and WildMembership magazine Winter/Spring 2020

Back to a wilder future Simon Bentley & John Clarkson look at the past and future of Leicestershire and Rutland’s wildlife Wet, wet, wet From wild winter walks to managing floods naturally Meet our new CEO We welcome Tim Graham from Manx Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

We hope you enjoy your 36 page membership magazine. Welcome to your All the local news and features from your Wildlife Trust, plus national news and stories Wild Leicestershire from Wildlife Trusts around the UK. & Rutland Thank you for your support! Contents Happy New Year! Wildlife Presenter 4 Nick Baker gives his ‘Teal of Approval’ 12 Melissa Harrison on 7 connecting with winter this year

We say thank you 8 to LRWT Director Simon Bentley, and John Clarkson looks ahead to the next 20 years

Take a wild winter walk 14 around Feed the Discover how we’re 14 birds this 16 working with nature to winter help prevent flooding The climate and ecological emergencies demand with Vine urgent action and we are already playing our part. Find out how legacies 20 We are at a time of challenge and opportunity. 18 have saved wild places House Farm 2020 will see a new agenda to generate in Leicestershire and international targets for the next ten years, As winter progresses, small hopefully building a new culture that will deliver Rutland birds must work harder to the start of nature’s recovery. Just imagine a find food. A short spell of cold, Wilder Future where nature-based solutions help Learn how to help manage flooding and store carbon; the NHS uses nature to prevent illness and increase recovery harsh weather can prove fatal, I can’t wait to see in 2020 in Leicestershire and 26 wildlife in your garden with government to improve farming subsidies times; any new development is net positive for as they may struggle to find Rutland. I have settled in with such a warm this winter with Kate for wildlife, setting out a national framework to wildlife; and all this enables investment to secure enough food to keep warm welcome and I’m astonished daily by the great deliver conservation, and increasing the presence our environment. Viable populations of wildlife Bradbury work of our staff and volunteers. I’m joining of the Trust in the community. through the night. By providing will burst from our nature reserves to move across Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust from Something stood out when I came for interview; Leicestershire and Rutland’s landscapes - and Amy-Jane Beer shows us the right type of foods in the the Manx Wildlife Trust, and there are some big the staff, volunteers and trustees gave me a beyond. People will be able to connect closer 28 how spectacular urban right feeders, you can make a differences - most obviously being surrounded by sense of positive direction, which couples well every day to our wildlife and society will truly care. wildlife can be the bustle of the city, rather than the lull of the with a famous history of conservation success. I can’t wait to get stuck in and thank you for your huge difference. sea! That said, many issues are the same, and I We need more of that ambition, alongside our ongoing support. Blackbirds and robins love ground feeding have moved here having successfully negotiating existing amazing work as we look to the future. Tim Graham, CEO Get out and about with trays with sunflower hearts, husk-free mixes 32 our guide to events and and suet pellets, whilst finches, like chaffinch activities 28 or even brambling can be attracted with a plentiful supply of seed either on trays or Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust hanging feeders. Working to protect and enhance the wildlife and Chairman Andrew Cotton Wild is the membership magazine for When you buy bird food and other supplies wild places of Leicestershire and Rutland and to Hon. Secretary Maggie Morland Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and is Membership from Vine House Farm, 4% of your purchase engage people with nature. free to members. will be donated to Leicestershire and Rutland Hon. Treasurer Ann Tomlinson Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily Our vision is for a Living Landscape rich in wildlife, Wildlife Trust, and if you’re a new customer CEO Tim Graham those of the Editor, Director or the Council of the Trust. Recruiters needed! valued and enjoyed by all. Articles, letters, photographs and artwork are welcomed We have an exciting opportunity to join us they will also give an extra £10! Last year Vine Head of Conservation John Clarkson on the understanding that no liability for their safe as a Membership Recruiter. This flexible job House Farm donated around £3,000 to the Registered office: The Old Mill, Nature Reserve Manager custody or return is incurred and the right to abridge or 9 Soar Lane, , LE3 5DE. is a great way to support local wildlife and Trust to help support our work. Mat Cottam refuse publication is reserved. Tel. 0116 262 9968 Editor Lucy McRobert. the local environment, while supplementing email: [email protected] Membership Officer Josephine Taylor See a full range of products in the Designer Yarwood Associates. your income. enclosed Vine House Farm flier or visit website: www.lrwt.org.uk Charity No. 210531 Printed on 100% recycled paper. Find out more and apply at vinehousefarm.co.uk wildlifefundraising.org Recruitment © LRWT Company Reg. No. 561833 Chaffinch © Fergus Gill/2020Vision facebook/twitter/flickr/instagram Front cover: Fieldfare © Richard Steel/2020Vision

2 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 3 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust LRWT NEWS Twenty years with LRWT Beverley Heath has retired from her role as the Trust’s Communications Officer. She joined the Trust back in 1999 and for the first 11 years undertook a combined role of Membership and Communications Officer, co-ordinating administration of the Trust’s membership as well as overseeing communication of the Trust’s work and key messages – a considerable task! In recent years Beverley has been able to focus on communications and particularly the production of the Trust’s various regular publications, including regular membership magazines, annual reports and numerous leaflets, newsletters, brochures and appeals.

Teal of approval from Record-breaking year for wildlife presenter Rutland’s Ospreys Wildlife presenter Nick Baker swooped into he was no longer able to drive. I am certain Rutland Water Nature Reserve in September that he would be proud to see what has to meet our young Osprey Ambassadors been created here to help encourage the and open the new Teal hide at Lyndon. next generation.” The Teaching, Education and Learning A sun-drenched afternoon of bird- hide will serve as an outdoor classroom themed activities ensued, courtesy of the - introducing future generations to the Osprey Education Team, while Zeiss kindly wonders of natural history. Most recently she has overseen the sponsored binoculars for everyone. upgrade and update of our Nature The hide was the result of a generous Bunting and cake were the order of the day, Reserves Guide with full colour maps donation from Peter Cox, on behalf of his thanks to the culinary skills of Liz Elsden and and photographs plus comprehensive, father, Dennis, and the hard work of the artistic touches from Libby Smith. clearly presented information. Another staff and volunteers of the Reserve’s Hide Nick tried his hand at the Osprey Migration significant task was the redesign of Building Team: Game, and returned later in the evening the Trust’s membership magazine to a previous record of 16). This bumper “Dennis was an avid bird watcher and to deliver a talk to a centre packed with incorporating local news and articles with crop allowed the project to celebrate the member of the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Volunteers on “How to Rewild national updates and features from The milestone of the 150th chick to hatch since 2019 osprey season Wildlife Trust” said Peter, “He enjoyed Yourself”. Wildlife Trusts (previously Natural World). the project began. in numbers: regular weekly visits to the reserve up until Teal Hide opening © Pete Murray Beverley has made a valuable Another terrific surprise was the discovery 10 breeding pairs contribution to the work of the Trust over of four chicks in a single nest. This is the chicks fledged many years, evidenced by regular positive first time this has occurred in Rutland. It was 23 the UK, too, using the same template and comments and feedback from members all the more rewarding and satisfying that 4 chicks to a nest – A new era appearance. We’re also bringing in several and supporters saying how much they 23 years since the Rutland this nest of four was in Manton Bay – home for the first time! other websites under one united banner, enjoy our informative and of our osprey webcam on Rutland Water chick to hatch from including Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Osprey Project began, the 150th for our interesting publications. nature reserve. People from all over the the Rutland Osprey Project the Rutland Ospreys, Wild Forest School ospreys continue to surprise. world watched as the four chicks hatched, and Wild Lives (don’t worry – the web We wish her a long 3,064 young people aged 6-16 2019 has been a year of record-breaking flourished and fledged in the summer. website addresses will all stay the same). We hope and very happy engaged in nature In mid-January, we’ll be saying goodbye retirement. statistics for the Rutland Ospreys – beginning The success of the Osprey Project would not to our old LRWT website and ushering in that this will give the Trust more presence 19 schools and colleges visited by with a record high for breeding pairs. 10 pairs have been possible without the hard work of a new online era for the Trust. The new online with members and new supporters, the osprey education team successfully bred this year (compared to eight volunteers and staff. We look forward to the website will be easier to use and navigate, and that you like our new look! Thank you school & educational groups pairs in recent years), meaning Rutland has ospreys returning in the spring. 25 as well as looking fresh, modern and full for your support. visited Rutland Water nature reserve the largest osprey colony in the UK outside of interesting, useful information. It will The Rutland Osprey Project is a partnership Visit lrwt.org.uk from mid-January. Scotland. More chicks fledged this year than match our partner Wildlife Trusts across between Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Beverley Heath © LRWT ever before, with a total of 23 (compared Trust and Anglian Water. Osprey with trout © John Wright. Osprey webcam stills © LRWT 4 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 5 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust LRWT NEWS WILD THOUGHTS

Exciting Times for Spiders in Leicestershire and Rutland Melissa 2019 proved an excellent year for spider Harrison scientists in Leicestershire and Rutland, with the discovery of a new species at two separate locations – including a LRWT nature reserve! Connect with Dr Alan Cann is county co-ordinator for VC55 However, Dr Cann had already found the species – he just didn’t realise it at (Leicestershire and Rutland) and made the first. “After a few days of basking in a self-satisfied glow, it occurred to me to winter this year discovery on 29th August at Lyddington check my specimen backlog. I discovered that on 3rd August at Ketton Quarry, Meadow: “There is a long tradition of I had collected another E. latimana specimen - the first actual VC55 record for When I lived in a city, winter us in time as well as place, creating a feeling biological recording in VC55 and we this species.” A LITTLE BIT WILD didn’t mean much more than a of connection that becomes stronger, more probably know more about our spiders “At least two other species have now been recorded just across the than any other county. warmer coat for my commute. rewarding and more enriching with every Study the seasons County border in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, too. These are the Now I live in a rural village passing year. The “Common Candy-striped Spider” unmistakable Wasp Spider, Argiope bruennichi, and the green-fanged tube web Phenology is the study of cyclical Enoplognatha ovata is one of our most it seems darker, longer and There’s a good case to be made for spending natural phenomena. Several projects spider Segestria florentina. Many species are expanding north west due to our colder, but also more interesting, with so frequently occurring, but it’s close relative, changing climate.” daily time outdoors in nature, whatever the record sightings from citizen scientists, Enoplognatha latimana, has never been much to observe and take pleasure in. weather (within reason!) and all times of the so you can contribute to these valuable, Ketton Quarry (Andy Lear). The slow cycle of the seasons is now a recorded here - at least not before 2019!” Common Candy-striped Spider © Alan McCann. year. Perhaps it’s a lunchtime stroll that takes long-running studies of nature. central part of my life. in your local green space, an evening run Visit wildlifetrusts.org/citizen-science These days nearly 90 per cent of us live in around a nature reserve or a new morning urban areas where, unless we get outdoors route to the bus stop that takes you across and immerse ourselves in nature, seasonal a nearby common: build it into your routine A sad changes are much less noticeable than in the and you’ll soon feel the benefits. Having a countryside. But while insulating ourselves dog is a great motivator; any owner will tell farewell from the colder months with 24/7 street you the benefits to body and mind that come Ralph Johnson, one of our long lighting and temperature-controlled offices from taking their four-legged friend out every standing volunteers and members may be convenient, it comes at a cost. day – even if they may grumble a little on rainy Three quarters of crops and 87% of all plants require insect-pollination, yet sadly passed away in October after Our bodies and minds evolved in nature, mornings! insects are dying out up to eight times faster than larger animals and 41% of a long illness. alert to its cycles. Studies have shown that Watching even the humblest place change part of the brain knows what time of year it insect species face extinction. In fact, “we are witnessing the largest extinction Ralph established the Holwell through all four seasons will lead you to know is outside and adjusts our immune system event on Earth since the dinosaurs”. Wildlife Group in 1974 and helped it intimately, a deep, atavistic pleasure that and metabolism accordingly, even if the Can you help us stop this by taking Action for Insects? Habitat loss and chronic the Trust acquire our Holwell connects us to our past and helps prepare subjects involved are entirely protected from exposure to pesticides are two major causes of this looming catastrophe. In a reserves during the 1970s, where he us for an uncertain future, too. The more seasonal cues. new report by Professor Dave Goulson, he summarises evidence of insect loss was volunteer warden for 40 years. connected we are to our and what he thinks must happen to reverse the decline. It’s not too late. He set up our Melton Local It’s only very recently in evolutionary environment, the more likely we terms that we’ve started spending so much are to protect it – so when the We can change the future of insects by taking two simple actions: Volunteer Group in 1980 and served on the Conservation Committee and as a trustee on the Trust time indoors; just a blink of an aeon, in days draw in, keep going out; killing insects by reducing our use of pesticides fact. Perhaps that’s why forging a year- keep looking, keep listening, Stop Council for many years. where we live, work and farm He also gave numerous talks, hosted regular badger watching round connection to nature can prove keep loving the natural world. evenings and organised the annual Holwell reserve open day. so rewarding, because it’s something our to create more insect-friendly habitats Ralph’s unstinting and inspirational support was recognised brains have evolved over millennia to do. Start in towns, cities and the countryside. in two awards – he was received the Leicestershire First Tuning in to cyclical events like the slow Go wild this winter From bugling Environment Award in 2009 and the Melton Times Community ripening of apples, the blossoming of ivy cranes to bubbling brent geese, Melissa Harrison is a nature writer and When you sign up to take Action for Insects, Environment Award in 2016. flowers providing late food for bees, the shy there’s a world of wild wonders to get you novelist, and editor of the anthologies Spring, eruption of mushrooms among the leaf litter we will send you two guides to help you go Ralph made a significant, valuable and lasting contribution outside this winter. Find your next adventure Summer, Autumn and Winter, produced in or the peeping calls of redwings migrating chemical-free and create insect friendly havens to the work of the Trust over many years and will be missed. at wildlifetrusts.org/winter-wildlife support of . where you live. over cities after dark – these things root Our thoughts are with his friends and family. Illustration: Robin Mackenzie Sign up at lrwt.org.uk Ladybird on funghi © Paul Hobson 6 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 7 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

It has been rewarding to see Rutland Water Nature Reserve expand significantly with the completion of Back to a the Rutland Water Habitats Project in 2011. This created nine new lagoons on the nature reserve, which increased by 98 hectares to nearly 400 hectares. From our biggest to our smaller reserves, living in Market Harborough I was thrilled to be closely involved in the creation of Fox Wood at the nearby village of Lubenham. wilder More than 100 local people turned out in February 2018 to help plant 1,500 native UK broadleaf trees and shrubs in a wonderful future community effort.

Simon Bentley looks back on his 19-year tenure as Director of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Director, whilst new Head of Conservation John Clarkson looks at Upper Marsh at Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve what the next twenty years could bring. (Simon Bentley/LRWT). Trust Director Simon Bentley welcomes new Head of Conservation John Clarkson at Holwell Nature Reserves. I clearly remember my first day in post as with 10 nests this Water vole (www.davidjslater.co.uk) Director of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife year fledging 23 Trust – 1st March 2001. As I walked through chicks, bringing the the front door of the office, conservation staff total to 170 chicks were on their way out to close many of our fledged since Loughborough Big Meadow nature reserves to public access, due to the 2001. A further foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. A sobering reintroduction Inspiring people start. Luckily, things were set to get better. project commenced in the spring Loughborough The annual Birdfair is a big feature of the of 2011, with captive bred water voles released calendar. Weather conditions have been Bringing back nature at Rutland Water and the nearby Oakham Cossington Meadows challenging at times, and none more so than Mountsorrel & Rothley Marshes A month or so after starting, we launched a Canal. Monitoring work shows encouraging Syston Lake the year just gone, with the Birdfair team major project funded by the Heritage Lottery signs of dispersal and breeding, so we truly performing heroics to deliver another safe and Fund to restore and enhance the natural have re-established Ratty in Rutland. Watermead Country Park North successful event despite the rain and mud! heritage of 18 of the Trust’s nature reserves. A personal highlight has been supporting We celebrated the 30th Birdfair in 2018 by This focussed on restoring sites of highest raising more than £5m for international the Trust’s long-term vision of managing an Watermead Country Park South The community tree planting turned into a family event for a wildlife value to their full natural potential and extensive area of the River Soar floodplain nature conservation projects. number of the volunteers. ensuring they could be more easily maintained Leicester Above left, Simon Bentley. Photographs: Tony Clarke. between Leicester and Loughborough The Trust is proud of the Rutland Osprey Project’s in the future. The project delivered a step- for the benefit of wildlife and people. Aylestone Meadows successful reintroduction of ospreys to central change in improving the management of our This received a boost in 2004, when we England. Male 51(11) (John Wright/LRWT). nature reserves. The completed Rutland Water Habitats acquired two extensive wetland areas at Map: this material (Frank Pickering). The numerous events and lectures at the Then in June 2001, the Rutland Osprey Cossington Meadows and Wanlip Meadows, has been 25th proved more popular than Project, in partnership with Anglian Water, followed by additional sites over the next few reproduced from Ordnance Survey ever (LRWT) and there were plenty of saw the hatching of an osprey chick at Rutland years. Wetland creation and enhancement has 1:10000 Scale Raster activities to engage children (Eric Renno). Water Nature Reserve – the first in central been undertaken and they have developed with the permission of the controller of Her Majesty’s England for 150 years. The Rutland ospreys into important wildlife havens, much-loved by Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright. have since gone from strength-to-strength, locals and visitors. OS Licence No. 100039440.

8 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 9 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

John Clarkson takes up the story… The scale of the challenge “I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.” – Greta Thunberg Despite the fantastic work being done by farmers, ecologists, engineers and people like you in your own homes, the state of the world is such that a third of our land and three quarters of our freshwater is used for producing food for humans, urban areas have more than doubled since 1992 and greenhouse Sir David Attenborough cuts the ribbon to officially open gas emissions have doubled since 1980. the Volunteer Training Centre( and guests arrive at the new centre (Beverley Heath/LRWT). We are becoming aware of the magnitude The Trust’s new Volunteer Training Centre at Rutland Water of the damage that we have wrought on the (Corporate Architecture). natural world: recent stories include a 75% decline in insect biomass in protected areas in Germany over the last 27 years, for instance.

What’s more, we could face an My fear is that as a society we lack the housing and living spaces being different. If we unprecedented challenge in the next twenty belief that we need to change and that we make the right choices, this could be our future. years: the global human population may lack the courage to make that change; the In my first few months at Leicestershire and reach 9 billion by 2040, and by 2050 there real challenge may be that we simply cannot Rutland Wildlife Trust, I have been invigorated may be a doubling or tripling of total material comprehend the scale and the urgency of and inspired by the vision, commitment and consumption – the more materials we the difference we need to make. Some things tenacity of people like yourself; of dedicated, consume, the less space is left for wildlife. need to happen before 2025, not 2040, if lifelong conservationists like Simon Bentley Volunteers provide This is not sustainable and whilst it may be we are to leave the next generation with an and Tim Appleton; and all our volunteers and vital support to the easy to dismiss these as global issues there environment even similar to our own, and it staff. There is a commitment at all levels, and Trust and undertake are equivalent trends much closer to home, will be down to all of us to make a difference I was with the Trust when it celebrated in the wider Wildlife Trust movement too, to a huge range of right here in Leicestershire and Rutland. If we at every level. For example, we probably don’t its 50th anniversary in 2006, with a variety building a nature recovery network that links tasks. Early on in my continue to use the environment in the way need to produce more food - we need to tackle of activities, including the official opening up wild areas and brings resilience to our time, we established a new roving nature that we currently do, then in 2040 lapwing and overconsumption, waste less of what we grow of Cossington Meadows by Sir David landscapes in face of climate change; to return reserve volunteer group, which has provided curlew will be at best occasional winter visitors and be smarter in how we grow it. We can do Attenborough; and in 2016, celebrate its 60th insects, birds and mammals to abundant levels; significant additional resource for practical to our farmland, swifts won’t scream above our this by working with nature - by paying land anniversary with a ‘Secret Wild’ art exhibition to reconnect people to nature for their health, nature conservation tasks, including heathland heads and grey wagtails won’t bob managers to deliver not just food, but goods at Leicester Guildhall, featuring inspiring work happiness and wellbeing. habitat restoration in the along our rivers. and services such as cleaner air and water, and woodland management work, particularly from our 36 nature reserves and enjoyed by The United Nations have declared the If this becomes a reality, richer soils and more diverse landscapes and within the Leighfield Forest. One of the most 1,300 visitors. next decade as the Decade of Ecological we will have created more wildlife. demanding yet satisfying projects to work on I have had an amazing time at the Trust and Restoration. With the emerging movements led a world bereft of awe was the construction of our Volunteer Training feel very thankful to have worked alongside so Dreaming of a wilder future by Greta Thunberg, Wild Justice and Extinction and wonder and a Centre at Rutland Water. It was opened by our many skilled, knowledgeable and committed Rebellion, we have an opportunity like never society rife with health The world of wildlife in Leicestershire and Patron, Sir David Attenborough, in July 2015, members, supporters, volunteers and staff. before to mobilise and make a change – and problems – because Rutland will be different as a result of the providing training facilities for volunteers of all I am proud of everything that we have millions of people have started to do so. we will have lost the choices that we all make over the next 20 ages and backgrounds. achieved together, but acutely aware of all years. Yet, there could be a wilder future to Your Wildlife Trust, and its staff, volunteers and nature that underpins members like you, have a critical role to play; In 2009, we launched an Outreach Education there is still to do. One thing I am sure of, look forward to. By 2040, we might see a our communities, our we will never be more relevant. I hope we can Programme for primary school children to is that the team at Leicestershire and Rutland local landscape with white storks, common happiness and wellbeing. all enjoy this vision for the wildlife and people bring the natural world into schools, the focus Wildlife Trust is fully skilled, committed and cranes, black kites, long-tailed blue butterflies, of Leicestershire and Rutland and I want to of which is currently Forest School. It’s been a ready for the challenges ahead. white-tailed sea eagles and European thank you for your support as we look towards privilege to watch this work develop and also beavers. Alongside targeted to a wilder future. see youngsters enjoy Wildlife Watch activities, reintroductions across the UK, Litter pickers at Mountsorrel Meadows Nature “I want you to act as if the teenagers get involved with our Wild Skills Reserve (Nick Crowley), Sunday volunteers at these species have an opportunity group, 18-30-year olds join our Wild Horizons Ulverscroft (Morag Scott Porteous/LRWT), house is on fire, because it to colonise naturally, as the result of Wild Tots pre-school group (Rock Kitchen Harris), the climate being different, our food initiative, and around 50 trainees participate in Wild Forest School gives children the chance to White-tailed eagle and White stork (Amy Lewis) our Trainee Reserve Officer scheme. explore outdoors. (LRWT) is.” – Greta Thunberg production being different, and our Male Adonis blue butterfly (Colin Williams) 10 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 11 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust The Badgers of Belvoir John Bristow, Conservation Officer for the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust reflects on the highs and lows of five years of the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme.

In 2013, we began a programme of vaccinating areas with high evidence of badger activity badgers against Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). to deploy our traps, so that we can maximise Since the 1980s, bTB has been progressing the number of badgers we catch. There was north-east across the UK from initial infections evidence of very high activity in one area, of cattle in the south-west. Our scheme is part and yet we only saw one badger caught and of a programme partially funded by DEFRA, vaccinated. This badger was then recaptured targeting badger populations on the leading on the second night - so all the ‘activity’ was a edge of the disease. We, alongside other Wildlife single greedy badger! Trusts and partners, believe that vaccination In our final year, we were keen to have is a more humane, cost-effective and practical maximum impact. Local knowledge implied solution to controlling bTB in badgers than that the local population had reduced, culling, and our project sits alongside sister or was certainly less active. We widened the projects in the UK, known as the Badger search for activity, followed by meticulous Edge Vaccination Scheme. This has helped recording of activity in the days leading up to fund projects in this ‘edge’ area, including in vaccination dates. Leicestershire, Rutland and Nottinghamshire. This resulted in a total of sixteen badgers The first three years saw staff and volunteers trapped and vaccinated over the two nights; work alongside a team of contractors. 2013 saw four adults and nine cubs on the first night sixteen adults and two cubs vaccinated over two followed by two adults and one cub on the nights in 2014; fourteen adults trapped and no second along with five recaptures. It was recaptures in 2015; and 2016 saw nine adults particularly rewarding to vaccinate such a and a single cub trapped. As local knowledge high number of cubs, as they will carry this suggested the badger population to be stable, vaccination into adulthood. The recaptures we found the results unusual and slightly showed a lot more traffic between the disappointing, but perhaps it was just a good setts than was originally expected, showing year for foraging elsewhere. the impact that vaccination might have In late 2017, following a two-year hiatus in preventing the spread of the disease, due to a global vaccine shortage, we teamed especially in this small, but strategic, area of up with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, who Leicestershire. were undertaking a similar scheme in the Vale of Belvoir, a ‘stone’s throw’ from our original Thank you to those who assisted with project area. By pooling resources, we were able this project. Year Adults Cubs Total to undertake a further two years of vaccination, Vaccinated Vaccinated extending the project to 2019. The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust 2013 16 2 18 In 2018, over the vaccination project in the Vale of Belvoir course of the two is set to continue until at least 2022, 2014 14 0 14 nights 13 adults and 2 so for more details check out: 2015 9 1 10 cubs were trapped and nottinghamshirewildlife.org/badger- 2018 13 2 15 vaccinated. We were vaccinations-campaign caught out however, by 2019 6 10 16 one particularly cheeky Vaccination © Tom Marshall. 73 badger! We look for Badger © Andrew Parkinson/2020Vision. 12 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 13 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

You may see a kingfisher dart across the water or Pass through the small copse and into The herons and little egrets fishing along the margins. Moor 8 . You may be lucky to see a short- Head back the way you came and re-join the eared owl here in the winter. They hunt day path by turning right towards the River Soar and night but are not guaranteed: some (a left turn would take you back to Cossington winters there are lots, and others there are none. Barn owls are resident, too, but you will and Sileby). At Moor Pool 7 there’s a bench for have to arrive early morning or late evening as you to have a short break, or rest on the fence they’re crepuscular. We’ve even seen photos and scan the tops of the reeds for bearded tits. taken at Cossington of a barn owl and short- In snowy weather in 2010, a bittern showed eared owl fighting on the ground! During really well along this path. Starling murmurations can cold weather look out for water rail along the also be enjoyed at Moor Pool, and we have been river - they are forced out of their reedy habitat extremely lucky to spot a water shrew here. to hunt for food. A glossy ibis was seen here in 2017 Now head over the wooden bridge and walk through the alder trees until you get to Lower Moor and Plover Meadow scrapes 9 . Wintertime brings ducks like Hobley wigeon, teal and gadwall, and if you scan the Meadows margins you may spot a snipe or two.

Hobley You are nearly at the end of your stroll around Lake the reserve. Follow the river to the boat house, N bearing left to the main entrance.

Barber's Rough Upper 0 250m Marsh Sileby Entrance Enjoy a Middle Marsh Tern Pool Brook Lower Close wild walk Marsh Upper 6 Moor this winter at 7 5 Brook Wood Moor Pool 4 Cossington Meadows Rayn’s Wood Cossington 8 Entrance Cossington Meadows began its life as a TheTThh Moor nature reserve in 2002, and since then Swan Meadow nature has reclaimed what was once Fact file The reserve is situated to the west of a barren and scarred landscape. Chris Cossington village, alongside the River Hill, Conservation Officer takes you on River 9 Soar. There is also access at several other Soar a walk through wetlands this winter… points, where public footpaths enter the 3 reserve. Dogs are welcome on leads. Enter the reserve at the kissing gate on Syston Cars can be parked off the road outside Road, head through the next gate and continue Rectory Marsh 2 , a low-lying marshy Lower the main entrance on the Syston Road or until you reach a wide expanse now partially meadow with several scrapes. Garganey and a Moor Wood in the small public car park adjacent to 1 glossy ibis have been seen on the large scrape, RectoryR wooded with willows . Marsh 2 RectoryR and redshank have bred here. We do not own MarshM Cossington Parish Church. Head west out This was once reminiscent of the moon’s of Cossington on Syston Road towards surface. Gravel and other aggregates were this bit of land, but the habitat was created in Sedge Pla’s Rothley, the reserve is on your right, north piled up when the site was a working quarry partnership with the previous landowner. Meadow Close of the road. and in dry windy weather the air was thick Progress through the gate in the corner 3 Plover Meadow 1 Nearest postcode: LE7 4UZ with dust. Bee orchids appeared here for the and walk around the rectory moat. Through Wood Meadow first time in summer 2019. There are four the next gate, turn right and then left along the woodpeckers on some of the older oaks in the Size: 89ha grass snake hibernaculums. Three of these footpath with the woodland on your left, hedge and the odd reed bunting. For further information, please see our are underground, whilst the pile of woodchip re-entering our land at Brook Wood 4 . Continue along the main track 5 and head Mill Nature Reserves Guide or lrwt.org.uk covers a maze of used tyres and branches: the Crack and grey willow predominate here. west, through the gate. You’re about halfway Wood above-ground hibernaculum. Muntjac are spotted here, along with stoat now. A little further and you’ll reach a fork in dashing across the path. Birdlife is best in the path 6 . The northern path leads to the tip Main Short-eared Owl © Danny Green/2020Vision Go through the next two kissing gates Syston Road Wigeon © David Tipling/2020Vision walking east towards Cossington and into the spring but look out for great spotted of the reserve, and you can explore the lakes. Entrance Glossy ibis © John Bridges 14 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 15 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Ben Devine, Conservation Slowing the Officer for LRWT and Alex McDonald, Senior Environmental flow Project Manager for the Environment Agency, look at how working with nature for people and wildlife can bring benefits for people.

in the Soar Valley A new project is underway in the upper Soar Valley to help protect local people from flooding and create valuable new wildlife habitats in the process. The three-year Soar Natural Flood Once the measures are installed, a network Valley, and work started this autumn close to At the other sites, ponds are being created Management project is part of a national pilot of equipment including water level monitors the riverbanks. This included felling a small to store water and tree planting used to slow scheme, including 60 other projects across and time-lapse cameras will monitor the area. number of trees and securing them across water as it moves over land. Each site will the UK, led by the Environment Agency and Natural Flood Management can work wonders the span of the river and in the floodplain. be monitored with changes in water levels including Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife on a river catchment. As well as helping These will slow and catch water when heavy and ecology closely scrutinised to see how Trust. Working together, we’re monitoring with flood prevention, it can lead to habitat rain occurs. We are also using fallen trees and effective the measures are. By the time this and researching the effectiveness of Natural creation for wildlife; prevention of soil erosion; strategically-placed brash piles to ‘roughen up’ project is completed in 2021, we’ll have a Flood Management on our landscapes. We and improvements in water quality to name the floodplain, intercepting yet more water. wealth of research that will allow us to make hope that this pioneering research can then just a few. It can also reduce our reliance on The habitats will attract a wider variety of better decisions on our approach to be used across the UK to find natural ways hard-engineering solutions at locations where species to existing areas of wet woodland, flood management, doing the to protect people, businesses and landscapes communities are affected. It’s a win-win for best thing for people from flooding. wildlife and people. and for wildlife. Working with nature Narborough Bog Natural Flood Management is about working Our involvement is centred on our with natural processes to reduce flooding. Narborough Bog nature reserve, with the aim It involves implementing a wide range of of rewetting large areas of habitat across the measures that help to protect, restore and site. As a result of historic changes in hydrology copy the natural functions of river catchments and pressures from surrounding development and floodplains. By thinking naturally, we hope such as roads and railway lines, Narborough to reduce the amount of water in the flood and Bog has dried-up significantly over the years. delay the arrival of a flood downstream, We are delighted to be working with the Visit Narborough Bog by holding the water back for as long as Environment Agency and others to improve the and our other wetland sites this winter: possible. Ultimately, this is about time travel. watercourse for the benefit of wetland wildlife lrwt.org.uk/nature-reserves We are improving the natural function of the and local communities downstream. including aquatic plants and invertebrates in River Soar, helping the surrounding landscape Exploring Narborough Bog © Ben Devine Narborough Bog is one of four landholdings the first instance, along with bats, birds and store more water as it once did historically, Common Frog © Luke Massey/2020Vision taking part in the project within the upper Soar amphibians at a later stage. Kingfisher © Dawn Monrose. Narborough Bog © Ben Devine before landscape change and use put pressure on and damaged our river catchments.

How do we slow the flow? ● Planting trees ● Creating ‘leaky dams’ ● Restoring peatlands ● Digging ponds ● Removing culverts ● Restoring meanders

16 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 17 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Sometimes it takes an act of extreme to form ‘corridors’ for wildlife. Any land has generosity, selflessness and charity to save potential to be good for wildlife, so don’t be a special wild place. Luckily for nature, put off if your land isn’t currently biodiverse. both locally and beyond, we have been Inspired by the Knepp Estate, LRWT has a powered by those individuals who vision of creating a vast tract of rewilded land have gone the extra mile to save and all we need is the blank canvas; a large area wildlife. From Charles of low-grade agricultural land could be ideal! Rothschild who founded The Wildlife Trusts Talk to us now movement, to people like When Miss Clarke was thinking about the Anders Holch Povlsen who has future of , she took steps bought vast tracts (over 220,000 to ensure the reserve would be preserved acres!) of land in Scotland for rewilding, after her death. Her gift was written into her individuals can make all the difference. Will for over 10 years before she died. Other benefactors have also given land to the Trust Of all philanthropic spending in Britain, just before their death. This removes the burden three per cent goes towards the environment. of management and ensures that land is Despite this, since 1956, LRWT has been preserved. Landowners have also offered their grateful to receive a significant number of gifts land for sale to us before advertising on the Legacy and bequests, including 11 gifts of land. These open market, below market price. This is an range from 192 hectares at Charnwood Lodge excellent solution where a landowner cannot to 0.7 hectares at Miles Piece, totalling nearly afford to make a complete gift. Increasingly, 300 hectares - roughly a quarter of the Trust’s the Trust has found it difficult to compete for of a landholding. Most of these gifts came from land, so these gifts are invaluable. individuals who want to ensure that their land will be managed for wildlife forever. As the manager of Charnwood Lodge, I often feel I have the ghost of Miss Clarke looking Charnwood Lodge over my shoulder checking that I am keeping Charnwood Lodge was gifted by Miss Clarke, to her wishes. I hope that she remains satisfied passing to our care in 1973 following her death. with what she sees! lifetime She wanted to honour her family’s passion Senior Conservation Officer Neil Pilcher for wildlife and preserve it for the future. She declared Charnwood Lodge a nature reserve in Providing the conditions are describes the impact that philanthropy has had 1961 in memory of her brother, Shirley William reasonable and legal, LRWT is happy to in saving nature in Leicestershire and Rutland. Clarke. This was a remarkable gift, including accommodate a benefactor’s wishes. High Tor Farm, several cottages, Charnwood However, we would recommend the Lodge House and multiple outbuildings, as careful consideration of conditions as it well as nearly 500 acres of land, now worth might make the management of the land around £4 million. She asked that the estate difficult. We are happy to offer advice in was preserved for the study of natural history. all cases and work with you to ensure that It was her greatest fear that the estate would your land is managed for wildlife. ‘become another Bradgate Park’, so restrictions on public access were key to her bequest. Cloud Wood Are you thinking of your legacy? Cloud Wood was left to the Trust in 1993 by If you’d like to discuss how to the outgoing Director of Ennstone Breedon plc, preserve your land for wildlife in Mr Shields. He is said to have had stone tracks the future, contact Neil Pilcher on laid within the woodland so that he could drive [email protected] or 0116 248 7348 his Rolls Royce through it whilst birdwatching! Mr Shields was impressed by the way in which LRWT had worked within Miss Clarke’s wishes The Trust would like to thank Miss Clarke, for Charnwood Lodge, and subsequently Cloud Mr Shields, Pleasance Burroughes, Wood was gifted to us. He too included a Mrs I Cheales (nee Miles), Charles Cliffe restriction on public access. Jones, Leicestershire County Council, Severn Trent Water, Farming and Wildlife What makes a good gift of land? Advisory Group and Leicestershire Barn Large areas are usually best for wildlife as Owl Group for their gifts of land. they are more robust, whilst small sites tend to be more vulnerable and take disproportionally more resources to manage. However, some Great-spotted Woodpecker © Mark Hamblin/2020Vision. Charnwood Lodge memorial © Neil Pilcher. small sites are wildlife havens and can link up Cloud Wood © Neil Pilcher. 18 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 19 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

Mud, Glorious Mud!

Birdfair Founder Tim Appleton shares the highlights from the international wildlife event of the year. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2019 is the This was our 31st Birdfair: an amazing Year of the Pig. If you came to Birdfair, you’ll achievement for the fantastic staff working agree that we certainly were happy as pigs in in the Birdfair office and on the Rutland mud! And lots of it! We passed through every Water nature reserve. As a relatively small, season in just three days, basking in glorious local wildlife charity, we can be truly proud sunshine, sheltering from driving rain and of the impact Birdfair has had on global plodding through puddles, and yet it was one conservation, raising directly more than £5 of the best. It seems that the more adverse the million and a further £35 million through conditions, the more the Birdfair family comes match funding and other sources. together with an amazing, unifying spirit. Friday’s State of the Earth Question Time Anglian Birdwatching Centre), highlighted Despite the conditions, 22,747 visitors Slipping and sliding from marquee to marquee, brought a unique gathering of leading figures by the Nature Careers Day. A range of attended over the weekend: a brilliant year. visitors smiled, laughed and even leant a hand. from the world of broadcasting, writing, experts focused on several aspects of More people visited for the entire weekend, campaigning, business and politics. National career opportunities ranging from writing too! This is boosting the local economy and media eyes also turned towards Birdfair as to broadcasting, reserve management to community by an estimated £800,000. conservationist Carrie Symonds made her first academia, sharing their knowledge with Visitors come to Birdfair for many reasons: public appearance and speech since stepping an eager audience of children, young into Number 10 Downing Street as the Prime networking, purchasing new products, looking adults and keen parents alike. for wildlife holidays, learning about latest Minister’s partner. conservation issues, and being entertained. The new food court showcased an The Birdfair team prove that small The Events Marquee and Lecture Theatres saw incredible range of small local award-winning really can be mighty. This year they a record year, with a footfall of nearly 28,500. companies providing high-quality, wholesome traversed new challenges, from complicated As always, we tackled brave, hard-hitting and food from a range of cultures and cuisines. travel regulation changes to the last-minute interesting subjects through our panels and This proved an instant success with our costs of hiring temporary trackway to survive Birdfair 2020 debates, including discussions on climate visitors with long queues, happy customers the deluge of rain. Despite all this, we are change, illegal bird persecution, politics and and something for everyone, including vegan hopeful that our 2019 Birdlife project, 21st - 23rd August The ‘welly-man’ cleared his stock in record rewilding, whilst star-studded gameshows and vegetarian options. “Conserving Cambodia’s Big Five”, will still Don’t forget to put it in your diary! time, our tractors worked overtime pulling cars and talks (and of course the annual Birdfair Families and young conservationists receive substantial funds, boosting their and vans from muddy car parks, and we didn’t pantomime!) kept audiences laughing all enjoyed a super weekend thanks to conservation work at the incredibly important receive a single complaint. throughout. our Wild Zone (this year located in the Western Siem Pang Reserve. Birdfair photos all © Eric Renno 20 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 21 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS UK UPDATE UK HIGHLIGHTS UK UPDATE

A shore thing End of an era Discover how Stephanie Hilborne OBE has stepped down The Wildlife as Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts. 1 Steph has led The Wildlife Trust movement, Trusts are 2 championing its beliefs and vision, for the last working for 15 years. Under Steph’s leadership, The Wildlife you across the UK 3 Trusts have been at the forefront of marine conservation, successfully campaigning for Moor wildlife the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, 1 600 acres of wildlife-rich moorland led on landscape-scale conservation and have been saved from potential published ground-breaking research on the development by Northumberland benefits of nature for health and wellbeing. Wildlife Trust, thanks to incredible support for their fundraising appeal. Speaking about her departure, Steph said, Benshaw Moor is home to round-leaved “I am very grateful to have had the sundews and sphagnum mosses, as opportunity to be so central to this amazing well as nesting curlews, otters and movement of dedicated people who care rare butterflies. The site will now be so passionately about wildlife and future protected as a nature reserve. generations. I wish all my friends in the nwt.org.uk/news/benshaw movement well as they go from strength to strength.” We wish Steph all the best in her new role as CEO of Women in Sport. wildlifetrusts.org/ceo-steps-down 25 years of support A shoal of citizen scientists across the UK ensuring that species records can be compared This November, The National Lottery protect rare and vulnerable wildlife and will be learning more about our shorelines between different regions and changes can be A YEAR OF SUCCESS FOR celebrates its 25th birthday and we look back bring people of all generations closer than ever before, following the launch of The monitored. OUR SEAS on a quarter of a century of support for wildlife to nature, from helping barn owls in Wildlife Trusts’ new and improved Shoresearch The data collected by Shoresearch in the and wild places across the UK. Northern Ireland to restoring wild programme this summer. past has already been key to securing many Since the first draw in 1994, The National landscapes in Scotland. This national citizen science survey trains of our Marine Conservation Zones, revealing Lottery has raised over £40 billion for good n More protection - this May 2 Tern tracking volunteers to monitor the marine life around the special places on our coast that are causes – including more than 800 Wildlife For the first time ever, chicks from the Government announced the Learn more about the work our coasts, gathering valuable data that will most in need of protection. Following the Trust projects. that The National Lottery Wales’ only Sandwich tern colony designation of 41 new Marine help experts monitor our sea life and better Government’s designation of 41 new Marine This vital funding has enabled Wildlife Trusts has supported at have been given special “flags” to help Conservation Zones, adding to understand the effects of pollution and climate Conservation Zones this summer (bringing the to save thousands of hectares of land, wildlifetrusts.org/25-year-lottery birdwatchers track their movements. change. total in English waters to 91), the Shoresearch the 50 already designated. Each flag, fixed to a ring on the bird’s Surveys focus on the intertidal zone (the programme will be crucial for monitoring the These will form a vital series of leg, has a unique code that can be read area of the shore that is covered by water at health of the coastal regions of many of these underwater habitats which, with through a spotting scope, helping us high tide, but exposed to the air at low tide). protected areas. the right management, will allow learn more about these seabirds. They take place on all shores, rocky, sandy and Shoresearch launched during this year’s nature to recover. Saving sand dunes northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/news/ muddy alike, to chart coastal wildlife around National Marine Week, the annual celebration A pioneering project is stepping in to ringing-changes the UK. of our seas in which thousands of people n Better information – The save Europe’s most threatened habitat, Anyone can become a budding marine enjoyed coastal activities, from rockpool Wildlife Trusts’ new Shoresearch sand dunes. Home to rare plants and rambles to whale watching. biologist by attending a free Shoresearch programme launched in July, giving animals, including fen orchids and sand 3 Going batty event hosted by a coastal Wildlife Trust. citizen scientists the chance to lizards, the last century has seen them The largest ever survey of Regular volunteers will be trained to identify survey our shores, gathering vital decline dramatically. The ambitious Alderney’s bat population has revealed and record intertidal plants and animals and data on the health of our coastal Dynamic Dunescapes project aims to the island’s first live brown long-eared their habitats, from colourful butterfish hiding wildlife. reverse these declines, working with local bat. For ’s ‘Bat in rockpools to weird and wonderful worms people to bring life back to our dunes. This Week’, visiting experts trained residents buried in the sand and mud. n Fantastic support – thousands partnership project was made possible by in survey techniques while conducting an Previous Shoresearch surveys have used of people across the UK, Alderney island-wide study. They also found five Find out more £4m funding from The National Lottery. different approaches depending on which and the Isle of Man joined us in wildlifetrusts.org/saving-sand-dunes pipistrelle roosts, including a maternity Learn more about Shoresearch and part of the UK they took place in. Now, for celebrating our seas during National roost, and a natterer’s bat. the first time, the same methods will be used discover how you can get involved: Marine Week. alderneywildlife.org/bat-week-2019 across the UK, giving us even better data and wildlifetrusts.org/shoresearch Shoresearchers: Ulster wildlife Sand lizard: Vaughn Matthews, Sundew: Mark Hamblin/2020Vision, barn owl: Andy Rouse/2020Vision 22 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 23 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS 6 places to see

1 Winter wildfowl 2 4 3 6 See the spectacle 5 for yourself

1 East Chevington, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Just a short walk from the beach, the wintering ducks on these two lakes are sometimes joined by seagoing species like the lovely long-tailed duck. Where: Near Red Row, NE61 5BX

2 Foulney Island, Spot wintering brent geese, or look for common scoters and long-tailed ducks on the sea amongst the large flocks of eiders. Where: Near Barrow in Furness, LA13 0QL

3 Teifi Marshes The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales One of Wales’ best wetlands, attracting large numbers of wintering ducks including teals, wigeons and mallards. Where: Cardigan, SA43 2TB

4 Rutland Water Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Around 30,000 wildfowl can spend the winter at Rutland Water, often including several smews – one of our rarest and most beautiful winter ducks. Where: Oakham, LE15 8BT

5 Catcott, In winter the flooded fields host wigeons, teals and pintails – a definite contender for the UK’s most elegant duck. Where: Burtle, TA7 8NQ

6 Blue House Farm, Listen to the bubbling calls of thousands of brent geese, s the temperature drops, our wetlands fill with which travel from Siberia to feed in the sheltered Crouch Estuary. wildfowl escaping the harsher winters of their Where: North Fambridge, CM3 6GU breeding grounds. It’s a sensational spectacle as swans, geese and ducks descend on our lakes and Areservoirs in loud, colourful groups. The air fills with the joyous whistling of wigeons and teals, while groups of elegant grey gadwalls rub shoulders with green-headed mallards, beautiful pintails and bizarre-billed shovelers. Diving ducks like pochards Did you see one? and tufted ducks are joined by goldeneyes – the males a glorious We’d love to know how your wildfowl search went. glowing white as they bob to the surface between feeding dives. Please tweet us your best photos of ducks, geese and swans from your day out @wildlifetrusts

Gadwall by Guy Edwardes/2020Vision 24 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 25 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE

With the notable exception of birds, most might shelter anything from caterpillars, Spare a thought for birds, too, which garden wildlife lies dormant over winter, beetles, centipedes and woodlice to larger have to battle it out in winter, instead of How you can with only a few species, such as hedgehogs, species, such as amphibians and mammals. hibernating. Growing berrying plants, Bird box truly hibernating. The rest spend winter Others hide deep down in the thatch of feeding them and creating cosy roosts can Birds may use these to roost in various states of ‘torpor’ – not fully long or tufty grass, bury themselves in the help them in winter, too. communally on very cold nights. shutting down their bodies as true soil, or shuffle into the still-warm grass Fill them with dry leaves or Gardens of all sizes are an essential part hibernating animals do. That’s why, on clippings and food waste in the compost help wildlife similar material to make them of a Nature Recovery Network. For more sunny days, you may spot frogs swimming heap. warmer. tips visitwildlifetrusts.org/gardening at the bottom of your pond, or bats flying Wildlife is very vulnerable at this Kate Bradbury on mild evenings. Even true hibernating time. Disturbing mammals can cause is passionate about wildlife- animals have a break from all that sleeping them to waste energy that they can’t friendly gardening and the author this winter – hedgehogs wake up and move nest sites easily replenish, while insects can be of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone From log and leaf piles to open compost heaps and at least once during the cold months. exposed to fungal infections if they get and Everything in association with towers of terracotta pots by the side of the shed, But on the whole, much of our wildlife damp. Providing winter refuges (called The Wildlife Trusts. isn’t seen from around November to hibernacula) will help wildlife overwinter Kate Bradbury reveals how we can provide safe March. Where does it go? Insects might – but not disturbing these habitats once Illustration: Hannah Bailey, Photo: Sarah Cuttle habitats for overwintering wildlife in our gardens. crawl into seedheads or wedge themselves you’ve created them is imperative to their beneath bark for winter. A pile of leaf litter survival.

Shed Long and tufty grass Adult butterflies may sneak into your shed or Caterpillars and other insects outhouse to overwinter hunker down in the thatch. on the walls, where they Some caterpillars may emerge resemble leaves. Make on mild days to eat the grass, sure there’s a gap so they so try to leave it uncut until can leave in spring. mid-spring. Log pile Insects hide beneath the logs, while amphibians and small mammals, such as these wood mice, shelter in gaps. Fill them with autumn leaves to make them more snug. Bird feeders Birds need as many calories as Compost heap they can find during the short winter days to give them the A large, open heap will attract energy they need to survive insects including bumblebees each night. Provide energy-rich and amphibians, such as this suet products, peanuts and smooth newt. It may even lure sunflower hearts. You can even mammals such as hedgehogs. buy window-mounted feeders if Try to leave it undisturbed until you don’t have a garden. April.

Garden borders Lots of insects like to shelter Pond among fallen plant stems, Frogs (particularly males) particularly hollow stems. overwinter at the bottom Try not to cut back or tidy the of ponds so they can border until spring – leave it to Seedheads rot down naturally, instead. be the first to mate in Soil spring. Float a ball on Seedheads provide shelter A wide range of species the surface to stop it for ladybirds and other insects overwinter in the soil, from freezing over. in winter, and offer a natural source of food for birds, slow worms to moth pupae so leave them standing and bumblebees. Try to resist until spring. digging the soil until mid-spring when they’ll be awake.

26 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 27 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust UK NEWS DISCOVER URBAN WILDNESS

orldwide, about 55% of people live in cities or towns, and that figure is set to rise to 66% by 2050. The UK is ahead of the curve: as invertebrates, which in turn feed bats and birds, Wfar back as 1950, urbanites accounted for 79% mice are food for foxes and owls. Where there is of the populace, and by 2030 it’ll be 92%. ivy, there is food for bees and cover for birds, even The urban landscape offers humans every in winter. Where there are sparrows there may be convenience – providing us with roosts and dens sparrowhawks. Where there are pigeons, peregrines GO WILD (though you might call it housing), optimal foraging can thrive – the pair that live in my home city of York opportunities (retail, if you must), efficient means of have bred among the ornate stone grotesques and getting about, of interacting socially, of rearing families. finials of the Minster, and their lethal raids provide They are an ideal human habitat in many ways, except an appropriately gothic spectacle over the often- perhaps for the loss of close contact with nature. unsuspecting heads of shoppers and tourists. This contact, we are beginning to recognise, is vital. Happily, it is surprisingly easy to encourage in the city wildlife into urban areas. In fact some species have Where there are It’s not only pigeons and people that live in been exploiting the opportunities of manmade concrete jungles. Nature writer Amy-Jane Beer environments for generations, and others are on the sparrows, there may be rise. Partly this is a result of increasing pressure on reveals the exciting variety of wildlife that not habitats in the wider countryside, but it’s also because sparrowhawks. Where only survives but thrives in the built-up habitats some towns and cities are making space for nature. there are pigeons, of our cities. Green oases peregrines can thrive Many British townscapes have a surprising amount of green space. Gardens, parks, recreation areas, business parks, university campuses and other Another cliff-nesting bird that has taken to institutional grounds can all offer excellent habitat manmade structures is the kittiwake – a dainty gull for everything from butterflies to bats, woodlice to with an eponymous ‘kitti-waaaayyk’ call. The colony wood mice, sparrows to swifts. Wild plants thrive too, that has made its home fully eight kilometres inland invited or otherwise – there is no reason for anyone to on Newcastle quayside has become a local cause grow up unfamiliar with daisies, dandelions, nettles, célèbre, despite the liberal splatter of guano that docks, and ivy or with trees such as planes, willows, accumulates on local landmarks such as the Tyne holly and limes. These all bring their own retinues of Bridge and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. invertebrates and birds, so that gardens, parks and Unlike larger gulls, kittiwakes are not scavengers. even scrub-covered vacant lots and back alleys No chips, kebabs or cigarette butts for them. The often literally thrum with life. Newcastle birds still hunt far out to sea, spending 10 You’d be mistaken for thinking urban wildlife hours or more away from their young and returning was mostly small. Our largest terrestrial mammal, to their artificial cliff ledges with crops full of sandeels. the red deer, lives wild a stone’s throw from central A webcam installed by attracts London. A November morning in Richmond thousands of viewers, who follow the annual drama Park can feel primordial, with rutting stags of nesting, rearing and fledging. bellowing and clashing antlers, while locals jog and commuters hurry past wearing headphones. Water brings life The first and most conspicuous species Water is a magnet and a corridor for a huge range of to reclaim urbanised habitats urban wildlife. Canals and ornamental ponds invite are often commensals – the solemn, stately presence of grey herons, which species that thrive best may even nest in plain sight if trees of adequate alongside humans, including rats, stature are available. None of our cities yet house mice, house sparrows and feral rival Amsterdam, which is home to more pigeons. These may not be universally than 800 herons, but there is potential. popular creatures, but a little bit of wildlife The electric blue and orange flicker of easily begets more. Just as ‘weeds’ bring kingfishers may seem like the stuff of leafy idylls, but improvements in water quality Red and fallow deer live in managed herds in Healthy populations of kingfishers in and fish populations mean these glittering some urban parks, but wild deer also roam urban areas such as central London, birds can now be seen flickering along our suburbs. We need green spaces in our Manchester, Aylesbury, Coventry, waterways in cities such as London and towns and cities to create a Nature Recovery Leeds and Preston show the Bristol. A similarly heartening story is Network that helps wildlife spread and thrive that of the otter. In the 1970s and 1980s, and connects people with nature. important role waterways have in greening our towns and cities. these sinuous aquatic carnivores

Red deer: Terry Whittaker/2020Vision, kingfisher: Laurent Geslin/Naturepl.com 28 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 29 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust DISCOVER URBAN WILDNESS

1 My favourite 10 great cities 2 urban spectacle for urban wildlife 4 Our experts from around the Wildlife 3 Trusts share their wildlife highlights Stag beetle 6 “Stag beetles are such an 5 exciting part of summer. 7 1 Inverness On the edge of the Moray Hearing their whirring, 8 9 10 clumsy flight over the garden or balcony Firth, ‘The City in the Highlands’ is great for on a warm evening is so atmospheric. wildlife. If you’re lucky you could even spot I always rush out to see their amazing a bottlenose dolphin. ‘antlers’. I’m lucky to live in south London, 2 Glasgow The city’s rivers hold wild and which is a hotspot for these otherwise watery wonders, from dippers and water declining giants, so I try to create as voles to otters! 7 Birmingham This city boasts more much habitat as possible for them.” 3 Belfast In the heart of the city, Bog miles of canal than Venice, which draw Rachel Dowse, Meadows reserve attracts abundant birds, dragonflies and damselflies right into the from warblers in spring to winter thrushes centre. in autumn. 8 Cardiff This metropolis is home to over 4 Newcastle A colony of kittiwakes has half of the UK’s bat species, including the swapped coastal cliffs for buildings and rare lesser horseshoe. bridge ledges. 9 Bristol One of the UK’s best cities for 5 Leicester From peregrines nesting on urban wildlife, the nearby Avon Gorge is Leicester Cathedral to urban foxes to little home to peregrine falcons and ravens. pockets of wild scattered around the city. 10 London England’s capital is full of 6 SheffieldA green corridor of parks and wildlife. Stag beetles roam the parks and Cheerful ragwort flowers attract reserves with woodlands, wetlands and gardens, deer patrol parklands and herons butterflies and other insects hedgerows carries wildlife through the city. stalk the Serpentine.

Ragwort “Ragwort is known by many names, including stinking As cities have cleaned were creatures of near mythic scarcity. Now populations are bucking the trend, thanks In need of a helping hand Waxwings are another winter spectacle willie, benweed and up their waterways, they can be seen in or close to the centres of largely to sympathetic homeowners. It’s not all good news. Some formerly sure to draw the wildlife paparazzi. These St Jameswort. It’s commonly grey herons have Edinburgh, Leeds, Exeter and Winchester. Gardens make superb hedgehog habitat abundant urban birds are in trouble. buff, immaculately coiffed rockstar birds viewed as a weed and a pest, but I love returned. Today, On a smaller scale, the popularity of lime provided they are accessible (a 13cm square The house sparrow, once considered too arrive from Scandinavia in numbers that it for the important role it plays in our the birds loiter in trees with the urban planners of yesteryear hole in a fence or wall is sufficient), and common to even be counted on bird surveys, vary from year to year, depending on the ecosystem, providing a home and food many London parks, means city streets and parks are among contain sufficient cover and invertebrate has declined massively as an urban bird, severity of winter and the availability of to at least 77 insect species, 30 of which watching passers-by the best places to spot one of our most food. Small slugs, beetles and grubs make nowhere more so than London, where a food, specifically berries. It’s worth planting eat only ragwort and nothing else!” for handouts, and spectacular insects. The adult lime hawk- up the bulk of the diet, and this further 98% crash in population in the 1990s led a rowan, cotoneaster or a hawthorn in Qasim McShane, The Wildlife Trust for form bustling breeding moth wears a version of the 1960s carpet I endears the ‘hedgepig’ to gardeners. to questions being asked in parliament. an urban garden, just for the chance of a Birmingham and the Black Country colonies in park trees. remember from my grandma’s house, while Foxes are particularly well suited to city You’ll still be lucky to see one in the capital, waxwing irruption alighting on your patch.

the pencil thick caterpillars are resplendent living. Adaptable and opportunistic, they but at least the decline has gone some They don’t usually stick around longer than in lime (naturally) green, with smart diagonal have taken to denning under sheds and way to rehabilitate the image of a species it takes to strip the fruit and toss them Brown hare stripes and a lurid blue ‘horn’ at the posterior. decking; sunning themselves on shed and regarded as too numerous in years gone by. down like peanuts, although fermented fruit “There’s wildlife we’re used garage roofs; making use of roads and rail Starlings have declined markedly too, sometimes reduces whole flocks to drunken to seeing in urban settings, Home for hedgehogs verges, canal paths, cycleways and footpaths but are still common enough that their lethargy. Either way, a sighting will give you such as foxes and squirrels – Perhaps the best loved of all urban to cover distances more efficiently; and cheery, irrepressible whistles and cover wildlife bragging rights for at least a year. and then there are some surprises. wildlife is a species that visits our homes foraging among bins and outside takeaways. versions of sirens, car alarms and text alerts One morning, I saw what I first thought without causing any inconvenience and Town foxes are often less nocturnal can still be heard on many city streets was a rabbit near my tram stop in often without apparent fear. Hedgehogs than rural ones, and less wary of people, in spring, while winter flocks boosted by Nottingham. A closer look revealed have undergone a catastrophic decline which gives them the impression of being birds from the continent put on displays of it to be a brown hare – a creature over recent decades, but some urban more abundant, though in truth they such grandeur they literally stop traffic. associated with wide open countryside only account for about 13% of the total fox Perhaps the best known urban – wandering unphased up the street!” Amy-Jane Beer The adult lime hawk-moth population. Nor are they any bigger, or any murmuration location in the UK Hattie Lavender, Nottinghamshire is a North Yorkshire- more or less healthy – rural foxes are just as is Brighton, where a mixed flock of Wildlife Trust wears a version of the based biologist and author likely to be afflicted by mange, but less likely around 40,000 gathers to roost on specialising in natural history 1960s carpet I remember to be photographed. Some foxes appear to the scaffold of the derelict West Pier, and conservation. She Small skipper on ragwort: Ross Hoddinott/2020Vision, transition between urban and rural habitats, often obliging photographers with a grey heron: Terry Whittaker/2020Vision, contributes to The Guardian lime hawk-moth: Roger Hatcliffe, author: Lyndon Smith from my grandma’s house taking advantage of each in different ways. performance against the setting sun. and BBC Wildlife magazine. 30 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 31 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Rutland Local Group Wild Walk Monday 20th January, 7.30pm Thursday 27th February, 10:00am – 12:30pm JANUARY Leicester Peregrine Project Industrial Heritage & Snowdrops at , w North West Local Group Jim Graham of the Leicestershire Peregrine Project will talk about this with Nathalie Cossa Wednesday 1st January, 1.00pm fantastic project. Join Conservation Officer Nathalie Cossa to learn about the industrial history New Years Day walk Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre of the reserve and see the snowdrop display. Meet at the Severn Trent Enjoy a refreshing walk to blow away the cobwebs and discover water birds Events and Friday 24th January – 9.30am – 12.30pm Water car park followed by a walk around this beautiful reserve looking for at Barrow upon Trent. Meet at St Wilfred’s Church, Church Lane, DE73 7HB Terry’s Friday Birdwatching Walks snowdrops. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre This is an excellent opportunity to see the wide Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th January – 9.45am – 4.00pm variety of wildfowl that visit Rutland Water in Oadby & Wigston Local Group Hedgelaying Weekend for Beginners the winter. Booking essential at rutlandwater.co.uk. Friday 28th February, 7.30pm Activities On this 2-day course you will have a brief introduction to this ancient art, £10pp (£5 Annual Permit Holder), includes parking Coastal Wildlife with David Goldsmith January 2020 – May 2020 learn what it involves, when to hedge-lay and how. You will lay your own and access for the day. section of hedge. The course is run by experienced hedge layer John Shone. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Booking essential at rutlandwater.org.uk. Humberstone Local Group Friday 28th February – 9.30am – 12.30pm We offer an amazing, interesting and varied Wednesday 29th January, 2.30pm Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Terry’s Friday Birdwatching Walks programme of events for all ages to get involved with, Group Annual General Meeting and light-hearted quiz See January for details. Volunteer Training Centre organised by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Wednesday 8th January, 11.00am – 12.00pm Oadby & Wigston Local Group and our Local Groups. Both members and Wildlife Book Club Friday 31st January, 7.30pm Badgers non-members are welcome at our guided walks, If you love reading and wildlife, the Trust’s Wildlife Book Club is for you! MARCH Get in touch with our Volunteer and Events Coordinator at A talk by Pam Mynott about our biggest land predator. Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Local Group events and meetings. Please note that [email protected] or call 01572 270 049 Free to join Tuesday 3rd March – 9.30am – 12.30pm this programme is liable to change or cancellation, for Charnwood Local Group Guided Walk with Jeff which the Trust can accept no liability. Wednesday 8th January, 7.30pm FEBRUARY See January for details. Tales from the Bush Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Charnwood Local Group Members of the Charnwood Group talk about some of their recent wildlife Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February – 9.45am – 4.00pm Wednesday 4th March, 11.00am – 12.00pm Indoor meetings are held at Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall. encounters in Southern Africa, Patagonia and India. Hedgelaying Weekend for Beginners Wildlife Book Club See January for details. Booking essential at rutlandwater.org.uk. Admission £2.50 for members, £3 non-members, refreshments Wild Walk See January for details. Thursday 9th January, 10.00am – 12.30pm Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre included. Contact Kate Moore on 01509 891 005, email Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Winter Wildfowl Walk at Cossington Meadows, w Tuesday 4th February – 9.30am – 12.30pm [email protected], or John Spencer on 0116 236 4279. Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March – 9.45am – 4.00pm with Chris Hill Guided Walk with Jeff Hedgelaying Weekend for Beginners Begin the year with a walk around our largest nature reserve in the Soar See January for details. Great Bowden Local Group See January for details, booking essential at rutlandwater.org.uk valley with Conservation Officer, Chris Hill. Discover what changes have Indoor meetings are held at the Village Hall, The Green, Great Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre occurred on the reserve over the last decade, whilst watching the winter Melton Local Group Bowden. Admission £2.50 for members, £3.50 non-members, Wednesday 5th February, 11.00am – 12.00pm wildfowl. Meet at the Syston Road entrance. Booking is essential, places are Monday 9th March, 7.30pm Wildlife Book Club refreshments included. Contact Bruce White on 01858 467 976. limited, £5 per person. Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact Richard Adams See January for details. Humberstone Local Group 0116 262 9968 Photographic wildlife presentation. Melton Local Group Indoor meetings are held at Netherhall Neighbourhood Centre, Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Charnwood Local Group Saturday 11th January – 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday 10th February, 7.30pm Armadale Drive, Leicester. Admission £2, refreshments included. Gianpiero Ferrari on WWW Falkland Wednesday 11th March, 7.30pm Winter Wildfowl Day with Terry Mitcham AGM followed by Contact Alison Gardner on 0116 241 3598. This is an excellent opportunity to see the wide variety of wildfowl that Charnwood Local Group Wildlife in Leicestershire and Rutland in 2040? visit Rutland Water in the winter. Booking essential at rutlandwater.co.uk. Wednesday 12th February, 7.30pm A talk by John Clarkson, the new Head of Conservation at Leicestershire Melton Mowbray Local Group £15pp (£10 Annual Permit Holder), includes parking and access for the day. Indoor meetings are held at United Reform Church, Chapel Street, Trees as habitat and living things and Rutland Wildlife Trust, on the possible composition of Leicestershire Charnwood Local Group A talk by Helen Exley, arborist with the University of Loughborough, and Rutland’s wildlife by the year 2040. Melton Mowbray. Contact Peter Dawson on 01664 852 119 Sunday 12th January who will show us how people can be good to trees and their wildlife. or email [email protected] A winter wildlife walk Leicestershire & Rutland Badger Group Leicestershire & Rutland Badger Group Thursday 12th March, 7.30pm North West Local Group Join us on a winter walk at a local reserve to see what wildlife we can find in Thursday 13th February, 7.30pm winter. Venue and time to be decided. Weather dependent. More details will Water Voles of Rutland Water Beavers – truly amazing animals! Indoor meetings are held at the Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton be advertised at our January meeting. Linda Biddle, Mammal Recorder for Rutland, will give an illustrated talk Pam Mynott, Secretary of the Badger Group, gives an illustrated talk on Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Admission £3. Contact David Maltby on detailing what has happened to the population of water voles since their Melton Local Group beavers and the difficulties they face. reintroduction at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in 2011. 01530 222 934 or Margaret Mabey on 01530 412 410. Monday 13th January, 7.30pm Wildlife Photography with Jack Perks Rutland Local Group Wild Walk Oadby & Wigston Local Group Monday 17th February, 7.30pm A photographic presentation by one of the UK’s leading underwater Saturday 14th March, 10:00am – 12:30pm Indoor meetings are held at Trinity Methodist Church, Oadby. photographers. River Management for Wildlife Mosses and Liverworts of Charnwood Lodge, w Admission £3, refreshments included. Contact Stuart Mucklejohn on Hugh Bunker from the Environment Agency will talk about river with Uta Hamzaoui Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre management for biodiversity. Discover the unexpected diversity and beauty of mosses & liverworts with 0116 281 0835 or email [email protected] Tuesday 14th January – 9.30am – 12.30pm Great Bowden Local Group Conservation Officer Uta Hamzaoui. Learn how to identify Atlantic Pawwort, Rutland Local Group Guided Walk with Jeff Ciliated Fringewort, Wood Bristle-moss and more in their special Charnwood Join local nature expert Jeff Davies for a leisurely walk on a nature reserve at Wednesday 19th February, 7.30pm Indoor meetings are held at the Trust’s Volunteer Training Centre, Forest habitats. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. Egleton to discover the many species of birds and other wildlife. All abilities Wildlife on Walls Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 off Oakham Road, Hambleton, LE15 8AD. Admission £2. welcome. Booking essential at rutlandwater.co.uk. £10pp (£5 Annual Permit Brian Eversham, CEO of BCN Wildlife Trust will reveal what fascinating Contact Becky Ward on 01572 345 069. Holder), includes parking and access for the day. wildlife can be found in walls. Rutland Local Group Monday 16th March, 7.30pm Leicestershire & Rutland Badger Group Great Bowden Local Group North West Local Group Wednesday 15th January, 7.30pm Friday 21st February, 7.30pm AGM followed by a talk about Beetle Recording in is affiliated to the Trust. Indoor meetings are held at the The Amazing Life of Birds I love bees Leicestershire and Rutland Claremont Street Methodist Church, Leicester, LE4 7QH. A return visit from Tony Clarke where he will amaze us with little known facts Kathy Wapples returns to bring us up-to-date with her considerable Graham Finch, of the Leicestershire Entomology Society, will talk about Admission £2, refreshments included. Contact Dr David Duckett on about the lives of birds. interest in bees, their life story and how she copes with all the problems beetles and beetle recording in Leicestershire and Rutland. they bring. 0116 259 7231. North West Local Group Great Bowden Local Group Leicestershire & Rutland Bat Group Friday 17th January, 7.30pm Humberstone Local Group Wednesday 18th March, 7.30pm The Dimminsdale Area Quarries and Coalmines Wednesday 26th February, 2.30pm Gardening for Wildlife is affiliated to the Trust and the Bat Conservation Trust. Several of Samuel Stuart traces the development of this former industrial area and The Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital From ‘over the border’ again, Stephen Ashpole, chairman of Desborough the Trust’s nature reserves have bat box schemes. Meetings are Baz Forgham will show us the current legacy in one of the Trust’s most A volunteer from the Hospital will tell us about the work they do for sick Local Group will tell us what to do to make our gardens a magnet for a wide open to non members, free admission, no need to book. interesting reserves. and injured birds and animals. range of wildlife.

32 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 33 Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

North West Local Group Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Friday 20th March, 7.30pm Friday 24th April – 9.30am – 12.30pm Pushing up the daisies – flora and fauna Terry’s Friday Birdwatching Walks of churchyards See January for details. Every parish has an acre of land where both people and wildlife can find sanctuary. Steve Woodward, keen naturalist and Humberstone Local Group photographer, has visited all of the churchyards in Leicestershire Wednesday 29th April, 2.30pm and Rutland to find out which plants and animals live in them. The Amazing Life of Birds Tony Clarke will amaze us with little known facts about the lives of birds, Humberstone Local Group using his best action pictures. A bird behaviour spectacular! Wednesday 25th March, 2.30pm Mongolia Wild Walk A talk by Andy Smith based on the 16-day expedition he went on in June Thursday 30th April, 8.15pm – 10.00pm w 2019. It covers the birdlife and mammals but also the spectacular landscape Bat Walk at Cossington Meadows, with Ben Devine of this wonderful country. Join Bat enthusiast and Trust Conservation Officer Ben Devine at Cossington Meadows and discover which bat species can be found in Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Friday 27th March – 9.30am – 12.30pm spring. Please come suitably prepared for a walk in the British countryside Terry’s Friday Birdwatching Walks and note that due to the nature of the activities dogs are not permitted. See January for details. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 Oadby & Wigston Local Group Friday 27th March, 7.30pm Photographing Wildlife Abroad Malcolm Hupman will talk about where he photographs wildlife abroad. MAY Wild Walk North West Local Group Thursday 5th May, 8.00pm – 10.00pm Friday 27th March, 7.30pm Barn Owl Walk at Sunset at Cossington Meadows, w Group meal at The Beeches, Burton Road Ashby with Chris Hill Enjoy a meal with your wildlife friends and hear the latest news. Join Conservation Officer Chris Hill at Cossington Meadows to discover the Barn Owls flight in the evening with option to finish for drinks at the Royal Oak pub. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. APRIL Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre Wednesday 1st April, 11.00am – 12.00pm Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Volunteer Training Centre RUTLAND WATER Sunday 15th March 10.00am – 12.00pm Wildlife Book Club Wednesday 6th May, 11.00am – 12.00pm WILDLIFE WATCH GROUP Woodcraft This group meet at the Anglian Water Launde Park Wood, nr Loddington See January for details. Wildlife Book Club See January for details. Birdwatching Centre, Egleton, Rutland Melton Local Group 10.00am - 12.00pm Saturday 18th April 9.00am – 11.00am Bird Song Walk Monday 6th April, 7.30pm Charnwood Local Group Unless otherwise stated. The Woodland Trust Wednesday 13th May, 7.30pm Cossington Meadows, nr Rothley Sunday 12th January With Ian Ritson. Farming for Wildlife – a 20-year perspective Coppicing WILD PLAY A talk by Julia Hawley from Hall Farm at Brentingby near Melton Mowbray. Please see Wild Times newsletter in March for Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Please see Wild Times newsletter in December Come and have a go at this traditional woodland Tuesday 7th April – 9.30am – 12.30pm Under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme the family have undertaken a management technique. more details Guided Walk with Jeff programme of work to improve the conservation value of the farm. and March for more details. Booking is essential! Wild Play sessions will run in the Easter Holidays Sunday 9th February and May half-term See January for details. Please book online from one month before. Wild Walk Slime Time! Charnwood Local Group Thursday 14th May w ATTENBOROUGH ARBORETUM Discover how slimy slugs & snails help in the Wednesday 8th April, 7.30pm Spring Walk at Loughborough Big Meadow, WILDLIFE WATCH GROUP garden then have a go at making your own slime! A wild thank you from LRWT A Wildlife Quiz for Everyone with Chris Hill This group meet at Attenborough Arboretum, Sunday 8th March Thanks to players of People’s Postcode The ever-popular wildlife quiz is back and this year it features new Join Conservation Officer Chris Hill at Loughborough Big Meadow to Knighton, Leicester 10.30am - 12.30pm quizmasters. This will be an entertaining evening with questions for everyone discover and identify the wild flowers and species. Booking is essential, Lord of the Stings! Lottery, we can deliver an outstanding range of Unless otherwise stated. Nettles, wasps, jellyfish and ants; why and how do whether you are a wildlife expert or just love natural history. Come along places are limited, £5 per person. Please book online at activities for children and young people in the they sting? and enjoy a fun social evening. Either organise your team beforehand or join lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 Saturday 11th January city. Wild Forest School provides fun, engaging others in a team on the night. Bring your own drinks and nibbles to help the Looking after your garden birds Sunday 5th April opportunities for children in Leicester - some Rutland Local Group evening along. Building a wooden nest box and make a garden Pond Dipping of whom have never had the chance to explore Wednesday 20th May, 8.00pm Grab a net and investigate the underwater world the outdoors – to experience the natural world Leicestershire & Rutland Badger Group feeder Nightingale Walk at Rutland Water of a pond. and discover nature through a range of wild Thursday 9th April, 7.30pm Andy Neilson will lead a Nightingale walk at Rutland Water, starting Saturday 8th February activities. Badger Crime Awareness Sunday 3rd May NB venue change from the Volunteer Training Centre. There will be a charge of £5 for Who’s awake this winter? Craig Fellowes, retired Police Wildlife Crime Officer and current Wildlife Osprey Watch Since 2015, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife those that don’t have annual permits for the reserve, and the event is Discover what weasels, stoats and pine martens Crime Officer for the Badger Trust, will talk about how to identify and deal for members only. A special session with Our Osprey Education Trust has worked with nearly 1,500 children with crimes against badgers and their setts. get up to when others are asleep Team. Learn all about ospreys at the fantastic in Leicester thanks to Wild Forest School. Humberstone Local Group new classroom hide at Lyndon Visitor Centre and North West Local Group Saturday 7th March With the help of players of People’s Postcode Wednesday 27th May, 2.30pm spend time at the Osprey nest in the Bay. There is Lottery, we have been able to provide children Friday 17th April, 7.30pm The Galapagos Islands Campfire Cooking a £2 charge per child. Leicester Peregrine Project from ages 2 to 16 with the opportunity to A trip with Val Williams around these fascinating islands with their iguanas Learn to start a fire, keep it going and cook some Jim Graham of the Leicestershire Peregrine Project will talk about this tasty treats WILDLIFE WATCH FAMILY EVENTS learn about and experience nature in ways that fantastic project. and giant tortoises. These are special Wildlife Watch Family Member simply weren’t possible before. Wild Walk Saturday 4th April only events. Come and explore our wonderful We have worked with 39 groups of primary Wild Walk nature reserves and other wild places in the two Friday 24th April, 9.00am – 11.00am Wednesday 29th May, 9.00am – 11.30am How do birds and animals do it? school children. Teachers say that Forest w Birdwatching for Beginners w Build a bird’s nest and a shelter to keep yourself counties with our knowledgeable staff or local Birdsong for Beginners at Narborough Bog, wildlife experts. See Wild Times Winter or Spring School helps with regulating emotions, at Ulverscroft Nature Reserve warm and dry with Andy Neilson for Booking Passwords. communication, listening and physical Join Reserves Officer Andy Neilson to learn the basics about identifying birds Join Reserves Officer Andy Neilson for a walk around Ulverscroft, looking Saturday 9th May skills; boosting confidence, becoming more by song in Narborough Bog, particularly focusing on migrant warblers. at the resident bird species and learning the basics of identification. Tuesday 18th February 10.00am – 12.00pm independent and building friendships. Meet at the reserve entrance next to the allotments. All levels of experience Meet at the reserve entrance at Fox Covert, all levels of experience are A Taste of the Wild Snowdrop Walk Find out about plants, flowers and foraging, and are welcome. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. welcome. Booking is essential, places are limited, £5 per person. Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, lrwt.org.uk/learn-discover Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 Please book online at lrwt.org.uk/events or contact 0116 262 9968 find some of nature’s tasty treats nr Ashby-de-la-Zouch

34 Wild Winter/Spring 2020 Winter/Spring 2020 Wild 35 Help us grow with Corporate Membership Make your business stand out from the crowd by pledging your support to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. It’s good for wildlife and good for business! We appreciate the support of businesses of all sizes and sectors, who all recognise the importance of protecting our two county’s natural environment. Let’s work together in partnership to protect our wildlife. To find out more about our Corporate Membership options please contact Harriet Hickin: E: [email protected] T: 0116 248 7358 W: lrwt.org.uk

Girl in bluebells © Tom Marshall