Life on the Yealm Initiative Report on the first 6 months of activities Newton and Noss Environment Group Written by John Green & Chris McGimpsey “I saw several lines of children going to and from visits. They were all having a great time. There was a lovely sight under the tree outside on Friday when a lady was sat in a chair with 20 enthralled children around her.” Raymond Wergan , Yealm estuary, July 2018 Lee Bay Bioblitz 2017 Eggs of the Atlantic bobtail squid Sepiola atlantica Photo by Dave Fenwick The Life on the Yealm initiative With its seagrass beds, creeks, sea cliffs and ancient woodlands, the Yealm estuary is a haven for a diverse range of species. The Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) chose the estuary and the parish of Newton and Noss to host its 10th BioBlitz, as part of a local initiative to celebrate the area’s wildlife. The Life on the Yealm initiative has involved providing training and activities for school children, teachers and the local community. Steered by the interests and aspirations of local residents, events have been organised by the MBA with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Yealm Waterside Homes, the Royal Society of Biology and Plymouth Radio. The Yealm BioBlitz, held on 13th & 14th July, was the focal point for the initiative, enabling participants of all levels of expertise and ages to take part in a wide range of fun, educational and scientific data collection activities, which helped to identify and record the wide range of species living in the area. This report provides an overview of the activities arranged over the Spring and Summer of 2018, including the findings from the BioBlitz. There is a great deal of enthusiasm for arranging more events which instill a deeper appreciation of the local wildlife. An event in October 2018 showcasing photos of wildlife living in and around the Yealm will be followed by future events to engage the wider community. To keep up-to-date with Life on the Yealm initiative, visit the Facebook page: @lifeontheyealm Bella Leal, Summer Bella Summer Leal, 2018 Yealm estuary Photo by School activities Children from two local schools, Newton Ferrers Primary School and Yealmpton Primary School, took part in a series of activities during Spring and Summer 2018. An introduction to the Life on the Yealm initiative, involving an assembly for all of the classes in the schools, was followed by training on wildlife survey techniques for children in Key Stage 2. Field trips were then arranged for two classes from each school to visit the Yealm, enabling the children to explore the habitats and to undertake survey activities. Both schools then took part in the Yealm BioBlitz, with 49 children from Yealmpton Primary School and over 130 children from Newton Ferrers getting involved in bug searches in the school and local church grounds, exploring pitfall traps, revealing moths from a light trap, using pooters to look at small bugs and sweep netting to find what is living in the grasses, as well as exploring the estuary. Follow up events were held in the schools in the Autumn Term to consolidate the learning and report back on the findings from the BioBlitz. A Continuing Professional Development event provided teachers from both schools with training on species identification and survey techniques that are appropriate for primary school children. A presentation about the Life on the Yealm initiative was also given to members of Ivybridge Community College’s Environment Group. Community training A series of events was organised for members of the local community, providing training on wildlife identification and survey techniques, including: An informal walk along the shore of the Yealm Estuary, including a focussed survey for non-native species. Fun wildlife survey techniques for all ages in Brookings Down Wood using pooters, sweep nets and shaking bushes to see the bugs that fell onto large white sheets. Woodland assessment technique training in Brookings Down Wood with an ecologist providing a training session on a ground flora assessment tool for woodlands. Training workshop and field trip surveying and identifying the Yealm’s tidal shore life, and exploring the different habitats present along the estuary. Wildlife and habitat survey technique training at Newton Down solar farm. Yealm BioBlitz Hundreds of local people and experts from across South West England took part in the Yealm BioBlitz in Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo on Friday 13th July & Saturday 14th July, searching for the wildlife that lives in and around the Yealm estuary. The main objective was to engage the local community to instill a deeper interest in the precious local habitats, whilst obtaining a snapshot of the species present. A large programme of activities was arranged for children and adults of all ages, including whale and dolphin watching, reptile, butterfly, bug and fish surveys, stream dipping, moth trapping and dusk walks looking for bats, owls and glow worms. The survey area included a range of habitats, including ancient woodland, a coastal path and cliffs, areas of managed park, as well as sand/mud and the rocky shore. It covered all publically accessible land in the parish of Newton and Noss, the high water mark of all parts of the Yealm estuary, the mouth of the estuary and 500 metres out to sea. Recordings from private land, including gardens, were eligible if submitted with the landowner’s permission, as long as they were not of species which had been introduced recently for gardening or farming. A total of 855 species were identified during the survey which took place from 10am on Friday 13th July until 3pm on Saturday 14th July. Around 420 people took part, including approximately 200 school children. “The bioblitz was a wonderful opportunity to meet other experts, educate children and adults on the wonder of moths and a real adventure with camping overnight while moth traps ran in a nearby wood. Recording Olive Crescent, a moth never before seen in Devon was a real bonus.” Barry Henwood Barry Henwood, Brookings Down Wood, July 2018 Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis Photo by BioBlitz activities Base Camp Over 300 people visited the Base Camp at the WI Hall in Newton Ferrers during the Yealm Fenwick Dave BioBlitz. There were numerous activities for school children, run by Paul Naylor, Teresa Jumping plant louse Trioza centranthi Photo by Naylor who is the author of Benny the Blenny, Juliette Jackson, the Marine Conservation “I was lucky enough to be there when the Society and other volunteers. Microscopes were chap was showing Tardigrades under the available for all to use throughout day and there microscope - absolutely fascinating. I had were opportunities to meet experts, including read several pieces about them, but never an inspiring expert on tardigrades. seen one before.” Anthony John Throughout the BioBlitz an information desk provided participants with survey forms, timetables, maps and micro-lenses for taking close-up images of wildlife. Volunteers were on the data desk day and night to enable people to bring their records and photos for inclusion in the survey. “I thought the BioBlitz was wonderful. Seeing so much enthusiasm from experts and participants was brilliant.” Nicky Tewson , NHBS Oli Haines Yealm BioBlitz Base Camp Photo by Cetacean watch and seabird spotting A mini-bus driven by volunteers took people four kilometres from the Base Camp to the coastal path in Noss Mayo for a headland bird and cetacean watch. Wergan Raymond Seals and dolphins are often seen from this part of coast, but none of the 17 people who took part Six spot burnet Zygaena filipendulae Photo by spotted any sea mammals on this occasion. However, numerous species of birds and butterflies were recorded in amongst the gorse and bracken. Shore safari The shore safari took place on the mud-flats of the Yealm at Wembury Point. Mud flats are very important Wain Asher environments as they provide habitats for wading birds and they act as a carbon sink to counter-act global Comma Polygonia c-album Photo by warming. These mud flats are home to a wide range of organisms, including the invasive Pacific Oyster which is becoming a dominant species in the Yealm. Fish survey - seine netting Seine nets were used to catch and record fish species near to the Harbour Office at Yealm Steps. Around 20 McGimpsey Chris people took part in identifying eight fish species found in the shallows. This contributed to the total of 33 Photo by Photo by Chris McGimpsey by Photo Chris species of fish that were recorded in the Yealm during the BioBlitz, including the Common Dragonet, Pollack, Sand Goby, Snake Pipefish and Twospotted Goby. psey Members of Seasearch dived near the mouth the Yealm estuary at Western Ebb Rocks and there were divers searching the Yealm estuary channel. “What's under your feet?” bug search Photo by McGim Chris Nicky Collins, a local primary school science teacher, ran a session with a group of people looking at what lives in the soil. By digging up a small patch of Gypsy Meadow the group found worms and beetles, though far fewer than were expected, perhaps due to the very dry summer which may have driven creatures to dig Fenwick Dave themselves in deeper than usual. Barkfly found on Holm Oak leaves Ectopsocus briggsi Photo by Stream dipping The small stream flowing through Gypsy Meadow was the venue for a stream dipping session. Being reasonably fast flowing and lightly tumbling over a stony bed, a ‘riffle’, the water was well oxygenated, enabling it to support a healthy diversity of life. By looking at the presence and absence of a few macroinvertebrate groups, a small team gained a quick and reasonable assessment of the water quality – which was suggested to be “good”.