Roebuck 153 - Spring 2021

The member magazine for Northumberland Wildlife Trust Spring 2021 | 153 Roebuck grow wild Eight tips to help nature improve your garden crops together for nature Gillian Burke reflects on diversity in conservation spring seabirds Call of the sea Meet the birds that have mastered the waves

Welcome 6 Fifty years and counting! It’s amazing that Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been fighting for wildlife and connecting people to nature for over 50 years. We have much to celebrate - both small and large scale, with incredible nature reserves and large area projects, great efforts that have saved and extended key species and habitats. Perhaps, even more importantly, NWT has involved thousands of people every year in caring for nature and ensuring it stays in the minds of everyone who manages land and space where nature is. As a voluntary grassroots charity, funded by membership, donations and grants, it has been a massive achievement to have built the Trust to its current levels and sustained its large-scale activity and influence. Members and volunteers remain our lifeblood and we hope to involve more volunteers and supporters in our future work than ever before. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our staff, trustees and volunteers for their remarkable loyalty and efforts over the past extremely demanding and difficult year. It has been in the true spirit of the pioneers, who built the Trust movement, that we have come out of the three lockdowns relatively unscathed with a renewed focus on making a difference going forwards as a result. Let’s make the next 50 years as wonderful as the last. Chief Executive Northumberland Wildlife Trust Follow me on twitter @Mike_Pratt_NWT Mike Pratt: Jacky Seery. bluebells: Luke Massey/2020vision. water v Northumberland Wildlife Trust Get in touch Roebuck is the membership magazine for Northumberland Wildlife Trust is a member of the Roebuck Magazine Team Northumberland Wildlife Trust UK’s largest voluntary organisation concerned with Editor Fiona Dryden Email [email protected] all aspects of wildlife protection - The Wildlife Trusts. Designer Richard Clark Telephone (0191) 284 6884 Consultant Editor Sophie Stafford Address Garden House, St Nicholas Park, Gosforth, For The Wildlife Trusts Consultant Designer Tina Smith Hobson Editor Tom Hibbert Designer Ben Cook Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. Roebuck is printed on Registered charity number 221819 Cover: Common tern © Guy Edwardes/naturepl.com Registered company number 717813 Website nwt.org.uk facebook.com/northumberlandwt twitter.com/northwildlife instagram.com/northwildlife 2 Roebuck | Spring 2021

16 20 Contents 23 4 Your wild spring vole: Terry Whittaker/2020vision. Alice McCourt: duncan hutt. badger: Andrew Parkinson/2020vision. The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it on your local patch 10 Wild reserves Why spring is the best time of year to visit these Wildlife Trust reserves 13 Wild thoughts Biologist and wildlife presenter, Gillian Burke, on diversity in conservation. 16 Wild news The latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts 23 Focus on: Golden Anniversary 50 years protecting wildlife ... needed more than ever. 24 Seabird cities A quarter of Europe’s breeding seabirds are found in the UK. 28 30 by 30 The decade we save our wildlife. 30% of our land and sea protected by 2030. 30 50 years... and more NWT Vice President, Angus Lunn, looks back at 50 years of conservation. 32 Light in the night Treasure the absence of light and protect and enjoy dark skies. 34 Gardening for wildlife Feed yourself and your local wildlife with these tips from Kate Bradbury. 6 ways to get involved with Northumberland Wildlife Trust Membership Help us protect Volunteer Could you donate your Local groups Join one of our the wildlife and countryside you love... and skills and time to look after wildlife? A network of local groups and enjoy learning discover the incredible natural world, on wide range of indoor and outdoor tasks about wildlife. your doorstep nwt.org.uk/membership need doing nwt.org.uk/volunteer nwt.org.uk/local-groups Donate to an appeal From Campaigning You can play Leave a legacy If you’ve had purchasing land to protecting species, a vital role in raising awareness and a lifetime’s pleasure from nature, help exciting projects near you need your lobbying, on local and national issues. ensure its future by leaving us a gift in support. nwt.org.uk/donate nwt.org.uk/campaigns your will. nwt.org.uk/legacy Roebuck | Spring 2021 3

Your wild spring The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it Bluebells 4 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Thank you oinnTsoCtoaHoulluraaTnytoidconionly’nso’sgBfPr1raai0tdncbtghiferordePrsbatehorreixvseehs. spring SPECTACLE Bluebells: Luke Massey/2020VISION Bluebells in bloom Almost half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK, they’re relatively rare in the rest of the world and it is against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy them. “The Scottish name for the plant is ‘Deadmen’s Bells’ for to hear the ring of a bluebell is to hear one’s death knell. The bluebell is one of the most potent of all faerie flowers, and a bluebell wood is an extremely hazardous place to be - a place of faerie-woven spells and enchantments.” An extract from Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee. SEE THEM THIS spring † Juliet’s Wood Slaley, Northumberland NE47 0BQ. † Tony’s Patch Haydon Bridge, Northumberland NE47 6HN. † Benshaw Moor Northumberland NE19 1BP. Roebuck | Spring 2021 5

Your wild spring Bullfinches Bullfinches are very shy and will flee from people. If you can spot one, you will see that the males are very striking, with a pink-red breast and face. The females are more muted in colouring, but both have a black cap. Like other finches, they love to feed on the seeds and buds of trees and prefer rural gardens, woodlands and parks. SEE them THIS spring † St Nicholas Park Gosforth, Tyne and Wear NE3 3XT. † Holywell Pond Holywell Village, Northumberland NE25 0LQ. Bullfinchkingfisher: pixabay.com Kingfisher Bullfinch: Tim Masonurban fieldcraftundoubtedly the Tyneside kittiwakes, which nest on the bridges and riverside 6 Roebuck | Spring 2021 Birds about town buildings, and make up the furthest inland breeding colony of kittiwakes The City of Newcastle may not seem like in the world. Go for a walk along the a wildlife haven, but the pockets of green Quayside during spring, and you will most throughout the city support plenty of likely hear the call which gives them their urban birdlife. name: “kittee-wa-aaake, kittee-wa-aaake.” Your own garden is the easiest place to Wherever you go in the city, make sure start looking for some of these birds and to always keep an eye (and an ear!) out for familiarise yourself with the frequent our urban birds. fliers, but there are other places too. To find out more visit our website Jesmond Dene supports some nwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer surprising species. Take a quiet walk through the park along the banks of the Ouseburn Valley, and you might spot kingfishers or dippers. If you live nearby, listen out for the resident pair of tawny owls calling to one-another after dark. The most famous of our birds are

SEE THIS DO THIS Swallows arriving back from Africa and soaring the Head to your local green space and draw the colourful skies until September. Look out for the flash of red on flowers that bloom there to create your very own the throat, white underparts and long tail streamers. unique 2021 masterpiece. Swallow, field of Wood anemone: mark hamblin/2020vision. primrose: Katrina Martin/2020vision. wood anemone: Guy Edwardes/2020vision. moschatel: Philip Precey. species spotlight Woodland field of Top tips Wood anemone Woodland flowers 3 species to spot With winter giving way Primrose to spring, woodland The flower’s title alludes flowers have a race on to the fact that they are their hands to grow and among the first to appear flower before the new in spring. tree leaves cut out light to the woodland floor. Of course, some plants thrive help bring some colour on sunny banks in Wood anemone in woodland all year making early spring. This is perhaps one of the most A pretty spring flower of the most of the small gaps left iconic of spring plants with its lemon yellow ancient woodlands with by the tree canopy to let light flowers and wrinkled leaves. white petals that bloom in. Many, however, race ahead between March and May. to flower early. Many of these early woodland flowers also need early insects, so, as the days warm Moschatel Plants such as wood up, these plants rely on those early bees, An unusual arrangement of anemone, wood sorrel and hoverflies and other pollinators. Some of the flower head that gives wood stitchwort (or chickweed) can carpet those species will have overwintered in it the common name of the woodland floor with a sea of white, hollows and clefts in trees or within the town-hall-clock. occasionally specked with pink. shelter of an ivy clad tree trunk. The iconic woodland species, the bluebell, Sometimes these plants are found in our provides a vibrant blue carpet where it uplands where bracken provides a surrogate grows. Other species like wild garlic mix that canopy. Here they hint at woodland perhaps visual spectacle with aroma too, a pungent long gone and a place where native woodland onion smell fills the area particularly when planting might be best targeted. the leaves are crushed or trampled. These large, bold and some may say brash, species SEE THEM THIS SPRING are joined by some less well-known flowers. † Priestclose Wood Prudhoe, The tiny moschatel is a diminutive flower, Northumberland NE42 5DL. a pale set of five flowers sit like a small cube † Arnold Memorial Craster, on top of the stem, ignoring the top one they look a little like a set of clock faces giving it Northumberland NE66 3TW. its alternative name of town hall clock. † Holystone North Wood Holystone Village, Dog’s mercury is another woodland plant, Northumberland NE65 7AX. one of a few that would be regarded as indicators of ancient woodland. Again, it’s not To find out more please visit our a showy flower, a rather non-descript pale website nwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer yellow rather lost in the shiny green leaves. In wetter hollows and by woodland streams the rather un-showy golden saxifrage grows, again a greenish yellow flower and definitely not like the saxifrages that one might find in a garden rockery. Primroses are a little more versatile than being pure woodland species but they do Roebuck | Spring 2021 7

HEAR THIS FORAGE FOR THIS Birds singing everybody out of winter. Early- Forage for nettles that can be eaten raw. Use a blender, worm-catchers include robins and blackbirds. mortar and pestle, or juicer to crush nettle leaves to Small birds like wrens stay in bed until it’s warmer. eliminate the sting and use for green juices or smoothies. not just for kids Seven wild activities for spring Reignite your love of nature with these really wild things to do Nettle: Katrina Martin/2020VISION. osprey: Andy Rouse/2020vision. disco ball, milky way, golf ball: pixabay.com. 1 Eyes to the skies 2 fly a kite Keep your eyes to the skies The spring winds are this spring for ospreys heading to perfect for kite flying. Find a Kielder. Since their return in 2009, park or an open field and get there have been births, deaths, ready to launch. Just make reunions, pairings, hatchings and sure to stay away from tall even the odd spot of philandering trees and power cables. that would be worthy of a storyline on any TV soap. All activity can be viewed via the osprey blog at kielderospreys.wordpress.com. 4 Starry, starry The Milky Way night You can stargaze at any time of year but to see the night sky you will need a clear night and a place away from street lights. With a clear, dark sky, you can see more than 2,000 stars in our Milky Way. There are a number of free apps available for your phone to help interpret what you see. 3 boogie nights 5 play a round of golf Have a virtual disco in your There’s no time like spring for a round garden, drape yourself in fairy lights of miniature golf, so, with golf courses and invite your friends to join in via closed at the moment, why not create Zoom. Come on you ‘Crazy Horses’ your own outdoor golf course using items find the name of a song with an found around the home – boxes, tins, lego, animal in the title and get your ‘Tiger building blocks and don’t forget chairs Feet’ tapping. make great tunnels for balls to hurtle under. 8 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Your wild SPRING 6 Unleash your wild 10 upcoming events side for 30 days The 30 Days Wild annual Take your pick from this selection of some of the challenge from The Wildlife best seasonal activities and events close to you Trusts is back again this June and since it started more than a 1 Mining memories 6 Fifty and fabulous million people have taken part. 8th April 6th May Every year, people sign up to do Virtual event via Zoom Virtual event via Zoom a ‘random act of wildness’ every Historian Barry Mead talks Join the Trust team for an day for 30 days in June. Popular about the mining heritage online celebration of 50 activities include listening to of East Chevington reserve. years protecting wildlife. birdsong, taking wildlife photographs and planting seeds. 30 Days Wild is proven to boost 2 Come on you reds 7 Blue is the colour your health, happiness and sense of connection to 14th April 8th May nature. So what are you waiting for? Virtual event via Zoom East Chevington reserve Join the RSNE team for an Turn green to blue with the Sign up for 30 Days Wild and get FREE activities to update on red squirrels. Catch My Drift team at its try at wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild. first bluebell-planting event. 3 Dusk chorus live 7 make a moth trap Ncraatfutre 22nd April 8 So much more than trees Observe moths close up at Virtual event via Facebook Live 12th & 13th May night with this simple set up! Join NWT Chief Executive Virtual event via Zoom in a live celebration of the Join the Kielderhead You will need less famous dusk chorus. Wildwood project partners † White sheet and guests for an update. † Washing line 4 Intro to Benshaw Moor † Pegs 29th April 9 Eyes to the skies † Bright lamp or torches Virtual event via YouTube 19th May Discover more about the Virtual event via YouTube How to make Trust’s newest nature An online premier about the † Peg your sheet on a washing line or over a branch. reserve, Benshaw Moor. Kielder Osprey project. † Turn off nearby lights. 5 Dawn chorus live 10 Pond dipping for all † Shine your torch/light onto the sheet... wait patiently. 4th May 25th June † ID the moths that gather. Virtual event via Facebook Live East Chevington reserve Join NWT Chief Executive Join the Catch My Drift for a special live event to team for a socially distanced celebrate the dawn chorus. pond dipping event. As restrictions ease, we hope to be able to re-introduce Illustration: Corinne Welch events and activities at Northumberlandia, our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and other locations around the region. These will include mini beast hunts, den building, markets, music evenings and many more exciting activities to celebrate the wonder of nature. We will confirm details as soon as we are able to, but in the meantime, visit our website nwt.org.uk/events and social media platforms for full details and updates. Roebuck | Spring 2021 9

Briarwood Banks Clinging to the steep Part of the reserve has been leased by Lurking deeper in the wood are two sided slopes of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust since 1967, species that take this lifestyle to the Kingswood Burn, a later extension taking in the opposite extreme. Neither toothwort nor birds- Briarwood Banks is one bank of the Kingswood Burn and doubling nest orchid have any green parts, the only of the best remaining the size of the reserve. indication of their presence is the annual fragments of ancient appearance of pale flower stems, the woodland in the A circular walk can be taken through underground plundering going unnoticed county. The humid the wood, a permissive route linking two by unsuspecting passers by! atmosphere making public footpaths. The permissive route is this an ideal home quite muddy and fords the Kingswood Rhinoceros beetle for many mosses and Burn, making it difficult to pass after rain. liverworts, rare in north eastern England. The tree canopy is composed largely of ash, oak and birch, with wild cherry, yew, 10 Roebuck | Spring 2021 alder, hazel, rowan and bird cherry adding variety. Mosses and liverworts cover the woodland floor and lower stems in a lush green duvet. Splashes of colour are added to the green in spring with plants such as opposite-leaved golden saxifrage, wood anemone, wood sorrel, primrose and common cow-wheat. Common cow-wheat gains some of its nutrients by parasitizing fungi associated with nearby trees.

Thank you our best spring reserves rTfoauoninnsefdoiaxorrnafyodietsuhaedrerracsoTro,krlwndutshsoCeto’lrrsavaryraaisaonteiuoEi£nngn1gdt4ehe0seltl, now you do it efforts. Visit Briarwood The more recent addition to the reserve pupating into adult beetles. Banks briarwood banks: steven morris. rhinoceros beetle: geoff dobbins. woodpecker: mark hamblin/2020vision. had been planted with many exotic Another invertebrate to look out for species. Produce from the replacement Know before you go of these trees can be seen at the Hauxley is the lemon slug, an ancient woodland Location: 5km southeast of Bardon Mill, visitor centre and the main hide at Big indicator with yellow body and blue Plankey Mill, Northumberland. Nearest Waters (when restrictions are lifted, keep antennae. postcode NE47 7DQ. OS Map Reference NY an eye out for the cladding at both sites 791 620. and the supporting timbers at Hauxley). If creepy crawlies are not your thing the How to get there: Via Plankey Mill. Park at reserve is also home to a good range of the National Trust Allen Banks car park for a The majority of the felled timber was birds, including the migratory species of small charge. Entrance to the reserve is free. retained in the wood as a valuable habitat. pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler. Opening times: All day, every day. Many specialist invertebrates benefit from Brown long-eared bats occasionally roost Access: Three main entry points give access this resource, including the rhinoceros in bird boxes during the summer. to several public footpaths. The easiest beetle – the name derived from the male’s access is from the northern entrance by prominent horn. If you do come across Two grasslands beside the river Allen following a wide, well-surfaced riverside a male rhinoceros beetle please do not are home to slow worm. The grasslands’ path from the car park at Allen Banks. The move him as he will guard the entrance to soils contain heavy metals, deposited in grassland at the northern end of the reserve a branched brood tunnel that the female previous centuries as a result of mining is flat and easily negotiated via a grass is excavating. Once complete, the pair will activity upstream. Stunning displays of path. The remainder of the reserve offers a retire to the tunnel to mate, the female mountain pansy benefit from the reduced challenging terrain with steep slopes and laying eggs in many chambers packed competition these metals afford (as well as narrow paths. with sawdust. Once the eggs hatch, the the annual efforts of volunteers who cut larvae will feed for up to three years before the grass in autumn). n top WILDLIFE TO SPOT The reserve is a great place to spot birds such as pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler and great spotted woodpecker. Be very quiet and keep an eye out for red squirrel, roe deer and, in the evenings, brown long-eared bats. Keep to the paths to avoid trampling the woodland flora. Great spotted woodpecker THINGS TO DO † Walk around the circular walk through the woodlands from the meadow along the Kingswood Burn. † Grab a pair of binoculars and look skywards. † Listen out for the resident woodpeckers. Roebuck | Spring 2021 11

our best spring reserves More Northumberland Wildlife Trust nature reserves for a great spring day out Berwick upon Tweed 3 Alnwick Close House Riverside Kielder 2 Why now? Briarwood 1 Morpeth Alpine penny-cress and spring sandwort will be flowering during spring and the reserve Banks will be awash with colour. Know before you go Location: Situated near Wylam, South Northumberland NE41 8BW. A short distance past George Stephenson’s Cottage on the right. Open: All day, every day. Wildlife to spot: Butterflies such a meadow brown and small skipper. Alpine penny-cress, spring sandwort and dune helleborine. 3 Newcastle upon Tyne Hexham linton lane: richard clark. close house riverside: duncan hutt. 2 Know before you go Close House Location: West of Linton Village, Riverside Linton Lane Northumberland NE61 6PU. Limited access is available near Hawthorn Cottage where The lowdown Why now? access to the reserve is across a level The reserve is one of the suite of Trees such as hazel, cherry, damson and crossing. calaminarian grasslands on the River Tyne willow and shrubs, such as blackthorn and Open: All day, every day. flood plain, one of a few rare habitats hawthorn, are great for early bees. Look Wildlife to spot: Tree sparrows, yellow only found in area where there are high around and you will see a good show of hammers, waterfowl, northern marsh concentrations of heavy metals. At Close spring flowers peeping through after the orchids and reed mace. Horses, sheep and House the heavy metals were from river long winter. ponies graze the reserve. dredgings. Linton Lane The lowdown Calaminarian grassland is restricted to Like many other sites in this part of the the Tyne and Allen river systems. The heavy county, Linton Lane owes its existence to coal metals (zinc and lead) are washed from old mining. A large part of the reserve was part mine spoil heaps from the North Pennine of a former opencast mine, while the western Ore field into the rivers which then carry pond was formed by subsidence of deep coal them onto riparian habitats. The river is tidal workings. There are two wildlife-watching and the banks are steep in places. hides on the reserve, one at each end of the two main ponds. Plan your next great day out from all our nature reserves at: nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves 12 Roebuck | Spring 2021

WILD THOUGHTS Gillian Burke @gillians_voice Together for nature It was the best little hide! A Viewed with this lens it is hard, therefore, Wilder is healthier hibiscus bush with the perfect to believe that there is still the need to little-girl-sized hollow, where I debate diversity in the conservation and Research published would spend whole mornings, environmental sector but clearly we do. From by The Wildlife Trusts watching butterflies and jewel-like sunbirds senior leadership roles to volunteer positions, in 2019 showed that flitting and darting nervously from flower just 0.6% are from black, mixed and other children experience to flower. I had no access to field guides and ethnic groups. This is a famously quoted profound and diverse no idea what the birds were called. To be figure and one that likely extends to under- benefits through regular perfectly honest, it didn’t really matter because representation from white working class contact with nature. I was quite content with just watching and backgrounds as well. It’s essential that all occasionally trying to draw what I saw in a children (and adults too) little notebook. This was my Kenya in the late One thing that we can all agree on is that have the opportunity seventies. No internet, no clubs, no daytime we have the fight of our lives right now in to experience nature in telly, no distractions — just the world outside meeting the twin challenges of the climate their daily lives, but 42% to explore and discover. and ecological crisis. As 2020 is set to go of people from minority With time and freedom on my side, I got to down in history as ‘one hell of a year’, there ethnic backgrounds know the many moods of the natural world. is a precious opportunity to set a course for live in the most green- Beautiful flowers hid thorns, lush green grass a truly 21st century mind-set. If we are ever space deprived areas, hid snakes, the same wondrous sun, that really going to walk the walk and actually do compared to just 15% of gently warmed up the day, would birth violent things differently, we are going to need the white people*. We need afternoon storms that, in turn, gave way to the full power of diverse voices and perspectives at least 30% of land to cooling sweet smell of the earth. I loved it all. All to forge resilience and adaptability be restored for nature, this gave me a profound sense, even as a little in a fresh, new system that serves helping wildlife recover girl, that everything in nature had its place. everyone and everything, and and bringing nature into My younger self had yet to learn that this exploits nothing and no one. everyone’s daily lives. is what biologists call diversity — the single word that describes the infinite possibilities, The Wildlife Trusts are committed to putting Gillian Burke is a biologist expressions and connections of life on earth. equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of and wildlife presenter and From a biologist’s perspective, all this variety our movement. Find out more: has recently become vice is not just the spice of life, it is the source of president of The Wildlife Trusts. nature’s resilience and adaptability. wildlifetrusts.org/wild-about-inclusion illustration: C. Izundu *England’s green space gap, Friends of the Earth Roebuck | Spring 2021 13

common blue © guy edwardes/2020vision6 places to see blue butterflies Common blue butterflies are found in grassy places across the UK 14 Roebuck | Spring 2021

See the spectacle 12 3 for yourself 54 6 T he blue butterflies are some of our most dazzling and 1 Latterbarrow, Cumbria Wildlife Trust endearing insects; winged gems that come alive in the This stunning limestone grassland is a haven for butterflies, spring or summer sunlight and dance from flower to flower. including the northern brown argus, which here is at the They shimmer in shades of blue and silver, though a few southern edge of its range. Despite its name, this small brown of the UK’s nine resident species are misleadingly brown. Some of butterfly is one of the blues and appears silvery in flight. these butterflies are now only found in the few places their favoured Where: Witherslack, LA11 6RH habitat remains. Many of these areas are now nature reserves, protected by The Wildlife Trusts. Some, however, can be seen more 2 Maze Park, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust widely: common blues emerge around May and fly over many This green oasis in the centre of Teesside attracts more grasslands, including road verges, and holly blues appear around than 12 species of butterfly including the common blue April to flutter through parks and gardens. Your best chance of butterfly as well as the increasingly scarce grayling and spotting butterflies is on a calm, sunny day. dingy skipper butterflies (which aren’t in the blue family). Where: Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6QA 3 Swettenham Valley, Cheshire Wildlife Trust One of Cheshire’s hidden gems, this mosaic of grassland, wood and mire is home to holly blues and common blues, with the latter’s caterpillars feeding on the abundant bird’s-foot trefoil. Where: Swettenham, CW12 2LF 4 Yoesden, Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust This swathe of beautiful chalk grassland, topped with woodland, is known as one of the best butterfly spots in the Chilterns. It’s home to six blue butterfly species — Adonis, chalkhill, small, common, and holly blues, and brown argus. Where: Near Radnage and Bledlow Ridge, HP14 4AR 5 Daneway Banks, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust This wonderful wildflower meadow is regarded as one of the best places in the world to see the rare large blue, which was once extinct in the UK. Where: Near Sapperton, GL7 6LN 6 Malling Down, Sussex Wildlife Trust Adonis blue and chalkhill blue butterflies dance over the sun-kissed slopes of this flower-rich chalk grassland, where small blues can also be discovered. Where: Near Lewes, BN7 2RJ Did you discover any butterflies ? When spotting butterflies, please be sure to follow Government guidance on social distancing and stay local. And remember to tweet us your best photos! @wildlifetrusts

wild news 15% off* All the latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts For NWT supporters at Cotswold Outdoors until 30th June 2021. Shop in-store with supporter ID or online using code AF-WILDLIFE-M5. *selected lines only. Water vole regional Going Naturally Native Building on the success of the Trust’s Unfortunately, the tale of the water presents greater opportunities for Restoring Ratty water vole project that vole and mink is an all too familiar one in breeding invertebrates and, in turn, has been working to reintroduce water which humans have disrupted the natural benefits amphibians, fish, birds and voles to the Kielder Water & Forest Park balance within an ecosystem, and wildlife small mammals. Although small, their area of Northumberland, Naturally Native is suffering as a result. presence can have a mighty impact on the is a new project to further safeguard the ecosystem around them. survival of water voles across the North Naturally Native is a bold and ambitious East. project which will work at a truly Understanding the locations and landscape scale to reverse this trend. movement of both water voles and mink Thanks to support from players of the across the region will be a massive help to National Lottery through a grant from The three Wildlife Trusts, with the team as it plans and delivers this work The National Lottery Heritage Fund, support from a strong network of local over the next three years. Please share Northumberland, Durham and Tees communities, landowners, NGOs, statutory records and sightings of either species Valley Wildlife Trusts are now working bodies and local authorities, will improve with us. in partnership to halt the decline and 10km of riparian habitat and address the aid recovery of one of Britain’s most damage caused by invasive American For more information about how to charismatic mammals. mink, restoring a key character in our volunteer with the project, help with natural heritage for future generations. In water vole surveys or to share records and As with much of Britain’s wildlife, doing so, a plethora of other native wildlife sightings of water voles and mink, email water voles in the North East suffer will flourish. Emily Marshall, Naturally Native Project from loss of habitat, resulting in its small Officer at [email protected] populations becoming isolated. These Far from being just a tasty, but or call 07414 708 605. fragmented populations are vulnerable to important morsel for native predators, local extinction, particularly when faced water voles are bankside engineers, Find out more with the second major cause of decline: creating greater diversity through their Visit nwt.org.uk/naturally-native predation from non-native American burrowing activity and regular selective mink. ‘cropping’ of bankside vegetation. This construction of microhabitats 16 Roebuck | Spring 2021

News Left to right: Kelly Hollings L eg a cie s Restoring Ratty Project Officer with Bethany Together we’re stronger Nichol and Alison Adams with legacy support from Bellingham Co-op In 2020, the Trust was delighted regional to have been named as a beneficiary in a number of Co-op Community Fund keeps on giving legacies and we’d like to posthumously thank the Each year the Co-op Group chooses a shoppers via the 2019 - 2020 Fund last following people for their water vole: Terry Whittaker/2020vision. co-op: Bellingham Co-op. Sluice works: sophie webster. new list of local causes throughout the December and, such was the support selfless generosity: UK to benefit from its Community Fund by shoppers, it has been chosen by the member scheme with 1% of what their Bellingham store as one of its local Ruth Milne - £4,000 members spend on selected own-brand causes for a second year. Annette Hayne - £10,000 products and services being passed on to Jill Robson - £1,000 projects via the Local Community Fund. This is great news as it will enable the Sheila Nelson Jones - team to work with North Tyne Youth and £10,000 The Hadston and Amble stores are take local children on a Ratty-themed Mary Louisa Dawson - supporting our Catch My Drift project’s residential when restrictions are relaxed £50,000 community education programme and - something to look forward to post activities in local schools. Covid. These generous gifts in wills are hugely appreciated now more than ever, as Since it started in April 2019, the East Since the project started, 1,762 water the Trust faces unprecedented financial Chevington based team has liaised with voles have been released including 287 challenges. 11 local organisations including care during lockdown last summer with the homes, Women’s Institutes and Hadston release of a further 200 planned for 2021. If you are inspired by the wildlife and House Youth and Community Projects. landscapes in our region and if, as a Visit membership.coop.co.uk/ result of the Covid-19 crisis, you have Our Restoring Ratty water vole project causes/36848 to register support. thought more about making a new will received £2,365.87 from Bellingham Co-op and leaving a legacy to a charity, please would you consider leaving a gift to regional help us continue our vital work? Race against time to be ready by spring A Charitable Legacy, when you leave a gift to charity in your Will, is tax It was a race against time in January for the exempt. There is also a Residual Legacy, Catch My Drift project at East Chevington to which is when the remaining assets in ensure work on the reserve was completed your Estate are left to a certain person, before the bird-breeding season started. people or charity. These beneficiaries will receive the ‘residue’ of the Estate, The civil engineering work involved the which is the net balance after tax, debts re-instatement of drainage ditches at the and other legacies have been paid. North Lake and replacement of its existing sluice structures to enable vital reed bed The Trust has also received a number management and ensure resident birds of kind donations made ‘in memoriam’ such as marsh harriers and bearded tits or in lieu of flowers from funerals this have prime breeding habitat. year. This too is a positive way to say goodbye and greatly appreciated by The second stage is planned for autumn the Trust. 2021. For more information on legacy support, visit nwt.org.uk/legacy or contact Dan Venner, Trust Director of Finance and Business via email at [email protected]. Sluice works Roebuck | Spring 2021 17

uk news Minke whales are seen regularly off our coasts each summer UK UPDATE Sightings up during seaside staycation surge Our 2020 Marine Review Humpback whale tailfin © gudkov andrey/shutterstock; BREACHING MINKE WHALE © tom mcdonnell n More than 30 bottlenose The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas 100 Trust Shoresearch surveys. These dolphins were seen ‘partying’ teams are the eyes and ears of vital surveys help map and monitor the off the Teeside coast the UK coast, but this year their wildlife around our coasts, and the lack observations were joined by a of data as a result of their cancellation n L arge numbers of Atlantic surge in sightings from the public, as more could make it harder to assess the health blue-fin tuna recorded along people spent time around our coasts. of many of these plants and animals. England’s south coast In this bumper year for sightings, Wildlife Trusts were also unable to run n B aby Risso’s dolphin highlights included the first orcas in many of their beach cleaning projects, photographed off the coast Strangford Lough, Ulster, since the 1970s, though they were superceded by the of Anglesey, North Wales and a rare ‘run’ of Atlantic bluefin tuna hugely increased efforts of individuals up the English Channel from Cornwall to and smaller groups during 2020. Cornwall n H umpback whale filmed off Sussex. These impressive fish can weigh Wildlife Trust, for example, reported Yorkshire coast, which has hundreds of kilograms and were sometimes that those people living within walking become a hotspot for joined by porpoises, minke whales and distance of beaches still carried on whale-watching dolphins in a huge feeding frenzy. cleaning right through the lockdown. Working to clean up our marine Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ environment is essential, with marine director of living seas, says: “In 2020 wildlife in greater peril than ever from people flocked to the sea as soon as plastic, nurdles, litter, discarded fishing lockdown restrictions were lifted — gear and now disposable Covid masks too. they needed the coast like never before. Wildlife Trusts around the country were Better news for wildlife included reporting a surge of public interest in the successful reintroduction of sand marine life and coastal species — people lizards to Fylde sand dunes, Lancashire, delighted in seeing marine life and it making it the most northerly population lifted the hearts of millions in this most in England, and the discovery of a difficult year.” previously un-recorded seagrass bed off Northern Ireland’s Ards Peninsula. It wasn’t all good news for wildlife however. Although more people were Read the full marine review, with spotting sea life, the restrictions of 2020 many more amazing stories from around meant a lot of scientific monitoring work our coasts, at had to be cancelled, including more than wildlifetrusts.org/marine-review-20 18 Roebuck | Spring 2021

News UK UPDATE uk highlights Wildlife Trusts welcome new president Discover how 2 The Wildlife Trusts 1 Broadcaster and biologist, Liz Bonnin are helping has been elected as president of The wildlife across 3 Wildlife Trusts. Liz will be championing the UK The Wildlife Trusts’ new 30 by 30 vision liz bonnin © Andrew Crowley; Buff-tailed bumblebee © Chris Gomersall/2020VISION; brown trout © linda pitkin/2020VISION to protect 30% of land and sea for nature podcaster, David Oakes; and professor 1 A dam good job by 2030. Liz says, “It is a critical time of biology and bumblebee expert, for the natural world, and I hope that Dave Goulson. Ulster Wildlife are using coconut through lending my voice and support, fibre logs to create dams on Cuilcagh and by working together, we can help to Mountain, re-wetting and restoring enforce the changes that must take place large areas of peatland. The boggy in order to secure a brighter future for areas created will capture and store our wild places.” carbon, helping combat the climate crisis, and provide a better habitat for Alongside Liz Bonnin’s appointment, wildlife. This work, done in conjunction The Wildlife Trusts have also welcomed with local farmers, is part of a project biologist and Springwatch presenter to restore 16 hectares of degraded Gillian Burke as vice president, as well as peatland on Cuilcagh. four new ambassadors: environmentalist and birder, Mya-Rose Craig; actor and 2 Shark sanctuaries presenter, Cel Spellman; actor and Scottish Wildlife Trust welcomed the designation of a new suite of protected areas in Scottish seas. Four new Marine Protected Areas will help safeguard species like basking sharks and minke whales, alongside 12 new Special Protection Areas created to benefit Scotland’s iconic seabirds. It is essential now that these areas are backed by effective management measures. Neonicotinoids are a threat to bees and other pollinators A reprieve for bees neonicotinoid could be allowed in the 3 River restoration future. If this is true, it would be applied The Wildlife Trusts are delighted that the by ‘seed-dressing’ resulting in only 5% of Surrey Wildlife Trust are working Government will not grant an emergency the pesticide going into the crop, with with a wide range of partners to authorisation for the use of a banned the rest accumulating in the soil. restore the natural course of the neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam, on Rye Brook, near Ashtead, helping to sugar beet this year, thanks to a recent To find out more, take a look at our Wild encourage brown trout upstream cold snap which has killed off virus- LIVE episode on the use of neonicotinoids and capture flood waters. Riverbanks transmitting aphids. While The Wildlife wildlifetrusts.org/wild-live were reprofiled and natural bends Trusts, including NWT, are pleased by the and meanders were added, as well as decision, this ‘stay of execution’ does not a large riverside pond, to create more change the underlying issue - that the habitat for wildlife, including spawning areas for brown trout. Roebuck | Spring 2021 19

Alice McCourt, NWT Conservation Assistant regional Planning: the challenges continue Alice McCourt: duncan hutt One of the conservation responsibilities oppose the plans. features of those sites, such as the ocean of Northumberland Wildlife Trust is to We were concerned about the impact quahog mussel and the seabed floor itself, respond to planning matters - assessing which is a protected habitat. the ecological impacts of large-scale on nearby farmland bird populations, and developments and submitting comments also the impact that the carbon emissions Unfortunately, as a charity we have to the Local Planning Authorities based on of the coal mined would have on climate limited resources, and cannot respond to those assessments. change. Needless to say, it was a time for every planning application that is lodged virtual celebration and a great end to the in the Northumberland, Newcastle and In September 2020, after seven years of most challenging year in our history. North Tyneside areas. This is why we campaigning by the Trust’s conservation encourage members of the public to get team and the wider community to oppose Alongside responding to local planning involved and take action to protect their the plans, the proposals for a new opencast matters, the Trust also feeds into national local environment or support us via mine at Highthorn were finally thrown consultations on planning policy. In 2020, memberships and donations. out by the Secretary of State for Housing, the government released white papers Communities and Local Government. laying out their proposed changes to In 2021, the team is expecting changes to planning law in the UK, which saw the the National Planning Policy Framework, The mine, which would have been small Trust team working with colleagues and will no doubt be working again with located very close to our Druridge Bay from Trusts across England to help draw Trusts across England to formulate a sites, threatened the integrity of our up a collective response from The Wildlife collective response, so keep an eye on our Cresswell Ponds reserve, a Site of Special Trust movement website nwt.org.uk for updates. Scientific Interest (SSSI). As spring approaches, the team is Anybody looking for advice on how On Friday 18th December, another currently drafting its response to plans to respond to a planning application proposal for an opencast mine at Dewley to build a new fibre-optic cable between can visit nwt.org.uk/planning Hill, on the outskirts of Newcastle-upon- Blyth and Norway. We have concerns Tyne, was also refused permission by about the route of the cable, which passes Newcastle City Council following work through a large number of protected sites by the Trust, and the local community, to and may affect some of the endangered 20 Roebuck | Spring 2021

News Robin Corporate regional Membership And the bronze goes to… We offer three levels of corporate membership which are designed robin: Simon Williams. Sam and Red Kellie: first & last brewery. Wardell Armstrong, the international their decision to become bronze category to enhance your Corporate Social environmental and engineering supporters. Responsibility commitments, provide consultancy, with a regional office in year-round benefits to your business Newcastle and a history going back over Based at City Quadrant in Newcastle, and support your staff development, 180 years, is the Trust’s latest bronze the company’s 50 regional staff have PR and marketing strategies. You supporter. maintained their involvement on choose the level that you feel reflects its projects in accordance with the your company’s commitment to the Supporting our work is important prevailing government guidance. They local environment. to all Wardell Armstrong staff, who have continued to work on nationally are passionate about protecting the important power and transport, along To find out more about becoming natural environment and enjoying with supporting its significant local a corporate member contact our Northumberland, Newcastle and North client base. Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Lovatt, Tyneside’s wild spaces - both close to via email at elizabeth.lovatt@ their homes and those more remote Staff have been tremendous in quickly northwt.org.uk. havens. adapting to the changing environment. Through their corporate support of the Gold The past year (2020) has brought many Trust, it is hoped that they will be able challenges. As such, it was obvious to to contribute further with practical Aaron Optometrists the company that charities have found volunteering tasks when restrictions are Northumbrian Water Ltd it harder to raise the essential funds lifted which will have mutual benefits for Ringtons they need which was a major factor in both parties. Tarmac Thermofisher Scientific regional Sam and Red Kellie from First and Last Brewery silver Keeping Ratty enjoying ‘Ratty’ in the snow Harlow Printing Ltd ale and hearty Herding Hill Farm Historic Property Restoration Ltd First and Last Brewery in Elsdon has been Karpet Mills supporting the Restoring Ratty water vole Potts Printers Ltd project since 2018, donating 20p to the Riverside Leisure team from each bottle of its ‘Ratty’ ale sold. bronze At the start of 2021, donations passed the £1,000 mark - a funding milestone - despite Bell Ingram 2020 being a year like no other. Blyth Harbour Commission Cottages in Northumberland Visit firstandlastbrewery.co.uk for more EcoCabs information. Holidaycottages.co.uk Howick Hall Gardens Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Northumberland County Council Northumberland Estates Ord House Country Park Poltross Enterprises Shepherds Retreats The First and Last Brewery Verdant Leisure Wardell Armstrong Roebuck | Spring 2021 21

We bet you didn’t know... y o u!TThhaannkk you Certain varieties of daffodils produce galantamine, a compound known to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s symptom. £171.02 regional Trevor Hardy Christmas donations to the Wildwood project. Trevor Hardy MBE £147.83 Trevor, who died in January at the age of 96, was one of the Trust’s first members Instead of charging an admission fee and was an ever-ready volunteer for to its evening and virtual events, the practical work on reserves. Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts collected donations in support of the In our birthday year of 1971, he marshalled volunteers, armed with spades, Trust. to plug drainage ditches with peat turves at Haining Head Moss, the very first £2,000 conservation action on a Border Mire reserve, and marking the onset of a £2 Cramlington Town Council for the million restoration project. Northumberlandia Pavilion project. Elsewhere, he was Honorary Secretary £50 of the Northumberland National Park Voluntary Warden Service, developing it U3A Berwick following an online talk. considerably, and was President of the Pennine Way Association. £84 Trevor was a towering contributor to Melissa Newton who creates her own Northumberland’s environment, much unique art prints at Emelen Art and done with his late wife Dorothy Harding donates a percentage of each sale to who was also an MBE. the Trust. Daffodils: Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION. red squirrel: Peter Cairns/2020vision. Red squirrel £165 Helping Northumberland’s reds Birthday donations in lieu of presents Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) red squirrels in two key locations, for Mr Todor Dundas -Todorov. recently received a cash boost of £15,000 around Kielder Water and the Harwood from Northumbrian Water’s Invasive Non- area, where the grant forms part of a £2,000 Native Species (INNS) Branch Out fund. multi-landowner partnership creating a approximately 10km radius from Cramlington Community Engagement This valuable funding is enabling the Knowesgate. Fund for the Northumberlandia RSNE project team to continue protecting Pavilion project. Donations, whatever the amount are always welcome by the Trust and never more so than at the moment. To find out how to support us visit: nwt.org.uk/support-us 22 Roebuck | Spring 2021

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Focus on... Golden Anniversary Special 50 Years Protecting Wildlife ...needed more than ever Anniversaries can often be a trigger for donation, to support our new youth you can share (perhaps you fancy doing Badger: Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION. self-congratulation. Reassuringly, we’re social action programme. We want to a podcast or vlog)? Do you or did you not going to do that here! But past, enable as many green projects as we volunteer or work for NWT and what present and future are inextricably can, devised and led by young people, was it like? Have you any old photos connected so there is an argument which will improve local community of reserves or literature? Do you fancy for re-iterating achievements where environments for everyone, but doing a video tour of your favourite these have brought improvement and particularly focussing on deprived areas. reserve or a piece about your favourite thanking those who helped, with a view species? All contributions welcome – we to inspiring future generations. ‘Take 50’ Fundraising Challenges can do the editing. We will be sharing on Are you up for a bit of a fun with a social media, our website and with the Climate breakdown and biodiversity challenge and a purpose? We’d love you press. loss now clearly threaten the very to take the number 50 and do something existence of people and planet which special with it. Do a Big Wild Walk of 50 There will be other events and the means organisations such as ours are miles and ask your friends to sponsor usual fun campaigns like 30 Days Wild needed more than ever. And we do bring you. How about a bake sale at work to in June which this year launches with hope with large-scale natural solutions raise £50, or forgo your birthday presents the Big Wild Breakfast. So look out for for reducing carbon emissions and we to donate to nature? Lose 50lb between updates on our website, via our e-news are doing our bit to lead communities in a group of you and donate your craving and on our social media pages. striving for green social action. savings to nature. Please let us know what you’re up to and we’ll share on How you can help So, as we move out of lockdown, what’s social media. in store over the next year? ʈʈ Email us your ideas at Campaigns [email protected] Anniversary Kick-Off ‘50 Steps’ On 6 May, our CEO Mike Pratt will host We’d love to hear your top green ideas ʈʈ Sign up to the e-newsletter (if a virtual celebration event and update on things that people can do to help you haven’t already) as we will on our key current projects. And there the natural world. We’ll turn them into announce things as we go at will be another chance to see broadcaster graphics and share them on social media nwt.org.uk/e-newsletter Trai Anfield’s beautifully crafted film on with a summary of the top 50 at the end Benshaw Moor. of the year. ʈʈ Use uk.virginmoneygiving.com if you need a fundraising page to Appeals ‘Then and Now’ share with friends and family We will be launching a public appeal Have you got any interesting, unusual or from 22 to 29 April, with the opportunity amusing experiences with the Trust that ʈʈ Share your successes on our social for match funding to double your media platforms on: Roebuck | Spring 2021 23

guillemots © barry bland, naturepl 24 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Seabird Cities Tom Hibbert The air is heavy with the scent of moulded mud and seaweed, and the bright is content officer seaweed and the unmistakeable orange bill of a puffin peeks out from the musk of guano. Perched on shadows of a narrow crevice. for The Wildlife the dry, cliff-top grass, I lean Trusts and studies forward and cautiously peer over the Hundreds of birds cover the cliffs before edge. A heart-stopping distance below me, with many thousands more along seabirds across me, the North Sea washes against the this single stretch of coast. The colony the UK. algae-covered rocks. Dark shapes dot the is in constant motion; it’s noisy, smelly, water, with more on the white chalk cliffs. busy and without a doubt one of the Guillemots nest on cliffs I raise my binoculars and see crowds of most spectacular things I’ve ever seen. and rocky islands, crowding guillemots crammed onto the narrow In a time of terrifying species declines, together on suitable ledges ledges, their neat, almost-black-and-white abundance is an increasingly difficult plumage giving them the air of guests at thing to experience. Rare are the butterfly an overcrowded dinner party. blizzards and moth snowstorms described from just a few decades ago, but a seabird One shuffles and stretches, revealing a colony still offers the chance to enjoy an glorious turquoise egg tucked between its overwhelming abundance of wildlife, and flipper-like feet. It leans down, studying its the UK is one of the best places in the precious parcel, before hiding it once again world to discover these beguiling birds. in the soft embrace of its feathers. The A quarter of Europe’s breeding seabirds are guillemots aren’t alone on their rocky home. found in the UK, with over eight million Razorbills recline on their own little ledges, birds of 25 species nesting around Britain shunning the crowds for a more private and Ireland. perch. Kittiwakes screech from mounds of Roebuck | Spring 2021 25

Seabird cities Gannets nesting on a cliff © tom hibbert A home for the summer Some of our smaller seabirds keep The UK is home to 55% of the world’s Seabirds are a varied group, from the their eggs and young safe by nesting population of northern gannets underground. Puffins, arguably the UK’s flightless penguins that chase fish through most popular seabird, deposit their single Arctic terns have the the frigid waters of Antarctica, to the egg deep within a rocky crevice, or at the longest known migration globe-spanning shearwaters that cross end of a burrow dug into a grassy slope. of any animal, with some entire oceans on their long, slender wings. Pairs can dig their own burrows, but they’ll They’re adventurers and explorers, taming also steal them from rabbits and Manx travelling over 59,000 the untameable, from wind-scoured cliffs shearwaters, secretive seabirds that return miles a year. to the endless expanse of the open ocean, to their nests under cover of darkness. thriving in the places that for so long were Gannets plunge into the too hostile for us to follow. What unites Manx shearwaters water from heights of these amazing animals is their unrivalled complete a 7,000- ability to be at home on land, at sea, and in mile journey in less 30m, reaching speeds of most cases, in the air. than a fortnight. up to 60mph. It’s on land that we know them best. Land-locked seabirds Guillemots have been No bird has truly escaped the pull of dry You’d be forgiven for thinking that to see recorded diving to depths ground, as even the most oceangoing of 180m in pursuit of fish. seabirds are tethered to land by the need a seabird, you have to travel to the coast. to lay eggs. Every spring, our seabird cities After all, sea is in their name. But some burst into life as the summer residents seabirds have taken to inland waterways, return, hurriedly pair up with a new mate nesting on lakes, reservoirs and even the or reaffirm bonds with an old flame, and get roofs and ledges of buildings. Kittiwakes, on with the important business of nesting. dainty gulls with black legs and a bright yellow beak, can be heard giving their For land loving birds, this is usually a evocative cry of ‘kitt-eeee-waark’ above solitary affair, but for seabirds the opposite the Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside each is true. The majority nest in colonies, summer. At around 13 kilometres from sometimes hundreds of thousands strong. the sea, this is the most inland kittiwake There are a few reasons for this, but what colony in the world, but some seabirds it really comes down to is that seabirds are have put even more distance between at their most vulnerable when they visit themselves and the coast. land to nest. Many lay eggs on the ground, where they would be an easy snack for a hungry fox, stoat or rat. As a result, they tend to favour inaccessibly sheer cliffs or small islands off our coasts, free from the threat of mammalian predators. Prime seabird real estate like this is in short supply, so birds end up clustered together. But even when there is room for them to spread their wings, most species cluster by choice. There’s safety in numbers. Even without the dangers of roaming mammals, there are still predators to worry about; birds of prey, crows and even other seabirds like gulls and skuas are a threat to eggs, chicks and adults. Nesting in numbers is the best defence. For some it’s about protection. Arctic terns are ferociously dedicated parents and will defend their nest from any potential predator that gets too close, plunging and pecking at people, gulls and even polar bears. One angry bird is a nuisance, dozens or even hundreds together make a very effective deterrent. For other species it’s all about the odds — the more nests there are around you, the less likely yours is to be targeted. 26 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Puffins nest in burrows Seabird cities or rocky crevices protecting them. Seabirds across the world are threatened by the introduction of predators to their breeding sites, by being caught up in fishing gear, and from the effects of the climate crisis. Warming seas around the UK are already thought to be responsible for declines in many of our more northerly seabird colonies, as the sand eels that so many species rely on move northwards to cooler waters. Our seabird cities are amongst our greatest natural treasures, we must look after them by protecting their nest sites from development and their food sources from overfishing, and by doing all we can to combat the climate crisis. SEE FOR YOURSELF Visit a seabird city 1/4 of Europe’s breeding seabirds are found in the UK, with over 8 million birds and 25 species nesting around Britain and Ireland. Common terns, elegant white birds know as an impressive parent, makes Flamborough Cliffs, East Yorkshire Puffin © alexander mustard/2020vision; manx shearwater © chris gomersall/2020vision with long tail streamers, a black cap and the longest recorded migration of any Flamborough Head has one of the a bright red, black-tipped bill, are summer animal on the planet. A recent study, using most important seabird colonies in visitors to the UK. They nest along the tiny devices that record daylight and Europe. In summer, the cliffs are packed coast and on offshore islands but can allow the bird’s location to be calculated, with tens of thousands of breeding also be found on reservoirs and gravel mapped one intrepid tern’s 59,650-mile birds, including guillemots, gannets, pits across the country, especially where return journey from the Farne Islands gulls and puffins. artificial rafts have been created for them. in Northumberland to the seas around It’s a joy to watch them hovering above the Antarctica. The bird’s meandering route Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire water, diving and dipping their beak below took it around Africa and into the Indian A mile off the Pembrokeshire coast, the surface to snare a fish, before carrying Ocean, then down to Antarctica and across Skomer Island is home to thousands it back to their small, sand-coloured chicks. to the Weddell Sea, before returning to of puffins and the largest colony of the exact same nesting site the following Manx shearwaters in the world. The same lakes often host cacophonous spring. With the potential to live for 30 colonies of black-headed gulls, with their years, this bird could travel over 1.8 million Alderney pale grey and white plumage and dark miles in its lifetime. Thousands of gannets breed on a series brown hood. They can gather in their of rocky outcrops called Les Etacs, just thousands, creating a spectacle every Manx shearwaters make their own off the coast of the mainland. bit as raucous, restless and impressive mammoth migrations each year, crossing as the more celebrated coastal colonies both the Atlantic and the equator as they Discover more at of seabirds. Many of these birds have head for wintering grounds off the coast wildlifetrusts.org/seabird-cities forsaken the sea entirely, remaining near of Argentina and Brazil. Studies on birds their inland colonies year-round. from the Welsh islands of Ocean wanderers Skokholm and Skomer have Though some seabirds revealed that they can complete this 6,000-7,000-mile journey in don’t stray far from their summer less than a fortnight. breeding grounds, others Understanding the make incredible journeys. complex migrations of these The Arctic tern, who we already globe-spanning seabirds is essential for Roebuck | Spring 2021 27

30 by 30 The decade we save our wildlife We know the natural world is in crisis. populations living in them begin to decline. Giving 30% Hedgehogs Every year we’re overwhelmed with of the UK to nature is the bare minimum that nature have undergone new statistics about the shocking needs to survive, but we’re still far short of this goal. losses in the wildlife around us, like massive long- last summer’s news that a quarter of UK mammals Imagine living in a country where we make space term declines face extinction. For decades we’ve worked hard to for nature, finding ways to live alongside wildlife Hedgehog © tom marshall protect the few wild areas that remain, saving species rather than clearing it to make room for ourselves. in nature reserves and even bringing some back from Restored wildlife-rich fens, resounding with the local extinction. But to turn the tide, it’s time we raise bugling calls of cranes and the booms of breeding our ambitions. bitterns. Diverse uplands that are a wonderful mosaic of colour and life, where hen harriers soar over carpets The Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of of heather, curlews call from boggy pools and pine our land and sea to be connected and protected for martens leap between the branches of woodlands. nature’s recovery by 2030. This goal is essential if Towns and cities blossoming with trees and flowers, we are to truly see a recovery in our natural world. where hedgehogs roam between parks and gardens Evidence suggests that at less than 30% cover in bringing nature into all of our daily lives. Together, we a landscape, habitat patches are too small and can make this a reality. fragmented. They become isolated and the wildlife 28 Roebuck | Spring 2021

30 BY 30: the decade we SAVE OUR WILDLIFE Carbon farming, Wild Peak, coleshill pools warwickshire © john booth; swallowtail butterfly © terry whittaker/2020vision; curlew © Damian Waters; sphagnum moss © chris lawrence Lancashire Wildlife Trust Derbyshire, Staffordshire and other Wildlife Trusts One hectare of peatland can soak up the same Working across the landscape of the Peak District in a amount of CO2 as would be produced by eight car partnership of five Wildlife Trusts, Wild Peak aims to journeys around the world, but huge areas of this bring these uplands back to life and make them wilder vital habitat have been drained to make way for other with a mix of restored habitats including woodlands, land uses. Lancashire Wildlife Trust are rewetting peat bogs and meadows. There will be more space for rare and reinvigorating two important areas of peat bog, species like curlews and wood warblers, and eventually capturing carbon and helping rare wildlife like sundews lost wildlife like pine martens, red squirrels and golden and large heath butterflies to thrive. As part of this work, eagles could make a comeback. By working with partners they’re creating a pioneering carbon farm, thought to and local groups, the Wildlife Trusts plan to restore be the first of its kind in the UK. A carpet of sphagnum natural processes and wild places so that they become mosses will be grown on a former farm field to help soak full of life on an unprecedented scale, benefiting local up carbon and protect the adjacent peatland. communities, the local economy and, of course, wildlife. Restoring lost fens, Bringing wildlife back, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Warwickshire Wildlife Trust An ambitious plan is underway to restore 50 Simply protecting the areas already rich in wildlife hectares of farmland to lost peat-fenland, boosting isn’t enough to reverse wider declines, so Warwickshire Lincolnshire’s endangered fenland habitats by 30%. Wildlife Trust are changing the way they acquire new The new wetland will connect two of the Trust’s nature reserves. They will be prioritising land that existing nature reserves, creating a living landscape currently has little value for wildlife, where they have the of reedbeds, marshes, and pools. The new wetlands potential to make the biggest difference. By protecting will help bring iconic species back to the area, like and improving these places for nature, they will bitterns, swallowtail butterflies and cranes, which last create space for wildlife where currently there is none. year nested in Lincolnshire for the first time in over Thanks to 20 years of ecological surveys, they can see 400 years. exactly where to focus their efforts to make the biggest difference and connect up existing nature reserves. These are just some of the many Wildlife Trust projects working towards 30 by 30. Find out more and get involved at wildlifetrusts.org/30-30-30 Roebuck | Spring 2021 29

Fifty years… and more I first heard tell of what would become So here we are in 2021, in the half- in England. Northumberland Wildlife Trust in centenary year of Northumberland This, in turn, is very near to our Whitelee February 1962. Wildlife Trust, (“Wildlife Trust” was by then considered more in tune with the times, Moor reserve at the head of Redesdale. I was a new(ish) member of staff of what but geologically-minded folk thought it It doubles as a National Nature Reserve was then still King’s College, University of rather down-played their interests). and is the largest wildlife trust reserve Durham, and, being involved in the natural in England, with extensive blanket bog science world, was invited to a meeting At first, reserve acquisition dominated and wet and dry heaths. (The first Border in the old lecture room of the Hancock activities - it was a question of sauve Mire reserves came in 1970, and, with Museum. Others there were the great and qui peut. Then we started identifying other new reserves that year, were a good of local natural history. local wildlife sites to notify to planning wonderful birthday present for the new authorities in the hope of their receiving Northumberland Wildlife Trust). It was explained to us that county-based some protection, and we soon became organisations called Naturalists’ Trusts involved in restoration after opencast coal We were fortunate that we had a were being established all over the country, working. geologist on the Council, the late Douglas and that it was high time that we had one Robson, who ensured that we never forgot here in the North East. It would cover both Tony Tynan had a vision of a landscape- that side of the environment. Northumberland and Durham - everyone scale set of reserves behind Druridge Bay, assumed that was the natural state of and our Hauxley and East Chevington We are not really certain how many affairs (think after all of the Natural reserves are a main outcome. They are our reserves we have - it depends rather how History Society of Northumberland, Northumberland equivalent of the Norfolk much management control we claim to Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne), have - perhaps anything up to a hundred. so it was resolved to establish the Tony Tynan It’s also fair to say that in the early days we Northumberland and Durham Naturalists’ weren’t too fussy as to reserve quality, such Trust. It began its formal existence in Broads, which were a result of medieval was the threat to the countryside. March 1962, immediately followed by a peat digging. And at the opposite, western, public meeting in Newcastle City Hall, side of Northumberland we became Much work, which has particularly calling for members. involved in an even larger landscape- involved volunteers, has been in species scale enterprise. In collaboration with the recovery. First came otters, particularly in The late Tony Tynan, Curator of the Forestry Commission over £2 million has north Northumberland, then red squirrels Hancock Museum, became Honorary been spent on securing and restoring the (where we were the pioneers, with Kielder Secretary, and remained a guiding hand Border Mires - peat bogs in Kielder Forest Forest an important population centre), to the Trust until his death in 2018. Indeed, - and we are now working in partnership then water voles, where the work, as with his Museum base remained the Trust’s once again, developing the Kielderhead squirrels is ongoing. Who knows what headquarters until 1993. Tony brought Wildwood, expanding there the population next, with climate chaos? Beavers, wild me onto the new Council, as a native of what may be the only native Scots pines cats, lynx, bison? Probably not wolves, yet. Northumbrian over many generations, and because of my familiarity with parts Alongside conservation activities came of the county and its habitats. We tolerated people engagement, in all sorts of ways, him even though he was a Yorkshireman, from help in the office to extreme exertion as we do our present Chief Executive, Mike in the wilderness of the Kielderhead Pratt… another Yorkshireman. Wildwood. There was an immense amount to do. Local support groups, and education The pressures on the environment were services, developed. Our magazine was enormous, and the statutory conservation christened Roebuck, which seemed a good bodies were weak. So much to do in fact, idea at the time (I may be to blame), as it is that it fairly soon became clear that the a species of wildlife that needs controlling! whole of the North East was too large to cope with, leading to a very amicable As the Trust grew, management separation from Durham in 1971. by volunteers became increasingly unsustainable, and – following wonderful help from Olive Marshall, Tony Tynan’s secretary - the first paid office assistance 30 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Fifty years... and more Left to right: Former Trust President, Lord Joicey, Sir David Attenborough and former Chair Bob Edmonds tony tynan: nwt. Lord Joicey, Sir David Attenborough and Bob Edmonds: NWT. heli-liftin: elliot lea. angus lunn: elaine more. came in 1974. We outgrew Tony’s office in increasingly ramshackle. Moreover, we had Society of Wildlife Trusts and with related the Hancock Museum and in 1976 moved to further professionalise. organisations: local authorities, Natural into a second-hand portakabin in the England, Northumberland National back yard of the Museum. This was home Our first Conservation Officer arrived Park, Northumberland Coast and North until the move to St Nicholas Park in in 1979, and, after business consultants Pennines Areas of Outstanding Natural 1993, by which time the portakabin was advised on further appointments, Jane Beauty, Northumbrian Water and the Speak joined in 1989 (she had been Environment Authority. Heli-lifting supplies working with me in the University) and to the remote soon got completely on top of business We’ve even had our flag flying at the management. She was yet another South Pole, thanks to our polar explorer Wildwood project Yorkshire person. Our first salaried President Conrad Dickinson, and surely, Director, David Stewart, a lateral thinker, with the government’s greening agenda, came in 1991 - we have called his successors and in the light of both the climate crisis Chief Executives. There is always a nice and the biodiversity crisis, we are now balance to be struck in a developing pushing at an open door. voluntary organisation between voluntary trustees, members and professional staff. Angus Lunn So far it seems to have worked reasonably Vice President well. Northumberland Wildlife Trust We work closely with neighbouring trusts, and collectively with trusts across the whole United Kingdom via the Royal Roebuck | Spring 2021 31

The moon, photographed in Redesdale with a phone, through a telescope! Light in the night Navigational aid, artistic inspiration, conditions in many parts of the country. this rare bat continuous lighting in the venue of our search for the origins of the This problem is often an accumulation landscape, such as along roads, may be a universe and home to mythical heroes; of lots of small impacts, so can sneak up barrier to movement, potentially affecting the night sky has long been a source of gradually. reproductive, foraging and roosting fascination. opportunities. Life on earth evolved over millions of Star-filled skies are a magical sight, but years to respond appropriately to natural Artificial light at night can also attract rarer than they once were. In February variations in light with day-night, lunar nocturnal animals: we’ve all seen lights on 2020, CPRE the countryside charity, found and seasonal cycles. These cycles affect an evening circled by a cloud of moths. that 61% of people taking part in their Star activities such as movement, feeding, This can result in higher mortality rates Count lived in an area with severe light breeding, emergence, hibernation and for moths, both from collisions with lights pollution, obscuring views of the stars. dormancy, as well as flowering and growth and from increased predation. Some bats, in plants. The use of artificial light at such as pipistrelles, gather around lights, Losing our starry night skies severs night blurs these cycles, changing how enjoying the buffet of flying insects they our contact with a part of our cultural organisms respond to the world around attract. However, in addition to these heritage and a source of inspiration for them. direct effects, artificial light at night can future generations. However, outdoor reduce mating, inhibit feeding, disrupt artificial lighting is a side effect of In illuminated areas, small nocturnal pheromone production and even change industrial civilisation. It can improve road mammals tend to move about less, distributions of moths, affecting the safety, reduce crime, define the character restrict their foraging range and feed for a pollination services they provide. of urban areas and extend the length of shorter time, which may help them avoid the productive day. Yet, when lighting predation. Moths are not the only creatures who is excessive, misdirected or obtrusive, it find themselves navigationally challenged becomes polluting. Some species, such as foxes and stoats, in the presence of artificial light. Some hunt in lit areas where their prey is migrating birds are attracted to lights at Light pollution causes an absence more visible, although, some nocturnal night; those not killed by collision may still of darkness, making it impossible to predators actively avoid artificial light, become disoriented and exhausted from experience natural nighttime lighting including the lesser horseshoe bat. For 32 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Light in the night A starry sky over How you can help: ‘The Nick’ at Make sure your outdoor lighting minimises the harmful effects of light pollution. To do Blakehope Nick, this it should: Kielder ʈʈ Only be on when needed; consider motion-sensor lighting. ʈʈ Only light the area that needs it. ʈʈ Be no brighter than necessary; 500 lumens or less is appropriate for most domestic purposes. ʈʈ Minimize blue light emissions; choose a warm-white LED light of less than 3000 Kelvin. ʈʈ Be fully shielded (pointing downward). For more information see: darksky.org/our-work/lighting and britastro.org/dark-skies. Moths and a caddis Discover night-flying moths: moon: Jennifer Care. The Nick starry sky: Neil Denham. Moths and a caddis fly: Jennifer Care. fly in their overnight Follow our simple family-friendly guide on page 9 to make your own moth trap. ‘hotel’ awaiting identification and Some great online resources to help release after being you identify the moths you find include attracted to the light of butterfly-conservation.org/moths/ a moth trap for study. whats-flying-tonight and ukmoths. org.uk. circling brightly lit structures, reducing lighting can even affect plants, causing their chance of survival. Coastal lighting bud burst in trees more than a week early, Go further and become a citizen can be a fatal attraction for fledgling which may make them more susceptible scientist by entering details of the petrels and shearwaters, where they can to frost damage, as well as increasing moths you found (and any other wildlife become grounded in urban areas instead exposure to fungal pathogens and sightings) at: ericnortheast.org.uk if of making their first flights out to sea. herbivores earlier in the year. you have a photo, that’s even better! Once grounded, fledglings often struggle to take off again and succumb to predation While there is more to learn about the See our amazing Dark Skies: or starvation. effects of artificial light on the world Northumberland has one of Europe’s around us, we already know that it has largest areas of protected night sky: 1,592 The colour (spectrum) of light makes a consequences for humans and wildlife, km2. Northumberland International difference too: light sources with a strong and in creating light pollution, we waste Dark Sky Park (Gold Tier) comprises all of blue and ultraviolet component are precious resources, whilst depriving Northumberland National Park and most particularly attractive to many night-flying ourselves of the natural beauty of the of Kielder Water & Forest Park and has the insects. Scientists use this attraction to night sky. Light pollution is considered most pristine dark skies in England! trap night-flying moths for study. Blue as part of our planning system, but we light at night is also particularly bad for can all play our part in reducing it. As the When restrictions allow, there are some us; disrupting production of the hormone Commission for Dark Skies says: “The fantastic venues in Northumberland that melatonin, which induces sleep, controlling light from distant stars and galaxies takes host stargazing experiences throughout our circadian rhythm and supporting our hundreds, thousands, even millions of the year: immune system. years to reach us - what a tragedy to lose it ʈʈ Kielder Observatory in the last millisecond of its journey!” We’re not the only ones who can be kielderobservatory.org kept awake by light: some daytime Let us all treasure the absence of light ʈʈ Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory birds, including robins and blackbirds, and protect and enjoy the dark skies. can become active, singing and foraging battlesteads.com/observatory at night under artificial light. Artificial ʈʈ The Redesdale Arms redesdale-arms.co.uk ʈʈ Stonehaugh Observatory stonehaugh-enterprises.co.uk ʈʈ The Twice Brewed Observatory twicebrewedinn.co.uk/stargazing Roebuck | Spring 2021 33

Companion planting Feed yourself and your local wildlife with these tips from Kate Bradbury. Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus Nasturtiums can lure aphids from beans and egg-laying butterflies from brassicas. You can also transfer white butterfly caterpillars on to nasturtiums from your cabbages and kales. Their flowers attract bumblebees, the main pollinator of tomatoes. Thyme Beans Thymus vulgaris Fabaceae This low-growing herb can deter blackfly Brassicas and salad crops need nitrogen-rich from broad beans and roses. You can also soil to grow well. Plant them alongside beans, make a tea from its leaves and spray it on whose roots fix nitrogen into the soil. brassicas to prevent whitefly. Marigold Mint Calendula officinalis Mentha spicata Its leaves repel whitefly from tomatoes Its strongly scented leaves deter insects with and can lure aphids from beans. Its flowers a taste for carrots, onions and brassicas, attract pollinators as well as aphid predators including flea beetle. Best grown in a pot as it like ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies. Its can grow out of control in open ground. roots work with soil fungi to deliver more nutrients to other plants. 34 Roebuck | Spring 2021

Companion planting is an age-old tradition of along my allotment boundaries. These are fantastic organic gardening, designed to help plants grow better, aid pollination, deter insects from munching wildlife plants, and so bring in a range of insects your crops and encourage the predators that eat them. It basically involves the planting of and birds. Nettles give me a head start on other wildflowers or other crops alongside your main crop — think of them as little friends or guardians, there allotmenteers: coming into leaf early in the year, to keep your plants happy and safe. nettles attract the nettle aphid, Microlophium Most companion plants are strongly scented and illustration by hannah bailey, photo © Sarah Cuttle therefore can deter insects in search of their host carnosum. This feeds only on nettles and emerges Kate Bradbury plant. Others attract more beneficial insects, such as from hibernation sooner than other species, is passionate ladybirds and lacewings, which then prey on aphids so attracts aphid predators – such as ladybirds, and other crop eaters. Some companion plants are hoverflies and lacewings – early in the year. This about wildlife- ‘sacrificial’, meaning you grow them so that insects means the predators are already on hand when the lay eggs on them instead of your prized crop. Others blackbean aphid starts breeding on my broad beans. friendly gardening can benefit the soil, such as nitrogen-fixing legumes, Then in summer, fennel flowers attract hoverflies, which help leafy plants grow better, or calendula, which then lay eggs on aphid clusters – I rarely have and the author of whose roots work particularly well with soil fungi, a problem with aphids. Other wildflowers attract Wildlife Gardening which aid the uptake of soil nutrients. All of this pollinating bees, which stay to fertilise my bean for Everyone and helps you work in harmony with nature, protect your Everything in crops and help them grow better. What’s not to like? association with On my allotment I grow calendula with tomatoes, onions and garlic with carrots and parsnips, and The Wildlife Trusts. nasturtiums with beans and brassica crops. I also grow nettles, fennel, teasels and other wildflowers and tomato flowers. I also like to grow caterpillar foodplants for moths and butterflies because they’re nice to have around. I like to think of them as my companions, so companion planting can benefit the gardener, too! Gardens and allotments are a vital habitat for many of our struggling insects. Get tips for helping them at: wildlifetrusts.org/take-action-insects Borage Borago officinalis Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies, which pollinate crops. It is also reported to improve the flavour of strawberries. Garlic chive Allium tuberosum The garlicy scent from its chive-like leaves deters the carrot root fly, which can usually smell carrots from up to a mile away. Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Its strong-scented foliage can deter aphids and its flowers attract a range of pollinators, including bees. Plant with carrots and leeks to protect them. Roebuck | Spring 2021 35

Thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting Northumberland’s hidden gems and the region’s health and wellbeing! For the past 12 years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s conservation and volunteering efforts. Now, the players have joined forces with Northumbrian Water Ltd to help the Trust purchase a new vehicle, ensuring it keeps motoring on with vital work on its reserves and green spaces, which are helping people to stay focussed and positive. Photo: Louise Chapman • People’s Postcode Lottery manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different charities and good causes. People play with their chosen postcodes for a chance to win cash prizes. A minimum of 32% from each subscription goes directly to charities and good causes in Britain and internationally. Players have raised more than £600 million so far. For details of the charities and good causes which are promoting and benefitting from the lottery draws, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar • It costs £10 a month to play and winning postcodes are announced every day. The maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw proceeds. For details, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes • New players can sign up to pay using direct debit by calling 0808 10 9 8 7 6 5. New players who sign up online at www.postcodelottery.co.uk can pay using direct debit, debit card or PayPal • Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under licence numbers: 000-000829-N-102511 and 000-000829-R-102513. Registered office: 2nd Floor, 31 Chertsey Street, Guildford, Surrey, England, GU1 4H • Follow us @PPLComms