2011 Bluebell Express Newsletter
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20 bluebellexpress News of the Bluebell Recovery Project throughout SPRING 11 The Mersey Forest and Cheshire Funding adds a splash of colour to the countryside! The Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project was set up in 1996 in direct response to the increasing loss of one of our most beautiful woodland wildflowers. The native English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, is in decline across the UK. To help safeguard its future in Cheshire, this native bluebell has been classified as a local Biodiversity Action Plan species, under the Cheshire region Biodiversity Action Plan (CrBAP). Threats include: project a boost to continue propagation loss of woodland habitat, and, over the next two years, plant these bulbs into local community illegal collectionof wild bulbs, for sale woodlands across the Cheshire region. damage to plants, caused by the trampling of leaves Working with local community groups the Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project hybridisation with the non-native will be working to plant propagated Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica. bulbs in 14 woodlands. If you are part of a local community group and would like Cheshire Wildlife Trust, along withThe to join us in this project please contact: Mersey Forest and RECORD, are actively Sarah Bennett, Cheshire region Biodiversity promoting the English bluebell within Manager [email protected]. Cheshire. Over the last six years this unique project has helped to conserve our native bluebell, by propagating... To find out more: about the: from local seed... thousands of new Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project: bulbs at the Barrowmore Estate. www.record-lrc.co.uk/c1.aspx?Mod=Article &ArticleID=bluebellhomepage. Marshall Tom Further funding from: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Bluebell Biodiversity Action the Linley Shaw Foundation, Plan: www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk. The Mersey Forest and the landfill communities funds of the Waste Recycling Group Ltd (administered by WREN) - have given the Pink and white bluebells! Strange but true, you can find pink or even white bluebells in native woodlands. Moira Rae Carter: Is this a permanent mutation in certain plants or a temporary change? The Cheshire Bluebell BAP Group have observed a bluebell wood with 99.9% blue flowers one year then... after the felling of a number of trees... a large number of pink and white bluebells the next – we think that this may have been a temporary reaction caused by the shock from falling timber. In subsequent years this site seems to have reverted back to mainly blue flowers. For information about the Cheshire Bluebell BAP Group visit: www.RECORD-LRC.CO.UK Celebrate British Bluebells Visit some of our native woodlands, nature reserves and gardens “The splendour of the Spring, they carpet all the woods anew, with royalty of sapphire hue” M62 WARRINGTON M60 M6 RUNCORN M53 9 5 M56 7 10 3 M6 ALDERLEY EDGE FRODSHAM 2 8 NORTHWICH NESTON 6 MACCLESFIELD CHESTER A49 WINSFORD A51 MIDDLEWICH TARPORLEY SANDBACH CREWE A49 4 NANTWICH MALPAS A51 1 The Bluebell Nursery Barrowmore The Barrowmore Estate, having its own bluebell woodland, is the ideal place for a bluebell nursery, growing bluebells from seed, for eventual use in bluebell projects throughout Cheshire. The Barrowmore Training Centre is part of the Barrowmore registered charity creating employment, training and development opportunities for around 100 people with varying levels of disability. For more information about the bluebell events, and how to get involved in practical bluebell conservation, visit: www.barrowmore.org.uk To help secure the future of British bluebells please contact : The Mersey Forest Team Cheshire Wildlife Trust T : 01925 816217 T: 01948 820728 www.merseyforest.org.uk www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk Cheshire Cheshire The ‘Bluebell Resource Pack’, produced by theBluebell Cheshire Action Group Bluebell Bluebell Action Group Supported by BAP Group, is downloadable from www.RECORD-LRC.CO.UKThe William Dean Trust Photo : Ben Hall Resource Pack Bluebell Events in 2011 PHOTO Design : Moira Rae Carter Combermere Abbey Adlington Hall 1 15 April 6 1 May, 2pm Bluebell Event Bluebell Walk with head Dogs welcome on leads. gardener, Anthony O’Grady. Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4AJ Macclesfield SK10 4LF GR:SJ 590 422 GR:SJ 905 804 www.combermereabbey.co.uk www.adlingtonhall.com Bluebell Cottage Garden Arley Hall & Gardens 2 23 April - 8 May 7 1, 2, 7 & 8 May Wednesday - Sunday Bluebell Walks Virginia Hunt and Bank Holidays, 10 -5pm Booking essential. Bluebell Walks Bluebell resource pack folder.in1 1 Northwich CW9 6NA 29/6/09 10:01:44 group bookings welcome GR:SJ 675 810 Lodge Lane, Dutton WA4 4HP www.arleyhallandgardens.com GR:SJ 581 779 www.lodgelane.co.uk Marshalls’s Arm 8 Nature Reserve Capesthorne Hall 2 May 2 - 4pm 3 30 April Bluebell Bonanza 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21 & 22 May Hartford, Northwich Bluebell Festival GR:SJ 649 727 Siddington, Macclesfield SK11 9JY Tel: 01606 42667 GR:SJ 840 728 www.capesthorne.com Quarry Bank Mill 9 3 - 7 May Rode Hall Gardens Bluebell Walks 4 April & May Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 4LA Bluebells at Rode hall GR:SJ 835 835 Scholar Green, ST7 3QP www.nationaltrust.org. GR:SJ 819573 uk/main/w-quarrybankmillandstyalestate www.rodehall.co.uk [email protected] Norton Priory Tatton Park Gardens 5 Museum & Gardens 10 Open Mon - Sun, 10am - 6pm Bluebell walks - April & May Bluebells throughout May Please contact for dates Knutsford, Cheshire Norton Priory, Runcorn WA7 1SX WA16 6QN GR:SJ 548 833 GRSJ 750817 www: nortonpriory.org Tel: 01625 374417 www.tattonpark.org.uk Snap! We are always on the look out for images of bluebells for use in future issues of the ‘bluebellexpress’. Quarry Orange-tip, bank Mill 2010 Derek Hatton : Send your large format jpegs to [email protected] Bluebells Identification of bluebells Moira Rae Carter: Norton Priory 2010 Please help us to keep track of our bluebells so we can prevent the loss of this charismatic wildflower from the Cheshire landscape. Native Bluebell Hybrid Bluebell Spanish Bluebell Leaf width Leaf width Leaf width 7–10 mm 10–30 mm 20–35 mm Stem Stem Stem Droops to one side Slightly curved Upright Flowers Flowers Flowers Scented Slight Scent No scent Deep violet blue/white Dark blue/pink/white Dark blue/pink/white Pollen Pollen Pollen Pale cream Pale blue Dark blue If you would like more information on how to identify the different bluebells, including illustrations, then please visit: www.record-lrc.co.uk/Group.aspx?Mod=Article&ArticleID=BluebellIndentification Cheshire Bluebell Action Recording Form Moira Rae Carter: Norton Priory 2010 Recorder’s Name: Date Seen: If you would like further information please give us your: Address/e: Location: Grid Ref/ post code: Species: Native Hybrid Spanish Stage: Flowering In bud In leaf Dead stems Population: Sparse Well covered Dense Send your records to: Small area Medium area Large area RECORD Oakfield House Comments: i.e. If this is a site you have been monitoring... are numbers in decline? Chester Zoological Gardens Upton, Chester, Cheshire CH2 1LH e: [email protected] You can either fill in this form, or a copy, and send it to ECOR RD or enter your records on-line at www.RECORD-LRC.CO.UK and click on the large RODIS Graphics: Moira Rae Carter.