Kemerton Conservation Trust Clippings

Issue 5 January 2010

Appeals for Help! Kemerton Orchard Day Provides The Trust is looking for volunteer help in the following areas: Fundraising Windfall for Trust!

Reptile and Amphibian Hundreds of people attended Kemerton Orchard Day on Saturday Surveyors: Do you have 17th October 2009 to take part in a celebration of orchards, their an interest in our native reptiles and amphibians? produce and their wildlife. Would you like to help with the surveying and The day, organised in partnership by Kemerton recording of reptiles and Conservation Trust (KCT) and Kemerton Orchard amphibians on KCT Workers (KOW) included guided orchard walks, reserves? If you answered apple pressing, orchard produce, exhibitions by yes to these questions, local artists Toff Milway and Beth Phillip, stalls by then you may be the person we are looking for! local producers Walcot Nurseries, Minchews Real No experience is required, Cyder and Perry, Slipstream Organics and © Kate Aubury just enthusiasm and Hill Honey, educational exhibitions on orchards KOW committee member Neil commitment. Training and more. Chance presses apples for visitors will be given. If you are interested in finding out On the day the weather held and attendance was high, surpassing all more, please contact John expectation, with everyone enjoying a lovely day celebrating the bounty of Clarke by email on [email protected]. our local orchards. Over £2,000 was raised through walks, sale of produce, donations, the raffle and the silent auction (our thanks to the many local Bat Roost Information: businesses who generously donated raffle prizes) and these funds will help Our new bats surveys both groups to continue our valuable orchard restoration work. have begun. We are very interested in trying to locate as many bat roosts KCT currently has 9 orchards under management, including Daffurn’s as possible in Bredon, Orchard in the heart of Kemerton, which is managed by local community Kemerton, Kinsham & group KOW. Orchards are a vital part of the landscape and traditionally, Westmancote. If you have had a high concentration of orchards, particularly in the Va- any anecdotal evidence of le of and . However, more than 60% of traditional or- a bat roost in your house chards in have vanished since the 1950s. or outbuildings, we would love to know. We may be able to do emergence Here at Kemerton we have worked hard to restore our heritage orchards, surveys in the summer to replanting with varieties traditionally grown in the local area. identify the species and We have apples, pears and plums in our orchards and they attract a variety number. Please contact of local wildlife, especially in autumn, when other food sources are scarcer. our Support Coordinator © Pamela Clarke Kate Aubury on 07765 Our Orchard Day was made possible with grant 334 776 or via email funding from the National Trust’s Conserving [email protected]. and Restoring Traditional Orchards in Eng- The Trust is dependent land project, which is also funding a major resto- upon the assistance it ration and monitoring project at Kemerton (see receives from its many edition 4 of the newsletter). Our thanks go to volunteers to continue its important work in them and to all the volunteers from KCT and the local area, so please KOW who worked so hard to plan and run the let us know if you can John Clarke leads a walk day. Special thanks go to KCT Conservation assist in any way. through Lillans Orchard Advisor John Clarke for all his hard work.

PAGE 2 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5

New Flood Meadow added to KCT Portfolio

We are delighted to announce the spring/early summer, dominat- purchase of another flood mead- ed by the lovely maroon flowered ow thanks to the generosity of greater burnet in June It also Natural England, who funded provides nesting habitat for cur- 75% of the purchase through a lews, snipe, redshank and sky- grant from the ALSF (Aggregates larks. Levy Sustainability Fund). We received a grant of £14,625 to Such meadows are singled out in purchase a parcel of flood mead- the UK Biodiversity Action Plan ow totalling 6½ acres on the as a special type of Lowland © Kate Aubury Avon riverbank by Eckington Meadow because less than 3,700 Chairman Adrian Darby & Governor Bridge. acres (1,500 ha) of flood meadow Carl Nicholson walking on Asham now exist in the . Meadow, November 2009 Asham Meadow is an example of It is vital that the few remaining a riverside meadow still examples such as Asham Mead- a return on the initial invest- managed under the old “Lammas ow are preserved and protect- ment and allows for their long- Meadow” system, whereby the ed. KCT is therefore very grateful term management . meadow is shut up for hay in ear- to Natural England for allowing ly spring, cropped in July, and us to purchase this valuable As part of the purchase, we are grazed after Lammas Day on 1st wildlife habitat to manage for planning on holding a member- August. Nutrients are sup- future generations. only event at Asham Meadow plied by flooding episodes in win- in early Summer when the ter. This unique system results Asham Meadow is managed as wildflowers will be at their in a rich meadow flora in late common land and there is a peak. Further details including footpath running right across it, dates will follow in due course. so locals can enjoy the site. In time, we hope to purchase more strips within the meadow and we plan to continue to manage our strip in the traditional method.

The flood meadows KCT own and manage are not only important wildlife sites, but they are © Kate Aubury economically viable for us to buy, © Kate Aubury Governors Matthew Darby & Lord as we earn income from the hay Seed head of Fine leaved Water Howick on the Avon riverbank, Asham and grazing, which soon provides Dropwort Oenanthe silaifolia, Meadow, November 2009

Funding Update and the funding from the It has been a very good year for CCB—details on page 3) and fundraising within the Trust. been rejected by one, which we The Friends scheme continues are in the process of fine tuning to grow and our supporters post. Bredon Forest School has and re-submitting. remain extremely generous. also generously donated to our Events such as the Orchard new Woodlands & Wildflower More fundraising will be Day also raised valuable funds Project (see page 6 for details). required in 2010, and we will for our work. We have recently continue to apply for grant gained two more corporate In addition, since July we have funding as well. sponsors; Bredon Forest School submitted three more grant and Cotteswold Dairy Ltd, both applications. We have been Thank you to all who have of whom contributed to the successful with two grants (the supported us this year! salary costs for our warden purchase of Asham Meadow

PAGE 3 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5 Beggarboys Wetland Restoration Project Receives Funding Boost

A long awaited restoration wildlife reserves, with our best project at Beggarboys Reserve is insect records, as well as bats finally commencing thanks to the and water birds. It does not generous support of the Cotswold have any public access to Conservation Board (CCB), who protect the wildlife. is funding 75% of the work through its Sustainable Develop- For many years, the lake has ment Fund. had a slow leak, which has affected water levels in the Beggarboys Wetland Reserve is a summer and has had a neg- lovely wildlife site located on ative impact on the water will be helping with habitat . Containing a small creatures which are found on management at the site. lake, marsh area and woodland the reserve. We have been it is one of KCT’s most diverse planning a major repair for We are planning a member- some time but lacked the only event at the site in funds to begin. Now, having March to show you the secured funding from the completed project and to CCB, we have begun the work allow you a chance to see this this winter, and will complete lovely reserve. More details the project by the end of will follow closer to the time. March. We are very grateful to the Whilst we have hired a CCB for generously assisting contractor to do much of the with this project and making © Kate Aubury repair work, KCT volunteers the repair possible. Beggarboys Reserve nr Westmancote

© Kate Aubury In addition to the extension News in Brief of opening times on the main path to the Eastern Hide, the It was a particularly good year for new section of path from the fungus thanks to a lot of rain! Those Eastern Hide to the public of you who ventured to the lake and footpath from Kemerton is arboretum in the autumn will have now open to Friends of KCT seen the thousands of fungi that only. This allows Friends to carpeted many of the rides and follow a circular walk around covered the fallen logs. A truly the lake and arboretum. splendid reminder of the rich micro- Blackening Wax Cap, habitat found on dead wood and in Hygrocybe nigrescens This new path is open from Kemerton Lake 2009 leaf litter! Fungus is just one of the 1st June to 28th February reasons we leave piles of logs and annually, but is closed from brash to rot down in the Arboretum; great time to visit the lake and 1st March to 30th May to they also provide a fabulous habitat view some of the migrant protect the nesting birds for insects, some nesting birds and species which arrive every during peak breeding season. amphibians and reptiles. autumn to overwinter on the As with all our permissive lake (teal, pochard, widgeon, paths, dogs are not allowed Down at the lake reserve, the ride lapwing, snipe etc). Sometimes, and we appreciate your from the public footpath to the we even see something a little cooperation on this to protect Eastern Hide is now open all year more rare and exotic (see pg 6 the wildlife found on our round, as promised in July. Now is a for more details!). reserves.

PAGE 4 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5 Estate-wide Bat Surveys: Update

This summer and autumn I The surveys were all conducted begun conducting bat surveys in the evening, beginning at on five sites around the estate. sunset and continuing for at least one hour (some species do Whilst we had some ad-hoc bat not emerge until well after records from previous wardens sunset). Where possible, I was recorded in the 1980s and 90s, joined by at least one other we did not have a basic survey surveyor, but on some occasions Bat box on tree, Squitter Brook of key areas to establish a base- I surveyed only accompanied by line of bat species. Bats make an assistant to log records, up nearly a quarter of all UK which (given my inexperience) Once my full report is mammals and are considered means some results cannot be completed within the next few indicator species, so we felt absolutely verified. Neverthe- weeks, all these records will be that more information was less, the surveys have given us logged on KCT’s database needed. Following a training a really good initial idea of the Recorder, and the records will course from the BCT and some bat species found in our area. also be submitted to the practical field work with Worcestershire Biological Worcestershire Bat Group All bat calls were recorded on a Records Centre to assist with (WBG), I began surveying sites basic survey sheet as we county-wide records. in June 2009. walked the routes and where possible, an identification We also checked all the bat The sites chosen were those made. Some bats (particularly boxes from the ground (I am where we had recently erected those from the myotis family) not yet licensed for handling bat boxes. These were; Aldwick are very difficult to identify bats), but sadly none appeared Wood, Beggarboys Reserve, Ke- from bat call alone, so in some to have been used by bats merton Court, Kemerton Lake cases a definitive identification (some had birds in them!) Nature Reserve and Squitter could not be made, but as many Brook. These sites all con- were identified as possible. Our bats are currently tained a range of habitats that Several sites proved extremely hibernating, allowing me time bats either roost in or forage diverse; at Kemerton Lake to type my report, but in the in and they covered a large geo- Nature Reserve we made over late spring I plan to begin more graphical area, so it was hoped 50 separate records of bats on surveys across the estate. I we would gain a good insight the first survey! hope to survey some of our into the current bat population. orchards this year, as they In the end, we definitively could be a great forage area for With the help of experienced identified the following species bats. I also hope to do some surveyors from WBG and some over the 5 sites; Common emergence surveys at a couple enthusiastic volunteers from Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, of known local bat roosts, and KCT, I surveyed each site twice Noctule, Brown Long-eared, also repeat the surveys of the 5 (except Squitter Brook, which Natterer’s, Barbestelle, Lesser sites to compare data. was only surveyed once). We Horseshoe and Whiskered/ used a range of bat detectors. Brandts. In addition, it is likely My grateful thanks go to we also found Daubenton’s and Worcestershire Bat Group for possible Leisler’s. all their help , especially David Lee, Membership Secretary, Of the above, the most exciting who kindly accompanied me was our record of a Barbastelle on most of the surveys; KCT at Beggarboys Reserve, as the- volunteer Pete Allen; and my se are relatively rare. Re- husband David, who acted as cording the Lesser Horseshoe my assistant when necessary. I was also exciting, as they have would also like to thank Nat- an incredibly unique echoloca- ural England, who funded my tion, which sounds quite aston- training and paid for the bat ishing on a bat detector! Surveying bats at Beggarboys detector through a grant from Reserve with WBG, 2009 the ALSF.

PAGE 5 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5

Work party update by Emily Day

Dad and I joined the KCT environmental impact. I Volunteers in August and in p a r t i c u l a r l y e n j o y e d retrospect I can’t think why I November’s task, planting didn’t join earlier. I’ve lived in trees at the John Moore Bredon all my life, I regularly Reserve. I frequently take enjoy walking by Kemerton part in more destructive Lake and I have an active conservation tasks, and whilst interest in environmental these are often the most fun © Kate Aubury

conservation. I graduated and of course produce val- Volunteers Emily, Shaun Armitage and from the University of uable results, it is very satis- David Mann planting trees in John Durham this summer and fying to be engaged in a more Moore Reserve, November 2009 during my three years there constructive activity occa- completed about 300 hours of sionally! We also had a really s o m e t h i n g p o s i t i v e . UK conservation volunteer good time at the Orchard Volunteering also looks great work. Additionally I spent five Day, and would like to thank on my CV and employers have months, spread over my two all those who put so much ef- been really keen to talk about summer holidays, helping to fort into organising the event. this when I attend interviews. build and maintain hiking trails in Iceland’s National I’ve really enjoyed beginning I have recently commenced Parks. to volunteer locally and to employment with a local meet some new faces. During Environmental Consultancy, I volunteer with the Malvern the summer I was struggling but have no plans to lessen Hills Conservators too, but I to find employment and it was my volunteer commitments like the fact that I can walk to helpful to get out of the house, with KCT! KCT events and so have less get some exercise and do

Focus on a Friend: Roy Cox

In this article, we would like to Over the years, Roy has focus on our nest box project continued to help with the nest and the work done by long-time box scheme, working with our KCT Friend, Roy Cox. various wardens and, in latter years, our conservation advisor Roy has been working with the John Clarke. Trust on KCT's nest box project for over 20 years now! He got Roy checks the nest boxes every © Kate Aubury involved in the late 80s, when winter at the three sites, clean- Roy Cox (on left) planting trees in the Trust employed a full-time ing them and repairing any that John Moore Reserve with George Day, November 2009 warden, Craig Stenson and has were damaged in the previous continued to help ever since. season. He also notes which box- a regular at our monthly work es were used and, where possi- parties. Having always had an interest ble, what species used them. in birds and making bird boxes, From his many years’ experi- Roy’s invaluable and unstinting Roy helped Craig to set up a ence, Roy has found that open- help has enabled the Trust to nest box scheme in Aldwick front boxes are not as success- maintain our nest boxes even Wood, The Bushes and ful in woodland as boxes with when our staffing levels dropped. Beggarboys. He made the bird entrance holes, so he now makes Both John Clarke and all the boxes for the scheme himself, only these styles. team would like to thank Roy for constructing various sizes and volunteering his time for so long styles to encourage a range of In addition to his assistance and enabling this project to birds. with our nest boxes, Roy is also continue.

PAGE 6 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5 New Woodland Shrubs & Wildflower Project Begins

Native woodlands usually and is seeking sponsorship from around the new glade which is to consist of three layers - the tree local firms and groups. The be used as a reception area at canopy, the shrub layer and the hope is to have five sponsors Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve. ground flora. Many of the each contributing £200 per year planted woodlands at Ke- for five years. During the five year period of the merton do not contain many, if project, we hope to extend this any, shrubs or ground flora, Cotswold Agricultural Mer- work to many other woodland particularly wildflowers. chants was the first to gener- plantations around the estate. ously offer their help and they In the early noughties some have been followed by Bredon If you feel that your business or trials were set up by John Forest School - the Trust is organisation would like to Clarke to see if the Trust could extremely grateful to support this project please encourage wildflowers to grow them. John is also in discussion contact John Clarke by email on in established woodland and with another company. [email protected]. the nursery project has in the past produced native shrubs The project has started this from local seed or cuttings to winter. Following preparatory plant out. work, native shrubs including hazel, spindle and guelder rose, More recently the reduction in have been planted in the John the Trust resources has led to Moore Reserve. Bird nest boxes the winding down of this in the reserve are to be repaired important work. In order to and increased in number and continue the research, John has if the opportunity arises we now set up the Woodland may put up bat boxes. In Shrubs & Wildflower Project addition, shrubs will be planted

Great Northern Diver Release mostly found in coastal areas, alt- was wonderful to hear. After hough they do occasionally ven- release, the bird was soon div- ture inland to lakes and reser- ing in the lake, so we left it voirs. They do not normally come with fingers crossed that it as far inland as Worcestershire, so would flourish. Sadly, the bird we presume it got blown off-course did not make it and was found by the stormy weather around dead a few days later. The that week. cause of death was unknown. On 22nd November, KCT It’s tragic that the bird did not assisted Vale Wildlife Rescue Having checked the bird over at survive, but I know we gave it in releasing a Great Northern their hospital, Vale Wildlife the best possible chance to Diver onto Kemerton Lake. Rescue needed a suitable site to succeed, and I was privileged release the bird, and Kemerton to meet it. The bird had been found by a Lake was suggested. We were member of the public and happy to give permission and so I brought to Vale Wildlife at met Caroline and Martin from Va- Beckford, where it was le Wildlife, Fergus Henderson and identified as a juvenile Great some local bird enthusiasts at the Northern Diver with the help lake to release the bird. of Fergus Henderson, a warden with Worcestershire It was an extremely wet and Wildlife Trust. windy day, but we all thought it worth getting soaked for, as the These birds migrate to the UK bird was simply stunning and it’s The Great Northern Diver Gavia in winter from Iceland and are haunting call when on the lake immer on the lake after release

PAGE 7 KEMERTON CLIPPINGS ISSUE 5 Governors Board Meeting 2009

Every year KCT Governors warden for 2009 and part of which is excellent. meet for the Annual Board 2010, but looking forward, will Meeting to review the past need to source more to keep the Looking to the year ahead, our year’s work and to set goals for position. We also need funds for priorities are to complete the the new year. some of the research and mon- repair of Beggarboys, find more itoring projects we do, which funds for our warden Alan, In addition to the governors, we have had to curtail in recent build on the Woodland Shrubs the meeting is also attended by years. & Wildflowers Project and John Clarke and Kate Aubury, obtain more grant funding. who both report on their The Orchard Project is going There is also work to be done at activities from the year. extremely well, but is taking up the arboretum on the paths. a lot staff time. However it is a 2009 was another good year for valuable opportunity to expand At the board meeting, we the Trust. We were successful our previous orchard work and received and accepted the in gaining several grants, and therefore is time well spent. We resignation of Professor David we are very pleased with the have funding for this project Macdonald, who felt that purchase of the land at Upton into 2011, so work continues. pressures of commitments Ham and the land at Asham The Orchard Day was a big elsewhere meant he could not Meadow. However, these success and helped publicise give the Trust enough time. The purchases have used up a lot of this project and KCT’s wider Trust would like to thank funds in the short-term, so work. Professor Macdonald for serving financing for our general costs as a trustee for many years. We is tight. The ‘Friends of KCT’ scheme are looking to appoint another continues to expand and trustee in the near future and We obtained funding for our volunteer numbers have risen, will keep you updated.

Bird Watching Member-only Event

Our first event of the year is on a maximum of five people mallard, snipe, tufted duck, Saturday 23rd January at Ke- during each slot. If you are mute swans, canada geese, merton Lake Nature Reserve. interested in attending, little grebe and numerous please contact Kate Aubury gulls. We will be holding a bird watch- on 07765 334 776 or by email ing event at the hides, with on [email protected]. This is a great opportunity Chairman Adrian Darby and to learn more about our Governor Carl Nicholson You will need binoculars and birds and improve your (retired RSPB Regional Officer) sensible shoes and clothing identification skills, so we on hand to help you identify the are advised, as it will be quite hope you will join us! birds, give you tips on bird cold in the hides. watching and answer any questions you might have on the We hope that there will be a © Kate Aubury species found at the lake and variety of ducks, geese and elsewhere on the estate. other waterfowl for you to see, but obviously the weath- This is a member-only event, er may affect the numbers and due to the restricted size of and no guarantees can be the hides, needs to be booked in made! However, normally advance. We will be holding 30 in January we might hope to minute sessions from 11am to see widgeon, teal, pochard, Male Tufted Duck 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm with gadwell, coot, Aythya fuligula

Kemerton Clippings Save the Date!

January 2010 • Saturday 16th January - Working Party

Edited by Kate Aubury (10am start, Beggarboys Reserve) Contact email: [email protected] • Saturday 23rd January - Bird Watching

Print services provided by Aubury Event at Kemerton Lake (see pg 7 for details) Computer Systems Ltd • Saturday 20th February - Working party (10am

This newsletter is published 6- start, location to be confirmed) monthly. Next edition will be issued in • Sunday 21st March - Member-only Event at July 2010. Beggarboys 2-4pm (more details to follow) • Saturday 27th March - Working party (10am For more information on the work of KCT please visit our website: start, location to be confirmed) www.kemerton.org • Saturday 3rd April - Easter Egg Hunt (more

details to follow) • Saturday 24th April - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed) • Saturday 29th May - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed) • Saturday 19th June - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

© Kate Aubury • Saturday 24th July - Working party (10am start, location to be confirmed)

Kemerton Lake in the snow, January 2010

KEMERTON COURT GOVERNORS:

TEWKESBURY A. M. G. DARBY, O.B.E. (Chairman) C. M. CONNOR GL20 7HY M. G. DARBY Tel: 01386 725 254 P. S. DOBLE

LORD HOWICK OF GLENDALE Registered Charity No. 702488 C. F. NICHOLSON www.kemerton.org R. H. WORKMAN