TeesWildlife November 2018

Is yours 1a Real WWild WChild? W . T E E S W I L D L I F E . O R G

PwWewlcRwom.teetoethsiswisisOludeoliffWeild.oTeregTs. EI02WelcomeW Content design & editing:C TI N Gbelieve the species was never completely extinguished in the Tees DANIEL van den Toorn E Valley, with occasional reported sightings in the wilder beck valleys ofL Images: Dear Reader, Photography as credited.D In this issue we bring stories of two very different animals that have All uncredited photos permitted for use by Tees responded well to conservation efforts, the barn owl and otter. Valley Wildlife Trust. Otters had suffered from a long period of decline which was blamed Printed by:T on pollution, habitat damage and persecution. Although some people NEWTON PRESS the highly-urbanised Middlesbrough Becks. Front cover:WILDLIM By the early 1980’s there was just one pair of barn owls in the Tees East Cleveland, a confirmed return to the Tees was first noted at the turn Children playingE of this century with signs and sightings becoming increasingly common Ph oto s ou rces: dav id tipling/2020vision and the first photographic evidence of a Tees Valley otter being claimed Back cover:S at the Trust’s Portrack Marsh nature reserve in 2004. The species is DONATE TO the Trust now becoming well-established in the Tees Valley, with regular reports PHOTO SOURCES: Roe deer and from the Tees at Bowesfield, from Lustrum Beck in Stockton and even Sadly, not all of Tees Valley’s wildlife is fairing quite so well and we arebadger by Jon Hawkins (Surrey Hills Photography), peacock butterfly byFE FORI still seeing a decline in many species of animals and plants as land is Amy Lewis, swallows by Richard BowlerA Valley; habitat loss, agricultural pesticides and an absence of nest & hedgehog by Tom Marshal. sites having led to their steadily dwindling numbers. Thanks to con- All editorial and adver-G certed efforts, however, local barn owl specialists, Geoff Myers and tising enquiries to the Colin Gibson, were able to report that they had monitored 17 breeding Tees Valley Wildlife Trust at the address below.A pairs of barn owl in the Tees Valley last year, which had produced a The views expressed by combined total of 78 chicks; positive news and a sign of a healthy and the contributors to this magazine are not neces-Z growing population. sarily those of the editor Contributors: or the Council of the Wildlife Trust.THE FUNatural World UK / steve ashton [people and wildlife manager, tvwt] / jenny hagan [development developed, habitats lost and new pressures, such as the proliferation of © Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, 2018.N waste plastic, emerge. Funding for everything that society needs seems tighter than ever, so your support, as a member of the Wildlife Trust,E has never been more important. Jeremy Garside, Chief Executive manager, tvwt] / SUE ANTROBUS [TEES VALLEY WILD GREEN PLACES MANAGER, TVWT] / Kate Bartram [East Cleveland Heritage Officer, TVWT] / Daniel van den Toorn [Reserves Manager, TVWT] / becky stanley [community wildlife officer, tvwt] WILD TEES is published by: Tel: 01287 636382 C Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, Margrove Heritage Centre, E-mail: [email protected] Margrove Park, Boosbeck, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 3BZ. Registered charity number: 511068

/EN0T3SVOLUNTEER SPOT- W LIGHT - CommendingNATURAL WORLD - W Barrie Metcalfe, Super THE GREAT OTTER W Volunteer’, for all hisCOMEBACK - Follow-E 04years of hard working the rehabilitation 14WHERE THE WILD THINGS WERE - Thisof otter numbers from . fascinating project col- lecting memories ofnear extinction.G 06childhood is now avail- T able as a book. 16MAKING EVEN MORE E HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES - A new ma-NATURAL WORLDE chine is making light- BEING A WILDLIFE- work of the wildflower I 08meadow management.FRIENDLY FARMER 18GOING WILD IN HARD- WICK DENE - Work-- Taking a look at one S ing with children and families to become wildfarmer who is bringingR 10atheart. 20REPRODUCTIVEnature back to his farmW. HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT - An-I other way our fates are BARN OWL PROJECT, LU 12tied to the state of the 22environmentLIKEPULLING TEETH,-D BUT IN A GOOD WAY We look at how much L can be learned from owl pellets. I F LIFE SKILLS - This E project just got funding for another three years . and we find out why that’s so important. O RCONT/ G SUMMER WITH SAM- MY THE RAINBOW SNAIL - Our snails go on the road and help encourage families back to local green spaces.

04 Volunteer Are you aged 16-21? SpotlightW Find Your Bright Future as a Barrie MetcalfeI One Planet PioneerL Our Development Manager, Jen Hagan, tells us about a star in theD New Horizons for ‘One Planet Pioneer’ volunteer firmament. apprentices.T We are incredibly lucky at At the end of NovembeR, our One Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to have the support of such talented andE Planet Pioneer apprentices (Jess, Emily committed volunteers. In this Spotlight we wanted to thank someone who has not only and Zannah - pictured below), who have dedicated many years to our cause, but hasE been training with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust full- also helped almost every single member of time for a year, will be taking their skills and staff with his willingness to take on the most confidence onto pastures new as they apply to varied of tasks. prospective employers. They have worked veryS hard towards completing a Level 2 City and In 2016, Barrie Metcalfe received our (most prestigious) Green Volunteer award and is a Guilds qualification in Environmental Conserva- wildlife champion, whether here, at home, in the tion and have developed good relationships with local community and even abroad. All of us at all members of staff here at the Trust. In addi- the Trust wanted the chance to say thank you tion to gaining a wide variety of practical skills in and let everyone know what a great impact Bar-M habitat management, the apprentices have been rie has had here and so, despite trying to stay out of the spotlight, this time (and about time) busy during the summer months assisting with it’s on him. an extensive programme of community-basedA events. We wish them all the very best in their Barrie first volunteered for the Trust in 1994, when it was based at Kirkleatham Museum in own bright futures and look forward to hearing Redcar.G about all their successes. “My happy days as a volunteer for TVWTA But this is not the end of the Our Bright Future – One started after my early retirement, 24 years Planet Pioneer Project, which will continue with Big ago, with a wife who wanted ‘me out from Lottery Funding until 2021. And so we are now looking under her feet’. As the Trust was just up theZ to recruit a new team of four young people aged 16- road it seemed the logical place to look for 21, who will start their training in January 2019. If you a day helping out. The tasks I have been in- or someone you know, would like further information volved with over the years have certainly beenI on training or volunteering with this project, please get extremely varied, with everything from shop work, to desk filing and organisation, events in touch with Becky Stanley at: rstanley@teeswildlife. preparation, computer database inputs andN org much, much more, but never boring.”E Barrie is an avid fan of wildlife and, for many years now, has regularly put food out for hedge- hogs in his garden. It is very clear how much Barrie loves wildlife when he starts chatting about his little nocturnal garden visitors. He has regular jaunts to Portugal, which we always love to hear about when he returns. Whilst on holiday he takes photographs of any species of birds, butterflies or flowers he does not recognize and tests our knowledge on identification when he returns!

05 WMore recently Barrie has helped out most with our in- “Barrie used to spend a lot of time making up the new Wcreasing community engagement work through edu- members welcome packs. I would feel so guilty asking Wcation and events. Behind every wildlife road show are Barrie to do this for me, as I’m sure that being such an .our unsung heroes, like Barrie, doing stacks of prepa- intelligent gentleman, he could have been put to better Tration such as pre-cutting badges, photocopying ac- use, but he has excellent organisational skills and would Etivity sheets, laminating posters and filling take home put them to use with a smile and saying ‘anything to Epacks for families. Our Wings of the Tees Officer Sarah, help’. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Barrie for help- Shad this to say: ing me at our busiest times.” W I “We have lost count of the hours Barrie has spent We hope Barrie has gained as much from us as we L cutting various wildlife shapes out of card, painting have from working with him. He has told us how im- D things, sticking things to other things. A lot of this can portant volunteering has been to him: L be very tedious and labour intensive work, but Barrie I always gets on with diligence and a warm smile. He “My Tuesday visits have given me the opportunity to F is a joy to have around the office.” meet and enjoy the company of a great many staff E members, who have without fail been wonderful. It has .All of his efforts have undoubtedly led to many peo- given me a very fulfilling extra dimension to my life.” Ople becoming members of the Tees Valley Wildlife RTrust. He has also been involved with entering eval- Ultimately, without Barrie we would have fewer mem- Guation data from questionnaires which has helped bers, fewer people engaged with the natural environ-us apply for many grants to continue our valuable ment, less funding and the office simply wouldn’t bework. such a happy place. Super star volunteer doesn’t even come close!His assistance on so many different projects overthe years has also resulted in the engagement ofthousands of little children (and big children!). Help-ing with engagement at these events gives us evenmore opportunities to encourage our next genera-tion of environmental stewards; it’s impossible to puta price on that or to quantify it in any way.Barrie also recognises just how important our lesswildlife-focused work is and has been a great supportto our Membership Officer, Jody:

Photo credits: Book cover illus-06 Our well loved ‘Where the Wild Things Were’ tration inset by House of Type,Our East Clevelandproject has finally come to an end. After two action boys swimming from EastW Heritage Officer,packed years of public and community engagement, Cleveland Image ArchivesKate Bartram, tellswhere we have gathered and shared information on the last I us her exciting news of the free roaming childhoods in East Cleveland, we have about the ‘Where the highlighting some of the profound impacts on wildlife and L Wild Things Were’ the landscape over nearly 90 years of memories. With fund- book and website ing from the Heritage Lottery Fund we recorded the memo- D launch. ries of over 50 people and after many hours of editing, tran- scribing and compiling, with the support of a fantastic team T of dedicated volunteers, we have developed two fantastic E new resources. E S TEarvuaassCttiolaCfpaoblniereldevs£e5apol.taaf0nclt0ikbdhpareogalubrrinsiofegrposo.koamscatrrtaoehgsees M In October we gathered together our interviewees A and volunteers to celebrate the end of the project and G to launch both our listening webpage and our Where A the Wild Things Were book. We also formally trans- Z ferred all our recordings and records to Teesside Ar- I chives for safeguarding for future generations. N So that people could listen to the voices of our inter- E viewees, Matthew Charlton and Francesca Zealley, students at Teesside University, developed a web- page as part of their digital media course. We have loaded over 200 sound clips from our interviewees of people talking about various memories linked to their place in the landscape. Lots of different icons relate to different themes from potato picking and collecting bird’s eggs to memories of specific wild-

07 Wlife, such as water voles and red squirrels; the mem- viewees and interviewers as children. It is bound Wories are sorted by childhood decades. If you fancy to evoke many memories of childhoods past, but is Wa trip down memory lane or would like to see how also a sobering reflection on those of the present. .your parents and grandparents childhoods com- Our celebration event was such a fabulous way to Tpare to your own, then please visit: www.wildthings. end what has been a really well supported project Eteeswildlife.org for the Trust. It has been wonderful to engage with EThe book celebrates the essence of free roam- older members of our East Cleveland community Sing childhoods and is titled ‘Where the Wild Things and discover the important contribution they can WWere’. Lizzie Hannah, one of our volunteers, led the make to conservation through their experiences. We Iway by transcribing and editing many of the memo- have heard many stories, some happy, some reflec- Lries recorded in the book. You can read collections tive and others that have been quite tragic. Every Don childhood activities, such as making and using person we interviewed had something fascinating to Lcatapults, finding and eating wild food, wild pets and tell us and each interview was thoroughly enjoyable. Ifishing, and all of it illustrated with archival and more We are delighted that we can share these memories Frecent photographs, as well as pictures of our inter- through the website and the book. E . O R G

08 For many years now, Tees Valley W Wildlife Trust has been supported by Northumbrian Water Ltd. (NWL), both with funding and as partners in various projectsI to improve habitat and the safeguarding our wild spaces. Tees Valley Wildlife Trust currentlyL plays a part in managing areas owned by NWL at Portrack Marsh, Scaling Dam and now a newD site at Guisborough. This is a new site and has been laid predominantly to meadow. It also incorporates some pre-existing stream access, ponds and wooded slopes.T Wildflower-rich grazing pastures are an importantE feature of this area, providing a beautiful splash of colour through the summer months as well asE supporting a wide variety of butterflies and other insects. Many of these can no longer be main-S tained in the traditional way with grazing animalsMaking because of their urban setting, so they need to be cut and raked each year or their wildflower mix will steadily decline and be replaced with coarseEVEN MOREM grasses. A decent machine is key to the future of these important habitats.A The Trust will continue to manage the meadowG hay while with a yearly cut, fascilitated by generous fund- ing towards new machinery to aid the cutting ofthe sunA wildflower meadows on both our respective land Our Reserves holdings.Z Manager, Dan shines! van den Toorn, We are now the proud owners of a brand new bankI tells us about his mower with a large (51 inch/130cm) reciprocating new pride and joy! cutting bar (basically a big beard trimmer)! Now,N despite what people say, in grass cutting terms size is everything, and with the new machine weE can cut in one day what would have taken us two days with our older (smaller) machine. Add to this its ability to swap the cutting head for other acces- sories, such as a mechanical hay rake, and you can imagine that this has greatly increased what we can achieve with our time. It’s also helping to make meadow management tasks less laborious for our hard working volunteers. Our thanks go out to Northumbrian Water for their ongoing support.

BOXING CLEVER 09 WWe would like to give our winged wildlife friends a helping hand Wwithin the River Tees Rediscovered area, throughout the Tees WValley, and at our fantastic new nature reserve at Lazenby Woods. .Boxes are required for small birds and bats, with different styles of Tbat boxes needed (as bats are fussy!). E EWe are looking for anyone who has the time to volunteer who may Salready be good with wood or are looking to gain more experiencein working with wood. This voluntary role can be flexible. The boxesare to be made at the workshop at our Margrove Heritage Centreoffice.For more information please contact Sarah Barry, Wings of the TeesOfficer at: [email protected] or on 01286 636383. WARE YOU GOOD WITH IMACHINES? L DWILL YOU VOLUNTEER LYOUR TIME TO HELP US? I FWe need your help AS A VOLUNTEER! Tees Valley Wildlife Trust have many machines that require Eregular maintenance - everything from strimmers to two-wheeled tractors, as well as a fleet of vehicles .that need to be in the best shape possible for us to do our work.Are you a retired mechanic? Are you inbetween work or looking for experience to put on a CV? We are looking Ofor a volunteer with the right skills to help us with regular maintenance to ensure all our machinery is ready togo when we need it. If you think this is something you can help with or you would like some more information, Rplease get in touch (if this sounds like someone you know, please tell them about this opportunity).To help us choose the right candidate, please send us a short e-mail about yourself and your experience Gworking with machines. We need someone with a friendly, helpful manner, who is willing to work in a busyworkshop environment, alongside many other projects, staff and volunteers. Due to the nature of our workwith young people and vulnerable adults, a criminal records check will be required before starting, but will beconsidered as part of a fair and equal opportunity volunteer recruitment policy.Please contact us via the details at the front of this magazine. We look forward to hearing from you!

1W 0Go ingI Wild inLD HardwickT DeneEES Our People and Wildlife manager, Steve Ashton, tells us a tale of adventure in the wilderness, where a group of heroic children escape the clutches of the evil Tellybox ... at least for a little while.OM n average, Britain’s a healthy lunch for the children young people watch more who attended. One of the high-A than 17 hours of televi- lights of the session was a picnic sion a week: that’s almost two- underneath a large poplar tree; and-a-half hours per day, ev- we were even joined by a pop-G ery single day of the year. And lar hawk moth caterpillar, which while nature does have more fell into someone’s sandwiches! competition for the attention The programme offered familiesA of today’s children, there’s sig- and young people an opportunity nificant evidence that children to explore the nature reserve onZ would really like to spend more their door step. The participants time outdoors. And that is just also had the chance to achieve what a small group of families a John Muir Award, which is di-I and young people did as part of vided into four parts - Discover, the Trust’s ‘Go Wild in Hardwick Explore, Conserve and Share. Dene’ project, funded throughN Stockton-on-Tees Public Health Some of the families were dis-E - School Holiday Enrichment covering Hardwick Dene for the Programme. first time; they didn’t realise they had a nature reserve right on their The programme was developed doorstep! Some of the children, because school holidays can be a on the other hand, already knew difficult time for families without about the Dene, but didn’t realise access to free school meals, but its value as a wildlife haven. We also because children’s physical explored the site looking for but- activity and educational attain- terflies and dragonflies, caught ment levels drop over these pe- grasshoppers and woodlice, riods. picked blackberries and cherries. In the pond, we found water boat- The Trust worked with Hard- men, pond skaters and leeches, wick in Partnership to deliver a then the mallard ducks came to six week programme based in say hello. We built dens, made Hardwick Dene, which included leaf prints and bark rubbings,

went bird watching and created natural art. To conserve 11the site we went on a litter pick, made bird feeders and Winsect hotels. We did lots of walking and played educational No blank stares, no apathy - just children being Wgames that got everyone’s hearts beating a little faster. fully engaged in what they do best - eking out WTo share what they had done, everyone made their own every last bit of enjoyment from the day and .log book, recording what they had done in photographs, working up a healthy appetite doing it! Twords and pictures; some will be taking these back to Eschool to share with the rest of their class. Everyone who Ecame seemed to have a good time, including the mums and Sdads who joined in with everything. One child said, “We’ve Wlearned more here than at school.” Another said, “It’s the Ibest adventure I have ever been on!” These are crucial Linsights into the importance of outdoor play and outdoor Dlearning; two things that are often hard to tell apart. LChildren are not allowed to roam and play out of doors Ianymore! Statistics show in a single generation, since the F1970’s, children’s radius of activity - the area around whichchildren are allowed to roam unsupervised - has declinedby almost 90%. This and other statistics on the decline ofchildhood freedoms, have been backed up by the Trust’s“Where the Wild Things Were” project, which has recordedthe memories of childhood from generations past.These circumstances can lead to “Nature Deficit Disorder”,a condition which describes the human cost of alienationfrom nature. Among them: diminished use of the senses,attention difficulties and higher rates of physical and emo-tional illnesses.Not only do we need to give our children and young peoplethe benefits of fresh air, natural light, open spaces and asense of freedom, but we must recognise that it also freesthem for a time from the stresses of modern life (as it freesus all, no matter our age). So, whether you take your chil-dren or grandchildren to the park, nature reserve or localgreen space or get involved in @30DayWild, it is vital thatthey (and you) get the opportunity to be in touch with nature,to make shared memories that will shape them into adultswho will pass on the joy of nature to their own children. E . O R G

12 Our Reserves manager, W Dan van den Toorn, I relates some very compel- L ling reasons why being D good to the planet is better for you than just being good to yourself.TEES Reproductive HealthM and the Environment -A Our Fates are TiedGHA uman male fertility has halved population decline. Many environmentalists would in the last 40 years! Why, you might suggest that population decline in humans is no badZ ask, is this shocking statistic featuring in thing (from the standpoint of fewer humans = lower a Wildlife magazine? Because the environmental environmental pressure - assuming we carry onI conditions we are creating for ourselves are one the way we have up to this point). But as a species of the chief causes of this decline. And it’s not only who prides itself on self-determinism, we are look-N affecting human fertility - fish, frogs, bees, birds... ing woefully fatalistic in our limited efforts to save - almost all life around us is experiencing the side ourselves - from ourselves! (Will future technologiesE effects of our toxic ways of living. really save us from the hard choices?) Current studies have been connecting drastically It is important to remember a few things: many of increased rates of infertility in human males to sin- these contaminants have been around and in our gular or combined chemical residues from human environment for some time now (phthalates, for waste in the environment. This is happening both example, were discovered in the 1920’s and widely through individual exposure and mother to son replaced the volatile additive, camphor, shortly in utero. While medical interventions, such as IVF, thereafter). This would suggest the current effects allow a certain amount of ‘course correction’ in are just the tip of the iceberg. Many of the hormo- our own species, the wider environmental damage nally reactive agents in pharmaceuticals are potent may very well nudge us back onto a path of human even after they have been excreted and often find

Notable among the chemical 13toxins we routinely release Winto the environment are: W W Pesticides - neonicotinoids, Phthalates from Pharmaceuticals - eve- .which have been shown to be plastics - both by rything from paracetamol T lethal to bees, are currently contact contamina- to prozac can be excreted E tion of the food we E being reviewed by the EU, eat (packaging) and and survive sewage S however a touted replace- from the millions of treatment processes to W ment based on sulfoximine tonnes we throw away enter watercourses and I (which has already been every day leaching multiple food chains, L regulated for use in Canada, into the environment. including our own. This is D Australia and China), has Phthalates are plas- also the case for effluentbeen shown (by UK research) ticisers which make run-off from farm land as to reduce bee reproductivity plastics more flexible, meat producers often relyand thereby threatens further but are also routinely on antibiotics to maintain used in cosmetics population decline. and scented products. animal health. Anti- Basically they disrupt depressants have been the function of repro- shown to affect starling ductive hormones mating cycles; the con- such as oestrogen and traceptive pill has been shown to cause male fish testosterone. to become more female (or intersex), affecting reproduction.their way into our watercourses, having eluded fil- have been led to believe - many millions of tonnes of L Itration in outdated sewage treatment works. Many plastic sent for recycling are still ending up in landfill F Epesticides are easily absorbed and migrate through because it is unwashed or otherwise contaminated). . Othe foodchain, having harmful effects beyond their Instead, I’m going to say - be mindful and practice R Gtarget species. abnegation - literally: give something up!So what is the answer to this tale of woe? Look at the plastic in your home, is there anythingGovernments will legislate, scientists will devise you can do without? Give up buying bottled waternew-and-improved chemical compounds to suit our and get into the habit of filling a re-usable one fromneeds; big pharma will never stop finding new ways the tap. Reduce the need for pharmaceuticals withto market our infirmity, but at least outdated sewage lifestyle choices that positively affect health and well-treatment methods might be replaced with higher being (getting out into nature is one of the best). Givelevels of filtration... But what can we do? up on the expectation of perfect fruit and veg, all year round; buy organic or grow your own - over-intensi-Or is the key question - always - ‘what can we fication of farming and pesticide use are reactions todo without?’ Instead of telling you how to replace public demand and the market forces used to driveone need with another, less harmful one; instead of that demand. Remember, our buying habits influ-reinforcing the recycle message (which we all know ence what we are sold; if you want your money toby now, but is actually not the complete solution we go towards a better future, don’t be sold a bad one!

14LOVE WILDLIFE Utterly at home inW the water, an otter polishes o an eel for Laurie Campbell’s cameraI The great o erL comebackD Forty years ago, pollution and habitat destruction hadT almost wiped out otters in England. But times change Last August, an otter across the UK. If they do, itE was found dead in will be in part due to e orts Sussex. It might by The Wildlife Trusts, the sound like a tragedy, but in Environment Agency, Water many ways it is a cause for companies and many othersE celebration. Otters had to clean up our rivers.” made a miraculous There is more to celebrate comeback across many than the simple presenceS areas of the UK, but in the of otters, however. With South East the population Miriam the benefit of science was recovering more Darlington is the we now understand the slowly: this was evidence author of Otter complex relationship indicating that otters are Country (2012) between predators and their present, even if in small and Owl Sense. ecosystems. In Yellowstone,M numbers. USA, reintroduced wolves “We have waited a long have improved biodiversity. time for otters to return,” says Fran O the west coast of the US, aA Southgate from Sussex Wildlife recovering population of sea otters Trust. “We have lost vast areas of have helped restore kelp beds – a natural wetland, and few of our crucial habitat and absorber of CthOa2tG rivers and wetlands can be seen as – by feeding on the sea urchins natural or healthy. Otters are only just were wiping the kelp out.A beginning to re-colonise the South So if a predator is under threat, East. It is fantastic to think that within there is a serious issue to address. How to spot an otter the next 10-20 years, they may regain The otter in Britain is a primeZ their previous population levels example, where it plays an important role in the ecosystems of our rivers. Get up early From the Industrial Revolution, the 1 Dawn and dusk are theI otter began to su er a decline from best times. It is also when persecution, pollution and damage CHRIS GOMERSALL/2020VISION. INSET: RICHARD ASUSTIN much other wildlife is most LAURIE CAMPBELL to its habitat. Following the Second active. Their behaviour mayN World War, its situation worsened give away an otter’s presence due to the proliferation of agricultural poisons and the most misguidedE period of land management side vegetation. Once widespread, in history, when rivers were the otter began to vanish. By the straightened and cleared of bank- 1970s, it was facing extinction. Otters are happy in the sea too. Look We need The recovery that followed is for them on quiet Scottish beaches farming remarkable, but new threats are and industrial replacing old ones. Pollutants such policies that as fire-retardant chemicals used in help us keep clothing, carpets and household our otters furnishings can leach into rivers. These chemicals have been found to impair reproduction and immune functions in seals, and concentrations have been found in the livers of otters.

15 WObserve other animals Look for other clues Get lucky W W2 Otters are formidable 3 A tell-tale trail of bubbles 4 Otters are now on every . predators. A flock of ducks might mean the otter has seen river catchment in the UK. T Esuddenly swimming rapidly one you first! Belly-slide marks into They have even been seen in E Sway, glancing over their shoulders, water, paw prints on mud, and poo the heart of some of our biggest W Icould be a sign of an otter nearby. (spraints) are all promising signs. cities, so you never know... L D The Wildlife Trusts are part of What a recovery 1977-79 1995-2016 LBlueprint for Water, a coalition of Icharities working with Government The 1977-79 map shows Fto restore the UK’s rivers, lakes and recorded signs of otters Ewaterways to meet the European from the first Otter Survey .Water Framework Directive’s of England. The later one Odeadlines. gathers together 1995-2016 R presence data. It is taken G As we leave the EU, it’s critical from The Mammal Society’s Athat we retain strong regulations Review of the Population andabout what goes into our rivers. Conservation Status of BritishThat includes farming and industrial Mammals: Technical Summary.policies that help us keep ourotters, and continue their amazingcomeback.

16LIVING LANDSCAPESWI “My dad ploughed upLD hedges; I planted them.” What does it take to be a wildlife-friendly farmer? Simon Barnes finds out from Guy TuckerWT e forget about the passion You have to business, sure, but o er Guy a for land. We are, more than work four non-farming business with twice as ever, city people these or five years much money and half as much work, days. We talk about real estate, and ahead he’d turn you down flat.E think that land is something to do what kind of life can spring from it. A His family have been farming the with money, and that the land gardener knows something of this; a same land for three generations. It becomes better – ie more valuable farmer knows a great deal more. was a beltingly hot day, and we tookE – as soon as you’ve got planning a cut through woodland past the I was walking with Guy Tucker, places where Guy played as a boy. permission to build on it. We’ve around his farm in Hertfordshire, and From the shade we looked out at tall forgotten that land is life. it was clear from the first step that he hedges, wide field margins, areasMATTHEW ROBERTSS Human life, yes, and many other is a man of passions. Farming is a planted for pollen and nectar, wild bird cover. kinds of life as well. And that can stir the most profound feelings in the We have grown accustomed to the human soul, not for what kind of notion that farming and wildlife income the land will generate, butM Jordans supplier Guy Tucker manages more than ten perA cent of his farm for wildlifeGAZINE Simon Barnes is a sports and wildlife journalist, and author of How to be a Bad Birdwatcher

17 W W WGuy is passionate about combining farming and wildlife Properly maintained hedges shelter birds and mammals . T E E S W IWide field margins feature nectar and pollen bearing plants And there’s still plenty of crops for a sustainable business Lconservation are incompatible. for wildlife: buzzing with bees, farming. “You need a solid base toFarmers have been seen as the flashing with butterflies, jumping your business to be able to do this,”enemy of wildlife – and if there is with mammals and singing he said. “You have to work Dsome truth in that, it’s a view that’s a with birds. The scheme is constantly four or five yearsgeneration out of date here. important for what it does; ahead.” “My father was one of the worst,” and also because it shows We passed a handsome LGuy remembered. “And his what can be done. badger sett in the wood.neighbour was just the same. But Guy was drawn into this From the harsh blue sky athat’s changing. My father ploughed creative way of managing buzzard yowled suddenly. Iup hedges; I’ve planted them.” land by changes in farming. Guy’s farm has the biggestGuy runs one of 40 farms that Mixed farms – combining population of linnets andsupply Jordans with the oats they arable and livestock – bramblings in the county. Fmake their products from. A became unprofitable and And why not? It’s all thepartnership between Jordans and the Tucker family were same thing: managing landThe Wildlife Trusts (see panel below) forced to sell their cattle.requires the farmer to manage at so that it supports more life. E Guy felt he was ready, as one In the UK, 70 percent of allleast ten per cent of farmland for of the next generation, to land is farmed: it’s thrillingwildlife. Woodland doesn’t count. take on new challenges, and that an increasing amount .Guy is well over that ten per cent. make them work financially. of the life supported by The total for all Jordans farms is And that is always the Look for our logo farms is wild, and vital that O on packets ofmore than 4,000 hectares managed greatest challenge in Jordans cereal it continues.Here’s what we’re achieving 954 hectares R of woodland GThe Jordans Farm Partnership Total area of All 40with The Wildlife Trusts assigns habitat Jordans 768 kman advisor to each farm from the 4,580 hedgerowslocal Wildlife Trust. Using their hectares farmsexpertise on the local area, the 131 km ofadvisors develop a bespoke farm Total area of waterwaysplan, focussing on key species farmed landand habitats relevant to the 15,500 94 wildlifefarm’s local landscape. hectares ponds

Photo credits: Barn Owl by David Tipling/2020VISION, Harvest Mouse by Charles Thody,18 Wood Mouse rodent bones by Liz Musgrove, Wood Mouse by Sue Lloyd, Field Vole by MargaretW Our East Holland, Water Shrew by Niall Benvie, Common Shrew by Carl Wright. Cleveland Field Vole I Heritage Officer, Water Shrew Kate Bartram, Common Shrew L tells us how owl pellets can reveal D as much about the prey as it can about the predator. T E Barn Owl E Project Like S Pulling Teeth, but M in a good way! A G OA ver the past few weeks, volunteers have been gathering at the Margrove Z Heritage Centre to practise some forensic pathology skills. Watching a lot of crime dramas I wasn’t going to be of much use here, however, as these volunteers have been helping identify N the small mammal species found in barn owl pel- lets (from the remains of skulls and teeth) as part E of our ‘Nest Box Network Project’. This project, funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Northumbrian Water’s ‘Branch Out Fund’, is using the analysis of pellets collected from nest box and roost sites to improve our knowledge of East Cleveland barn owl diet, as well as gaining a better understanding of the distribution of some of our lesser recorded small mammal species, such as the house mouse and the harvest mouse.

19The barn owl is such a beautiful addition to the land- scape that many landowners are keen to put up a nest box for them, but it is essential that new nest sites are also supported with a natural supply of food W for growing owlets. Barn owls prey predominantly on small mammals: W mice, voles and shrews. They swallow them whole and quietly digest them. After a while, they cough out the indigestible remains including fur, bone and W teeth as an owl pellet. Within these pellets are the skulls and bones of small mammals and birds, as . well as other interesting finds, like the remains of dragonflies and beetles. Te Our volunteers are working through owl pellets col- lected at various locations across East Cleveland to determine what our barn owls have been eating. E They separate the skulls and other remains from a dark matrix of fur and begin their identification work E - and with small mammals, it’s all to do with the den- tition. There is much looking through hand lenses and pulling of teeth to work out which species and S the species numbers present at each site. Did you know mice and rats have knobbly teeth, W voles have teeth in zig-zags and shrew teeth are red? To tell the different species of mice and voles the vol- I unteers pull a tooth and looked at tooth sockets and the tooth roots. For shrews it’s a little more tricky ande is based on the cusps on the end tooth. Lw “I love it”, said volunteer Judith Powell. “You just D don’t know what you will find in each pellet and it is rewarding seeing the results develop as we go along.” L The volunteers will hopefully work through pellets I over a series of years to determine whether therew are variations in diet and to help build a more com- prehensive picture of the distribution of our smaller F mammals. We’ll report more results when we have them, so stay tuned! E . O It was a bit gruesome at first, but once R I got into it, I was fascinated! It feels G like doing an autopsy and you get so absorbed in the detail of all the little bones - not just the skulls (from which we could identify the species), but oth- ers too, like tiny rib bones and vertebrae. Small but perfectly formed - totally amazing!

20W SKILLSI I F ELLD Jen Hagan, Tees Valley Development Manager, tellsT us how, as one door closes, another has opened for ourE Life Skills project.ERS egular readers will know we are big vation awards; taking part in 223 sessions of nature re- champions of nature for health and wellbe- serve management, green woodwork, blacksmithing, ing and have reported on several projects wildlife gardening, dry stone walling and bushcraft. The over the years that improved the lives of many findings from our unique ‘nature and wellbeing assess- people with poor mental health, long-term physi- ment’ showed that, after just 12 weeks, people felt fitter, cal conditions, learning disabilities, loneliness or more able to make good decisions, more connected toM recovering from addiction. We have many suc- their communities and had a more positive outlook. We cesses in bringing our projects to the people who found that not only were we working with those who need them, but more than this, we measure our needed this project the most, but they improved theirA success by whether we have given people what overall wellbeing by 10% in 12 weeks. We have been they need and not simply patting ourselves on the lucky enough to work with many new partners, as well,G back for delivering our best intentions. And hav- allowing us to reach new people: Middlesbrough and ing delivered something that works we are com- Stockton Mind, Steps Disability Support and local NHS mitted to measuring our ongoing effectiveness, Foundation Trust facilities, to name a few.A changing where we need to and ensuring that we can continue to deliver these services for the These outcomes are in no small part thanks to the workZ long-term. of amazing people like Mat, Dan and Amy, here at the Trust, who have helped people facing all kinds of chal- Life Skills, launched in 2015 and funded by the Big Lot- lenges above and beyond what was expected. [EditorsI tery Reaching Communities Fund, was based on a lot Note: and Jenny herself, who wrote this article, but is of evidence we had collected about what worked to too modest to recognise the work she has done to plan increase people’s confidence, independence, self-es- the projects, generate both the research and most ofN teem and relationships, through nature. Over the past the fundraising; as well as being wholly committed to 3 years we have completely smashed our targets for the ideals of inclusivity and outreach, which has driven this project, working with 145 people who achieved the Trust to succeed in our aims to really make a differ-E 104 volunteering certificates and 63 John Muir conser- ence to health and wellbeing in our area and beyond.]

21 WIt is fair to say that Life Skills has been a roaring suc- nature reserves and green places. It should never be Wcess, but when the funding was due to end in June forgotten that the impacts of nature and of giving in the W2018, we had that familiar feeling of ‘well, what now?’ community are felt in everything from the quality of the .Individuals wanted to continue working with us, or- air we breathe to how safe we feel and how we deal Tganisations wanted the same, but our original plans to with the stresses and strains of daily life. Efund the project after this through NHS money were, We have already made improvements and we will trial Eas you might already guess from media coverage of changes to how we deliver Life Skills in the future, but Sthe NHS’s own money troubles, growing less and less the main difference is that we need to get the word out Wlikely by the day. to help everyone recognise the importance of services IBig Lottery, though, is a forward-thinking funder and like this in every aspect of our lives. Life Skills is not a Lwe are a forward-thinking charity. At the beginning of project for people that tick a box or fall into a category Dthe year we had open and honest conversations with or even just for those who are ‘unwell’: it is for all of us Lthem, during which we demonstrated how Life Skills to use, to appreciate and to inspire us to talk about our Ihad truly become a ‘people-led’ project, that we had amazing Tees Valley wildlife as much as it deserves. Fproved was both wanted and needed. They heard us Over the next 3 years we will be taking every oppor- Eand suggested we apply for funding to continue. tunity to present our work to anyone with the abil- .Life Skills developed from something that was 100% ity to support it beyond 2021, we will be encouraging Ofor people, to also being by people and the Big Lot- everyone to talk about the benefits to friends, family, Rtery could see this and valued it enough to offer us employers, on social media, to their GP’s and MP’s. Gfunding for another 3 years. 132 people (at least) will If you feel you can help or you know someone whonow get the opportunity to find whatever it is that con- could benefit from Life Skills, please have a look on ournects them to nature and improves the way they feel. website for more details or contact me at the Trust, viaFurthermore, thousands of people across Teesside details at the front of this magazine. I look forward towill benefit from the work these volunteers do on our hearing from you!

22 Sue Antrobus, Tees Valley Wild W Green Places Manager, tells us about I what a successful summer it has been L for the Sammy the Rainbow Snail family D wildlife roadshow!TE Summer withE Sammy the Rainbow SnailSOM ver the 2018 summer holidays Sammy the Snail visited 11 green sitesA across the Tees Valley, engaging 1,743 people, thanks to the help of nine “Friends of“G groups and the input of 46 volunteers and three apprentices.A These events provided opportunities for families to visit and enjoy their local green space, take part inZ fun activities to learn about snails and other mini- beasts, as well meeting theI volunteers from the groups Our apprentice, Zannah, expertly bringing Sammy theN who care for these green snail to life for children visiting the roadshows. gems. The highlight of each day was a visit from SammyE Children were fascinated the Rainbow Snail. Lots of families took selfies of with our friendly snails and themselves and their children with this exceedingly learning about how snails rare gastropod! move, see, taste and smell Our 3D model snail was a great hit too; we were all their surroundings. Coming amazed by how complex their internal anatomy was, into close contact with and how their stomach was coiled inside their shell. our two pet African land But where is the brain, we all asked? snails (Bill and Ben) was especially popular. All the Questions like these formed part of the snail quiz, children were extremely which proved to be a challenge for all ages and a gentle and caring when great way to learn. The most popular facts were that handling our slimy friends. snails have a rough tongue, called a radula, which

23 W Families visiting the roadshows got in touch with their creativity by fashioning colourful snails from all kinds of Photo credit: David Sanderson W materials. W .looks something like a file with rows of thousands Tof tiny teeth called dendicles. We also learned that Ethey don’t have a brain like we do, but rather a Eseries of ganglia (like carrier bags filled with neu- Srons) that control different parts of their whole Wnervous system. I LOur visiting families enjoyed getting creative, mak- Ding colourful snails from loo rolls and modelling Lclay. The snail finger puppets, badges and book Imarks were also popular. There was a hunt the Fsnail game and younger children pretended to Ebe song thrushes and were given a beak (plastic .tweezers) with which to hunt for laminated paper Osnails. They found the colourful rainbow snails Rmuch easier to find than green and brown ones. GThe children quickly worked out that if you were asnail, being camouflaged would help you escapethe beady eyes of predators.Older children and adults puzzled over our ‘Is it aMollusc challenge?’. It’s amazing that as well asslugs and snails, that cuttlefish, squid and octopusare also molluscs.Mini-beast hunting was as popular as ever!Our humorous leaflet “How to protect your prizeplants from chomping snails and slugs, whilst stillbeing a nice person”, was appreciated by gardenersand formed part of our take home pack. You can trythe quiz and find all our other information online at:www.tvgreenplaces.co.uk/2018/09/a-wonderful-sunny-summer-with-sammy-the-rainbow-snail/ At about 4.5 inches, fully extended, our Africansnails were a BIG hit with visitors. Here you can seeBill....no Ben....no, er, one of our snails showing he’s not afraid of anyone.

24The Perfect Gift for those who like to.... W ~ Escape the stresses and strains of modern life ~ I ~ Look for adventures in new and exciting places ~ L ~ Learn about the natural world around them ~ D ~ Care for their local environment ~ T If this sounds like someone you know (or you want to drop a hint for your own Christmas present), try Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Membership from just E £12 per year! E S M A G A Z I N E To find out about our offers & get your gift in time for Christmas 2018, please place your orders by 12 noon on Monday 7th December! You can call us on: 01287 636382 or e-mail [email protected]