Darwen Kids To Get Inspired By Local Nature

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust are running a series of free wildlife fun sessions for young parents at children's centres in Darwen, designed to get kids excited about local nature.

They start on 9th February at Earcroft Children Centre and 11th February at Lord Street Children's Centre, and are supported by Darwen and Rural Neighbourhood Board. The children will be making bird feeders and nest boxes, as well as venturing out into Sunnyhurst Woods for nature walks. For more information, contact Earcroft on 01254 870900 or Lord Street on 01254 778900

Volunteering days are run regularly on nature reserves in Blackburn and Darwen. They are run twice a month on a Wednesday in Ewood and Lower Darwen or weekly at Pleasington Old Hall Wood and Wildlife Garden.

The fun and friendly volunteer groups are given full training and support - as well as tea and biscuits - and take part in wildlife surveys as well as helping to transform the reserves they work on.

The idyllic reserve at Pleasington, in particular, has benefitted enormously from the efforts of the volunteer groups, helped by the addition of a wildflower garden donated by Tatton Park as well as involvement from Circle Of Friends, Galloway's Society For The Blind, Connexions, Youth Action and Almond Villas.

The Trust is grateful for the continuing support it receives from Blackburn with Darwen Council, who sponsored the Most Inspirational award at last year's Volunteer Awards, which was won by volunteer reserve manager and Watch Group leader Dave Beattie.

For more information on these and many more volunteering opportunities, please contact Alex, Volunteering Support Officer on 01772 324129.

Trust Launches Forever Meadows

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Forever Meadows project has issued a call out to ask land occupiers in Chorley, West Lancashire, Knowsley and St Helens to get it touch if they are interested in managing or creating wildflower meadows.

Project Officer Gemma Worswick said: "Wildflower meadows are one of our most attractive and scarce wildlife habitats. It is so important to conserve them as many of the species which rely on this habitat provide vital services for agriculture, including crop pollination by bumblebees and natural pest control by spiders."

Since the 1930s, changing agricultural practices have lead to the massive loss of more than 97% of our wildflower meadows. Associated with this loss is the decline of bumblebee, butterfly and wildflower species.

The Forever Meadows project - funded by SITA Trust, Lancashire County Council and St Helens Borough Council - will aim to help land occupiers in Chorley, West Lancashire, St Helens and Knowsley to maintain or restore wildflower rich grassland sites.

The Forever Meadows project will be running until 2012 and can provide surveys, management advice, and management support in the form of practical volunteer groups and small grants for buying equipment and completing works such as fencing and scrub removal.

Contact Gemma on 01704821809 or 07725432418 or by e-mailing gworswick@lancswt.org.uk.

Photos by Stephen Jolly

Trailblazers Gear Up For Project 2010

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust are gaining the support of local young people with a new project at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve in Rufford.

The SITA-funded project – called Project 2010 – being run by the Trailblazers team will be creating a new dual pond-dipping area that aims to help bring the local community closer together.

The pond-dipping area will allow local schools to leave the classrooms and get outside for hands-on learning, while visitors to the centre will also be able to learn in this new educational habitat.

Project 2010 will not only benefit the local community but also the local wildlife, helping to create a wider diversity of species.

When asked about the project, Trailblazer Dene Marland explained: “We are hoping this project will develop the relationships between younger and older generations within the community, whilst allowing our volunteers to gain valuable skills and experience that will aid them in their future life.”

Anyone can volunteer, but the Trust are especially looking for 16-25 year olds. You can join up by contacting the Trailblazers team via trailblazers@lancswt.org.uk or 01772 751138.

BEAT Team Hit The Ground Running

Since the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Bolton Environmental Action Team (BEAT) project began in October 2009, the response from schools has been very encouraging. Ten schools are already on board with BEAT and the first sessions have taken place in Rivington and Blackrod High School.

The students there have decided that they would like to improve an area of their courtyard garden and turn it in to a mini-rainforest. Also at Rivington and Blackrod, there may turn out to be two separate groups with the year 7s alone, and the enthusiasm to take part in after school activities is a real credit to the young people of Bolton.

The Trust are looking forward to meeting the young people in the remaining schools which have joined the FREE project with BEAT, and by spring time, they hope that they will have achieved great things with the young people and made a positive impact on local green spaces.

If you would like your school to get involved or would like one of the groups to improve a local green space near you, then contact the BEAT team on 01204 663754 or mprocter@lancswt.org.uk

Give Seas A Chance!

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has launched Living Seas, its vision for the UK’s marine environment – where wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows; where rocky reefs are bursting with brightly coloured fish, corals and sponges, and dolphins and seals dart among the waves – at an event in the House of Commons.

The launch follows the passing, in November, of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA), for which The Wildlife Trusts campaigned for nearly a decade. The challenge for the next five years is to ensure the Act is effectively implemented – that urgent action is taken to turn the UK’s over-fished, over-exploited, and currently under-protected waters back into a thriving marine environment. The Wildlife Trusts have a clear vision for how this should happen, and a plan for achieving it within 20 years, a single generation.

The Wildlife Trusts are achieving great things across the UK, working at the local level to understand, protect and raise awareness of our marine wildlife and habitats, from seagrass meadows to dolphins and seals. The North West England Trusts are working together to highlight and protect the fabulous diversity of life in the Irish Sea, from sea mice to basking sharks and will host an array of events to celebrate the Irish Sea during Marine Week (31st July – 16th August). We are working to ensure that the unique habitats and species of the Irish Sea get the protection they deserve during the implementation of the ground-breaking Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

In a few places in the UK, there are even possible signs of our seas recovering, for example, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has recorded an increase in seal numbers at Donna Nook each year since 2007, and there are early signs of recovery in the fragile ecosystem of the Lyme Bay reefs, where The Wildlife Trusts’ campaign achieved a ban on scallop-dredging in 2008.

Professor Aubrey Manning, BBC television presenter and president of The Wildlife Trusts, launched the Living Seas vision. He said: “The Living Seas vision is very direct in its aims. It sets out a clear plan of how we, The Wildlife Trusts, and our partners and supporters, can help achieve them. The opportunities that the Marine and Coastal Access Act has opened up need to be seized on immediately. We can no longer continue to treat the oceans as limitless. In particular, we need an effective and well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.

“We may not get another opportunity to make Living Seas a reality. The future of our oceans hangs in the balance, and we want to tip it in the right direction for wildlife, and for the people – all of us – who depend upon it.”

Anne Selby, Chief Executive of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: “The Living Seas vision is crucial for an area with as much coastline as our Trust covers. The Irish Sea has a rich diversity of marine life that needs to be protected, and we must continue to build on last year’s success with the Marine and Coastal Access Act. These are exciting times, but only if we make the most of the opportunities we have, and this vision is a big step towards that.”

Images show Anne Selby with Marine Advocacy Officer Dr Kathryn Turner and (left to right) Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon; Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle; Eccles MP Ian Stewart; Rochdale MP Paul Rowen; and Southport MP John Pugh.

Looking After Our Wildlife In Winter

Whilst we are held to ransom by a serious cold snap, wildlife may also be struggling to cope with the snow and ice. Our wildlife is amazingly hardy and adaptable and can put up with a pounding from the weather. But prolonged periods of cold, continuing for weeks or months at a time, or severe and sudden changes in the weather, can cause it major problems.

Grazing animals, whether domestic sheep or wild hares, may not be able to get to the plants to feed because of snow and ice. And the frozen ground prevents rabbits and hares from nibbling grass, making these plant-lovers stay at home, so predators like stoats and owls find it harder to spot and catch them.

There is also less food around in hedgerows and woodlands for foragers - leaves have gone, plants withered or covered with snow, hedges stripped of berries, and insects dead from the cold or stuck in frozen soil or ponds.

Not many of our mammals actually hibernate for long periods during winter, they simply prefer to sleep when it gets cold, occasionally emerging to see what food might be available. But when severe weather hits, it's much harder for mammals like badgers, hares, stoats and foxes to graze, forage or hunt for food: already we're seeing foxes being more bold and more active in broad daylight. It can cause problems for some insects too.

Those which are active in the winter, such as winter-gnats and minotaur beetles, can cope with periods of cold weather, but deep snow may prevent them feeding for weeks at a time.

Perhaps surprisingly, insects and other animals which hibernate usually do better in cold winters: they use less energy while hibernating, and are less likely to be disturbed and come out to look for food which isn't there. So, butterflies like the brimstone, peacock and comma, which hibernate as adults, and indeed, the other resident butterflies which spend the winter as eggs, caterpillars or crysalids, could benefit from this cold winter.

Likewise the mammals which do go into real hibernation, the dormouse and the bats, may appreciate the cold. Perhaps the most difficult circumstance for most wildlife is bouts of severe cold and snow, interspersed with warmer-than-normal conditions, which wake them up, only for the next cold spell to drive them back (or, in the case of plants, harsh frost might even damage the premature tender shoots).

If you'd like to help our wildlife cope this winter and in future winters, try the following steps:

- Put out nuts, seeds, fat and water for garden birds.
- Grow patches of tall grass in your garden to shelter butterflies.
- Don't cut back your herbabeous plants till the spring, so their hollow stems can provide snug hibernation sites for ladybirds and other beneficial insects.
- Provide insect homes for over-wintering lacewings and other invertebrates.
- Buy or make a hedgehog home for hibernating hogs.
- Grow climbers like ivy to provide shelter for birds and insects.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Mark Champion went on Channel M to talk about the plight of birds in the recent cold snap, here he is:

Visit www.wildaboutgardens.org to find out more about gardening for wildlife

Images by Darin Smith

Work Begins At Brockholes - VIDEO

Work is now underway on the landmark floating visitor centre at Brockholes, off Junction 31 of the M6. The designs by Adam Khan, chosen through a RIBA competition, are set to provide Lancashire with a new landmark that will attract visitors from all over the UK. Find out more about the ambitious project by watching the video below...

Wannabe Steven Spielbergs will get their chance for a moment in the movie spotlight in 2010 with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust's first-ever environmental film awards.

Created by the Trust's Trailblazers project (funded by The Tellus Mater Foundation, which benefits 16-25 year olds within schools and community groups), the Lancashire Wildlife Trust Short Film Awards are looking for the region's untapped movie-making talent.

The film awards are designed to get 16-25 year olds out into the environment and filming subjects of their choice with an environmental theme. From documentary-style productions to creative short films, young people can let their imagination flow! They needn't worry about having top quality equipment either, everyone has to start somewhere!

Award Categories include:

Best Film
The Best Green Theme
Best Director
Best Editing
Best Graphics
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Documentary
Best Fiction
Most Experimental

The prizes are yet to be confirmed, but the winners will get their own Oscar-style awards ceremony next year, when their films will be screened. The closing date for entries is 7th March 2010. For more information on how to enter, click here.

Work Begins At Brockholes Site

Work is due to begin this week on the landmark floating visitor centre at Brockholes, off Junction 31 of the M6. The designs by Adam Khan, chosen through a RIBA competition, are set to provide Lancashire with a new landmark that will attract visitors from all over the UK.

The building has been designed to be carbon neutral, both in construction and operation, and, by floating on the main lake at the reserve, will provide visitors with a "close to nature" feeling unrivalled in the country.

The building is also aspiring to earn an 'Outstanding' BREEAM Award (the environmental assessment for buildings around the world), which would make Brockholes the only site in the UK to achieve this status.

Brockholes is being created by a partnership of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Forestry Commission, as part of the Newlands land regeneration programme.

The funders will be investing around £8.8million into Brockholes, to transform the site into a major new wetland and woodland visitor attraction, with a wealth of habitats extending over 106ha (including lakes, reed beds, flower-rich grassland and a connection to 66ha of adjacent semi-natural ancient woodland), while the floating visitor centre will provide a fantastic self-financing regional environmental showcase.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, who own the site, are now working with the Forestry Commission to realise these ambitious plans.

Anne Selby, Chief Executive of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: "The start of work at Brockholes is a momentous occasion for us and for the region as a whole, and it comes at an appropriate time, almost exactly three years on from our purchase of the site. We have worked hard since then to get to this stage and look forward to continuing towards our goal, which is a natural adventure that brings wildlife to everyone and can inspire, educate and entertain all at the same time."

Adam Khan, the architect who developed the iconic designs, said: "We are really excited - the client has been incredibly supportive of a fairly radical concept, and the design has got stronger as it has developed into a fully worked out proposal. We based our design on visitor experience and some very practical aspects - flooding etc. It's nice that many of the design moves turn out to be extremely practical and poetic at the same time."

Richard Tracey, Head of Environmental Quality at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: "Brockholes is an important site for the region and a flagship for the Newlands programme. It is a prime example of how the natural environment can be harnessed to create economic activity. Not only will Brockholes enhance the positive perception for the area, it will also provide a distinctive visitor attraction creating new jobs on the site, offering a well managed green space for local people that will influence future investment for the area."

Keith Jones, Northwest Regional Director for the Forestry Commission, said: "We look forward to seeing this innovative project (which is a regional and national exemplar) emerge over the next few months. We will continue to work closely with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and NWDA to ensure that the development of the whole site continues at the same pace. Brockholes will become an exciting new wetland and woodland nature reserve and visitor centre that everyone can enjoy; a showcase for the very best that Lancashire and the North West has to offer."

Andy Rowett, Fund Manager, Lancashire Environmental Fund, said: "The Lancashire Environmental Fund held a £1m challenge in 2007 to find one environmental and one community project within the county, each project receiving half a million pounds. Brockholes was an outright winner and the half a million pounds is funding the Education Centre within the floating visitors centre and the major bird and badger hides on the reserve. The Fund is also making a film about this exciting project over the two years of its development."

Sefton Red Squirrels Bounce Back

Finally there is good news for Merseyside’s red squirrels!

The once thriving local population recently suffered a drastic decline due to a squirrel pox outbreak. This devastating disease is carried by grey squirrels and is lethal to reds. The epidemic began in the urban area of Ainsdale in mid-2006 and quickly spread to the Ainsdale National Nature Reserve, where it wiped out the entire red squirrel population.

Over the next year it made its way steadily southwards and by 2008 had infected all of the Formby pinewoods, killing many hundreds of red squirrels.

Monitoring carried out by Red Alert volunteers and co-ordinated by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust showed that the red squirrel population had fallen to 20% of its normal size by October 2008. Fortunately, however, the disease had burned itself out by December of that year, leaving red squirrels in Hightown and Blundellsands unaffected.

The hard winter of 2008/09 took a further toll and by March numbers were down to 15% of normal but results just in from the October survey indicate that red squirrels have had a very productive breeding season this year, producing a threefold increase in their population numbers.

Fiona Whitfield, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Conservation Officer said: "This staggering recovery is testament to the hard work and enthusiasm that the Red Alert partners, volunteers and staff have put in, it is vital that we continue to commit to the recovery of the red squirrel in this area."

The battle to save Sefton's red squirrels is far from over. Luckily, a very localised outbreak of squirrel pox in Blundellsands this October failed to spread but it remains of the utmost importance to keep invading grey squirrels away from our reds. People are urged to report all sightings of both grey and red squirrels in the Sefton area to the Wildlife Trust on 07590 745862.

This week the Wildlife Trust ran a 'Double Your Donation' campaign to help raise funds for local red squirrel conservation through the 'Big Give' website, which saw all donations doubled and will help give our reds an even better chance of survival.

Joshua Perry of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust said: "We are delighted to be able to help to fund this enormously valuable work through our contribution to the Big Give. We now hope that people will donate to the campaign to ensure that Red Squirrels are given the help they need to recover."

Royle Family Star Says 'Save Our Reds!'

Actor Geoffrey Hughes may be best known for portraying lovable slobs in TV sitcoms, but his message this week is that we need to act now to save one of our region's most beloved and endangered species.

Liverpool-born star Hughes, best known as Onslow from Keeping Up Appearances and Twiggy from The Royle Family, has given his support to Save Our Reds, an appeal being run by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, aimed at saving the red squirrel population on the Sefton Coast.

An outbreak of squirrel pox last year decimated numbers in the area, leaving just around 100 red squirrels and making it imperative that we work hard to protect them, and now is the perfect time to help, because any donations made this week via The Big Give website will be doubled.

Hughes said: "We're very lucky where I live now, on the Isle Of Wight, as there are no greys here to spread the pox, so we have a good population of reds, but I know back in the North West, things are very different.

"I was shocked when I heard about the massive losses at places like Formby in the last couple of years, and we all have a responsibility to stop the inexorable spread of these greys. It's not just the pox that they carry, they are a pest in so many other ways, while red squirrels are a part of our heritage and are so important to the region because they are so rare.

"So I would urge everyone who cares about reds to give to this appeal, because it would be a tragedy if we lost these beautiful creatures. The fact that your donation can be doubled is fantastic, and that will help make a big difference."

For years now, The Trust has worked in partnership with many organisations to drive the fight for red squirrels. The task is not an easy one, the most recent outbreak of squirrel pox wiped out a huge proportion of the reds population on the Sefton Coast, leaving just around 100 remaining. We want to increase the population from 100 to 1500 within the next ten years, there is still hope for the red squirrel population, but we need to act NOW!

How Are We Fighting Back?

By creating a large buffer zone around our refuge area to increase the protection zone for the red squirrel population and increase their chance of survival.

The best chance of survival for our red squirrel population is to keep the buffer zones clear of grey squirrels. It's not only squirrel pox that gives the grey squirrels a competitive edge; Grey squirrels are much larger and stronger than their red counterparts.

Only occasional sightings of red squirrels are being reported in some areas but anecdotal evidence suggests a growing population in residential areas of Blundellsands and Crosby.

We need your support to continue our work programme and make sure that our children have a chance to see these characters for themselves.

To make a donation to the red squirrel appeal, visit thebiggive.org.uk/saveourreds.

Decisive, Deliberate And Dynamic Action Needed At Copenhagen

The Wildlife Trusts will send a direct message to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to deliver a positive and far-reaching agreement at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December. The message, in the form of a large postcard signed by all 47 Wildlife Trusts, will be delivered by a representative of the leading conservation organisation.

The postcard reads:

Please secure a positive and far-reaching climate change agreement in Copenhagen – we, and our wildlife, depend upon it. Our 47 Wildlife Trusts around the UK, have a combined membership of nearly 800,000. We all care deeply about the future of our natural environment, on land and at sea, especially in a changing climate. The impact of climate change on people and the natural environment – upon which we all depend – is predicted to be dramatic. We need to take a positive step towards a legal agreement to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% by 2020. The Conference must recognise the role of natural ecosystems, such as forests and peatlands, in storing carbon. This is vital for us all.

"We are putting far too much pressure on our planet which is already having devastating impacts on both people and the natural world that we depend on," said Anne Selby, chief executive of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. "We know this is a global problem, but the UK Government is in a position to take a lead on this, and to show other nations what can be achieved.

"We would urge the Government to commit to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. Decisive, deliberate, and dynamic action needs to be taken on this, before it’s too late for wildlife and for people."

The Wildlife Trusts across the UK are raising awareness of the threat climate change poses to people and the natural environment, and working to help protect wildlife from the impacts of climate change.

People can sometimes feel helpless in the face of such a huge challenge, but The Wildlife Trusts believe that by empowering communities and inspiring people to take action locally for their natural environment, they can help contribute to the global cause.

Marine Conservation Finally 'Ditches Water-Wings'

The Wildlife Trusts today welcome a 'coming of age' for UK marine protection - as Natural England starts consultation on an ambitious new suite of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The consultation launched today (27/11/09) covers 10 new sites, to be conserved under European law, in English and Welsh waters, including 'Shell Flat and Lune Deep' in Morecambe Bay as well as 'Poole Bay to Lyme Bay Reefs'and the 'Outer Thames Estuary'. Plans are also progressing for an additional three sites – including 'Dogger Bank' – which lie further offshore.

The Wildlife Trusts enthusiastically support the positioning of all the proposed MPA sites and congratulate the Government's nature conservation agencies, including the Countryside Council for Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, on the ambitious but much-needed proposals.

Under European Directives, the UK Government designates Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for selected habitats and species, both on land and at sea. Although the UK's existing SPAs and SACs include 149 sites with marine components, they typically extend only a few hundred metres from the shore. In order to satisfy the European Directives, this new suite of truly marine sites is needed.

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts' head of Living Seas, said: "This is an important moment. Until now, the UK's Marine Protected Areas have clung to the coast like a non-swimmer clings to the side of the pool. Now the agencies have finally ditched their water-wings and offered protection where it's needed.

"These new MPAs represent some of the finest examples in Europe of undersea reefs and sandbanks, as well as areas that are internationally important, due to the huge numbers of marine birds that gather there.

"The Wildlife Trusts are looking forward to working with the conservation agencies to secure designation of the new sites and ensure that the necessary protective measures are put in place.

"These sites will form an important part of the ecological network of MPAs the UK has committed to establish by 2012. In addition to the UK's new and existing European MPAs, the network will include many nationally important sites, known as Marine Conservation Zones, which will be created under the new Marine and Coastal Access Act."

Click here for more information on Marine Protected Areas

Volunteers Get Stuck In At Pleasington

It has been a busy year at Pleasington Old Hall Wood and Wildlife Garden. Volunteers from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust have been engaged in renovation work on the reserve, cutting back encroaching vegetation from around the pond and the paths, and successfully clearing the entire reserve of invasive species to encourage woodland flora.

Pleasington comprises 15 hectares and the whole site has been balsam-bashed, removing a plant that spreads quickly at the expense of native species, while the rhodendron on the site has also been cut back.

A visit to Tatton Park resulted in the donation of a wildflower garden, which the volunteers have used to increase the biodiversity of the meadows within the walled garden.

A major theme at Pleasington has been access; we have been proactively inviting groups who would not normally volunteer for conservation work due to disability or social exclusion.

We've had long term involvement with Galloway's Society For The Blind and Almond Villa's mental rehabilitation group, who have contributed many hours of time to conservation, while there have also been visits from Connexions and Youth Action, bringing in young people who had not considered conservation as something they could do.

There is still a lot of work to be done next year, as rhodendron has vigorous re-growth and Himalayan balsam seeds spread very easily.

For now the volunteers can concentrate on introducing some new features to the site, including additional seating and the creation of a sensory garden. Over the winter months, the Trust plans to do some tree thinning and introduce new saplings of oak and holly.

One of the best features of the group at Pleasington Old Hall Wood and Wildlife Garden is the diverse background of the volunteers who attend and the fact that everyone works together so well, thanks to a mutual respect for each other, a caring and supportive atmosphere and a shared interest in improving the environment for the benefit of all.

We welcome new volunteers who want to join the group; any time you can contribute to conservation would be greatly appreciated. You don't need any experience to try the activities we run, all training and equipment is provided. Free brews and biscuits are available throughout the day to keep people going!

If you would like to find out more you can contact our volunteer team on: 01772 324129 or email at volunteer@lancswt.org.uk

Nature Needs To Be At The Heart Of Flood Prevention

After the recent floods in the North West and the announcement of the Floods and Water Management Bill in the Queen's Speech, the Wildlife Trusts are urging Government to allocate sufficient resources and work with nature in its flood prevention and control policies. Flood defence walls continue to be a vital way of protecting homes and farmland.

But, if the UK is to address the future effects of climate change, natural solutions to flood management must play a significant role. Creating wetlands and using sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) reduce the risk of flooding by enabling land to hold back water at peak flood times and storing excess water. New approaches to flood management are needed.

The Wildlife Trusts' report, Nature's Place For Water, examines how working with nature provides sustainable solutions to flood management, reflecting on 2007's summer floods. Working with nature - rather than against it - can bring benefits such as improved water quality for people and a more varied range of wildlife species. Reedbeds act as water filters. They improve water quality and provide the perfect habitat for species such as dragonflies, bittern and avocet. It also makes economic sense – using catchment-wide storage in conjunction with hard defences could save £30 billion by 2080.

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Government must allocate sufficient resources to deliver natural solutions. The Wildlife Trusts are already restoring our damaged landscape and this involves protecting ourselves from future flooding. Wetlands are valuable for wildlife but they have added value too. They store floodwater, provide recreation and tourism opportunities, improve water quality and can act as the focus of raising awareness of flooding issues in local communities."

Here in Lancashire, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve is a flood storage area just a mile from Wigan, which is also home to hundreds of species - including the nationally-rare bittern and 24 species of dragonflies. The special design of the reserve means during the floods, wildlife was able to take refuge from the floodwaters. Mossland areas in our region are also very important when it comes to preventing floods, as the peat contained within them stores up the rainwater, however there are very few intact and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust is working hard to save them from being lost.

Stephanie added: "What we need to do is put this approach into action on a much wider scale, bigger than has been done before. We need to work in partnership in local communities. We need to plan flood management schemes to make the most of local knowledge and, at the same time, raise awareness about the benefits of natural flood management projects."

Nature's Place For Water showcases working examples of how The Wildlife Trusts are working in partnership with landowners to restore the landscape and slow down water in the uplands; recreate wetland areas and reconnect rivers with natural floodplains in lowland areas to help store flood water. Trusts are working in urban areas to create more green spaces which also absorb flood water. Better management of natural processes will also provide vital habitat for some of the UK's most threatened species, as well as providing wildlife-rich open spaces for communities to enjoy.

Download the report here: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/files/uploaded/Flooding%20web.pdf

Marine And Coastal Access Act - At Last!

The Wildlife Trust For Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is delighted that the Marine and Coastal Access Bill has achieved royal assent and will be passed into law.

The Marine and Coastal Access Act is a great watershed moment in UK marine conservation history. It will provide the legislative framework to protect the wealth of fabulous marine wildlife in the Lancashire and Merseyside Irish Sea through the designation of Marine Conservation Zones.

Through the implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Act we hope to achieve our vision for Living Seas for Cumbria – in which wildlife thrives from the depths of the oceans to the coastal shallows – for the Irish Sea, this will include our native species such as the cuttlefish, sea heart urchin and sea mouse and the highly productive Irish Sea habitats that provide the food and shelter for our marine locals.

The Wildlife Trusts have campaigned hard for this legislation over the last decade. This is, however, when the job begins. We look forward to the work ahead, building partnerships to bring marine conservation zones and their management for our local wildlife to fruition.

Dr Kathryn Turner the North West Wildlife Trusts Irish Sea Advocacy officer is delighted: "This is really excellent news for for our local wildlife, from the blue prawns of Heysham to the sea squirts of the Albert Dock, we believe that if opportunities are seized and radical changes are made that our vision for Living Seas in Lancashire and North Merseyside can be achieved in the next 20 years. We have some really fabulous marine habitats and this is a great step forward in ensuring a vibrant future for them."

What you can do to help marine wildlife:

Out on the beach - Take some time out and discover your local marine life. Why not take a trip to your local coastline and discover what's around you. Go for a walk, run a net in sea water to see what you catch, attend a Wildlife Trust sea life event. Discover what's out there and why it's important, discover its value to you. Alternatively, enjoy your local marine life from the comfort of your own home. Why not watch a documentary or read a book, make some cuttlefish puppets or paint a seascape. Tell us what beasties you have found, write us a blog.

At home - Making changes to your everyday lifestyle can reduce your personal impact on our environment. Use environmentally friendly reusable bags to stop seals and turtles eating stray plastic ones thinking that they are jellyfish avoid putting toxic chemicals into the drains. Reduce, reuse and recycle your rubbish and watch what you flush. Every year hundreds of thousands of used cotton buds and wet wipes end up on our beaches after being flushed down the toilet, did you know that wet wipes - unlike loo roll - aren't biodegradable?

Dinner – Try where possible to avoid eating fish that were caught in trawling or dredging activities and plump instead for things that say line caught,organically farmed, sustainably fished and do not be afraid to ask when you are choosing what to buy.

To find out more about the Wildlife Trusts' Marine conservation work visit our Living Seas and Save Our Seas websites.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=environment:marine

http://www.wild-net.org/saveourseas/

To keep up to date on volunteering in the Irish Sea find us on facebook – Wildlife Trust Irish Sea Volunteers http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Wildlife-Trust-Irish-Sea-Volunteers/110049497786?ref=nf

Introducing... BEAT

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is pleased to announce the commencement of the latest environmental education project, BEAT (Bolton Environmental Action Team).

Following on from the great success of WASP (Wildlife After Schools Project) and the current Trailblazers project, the new BEAT project aims to carry a similar theme. Working with 12 groups of young people in Bolton aged 11 to 14, we will be reaching a group which hasn’t experienced a great deal of extracurricular environmental education.

Each group will take part out of class hours, in four activity sessions and four challenges which will be chosen by the young people. These could constitute practical conservation, a school grounds project or even making an environmentally themed film. With this kind of interactive and practical learning experience, it is anticipated that this will enthuse and inspire the young people about the natural environment.

This exciting new project funded by the Big Lottery Fund and The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside will bring a new learning experience to young people as well as offering the John Muir Award to add to their extracurricular achievements.

For further information please contact;
Matt Procter – Project Co-ordinator mprocter@lancswt.org.uk or
Vicki Pilling – Project Officer vpilling@lancswt.org.uk
Tel: 01204 663754

Squirrel Pox Virus in Blundellsands

The first confirmed case of Squirrel pox virus in Blundellsands has been confirmed this week. This is a devastating blow to conservationists working to protect our endangered Red Squirrels.

Sally Orritt from the Save our Squirrels campaign said 'We are working to keep the Grey squirrels away from the Red Squirrels, we really need to get our message out loud and clear, anyone who sees a squirrel, Red or Grey, should get in touch.'

The Blundellsands population of Red Squirrels is at risk because of the Grey Squirrels in the Crosby area. Squirrel pox is a threat to all red squirrels, particularly if they come into contact with grey squirrels, the carriers of the virus.

Amy Campbell of Lancashire Wildlife Trust works with the public to help save our squirrels. Amy said 'We rely heavily on the public as our eyes and ears, Reds in the area have made gardens their habitat, if people don't get in touch, we just don't know where the squirrels are to protect as young squirrels disperse around this time of year.'

This latest outbreak of Squirrel pox virus comes almost a year since the last confirmed case of the virus in December 2008, in the Formby area. Bi-annual monitoring of the Sefton Red Squirrel population showed a decline of 80% in spring 2009.

Fiona Whitfield, Conservation Officer with Lancashire Wildlife Trust said 'We hope to contain this outbreak, with the support of the public. We know there are good populations of Red Squirrels in both Blundellsands and Altcar and we need to do everything that we can to stop the disease from spreading back up the coast to the recovering populations of Formby and Freshfield. Volunteers are already leafleting local houses so that people know to keep feeders disinfected and to get in touch if they see a squirrel.'

Please report any sightings of red or grey squirrels on 0151 920 3769. To report sick or dead red squirrels call 07590 745 862. For more information about red squirrels including feeding and disinfecting feeders or to report sightings, visit www.saveoursquirrels.org.uk

For more information on our upcoming Save Our Reds! squirrel appeal, visit http://www.lancswt.org.uk/Getting%20Involved/red%20squirrel%20campaign.htm

Photo credit - William Lee.

Awarding Success - Our Volunteers

Volunteers are an integral part of The Lancashire Wildlife Trust. At the heart of many an inspirational story, you will find a volunteer. In order to celebrate this, The Trust hosts a volunteer conference each year and this year was extra special as it saw the launch of The Volunteer Awards.

The Trust has over 600 regular volunteers. They are a diverse bunch, from eager students or studious wildlife surveyors to gregarious enthusiasts. One thing they all share is enthusiasm, commitment and a 'get up and go', which motivates them to take action for wildlife.

The volunteer conference provides a day for staff and volunteers alike to meet, but also a chance to develop knowledge and understanding with an exciting range of workshops, with themes ranging from 'Bog burps' to 'Red squirrels.'

The much-awaited part of the day was, of course, the first ever Lancashire Wildlife Trust Volunteer Awards, which consisted of seven categories and received over 50 nominations from both staff and fellow volunteers. The winners were chosen by the Volunteer Committee and were presented by Sir Tim Kimber, President of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and sponsored by local companies and councils.

The worthy winners included Jennifer Newton MBE, winner of the Conservation Achievement Award for her commitment as a Volunteer Reserve Manager, co-founder of the North Lancashire Naturalists in 1981 and immeasurable contribution to species recording. Noell Leather was presented with the Exceptional Leader Award, for her outstanding achievements in her role as Volunteer Reserve Manager and Chair of the Croal Irwell Local Group, enthusing and leading a team of volunteers to transform an old sewage works into Summerseat Island Nature Reserve. David Finch won Wildlife Champion for over 10 years spent reviewing and opposing planning applications in Greater Manchester that may be a threat to wildlife.

Dave Beattie was voted 'most inspirational'. As Volunteer Reserve Manager and WATCH group leader, his passion for wildlife is such that in the eight years he worked with children he has never held the same activity twice! Alan Draper, winner of Unsung Hero, has bolstered staff in North Lancs for over 10 years with vast numbers of daybreak birdringing before many of us even get out of bed!

Alex Bateson, winner of Young Volunteer of the Year won for her scale of commitment and the sheer breadth of activities in which she gets involved. Alex has made a mark on so many people at the Trust, from community consultations, working with asylum seekers, to bat surveying at twilight! Last but not least the Volunteer Group of the Year award was won by the Mere Sands Wood volunteers, a group of over 55 regular volunteers whose dedication, teamwork and expertise, uphold one of the Trust's most popular Visitor centres and reserves. This group received a further £100 donation from the Community Gateway association to celebrate!

Congratulations to each one of these Volunteers, and thank you to everyone who helped to celebrate their achievements. If you would like to read more about these Volunteer stories, or get involved yourself, visit http://www.lancswt.org.uk/Getting%20Involved/volunteering.htm.

By Cat Altounyan, Volunteer Project Manager

Photographs by Riche Rifkind, a Lancashire Wildlife Trust volunteer and semi professional photographer.

To see more of Riche's work visit http://RicheR-Photography.weebly.com

Students get stuck in at Warton Crag

Nearly 40 volunteers from Lancaster University helped create rides for butterflies to use by sawing, bashing and burning scrub at Warton Crag Nature Reserve last Sunday. Many of the students were on exchange programmes and had never take part in practical conservation work before.

They were supported by local Volunteers and staff, Reuben Neville the Reserve Manager said ‘the Volunteers got a large amount of work done in short time, we were really pleased with their enthusiasm and they really got stuck in.’

Darren from Green Lancaster at Lancaster University said ‘the group really enjoyed hearing the volunteers talk about how their work made such a difference to the wildlife in the area, and having a go at something new, it was a great way to make friends.’

The Regular group, ‘The Mudpack’ which goes out on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, now has 20 new recruits!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day a success.

North West Wildlife Trusts standing up for wildlife at the Marine Conservation Zone workshops all along the English Irish sea coastlines.

Over the last two weeks stakeholder workshops, which aim to identifiy the best places for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ's), have taken place in Runcorn, Liverpool , Blackpool and today (Tuesday) in Penrith.

The North West Wildlife Trusts (Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North Merseyside and, Cheshire ) have long campaigned for greater protection of the fabulous wildlife of the Irish sea and for a bill to create marine protected areas which will act to better protect our 6000 species from damage and extinction.

 Dr Kathryn Turner (the North West Wildlife Trusts Irish Sea Advocacy Officer) is delighted to stand up for local marine wildlife in these workshops along with key members of the Trusts staff.

“The marine bill is a very welcome opportunity to act together to protect the huge diversity of marine life in our local sea. We have some amazing habitats and species that are adapted to the sand and muds of the Irish sea and are unique in the UK. Where else can you see burrowing urchins, sand digging cuttlefish , worms that build sand houses and basking sharks that grow to 30ft eating only plankton!

These marine conservation zone workshops have been a chance to talk to local sea users about our local sea and to represent those 6000 Irish sea species that provide us with clean water, moderated temperatures, amazing underwater landscapes and food through the process of designating protected sites “

This first round of MCZ stakeholder workshops conclude today at Penrith's Rhegged centre and begin the long process of identifying what species and habitats we have in the Irish Sea, and how we use them, and will ultimately lead to the UK marine bills stated outcome of “ an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas”

For further information on the Wildlife Trusts seas of plenty and living seas marine work please visit our website at ttp://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=environment:marine and join our petition for fully protected marine reserves at http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=marinebill:reservespetition

Contact Dr Kathryn Turner (North West Trusts Irish sea Advocacy Officer)

RBS Muck In For Reedbeds

Earlier this month, a group of 10 volunteers from The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) joined staff from Lancashire Wildlife Trust at Doffcocker Lodge Local Nature Reserve, Bolton, to assist with some essential management of reedbed habitats. Despite torrential rain and conditions which meant being mostly knee deep in stinking mud, a good time was had  by all.

Louis Magari of RBS, said “This was a fantastic and worthwhile day spent not only improving the local area where I live that I knew nothing about, but it was both educational and interesting as well.”

The volunteers cut an area of reedbed at the site as well as undertaking some willow coppice work. Cutting the reedbed will help ensure that this important habitat (UK BAP priority) does not succeed to scrub through the build-up of old growth. Lancashire Wildlife Trust anticipate that this will become a key feeding area for over-wintering snipe, one of the key species for which the site is managed.

The willow coppicing work was part of our ongoing rotational cutting to provide areas of wet woodland (UK BAP priority habitat). The willow was coppiced sensitively for Willow Tits with provision made for nesting areas, following the method which has been demonstrated so successfully at Wigan Flashes by Lancashire Wildlife Trust staff.

James Hall, Senior Project Officer, said “The work accomplished by volunteers from RBS was fantastic, particularly as it was such a drab day! Doffcocker Lodge is a wonderful nature reserve and this work will really help to increase the numbers of species supported, benefitting the community who use it as a space to lose themselves in nature.”

Another significant contribution made by RBS was through a community grant of £1000. In addition to covering the costs associated with the activity, this grant will also allow the Trust to undertake further habitat management work on site to ensure that it is fulfilling its potential for wildlife.

Steve Clegg from RBS, who organised the day said, “This activity demonstrated how RBS and the Wildlife Trust can work together to enhance the environment and local nature reserves for all the community to enjoy. We hope to develop our partnership in the years to come.”

If you have not been to Doffcocker Lodge Local Nature Reserve why not pay a visit? It is an urban site surrounded on three sides by residential areas, yet with views to Rivington Pike it provides a wonderful countryside experience. The site supports a range of wildlife but its wildfowl are the main attraction.

For more details of this activity or Doffcocker Lodge LNR please contact James Hall on 01204 663754.

Oscar Winning Volunteering!

Volunteers for The Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Bolton Wildlife Project have been awarded an Oscar for their hard work and dedication in the CVS "Bolton Volunteer Oscar Awards 2009".

Started in 1988 and working in partnership with Bolton Council, the Bolton Wildlife Project has many functions, all with one common theme - to raise awareness and promote the use of locally important wildlife sites and green spaces in Bolton.

From the School Grounds Project to Local Nature Reserves, food-growing opportunities on community allotments to conservation volunteering, the Bolton Wildlife Project has been successfully supporting people and wildlife in Bolton for almost 20 years.

Amongst the volunteers collecting the award were Scott Newlove and Paul Eadie from the Bolton midweek volunteer group, Sarah Vernon from the Friends of Seven Acres group and David Finch a regular Bolton office volunteer.

Debbie Edwards, Bolton Wildlife Project Manager said "we are thrilled our volunteers have been chosen for this award as it is a great way to showcase all the hard work and dedication of each of them. Our volunteers are a hugely important part of the project".

The award comes as The Lancashire Wildlife Trust gears up for it's own volunteer awards ceremony, for which staff have been voting over the past few months.

Barnaby’s Sands

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families of those killed in the tragic helicopter crash at Barnaby’s Sands. At this point in time the police investigation must take priority and the site will remain closed whilst this is underway. As the managers of the site, we will help the police with the investigation in any way we can.

Beaverbrooks Environment Day

Corporate members, Beaverbrooks the Jewellers are certainly doing their part for conservation this summer. Susie Nicholas, charity and Well-being Manager said "As part of our Environment Day, we set up a pledge board in our reception and over 25 colleagues have made a pledge to do something different.

Pledges range from 'only boiling the amount of water needed in a kettle', 'using our own shopping bags rather than plastic carriers', 'turning appliances off' and 'using water butts' right through to 'sharing bath water'!

The Company donated £1 for each person that made a pledge on the day and an organic cake stall, with some scrumptious edibles, raised over £166 which was match funded. So altogether a healthy £368 has been donated to the Wildlife Trust as well as raising awareness of the little things we can all do to make a difference.

At the end of the day workers from Beaverbrooks donned their wellies and rolled up their sleeves to scour the dunes along St Anne's. Beaverbrooks kindly donated an hour of their staff work time to gather as much litter as they could and tidy up our fine-looking dunes.

The party continued in the early evening enjoying some rare summer sunshine. The partnership between Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Fylde Borough Council aims to promote and to protect the dunes along Lytham St Anne's.

Later this week we will be announcing the winner of the Longest Razor Shell Competition, one of the many events hosted during marine weeks.

Brockholes site achieves planning permission

Full planning permission was been granted last Thursday for the developments on the Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Reserve, off junction 31 of the M6 motorway. Building work is expected to commence in October on the landmark floating visitors centre, designed by Adam Khan.

Anne Selby, Chief Executive of The Lancashire Wildlife Trust said:

"We are thrilled to hear planning permission has been granted, we can now make our vision to develop Brockholes into a haven for both wildlife and people a reality"

Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Reserve is being created by a partnership of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Forestry Commission, as part of the Newlands land regeneration programme.

The NWDA will be investing around £8.8million into Brockholes, to transform the site into major new wetland and woodland visitor attraction, with a wealth of habitats extending over 106ha (including lakes, reed beds, flower-rich grassland and a connection to 66ha of adjacent semi-natural ancient woodland) and a floating visitor centre will provide a fantastic self financing regional environmental showcase. LWT (who own the Brockholes site) are now working with the Forestry Commission to realise the plans for the site.

Richard Tracey, Head of Environmental Quality at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said:

"Brockholes will provide an important and distinctive visitor attraction for the region, influencing future investment for the area, with economic and social impacts felt at both a local and regional level.

"The NWDA recognises that Brockholes is a key site for the region and is pleased with the decision to grant full planning permission. With an increase in visitor and tourism facilities on site and the provision of well managed green space for local people it will enhance the positive perception of England's Northwest as a whole."

Keith Jones, Northwest Regional Director for the Forestry Commission said:

"Brockholes is an inspiring site, and this flagship project will develop not only a high value wetland and woodland but a stunning visitor centre; together they will act as a beacon for Northwest environmental and economic excellence. We are now looking forward to working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to turn Brockholes into this fantastic local asset, an exciting visitor experience and a significant contribution to the natural economy of the Northwest."

For more information please contact:
Lindsey Poole
Marketing and Communications Manager
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.
lpoole@lancswt.org.uk
01772 324129

Simply sculpting sand! Great family fun was experienced on Sunday 9th August creating sand creatures on St Anne’s beach to celebrate marine week. If you are Shannon from Burnley, who's about to move up to Juniors at school and who has always wanted to be a zoologist...please contact us on 01772 324129

It’s wildlife, but not as we know it

Trailblazers, a Lancashire Wildlife Trust project, are using new and exciting ways to attract volunteers and are currently recruiting for their next round of 'v placements'.

A spoof version of the Beastie Boys Sabotage music video see’s members of The Trailblazers Team supposedly fighting eco-crimes the green way. The film was shot and edited by current media 'vplacement' Jac Ashton, who is nearly at the end of his 6 months with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.  You can see the film at www.youtube.com/lancswildlifetrust where the team fight fly tipping, littering and illegal fishing.

Jac has used the placement as a springboard into the film making world and now has several films on his cv, which he made on behalf of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Jac tell us: "The placement has been an invaluable start to my career after graduating uni. I’ve made films, broadcast on radio, had a fantastic time and loved every minute."

Trailblazers are currently recruiting for 3 new v placements which offer the unique opportunity to gain experience in areas as diverse as film making, radio broadcast, conservation, bush craft, marketing, and education.

Dan McDermott, Trailblazers volunteer officer is looking forward to the opportunities: "Jac and our other two v placements Sally Molineaux and Ed Webley have made a permanent mark on the Trust with their incredible idea's and hard work.  It's exciting now as we wait to welcome three new v placements to our team"

If you are interested please visit www.lancswt.org.uk, email Dan on dmcdermott@lancswt.org.uk or call him on 01772 751138.

Tatton Silver Gilt comes to Pleasington, Witton Park

A Tatton Silver Gilt medal winning garden has donated their stunning entry to make Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Pleasington walled garden more wildlife friendly.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has been running a regular volunteer group at Pleasington walled garden, in Witton Country Park, for nearly a year.

The group involves many local people from Blackburn, including the Circle of Friends, Blackburn CVS Inclusive Project, Connexions, Galloways Blind society and Youth Action.

The scheme is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. Many of the volunteers have mental health problems or are looking for work and enjoy getting out and making a difference in the community.

They have worked really hard to improve the wildlife in the area. They were thrilled to hear that one of the gardens featured on the BBC's ‘Gardeners World’ would donate nearly 100m2 of wildflowers to be used in the garden.

The Dublin based garden designer, Fiann O’Nuallain of inspiringgardens.ie said, “It's brilliant to be able to see the garden go to a project that will benefit from it and to improve the biodiversity of important native wildflowers.”

Two of the most dedicated volunteers picked up the flowers and were treated to a 'behind the scenes' look at Tatton Park Flower show.

Gary Redfern, a regular volunteer, said “Now we have our own award winning garden right here in Blackburn!'” Mike Tattersall from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust agreed “Wildflowers are undervalued, for a few months of the year they support a huge habitat important for shrews, voles, dragonflies, butterflies, bees and birds that depend on the biodiversity.”

We are very grateful to Fiann for supporting us and helping to raise the profile of what our volunteers work so hard for each week.

If you'd like to get involved in the project please call Catherine at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 01772 324 129.

Local Children’s Wildlife WATCH Club Celebrates its 21st Birthday

Longton Brickcroft Wildlife WATCH group had recently celebrated its 21st Birthday. The children’s club is run as part of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside’s Wildlife WATCH Groups for children, which are run all over the county.

The Longton Brickcroft WATCH group was set up in 1988 by Jenny Foster and Fiona Lea. A few months later, Sue Banister, a Ranger with South Ribble Borough Council, joined them. Wildlife WATCH groups offer opportunities for young people to learn about and enjoy their local environment and wildlife. There are currently ten groups in the region, but plans are well advanced to begin new groups in the Heysham and Nelson/Colne areas.

Gerry Tipping, the local Wildlife WATCH Groups’ Co-ordinator, says “Reaching a 21st birthday milestone is a tremendous achievement for all those involved with the group at Longton Brickcroft. Every credit must go to Jenny Foster and Fiona Lea who started the group, and then to Sue Banister and the other leaders and helpers who have provided a range of fun activities over many years that has kept the group vibrant.”

Adult volunteers are always welcome to assist with groups and if you are interested please contact Gerry Tipping at the Trust Headquarters at The Barn in Cuerden Valley Park, 01772 324129, or by e-mail to gtipping@lancswt.org.uk Details of other groups are available on The Trust’s website www.lancswt.org.uk by following the links through Education and WATCH. There are contact details there for any children who would like to join a group.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust gives students the red carpet treatment!

The red carpet was rolled on Tuesday evening for an exclusive film premiere evening at the Mitchell and Kenyon Cinema in Preston.

Students working with the Tellus Mater funded Trailblazers project from The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside have been working hard over the past 6 months to create films with an environmental message as part of the Trailblazers Media Challenge.

Students from colleges across Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been writing scripts, making sets and costumes and shooting films about environmental issues.

Themes included a unique take on the effects of Climate Change as Polar Bears move in to local refrigerators’ as global warming has melted their ice caps. Each film was designed to tackle serious issues in a way that young people can relate to.

The evening began with the students arriving in limousines, and strolling down the red carpet through a sea of paparazzi and autograph hunters, to be interviewed on camera by ‘Trailblazers TV’. Danny Hendleman , a student from Westhoughton 6th form said “our hopes for the film were just bring environmental issues to the forefront of people’s minds”.

Students were delighted to see their films on the big screen, and to also see the highlights from their recent hugely successful Dragon’s Den event in which they pitched to local businessmen and gained a total of £5,645 of investment for their projects.

As a special treat for their students, the Trailblazers team organised video messages of support from stars of the real Dragons Den Deborah Meaden and Evan Davis.

The evening closed with a ceremony in which students received their nationally accredited awards, with some additional Trailblazer Oscars for students who had shown exceptional enthusiasm throughout the year.

Trailblazers Project Co-ordinator, Tim Burrows said “We are delighted with the success of the event and the chance to show off our students fantastic work, we are extremely proud of the dedication and enthusiasm our groups have shown and tonight was all about celebrating this, whilst raising the profile of key environmental issues”.

Footage from the night and the films made by students is soon to be showcased on The Lancashire Wildlife Trust website www.lancswt.org.uk .

The Trailblazers project is funded by the Tellus Mater Foundation and supported by V Involved. Students attended the evening from Cardinal Newman College, Westhoughton 6th form, Bolton School 6th Form, Runshaw College, Rivington and Blackrod 6th form and Cannon Slade 6th form.

If you are interested in working with the Trailblazers please Click here

BLACKPOOL TO HOST NATIONAL WHALE & DOLPHIN WATCH 2009

This year's Seawatch Foundation National Whale and Dolphin Watch will take place from 18th and 26th of July 2009, with the Lancashire coast covered from locations in Blackpool Promenade and Bispham. Members of the public are once again invited to take part, either by helping trained observers or by sending in sightings. This is an opportunity for everyone to become involved in the research which goes into understanding these magnificent creatures.

Blackpool Tower and "The Big One"; David Dunlop

Results of the watch provide a snapshot of the distribution of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the British Isles and are helping inform scientific debate on any change in the range and distribution of species.

Harbour Porpoise is the species most often seen from our shores, with the occasional Bottlenose Dolphin. And of course there are always a variety of waders, wildfowl, gulls, terns and other seabirds to spot, and sometimes seals.

Bottlenose Dolphin, Doug Perrine

You can click here to download a full list of times and locations.

Contact Mr David McGrath, Sustainability Manager, Solaris Centre, Blackpool; Tel: 01253-478 020/3; if you'd like further information.

If you'd like details of The Wildlife Trusts' Save Our Seas Team, click on the SoS logo below.

The End of the Line

The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing, The End of the Line, is to be screened in the North West on World Oceans Day (8^th June). 

The End of the Line film is not against fishing.  It’s not against eating fish.  But it is for a responsible attitude towards the oceans.  It specifies the need for marine protected areas where commercial fishing is restricted.  The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for marine protected areas for many years, and our Save Our Seas (SOS) team - which has just recruited its one thousandth member - has been an important part of this.

Screenings in our area are currently scheduled for:

Lancaster - The Dukes Cinema (Liz Stanton, Preston Greenpeace, Q&A) - Tell a friend

Liverpool - Picturehouse @ FACT (Liz Gould, Merseyside Greenpeace, Q&A) - Tell a friend

The film is based on the book, ‘The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat’by Charles Clover, Ebury Press, 2005. You can support this Wildlife Trust by ordering a copy online through www.buy.at/lancswildlifetrust.

If you’d like to learn more about The Wildlife Trusts’ Save Our Seas Team, click here.

Elections to the European Union Parliament and to Lancashire County Council are being held in North West England on 4th June

Why should you use your vote? Click here

Reed all about it!

Lancashire Wildlife Trust will join with Preston City Council to host an event at Brockholes Nature Reserve on Saturday 6th June between 11.00am and 3.00pm.

The event forms part of the BBC Breathing Places “Dirty Weekend”, when everyone is encouraged to get out in the fresh air and celebrate their greenspaces.

Volunteers will have the chance to plant reed stems in the lakes, erect reed cages, plant reed seeds in the poly tunnel and raise a sweat with some balsam bashing.

This is a rare chance for the public to see the progress made by Lancashire Wildlife Trust at Brockholes, which is next to junction 31 of the M6. The site is normally closed to visitors, as parts are still unsafe due to past quarrying. The reserve will open officially in Spring 2011.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust would like to thank the Big Lottery Target Wellbeing fund for its support.

Admission is free, but places are limited and booking is essential. Contact 01772 906471 or email parks@preston.gov.uk . Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear your wellies and bring refreshments as there are no catering facilities on site.

Fylde Dunes damaged

Lancashire Wildlife Trust has discovered that a Fylde resident has caused deliberate damage to the sand dunes next to his home, despite written and verbal advice from our Sand Dunes Officer.

The damage occurred when mechanical diggers were used by the resident’s contractors to reshape part of the dunes near Bentinck Road on North Promenade. The height of the dune was greatly reduced, leaving it vulnerable to weather damage.

Despite protests, the contractors returned on 19th May and did further damage.

The dunes are of countywide importance for their plant communities and other wildlife. Once removed, these plant communities can take a long time to re-establish, leaving the sand in an unstable state.

Even small changes in the plant cover and shape of the dunes can lead to ‘knock on effects’ that are hard to predict. Some of these effects could be damaging on a wider scale, with increased wind-blown sand, dune erosion and property damage due to flooding.

Tim Mitcham, the Wildlife Trust’s Head of Conservation, said, ‘We are very disappointed that this work has been undertaken against written advice. It puts further pressure on a very fragile section of dune. Residents have taken great steps to value the dunes as a natural asset. The Council-backed Fylde Sand Dunes Project has worked hard to increase understanding of how dunes benefit us all. Rising sea levels are a serious threat to low-lying Lytham St.Annes. The dune system is a natural defence against climate change and sea level rise.’

A spokesperson for Fylde Borough Council said: “We have been consulting widely with the Wildlife Trust and local residents about the protection and regeneration of the sand dunes for which the Fylde Coast is famous. We have plans that will take years to implement but in the long run they will benefit both the sea defenses of the Borough and the wildlife we are lucky enough to have living in the dunes. We need to make sure residents are aware that anything they do can have a very detrimental effect on the delicate system of dunes and they should always consult with us before they alter them in any way.”

There has been considerable interest in the media and Anne Heslop, our Sand Dunes Project Officer, will be appearing on BBC Northwest Tonight this evening, to put the Trust’s position.

The Wildlife Trust would strongly urge residents to consult the Borough Council if they are considering any sort of work on their dunes and to use the specialist advice of the Sand Dunes Officer, which is freely available for the benefit of all residents.

Read more on this story

The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5355988/Surgeon-defends-transplanting-sand-dune-outside-his-holiday-home.html

The Mirror http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/05/21/duneroamin-115875-21376222/

BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8059161.stm

The Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1184997/Holiday-homeowner-upsets-locals-bulldozing-50ft-sand-dune-better-view.html

Blackpool,England,UK MP 'gobsmacked' as doctor flattens sand dune Blackpool Gazette

Please click here for more information about the Fylde Sand Dunes

Running for wildlife

L-R Debbie Wright, Wigan Phoenix; Gemma Unsworth, Blackpool Wyre & Fylde Athletic Club

This year's Wildlife Trust "Badger Trail Run " Series began in style last night as a record 129 runners set off on a rather damp evening to tackle the scenic route around Cuerden Valley Park. The series is sponsored by Neales Waste Management.

First home in a very fast 35 min 41 seconds was Rich Smith and first lady home in 12th place overall was Deborah Wright of Wigan Phoenix.

Meanwhile, serious and fun runners alike enjoyed the atmosphere and completed the challenge, which was followed by cakes and tea at the Wildlife Trust Headquarters.

Anyone can take part by signing up on the night at The Barn on Berkeley Drive, which is next to Cuerden Hall. Parking is free, entry costs £5.00 per runner and all proceeds go to help local wildlife. Changing facilities are available and marshals will guide runners around the course.

The next event is on Thursday 18th June. The runs are becoming increasingly popular year on year, with Rossendale Harriers again dominating the team prizes. One first time Badger runner said “Great event - I should have done them before!” Why not go along and see what it's all about?

WALK FOR THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR LANCASHIRE ROCHDALE LOCAL GROUP

WHEN Sunday 21st June 2009  

WHERE Register with a member of the Trust outside Hollingworth Lake Country Park Info Centre, Littleborough.  Then walk around Hollingworth Lake as many times as you wish.

TIME Registration to take place between 10 am & 4 pm.  All walkers must have returned by 5.00 pm

DISTANCE One circuit around the lake is equivalent to 2.5 miles

FACILITIES Toilets, café, parking (pay & display), dogs welcome but should be on a lead, fund raising activities

REWARDS Raise £25 and over and receive a furry friend or

Raise £100 and over and receive 12 months free membership to The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire

Schools and Teams raising £500 and over to receive an engraved shield

CONTACT For further information regarding the walk please contact the walk organiser: Susan Conway on 07791465522 or 01706 213934

Walk Sponsor Form

Breathing Fire into Green Issues

Lancashire Wildlife Trust is gathering some of the country’s big-hitting Green champions from the worlds of business and commerce for a Dragons’ Den event involving local sixth forms and colleges.

The Trailblazers Project, supported by Tellus Mater Foundation and the v youth working charity, has assembled a panel of firebreathing eco dragons for a groundbreaking event on 22^nd April.

Listen to the Trailblazers talking about the Dragons Den Event on Radio Lancashire.

Students from eight sixth forms and colleges in Bolton and Preston will be pitching for a total of £8000 in prizes, to support their environmental projects.

Young people aged 16-18 from the Trailblazers project will be trying for the cash and standing up to a grilling from the eco dragons. If they are successful, they will use the money to fund their environmental projects.

The teenagers will be speaking up for such projects as; producing a pantomime to raise awareness of recycling; equipment for bushcraft activities and renovating school grounds.

Standing in front of the Eco Dragons could be a bit daunting, so the Trailblazers team have organised workshops on the morning of the event to improve presentation skills, show how to deal with tricky questions from the Eco Dragons and how to demonstrate value for money in their project.

Eco Dragons’ Den also coincides with the international event “Earth Day” which raises awareness of climate change. This is something the young people feel very passionate about and will be reflected in their environmental projects.

We wish these brave young people the best of luck as they step into the Eco Dragons’ Den and will be looking out for their environmental projects as they take shape in local communities.

Event organiser Julia Simons says, “It’s a great chance for young people to help the environment in the way they want. It’s all their choices and their decisions. We’re really impressed with how they have taken the opportunity to do something unique.”

The Eco Dragons attending the event are
James Arbib - Tellus Mater Foundation - Trailblazers project funders
Anne Selby - Chief Executive of The Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Alison Bradley - MWH Engineering
Oliver Clarke - Senator International
Anthony Bremner - Bolton Council sustainable development team
Ken Williams - MALL Group
David Stevenson - Elstat Electronics Ltd

Roll of Honour

Thanks to the kind donations and essential support of the people listed above, Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve is protected as one of your local Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves. This means the site will be protected for wildlife and people for generations to come.

£8million of Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) investment

Ted Jackson MBE, Chair of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, signs the contract to secure Newlands funding, accompanied by Keith Jones, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission. Copyright: Jason Smalley.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust has secured £8million of Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) investment to build new visitor facilities at their Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve near J31 of the M6 at Preston.

Following last month’s planning approval for the new visitor centre and facilities, the way is now clear to allow construction work to begin.

The reserve will be the gateway to Preston and to the tourist attractions of the area. Although long known as one of the premier sites in the Northwest for migrating birds, it has no visitor facilities and is in need of work to make it safe and welcoming for visitors.

The investment has been made under ‘Newlands’, a NWDA and Forestry Commission programme that is regenerating brownfield land across the Northwest into economically viable community woodland. Launched in 2003, Newlands is investing a total of £59million into the region.

Ian Selby, Brockholes Project Manager, said

”We are absolutely delighted that the NWDA has recognized the importance of this project for the people and wildlife of Lancashire and beyond. This iconic development will demonstrate that wildlife can co-exist with people inside such a visitor attraction. We will have educational facilities alongside the usual visitor comforts and are hoping that we will attract day trippers, school parties, stop-offs and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts. We are creating jobs and adding to the appeal of the area for visitors. The centre will eventually be self-funding and will guarantee the future of the reserve for future generations.”

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the NWDA said:

“The Brockholes development will not only provide an important and distinctive visitor attraction for the region, but will also influence future investment for the area with economic and social impacts felt at both a local and regional level. “The NWDA recognises that Brockholes is a key site for the region and is pleased to support the development. With an increase in visitor and tourism facilities on site and the provision of well managed green space for local people it will enhance the positive perception of England’s Northwest as a whole.”

Keith Jones, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission said:

“The Forestry Commission and NWDA are now looking forward to working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to transform Brockholes. Together we will create a high quality wetland and woodland environment, which will enhance the local economy with jobs and investment, offer a high quality visitor experience and also provide a much needed green space for local communities and nature. As well as becoming an important natural environment attraction in its own right, Brockholes will make a significant contribution to the natural economy of the Northwest region.”

Construction will start later in 2009, using the “Floating World” designs by Adam Khan, the winner of the international, RIBA-sponsored design competition which took place in 2008. The reserve is scheduled to open to the public in 2011.

Brockholes will be one of the key attractions in the new Ribble Coast and Wetlands Regional Park, which stretches down the tidal reaches of the River Ribble to the Fylde coast.

Mossland article in Lancashire Life

Please click here for the Mossland article as featured in Lancashire Life.

Trailblazers careers on Rock FM

Lancashire Wildlife Trust project Trailblazers has got some new friends at Rock FM. The Lancashire radio station invited the Trailblazers team in to act as a corporate client for a group of students from St Mary's College in Blackburn.

Trailblazers jumped at the opportunity and asked the students to produce a short commercial advertising their current vacancies for v placements. The Trailblazers team gave out the brief to two competing teams who had just a couple of hours to come up with the finished commercial from scratch.

Experts from Rock FM were on hand and Adam from the breakfast show even came by to give the students a bit of help. The two finished products were both incredibly good and really impressed the Trailblazers team, but only one could be picked as the winner.

St Marys College Winning Commercial (mp3)
St Marys College Runner Up Commercial (mp3)

Listen out for the winning one getting air time on Rock FM in the coming week. www.rockfm.co.uk

If you are interested in applying for the v placement advertised in the adverts then click here for more details.

Book Review - The Carbon Fields

'The Carbon Fields - How our Countryside can save Britain' by Graham Harvey (Publisher - Grassroots) After his book 'The Killing of the Countryside', which won the BP Natural World Book Prize, I thought it would be difficult to repeat that success. However, I believe 'The Carbon Fields' deserves the same critical acclaim. It aims to bust some myths about the world of food and farming and proposes a simple, natural solution to today's most pressing problems - high food prices, rising carbon emissions and ill health.

The book is well researched but extremely readable, as you would expect from the man who is the Agricultural Story Editor for that great British institution - 'The Archers'.

As a farmer's daughter and someone who is passionate about nature conservation, this book certainly made me think long and hard about some beliefs I had about food production and gave me hope that there might be ways in which wildlife can be sustained in our drive to be more productive.

The final chapter is a call to action to all of us consumers and producers of food, to decide if we want healthy, life enhancing food, which does not cost us the earth, or not.

If anyone out there is minded to test out this approach to land management, we, at the Trust, would love to talk to you.

Reviewed by Anne Selby, Chief Executive

We have negotiated a 30% discount for our supporters. This can be claimed by ordering online at www.grassrootsfood.com or by telephone to 01278 683066. Please quote the code LWT09 to obtain your discount.

Biodiversity Benchmark award for Springfields

Geoff Gill EHS&Q Director at Springfields (centre) receives
the Biodiversity Benchmark from The Wildlife Trusts’ Corporate Relations Manager, Howard Park and Fundraising Manager Clare Kenny

Representatives from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts recently went to Springfields at Salwick, near Preston, to present the company with the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark. This is in recognition of the impressive environmental management performance of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Springfields site.

Following an audit against The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark, Springfields Fuels Limited was recommended for certification, making the site not only one of a handful of industrial sites in the UK to successfully gain the coveted Benchmark, but the only nuclear site to have achieved the award. The certification demonstrates that Springfields satisfied the scheme’s rigorous criteria for managing the site carefully to protect and enhance the habitat for native plants and animals within the constraints of its business.

Deepdale Wood, part of the Springfields Nature Trail

“We are very proud to have gained recognition from The Wildlife Trusts,” said Geoff Gill, Springfields’ Environmental, Health, Safety & Quality Director, who received the Benchmark Certificate from Howard Park, The Wildlife Trusts’ Corporate Relations Manager. “Springfields has always taken its environmental responsibilities very seriously and now the site has received national recognition for the management of its local biodiversity.

“Not only is the Biodiversity Benchmark hugely important from a moral point of view, but it also makes a powerful statement to the outside world about our commitment to conservation and to green principles. We are lucky enough to have custody of a site which is pleasant to work on and which provides ideal habitat for many species which are either protected, or of ecological importance. This is both a privilege and a responsibility.”

Advice and support on various ecological aspects is provided by the local Lancashire Wildlife Trust. John Lamb, Conservation Officer for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust was employed to survey areas of woodland and wetland at Springfields as part of the site's working towards the Biodiversity Benchmark. Mr Lamb explains: “I didn't know the area before surveying the site but it didn't take long to discover that Springfields is a special place for wildlife. Not only does it have populations of Great Crested Newts, which are of international importance, but the site supports ancient woodland that has been there since at least 1600AD and may be derived from the original woodland cover that colonised the area after the ice-age retreated around 10,000 years ago. So far 150 plant species have been recorded in Deepdale Wood, and the species list for the wetland areas is over 110."

On presenting the award, Howard Park from The Wildlife Trusts, said: “It is encouraging to see how a busy industrial site can be managed as a haven for wildlife and as a valuable community asset. It just goes to show that with effective environmental stewardship of the land, nature can thrive - this does not happen by accident, it requires a great deal of commitment and hard work by Springfields and its partners. Springfields is one of the first organisations to achieve the Biodiversity Benchmark and I hope it will encourage more organisations to follow their example.”

Springfields was the first nuclear site in the UK to put a Biodiversity Action Plan in place to manage the site’s environmental areas. Springfields contains two Biological Heritage Sites, Deepdale Wood, which is the only area of semi-natural ancient woodland in the Fylde and the site’s ponds on the Nature Trail. The Nature Trail is visited by hundreds of schoolchildren each year and provides a safe haven for the protected species of the Great Crested Newt and slowworms.

Wild About Your Garden

©Jo Stephens BBC

On the eve of his new BBC1 show Wild About Your Garden (www.bbc.co.uk/wildaboutyourgarden), celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw throws his support behind The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Landscape (www.wildlifetrusts.org) campaign. 

Wild About Your Garden is based on an idea close to the heart of The Wildlife Trusts and our vision for A Living Landscape: it is about using gardens to extend the habitat of the wildlife all around us.

©Jo Stephens BBC

Chris says: “You don’t have to stand in a landscape or in a garden for very long to realise the potential for wildlife. The concept of A Living Landscape as one habitat is certainly something that I support. In a way this is what the programme is about, it’s about creating the right sort of plot to help wildlife survive.”

For Chris wildlife and gardening go hand in hand.  He automatically considers wildlife in the gardens he designs. 

“For me plants have always been about creating habitats for wildlife.  I don’t always particularly make a point of it though.  If I say ‘we want to get wildlife in here’ people sometimes conjure up a vision of an unruly messy railway embankment-type place, but it really doesn’t have to be like that.  Wildlife doesn’t mind if it’s in a formal pond or a less formal pond, as long as it can get in or out of it, it doesn’t mind a jot,” he says. 

Ask Chris about his favourite wildlife moments and he says there were so many it is almost impossible to say - a bit like asking him about his favourite plant: “when confronted by a plant you realise the delicacy and beauty of the subject. Similarly sometimes it’s not until you have actually seen the red squirrel on the feeder that you put up in the garden you created that you think about how incredibly special this all is.  Red squirrels are certainly one of the most charming of all our native wildlife they are so special, with such great personalities...but for me it wasn’t just about the wildlife, it was much more, it was all about the people too.  We really enjoyed working with all the people in the six gardens we helped create and we had huge amounts of fun. But in two of the families in particular, there was such a change.  There was one family that said that they felt that they weren’t functioning that well as a family unit and it was the wildlife interest that brought the family back together. It changed the dynamics in the whole family and the father said that now we have something to talk to each other about as a family.”

Chris gave us three tips for wildlife gardeners: 

1. Have a flower in flower every day of the year.

As long as it is a nectar deliverer it will help give you a base level of invertebrates.  And it warms the hearts of gardeners at the same time. 

2. Get some water into the garden in some shape or form.

This is especially good if you want to encourage children into wildlife gardening. It doesn’t have to be elaborate and it doesn’t have to be unsafe – it can be as simple a puddle somewhere on the patio - but wildlife will be drawn to it and so will children.

3. On climate change gardening the most important thing to do is not panic. 

Plant species that enjoy the conditions in your garden and then they will be adept at adapting to changes including prolonged weather like rain or frost. 

©Jo Stephens BBC

Wild About Your Garden starts on Wednesday 19 November on BBC1 at 8.30pm.  In the New Year look out for the 45-minute version of the programme which goes into the issues in more depth.

Don’t drop the Marine Bill, Mr Brown

Halloween Celebrations at Penwortham Education Centre!

The Penwortham Environmental Education Centre Halloween event is back by popular demand, and this year it's even bigger and better!

The events are taking place on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st October, from 6.30pm - 8pm. The evening is set to be a huge success, boasting a spooky story to set the scene, followed by an outdoor adventure through the haunted trail. Who knows who you might meet?!

As a special treat for those who are usually considered too young for the event, the education centre is also hosting a Hallowteenies Halloween party, on Thursday 30th October 5.30-6.30pm, especially for the under 7's.

All events include a fancy dress competition and indoor games to ensure everyone, young and old, has a 'spooktacular' Halloween! For more information about the event, or to book your place, contact the Penwortham Environmental Education Centre on 01772 751 110.

BRIAN'S LUCKY DAY

Brian Marsh was the lucky winner of a Rohan waterproof jacket kindly donated by Outfit, at the Wildlife Trust's volunteer conference. Brian attended with his wife Lyn, as they are both enthusiastic volunteers at the Trust's Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve near Rufford. Brian called at Outfit's Southport showroom to collect his prize. (SEE IMAGE - PHIL WHITAKER OF OUTFIT ON LEFT, BRIAN MARSH ON RIGHT).

The Conference took place at UCLAN in Preston and all facilities were laid on by the university at no charge to the Trust.

VOLUNTEER CONFERENCE & AGM

4 October 2008

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside reinstated their annual volunteer conference on the 4th October 2008.  The event was held at the prestigious Harrington Building, which is part of UCLAN in Preston.

UCLAN very kindly agreed to let us use the building free of charge for the day and the facilities included a large lecture theatre as well as rooms for our workshops.

We had a wide and varied choice of workshops, which included:

• Wildlife Photography run by Jason Smalley of Wildscape was "well presented and gave excellent advice"
• Wildlife Policing with Duncan Thomas, the Wildlife Police Officer for Lancashire - "shocking but compelling" was a quote by one of the volunteers
• Sustainability run by Charlie Jackson at the last minute as our original speaker was taken ill, so a big thanks to Charlie for "saving the day".
• Slow Worms run by Lorna Bousfield of Amphibian and Reptile Group, South Lancashire.
• Living Landscape a Local Perspective run by LWT staff John Lamb and Dave Dunlop and gave the audience a chance to try it themselves.
• Dragonflies run by Graham Jones, a great quote said "gave me the confidence to have a go".
• Lancashire's Fabulous Ferns was run by Jennifer Newton MBE and was extremely popular Jennifer brought in a number of sample ferns to look at.
• Mosslands run by Mick Weston and Martyn Walker again of LWT, one of the comments received was "a great double act"!!
• Sound of Sopranos run by Sue Dunning of LWT and Pat Waring of Ecology Services UK and was enjoyed by all who attended.
• Tales of the Riverbank given by our own Helen Laycock which was said to have given "excellent information on the species and their life cycle".

The event was well attended by both volunteers and staff, with around 100 people enjoying the selection of the workshops, lunch and at the end of the day 'goody' bags with items having been donated from our sponsors.

There were various displays for the volunteers to look at throughout the day and they had the chance to see what was happening throughout the trust.

Stephanie Hilborne, CEO of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, came up from Newark to speak to the volunteers on Living Landscape and said of the event "the audience was great - upbeat and responsive".  Other speakers included Tim Mitcham, who gave a Trust update and Graham Jones who spoke about the new "Wildlife Counts" project.  Our trustees thought that the AGM was really well attended and gave a good overview of the year's developments.

We would like to pass on our thanks to all of the sponsors who helped make the day possible.

And finally, a massive "thank you" to our volunteers who attended on the day and made it such a success.

Live on Air!

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust recently took to the airwaves on the newly launched community radio station, Preston FM.

The Trust’s Wildlife After Schools project will be spreading the word about wildlife! Their show, The Wild Side, aims to educate Preston FM’s listeners how their local wildlife can be interesting and exciting.

The first of the fortnightly shows went out live on Monday 6th October and was packed with interesting discussion topics, delivered in a fun and appealing way. The soon-to-be trademark “Wildlife Quiz” in the show challenges the hosts to test their wildlife knowledge and invites listens to text in the answers.

The Wild Side is currently looking for guests, so if you have an interesting story to tell about wildlife, or maybe an interesting occupation, then get in touch with the WASP team and tell them why you should be a guest on their next show! Call Dan on 01772 751138 or email dmcdermott@lancswt.org.uk.

To listen to the show, tune in to 103.2 FM or listen live at www.preston.fm between 4pm and 5pm on 20th October and 3rd November.

Bankers escape the office!

Nine enthusiastic staff from the Royal Bank of Scotland broke off their office shackles on Thursday 18 September to muck in for wildlife at Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve!

The nine staff, from offices throughout the northwest including Bolton, Horwich and Manchester helped staff from Lancashire Wildlife Trust undertake a number of practical tasks on Seven Acres to help improve its value for the local community and the resident wildlife.

Andrew Mather - Business Support Consultant - Royal Bank of Scotland

One of the tasks the group undertook was installing a new seat overlooking a pond on the reserve. The pond is a wildlife haven and has regular visitors including the grey heron and kingfisher and so will offer a great vantage point for members of the community. The RBS staff also installed a section of fencing alongside a series of steps which will help make the path safer for less mobile park users.

The staff from RBS, normally used to managing projects and providing business support really showed their commitment for local wildlife by getting knee deep in a smelly pond to clear back some of the vegetation which has been reducing its value for wildlife. The pond, which is home to newts, toads and a range of dragonflies will benefit immensely from the hard work which will be great for school educational visits and site users.

Andrew Mather, Julie Fennell, Stuart Unsworth of RBS with James Hall of Lancashire Wildlife Trust

James Hall, Senior Project Officer for Lancashire Wildlife Trust said, 'I was extremely impressed with the work the group put in on the day. Despite some of the work being really messy everyone was really enthusiastic and it is great to see companies allowing their staff to participate in activities like these which will benefit the local community'

Simon Rother, RBS Manager at Bolton, said 'I had a very enjoyable day - if a little hard work! I have learnt more about conservation today than in the last few years'

The day was part of a scheme The Royal Bank of Scotland deliver called Community Cashback Awards. In addition to the volunteer efforts of the nine staff, RBS also presented the Lancashire Wildlife Trust with a cheque of £500 which will be used to help improve Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve as a community resource and a wildlife haven.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust will be celebrating Red Squirrel Week between 4th and 12th October

The Trust is a leading partner in the protection of Red squirrels. One of their last remaining strongholds is in the Formby area of Merseyside, where we work to encourage them to thrive and prosper. Our efforts have been set back by the recent outbreak of Squirrelpox, which is carried and spread by Grey squirrels. The population of Reds has been halved by this disease and local people have joined us in efforts to exclude Greys from these areas. Events to celebrate National Red Squirrel Week are:

Sat 27th September - Spot the Squirrel – enjoy a relaxed walk around the Red Squirrel Trail, learn about our Red Squirrels and see if you can spot them . 09:30 hrs – Lifeboat Road, Formby. Meet in the car park, booking essential – call Sally on 0151 920 3769

Sunday 5th October – Get Sponsored for Sefton’s Squirrels – Come on our 5km family friendly sponsored walk on Formby’s coast between Lifeboat Road and Victoria Road. Click here to download a sponsor form.

The sponsored walk above will take you to the Family Fun Day (below) . Why not do both together?

Saturday 4th & 5th October – Red Squirrels Family Fun Day – Red Squirrel crafts and activities for all ages. No need to book just come along and join the fun. 11:00am to 3:00pm National Trust, Victoria Road, Freshfield.

Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th October – The Great North Squirrel Quest – Help us create a snap shot of where red and grey squirrels are across the north of England. Download survey forms from www.saveoursquirrels.com – News & Events.

Rare Black Fox

The media have been buzzing with excitement this week after a rare black fox was seen in the Chorley area.

Within hours, we fielded calls from BBC radio and television and numerous newspapers.

Graham Jones, our Reserves Manager, was featured on BBC's Northwest Tonight - see the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7624314.stm

It's currently the BBC's most popular news download!

The black fox was filmed by a member of the public and is the first to be seen in the county in living memory.

We were alerted to the possibility that the black fox might exist, by a call to the office three weeks ago, with a corroborated sighting, also in the Chorley area. However, no pictures were available.

The black fox was originally bred from the more normal red strain, in order to supply the fur trade. Some were released into the wild, but have always been rare because of their commercial value until the genetic strain became regressed. They are more common in North America, where they have not been hunted to the same extent.

Mythology tends to ascribe unlucky tendencies to any black creature: cats, dogs, crows etc. However, there is no evidence that the black fox has any such attributes. It is simply a genetic rarity and we hope that public interest will not disturb it unduly.

WILDLIFE TRUST ACHIEVES SUSTAINABLE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION

In order to receive the Annual Management Grant from the Forestry Commission through the English Woodland Grant Scheme, the Wildlife Trust had to apply for the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS), which is the UK's certification scheme for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In April 2008 we were audited under the Small & Low Intensity Managed Forest (SLIMF) category, which takes account of nature reserves, community and urban woodlands.

Minor Non-conformances and Observations were raised by the auditors, SGS and subsequently dealt with by Trust officers. In August 2008 the audit was approved by the FSC and the Trust was awarded the UKWAS. The certification will last for 5 years.

A total of 306 hectares of woodland on our nature reserves are now certified, as follows:

Astley Moss, Leigh;
Aughton Woods, Lancaster;
Boilton Wood, Preston;
Booths Plantation & Howick Hall Woods, Penwortham;
Cross Hill & Salthill Quarries, Clitheroe;
Dean Wood, Rivington;
Foxhill Bank, Oswaldtwistle;
Freshfield Dune Heath, Merseyside;
Haskayne Cutting, West Lancashire;
Heysham Moss, Lancaster;
Longworth Clough, Belmont & Bolton;
Lord’s Lot Bog, Carnforth;
Mere Sands Wood, Rufford;
Moor Piece, Bashall Eaves;
Pleasington Old Hall Wood, Blackburn;
Red Scar/Tunbrook Woods, Preston;
Summerseat, Ramsbottom, Bury;
Warton Crag, Lancaster; and
Willow Farm Wood, Gregson Lane.

For further information contact:

John Lamb
Senior Conservation Officer (Lancashire)
The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston. Lancs. PR5 6BY

mailto: jlamb@lancswt.org.uk
direct dial & voicemail: 01772 317240

TRUST STARTS NEW BUTTERFLY MANAGEMENT PROJECT

Dr Jennifer Newton

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and N. Merseyside is pleased to announce the commencement of a butterfly management programme at Warton Crag with the aid of a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund.

Warton Crag is a hugely important site both locally and nationally in supporting populations of several rare butterfly species. UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species of concern are the High Brown Fritillary, the Northern Brown Argus and Pearl-bordered Fritillary while the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is listed as a species of conservation concern. The mosaic of habitats favoured by these species are under constant threat of encroachment by scrub and dense bracken stands, and require continual management work to safeguard the success of these species. This project will focus on enhancing and maintaining existing areas of suitable habitat as well as restoring areas of grassland now dominated by scrub.

The High Brown Fritillary, which is the key focus of the project, lay their eggs within bracken litter in close proximity to violets, their larval foodplant. Management is therefore aimed at encouraging the growth of violets on the edge of bracken stands. The project will aim to carry out scrub clearing work, coppicing and bracken management. It is also hoped to trial new practical management techniques as well as purchase equipment to increase the efficiency of the work and ensure the extended areas can be managed adequately within current resources beyond the time frame of this project. This will be carried out alongside the current programme of grazing which also forms a key part of the management prescription for the site.

By maintaining the existing areas of habitat in favourable condition through additional management work and the creation of additional suitable habitats in close proximity, it is hoped to enable the site to support larger and hence more viable populations of these rare species. Management for High Brown Fritillary will also benefit both Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries while grassland management should benefit the Northern Brown Argus whose larvae feed on Common Rock-rose. In addition it will increase the areas of species rich grassland and associated limestone outcrops, itself supporting a number of r are plants such as Limestone Fern, Angular Solomon’s Seal and Dark Red Helleborine. This habitat also supports other notable invertebrate species such as moths Cistus Forester and Least Minor, both of which could benefit from this project.

Much of the work will be undertaken by volunteers through practical working party days, while more specialist work will be delivered by trained volunteers or staff members. The project will be supported by the Trust’s Heritage Lottery Funded Volunteer Project, which itself aims to promote opportunities and engage and support new and current volunteers. Through the engagement of local volunteers it is also hoped to strengthen links with the local community, raise awareness and build a strong core of support to assist with management and monitoring in the future.

High Brown Fritillaries can been seen during July and August, although usually only seen on warm, sunny and relatively still days, so if you are planning a visit to the Crag in the hope of catching a glimpse of these very special butterflies it is worth checking the weather forecast beforehand. The species can also be easily confused with the commoner Dark Green Fritillary which is also present on site, however if you are lucky enough to see one close up, the patterning on the underside of the wing is diagnostic.

RUN FOR YOUR WILDLIFE! You've seen it on the television, now YOU can take part in a sponsored run (or stroll if you prefer!)
	SUNDAY 8th JUNE 2008
Be part of the Doitforcharity run series and take part in the Manchester event whilst raising funds for the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and N Merseyside. The 2008 Doitforcharity.com Manchester 5km will take place at Heaton Park - register your interest today and make sure you are part of it! www.doitforcharity.com/lancswildlifetrust.aspx Information about the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and N Merseyside and sponsor forms available from Clare. tel. 01772 324129 ckenny@lancswt.org.uk
	SUNDAY 18th MAY 2008
General entries for the BUPA Great Manchester Run are now closed but we have 25 guaranteed places secured, one of these could be yours! Come and join in this exciting, mass participation, televised event which forms part of the Manchester World of Sport 08 campaign, the single biggest year of sport in Manchester since the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Entries, information about the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and sponsor forms available from Clare. Tel. 01772 324129 ckenny@lancswt.org.uk