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 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 © FRITH PENNY 20 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 Chile, Colombia, Galapagos, Pantanal the wildflower meadow 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 EYE STUDIOS BIRDS KENNY

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 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. and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the The project at Fir & Pond Woods Nature Reserve near will restore and enhance a beautiful University of Hertfordshire, saw more ancient meadow through conservation grazing by cattl. Along with pond restoration we will create ideal than 300 people flock to Hatfield to River restoration volunteer team conditions for a huge array of wildlife, including dragonflies, bats and different birds such as reed bunting hear the famous environmentalist and sedge warbler. and campaigner Tony Juniper. The nature reserve supports a number of habitats rare in Hertfordshire, including

© CHARLOTTE HUSSEY wet woodlands and lowland fens, the latter being one of the rarest in the county In his talk, he argued that the UK can become a world River restoration with fewer than 20 hectares left. Much of it has been lost to scrub or become degraded leader in environmental legislation but had to act now. and species-poor due to a loss of grazing and cutting. New ponds will be created to He pointed out that a major issue alongside climate brings residents provide open-water habitat for dragonflies, damselflies and amphibians such as change was the decimation of wildlife great crested newts. – almost singularly due to human actions. closer to wildlife Tony said “The web of life is being torn apart, often to The project, estimated to be completed in spring 2020, will also improve A partnership project between Herts and visitors’ experience of this precious habitat through guided walks. final extinction on a rapid and global scale. With new environmental legislation on the cards, we are at a Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Wild Trout Fen meadows are marshy wetlands that receive water and nutrients from crossroads in history. An ambitious Environment Act Trust has restored river habitat along the rainfall and groundwater. With this restoration project, the Trust will contribute is needed to not only protect wildlife but support its River Lea in Wheathampstead for the benefit to Environment Agency national targets for habitat creation and the wetland recovery. It is my sincere hope that during the coming habitat action plan for Hertfordshire. few years we will together finally begin to achieve the of wildlife and the local community. historic turnaround for nature that we all know is so Fir & Pond Woods Nature Reserve A 30-metre stretch of the River Lea at King Edward Place, desperately needed.” a residential community for retirees, has been restored by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in partnership with the

© JOSH KUBALE The Trust is asking people to join the campaign for a Wilder Future and take action Wild Trout Trust. Over three days, Trust staff and a team of for wildlife, either by making a positive 15 local volunteers built a series of brash wood ledges in the difference in their local area, for example by creating river channel and planted them up with colourful aquatic Chess Valley a wildlife garden, or by getting in contact with their plants. We also pruned a number of bankside trees to allow MPs to convince them of the need for a strong more light through to enable for these plants to grow. Environment Act. This extra habitat will provide Challenge MCNEILL PATRICK © food, shelter and breeding As part of 30 Days Wild’s #BigWildWeekend, © FRIEDA RUMMENHOHL areas in and around the river the Trust held it’s first annual Chess Valley for wildlife such as dragonflies, R PE NO wildfowl, fish and potentially Challenge sponsored walk. TER O’CON KUBALE JOSH © even the endangered water

© JOSH KUBALE On Saturday 15 June, more than 40 keen walkers took up vole. It also creates a beautiful the Trust’s challenge to walk the 10-mile Chess Valley Walk vista for the residents of King from Rickmansworth to Chesham, raising over £1,800 for Edward Place who treasure the wildlife in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. riverside property and enjoy The Chess Valley Walk runs through the Chilterns and the watching the wildlife that walkers enjoyed the rich landscapes, picturesque English lives there. villages, country pubs and the Trust’s Frogmore Meadows The programme was the idea of King Edward Place Nature Reserve, awash with wildflowers at this time of year.

© JOSH KUBALE residents who wanted to see more wildlife thriving in the The Chess Valley Challenge was kindly sponsored area. They are happy with the result and expressed gratitude by the Trust’s corporate member Affinity Water. on behalf of them and the local wildlife that will benefit from the restoration. Find out more about the challenge and register your interest for next year’s event, at If you know of similar opportunities to improve the hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/chessvalleychallenge river where you live, please get in touch with Sarah Perry, Living Rivers Officer,[email protected].

6 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 7 NATIONAL NEWS

Big or small, ponds for all! UK HIGHLIGHTS For this year’s Wild About freshwater habitats, garden ponds are Gardens challenge, The increasingly important for the wildlife Discover how The 2 that depends on these watery places, Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Wildlife Trusts are such as frogs, toads and insects. Adding 3 Horticultural Society are a pond is one of the best ways you can working for you urging gardeners to make a help wildlife and enjoy the benefits of across the UK 1 splash for wildlife. seeing more amazing animals and plants close to home. We are calling on people to create a 1 Water Works You can download a free booklet pond to benefit their garden wildlife. An innovative project is testing full of advice on the Wild About Whether it’s a large sunken pond or new ways to grow food and lock in Gardens website a tiny container pond, water is the carbon in Cambridgeshire’s Great garden feature that can wildaboutgardens.org.uk Fen. The project will use wetland make the biggest farming to test new crops for food, difference healthcare and industry, all whilst to wildlife. reducing the amount of carbon With a rapid lost from the soil. This was made decline possible by the People’s Postcode in natural Lottery Dream Fund. A changing wildlifebcn.org/news/water-works

Wind in the Ratty floats downriver in a scene from Willows our new film

The Wildlife Trusts have launched a new dropping by almost 70% in the last 30 campaign calling for a Wilder Future years alone. How can and nature’s recovery on land and at But the film’s message is ultimately sea. To kickstart the campaign and raise you help? one of hope: nature is currently in a bad awareness of the plight of our wildlife, state, but it’s not too late to change we’ve created a film trailer for The Wind n Contact politicians - to call for things. Our new campaign, Wilder Future, An osprey anniversary in the Willows. strong environmental laws which 2 asks people to pledge to take action for The Scottish Wildlife Trust are help nature recover, including Nature With an all-star voice cast including nature in whatever way they can, from Recovery Networks that connect wild celebrating 50 years of ospreys at Stephen Fry, Alison Steadman and Sir simple acts like planting wildflowers for spaces. the Loch of the Lowes reserve. The David Attenborough, the film brings pollinators to reaching out to politicians reserve became just the fifth known to life the modern threats facing the and speaking up for our wildlife. n Walk in the pawprints of others nest site when ospreys recolonised beloved characters from Kenneth – and imagine what wildlife needs Stephanie Hilborne, CEO of The Wildlife the UK after their extinction in 1916. Grahame’s children’s classic. A lot has to survive in your neighbourhood. Trusts, said: “We are a nation of nature- The current pair fledged 10 chicks changed on the riverbank since we first Are there gaps for hedgehogs to lovers, yet we live in one of the most from 2015-2018 and returned met Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad just move between gardens? Woods for nature-depleted countries in the world. again this year. over a hundred years ago. badgers to build setts in? Or ponds in If we want to put nature into recovery scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk/ospreys-50 which toads can spawn? Take action we have to create a mass movement of Wild places have shrunk and in your local area to create new people calling for change.” disappeared, threatening the wonderful homes for wildlife. wildlife they support. We’ve lost 80% 3 Seal of approval Sir David Attenborough, President of our heathlands and up to 49% of n Create a Wilder Future where A record number of grey seals Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts and our seagrass meadows, crucial nursery you live – by checking out events Beavering away have been counted at South Walney narrator of the trailer, added: “Together and volunteering opportunities at Nature Reserve. A drone survey grounds for fish and important stores The Wildlife Trusts continue to be at the for many other species, including water we can make the next chapter for your Wildlife Trust. spotted 483 seals, 123 more than of carbon. forefront of work to bring beavers back voles, frogs and dragonflies. Conservation wildlife a happier one. Join us to put the previous record. The grey seal is Get involved to our waterways, with reintroduction efforts received a boost on the first of Rivers are in poor condition and water nature into recovery.” one of the world’s rarest seals and voles like Ratty have become the UK’s Join us on our campaign for projects across the UK. Beavers are May, when the Scottish Government The trailer premiered on social media around 50% of the world population most rapidly declining mammal, lost a Wilder Future and watch ecosystem engineers that can improve introduced European Protected Species and attracted over a million views in the lives around the British Isles. from 94% of the places they were once our The Wind in the Willows trailer water quality, reduce flooding status for the Eurasian beaver in first few days. It also played in cinemas cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/record-seals common. Toads have found the last hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/wilderfuture downstream and improve conditions Scotland. wildlifetrusts.org/beavers across the country. BEAVER: NICK UPTON/CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST, TOAD: DAWN MONROSE, OSPREY: PETER CAIRNS/2020VISION PETER OSPREY: MONROSE, DAWN TOAD: TRUST, WILDLIFE NICK UPTON/CORNWALL BEAVER: CARDER BEE: RACHEL SCOPES BEE: CARDER century tough as well, with numbers

8 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 9 In 2017, a paper was published by the have good data on population trends for Krefeld Society, a group of entomologists birds that depend on insects for food, and who had been trapping flying insects these are mostly in decline. For example, in Malaise traps on 63 nature reserves populations of aerial insectivorous birds scattered across Germany since the have fallen by more than any other late 1980s. Malaise traps are tent-like bird group in North America, by about structures that passively trap any flying 40% between 1966 and 2013. In the UK, The insects which bump into them. The populations of the spotted flycatcher fell German entomologists amassed insects by 93% between 1967 and 2016. Other from nearly 17,000 days of trapping, a once-common insectivores have suffered total of 53 kg. They found that the overall similarly, including the grey partridge biomass of insects caught in their traps (-92%), nightingale, (-93%) and cuckoo fell by 75% in the 26-year period from (-77%). The red-backed shrike, a specialist Garden 1989 to 2014. The study was reported predator of large insects, went extinct in around the world and has been much the UK in the 1990s. discussed. Some argue that the data set An interesting aspect of these declines of is not robust as some of the 63 sites insects and their predators is that most of were sampled only in one year. Jungle us have not noticed. Amongst scientists, Nonetheless, the pattern is very strong, it is now recognised that we all suffer and it is hard to avoid the conclusion that from the shifting-baseline syndrome, Professor Dave Goulson, ecologist, founder of there has been a major decline in insect whereby we accept the world we grow up biomass. We should also bear in mind that in as normal, although it might be quite the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and author the impacts of mankind on the planet different from the world our parents grew of A Sting in the Tale, A Buzz in the Meadow and were at play long before 1989, which was up in. A fascinating study of photographs 27 years after the publication of Rachel of trophy fisherman returning to Key Bee Quest, has a special place in his heart for bees Carson’s “Silent Spring”. It seems probable West, Florida with their catches from 1950 that this 75% drop is just the tail end of a to 2007 estimated that the average size and their friends. He tells us why we should, too. much larger fall. We will never know how of the fish fell from 19.9 to just 2.3 kg, many insects there were, say, 100 years but the smiles on the fisherman’s faces ago, before the advent of pesticides and are not any smaller. The only aspect of industrial farming. insect declines that has impinged on the consciousness of significant numbers There has been much debate as to of people has become known as the whether similar declines in insect “windshield phenomenon”. Anecdotally, abundance are occurring in the UK or almost everybody over the age of about whether something peculiar is going on in 50 years old can remember a time when German nature reserves, but hard data is any long-distance drive in summer largely lacking. Only butterflies and moths resulted in a windscreen so splattered have been monitored extensively in the with dead insects that it was necessary UK, and they show pervasive patterns of to stop occasionally to scrub them off. decline, though not as dramatic as that Driving country lanes at night in high found in Germany. The overall abundance summer would reveal a blizzard of of larger moths in Britain fell by 28% moths in the headlights. Today, drivers in in the period from 1968 to 2007, with Western Europe and North America are the decline more marked in southern freed from the chore of washing their Britain where the overall count fell by windscreen. It seems unlikely that this 40%. More than one-third of species can be entirely explained by the improved (37%) declined by more than 50% during aerodynamics of modern vehicles. the period. Perhaps the best-studied insect populations in the world are the UK’s butterflies, which are counted

along with more than 2,500 transect KUBALE JOSH © walks each year as part of the Butterfly

© JON HAWKINS PHOTOGRAPHY HILLS - SURREY Monitoring Scheme. Butterflies of the “wider countryside” fell in abundance by 46% between 1976 and 2017, while habitat specialists fell by 77%, despite concerted conservation efforts directed at many of them. Although the bulk of insect species, the flies, beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, caddis

flies, froghoppers and so on are not White-tailed bumblebee systematically monitored at all, we often

10 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 11 ©JOSH KUBALE © DAVE GOULSON

How can I help? There is some good news. Insect populations can recover, and much more quickly than those of large animals such as tigers or pandas. In the UK, not many have actually gone extinct. They just need some habitat and a respite from the barrage of pesticides. Gardens cover half a million hectares of the UK, and if managed in a way that is sympathetic

for wildlife, they could form a vast patchwork of tiny nature reserves. Add in better Large-headed resin bee management of parks, road verges and roundabouts and we could create a network of wildlife habitat across the UK. It is easy to make your own miniature ‘Garden Jungle’. A few suggestions are below:

1. Grow wildlife-friendly plants 4. Plant a fruit tree 7. Reduce your mowing Nectar-rich plants provide food for bees, They are even available in dwarf sizes Allow the dandelions, buttercups, daisies butterflies, hoverflies and more; and suitable for tiny gardens. You will provide and clovers in your lawn to flower. don’t forget food-plants for butterflies blossom for pollinators and produce and moths such as nettles, bird’s foot your own zero-food-miles, pesticide-free 8. Do nothing trefoil, lady’s smock, ivy and holly. fruit! Leave a corner in your garden where nature can grow wild! 2. Provide a bee hotel 5. Create your own miniature Buy one or make one yourself by drilling wildflower meadow 9. Build a brash or log pile some horizontal 8mm holes in a block of Leave a patch of lawn to grow, or sow This will provide shelter for animals wood or bundling together some one- with a wildflower mix, and cut just big and small. foot-long bamboo. Hang it on a wall or once per year in late summer. fence in a sunny place. 10. Build a compost heap 6. Dig a pond Recycle kitchen scraps and weeds 3. Don’t use pesticides Even a tiny one in a bucket will support and your compost heap will teem You do not need them in a garden. insect life. Or make a ‘hoverfly lagoon’, a with insect life tiny habitat for hoverflies to breed in.

Early bumblebee Find more detailed advice on how to turn your garden into a haven for insects and other mini-beasts in Professor Goulson’s new book The Garden Jungle, out July 2019 (available to be pre-ordered online). Causes of insect declines of global insect declines on national pollinators; billions of people would What might be driving the landscape- UK radio, medical doctor, professor and starve. In addition to pollination, insects Meet Professor Goulson and get his new book The Garden Jungle signed at our talk on Wednesday 11 September. scale disappearance of insects? Causes well-known TV presenter Lord Robert are important biocontrol agents – often Find out more and book online at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/davegoulson of the decline of wild bees have been Winston replied: “There are quite a lot controlling other insect pests – they discussed more than those of other of insects we don’t really need on the are intimately involved in the break- insects, and although there is still planet”. This response likely typifies the down of organic matter such as leaves, debate, most scientists believe that attitude of many. timber, animal faeces and carcasses to it is the result of a combination of recycle the nutrients therein, they help I am deeply concerned that we scientists man-made stresses, including massive to aerate the soil, disperse seeds, and have done such a poor job of explaining loss of habitat, chronic exposure to provide products such as silk and honey. the vital importance of insects to the complex mixtures of pesticides, the general public. Insects make up the bulk For many insects, we simply do not spread of non-native insect diseases of known species and are intimately know what they do. We have not even with commercial bee nests, and the involved in all terrestrial and freshwater given a name to perhaps 80 per cent of beginnings of the impacts of climate food webs. Without insects, a multitude the perhaps five million insect species change. The disease issue primarily of birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, small that are thought to exist, let alone affects only bees, but the others are mammals and fish would disappear. studied what ecological roles they problems that all insects face in the Eighty-seven per cent of all plant species might perform. As famous author and modern world. require animal pollination, most of it environmentalist Aldo Leopold said, Why should we care? delivered by insects. Approximately “The first rule of intelligent tinkering is Understandably, few people bemoan three-quarters of the crop types to keep all the parts”. We are nowhere the lack of squashed insects on their car, grown by humans require pollination near understanding the multitude of and for many people, the idea of fewer by insects, a service estimated to be interactions that occur between the insects seems attractive, for insects are worth between $235 and $577 billion thousands of organisms that comprise often associated with annoyance, bites, per year worldwide. Financial aspects most ecological communities and so we stings and the spread of disease. When aside, we could not feed the growing cannot say which insects we ‘need’ and recently asked about the seriousness global human population without which ones we don’t.

12 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 13 DAYS OUT Wild Experiences, Talks and Workshops We have teamed up with local partners to provide these exciting and diverse events, bringing you and your family closer to nature.

Saturday 20 July, Saturday 31 August and Wednesday 14 August | 10am – 12pm Thursday 5 September | 7pm – 10pm Saturday 5 October | 10.45am – 1pm River Lea Wildlife Cruise Wild Gin Tasting Horse Park and Ride Settle in for a 90-minute cruise onboard Lee WILSTONE RESERVOIR NATURE RESERVE PANSHANGER PARK & Stort Boat Company’s comfortable boat, Take an evening stroll around the edge of Go Wild Park up and follow an approximately 6-mile equipped with toilet facilities and a fully Wilstone Reservoir, discovering this beautiful off-road route around Panshanger Park stocked refreshments bar. We will cruise nature reserve with your knowledgeable Estate using permissive bridleways and through Ware to the Lee Navigation, which guide, looking out for wildfowl on the water paths that are not normally open to horse passes the Trust’s Amwell Nature Reserve. and around the margins. Then return to Events © PAUL THRUSH Chalkhill Blue riders. This ride will allow you to enjoy the Along the way, learn about the river and the nearby Puddingstone Distillery for a beautiful historic park landscape, woodlands navigation from our Living Rivers Officer. fascinating talk about the history of gin We are delighted to be offering a huge range of events over the year from workshops and water features along the Mimram valley. Find out about what lies beneath the water, and how the special Himalayan balsam gin £10 per horse and rider. Event offered in as well as spend time identifying the wildlife is made. Complete the evening by trying a to walks, with something for all ages. Discover new activities and our top picks near you. partnership with Tarmac and HCC Public found along the water margins. Adults £15, couple of delicious cocktails from the gin Rights of Way Service. children (under 16) £8, infants free menu along with some samples - a truly Booking is essential for most of our events and places are snapped up quickly! Don’t delay and book your place today! (on adult’s lap). “wild” gin tasting! £25 per person. Tuesday 6 August, 20 August, 3 September Visit hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events for full listings and booking. Over 18s only. and 17 September | 2pm – 3pm Thursday 15 August | 11am – 2.30pm Wednesday 7 August | 10am – 12pm Friday 13 September | 7.30pm – 9pm Discover Hedgehogs Wonderful Wildfowl: Behind the Wednesday 11 September | 7pm – 9pm Get Closer Bug Hunt at Bat Discovery HARPENDEN Scenes Tour, Lunch and Walk Dave Goulson “The Garden PURWELL NINESPRINGS NATURE RESERVE NATURE RESERVE Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Jungle” Talk and Book Signing to Nature See what insects, spiders and other bugs Learn more about the fascinating world of delighted to be working in partnership Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of ST ALBANS Discover our nature reserves and further we can find in the grass and hedgerows bats. Use bat detectors to search for these with Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Tring Natural History Museum with their Join us for an entertaining evening talk from Sanctuary to offer this expert bird curators. After the hour’s tour, the renowned author of “A Sting in the Tail” afield on one of our popular guided walks. around the reserve. Try your hand nocturnal hunters and learn how to spot © TOMMARSHALL Improve your identification knowledge or at using a sweep net the different species. hour- long introduction enjoy lunch in the museum’s cafe. Regroup and founder of the Bumblebee Conservation

and examine your KUBALE JOSH © to hedgehogs. Learn basic after lunch in the car park next to Wilstone Trust. Professor Dave Goulson will describe just enjoy a stroll in the fresh air! This Sunday 29 September | catch up close! facts – where they live, Reservoir, where the Trust’s Volunteer what lives in our compost piles, behind is a small selection of the variety of 10.30am – 2.30pm events found on our website. what they eat, problems Warden will take you for a walk around the our trees’ bark and beneath our lawns, and Saturday 17 August | Family Practical they face and why edge of the reservoir, spotting the wildfowl then explain what we can do to increase Thursday 25 July and every Thursday in 11am – 1pm Work Day they’re in decline. Receive found here, as well as keeping a sharp eye biodiversity. His new book August | 11am - 3pm Wild Bee Walk STANMORE COMMON practical advice about open for the hobbies that can sometimes be “The Garden Jungle: or Life at the Lake NOWERS Help keep the Common a great place for Hedgehog how to help hedgehogs seen hunting in the fields. Gardening to Save the Planet” in your garden. Meet a £20 per person. Suitable for adults only. is due for publication in July STOCKER’S LAKE NATURE RESERVE NATURE RESERVE wildlife by undertaking some practical rescue hog (if available) 2019 and Professor Goulson Discover what lives at Stocker’s Lake Join our bee volunteer work as a family. We will be Wednesday 28 August and Wednesday 9 and find out about basic hedgehog care and will be signing copies of his with the Trust and Affinity Water, from enthusiasts for a improving the special grassland here by October | Times vary walk in search of bees and other trimming tree saplings. We hope to see handling. £8 adults (over 16), £6 children. book which are available to cool camouflaged creatures and watery Smartphone Safari wetland wonders to fascinating floating pollinators. Aldbury Nowers’ warm lots of wildlife as we work such as toads, Children must be accompanied by a purchase in advance (limited Dave Goulson flora! Drop in for this series of fun south-facing slopes host the small but frogs, bugs, snails and spiders. Gloves, paying adult. ST ALBANS stocks also available to buy on Learn to use your smartphone to take the night). £10 per person educational activities every Thursday in beautiful flowers of chalk grassland which tools and training will be provided. Monday 12 August | 6pm – 9pm the summer holidays, with a different support a wide variety of invertebrates. stunning wildlife photographs with (£8 for concessions) Tuesday 22 October | 8pm – 10pm Wild Gin Tasting and Formal professional photographer Jeanette. If you watery theme to explore each week. We will take a walk to our chalk scrapes Wednesday 30 October | 4.30pm – 6.30pm to spot beautiful solitary bees and 22 Ideas That Changed Gardens Tour at The Grove Hotel own a smartphone, then you own a camera, Expect topics including predators and Bats from the Boat River Cruise prey, plants and pollution. We will have bumblebees and find out about their the Countryside Talk CHANDLERS CROSS, and if you own a camera, you have the ability creatures to study and other activities to fascinating life cycles. WELWYN GARDEN CITY Take a short tour of the beautiful Formal to take amazing photos. ST ALBANS Join Mid-Herts Local Group for an Gardens with The Grove’s Senior Gardener. You’ll take a stroll through Verulamium Park, Join us for a unique sunset cruise looking help you dive into different and exciting Saturday 7 September | 7pm – 9pm aspects of lake life. No booking required. illustrated talk from Peter Waine, the Enjoy the spectacular herbaceous border learning how to take photographs of the for bats on the River Lea. Learn about the Marvellous Moths Campaign for the Protection of Rural and see if you can spot the resident little plants, flowers, trees and landscape along fascinating life of bats from the Trust’s Friday 26 July | 2pm – 4pm THORLEY WASH NATURE RESERVE England’s (CPRE) Chairman, on 22 ideas owl. Return to the hotel to be greeted the way. Then spend time using a free editing bat expert. Spot pipistrelle bats hunting Chalkhill Blue Spectacular Come along to our moth evening to that changed the countryside. by Ben Marston, Director and Distiller of app to get the most out of your images. along the tree line, and Daubenton’s bat discover the nocturnal wildlife of the Stort Hertfordshire-based Puddingstone Distillery. £15 per person swooping over the water hunting their prey CHALK PIT NATURE RESERVE Saturday 9 November | 12pm – 2pm Explore this small but beautiful nature Valley. There are around 2,500 types of Ben will present an engaging insight into the as the sun sets. As it gets darker we will reserve, enjoying the abundance of moth in the UK and many are just as A Walk with Winter Wildfowl history of gin, Puddingstone Distillery and then be using bat detectors to hear them ©TIM HILL chalkhill blue butterflies found here at stunning to observe as BROADWATER LAKE NATURE how they make Campfire Gin. Enjoy two hunt with echolocation. Bring a blanket and this time of year and identifying the chalk butterflies! We will also RESERVE cocktails from their Campfire Gin menu KUBALE JOSH © experience bats as close as we can - we will grassland flora. Enjoy lovely views of the be listening out for other Join us for a gentle stroll around plus samples, along with a selection of have the windows open as we cruise along. surrounding countryside at this hidden nocturnal wildlife and Broadwater Lake to discover and canapes. £50 per person. Over 18s only. Complimentary tea and coffee will gem in the north of Hertfordshire. may hear the screech of identify the winter wildfowl be served on board to keep you warm. a barn owl or bats found in this important site Not suitable for younger children. out hunting. in the Colne Valley. Adults £15, children (under 16) £8, infants free (on adult’s lap). Shoveler

14 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 15 YOUR WILDLIFE TRUST

Community Fundraising Working for Green Token Scheme Neighbourly clean-up Wildlife at Watford Asda Thank you to everyone at TK Maxx and A huge thank you to our friends at Homesense who voted for us in the Days Watford Asda for inviting us along for environmental clean-up grant scheme, We were pleased to welcome a bucket collection day and selecting administered by Neighbourly. We’ve Transmission Investment who us for their Green Token Giving scheme been awarded £3,200 which will help us enjoyed a team away day at earlier this year. Thanks to the generous Karl Toombs in our challenge to remove Himalayan Stocker’s Lake, creating a pond, donations and customer votes, we Balsam from our sites. raking grassland and building raised an amazing £648! Become a fantastic bee towers to create homes for A warm Collections at solitary bees. St Albans City Station fundraiser! welcome CHARITY GOLF DAY If you can help Our thanks to St Albans City Station A warm welcome to our us with bucket The Grove Golf Course for inviting us for an early morning new Schools Engagement 21 October 2019 collections or collection which raised £140 in under Volunteer, Karl Toombs, who by placing collection Rally your family, friends, colleagues and clients to enter a team of four and two hours – thank you! will be volunteering with the tins in local shops enjoy an 18-hole world championship golf course and five-star hospitaliy! Working For Wildlife Day Trust as part of John Lewis’ to help raise even Community Matters volunteering scheme, called more funds, please hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/golfday at Welwyn Waitrose The Golden Jubilee Trust. contact us on 01727 858 901 Thanks to Welwyn Waitrose for Karl is raring to work with [email protected] donating £300 to the Trust through primary schools and youth their Community Matters scheme and groups to help children a huge thank you to all the customers connect with wildlife and that voted for us. raise funds to support the Trust. He is happy to talk at Business Breakfast Working For Wildlife Day assemblies, provide outdoor practical learning in your This spring, we welcomed over 35 guests to our second Business Breakfast, school grounds or in our kindly sponsored by Affinity Water. Held at The Grove Hotel & Spa, potential wildlife garden in and existing corporate supporters of the Trust enjoyed great networking © DAVID SHEPPARD Verulamium Park. over a delicious breakfast. To find out more, Kind thanks to Rosemary Waugh, CSR Manager at Thames Water, and Verity Fen Appeal please contact Karl on Wilks, Responsible Sourcing Manager at Jordans Cereals, for giving talks [email protected] about the benefits of corporate partnerships to wildlife, people Thank You or 01727 858 901 and their businesses. Walk To thank the supporters of our Fen Appeal, we organised two walks to show just how their In Remembrance Trek Kilimanjaro donations have helped this Take the challenge of a lifetime and We would like to thank and long-standing members John Cook join us in climbing Africa’s highest precious habitat. and for kindly leaving a gift in their Bosena Taylor Audrey Calveley mountain, Kilimanjaro. You’ll enjoy will to the Trust. We are extremely grateful for their support over the Braving a wet and early start at Thorley the beautiful scenery on your climb years and for thoughtfully remembering the Trust in this special way. Wash Nature Reserve, our supporters were knowing every step of the way you’ll rewarded with the chorus of birdsong and Our thanks and condolences to the friends and family of be protecting local wildlife. We will be even a sighting of water voles. Thanks to Dorothy Smith, Gerry Leuty, Mary Hayes and Molly Johnson taking the northern route featured in everyone who supported our appeal and who are kindly donating to the Trust in their memory. this year’s Comic Relief Appeal. joined us for our walk. These donations make a lasting contribution to our Find out how to get involved You can find out more about our local conservation work and help ensure that the at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/ latest appeal on wildlife their loved ones cherished is protected challengeyourself hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/appeal for years to come. Water Vole

16 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 17 SPECIES FOCUS © BARRY TREVIS GUY EDWARDES Common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsia The most common of all 56 species of orchids in the UK, you can find the common spotted carpeting grasslands, roadside verges, old quarries and marshes in pale pink in summer. It gets its name from its leaves which are green with purple oval spots. The flowers range from white and pale pink through to purple but have distinctive darker pink spots and stripes on their three-lobed lips. Look out for these and other orchid varieties at Blagrove Common, Tewin Orchard and Hunsdon New arrivals at and Eastwick Meads. Lemsford Springs

Barry Trevis, Volunteer Warden at Lemsford Springs, tells the tale of a pair of kestrels taking up residence in one of the reserve’s nest Water Vole boxes and having to put up with some noisy and nosy neighbours.

Kestrels hovering over our countryside were the kestrels have had to contend with noisy M a le w once a common sight. However, due to habitat neighbours in the form of jackdaws already i th

vo loss, decreasing prey populations and a lack of in residence in the upper nest box! le , f em suitable nest sites, the population of kestrels ale sit Despite the disturbance, the kestrels are ting in b across the UK has been in decline over the past ox Pe r Finney doing well and we’ve followed them te decades. This has led to the kestrel becoming A nosy jackdaw

closely over the past couple of weeks, FINNEY PETER a species of conservation concern, gaining from establishing their nest, laying of an unfavourable space on the “amber list”. eggs, the male bringing voles to a hungry So it was wonderful to see that a pair of incubating female, seeing-off the kestrels have taken up residence in one of the attentions of potential predators, to the nest boxes at Lemsford Springs. The box is ultimate fledging of four healthy chicks. one of two on a high pole in the reserve and

Have a look at hertswildlifetrust. BARRY TREVIS org.uk/blog/kestrels for more images and videos.

BARRY TREVIS BARRY TREVIS BARRY

BARRY TREVIS

Kestrel pair at nestbox with prey

Almost ready Kestrel Female on nestbox Fledging the nest

18 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 19 RESERVE FOCUS

Frogmore Meadows © STEVE KENNY BIRDS EYE STUDIOS

This marvellous wildflower meadow is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has recently The grass is cut with a scythe and made further nutrients, and diversifies the into hay over several dry days in July, height of the vegetation, creating micro- been extended thanks to the generous legacy of its Volunteer Warden Gerald Salisbury. turning it daily to let it dry evenly. Once climates. Their hooves lightly break up

completely dry, the hay is compressed the ground, creating bare ground where H

S

U Nestled in the Chess Valley between generations will be able to enjoy this Meadows is coloured in the white of into tight bales with the use of a seeds can germinate. Thanks to the Trust’s R H T

M L Chenies and Latimer, Frogmore Meadows reserve. Through his generous legacy, meadowsweet, the yellow of lady’s handmade hand baler. Further down continuous management, Frogmore A U A R P B L is a rare example of a traditionally- the Trust has been able to purchase land bedstraw, the purple of southern marsh E the line, cattle will be brought on site to Meadows is a diverse nature reserve D W H managed wildflower meadow, alive with adjacent to Frogmore Meadows. The as well as heath spotted orchid and many IT graze. Conservation grazing is vital for supporting a huge variety of wildlife. E birdsong in spring and shining in all the enlarged nature reserve now covers 25 more beautiful wildflowers providing grassland habitats to protect and ensure colours of the rainbow in summer. It is acres – three times the size of the important food sources for bees and biodiversity. The animals’ grazing removes easy to understand why Gerald loved this original site. butterflies. Along the banks of the River place so much. He was Volunteer Warden Chess, a globally rare chalk stream, the In his role as a Volunteer Warden, at Frogmore Meadows for over 30 years highly-endangered water vole has made Gerald made a huge difference to the and long before his death in 2015, he had its home. Nocturnal hunters like barn owls reserve, dedicating much of his time to made arrangements to ensure that future and several bat species are sweeping the its management by grazing his docile At , the reed bed has been waders along the water’s edge and floodplains in search of food at night. Reserves Guernsey cattle and cutting back scrub, lowered in places, whilst additional mud flats by restricting access by © JOSH KUBALE which eventually led to the reserve gaining Lowland meadows like Frogmore Roundup hannels have been incorporated to dogs and people. provide the right conditions along the favourable status of a Site of Special Meadows have suffered a huge decline We’re getting This is just a snippet of the great the waterways for water voles, reed Scientific Interest (SSSI). He was always over the last century. Similar meadows ready for grazing by installing livestock work that our busy reserves team warblers and Cetti’s warblers. The keen to share his knowledge and passion are often ‘improved’ with fertilisers and and dedicated volunteers are fencing on the fen meadow. for the reserve which he frequently did re-seeded with more productive grasses pollarding of several willows allows doing every day, thanks to the on guided walks. In recognition of his or drained and used for arable farming. more light in to encourage less Young apple and pear trees at Tewin dedication to the site, the Trust has named As a result, specialist meadow plants are support of you, our members! dominant species such as golden Orchard have received protection from the original reserve ‘Gerald’s Meadow’. being outcompeted by more dominant Around one hectare of rush was cut saxifrage and marsh marigold. mammals and competition by other vegetation. To preserve Frogmore back at Rye Meads. in order to reduce species by maintaining the tree Frogmore Meadows Nature Reserve A new fence line at Wilstone Reservoir Meadows, the Trust uses traditional its dominance, and attract nesting guards around them. sits in a floodplain and the soils found aims to protect the wildfowl and meadow management techniques to care birds such as lapwing. there, when managed correctly, support for this precious habitat which involves an abundance of grasses, orchids and Southern marsh orchid traditional haymaking. wildflowers. In summer, Frogmore

20 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 21 DAYS OUT TOM DAY TOM Nature’s Calendar July-October 2019 Tim Hill, the Trust’s Conservation Manager, highlights some of his favourite seasonal wildlife and makes suggestions for things to look out for and do through the months ahead.

Green-eyed hawker

July August September October

The green-eyed The fast and A vole new As seen

P world a

y dragon the furious on TV n r

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a a

S n l l You may have seen g There are few better places to By August, most of our birds will have finished e e s s r u O R Five hundred years ago, W a a the Wildlife Trusts’ k spend a few hours on a hot July breeding and will be on their way back to their te r V ole King Henry VIII ruled this animated film revisiting day than the Trust’s dragonfly wintering grounds. One exception is the hobby, country and as he was trail at Amwell Nature Reserve. At one of our smallest hawks. the Wind in the Willows. dealing out rather brutal

this time of year, you will almost Another African migrant, it arrives here in May. Its main The shocking images show a world changed l treatment to his six wives, an Fr nhoh beyond recognition from the idyllic landscape ieda Rumme certainly be able to experience one food source are large flying insects such as dragonflies, so it acorn was germinating on the of our most recent and spectacular is most often seen over the wetlands of the Lea and Colne of The Wind In The Willows. In the book, Ratty was actually a water vole. Sadly, the number valley side of the River Mimram. colonists, the green-eyed hawker. Valleys. Where food is plentiful, there can be large gatherings – I have seen as many as 16 birds at a time! of places with water voles in Britain has gone Over the centuries, that seedling grew slowly as the world This species was first discovered at Amwell in down by 94% in the last sixty years. And voles around it changed dramatically. It has now grown to be 2014 but has now become well established. In August 2018, a nest was spotted in a pine tree in the north have become the country’s fastest-declining of Panshanger Park where parents were busy feeding young. nearly eight metres in circumference and over 18 metres Its most distinctive feature is those emerald mammal. The Trust has been leading on water high – the Great Oak of Panshanger Park. It is regarded as green eyes making it unique amongst the The Trust together with the park owners Tarmac were vole conservation with local partners and as swift to react to this rare opportunity the largest ‘maiden oak’ in this country – a tree that has Hertfordshire dragonflies. The best way to get a result, we still have water voles, although grown naturally without being cut or managed in any way. a good view of them is to pick a good vantage and established a ‘hobby watch’. their distribution is limited to wetlands in the Over the course of a few days, It is a living ancient monument, a wonderful link with the point on the boardwalk and wait for them valleys of the lower Lea, Colne, Stort, Mimram past and a gateway to the future. There is an old saying that to come to you. If you’re lucky they will stop we were able to show over and Chess. September is one of the best 100 people these stunning oaks live for 300 years, rest for 300 years and die for 300 and hover in front of you, in which case you months to look for these gorgeous creatures. years. If that’s true, this mighty oak is only just over half way will be drawn to look deep into those multi- birds through a dedicated It’s the end of the breeding season and viewpoint and powerful through its life! Ancient oaks like this are a nature reserve in faceted viridescent eyes. Dragonflies need numbers are at their highest. One of the best their own right, with the ability to support over 300 species the heat of the sun to warm them, so visit telescopes. places to see them is Thorley Wash Nature

H of invertebrates. Fungal rot creates nesting places for birds

o b Reserve, site of a successful reintroduction in in the heat of day. It’s quite incredible how Here’s hoping we will be b y and roosting spaces for bats. I had the pleasure of showing

dragonflies disappear almost instantly when able to repeat the watch 2015. The habitat is excellent throughout the BBC Countryfile’s Matt Baker the tree in all its glory earlier it clouds over. Look hard enough and you can this year – keep your valley and the voles have since spread along this year. The best time to experience it is at dusk when its spot them perched in the branches of a tree or eyes peeled on the Trust’s the river. Enter the reserve from the Stort ancient presence is palpable. If you would like to pay homage thick cover, waiting for the sun to warm them website and social media for navigation, walk west to where a ditch runs to this wonderful tree, follow the Great Oak Trail from the once more. under the path and it shouldn’t be long before updates. Tim Hill old gamekeeper’s cottage. you see animals chugging back and forth along the waterway.

22 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 23 A pond is one of the richest habitats you can create between larger bodies of water, providing a lifeline to in a garden, providing food, water and a breeding species that are unable to travel long distances. Plan your wildlife-friendly place for a huge range of species, from amphibians While large ponds attract the greatest number to aquatic invertebrates, and birds to small mammals, of species, don’t underestimate the value of a small such as hedgehogs and bats. A pond is also one pond. A container such as an old tin bath, Belfast of the busiest wildlife habitats. Digging one will sink or even a washing up bowl can provide a home Kate Bradbury have an almost immediate effect. Within just two pond for all for aquatic insects. Frogs may use the habitat too – is passionate about weeks, you might attract water boatmen and pond just help them to reach the water by making a ‘frog wildlife-friendly skaters, bathing birds, thirsty hedgehogs and egg- ladder’ out of stones outside the container. Add more gardening and We’re rapidly losing our ponds, rivers laying insects, such as dragonflies and damselflies. stones at the bottom and plants to provide oxygen the author of Amphibians will seek out the water to spawn in and streams in the UK, so adding a pond and shelter for tadpoles and other aquatic larvae. Wildlife Gardening is one of the best things you can do to spring, and bats will take advantage of the insects for Everyone and dancing over the water’s surface in summer. Our gardens take up more space than all of Britain’s Everything in help wildlife in your garden. Kate Bradbury A mix of pond plants nature reserves put together. If we all provided some In the wild, ponds, rivers and streams are being association with Long grass for cover form of watery home, we could create a network of explains how to make your pond a haven Add a range of emergent, lost and degraded by development, drainage and The Wildlife Trusts. wildlife-rich water highways across the country. for animals, large and small. Allow the grass to grow long floating and submerged plants intensive farming, resulting in a huge loss of wildlife. around your pond, or grow to provide the best habitat for So garden ponds are an increasingly vital habitat for For more pond tips and to add your low-growing herbaceous wildlife, offering egg-laying species that may have lost their breeding grounds Water feature to our UK pond map, plants nearby, to provide habitat and shelter from elsewhere. They can also act as stepping stones visit wildaboutgardens.org.uk cover for young frogs, toads predators. Submerged plants oxygenate the water, too. and newts and protect them Somewhere to hide from predators such as birds. Gently sloping sides Make piles of old terracotta pots or loose heaps of stones Make sure mammals such as near your pond to provide hedgehogs can enter and exit the shelter for frogs and toads. pond safely to avoid drowning. A Shallow water sloping ‘beach’ is perfect and will attract birds to bathe here too. This is where the life is! Here, you’ll find tadpoles and other aquatic larvae. Shallow areas warm up more quickly in spring, and frogs lay spawn here.

Emergent plants Dragonfly nymphs climb out of the water using the stems of emergent plants before transforming into winged adults. Nurseries for eggs Landing pad Toads wrap their ribbon- Water lilies will be used like spawn around the by thirsty insects such submerged stems of plants as bees. Frogs may rest such as marsh marigold. on them to catch insects Deep water Newts fold individual eggs Sheltering stones and aquatic larvae will In winter, deep areas into the leaves of plants such In the shallows and deeper shelter beneath them. provide shelter for frogs, as water-forget-me-not. areas of the pond, stones which rest at the bottom, provide nooks and crannies breathing through their for aquatic larvae to shelter skin. Toads prefer deep from predators. Tadpoles JAMES ROGERSON ponds too. also suck algae off them. ILLUSTRATION: HANNAH BAILEY, KATE BRADBURY: SARAH CUTTLE

24 wildlifematters Summer 2019 Summer 2019 wildlifematters 25 MICRO HABITATS Your photos...

Share your wild wanders! Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust @HMWTbadger

Hertswildlifetrust Phill shot this wonderful emerging green cranefly at Marsworth Reservoir. @DistinctlyAver3

James hit the shutter at the perfect moment, as the kestrel at Amwell Nature Reserve was closing in on its prey. This beautiful composition of a female @james_wildlife orange-tip butterfly was created byHelen. Helen:

The Nature of… a Wildflower Meadow “How does the Meadow flower moth, fluttering through the flowers such as deer, wild horses and aurochs, its bloom unfold? Because the and bumblebees laden with pollen. If a wild ancestor of modern cattle. there is open water nearby, you might Only 75 years ago, you would find a lovely little flower is free down spot dragonflies and damselflies zipping It was a cracking bluebell season this year, A male spoonbill, snapped by Stuart, was found wildflower meadow nearly everywhere to its root, and in that freedom through the meadow. Old meadows carpeting our woodlands in purple. This lonely residing at Amwell Nature Reserve in May and June you turned. The shortest walk from a are sometimes enclosed with hedges bluebell was snapped by Reece. @StuartFox1 bold.” William Wordsworth village or the edge of a town would consisting of trees and shrubs, including travel_trash A blaze of yellow from buttercups and have taken you into another world, field maple, hazel, hawthorn and spindle, yellow rattle, the deep blue of devil’s-bit full of wildflowers in hedges, along road alive with linnets and whitethroats. scabious, purple orchids gently nodding verges and, of course, in meadows rolling Brown hares can be spotted zigzagging in the breeze, the whirr of grasshoppers over the countryside. Tragically, we have through the meadow, a barn owl is and crickets, the buzz of bumblebees lost 98% of this habitat, a jaw-dropping sweeping over the meadow. wobbling from blossom to blossom: 7.5 million acres – more than 18 times colours and sounds fill the senses. A Meadows are the product of hundreds the size of Hertfordshire. They have wildflower meadow in summer is a if not thousands of years of human disappeared as farming practices have kaleidoscope of wildlife. intervention in the form of traditional changed and towns and villages have livestock farming. The combination expanded to swallow up It is one of the most diverse habitats of hay cutting and grazing creates flower-rich fields. you can find. While the flowers may be unique conditions that enabled a the stars of the show, don’t forget the Luckily, you can travel back in diversity of plants to flourish. Before insects; from the tiniest yellow meadow time and immerse yourself in the traditional farming took hold in Britain, ant that almost goes unnoticed to the wonders of wildflower meadows. wildflower habitats would have existed colourful whirl of butterflies, like the The Trust looks after some marvellous These beautiful pasque flowers at sunset in areas kept open by the herds of large Simon found this slow worm wiggling its marbled white or the day-flying burnet meadows, including Aldbury Nowers were taken by Ben at Heath. herbivores that roamed the landscape way through Nature Reserve. and Frogmore Meadows. @benandrewphotos @SimonWest26

26 wildlifematters Summer 2019 SummerSummer 20192019 wildlifewildlifemattersmatters 2727 © TERRYWHITTAKER

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July 10am-4pm Panshanger Park Join us for a FREE family festival at the beautiful Panshanger Park. Celebrate the wildlife of Hertfordshire and Middlesex with a weekend of walks, talks and conservation activities.

hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/festival

In partnership with In association with