Kemerton Conservation Trust Kemerton Clippings

Issue 19 January 2017 Appeal for Help! Winter Waterfowl Watching at The Trust is looking for volunteer help in the following: the Water’s Edge Hide

Our Monthly Reserves © Kate Aubury Our final event of the year was a bird watch- Work Parties: ing walk around Kemerton Lake Nature Do you enjoy the Great Reserve led by our Governor, keen birder Outdoors? Are you looking for some exercise to keep Brett Westwood, on 7th December. We were you fit in 2017? Do you delighted to be able to share Brett’s want to learn more about knowledge with our members, many of whom our reserves and the will be familiar with his natural history work wildlife on them? If you answered yes to the above, Brett & attendees bird watching as a BBC 4 radio presenter, author and then why not consider join- during the winter walk naturalist working on BBC’s . ing our friendly team of work party volunteers! The primary focus of the walk was the large © Kate Aubury

Our reserves work party numbers of waterfowl that arrive at the lake team meets once a month in late autumn/early winter to overwinter on a Saturday throughout here, although we were also on the lookout the year (except December) for other winter migrants such as Snipe, Red- to assist with a variety of wing and Fieldfare. We also hoped to see a habitat management tasks on our reserves, all in or display of murmurating Starlings, although around Kemerton and because of the mild weather, the large flocks Brett & attendees on the new Hill. The work we normally get had not so far materialised. Water’s Edge Hide boardwalk parties run from 10am till 1pm and tasks suit a range of fitness levels. The walk started at our new Water’s Edge Typical activities include Hide, where attendees could enjoy views of planting trees, repairing Pochard, Wigeon and large numbers of Teal, tree guards, cutting back as well as the usual Coots, Greylag Geese and overgrown paths, raking Mute Swans. A Grey Heron on one of the up hay, painting hides and litter picking. All tools and nearby islands proved popular as well. We safety wear are provided. © Kate Aubury then continued around the north edge of the lake where we saw Snipe in the scrapes, If you are interested and Mute Swans & other waterfowl on the lake during the walk small flocks of Redwing & Fieldfare, Meadow would like more details, please contact Support Pipits flying up from the grass as we walked Coordinator Kate Aubury by and even heard a Water Rail, a very shy reed bed bird that is almost on 07765 334776 or email impossible to spot. There were the usual Cormorants and Oystercatchers [email protected]. along the lake edge, a few Lapwing flocking and we were treated to a

The Trust is dependent lovely flying display from the hundreds of Teal which were disturbed by upon the assistance it our presence. The walk ended at twilight, with the fine weather resulting receives from its many in a stunning sunset over the water, and a small number of Starling volunteers to continue managed a mini murmuration for our viewing pleasure. its important work in the local area, so please let us know if you can All in all it was a fantastic way to finish the year and everyone who came assist in any way. enjoyed themselves. Thank you to Brett for bringing his expertise.

PAGE 2 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 Bountiful Fruit Harvest ensures Annual Apple Day Success!

was quite poor and as a result garden which we encourage there weren’t many apples to them to look after in a nature juice, but thankfully 2016’s friendly way. harvest was plentiful and there were queues down the path for In addition to the apple press- the press! Children in particular ing, stands selling KOW’s © Kate Aubury love helping to throw the apples calendars, greeting cards and Local children filling the Apple into the Scratter to pulp them tea towels and our own Scratter outside the hall and then to turn the handle on information stand, visitors the press to squeeze out deli- could also enjoy some tasty Kemerton Orchard Workers’ cious, golden liquid. Freshly treats including apple cakes Annual Apple Day was held squeezed apple juice tastes and scones washed down with at Victoria Hall, Kemerton on wonderful. a cup of tea. All in all a lovely Saturday 15th October 2016. afternoon of orchard fun. The event raised £434 for the The Trust was there to support © Kate Aubury group, which manages Trust our sister organisation with an owned Daffurns Orchard in information stand highlighting Kemerton for the community. the work we do locally restoring and maintaining traditional The highlight of the event is orchards. It was great to chat to the apple pressing, where for lots of visitors about the a small fee you can bring your importance of orchards as a wild- own apples to be pressed into life habitat, especially as many juice using KOW’s lovely attendees have at least a couple KCT’s information stand manned by volunteers David & Lottie Aubury press. In 2015 the harvest of apple trees in their own

members. The scheme is look- ing for more members so if Funding Update you buy oil and want to know more and get great prices, We are delighted to confirm check out their website that our funding proposal for www.sesame.me.uk. The a Facilitator for the Carrant more members the group has Catchment Area Restoration CCARP - along with various from Kemerton, the more Project (CCARP) was offshoot projects - is currently money the Trust receives! successful, with Jenny Phelps the main focus for the Trust, starting in the post in last alongside our ongoing Long -term local supporter September (see page 7 for reserves management etc. so Bredon Forest School donated more details). Natural no other grant funding work an incredible £1100 to the has agreed funding was completed in the second Trust in the second half of for 5 years for this part-time half of 2016. 2016. These are unrestricted post and additional funds funds which are used to help aimed at supporting The Trust has been chosen as with general costs including restoration work and learning one of the recipients of a volunteer tools and materials opportunities within the dividend from local oil buying for reserve management. We project area. Jenny is looking club SeSaME, which began in are very grateful for their to recruit more partners to but now has generous support. this important and ambitious members in 12 local villages. project so we hope it will We will receive a dividend of Thank you to all who have continue to grow. £0.25ppl from Kemerton supported us this year!

PAGE 3 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 KCT Governors’ Annual Board Meeting 2016

At least once a year KCT volunteers for the work parties © Kate Aubury Governors meet for a Board as numbers have slumped Meeting to review the past recently. year’s work and set goals for the new year. In addition to One particular concern for our the governors the meeting is Governors is the impact that also attended by John Clarke Brexit may have on the Trust’s and Kate Aubury, who both income stream, as a significant report on their activities for portion of our unrestricted funds the year. come from agricultural subsidies KCT’s Chairman, Governors & key which are currently paid by the volunteers outside the new hide 2016 has seen grant funded EU. Unfortunately at this stage restoration work carried out we do not know what changes autumn light. Brett’s eagle on a remnant apple orchard the government will make to eyes spotted a pair of male in Eckington, the completion farming subsidies and whether Pintail in eclipse plumage on and Grand Opening of our that will negatively impact us the lake, Snipe in the Scrapes, new Water’s Edge Hide at so all we can do is wait for more Redpoll in the woodland and Kemerton Lake Nature details. the holes of an emergent Reserve following a big fund- Hornet Moth at the base of a raising effort in 2015, and the Following the meeting and large Poplar tree in Kemerton expansion of CCARP after a lunch, the governors visited Park. Not a bad haul for one successful funding application Kemerton Lake and the new afternoon! for a Facilitator (see page 6 hide for a spot of bird watching, for more details). although as Kate had brought The 2015/16 Chairman’s her noisy toddler along there Report, Annual Accounts, After reviewing the past year, were less birds to be seen than Conservation Officer’s Report the governors identified their usual! However, the governors and Support Coordinator’s priorities for 2017, which were delighted with the hide Report are all available to include focussing on CCARP and enjoyed a lovely walk read on our website now in and its associated projects, around the reserve, which the ‘News & Events’ section. and recruiting more looked stunning in the golden

© David Keen 2016. A fantastic photographer, News in Brief David Keen managed to capture the wonderful shot Our new hide is proving popular shown here. The bird was only with members and new visitors at the reserve for a day, so a alike. Regrettably it has already brilliant spot! been targeted for petty vandal- ism, with damage done to the Crayfish Monitoring was door, the noticeboard and items carried out at the lake in 2016 such as binoculars and bird ID as part of the ongoing Ark sheets stolen. However, on a more A female Marsh Harrier over KLNR, Project in partnership with positive note we have received September 2016 Buglife. This was the final lots of feedback from delighted follow-up check five years after users who have been lucky to get portunities. The Editor has yet the crayfish were relocated. extremely close to our resident to get a snap but has spotted Staff from the Environment Kingfisher. This stunning bird the beautiful bird out on the Agency carried out the checks has decided that a small post in lake on several occasions. and the traps caught 1 male the water in front of the hide is and 1 female. This is really the perfect perch and has there- One of our new Members went positive as it shows there are fore afforded birdwatchers some one better and spotted a Marsh still crayfish in the lake and brilliant sightings and photo op- Harrier there in September they could be breeding.

PAGE 4 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 Ash Dieback Disease Detected in Local Woods

It is with regret but also a potentially all ash trees in the © Kate Aubury sense of inevitability that we area are now threatened. can reveal that Chalara Dieback of Ash (commonly Our best hope is that some ash called Ash Dieback) has been trees will be resistant to the detected in young ash trees in disease however worse case woodland on Kemerton Estate estimates by the Forestry adjoining Kemerton Lake Commission suggest 95% of ash Nature Reserve. trees may be killed. On the continent the disease has View towards Aldwick Wood SSSI - Ash Dieback is a disease of ash decimated ash trees and accord- likely to change in the future trees caused by a fungus called ing to a recent review led by Dr Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, Peter Thomas of Keele trees showing a degree of which has been widespread University and published in the resistance have a chance to across for some time Journal of Ecology, "between the mature and set seed themselves. but only arrived in the UK in fungal disease ash dieback and Woodland planted over the last 2012. Since then, it has spread a bright green beetle called the 40 years prior to the disease’s far and wide despite efforts to emerald ash borer, it is likely arrival (including much of the contain it, so it was always that almost all ash trees in younger woodland around or probable it would ultimately Europe will be wiped out - just near Kemerton Lake contain a affect our local area. The as the elm was largely mixture of ash, oak, birch, alder, disease has been confirmed in eliminated by Dutch elm hazel, rowan etc. so although it other woodland locally in 2016 disease". (The emerald ash borer is likely all these younger ash suggesting it may already be has not yet arrived in Britain trees will die in the next couple widespread. but it is only a matter of time.) of years the majority of this woodland will still remain. Ash Dieback causes leaf loss, What does this mean for the crown dieback and bark lesions British Countryside? Ash trees The biggest concern is for local in affected trees. Once a tree is are a key woodland and hedge- ancient semi-natural woodland infected the disease is usually row species (second only to oak which is predominantly ash. fatal, either directly, or in numbers) so their loss would This includes Aldwick Wood indirectly by weakening it to represent a devastating change SSSI on , which is the point where it succumbs to the landscape and to the wild- part-managed by the Trust for more readily to attacks by life which depends on them. An its exceptional wildlife value. other pests or pathogens, estimated 1,000 species are There ash make up approx. 75% especially Armillaria (honey) associated with ash or ash of tree cover, along with fungi. woodland, including 12 types of sycamore, and a few oak and bird, 55 mammals and 239 beech. If the disease kills off all Young trees generally die quite invertebrates. Some are wholly of the ash the woodland will be fast while older trees can resist dependent on ash and will devastated and a vital wildlife for some time, but sadly once therefore likely become extinct habitat will be lost. We can only infected trees cannot be cured. as a result. Some may be able to hope that some individual trees The fungal spores are mostly survive on other trees such as will prove resistant and survive. transmitted by wind and can alder and lime, but the loss of The UK’s ash trees have a wider travel tens of miles, so millions of mature trees in the genetic base than those on the space of only a few years will continent so it is possible that obviously have an impact on bio- some strains may not be affected © Matthew Darby diversity as well as the scenery. by the disease. Only time will tell and it is likely to be a decade So what can we do to mitigate or more before we know the true this catastrophe? Unfortunately extent of the damage. replacing woodland and mature hedgerow trees is a long-term So next time you take a walk in project but as a first step, the the woods or through the fields, Trust is looking at ways to take a moment to appreciate the Dying Ash trees in the foreground of control deer browsing of self- beautiful ash trees as in a few a young woodland, October 2016 sown ash seedlings so that any years they may not be there.

PAGE 5 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 Fascinating Fungi are Focus of Member Talk

© Kate Aubury The talk covered the basic fungi have started fruiting in biology of fungi, fungi as food spring or summer if (and drink!), mythology, their conditions are right. What ecological function, how to long-term effect this will have safely foray for edibles and a on them is unknown but it’s closer look at some of the certainly a challenge for many different types to be surveyors! found in our woods and fields. Kate Aubury giving her fungi talk in The talk was held at Victoria Victoria Hall, September 2016 The intention was to follow up Hall and was - as always - with a fungi foray in October free for Members. Sadly turn- To coincide with autumn - the led by our Governor Peter out was low, a trend we have best fungi foraying season - Marren, with assistance from experienced over recent years Support Coordinator Kate Kate, but unfortunately with our talks, regardless of Aubury gave an illustrated autumn 2016 was so dry that subject matter. As a result we talk to Members about this the season was a complete have decided to concentrate fascinating but poorly under- failure locally for fungi and on walks as these seem more stood Kingdom. Kate carries the walk had to be cancelled popular and do not cost the out fungi surveys for the due to lack of specimens. Trust so much to organise Trust and the photos in the Recent years have seen some (the talks make a loss thanks slideshow were from her topsy-turvy weather affect the to hall hire etc.) If we feel many forays in the local area, fruiting of many fungi, so that there is sufficient interest for illustrating the diversity of it is no longer as clear when a specific talk we will of fungi found here. they will appear and autumn course arrange it.

Kemerton Confirmed as Hotspot for Cellar Beetle

The latest copy of Worcester- beetles and 3 dead ones on shire Wildlife Trust’s member 19th December 2016. After magazine contained an photographing one of the live interesting article written by beetles she sent a dead beetle Harry Green (a well-known to Harry for his collection and local naturalist and Friend of the record was confirmed. KCT) about the animals that live alongside us in our homes. Interestingly, of the 9 records Included in the piece was of Cellar Beetle in Worcester- © Kate Aubury mention of a beetle that lives shire from 1950 to 2015, 3 are in cellars, stables, barns etc., Cellar Beetle Blaps mucronata, from Kemerton and 2 more are Kemerton Court, December 2016 feeding on spilled food, cereals from nearby, and in 2015 Jake and other vegetable matter. hoping to add to this to Poloni, a local gardener and Known as the Cellar Beetle improve their knowledge of the landscaper (and coincidentally Blaps mucronata was once beetle’s current status. Harry’s Grandson!) found extremely common throughout Cellar Beetles in the village on England but it has become Our Support Coordinator Kate 4 separate occasions in 2015, rarer as general hygiene and Aubury saw the article and all in or near old stone houses food storage in homes and photo and recognised it as a or outbuildings. Kemerton farm buildings has improved. beetle she had found and therefore appears to be a identified previously in the hotspot although given the In his article, Harry appealed cellar at Kemerton Court, rather elusive nature of this for records from readers if they where she works. In fact over beetle it may be more wide- spotted the beetle, as there the years she had seen many spread than the records were only a handful of county dead beetles in the cellar. She suggest. Have you seen one in sightings and therefore contacted Harry, and your outbuildings or cellars? Biological Records Centre was after a search located 2 live Let us know if you have!

PAGE 6 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 Carrant Catchment Area Restoration Project (CCARP) Update - by John Clarke, KCT Conservation Advisor

For several years the Trust has Environment Agency has been investigating the already started work on possibility of local farmers and reinstating former oxbows (or others collaborating at land- meanders) and hopes to do more scape scale to improve water to help alleviate flooding and quality, reduce water and silt improve water quality. We run-off and improve wildlife have already begun trials, fund- habitats. This would be a ed by Worcestershire County farmer-led initiative. The Council, to see if we can © Paul Jackson initial response was so great improve the flora along our that I had to admit that I was local road verges. Charities A kingfisher at rest—one of the no longer fit enough to organise Buglife and LEAF (Linking the species which will benefit from such a big project. I took the Environment And Farming) are water quality improvements idea to Natural England (NE). keen to work with us. We have We wanted to include both the our first sponsor too – Cotswold seed collected on Bredon Hill. Worcestershire and Gloucester- Agricultural Merchants has The plan is to target the planting shire sides of the catchment – offered support for five years. of Whitebeam up on the hill, Elm plus the rivers Isbourne and Two local Orchard Volunteer on the middle ground and Black Washbourne – aiming for 20-50 Groups are willing to help too. Poplar on the lower ground. members. Other farmers are already asking Meanwhile some CCARP me how they can help. Three NE representatives were keen members have been busy too. students are carrying out various for us to apply for funding (EU The work of KCT is well-known. research projects on farmland. money!) to enlist the help of a Less so is what Local wildlife experts have ‘Facilitator’ – or Project Enterprises has been doing in offered to help. We have designed Manager. Jenny Phelps has improving wildlife habitats and printed a leaflet outlining worked for the Farming and around the farm, in devising an our plans. If any farmers (or Wildlife Group (FWAG) for ongoing, farm-wide monitoring potential sponsors) want to find many years. She has a lot of scheme and developing a simple out more please contact me on experience in farming, is acting database on which to store the [email protected]. If as Facilitator for a large project wildlife records. Another local you feel that you have a skill or in the Upper Thames area, has farmer Jamie Smith has been expertise that would help us a pretty good knowledge of using trail cameras to help please do get in touch. wildlife and could work for us study the use of our local part-time via FWAG. Perfect! streams and pools by Otter (see On 14th December 2016 Jenny But Brexit caused months of opposite for more details). organised the official launch of delay before we got enough Jamie Hobbs and his nephew the CCARP. After her project funding to pay Jenny – plus a Ollie helped us to collect presentation there was a great bit for contractors. The grant cuttings material from two deal of ‘meeting and greeting’. should last us for five years. large Elm trees on his land Discussions continued as existing The collaborative scheme will which had apparently survived and new members, other be voluntary with farmers free Dutch Elm Disease. The cut- farmers and local village and to participate (or not) in any tings are being grown for us by council groups enthusiastically aspect. (More details about another supporter – Avonbank spoke about the project while Jenny can be found opposite). Nursery at College – enjoying local food from the under the RELIC project buffet. It is likely that further After meeting the original (Replanting Elms in the opportunities to promote this project members Jenny has Countryside) started a few important project will arise. been planning the way ahead. years ago by me with Bob Hares Open Farm days and public And we have partners. As per from the college. They will also meetings – or an occasional earlier project updates the try to grow Whitebeam from newsletter – all come to mind.

PAGE 7 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 19 Tracking & Filming Otters on Local Waterways

© Jamie Smith Work already carried out on the Carrant, Isbourne, Dickler the Carrant Brook as part of and Windrush. The photos of CCARP and other works in the an otter cub shown were taken project pipeline will hopefully over the period of one week in improve the brook for Otters. early December on Squitter Brook just below Kemerton.” Jamie has spent considerable time filming these charismatic Jamie has kindly allowed us A female Otter cub on Squitter animals. In his own words he to share a selection of his otter Brook at night, Dec 2016 explains; “My dear wife gave clips so to view them search me a Bushnell camera for my for Kemerton Conservation Local farmer and CCARP birthday present in February Trust on Youtube or visit our member Jamie Smith, who 2012. Initially I set the camera Facebook page. lives in , up in our garden at Ashton has been perfecting the art of under Hill. I was so pleased There are also a couple of clips filming Otters on local water- that within a week I had on there taken at Kemerton ways including the Carrant, videos of 2 foxes, a sow badger Lake using the Trust’s own Squitter, Isbourne and Wash- and 3 fallow deer. My wife was Bushnell Trail Cameras. bourne (all part of the not so pleased to see the deer © Jamie Smith expanded project remit). eating her beloved garden!

Using only a Bushnell Trail I have always been interested Camera Jamie has managed in otters and have been to capture a huge number of delighted to see their success outstanding otter clips over the last 25 years. Otters revealing fantastic behaviour are wonderful to film with this that even a keen wildlife camera as they are very pre- watcher would be unlikely to dictable. I have nearly 1000 The same female Otter cub at the see in person. video clips of otters mostly on same site in daylight, Dec 2016

Introducing Our CCARP Facilitator Jenny Phelps

to deliver complex Countryside in a sensitive manner, valuing Stewardship schemes, farmland the farming community and bird target areas and wetland respecting the connectivity habitat under the water frame- people have with places dear to work directive. them. Through projects like the Facilitation Fund, ILD has Her experience and landscape been at the heart of Jenny’s knowledge has been integral to work to help communities the development of the make successful and Jenny Phelps MBE, Senior Farm Integrated Local Delivery prominent landscape scale Conservation Advisor, FWAG framework (ILD), which was recovery and benefit from part of one of the first Land- being more resilient to climate Jenny has been facilitating scape Heritage Lottery funded change. For more information landscape scale environmental projects in 2004, ‘Caring for the on how to join the Carrant delivery for over 30 years. ’. Since then, the ILD Catchment Area Restoration Working with landowners, framework has been recognised Project group, please email farmers and partners across by government as a tool that [email protected] / the Cotswolds, she has helped helps deliver multiple objectives [email protected].

Kemerton Clippings Save the Date! January 2017

 Saturday 28th January - Working party (10am Edited by Kate Aubury start, Lillans Orchard) Contact email: [email protected]  Saturday 25th February - Working party (10am Print services provided by Fleet start, location to be confirmed) Graphics (Tewkesbury) Ltd  Saturday 25th March - Working party (10am This newsletter is published start, location to be confirmed) bi-annually. The next edition will be issued in July 2017.  Saturday 22nd April - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

 Saturday 6th May - Dawn Chorus Walk, For more information on the KLNR (5.30am start) - see ‘News & Events’ on

work of KCT please visit our website www.kemerton.org for full event details website: www.kemerton.org  Saturday 27th May - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

© Kate Aubury  Saturday 3rd June - Annual Open Day, KLNR (gates open at 11am) - see ‘News & Events’ on website www.kemerton.org for full event details

 Saturday 24th June - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

 Saturday 29th July - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

For details on any of the above events, please contact KCT Support Coordinator Kate Aubury by email [email protected] or by phone on 07765 334 776.

Old Man’s Beard Clematis vitalba, Bredon Hill, November 2016

KEMERTON COURT GOVERNORS:

TEWKESBURY A. M. G. DARBY, O.B.E. (Chairman) M. G. DARBY

GL20 7HY P. S. DOBLE

Tel: 01386 725 254 LORD HOWICK OF GLENDALE P. MARREN

DR. M. PALMER M.B.E Registered Charity No. 702488 B. WESTWOOD www.kemerton.org R. H. WORKMAN