Summer 2018

NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE TRUST AND FROM AROUND THE UK

Dragons and Damsels and Middlesex’s most colourful residents 8

>> WILD >> AMWELL ABOUT WORMS NATURE RESERVE Find out why these Get to know Hertfordshire’s wriggly creatures are so best nature reserve for important 13 dragonflies 18 PROTECTING WILDLIFE FOR THE FUTURE Summer 2018 contents NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE TRUST AND FROM AROUND THE UK

CONSERVATION 5 New species alert Find out what exciting new species have been found across Hertfordshire.

4 Wild Trax Read how we’re inspiring the next generation of wildlife lovers with our partnership project.

6 Nature Recovery Network See The Wildlife Trust’s plans to make our future wilder.

Dragons and Damsels ROSS HODDINOTT 10 My Wild Life Find out more about these Find out about local macro amazing insects! photographer, Gail Ashton’s, 500species2018 project. More on 8

18 Amwell Nature Reserve 20 Nature’s Calendar 22 The Nature of Soil Discover this nature reserve that The Trust’s Tim Hill shares his See what lives in our soil. supports internationally important wildlife highlights for the next Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July numbers of wintering birds. few months. 10:00am-4:00pm Panshanger Park HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST Join us for a FREE family festival at the beautiful Panshanger Park Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, Autumn 2018 issue Registered Charity No: 239863 for a weekend of walks, talks and conservation activities to , Herts AL3 4SN copy deadline: Registered in : 816710 01727 858 901 [email protected] celebrate the wildlife of Hertfordshire and Middlesex. 21 September 2018 www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk All rights reserved. No part may be Cover image: reproduced without written permission Find out more at: Editorial Team Josh Kubale Banded from the editor. The publishers do not and Charlotte Hussey demoiselle necessarily identify with or hold hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/festival 01727 858 901 x 240 © Ron Baber [email protected] themselves responsible for the views [email protected] expressed by contributors, In partnership with correspondents or advertisers. Membership Alan Cotterell 01727 858 901 x 234 [email protected]

Design TGDH www.tgdh.co.uk Printed on FSC © Certfied Stock

Find us on Facebook and Twitter From the Chief Executive Bats 22,000 Members, 2,000 volunteer days, thousands of people enjoying events, and new business Our Barbastelle project is full steam ahead with staff partners are just some of the highlights of the last year which you can read about in our Annual and volunteers putting up 24 bat boxes at , Review included in this edition. All of which have meant that we’ve made positive three potential maternity colonies detected and a strides in giving wildlife a better future, including the rather exciting return of license to radio-tag barbastelle successfully applied for. some species which were once lost from our patch. There’s plenty more planned with acoustic monitoring, mist netting and harp trapping planned over the Volunteers are at the We’ve recently written to our local to worms and snails, these incredible heart of all of this, and MPs about the potential threat to creatures are all around. summer and box checks scheduled for the autumn. we are immensely Local Wildlife Sites (Page 7) and have Watch this space! It’s the perfect time of year to get fortunate to have such had some positive responses. I would out and look for wildlife in the sun – Barbastelle aren’t the only bats in town and we have lots of a dedicated group of encourage you to add your voice and do let Herts Environmental Records surveying and events planned over the next year to ensure that volunteers, giving so ask your MP to add their support too. Centre know what you find at the Trust creates the best habitat possible for these protected much time to looking This edition has a focus on www.hercinfo.org.uk animals. Nathusius’ after our nature invertebrates, some of the most Thank you for your support. Pipstrellle bats arethe reserves, surveying wildlife, helping important, and often overlooked, focus of a new project in in the office and the Grebe House wildlife. From butterflies and spiders the Colne Valley which will Wildlife Garden, and much more. include surveying, tagging and monitoring.

Wild Trax Wild Trax is a new and exciting youth project based in Aylesbury & . It is New species a partnership scheme between Herts & Our Records Centre Manager, Ian has been busy in his spare Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Berks, Bucks time – at Chalk Pit he made first site records for the & Oxon Wildlife Trust and the Natural treehopper Centrotus cornutus and plant bug Strongylocoris History Museum at Tring, with funding leucocephalus making Hexton only the second site for this chalk from the Rothschild Foundation. grassland species in the county; at Panshanger Park he found Our goal is to aid young people aged 11-18, to eight new species, including four fly species, two woodlice,

enjoy and help the natural world while pursuing a spider and a fern. IAN CARLE their passions. We aim to provide a friendly At , Ian found one of only four species environment in which young people can of snakefly in the UK which was a new site record Plant bug socialise,showcase their skills and develop new and whilst out with the Herts Invertebrate project ones, while having fun and working together to Ian found the nationally scarce down shieldbug, help their local community and its wildlife. another completely new record for Hertfordshire and So far the project has been working with particularly exciting as the insect was thought to be several schools in the area, finding out what young extinct in the . people would like to do, helping them make their school people carry out with us will be recognised by Gail Ashton (Page 10) found a fan-bristled robberfly grounds more wildlife friendly and setting up taster IAN CARLE awarding them a Wild Trax certificate at King’s Meads – a first in Hertfordshire - and a sessions at our reserves. We want to demonstrate that, no and a certificate from vInspired – a nationally renowned leaf-rolling weevil was recorded at Balls Wood. While matter your interests, you can help nature, so Wild Trax will volunteering scheme. This project is a great way for young this isn’t a first for the site, it is a nationally rare incorporate digital media, blogging, photography, arts & people to gain new skills and show off their brilliance to species and one of our most important species on Down shieldbug crafts, construction, as well as classic practical conservation future academic bodies and employers! the reserve. activities such as surveying and habitat management. We hope to give opportunities to experience all of the above If you know a school or youth group, or even an individual, These records are essential to caring for these special through various taster sessions. We will then encourage the in Tring or Aylesbury who would be interested in getting sites and ensuring that our wildlife is provided with CARLE IAN young people to design their own nature-benefiting project involved with our youth project either as a participant or the best habitat possible. Please let us know what Treehopper (individually or in groups) and support them in carrying it sharing their expertise as a volunteer please contact Beth, you see – be it insect, plant, bird, mammal or other at out. We know that time is precious so all the work the young Wild Trax Project Officer, at [email protected]. hercinfo.org.uk

4 wildlifematters Spring 2018 Spring 2018 wildlifematters 5 Our vision for the future Campaign begins for 1 Nature is normal 6 Recovering seas 25,000 stand up for Children have trees to Sightings of whales and climb, fields to explore other sea creatures are Local Wildlife Sites and ponds to investigate. increasing. Nature’s recovery An incredible 25,000 of you responded 2 Green developments 7 Fertile soils in just two weeks this spring when the We all need the future to be more wild as an urgent priority. All housing and other Nutrients are staying Government proposed to take all reference Please help us build momentum for a Nature Recovery Network development creates a locked in soils rather than to Local Wildlife Sites out of the National net gain for wildlife. eroding and blowing Planning Policy Framework. As we stand on the brink of the biggest in May. 48 MPs heard The Wildlife Trusts plants and animals, and for everything away. ever shake-up of environmental rules, explain the need to rebuild nature after it brings us: better health, climate 3 Wilder cities This change The Wildlife Trusts are calling for decades of destructive practices. control, flood management, enjoyment, Support from Green roofs, green walls, 8 Restored uplands would have politicians to introduce new laws to employment and more.” Labour’s “We know from research across the pocket parks and trees Instead of just close- Hilary Benn... removed all build a wilder, better Britain. globe that a healthy, wildlife-rich natural The Westminster Government recently are common. grazed grasslands, the protection Central to this would be a requirement world is essential for our wellbeing and consulted on future English planning trees and peat bogs are for England’s for Local Authorities to produce local prosperity,” said Nigel Doar, Director of policies and public payments to farmers. 4 Buzzing countryside back, reducing flooding 42,000 Local Nature Recovery Maps, showing where Strategy at The Wildlife Trusts. “Nature As part of their campaign for a Nature Wildlife Sites. Farmland is crisscrossed and locking up CO2 from the remaining wildlife is and how it needs to recover – for the sake of wild Recovery Network, The Wildlife Trusts by colourful habitat for the air. These are quiet, can be reconnected and expanded. lobbied strongly for the planning system wild pollinators. often unnoticed These maps, produced with wide local to protect Local Wildlife Sites, and for places where consultation, would join up to form a government payments to farmers that wildlife thrives 5 Long-term fisheries – meadows, national Nature Recovery Network. For Nature needs help them create and look after places All fishing is sustainable DAYSNICKI woodlands, city the first time our landscapes would be to recover – for for wildlife. and jobs are secure. farmed and developed in an integrated 8 8 oases. Although way that benefits people and wildlife. everything it they tend to fall under the The campaign for a Network kicked off brings us radar they are a critical part of our wildlife resource. with a presentation at Westminster Designated Local Wildlife Sites cover 3% of Wales and Northern Ireland, 5% of England and 1.7% of the Isle of Man. They are recognised and protected in planning policy – the process is one of their only 6 protections – but nevertheless some are still lost 5 each year. Because of your action, Housing Minister Dominic 3 Raab has agreed to revisit the wording (in England). Thank you! But these special spaces are far from secure – we may need your help again soon to save our Local Wildlife Sites. 7

2 Nature: good for you

Following 30 Days Wild this GAVIGAN GINA June, researchers at the University of Derby have 1 proved that seeing beauty in the natural world leads to improved wellbeing and happiness. The three-year study involved 4 Read the report and thousands of participants, and demonstrated the join our campaign on positive impact of wildlife on our health. wtru.st/natnet NIK POLLARD

6 wildlifematters Spring 2018 Summer 2018 wildlifematters 7 Hertfordshire and Middlesex’s Dragons and Damsels Now is the perfect time to go in search of Hertfordshire and Middlesex’s most colourful residents – dragonflies Emerald damselfly and damselflies!

Dragonflies have been around for at Despite traditional nicknames like ‘Devil’s Where to spot them a circular walk provides a chance to see least 300 million years – pre-dating darning needles’ or ‘horse stingers’, orchids at close proximity too. even dinosaurs. Fossil records show dragonflies and damselflies don’t sting. Adult dragonflies and damselflies feed King’s Mead Nature Reserve comes a that these prehistoric dragonflies on small insects. Both groups hunt close second for places to spot our winged had wingspans stretching up to 75cm When to spot them for their food on the wing – hovering, darting, chasing or just pursuing their beauties, with 18 species spotted through (nearly two and a half feet)! Thankfully An estimated 42 dragonfly and quarry at amazing speed. Dragonflies are the summer months including the scarce today’s dragonflies are significantly damselfly species are native to Britain some of the fastest insects in the world hairy dragonfly. smaller and the biggest dragonfly in and of these, 26 species can be found and can reach speeds of up to 30 miles the world today only has a wingspan of in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. We Head to Stocker’s Lake in Rickmansworth, per hour, so head towards open water to around 20cm (7 and a half inches). are lucky enough to have many of keeping an eye on open areas at this gravel spot them in action, hunting for insects. these beautiful creatures at many of pit, to see thousands of damselflies over Spot the difference Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s The Trust’s Amwell Nature Reserve near the lake as well as dragonflies such as the Dragonflies belong to the insect nature reserves. Ware is the top site for dragonflies and emperor and broadbodied chaser. order Odonata – meaning ‘tooth’. damselflies in Hertfordshire, with 21 Dragonflies and damselflies can be Take a walk through the dappled Within this there are two sub-orders, Hertfordshire species being recorded seen best over the warm summer woodland of Fir and Ponds Wood Anisoptera (dragonflies) andZygoptera here – scarce chaser, Norfolk hawker months but can still be spotted as late meandering past the reserve’s ponds (damselflies). There are some easy ways and willow emerald dragonflies as November. Adult dragonflies where sixteen species of dragon and to tell the two apart when you’re out have all been spotted here are most active between damselfly have been recorded. and about enjoying the summer. in recent years. The mid-morning and Dragonfly Trail on the Heath is another great place to Common darter The easiest way to tell at a glance which mid-afternoon, when reserve is open from see dragonflies – sit quietly by the end of is which is to check what position the temperatures are May-October and the ponds in the middle of a still summer‘s wings are at rest – dragonflies rest with at their highest. Help your local dragonflies and damselflies offers fantastic day and you’re sure to spot some colourful their wings open while damselflies rest Dragonflies are cold- opportunities dragonflies such as the emperor and We’re raising funds to improve out more and donate or visit with their wings closed. When flying blooded and must to see these common darter. The scarce emerald wetlands at local nature reserves hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/appeal E the dragonfly has a strong flight and warm themselves L A creatures damselfly was found again recently, to ensure that our amazing B B Visit our website for upcoming damselfly flight is weaker with more of before flying, so r U o K up close. showing there is now a breeding colony dragonflies can continue to thrive. a H a flutter. If you are lucky enough to get flight is generally d S dragonfly and damselfly events at this reserve. b JO Boardwalks stretch Turn to the back page to find o up close then check the eyes – dragonfly restricted to sunny d in your area. i out over reedbeds, ed eyes touch at the top of the head. weather. c ha pools and ditches and ser

ROSS HODDINOTT

8 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Summer 2018 wildlifematters 9 A keen naturalist from a young age, What has been your favourite Gail is a member of several conservation species to photograph? organisations and is currently transforming her own garden into a My overall favourite invertebrate so far

My Wild Life nature friendly habitat for insects, birds this year is the leaf-eating bloody-nosed ASHTON GAIL and mammals. beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa) It has a terrible name but it is such a fantastic Broad-bodied chaser Gail Ashton is a wildlife photographer based in Hertfordshire She is currently undertaking a project beetle. It will happily walk around your called 500species2018 which sees her hand, and its got so much character specialising in macro photography of invertebrates. Her field work trying to photograph 500 invertebrates in its face. It always makes me smile! is undertaken during the active months from spring to autumn this year. My favourite Hertfordshire species this We are now over half way Gail, what made you start the year? There are so many to go out and through the year – how many photographing species in their natural habitats. This takes her find! The tiny leaf-rolling weevils in all over the country, visiting amazing places for wildlife. 500species2018 project? Broxbourne Woods are amazing. I’ve of the 500 have you got? I began the project to reconnect also really enjoyed photographing the I’m around half-way. When I started myself with both the natural world dragonflies and damselflies, as they this project I really had no idea whether and photography. I’ve always loved have extraordinary body structure, 500 species would be way too easy or both of these things, so invertebrate virtually unchanged for hundreds of impossible! I reckon I’ve got until around photography was a natural convergence millions of years; it’s a glimpse into the mid-September to keep finding species. of the two. It’s also a project to show prehistoric age. After that they will start to disappear people this hidden world, and help them for the winter. It would be great to connect and empathise with the insect Have you faced any particularly complete the project, but even if I don’t, world, to understand their importance to challenging subjects? I’ve had the most amazing time doing the planet, and why we should protect Without a doubt, butterflies have been it, met fantastic people along the way, and conserve them and their habitats. the biggest challenge this year! The and I’ve learned so much about the It’s already working on my family – they newly emerged spring butterflies were natural world. are all taking in interest. My children so busy collecting nectar and finding Do you have any tips on how often shout me to say they’ve found a mate, they literally wouldn’t sit still! an insect, and are learning to identify I had to create an entirely different people can support their local species. Most importantly, they are shooting set-up for butterflies and wildlife in their own back learning that invertebrates are not to be moths, using a fast focus lens and flash, garden? feared. They will even carefully handle just to keep up with them! some bugs and beetles now. For this My family and I started to turn our alone, my project is already worth it! What is your favourite place in own garden into a wildlife garden last Hertfordshire or Middlesex that year, and one of the best things we did Have you always been was make a small pond, as it attracts passionate about invertebrates? your project has taken you? wildlife that wouldn’t normally visit, and the birds prefer it to the birdbath No, not at all! I was a bird lover as a There are some beautiful reserves in as a drinking source. We’ve also child. In fact I remember being terrified our area. Broxbourne Woods is really planted winter flowering shrubs such of spiders as a young child. But a couple stand-out, with its open heathland and as Christmas box and wintersweet, of years ago a friend of mine, who is woodland rides – the diversity there is GAIL ASHTON GAIL to provide food for any insects which an entomologist, introduced my family astonishing, it’s great for beetles. Thorley emerge too early. And flowers! Cram and me to the incredible world of Wash is also lovely, running alongside in as many pollinator friendly flowers invertebrates. I wanted to get closer to the Stort Navigation. It’s great for Swollen-thighed beetle as you can, such as catmint, flowering them, and see them in better detail, so I dragons and damsels. But I’ve also found salvia and verbena (leave the deadheads went out with my camera and a macro some amazing insects just walking on through the winter – goldfinches love lens. My first photographs weren’t that around parks, in gardens and hedgerows eating the seeds). great, suddenly I could see so much and my local green spaces. The amazing colour, texture and character in these thing about invertebrates is that they are everywhere! How can people keep up to tiny animals. I was hooked. date on your project? GAIL ASHTON I’m posting the project in full on Instagram (@bumblebeetlebug), with highlights on Twitter (@gailashton). Do come and take a look! Black-headed cardinal beetle

CHARLOTTE HUSSEY

10 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Summer 2018 wildlifematters 11 Wild about worms! Tweets Each year The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society celebrate wildlife gardening and encourage people to use their gardens to take action to help support nature. from the field... This year Wild About Gardens is going can flow through the soil, allowing water Smooth movers wild about worms! These wriggly fellows to drain away after heavy rain. They Social media highlights from the past few months are well known to gardeners all over. also break down and recycle decaying Earthworms can move smoothly through At first glance they might not seem plants, releasing nutrients to increase soil even very dense soil due to the mucus particularly special, but they’re essential fertility, which helps soil microorganisms covering their bodies. They move by for our soils and wildlife. There are no and fungi to thrive. contracting the muscles surrounding less than 29 earthworm species in the UK their body, forcing their way through the and each one has an integral role in our It’s in the poo! soil. This moves air through the burrows, further mixing the soil. ecosystem. It’s time to take action for the So how do earthworms do all this? First, worms in your garden! they eat the organic matter in the soil, such as dead leaves and plants. This Engineers of the earth breaks it down into smaller pieces, which Earthworms are true engineers – they they then pass out as ‘casts’, or worm poo. specialise in moving through the soil, These casts are very high in nutrients creating networks of burrows and mixing that improve the quality of the soil, the earth. This means oxygen and water helping plants to grow.

@paulupward1 took this glorious photo of @Rob_Stubbs1 caught this frog taking his The Dragonfly Trail at Amwell is now open the bluebells at our reserve morning swim at Oughtonhead Nature and @KatyKingfisher spotted this beautiful this spring Reserve in March banded demoiselle Welcome worms CAROL SHEPPARD

@Paulhdigiman found this spotted flycatcher at Sandon Church into your garden

1. Feed your soil – whenever planting, take the opportunity to work

a little peat-free garden compost into PRICE ALAN the soil.

2. Mulch your leaves – collect leaves in the autumn for leaf mould and use it to mulch acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, or add to a home potting compost mix. Senior Reserves Officer @JennySherwen @AlisonDeb visited Verulamium Park snapped this bright red cardinal beetle at where our offices are based, and saw this Thorley Wash reserve in Bishop Stortford Stack sticks – lay small stacks of logs or woody prunings directly before a spring downpour 3. Swan with adorable chicks on the lake on the soil. They will eventually decompose into worm food.

4. Let your earth breathe – reduce the amount of hard EDEN JACKSON We love seeing your pictures surfacing; lift unnecessary paving and plant up instead. This will give from our reserves and hearing worms somewhere to live. about your wildlife experiences in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Get involved in the conversation on Twitter@HMWTBadger , It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so Facebook at /hertswildlifetrust or important a part in the history of the world as these lowly organised creatures EDEN JACKSON on Instagram at /hertswildlifetrust. Charles Darwin on earthworms

12 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Spring 2018 wildlifematters 13 In remembrance A wild gift idea Annual General Meeting Could you host a Gwendolene Card, a long- Our thanks also to the kind Struggling to find a Join us at Memorial Hall on standing member kindly donations received in memory meaningful gift for a friend 22nd September to learn about our achievements over the collection left a legacy to the Trust. We of Pat Watt, Roy William Lutner, or family member that last year and our exciting plans for the future. The day will box? are grateful that she chose Sally Rose, Patricia Hilda Cole, loves wildlife? consist of our Annual General Meeting followed by short talks, a light lunch and a local guided walk. Could your shop, pub or to remember the Trust in John Foster, Robin Garfield Why not treat them to one of If you would like to join, book a place on this special way. Her support Macdonald. our wildlife sponsorships. www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/AGM other small business help the Trust raise vital funds over the years and her legacy We are extremely Containing a gift will make a valuable grateful to the friends personalised for our conservation work by and family who certificate, fact hosting a collection box and our Go Wild contribution to our ongoing cards, a beautiful conservation work. donated to the Happy anniversary events guides? Trust in memory photo of your sponsored Hosting a collection box and our leaflets in your business

of a loved one. T

H species and to our business members is a simple and effective way to support your local Wildlife

These donations G I R more, it’s a Trust. If you think you can help, please get in touch by B are a special way We would like to say a big thank you to Cemex UK, R I wonderful calling 01727 858901 or email [email protected] to help honour A D Thames Water Utilities and The Institute of Motor S way to treat a and help encourage your staff and customers alike to A their lives, ensuring L A Industry (IMI) who have supported us throughout that their memory loved one and enjoy the local wildlife on their doorsteps. lives on through the support your the years with their business memberships. local wildlife at the protection of wildlife This year is particularly special for these businesses as they same time. Excitingly for future generations to celebrate some milestone anniversaries: Thames Water Utilities this year, there’s even enjoy. Our sincerest thanks and The Institute of Motor Industry have been members of the more species to choose from, and condolences to all of their Trust for 10 years, whilst Cemex UK has been a member of Trust including a brand new barn owl family and friends. for an outstanding 30 years! Thank you. Where the GAIL ASHTON sponsorship pack. Through these donations and legacies Longstanding business members like these, are vital in helping For more information, please visit: Wild Things Are the Trust is able to continue our us to continue our conservation work and we hope to celebrate www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/ conservation work, protecting the more anniversaries in the years to come. If you are interested Are you part of a local community group wildlifesponsorships local wildlife they all cared so much in supporting the Trust through your business please visit that would like to hear about wildlife and about. Thank you. www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/corporate conservation? Our talk ‘Where the Wild Things are’ has been developed especially for community groups that are Farr interested in learning about the work we carry out across the county. It explains why species and habitats Working for Brew need protecting, what conservation projects are happening near you, and how you can help protect your Wildlife Days We natural heritage. So, if you belong to an organisation celebrated that invites guest speakers and you’d like to find out Looking for a great opportunity for your next team away the launch of more please contact us at [email protected] day? Our Working for Wildlife Days are a great way for Farr Brew’s or call 01727 858901 ext. 261. businesses to give back to the community by doing their new pale ale in support of bit for local wildlife. the Trust at St Alban’s Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub. Why not join us for a Himalayan balsam work party? A simple yet fun way to support the Trust, you’ll help us pull the invasive plant on our The beer has been named ‘Wildside’ by competition winner reserves; vital work that is undertaken every summer. The non-native Lucy Moore and will be on sale on tap in selected pubs around invasive balsam smothers our riverbanks and damages delicate river the county. Wheathampstead based Farr Brew will also work ecosystems and the wildlife that live within them. with the Trust to ensure that the area they grow their hops is wildlife friendly. These staff events provide a great opportunity for your staff to experience first-hand what it means to protect local wildlife, whilst team building We would also like to say a big thank you to all the businesses and learning new skills in an inspiring setting. stocking our new beer, without their support this venture would not be possible. If you are a local business and would like to Visit www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/workparty to organise your Working JOSH KUBALE include Wildside as part of your range of local beers please for Wildlife Day or contact the Fundraising Team on 01727 858901 or email contact Nick at [email protected] PAUL THRUSH [email protected] to discuss your requirements. Look out for bottles of Wildside at the Trust’s Festival of Wildlife, Panshanger Park, 28/29 July. Water vole

14 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Summer 2018 wildlifematters 15 DAYS OUT

Friday 17th August | 8pm - 10.30pm stroll through King’s Mead, returning back Workshops and to Ware. Learn about the fantastic wildlife Evening Stroll at Thorley of this beautiful nature reserve which is THORLEY WASH NATURE RESERVE Experiences one of the largest areas of water meadow Come on an evening stroll around Thorley in Hertfordshire. Alternatively, stay aboard Wash as the light fades. Our volunteer Tuesday 7th August & 9th October | 2pm the boat to take the gentle cruise back to warden will guide you with bat detectors The Grove Garden Tour with Ware. Adults £15, Children (under16) £8, to see what hunters we can find over the Afternoon Tea Infants (under 12mths) free. water and along the tree line. Stop and CHANDLERS CROSS, spend time star gazing and identify stars Thursday 9th August & 6th September | Enjoy a gentle stroll around the beautiful and summer constellations. 7pm - 10pm gardens of The Grove guided by their Thursday 23rd August | 1pm - 3pm Head Gardener. The tour will take in the Wild Gin Tasting Go Wild Formal Gardens and after you will return RESERVOIR Family Minibeast Safari PAUL THRUSH to the historic heart of The Grove for a Take a short stroll along PARK, WATFORD sumptuous afternoon tea. the banks of Wilstone Hunt for the many different minibeasts JOSH KUBALE £75 per person. Reservoir and discover Events that live in the nature reserve. Using the wildlife of this sweep nets, we’ll see what we can catch Monday 20th August | 6pm beautiful nature reserve. and then look at finds together to identify The Grove Then return to the nearby We are delighted to be offering a huge range of events over the summer from workshops the insects we find. Gin Tasting Puddingstone Distillery Friday 31st August | 7.30pm - 9.30pm and Formal for a fascinating talk from to walks, with something for all ages. Here we list new events added and our top picks. Garden Tour their Director, Ben, who will give an insight Creatures of the Night Find all of our events and book at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events CHANDLERS into the history of gin and how the special AMWELL NATURE RESERVE CROSS, WATFORD balsam gin is made. The evening wouldn’t Discover the creatures of the night at Learn to use a traditional scythe, discover the fascinating lives of bats on one of our bat walks, or take a leisurely cruise on the River Enjoy a short tour be complete without trying a couple of Amwell on this evening family event. Join Lea. Below is just a selection of what you can find on our website – booking is essential for all events (except open days) and places of the beautiful delicious cocktails from the gin menu us at dusk to listen for bats hawking over are snapped up quickly. Don’t delay to book your place today! Formal Gardens along with some samples. the lakes after their insect prey using bat with The Grove’s Head Gardener, then learn £25 per person (aged 18 and over). detectors and get up close to moths in the about how local gin distillery, Puddingstone, light traps we will set up. We’ll help you to Wednesday 22nd August | 10am - 3pm who have worked in partnership with Open Days Guided walks and identify them before releasing them back the Trust to produce special edition gin Wildlife Sketching Workshop – Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th July | into the night. using the flowers of the invasic himalayan Black and White 10am - 4pm outdoor activities Friday 14th September | 7.30pm - 10pm balsam plant, produce their gin. Enjoy GARDEN CITY Festival of Wildlife These events are free to attend. However, as a registered charity, any donations are Learn how to create detailed studies of the Bats of Panshanger Park two cocktails plus samples, along with a PANSHANGER PARK greatly appreciated. We suggest a donation of £3 per person for members and £5 for non- selection of canapes. £50 per person (aged textures and character of wildlife using PANSHANGER Festival of Wildlife, in association with members to cover our administration costs. 18 and over). pencil and charcoal at this workshop led by PARK Herts Natural History Society, will once Hertfordshire artist Collette Hoefkens. You’ll Friday 27th July | 2pm - 3.30pm Thursday 9th August | 10.30am - 12pm After a 20 Sunday 2nd September | 11am again take place in Tarmac’s beautiful be shown basic and fundamental drawing minute talk Panshanger Park, near Hertford. The Chalkhill Blue Spectacular Wriggly Creatures Pond Dipping The Grove Wildlife Walk techniques that can be applied to any about the bats Festival, held in partnership with Tarmac, NATURE RESERVE STANMORE COUNTRY PARK and Picnic subject, and have the opportunity to work

found here, SUTTON DAVE will celebrate the rich diversity of wildlife Enjoy a guided walk around Hexton Chalk Bring the kids along for this school holiday CHANDLERS CROSS, WATFORD on a detailed piece inspired by wildlife. we will use in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. The Pit to witness the chalkhill blue butterfly event and see what wriggly creatures live Take a leisurely stroll along the £40 per person. bat detectors event is free of charge and offers guided spectacular. There will also be a chance to under the surface of the balancing ponds Wildlife Trail with the Trust’s Conservation to listen for Saturday 11th August | 11am - 2pm walks and expert talks by the Trust and see a good range of butterflies and special at Stanmore Country Park. Manager, Tim Hill, finishing the walk in the Daubenton’s Hertfordshire Natural History Society, as chalk grassland plants. glade, where a picnic will be prepared for Traditional Meadow Monday 13th August | 10am - 12pm bats swooping well as a whole host of drop-in activities. you and enjoy the rest of the afternoon Management – Learn to Scythe Sunday 5th August | 1.30pm - 3pm over the water and Natterer’s bats Heather and Heathlands at leisure. £50 per person. FROGMORE MEADOW Sunday 7th October | 12pm - 4.30pm Black-necked Grebe Watch Management Walk hunting along the tree line. NATURE RESERVE Wednesday 15th August | 1pm - 4pm Apple Day NATURE RESERVE Saturday 29th September | 10.30am - 12pm An introduction to Take a short stroll across Hertford Heath Wildlife Cruise traditional methods of NATURE RESERVE Autumn Birds Join us for our annual afternoon Apple A rare chance to see the heather in flower with our WARE meadow management SPRINGWELL REEDBED NATURE RESERVE Day, an event for all the family and packed to see and learn Reserves Officer. Settle in for a 90 minute cruise along the used to improve Come along for an autumn stroll along KUBALE JOSH with children’s activities. There will be more about They will river. Along the way, learn about the river botanical interest. Join the banks of Springwell Lake where Reserves Officer, Rob, apples for sale along with apple juice, this nationally explain how and what lies beneath the water, as well Common red important this rare area of we hope to spot who will explain why preserves, tea, coffee and cake. Experts LUKE MASSEY as help spot what migrating birds soldier beetle will be on hand to identify varieties of species that Hertfordshire wildlife can be mid-summer mowing and late blooming apple and provide advice on fruit tree care. breeds at Hilfield heathland is found along the to cut and remove AMY LEWIS wildflowers. We will We will be providing guided walks around on a walk being managed water margins. vegetation after peak flowering is look over Springwell the orchard and there will be a scavenger Black-necked grebe around this for the benefit From Hertford important for wildflower meadows. Learn closed access of the variety Reedbed in an the safe and efficient use of a traditional hunt for the kids. Heather TIM HILL lock you can attempt to spot nature reserve. of wildlife that then join our scythe and how to bale hay without the more wetland birds. lives here. Reserves Officer use of mechanisation. Reed Warbler for a one hour £10 per person (aged 18 and over).

16 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Find more events and book at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events Summer 2018 wildlifematters 17

RESERVE FOCUS

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M I Amwell Nature Reserve near Ware is a former gravel pit and T R Dragonflies The Future of Amwell e e supports outstanding communities of breeding birds. The d Wader Strategy w 21 of Hertfordshire’s 26 species of The Trust has secured funding from a r reserve includes two waterbodies, Great Hardmead Lake and bl dragonflies and damselflies can be seen Environment Agency to achieve a large The Trust is working in partnership er Hollycross Lake, which were excavated between 1973 and 1990, at Amwell making this the best site in scale habitat creation and restoration with RSPB, Lee Valley Regional Park the county to see these winged beauties. project in 2018 that will help to support Authority and Tarmac in an effort and a variety of wetland, grassland and woodland habitats. There is a dedicated dragonfly trail with the key species on the reserve. Shallow to address the decline in breeding boardwalks that take visitors across scrapes will be created to support wading birds in the Lea catchment is one of four sites which in addition to gulls, who use the site; Wildlife pools and alongside Hollycross Lake in waders and wetland invertebrates; trees through a new strategy. qualify and make up the Lee Valley SPA the rafts offer stable, small islands with the north west of the site and gives the and scrub will be removed to create Amwell is a birdwatcher’s paradise – Amwell is one of the sites benefitting (Special Protection Area) and Ramsar little disturbance which limits the risk chance to view dragonflies close up, shorelines rich in vegetation for fish, there is wildlife to see year round with from the project, which sees the designated sites. Designated in 2000 from predators. Essential raft repairs are hunting over open water. insects, mammals and birds. Amwell Quarry holds internationally carried out yearly by the Trust’s team migrating birds visiting in the spring and partners working together to significant numbers of wintering gadwall who row out to the rafts to carry out autumn and winter waders and bittern Look out for the Norfolk hawker and lesser We’re also excited to welcome new provide suitable breeding habitat for and shoveler. The site also regularly maintenance. enjoying the winter months. Due to its emperor dragonfly, as well as the scarce grazing animals to the reserve including wading birds including little ringed supports wintering bittern. status as a Special Protection Area, islands chaser. Turn to the back page to see how pigs and goats which is a first for plover, ringed plover, redshank, snipe Amwell is one of just a handful of places and scrapes are managed to provide the you can help us conserve these beautiful the Trust! and lapwing. If you enter from Amwell Lane, Great in the county where bitterns can be seen. specific habitat needs of birds such as the insects and their habitat. Hardmead Lake unfolds before you, the We cut rides and ‘bittern bays’ in the little ringed plover. This bird needs areas sun hitting the expanse of water as reedbed to help visitors see the elusive of bare gravel to breed so water levels reeds and wetland flowers such as hemp bird from the Bittern Pool viewpoint are managed carefully to ensure that agrimony and purple loosestrife dance and around the margins of Great vegetation doesn’t thrive on the islands. Reserves Roundup in the wind during the summer months. Hardmead Lake. An overwintering bird in Thanks to the generosity of our Thanks to our Affinity Water partnership parties at to restore If you haven’t visited the reserve before Hertfordshire, the bittern will often sneak Birds such as reed and sedge warbler and reed bunting benefit from our reedbed members, allocations of grant a suite of wetland improvements has footpaths and clear holly. make sure you stop here and take in the across the ride in front of the James Hide. funding, and to our wonderful team taken place at Stocker’s Lake including management and white throat and At Thorley Wash reserve from the higher vantage point. This two storey hide overlooks a pool and of volunteers… the creation of ditches and ponds and chiffchaff benefit from our coppicing of we have finished a bird feeding station which is stocked reedbed enhancements. Bird hides and viewpoints over winter and is great for seeing garden scrub to create dense of marginal habitat At Danemead a scrub clearance on the edge of the reedbed. There are three large bird hides and birds, reed buntings and the occasional borehole has been At Nowers the meadows have and started fence two viewpoints on the reserve – perfect marsh tit up close. We have felled willow and poplar trees dug and a concrete been cut and grazed, including removing repairs ready for for getting up close to the birdlife that to open up the shoreline and encourage pad laid ready for of blocks of scrub for regeneration. Mining cattle grazing in late To view Rough Holme Island stop by a drinking trough insect scrapes have been created and summer. A March flocks here. the Gladwin Hide and spot ducks such marginal vegetation. The trees created lake edge habitat, with the dense tangle to be installed for wooden bee banks made from cut logs. water vole survey For panoramic views over the reserve as widgeon, gadwall, shoveler and of branches allowing fish to shelter and the cattle. showed good signs head to our largest hide, the White Hide, goldeneye. During colder winters smew Thanks to Parish Council breed; essential to the birds at Amwell of water voles where close views of the islands and tern can also be seen. we were able to run three volunteer work who reply on fish for their diet including across the reserve. rafts can be enjoyed year-round. Tern bittern, heron and kingfisher. rafts are important for the common tern,

18 wildlifematters Spring 2018 Spring 2018 wildlifematters 19 DAYS OUT

DANNY GREEN Nature’s Calendar July-October 2018 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. October The Belchers are Back September If you head out to large woods in the July north and west of Hertfordshire in Something’s Awry October you may well hear the loud and Festival Fever repetitive belching of fallow deer bucks. “That’s a funny looking dunnock on the Forget Glastonbury, forget Glyndeborne, fence.” So said my wife Kate at twenty past For a couple of weeks their bodies are flooded with forget Cheltenham – all worthy festivals testosterone which drives them in search of an six on Sunday 17th September 2017. opportunity to procreate. At the same time, the in their own way but if you want to Dunnocks are regulars in our garden, picking up bits female deer – the does – are in oestrus and ready to revel in the splendour of Hertfordshire’s of seeds dropped by other birds at the feeders in the mate with the strongest and most attractive buck. nature, there is only one – the Festival of hedge above. I turned to see what was so funny about The result of this hormone-driven frenzy is the rut, Wildlife, taking place at Panshanger on this particular individual and my heart skipped a beat, when the next generation of deer will be created. the 29th and 30th July. August quite literally. There, not 10 metres away on our fence Bucks will belch, posture, parade, scent mark with was a wryneck, a bird I have only seen a handful of times pungent pee and if necessary fight their competitors The event is organised by the Trust in association in my 40 years birdwatching and most of those abroad. for the chance to mate. The opportunity is short with Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Monochrome Marbles The Birds of Hertfordshire describes the wryneck as a and the stakes are high – if they miss the chance to in partnership with Tarmac. It promises to be the When I first joined the Trust I visited Long rare passage migrant. It was formerly a widespread but breed it will be a year before they can try again. Their biggest and best yet. The festival brings together Deans Nature Reserve in early August and uncommon species which last nested in 1977. belching is a deep gutteral noise, designed to carry some of our most experienced and knowledgeable far, to draw in potential mates and to tell other males naturalists all keen to share the wonder of wildlife vividly remember seeing scores of what ...on our fence was a wryneck, a bird I have only seen to push off. They need to make themselves sound with visitors of all ages. The festival is very much a looked like mini chess boards flitting through a handful of times in my 40 years birdwatching and look as big as possible because size matters, in family affair with many children’s activities the long grass – marbled white butterflies. This was one of those moments when I wasn’t quite sure all senses, if they are to get the chance to pass their – storytelling and minibeast hunting The habitat here is perfect for them, tall grasses and what to do next. Should I just sit and enjoy it? Should I risk genes on to the next generation. At this time they prove particularly popular! Herts an abundance of common knapweed, the flowers of moving to get my camera? Convinced it would fly off at have magnificent antlers. Unlike other species of Natural History Society organise which provide a valuable source of nectar. The reserve any moment, never to be seen again, we watched it for deer theirs are palmate, with flat plates between the a programme of talks. Last year has a great deal of red fescue – the favoured food about five minutes, before I got up slowly and dashed individual horns. It’s not until the following June, that a real favourite was, ‘Have I of the caterpillars of marbled whites. This to assemble my camera, rattling off hundreds of fawns will be born. got Poos for You?’ – Graham species was formerly rare in our counties photographs It perched on the fence preening, White’s amusing and In Hertfordshire, the Natural History Society, in but from the 1990s has spread east from quite oblivious to us marvelling at this once in a informative introduction partnership with the University and Trust is currently small colonies in the west. lifetime moment. Slowly but surely it made its to species’ faeces, from collecting records for a new mammal atlas, to be Common is a reliable place to see them way down the garden as the light faded. The scats to spraints. He is to published in 2020. The distribution map for records as are the road verges which are now last I saw of it was it flying up into the field return this year, by popular gathered so far shows a north and westerly bias. If you left to grow long around . If maple at the end of the garden, presumably demand! Entry is free – see you fancy having a go at finding your go in search of the belching bucks this October and L to roost. Despite a good look the next

L you there. I are lucky enough to find them, please remember to own this year, seek out dry sheltered H morning we never saw it again. The morale

M I submit your sightings through the Society’s website – places with tall grassland on a warm T of this short tale, take a good look at your http://mammal-atlas.hnhs.org day in July or August. dunnocks – something may just be awry.

J OSH KUBALE

20 wildlifematters Summer 2018 Summer 2018 wildlifematters 21 MICRO HABITATS We work hard to help our local dragonflies – but The we need your support Nature to do more… The dragonfly has a fascinating lifecycle. With With your help, we can protect and such complex needs, it requires a variety improve our wetlands across Hertfordshire H of different habitats to survive at each life and Middlesex. M W of… Soil stage – highlighting the importance of T our Living Landscape approach. Thanks to A gift from you today will help us Soil is amazing, it filters the water our management and creation of wetland manage and create suitable habitats we drink, provides nutrients to grow habitats, improved water quality and the at your local nature reserves, so our changing climate, our dragonfly populations amazing dragonflies can thrive here. the food we eat, holds water to help are rapidly growing. But now, the pressure is prevent flooding, and stores more CO2 on us to create enough suitable habitats to N TI than the atmosphere and vegetation support these beautiful insects. AR ID M put together! DAV So what is it? A mixture of four parts – minerals, decaying plant matter, air and water in differing proportions and containing many complex ecosystems of fungi, plants and animals. The precise mix of the soils four component parts dictates the type of plants that will grow – I want to help my local dragonflies and other wetland waterlogged soil supports wetland plants such as wildlife by providing habitats that they depend on to survive. marsh-marigold, soil containing large amounts Yes! of calcium supports plants like common rock-rose and in soil with low amounts of calcium, plants like heather thrive. Orchids, some of our most Here is my gift of (please tick) £50 £100 £150 Other: £ fascinating plants, often depend on the presence of different species of fungus in the soil to enable them to grow. I enclose a cheque payable to Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust OR please debit my Credit/Debit Card* (*delete as appropriate) It has been said that a handful of soil contains Name more living organisms than there are people on the on card Expires Security code planet! Amongst the soil dwellers are earthworms; sometimes called ‘nature’s plough’, turning, Card / mixing and aerating the soil – you can read more number M M Y Y about worms on Page 13. There are 29 species of (last 3 digits on earthworm alone in the UK and so far 16 have been signature strip) recorded in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Help us to make the most of your donation to the Trust Ants play their part too, building tunnels and Gift Aiding your donation means we reclaim your tax – at least 25p for every £1 you give us chambers under the soils surface, the hills they produce often create niches for a different suite My Gift Aid declaration: Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in please of plants and invertebrates compared to the the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay the difference. tick surrounding area. The invertebrate biodiversity of the soil is incredible from mites to woodlice, Please make sure you have signed and dated your kind gift, with thanks millipedes to ground nesting bees. There is also plenty of larger life underground – moles, which have very small eyes and internal Title Initials Surname Signature Date D D M M Y Y ears to prevent them from being clogged and damaged while tunnelling, and badgers who dig If you do not need a receipt and would like to help us save costs, please tick this box large, sprawling setts to accommodate their clans Keeping in touch and spend increased amounts of time underground over winter when food is less plentiful. Your personal details will only be used by the Trust and will not be passed on to any third party, except for the purposes of enabling them to carry out activity on the Trust’s Thank you Take a closer look at the ground when you are next behalf (such as sending regular correspondence etc.). Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust outside and marvel at the variety of life beneath will never sell your contact details to another organisation. your feet. for your support! As a current supporter, we already have contact preferences for you. You can change these at any time by contacting us on or . 22 wildlifematters Summer 2018 01727 858901 [email protected] Please help us raise £22,000 to improve wetlands at your local nature reserve so our dragonflies can thrive

Breeding: Removing invasive species Egg laying: Removing scrub Non-native wetland plants can choke up our rivers, Ponds and open water on our reserves such as streams and open water. At Amwell and we Hertford Heath and , provide great regularly manage these so that more favourable plants egg laying sites. We remove encroaching vegetation can grow, which our dragonflies need to breed. from within the water bodies to prevent them Cost: £125 to run a half-day volunteer work party drying out. Cost: £250 to coppice willow scrub and remove saplings from a reedbed habitat

Egg: A female dragonfly lays her eggs into the water or onto wetland plants.

Adult: After its body and wings have dried and hardened in the sun, the dragonfly starts hunting for small flying insects. It then returns to open Nymph: water to breed. A nymph emerges from the egg and lives underwater; eating almost anything smaller than itself.

Nymphs: Clearing & Emergence: creating ponds The nymph crawls out We manage existing ponds on of the water, up a plant Adults: Creating woodland sites like and stem and slowly breaks Balls Wood to keep them open glades & rides out of its larval skin. and healthy. We also create new We create large, sunny openings ponds to provide more open water (glades) and channels (rides) at our wet for dragonfly nymphs to hunt. woodlands, like Balls Wood and Old Park Emergence: Cost: £360 to dig out and restore Wood, to provide sheltered areas for two ponds with an excavator dragonflies to bask in and warm up. Restoring marginal Cost: £400 to open up and lengthen wetland habitats the woodland edge Thinning bankside trees around ponds, rivers and lakes YOU CAN lets in more sunlight and DONATE ONLINE Hunting: Grazing with cattle allows plants along the water’s at hertswildlifetrust. edge to grow, onto which org.uk/appeals Our wet grasslands like Thorley Wash and adults can emerge from their OR CALL US ON are great hunting grounds. larval skin. 01727 858 901 Grazing prevents scrub from building up Cost: £500 to remove TO DONATE OVER and keeps these reserves wet, open and bankside willows at one THE PHONE diverse habitats for dragonflies. wetland reserve Cost £30 to replace or install 15 fence posts for livestock fencing