the swift – Shallow Sarah Gibson will be fork in tail campaigning directly with and one so dependent on us – what hope is Brown breast-band As traditional nest sites become published by William local authorities and working with there?” I feel sure that’s a sentiment we can separating throat scarce, you can help by fitting a Collins this spring. from belly wooden nest box to your home planners to get the installation of swift all agree with.

Illustrations: Chris Shields, Swift at eaves: Nick Upton, Nest box: Nick Upton, swifts in flight: Graham Catley

28 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 29 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Anita Sethi Joe Harkness Anita is a writer, journalist and critic and has Joe is a SENCO and birdwatcher from Norfolk. We’ve asked the written for publications including The Guardian, His book, Bird Therapy, explores the therapeutic Observer, BBC Wildlife and appeared on BBC benefits of birdwatching for mental health and experts for their top radio. She has been published in several wellbeing. anthologies, including the forthcoming Women Garden bird feeding is tips on staying wild on Nature. the easiest and most at home – here’s what I turn to inner landscapes of accessible way to engage they had to say… memory during this time of with birdwatching. The best lockdown, as I relive through thing about it is that it can writing a long walk I made take place from within the comfort of last summer. All of us here your home; in fact, our bird feeders are in the UK, along with much of the world, strategically placed so they can be viewed have had the time we can spend outside from all of the rear-facing windows, even severely limited, with one walk per day when I’m washing up! Through frequent for exercise only in local places. Some observation, you can build up a sense of of us self-isolating or ill won’t be able to what I call your ‘garden bird community.’ make it outside at all. However, the inner This can generate feelings of consistency treasure-trove of memories of nature has and safety; it’s reassuring to know that proven a rich resource and I am learning your garden birds are there, no matter how experiences of nature grow inside what is happening in the world. 30 Days of us forever after, the trees and flowers Through careful observation and the The UK’s flourishing in the memory; the two-way relationship of feeding mountains rising up again; and watching, your garden biggest and a reservoir of experiences to birds can become an integral best wildlife keep us resilient until the part of your life, as they have doors of the world in mine. Wild challenge are again thrown open. Can you do something wild every day for 30 days throughout the month of June? Of course you can! improve our confidence and creativity, Juliet Sargeant and help us cope with stressful life events. Juliet is a Sussex garden designer specialising in Jini Reddy Sign up and be inspired by connecting people to nature to enhance Nature can help us recover from illnesses, Jini is an author and journalist. Her new book, their health and well-being. Visit her website: Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape Leicestershire and Rutland cope with grief and loss and even help Lucy Jones sussexgardenschool.com (Bloomsbury) is out this spring and you can people to manage mental health problems, Lucy is an author and freelance journalist, Wildlife Trust and our writing on culture, science and nature. Check follow her on Twitter @Jini_Reddy. like anxiety, stress and depression. And it’s Introducing water into your out her latest book: Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Random Acts of Wildness… garden is the number one I’m lucky to have a garden free! Need the Wild (2020, Allen Lane). because all our lives are better Random Acts of Wildness are about thing that you can do to and for me, it’s as simple finding the wild near you, discovering support all manner of wildlife. While researching my new as sitting barefoot on the when they’re a bit wild. I have a tiny pond, little more book Losing Eden: Why Our grass. I really think there is A Random Act of Wildness is any little nature on your doorstep. Even if you’re spending more time indoors right now, we than a bucket and it is the best thing I Minds Need the Wild, I was something powerful in that thing that you can do that gets you to ever did to encourage and support the fascinated by the amount immediate, intimate connection: I can experience, learn about or even help want to help inspire you to stay connected to nature. wildlife in my garden. Insects, birds, toads of evidence I found for the feel the aliveness in the earth, ‘listen’ to nature near you. They are quick and and frogs all love it. If you put water therapeutic power of natural sounds the landscape through my feet. It’s my simple to do, and when put together they in your garden, within weeks it will be such as birdsong. As spring unfurls, lifeforce, meeting the earth’s. Even just add up to a big change – for you and for Sign up online to get your free buzzing with life. If you can make it it’s a perfect time to open a window if shutting my eyes and feeling the wind or wildlife. There are no excuses for not downloadable pack. deep, or install a fountain, that will help you’re up as the sun rises, to hear the the sun on my face is soothing, a caress getting the whole family involved. Nature that getting your daily wildlife-fix will lrwt.org.uk/30dayswild to keep the water fresh, but if not, either dawn chorus, a magical wall of sound. in the absence of human hugs. If you’re is great for all ages, and can be beneficial do the world of good. There’s now lots of add some oxygenating weed, or top it up It has been found to boost feelings of stuck in a tower block or a flat, I would to the most vulnerable in society, so science out there that underpins this, too: Birdwatching © Rob Jordan 2020Vision occasionally with rainwater. Even a small relaxation, calmness and wellbeing and open a window if you can and look to encourage everyone you can to sign up for spending time in nature makes us happier Boy with binoculars © LRWT bowl refreshed daily or reduce stress. I’ll be trying to make the skies. The shapes and shifting of the their wild adventure too. Family in woodland © Tom Marshall and healthier. Just like eating a balanced Water in Gardens © Matthew J Thomas birdbath is a welcome pit-stop the most of the dawns when clouds, the arc of the sun, the We all instinctively know it: spending diet and exercising helps our minds and Juliet Sargeant © Maria Scard Photography for weary travellers and creates I’m up with my baby by shadows, the moon: right there, Anita Sethi © Toby Rhind-Tutt time outdoors is good for us. After all, we bodies, wildlife and wild places help us to Lucy Jones © Gemma Brunton an ever-changing garden learning the different types of you’re in touch with nature are all part of nature, so it makes sense get active, encourage us to be more social, Jini Reddy © Laura Ashman feature for humans to enjoy. birdsong in our garden. an extension of yourself. 30 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 31 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre We are constantly monitoring the COVID 19 situation and Tuesday 21st July, 9.30am – 12.30pm Wednesday 2nd September, 11.00am – 1.00pm will adhere to all Government guidance as a minimum. At Guided Walk with Jeff Wildlife Book Club See July for details. See July for details. present, all our events up to the 30th June 2020 have been regretfully cancelled. Anyone who has booked onto an Wild Walk Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Friday 24th July, 1.30 – 3.30pm Sunday 6th September, 10.00am – 4.00pm Events and event will have been notified by email, but if you are unsure Dragonfly Walk w Willow weaving deer - one-day course please email [email protected]. This list is correct at the at Grantham Canal, with Claire Install Spend the day creating your own Willow Deer for your garden or time of publication (mid-April 2020), but please check our Celebrate National Dragonfly Week by joining this walk along Grantham conservatory. This course is suitable for beginners and those who wish to Canal led by Senior Conservation Officer Claire Install. This walk is in further their skills All materials will be provided, and refreshments and lunch website for regular updates. We thank you for your support partnership with the Canal and River Trust. Whether you are a complete are included. Booking essential, £50.00pp. Activities and patience. beginner or want some useful tips to hone your identification skills, Charnwood Local Group everyone is welcome to discover which summer species are on the wing July – September 2020 Wednesday 9th September, 7.30pm along the canal. Booking essential, £5pp. Cone Shells - Killers or Curers We offer an amazing, interesting and varied Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Brian Hammond’s talk includes fascinating stories about his favourite programme of events for all ages to get involved with, Saturday 25th July, 12 midday – 3.00pm mollusc family the “Conidae”. These venomous and carnivorous snails hunt JULY Dragonfly Walk at Rutland Water their prey and some have been known to kill humans. The venom is being organised by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Join local expert Tony Clarke on an introductory talk then a walk to learn more used extensively in drug research. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre and our Local Groups. Members and non-members about fascinating dragonflies and damselflies. Booking essential. £12pp or £8 Wednesday 1st July, 11.00am – 1.00pm Leicestershire and Rutland Badger Group for permit-holders, includes parking and all-day access to RWNR. are welcome unless otherwise stated. Please note Wildlife Book Club Thursday 10th September, 7.30pm that this programme advertised is liable to change or If you love reading and wildlife, the Trust’s Wildlife Book Club is for you! The Amazing Life of Birds cancellation, for which the Trust can accept no liability. Get in touch with our Volunteer and Events Coordinator at Tony Clarke will amaze us with little known facts [email protected] or call 01572 270 049. Free to join. about the lives of birds with spectacular bird behaviour photographs. To see the latest updates on our events and to book, AUGUST please go to www.lrwt.org.uk/events. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Wild Walk Saturday 4th July, 10.00am – 4.00pm Monday 3rd August through to Friday 7th August, 9.30am – 4.30pm daily Friday 11th September, 9.00am – 11.00am Charnwood Local Group Willow Weaving bird sculpture - one-day course Nature Detectives Week Autumn Bird Watching w Indoor meetings are held at Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall. Admission This day session will cover the basics from a simple small wren to a larger Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre at Priors Coppice with Andy Neilson bird of your choice (within reason – no peacocks!). This course is suitable Join Conservation Officer Andy Neilson for a morning walk at Priors £2.50 for members, £3 non-members, refreshments included. Contact Tuesday 4th August, 9.30am – 12.30pm for beginners and those who wish to further their skills. All materials will Guided Walk with Jeff Coppice looking at the birds that can be found there such as woodpeckers Kate Moore on 01509 891 005, email [email protected], or and nuthatches. Booking essential, £5pp. be provided, and refreshments and lunch are included. Booking essential, See July for details. £50.00pp. John Spencer on 0116 236 4279. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September – 9.45am – 4.00pm Great Bowden Local Group Wild Walk Wednesday 5th August, 11.00am – 1.00pm Indoor meetings are held at the Village Hall, The Green, Great Bowden. Saturday 4th July, 8.45pm – 11pm Wildlife Book Club Dry Stone Walling for Beginners – two-day course w This two-day course will give you the basic principles of the craft of stone wall Admission £2.50 for members, £3.50 non-members, refreshments Bats & Glow Worms at Ketton See July for details. Bat enthusiast Jenny Harris will lead this evening walk to search for building and repairing, with hands-on experience. John Shone, professional included. Contact Bruce White on 01858 467 976. different species of bats in the village. We will then move on to the old Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre stone waller, will be your instructor. Booking essential, £90.00pp. Tuesday 18th August, 9.30am – 12.30pm Humberstone Local Group quarry to search for the fascinating light display of the female glow worms. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Indoor meetings are held at Netherhall Neighbourhood Centre, £5pp. Guided Walk with Jeff Tuesday 15th September, 9.30am – 12.30pm See July for details. Armadale Drive, Leicester. Admission £2, refreshments included. Rutland Local Group: Cossington Meadows Guided Walk with Jeff Contact Alison Gardner on 0116 241 3598. Saturday 4th July, 10.00am – 12.00pm Wild Walk See July for details. Flora of Cossington Meadows Tuesday 18th August, 10.00am – 12.00pm Melton Mowbray Local Group w Great Bowden Local Group A joint meeting with RNHS and LRWT Rutland Local Group will be led by Heathland Walk Wednesday 16th September, 7.30pm Indoor meetings are held at United Reform Church, Chapel Street, Chris Hill, to investigate the wonderful wildlife on this important Soar Valley at Charnwood Lodge, with Neil Pilcher The Leicester Cathedral Peregrines Join Senior Conservation Officer Neil Pilcher to Learn about the wildlife of Melton Mowbray. Admission £1.50 for members, £2 non-members, site. Meet at the main entrance on Syston Road in Cossington. Enquiries to Jim Graham of the Leicestershire Peregrine Project tells us about this Charnwood Lodge and how the reserve is managed. refreshments included. Contact Peter Dawson on 01664 852 119 or Jayne Walker on 07957340545 or [email protected]. fascinating venture. Booking essential, £5pp. email [email protected] Wild Walk North West Local Group Wild Walk North West Local Group Tuesday 7th July, 10.00am – 12.00pm Friday 18th September, 7.30pm Summer Walk at Lea Meadows, with Neil Pilcher w Wednesday 19th August, 8.00pm – 10.00pm Indoor meetings are held at the Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton Road, w The Principles of Nature Conservation Learn about the wildflowers and wildlife of Lea Meadows and how the Barn Owl Walk John Clarkson, Head of Conservation at LRWT, outlines the principles Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Admission £3. Contact David Maltby on reserve is managed. Booking essential, £5pp. at Sunset at Cossington Meadows, with Chris Hill of wildlife conservation and how they are applied to our nature reserves. 01530 222 934 or Margaret Mabey on 01530 412 410. Join Conservation Officer Chris Hill at Cossington Meadows to discover the Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre barn owls flight in the evening with the option to finish for drinks at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Oadby & Wigston Local Group Tuesday 7th July, 9.30am – 12.30pm Royal Oak Pub. Booking essential, £5pp. Saturday 19th September, 10.00am – 4.00pm Indoor meetings are held at Trinity Methodist Church, Oadby. Guided Walk with Jeff Willow weaving deer - one-day course Join local nature expert Jeff Davies for a leisurely walk on a nature reserve at Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Admission £3, refreshments included. Contact Stuart Mucklejohn on Spend the day creating your own Willow Deer for your garden or Egleton to discover the many species of birds and other wildlife. All abilities Sunday 30th August, 8.00pm – 10.00pm conservatory. This course is suitable for beginners and those who wish to 0116 281 0835 or email [email protected] welcome. Booking essential, £10pp (£5 Annual Permit Holder). Includes Discovering Bats - evening workshop further their skills All materials will be provided, and refreshments and lunch Rutland Local Group parking and access for the day. Do you like Bats? Or do you have a detector? Or perhaps you just want to are included. Booking essential, £50.00pp. find out more about these fascinating creatures. Join us for the evening Indoor meetings are held at the Trust’s Volunteer Training Centre, Wild Walk workshop on British bats. Booking essential, £10pp. Wild Walk off Oakham Road, Hambleton, LE15 8AD. Admission £2. Wednesday 15th July, 10.00am – 12.30pm Friday 25th September, 10.00am – 12.00pm w Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Contact Becky Howard on 07908 252271. Grasshopper Identification at Working with Natural Processes with Ben Devine w Cossington Meadows, with Chris Hill Sunday 30th August, 10.00am – 2.00pm - Natural Flood Management at Narborough Bog Leicestershire & Rutland Badger Group Join Conservation Officer Chris Hill to learn more about the grasshoppers Family Drop-in Day – Bugs and Ponds Join Ben Devine for a behind the scenes tour of the Natural Flood is affiliated to the Trust. Indoor meetings are held at the and crickets of Cossington Meadows. For beginners only. Includes a Field Drop in with the family for a session of bug hunting and pond dipping Management project interventions at our Narborough Bog nature reserve. followed by craft activities. No need to book, £3pp. Claremont Street Methodist Church, Leicester, LE4 7QH. Studies Council Guide to British Grasshoppers. This walk will describe the innovative natural flood defence works that have Admission £2, refreshments included. Contact Dr David Duckett on Booking essential, £10pp. taken place on the site over the last year and showcase how working with natural processes can benefit local wildlife and communities alike. 0116 259 7231. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre SEPTEMBER Booking essential, £5pp. Leicestershire & Rutland Bat Group Friday 17th July, 9.30am – 12.30pm Terry’s Birdwatching Walks Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre is affiliated to the Trust and the Bat Conservation Trust. Several of the This is an excellent opportunity to see the wide variety of wildfowl that Tuesday 1st September, 9.30am – 12.30pm Friday 25th September, 9.30am – 12.30pm Trust’s nature reserves have bat box schemes. Meetings are open to non visit Rutland Water in the winter. Booking essential, £10pp (£5 Annual Permit Guided Walk with Jeff Terry’s Birdwatching Walks members, free admission, no need to book. Holder), includes parking and access for the day. See July for details. See July for details. 32 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 33 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Badger Osprey Cruises Watches at Rutland Water at Rutland Water and Wildlife Cruises at Rutland Water are Holwell Nature Reserve the ultimate way to experience ospreys Badger Watches are the best way to and other wildlife for yourself. Set sail experience this enigmatic mammal for aboard the Rutland Belle at dawn or in the yourself. They take place every summer at two you’re in (so no toilet breaks). Start times vary 1 – 30 June nature reserves – Holwell Nature Reserve near on the time of year. afternoon for a 90-minute cruise and enjoy Melton Mowbray (organised by the Melton a different perspective on the reservoir. Local Group) and Egleton Nature Reserve with We plan to restart our Badger Watches in July We plan to restart our Osprey Cruises in our Trainee Reserves Officers. The evenings or August, subject to Government guidance start at dusk and last about two hours. and our partners. To see if they are running, July, subject to Government guidance and Children are welcome but please be aware and for dates and times, prices and to book, our partners. To see if they are running, and that they will need to sit quietly and still for a please visit lrwt.org.uk/events for dates and times, prices and to book, #30DaysWild long time, and you can’t leave the hide once Badger © Andrew Parkinson 2020Vision please visit lrwt.org.uk/events Are you

We are constantly monitoring the COVID 19 situation and will adhere to all Government guidance as a minimum. At present, all our events up to the 30th June o 2020 have been regretfully cancelled. Anyone who has booked onto an event will e f r have been notified by email, but if you are unsure please email [email protected]. ady WILD TOTS – Belgrave Hall r This list is correct at the time of publication (mid-April 2020), but please check our Wild Tots is a stay-and-play style session website for regular updates. We thank you for your support and patience. for nature loving 2- to 5-year olds and their parents/carers to get outside and explore and enjoy nature together. This is the monthly Don’t miss a thing – Sign up to the e-newsletter group at Belgrave Hall and Gardens, Leicester ? for events, activities, projects and campaigns from 10 – 11.30am. Booking Essential – contact [email protected] #30DaysWild RUTLAND WATER • Wednesday 8th July WILDLIFE WATCH GROUP WILD PLAY This group meet at the Anglian Water Wild Play sessions are our school holiday Birdwatching Centre, Egleton, Rutland activities for children aged 5 - 12 years old. 10.00am - 12.00pm unless otherwise stated. • £5 per child per session at July Attenborough Arboretum Special Trip for Group Members • £3.50 at Burbage Common (in partnership with Hinckley and Keep bang up to date with all things August Bosworth Borough Council) family by signing up for our Wildlife TBC For more information and how to book Watch Family E-newsletter – 4 times a year visit lrwt.org.uk before main school holidays. Sign up via Sunday 13th September lrwt.org.uk/wildlife-watch Slime time! Wood Please see Wild Times newsletter in March Discover why slugs and snails Tuesday 21st July, 10.00am- 12.00pm, and June for more details. Booking is have slime and make some Attenborough Arboretum Wednesday 22nd July, 10.00am – 12.00pm, essential! Please book online from 28 eco-friendly slime of your own. Burbage Common days before. WILDLIFE WATCH FAMILY EVENTS These are special Wildlife Watch Family Fire ATTENBOROUGH ARBORETUM Tuesday 4th August, Member only events. Come and explore Can you 10.00am – 12.00pm, WILDLIFE WATCH GROUP our wonderful nature reserves and other do something This group meet at Attenborough Arboretum, Attenborough Arboretum wild places in the two counties with our Knighton, Leicester, LE2 3TQ Wednesday 5th August, knowledgeable staff or local wildlife experts. wild every day 10.30am - 12.30pm 10.00am – 12.00pm, THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY FULL See Wild Times Winter or Spring for Booking Burbage Common for 30 days? Passwords. – contact [email protected] to be added Nature needs us more than to waiting list. Shelter Sunday 11th July, 1.00pm – 3.00pm Tuesday 11th August, 10.00am – 12.00pm, ever… so take the challenge July Meadows and Butterflies Attenborough Arboretum Special Trip for Stonesby Quarry Nature Reserve, near Wednesday 12th August, 10.00am – 12.00pm, and share your love of Group Members. Waltham on the Wolds. Explore the flowers Burbage Common wildlife this June. and butterflies of this old quarry with a August Conservation Officer. PUBLIC EVENTS TBC Wednesday 29th July, 11.00am – 3.00pm, Friday 18th September, Friday 4th September, Time TBC Belgrave Hall & Gardens time TBC Bats Wild Play! in the Garden Bat and Moth night The Old Mill, 9 Soar Lane, Leicester Build a den, giant wildlife garden games, A night-time walk to see who is about – Start at our offices for a short talk followed muddy play and minibeast hunting also lrwt.org.uk/30dayswild use bat detectors and see what visits the by a canal/river side bat walk with one of our crafts and a wildlife quiz trail. moth trap. Conservation Officers. £3 per child - just drop in. 34 Wild Summer 2020 Summer 2020 Wild 35 my secret garden — MY WILD LIFE — Dixie, Crane Park Island, London

Getting outdoors allows Dixie to explore and express who she is. Her garden is an important place for her to connect with nature. Now she gets to share the joy of wildlife, and wildlife gardening, with more people by starring in the new film,The Secret Garden. See the film and then discover your own wild life. wildlifetrusts.org thesecretgardenfilm.co.uk

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