Summer 2019 NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE TRUST AND FROM AROUND THE UK A Buzz In The Meadow Dave Goulson tells you how you can save the world through gardening 10 >> NEW ARRIVALS >> PONDS HAVE Kestrels take up MORE FUN residence at Make your garden Lemsford Springs 18 amphibian-friendly 24 PROTECTING WILDLIFE FOR THE FUTURE 1 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 Everything for wildlife, ecology and conservation contents NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE TRUST AND FROM AROUND THE UK Bat detectors Camera traps & accessories CONSERVATION 5 Restoring the Majesty of the Meads Moth traps & insect nets The Trust has ambitious plans for 1000s of field guides King’s Meads 7 Improvements to the River Lea 100s of conservation handbooks Residents help out with river restoration Binoculars & spotting scopes Hand lenses & microscopes Pond dipping nets 8 A changing Wind in the Willows 1000s of natural history books Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger join the Wildlife Trusts’ national campaign for a Wilder Future. Huge product range Rapid shipping Exceptional customer service Over 140,000 books & equipment products UK & Worldwide Specialist help and advice YOUR WILDLIFE TRUST www.nhbs.com | Serving conservation since 1985 | +44 1803 865913 16 Find out how local businesses and the community support our work. The Garden Jungle Dave Goulson tells us how to save the planet starting in our back PENNY FRITH © 20 Frogmore Meadows garden. The recently-extended nature reserve is buzzing with pollinators. More on 10 WILDLIFEWILDLIFE TRAVELTRAVEL More than 30 years of supporting nature conservation, ALL our profits are donated to the Wildlife Trusts, CONSERVATION raising in excess of £220,000 since 1988. Travel with us and help to protect your local wildlife. 22 Nature’s Calendar 24 Plan your wildlife-friendly pond 26 The nature of a Wildflower Meadow Tim Hill tells us about Bring wildlife to your back garden 2019/20 destinations include: Botswana, Ethiopia wildlife activities in summer. with a pond - large or small! Delve into the wonderful world of the wildflower meadow Chile, Colombia, Galapagos, Pantanal Transylvania, Morocco, Armenia Scilly, Mull, Devon, Burren Bulgaria, Estonia HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST relaxed pace Macedonia Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, Lesvos Registered Charity No: 239863 St Albans, Herts AL3 4SN More info expert leaders online Registered in England: 816710 01727 858 901 [email protected] hertswildlifetrust.org.uk All rights reserved. No part may be small friendly groups Discover reproduced without written permission wildlife Editorial Team Josh Kubale from the editor. The publishers do not natural history holidays necessarily identify with or hold and Frieda Rummenhohl Donate 01727 858 901 x 240 themselves responsible for the views ATOL protected No. 808 No. protected ATOL [email protected] expressed by contributors, www.wildlife-travel.co.uk Join an correspondents or www.wildlife-travel.co.uk [email protected] event advertisers. 01954 713575 Membership Alan Cotterell Do 01727 858 901 x 234 Winter 2019 issue Bumble bee on [email protected] copy deadline: bird’s-foot trefoil © 30 September 2019 Jon Hawkins,Surrey Design TGDH www.tgdh.co.uk Printed on FSC © Certified Stock Hills Photography 2 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Summer 2019 wildlifematters 3 © STEVE KENNY BIRDS STUDIOS EYE STEVE © Welcome to the summer edition of Wildlife Matters. Like me, I expect you have experiences of wildlife that are indelibly etched into your memory, like the first time you saw a particular bird or flower. Recently, I’ve been lucky to have a few of these moments. Demand for water in our area is also since 1900 and there has been a higher than the national average 30% reduction in global terrestrial and local water company Affinity habitat integrity caused by habitat Thousands Water has committed to leaving loss and deterioration. more water in the environment to The report does say that it’s not go wild for 30 help sustain these rare ecosystems. too late, provided that we act now, and the Trust can play a role days in June To address these challenges, in the transformative change For the fifth time, the Trust Affinity Water has launched their needed to reverse the trend. A #WhyNotWater campaign to help has asked residents of landscape-scale approach and a Hertfordshire and Middlesex people demand key changes in sound understanding of wildlife legislation to introduce mandatory are critical to this change. We work to take part in 30 Days Wild, water efficiency labelling on goods with farmers, statutory agencies and do something wild every and the right to water-efficient and businesses to look at how they day during June. The first was being present to see can take positive action and we talk a tawny owl chick being ringed - housing – bringing water on a The national campaign aims to with politicians, both national and what a privilege to see this amazing par with energy and empowering get people closer to wildlife and local, to argue for robust legislation creature up close. Some weeks later, people to save water. participants are encouraged to and planning policy. With the level Restoring I joined some of our Fen Appeal complete a “Random Act of Wildness” We’re pleased to support this of housing growth due to come of their choosing every day. This donors for a guided walk around campaign and would encourage to our area, this is all the more the Majesty could be a five-minute walk on their Thorley Wash Nature Reserve our supporters to sign the petition. important to ensure that wildlife is lunchbreak or a whole day outside, where water voles put in a splendid properly considered and protected. building a pond or listening to bird appearance happily swimming of the Meads The hundreds of volunteers who songs. Nearly 2,000 people signed up and down a channel. It’s Find out more at support the Trust in so many up this year and many shared their reassuring to know that wildlife is whynotwater.co.uk ways, sharing their knowledge The Trust has received a generous funding boost from Random Acts of Wildness with us on flourishing on our nature reserves, and experience, play a vital the Thames Water Community Investment Fund to social media. with meadows full of flowers and Global Biodiversity role too; we couldn’t do it For this year’s 30 Days insects, fens alive with warblers under threat improve King’s Meads Nature Reserve near Hertford for without them. Wild, the Trust launched the and dragonflies and woodlands ‘One million species may go extinct’ wildlife and the local community. #WildWednesdayChallenge: Every was the terrifying headline of the carpeted in bluebells. There’s something everyone can do, The Trust was granted generous Local residents, schools and Wednesday during June, participants Assessment of Global Biodiversity from reducing the amount of water However, as we all know, it’s not financial support from Thames community organisations will play were challenged to do one big wild published in May 2019 by the you use or becoming a volunteer, Water’s Community Investment a key role in shaping the future of a rosy picture for wildlife on thing with a different theme every Intergovernmental Science-Policy to changing the management Fund, alongside a new 35-year this reserve to make it a vital part the whole. week. The four themes were “see Platform on Biodiversity and of your garden or farm. By acting lease over a large part of the site. of the local community. the wild”, “create a wild thing”, “feel Ecosystem Services. The report The Trust is also working with together, we can ensure that there Located between Hertford and the wild” and “change the world” Why Not Water? underlines that nature is declining GlaxoSmithKline, who have kindly is a positive future for our awe- Ware, the reserve is one of the and the Trust has received many Some people are surprised when I given additional land to the Trust globally at rates unprecedented inspiring habitats, and for all those largest and most diverse floodplain creative submissions. tell them that our area is home to in human history – and the rate of as an in-kind contribution to the fascinating species that depend grasslands in Hertfordshire Nature is evidently good for our species extinctions is accelerating, project. a globally rare habitat – but that is on them. and is regionally and nationally physical and mental health and exactly what our chalk rivers are. with grave impacts on people This support will allow the Trust to significant for its wildlife, including participants have said they felt more around the world now likely. The Thank you for your continued support of the Trust and your help pursue further project funding to hundreds of wildflowers and more connected to nature after taking part Drier than average weather over the average abundance of native carry out vital improvement works than 100 bird and 19 dragonfly for local wildlife. in 30 Days Wild. last two years has resulted in low species in most major land-based at King’s Meads Nature Reserve to species. It is a vital link in the chain Have a look at our big 30 flows in these rivers which support habitats has fallen by at least 20% establish the reserve as a site for of interconnected wetlands of the Days Wild Round up at a wide variety of wildlife. enjoyment, learning and practical Lee Valley and one of the best sites hertswildlifetrust.org action for wildlife. in the county to see water voles uk/30dayswildrecap and the rare water violet. 4 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 5 Tony Juniper Project to restore nationally urges everyone rare habitats begins to stand up for a Thanks to generous funding from the Environment Agency, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is able to undertake a large- Wilder Future scale restoration project to improve and conserve a number of An event in April, hosted by Herts nationally rare habitats such as fen meadows and wet woodland.