Roebuck 151 - Summer 2020

The member magazine for Northumberland Wildlife Trust Summer 2020 | 151 Roebuck Peat-free gardening Help protect our precious peatlands Super seagrass Explore the meadows beneath the waves Summer spotting The summer hum Grasshoppers and crickets create the soundtrack of summer. Discover six species to spot with our handy guide.

Welcome 7 Are you ready for post COVID nature? What a spring and early summer we have had! The times we have lived through and are still living through, are unprecedented in every way and all our lives have been affected. In some cases, this has meant personal tragedy, sickness and long recovery, for others a lonely isolation and forced separation. Business and charities, including NWT, have been challenged to their limits and beyond. We have had to be especially resilient and resourceful and must be going forward to manage the ongoing impact on the Trust and its mission. We have never needed and appreciated your support more than now. Life post COVID, and especially lockdown, is to many people more about focussing on real values of looking after one’s own, our families and community’s wellbeing as never before, and as part of this, not to take nature for granted. We are here for people. We specialise in linking people back to nature through our sites, (virtual and actual), volunteering, events and education and our aim is to do even more of this in future. The issue can all be addressed by making nature the solution, starting with our everyday lives. This is our message post COVID-19 - let’s make something good come from a terrible crisis. Chief Executive Northumberland Wildlife Trust Follow me on twitter @Mike_Pratt_NWT Mike Pratt: Jacky Seery, 7 spot ladybird: geoff dob 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: Meadow grasshopper © Stephen Dalton / Registered company number 717813 naturepl.com Website nwt.org.uk facebook.com/northumberlandwt twitter.com/northwildlife instagram.com/northwildlife 2 Roebuck | Summer 2020

20 30 Contents 24 4 Your wild summer bbins, Water vole: alice mccourt, Red squirrel: Peter Cairns/2020VISION, seahorse: Alexander Mustard The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it on your local patch 10 Wild reserves Why summer is the best time of year to visit these Wildlife Trust reserves 13 Wild thoughts Nature writer Melissa Harrison on getting creative with nature. 16 Wild news The latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts 23 Focus on: Action for Insects A decline of 50% since 1970 and 41% of insect species threatened with extinction. 24 Hidden meadows Marine Biologist Nia Hâf Jones introduces a hidden world beneath the waves. 28 Caught on camera Revealing the hidden wildlife on our nature reserves. 30 Red report Red squirrels are bouncing back, but support still needed. 32 The birds and the bees Community projects take flight in Redesdale. 34 Gardening for wildlife Go peat free! From making our own compost to thinking before we buy. 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 leaning 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 legacy in support. nwt.org.uk/donate nwt.org.uk/campaigns your will. nwt.org.uk/legacy Roebuck | Summer 2020 3

Your wild summer The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it Goldfinch 4 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Thank you NfiotTorwordtiChlolrunnamametvbilenienrgrghlaataondvndeeiRfatioob. HtrbaiolerlapyuteCosferluudflbol.yr summer SPECTACLE goldfinch: tim mason Glorious goldfinches Goldfinches are small passerines (perching birds or song birds) in the finch family, native to Europe, North Africa and central Asia but introduced to areas including Australia and New Zealand. They are highly coloured with the male sporting a bright red face and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks are buff or chestnut brown, the black wings have a broad yellow bar, the tail is black and the rump is white. Males and females are very similar, but females have a slightly smaller red area on the face. They are very sociable, often breeding in colonies with a very twittering song which means they can often be heard before they are seen. In winter, many goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain, but over the summer they can be spotted anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. They also like orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons and are less common in upland areas. SEE THEM THIS summer † Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre Low Hauxley, Northumberland NE65 0JR Tim Mason Retired primary school teacher, NWT Hauxley volunteer, bird recorder and avid wildlife photographer. Roebuck | Summer 2020 5

Your wild summer Hovering about Hoverflies are members of the fly family, regarded as a gardener’s friend with their larvae munching through three to ten trillion aphids each year. Over 280 species have been found in the British Isles with more being added to the list each year. Hoverflies come in a range of sizes and colours, most mimic the colours of different insects. The drone flies mimic honey bees, whilst others mimic bumblebees or wasps, an effective deterrent against predators even though there is no sting in the tail of these little jewels. SEE them THIS summer † Benshaw Moor North of Elsdon, Northumberland NE19 1BP. † Northumberlandia Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 8AU. † Whitelee Moor Carter Bar, Northumberland TD8 6PT. Marmalade hoverflyhedgehog: Tom Marshall Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly: geoff dobbinsurban fieldcraft Hedgehog Nature’s pest controllers 6 Roebuck | Summer 2020 Hedgehogs are probably one of our containing metaldehyde, are a killer if most familiar mammals, harmless to consumed either directly by eating the humans, despite their 16,000 prickles and pellets or indirectly via poisoned slugs. very useful to gardeners as natural pest controllers. Roads have had a massive impact on hedgehogs. It is estimated that Common in the countryside, up to 15,000 are killed annually on hedgehogs are under threat in towns and roads and, additionally, as they act as cities across the UK. barriers to their movement, causing the fragmentation of populations into The increasing number of new isolated pockets which are more likely to housing developments destroy habitats become extinct. and the growing use of solid fencing around gardens reduces their movement This summer why not try your between sites leading to a scattering of hand at making a hibernation box? populations and their decline. Find out how at: wildlifetrusts.org.uk/ actions/how-build-hedgehog-home Tidy gardens and the use of garden, pesticides and commercial slug pellets,

SEE THIS DO THIS Marvel at the colours of summer all around you - Keep the spirit of lockdown going by setting up a from flowers, trees and hedgerows to clear blue litter picking group with your neighbours. It’s fun, skies and light nights. free and can have instant results. species spotlight Two spot ladybird Top tips Ladybirds 3 species to spot Seven spot Ladybirds are among the most The most common popular and well-loved British ladybirds species in the UK. insects. We learn to recognise them Their bright colours warn from an early age as they feature off predators. in numerous nursery rhymes and children’s books. Twenty-two spot Bright yellow with black flower: richard clark, 2 spot: John Bridges, 7 spot: geoff dobbins, harlequin: amy lewis There are over 40 UK species of ladybird. groups of this species can often be found spots. Found in grasslands, Their eggs are laid on the leaves and stems hibernating together in cracks and crevices. woodland edges, towns of plants close to their aphid prey. Once In some years huge numbers migrate here and gardens. hatched, the tiny larvae will hunt for aphids, from the continent. sometimes several times their size, in this Harlequin case they will ‘piggy back’ the aphid sucking The twenty-two-spot ladybird is a Originating from Asia, this out the body fluids. distinctive yellow species with 22 black spots. ladybird first arrived in the It feeds on mildew, grazing on low plants in UK in 2004. Very common The larvae moult their skin three times as grasslands, and it favours plants of the carrot in towns and gardens. they grow bigger, they also munch the solid family such as hogweed or wild angelica. parts of the aphid, a gruesome end either way. Once they have fattened up, the larvae The alien harlequin ladybird has variable pupate and the pupae can often be found on colour patterns. It has spread rapidly across plants. the UK since first appearing 16 years ago. Like many of our native species they feed on Most adults emerge from the pupa in mid aphids but also include a wide range of other to late summer. They feed for several weeks food including eggs and larvae of butterflies before finding a place to hibernate, emerging and moths, other ladybirds, and many other in spring to mate and start the cycle again. small insects. With each female capable of laying over one thousand eggs they can be a Ladybirds have few enemies, their bold significant pest, threatening the existence of colouring warning they are distasteful. When many of our rarer invertebrates. in danger, ladybirds can retract their head, like a tortoise, under an armoured plate Why are they important? (the pronotum) and the legs withdraw into Adults are important part of our ecosystem grooves under the body. Many also release and helpful to the gardener, farmer and a noxious fluid from between the leg joints, forester by eating plant sucking bugs, a nasty surprise for any predator foolish especially aphids. Only a few species are enough to attack. vegetarian or feed on mildew. Identification, in some cases, can be SEE THEM THIS SUMMER surprisingly difficult due to the variability of † St Nicholas Park Gosforth, Newcastle colour pattern, plus colours can be inverted NE3 3XT. and spots missing. Many have bright, † Harbottle Crags 1km south west of contrasting colour patterns, not always red Harbottle, Northumberland NE65 7BB. and black, some have stripes instead of spots, † Close House Riverside Near Wylam, and some have no pattern at all. Northumberland NE41 8BW. Our most common species, the seven spot, To find out more please visit our is thought to be the reason the group are website nwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer called ladybirds. The red colour representing the cloak, and spots representing the ‘seven sorrows’, of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary. Big Roebuck | Summer 2020 7

HEAR THIS FORAGE FOR THIS Listen to the sounds of nature this summer from Wild strawberries. Smaller, sweeter and juicier than their birdsong and bumblebees to rustlings caused by a commercial cousin the garden strawberry, their white summer breeze. flowers are edible and can be used to treat sunburn. not just for kids Seven wild activities for summer Reignite your love of nature with these really wild things to do wild strawberry: Kieron Huston, couple: ben hall/2020vision, doll house: Georgina Moroney, osprey: Peter Cairns/2020vison 1 Staycation, staycation, 2 Get blackberry staycation baking With oversees travel being up in the air, Make a note in your calendar why not stay local and explore some of to make something tasty our 60+ reserves this summer? with blackberries picked from field edges or along our rural With habitats including inland, costal, roads - but don’t forget to leave wetland, upland, river, stream and urban some for the birds, mice and there’s something for everybody and hedgehogs. better still, it’s all free. Osprey View the full list of trust reserves at: nwt.org.uk/reserves 4 Bid the ospreys au revoir The Kielder ospreys have been busy nesting, hatching, fledging and flying high in the skies over Kielder for the 12th year. Bid au revoir to the birds for another year as they leave for sunnier weather this summer. 3 Mouse and home 5 Create your own music festival If you have an old doll’s house With all the music festivals - Glastonbury, Isle of why not put it in your garden and Wight, Reading and Leeds cancelled this summer, why give any wood mice in your garden not create your own music festival? somewhere to hang out this summer? Put up a tent, throw up some fairy lights and play your favourite music as many times as you like. 8 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Your wild summer 6 Dine around 10 upcoming events the clock Who said a greenhouse Take your pick from this selection of our great was just for growing seasonal events at Northumberlandia plants? Turn your greenhouse into your 1 Landscape Trail 6 Pond life trail very own outdoor glass 26th - 31st July 22nd - 30th August restaurant this summer. With no opening or closing Download a guide to help Download a guide to help times you will be able dine you navigate your way you navigate your way around the clock. aroung the site, collecting aroung the site, collecting clues as you go. clues as you go. 7 Make an animal footprint trap 2 World Conservation Day 7 Bat trail Want to know what curious critters visit your 28th July 24th October garden during the night? An animal footprint trap is a Come along to a Download a guide to help great way to find out. day of activities at you navigate your way Northumberlandia. aroung the site, collecting You will need Ncraatfutre clues as you go. † Old baking tray 3 Pond life trail † Long ruler 1st - 7th August 8 Build a bat box † Fine grain sand Download a guide to help 24th & 25th October † Water you navigate your way Make and decorate a bat box † Low-sided dish aroung the site, collecting to take home or leave in our † Meaty cat or dog food clues as you go. forest in celebration of Bat † Footprint ID guide Week. 4 Forest trail 8th - 14th August 9 Bat watch Download a guide to help 29th & 30th October you navigate your way Learn more about these aroung the site, collecting exceptional creatures and clues as you go. come bat spotting with us! How to make 5 Landscape Trail 10 Halloween activities † Fill an old baking tray with sand and smooth out the 15th - 21st August 31st October & 1st November surface with a ruler. Check to make sure your fingers leave a mark. Download a guide to help Can you work out the you navigate your way clues and find the buried † Place hedgehog food or meaty cat or dog food in a aroung the site, collecting treasure? Followed by low-sided dish in the middle of the tray (you could also clues as you go. spooky story telling. try mealworms or chopped, unsalted peanuts). Booking may be required for some events, admission and † Leave the trap overnight in a garden and check in the parking charges may apply, visit our website for details morning for footprints left by curious visitors. nwt.org.uk/events Northumberlandia Hedgehog Fox northumberlandia: duncan hutt Cat Bird Squirrel Roebuck | Summer 2020 9

Whitelee Moor: all things wild and wonderful One of Britain’s most The wild upland moors of Whitelee are looking more natural. important upland steeped in history and home to iconic The A68 forms the North Eastern nature reserves with wildlife. At over 15km2 it is our biggest rare blanket bog and reserve and one of the biggest in England. boundary of the reserve and has been an heather heath. important route into Scotland for many The site was purchased in 1999 with centuries, with the Scottish border forming 10 Roebuck | Summer 2020 generous donations from the National the North Western boundary. Whitelee Heritage Memorial Fund, a members’ has been witness to important periods in appeal and other funders. British history, not least in the period of the Border Reivers. Whitelee is a National Nature Reserve, the blanket bog, heaths and View from the cairn at Carter Pike associated species are also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and internationally protected as part of a larger Special Area of Conservation. The site is the source of the river Rede along from Carter Bar; main tributaries are the Bateinghope burn, Coomsdon burn and Black Cleugh Since acquiring the reserve, our grazing tenant has agreed to reduce livestock to below half the former numbers, resulting in an increase in scrub. Combined with tree planting, the Coomsdon burn is now

OnLum que ea volorrovit Thank you our best summer reserves pa quiscip sanita dolore optaspe dipsant dempore dwTrahhioannahtkgahsevetecobhhooaegunlpsrnevwedolesldutt.aonmtkeeeoerlpsd now you do it recaboresto comnis aut molupta sitium fuga. Nem Visit et es et eri doluptatiis est Whitelee Moor il incia quid moluptaspis Know before you go Location: Carter Bar, near Byrness, Northumberland. Nearest postcode TD8 6PT. OS Map Reference NT 700 040. How to get there: Parking is available at the tourist car park at Carter Bar and on laybys on the forest track at the reservoir end. Opening times: All day, every day. Access: There are two main access points from the A68. (1) From the public car park at Carter Bar (OL16 NT698068) with a five-bar gate on a latch and a single kissing gate giving access via a public footpath to a broad and level track. (2) From the south- east corner of the reserve, a 5-bar gate giving access to a forest track NT698068 (permissive footpath) beyond which a track leads to the south-eastern boundary of the reserve. top WILDLIFE TO SPOT Feral goats, a primitive breed with populations throughout North Northumberland are often seen near Catcleugh and in the high valleys. The famous border ballad “The Death of the reserve, down Redesdale and over to Bog Asphodel whitelee moor, view & bog asphodel: geoff dobbins Parcy Reed” recounts the brutal murder Cheviot in the distance. Narthesium ossifragum of Percival Reed which took place in Whitelee’s Bateinghope valley during the During early spring flocks of golden The heather moorland is home to birds 16th century. It is said that Percy’s ghost plover flash in the sun as they wheel above such as red grouse, and birds of prey still haunts the valley, do you dare visit? the blanket bog nearby. Most of the birds including merlin and hen harrier. One continue further north to breed but some of the moor’s most striking insects is the A public footpath leads from Carter Bar remain along with dunlin, merlin and northern eggar moth - its caterpillars along an old road to Whitelee limeworks at whinchat. emerge as a large brown day-flying moth. the head of the Bateinghope burn. Ravens Adder which are quite shy and usually only are frequently heard cronking as they The blanket bog turns golden in June seen when they emerge to bask in the sun. fly overhead. The route is boggy so stout and July with the flowering of bog Plants include moonwort on lime spoil and footwear is advisable. asphodel; this is followed in August with road stone and cloudberry is found on the purple of ling heather on the hill sides. the highest ground where the cloud can A short detour from the path, the cairn descend quite suddenly. at Carter Pike, offers stunning views across A short walk through young trees near Catcleugh can be done in 30 minutes. The did you know path, mown through heather, passes a Romano-British settlement that looks out There are carnivorous plants in over Catcleugh. A small footbridge on the Northumberland. The round-leaved other side of the track leads you onto the sundew plant with its sticky ‘dew’-covered walk, this loops around and drops back trichomes (plant hairs) that tempt in onto the track, follow this back to the unsuspecting insects, grows on Whitelee. parking area to complete the walk. n Roebuck | Summer 2020 11

our best Summer reserves More Northumberland Wildlife Trust nature reserves for a great summer day out Berwick upon Tweed 3 3 Holburn Moss Nature Reserve Whitelee Moor Alnwick Nature Reserve Why now? 1 The peat bog at Holburn lies in a valley to the east of Greensheen Hill which has the Kielder best views over the site and surrounding countryside. Lindisfarne and the Cheviot Morpeth Hills are clearly visible at this time of year. Hexham Newcastle upon Tyne Know before you go Location: Near Holburn Village, mid-way 2 between Lowick and Belford (NU050365). Nearest postcode NE55 3TW. Open: All day, every day. Wildlife to spot: internationally designated for wintering Icelandic greylag geese. Wide range of bog plants including the carnivorous round-leaved sundew. Adder are common, nightjar occasionally breed and hobby can sometimes be seen hunting dragonflies. 2 Williamston Nature Reserve williamston: richard clark, holburn moss: duncan hutt Why now? Know before you go Holburn Moss The site is awash with late summer colour Location: 1km south of Slaggford Village from mountain pansy and devil’s-bit The lowdown scabious. (NY681521). Nearest postcode CA8 7NJ. Lindisfarne has a historical as well as Open: All day, every day. contemporary link with the site. It is reputed that the monks of Lindisfarne Priory used Wildlife to spot: Mountain pansy, dune to take peat from the site as fuel and may helleborine, slow worm. account for the strange square hollows across it. The terrain is rough, particularly Williamston The lowdown across the bog and visitors to the site are This small reserve is one of the best requested to keep to the tracks to prevent ‘calaminarian’ or ‘heavy metal’ grasslands in damage to the delicate peatland flora and the area. The grassland and surrounding disturbance to birds. The Trust manages scrub woodland are influenced by silts the estate in association with Ford and Etal from the pennine lead and zinc mines. The Estates. woodland is home to the dune helleborine and the grassland to rare and other fairly Plan your next great day out unusual lichens. from all our nature reserves at: nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves Take care when visiting the site as many of the species are prone to damage from trampling, especially the dune helleborine, which are easily overlooked. 12 Roebuck | Summer 2020

WILD THOUGHTS Melissa Harrison Get creative with nature When was the last time you made didn’t matter whether I turned out to be a little bit wild something for no reason at all, save a good photographer or not. I just loved curiosity and fun? Children, for the most part, play naturally and with no clear taking pictures of the plants and birds The Yorkshire goal in sight, and do so especially easily in natural settings. Yet, as adults we can become results-driven: and insects that I saw, and by doing it artist James when we spend time doing something we assess its worth by what we achieved at the end of it, not what week-in, week-out, as the seasons changed, Brunt arranges it felt like to do at the time. But one of the best ways of nurturing a deep, imaginative connection to nature is my ability to notice wildlife of all kinds leaves, stones through creativity, and at its purest and most powerful, creativity is about play. Recording the hum of bees in increased, the natural world seemed more and other your garden for an ambient track, photographing a year in the life of a street tree, keeping a nature diary, and more detailed and fine-grained, and natural materials writing a seasonal haiku — engaging with the natural world to make something that didn’t exist before can my connection to my nearby green spaces to create breath- be a powerfully rewarding act. The key is finding something we truly enjoy doing, grew stronger and deeper, rewarding me taking patterns whatever the outcome — rather than it being a skill we want to acquire, or an activity to excel at. A in turn by bringing richness to my life. and shapes. The neighbour recently took a class called ‘watercolour doodling’. The aim wasn’t to create an accomplished Now I write about nature for a living, but I impermanence of this picture, but to have fun playing with paint. It made me think of the pictures I drew as a child of things still take a lot of pictures, and enjoy jotting kind of natural art feels in my garden, before school taught me that ‘good’ art was detailed and representative, and anything down rough descriptions and even poetry very liberating to make, more offbeat or expressive — more fun to create — wouldn’t earn me a gold star. that no-one will ever see. and it’s something When I was first finding my way as a novelist I found exploring London’s parks and commons with Last year I had fun making cyanotypes anyone can have a go at. a camera immensely important: unlike writing, nobody was ever going to mark my work, and it using leaves and light-sensitive paper. A friend does a drawing a day — usually in her garden, but sometimes looking out of her window — giving herself just 10 minutes and not worrying about how polished the results are. Whatever draws you pleasurably into the natural world, slows down time Melissa illustration by robin mackenzie and focuses your attention is worth Harrison is pursuing. Young, old, or somewhere in a nature writer between, playing creatively in and with and novelist, nature is a truly life-affirming thing. and editor of the anthologies Spring, Summer, Autumn and Discover more ways to connect with Winter, produced nature creatively. in support of The Visit wildlifetrusts.org/nature-at-home Wildlife Trusts. Roebuck | Summer 2020 13

field grasshopper © Dawn monrose 6 species to spot Crickets & grasshoppers foAr cItniosne ctsaInnsdbecccuartntisctdk(hiieonnetwstcrtseealo)uicklaahddterrseilee-niwlafpeigecni.atttgThsdriaroyuraukanstsessht-stsithiainn.occoosgdtdpreisagoepcyy/ncte:oslrifunsoer, We often celebrate the dawn chorus in spring, but there’s another, more subtle symphony that features in the soundtrack of summer. Listen carefully in most wild places and you’re likely to hear the chirping chorus of crickets and grasshoppers. These songs are known as stridulations, made by quickly rubbing two body parts together — a leg against a wing, or one wing against another. There are over 25 species of these spring-legged soloists in the UK, with songs ranging from short scratchy bursts to a continuous high buzz. These unique sounds can help you identify which species are present, especially when using a bat detector to help make the sounds more audible. 14 Roebuck | Summer 2020

wendy carter 1 Meadow grasshopper Usually green, often with brown wings. Some can be brownish or even vivid pink. Compared to similar species, the lines on the shoulders are almost straight. Their song is given in pulses of scratchy rattles. Where: Widespread across most of the UK. Absent from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. This species isn’t fussy and can be found in almost any rough grassland. wendy carter 2 Field grasshopper A brownish grasshopper, though colours vary and they sometimes have a mottled or striped appearance. The underside is distinctly hairy. Another key feature is the strongly indented stripe on each shoulder. The song is a short rasping chirp, repeated at short intervals. Where: Found throughout most of the UK in short, dry patchy grass, including gardens. Gary Farmer 3 Common green grasshopper Another mostly green grasshopper, but unlike other wendy carter similar species it never shows red or orange on the abdomen. The lines on the shoulder are gently incurved and marked with white or cream. The song lasts 20 seconds or more and sounds like the ticking of a free- wheeling bicycle. Where: Widespread throughout the UK, favouring long grass in damp meadows and woodland rides. 4 Mottled grasshopper A small and variable grasshopper, often showing a mix of colours. It’s most easily recognised by the club-tipped antennae. The song is a sequence of short, buzzing “zrrr zrrr” sounds that lasts about 10 seconds. Where: Found throughout much of the UK, in dry open areas with bare ground, such as quarries, heathlands and coastal dunes. wendy carter 5 Speckled bush-cricket As the name suggests, this green bush-cricket is covered in tiny black speckles. They look humpbacked and have very short wings. Females can be recognised by the broad, upcurved ovipositor (tube used for laying eggs) on the rear end. Where: Mainly central and southern England and coastal Wales, though also recorded further north. They favour hedges, woodland and gardens. wendy carter 6 Roesel’s bush-cricket A striking insect with a dark brown body, orange legs and a cream ‘u’-shape on the shoulders. Its distinctive song is a monotonous, mechanical noise, like the buzz of overhead powerlines. Where: Most common in southeast England but spreading rapidly north and west and has been recorded in north Yorkshire and on the Welsh coast. Found in damp meadows, scrub and rough grassland. Roebuck | Summer 2020 15

wild news All the latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts VisitNoroCrtehnutmrebaenrdlaCnadfiéa Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre regional Wild, alive and open for visitors Much to the delight of everybody, our the takeaway menu went down a treat and - not to mention the famous Hauxley Northumberlandia Visitor Centre and the social distancing measures proved to be scones. Café and Hauxley Wildlife Discovery just what that Lady of the North ordered. Centre and Lookout Café are now back in Whilst on site, please make sure you business. Following on from the success of this read the signage and listen to our opening, and using the same safety plan, instructions. We also recommend that Along with thousands of other venues our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre you bring your own hand sanitiser across the UK, both sites closed on Sunday re-opened on Thursday 9 July, three years and use facial coverings whilst inside 15th March, causing huge financial loss after it was first opened by wildlife TV both Northumberlandia Visitor Centre to the Trust and upset to hundreds of presenter and naturalist Simon King, and Café and the Hauxley Wildlife visitors who travel to the sites each day Discovery Centre. to escape the stresses of life, engage with With both sites, it has been very nature or just to enjoy a catch-up with much a case of small steps to start off Also, please act responsibly - avoid friends in the café. with. Nobody has ever worked in such social contact and consider others. circumstances before and although it has And finally, please take your litter In June, with the lifting of lockdown been a challenge, we were delighted to home as many of our volunteers are restrictions and £19,200 from the National reopen the Northumberlandia café, with still not back with us and our staff Lottery Emergency Fund, we were able to minimal problems, even with a limited aren’t able to empty bins as often as put a number of safety measures in place menu and very few volunteers. they usually do. on both sites including hand sanitising stations, screens, one-way access, Although The Lookout Café at Hauxley For updates go to nwt.org.uk or contactless payments and an additional is also currently offering a limited visit the NWT or Hauxley Wildlife cleaner to ensure the safety of all visitors. takeaway service, we are working to open Discovery Centre facebook pages. both cafés with a small number of tables Northumberlandia was the first to open and a sit down menu from the beginning on Thursday 25th June with great success - of August - so come and celebrate this with the ice cream freezer was well stocked; our fabulous soup, cakes and sandwiches 16 Roebuck | Summer 2020

News Year 4 and 5 L eg a cie s Hauxley Wildlife discovery centre: john faulkner, Northumberlandia visitor centre: steven morris, school pupils: paul martin pupils from St David’s School in Together we’re stronger Exeter off to meet with legacy support some water voles. The Trust is delighted to have regional been named as a beneficiary in the following legacies: Calling all Co-op shoppers Norman Thompson - £1,000 The Restoring Ratty project is calling on onto the site to learn more about the June Tindle - £10,000 all Co-op shoppers for their help, via the wonderful, watery world of water voles. Co-op Membership scheme. This selfless generosity is hugely Restoring Ratty has an ambitious appreciated especially never more so Each year the Co-op Group chooses a goal of engaging with 250,000 and the than now as the Trust faces financial new list of local causes, and in October Co-op funding will go some way towards challenges the likes of which it has 2019 the Kielder based water vole making this goal a reality. never experienced before. reintroduction project was selected to receive Co-op Membership funds from In the UK, 1% of each Co-op shopper The money will be used carefully to shoppers at its Bellingham store, until spend on products and services goes to continue our valuable conservation November 2020. the Local Community Fund. work and to preserve our precious green spaces which provided much All money the project receives will be Visit membership.coop.co.uk/ needed peace and tranquillity to so used to take school children, Brownies causes/36848 and help lift the spirits of many people during the peak of the and youth groups from the Kielder area young people after such a disrupted start COVID-19 crisis. to the year. If you are inspired by the wildlife regional and landscapes in our region and if, as a result of the COVID -19 crisis, you Email or post: have thought more about making or updating a will, please would you the choice is yours consider leaving a gift to NWT to help us continue our vital work? Remember when the Royal Mail had the slogan: By air, by land, by sea, by hand? Now add email to the list as the Trust Details on legacies and a list of is offering members the opportunity to receive their copy solicitors offering discounts are of Roebuck electronically. available on our website at nwt.org. uk/legacy or, if you would like to Should you wish to move to the electronic version, even chat to somebody about the value of temporarily, contact Trust Membership Officer Christine legacies to the Trust, please contact O’Neil at: christine.o’[email protected]. Dan Venner, Director of Finance and Business Development at the Trust at Visit nwt.org.uk/publications to see how the [email protected]. e-magazine will look on your screen. Giving Tree If you’re not receiving our monthly e-newsletter but would like to, please email [email protected]. Looking for a way to celebrate a special event such as a birthday or anniversary, or to commemorate a loved one? Then why not place a gold, silver or bronze leaf on the Giving Tree in our Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre? Further details are available at nwt.org.uk/giving-tree. Roebuck | Summer 2020 17

uk news UK UPDATE At The Wildlife Trusts, we want to see 30 percent of our land and sea being Leading managed for nature’s recovery by 2030. the change That’s the bare minimum needed to restore nature in abundance to the UK craig bennett © the wildlife trusts, common bliue on knapweed © jon hawkins Iwas delighted to start in the role little too much on the identification, and to start getting our ecosystems of Chief Executive of The Wildlife categorisation and conservation of rare working properly again; capturing Trusts this spring (even if it was in species and habitats, and not enough on carbon, pollinating crops, storing water, rather odd circumstances given the the abundance of nature everywhere, rejuvenating soils and cleaning our rivers. Covid-19 lockdown). and the preservation and restoration of ecosystem processes. We want to work with farmers and other I’ve long seen The Wildlife Trusts as land managers to create a Nature Recovery the most powerful movement for nature Don’t get me wrong; we owe a huge debt Network, using field margins, river valleys, in UK. Made up of 46 individual Wildlife of gratitude to the conservation pioneers hedgerows, roadside verges, railway Trusts, ranging from those covering urban that identified the first nature reserves cuttings and back gardens to protect, areas, to county Wildlife Trusts, groups of and protected these sites for future connect and restore nature across our counties, the devolved nations and finally generations. But we all know that nature countryside, and into our towns and cities. island Trusts — we are embedded into the conservation is no longer enough; we now heart of our communities. need to put nature into recovery. And we want a comprehensive package of policy measures put in place to help Together, we care for over 2,300 nature Much as we like to imagine we live in a this happen. That includes improvements reserves ranging from Camley Street green and pleasant land, the truth is that needed to the Agriculture Bill, the Fisheries Natural Park right by London’s Kings the UK is currently one of the most nature Bill and the Environment Bill (all of which Cross station, to the spectacular Skomer depleted countries in the world. are going through parliament in the next and Skokholm islands off the coast of few weeks and months) but also better Pembrokeshire. In total, we directly I’m 48 years old and the science is clear; use of planning policy to make sure new manage or provide management advice in my lifetime 41 per cent of wildlife developments help nature’s recovery, on 332,697 hectares (822,112 acres) of land species in UK have suffered strong or rather than speed its decline. for nature. We all play our part — but it’s moderate decreases in abundance. worth mentioning that this collective Species that were once common have Our vision is one where nature is in full, effort amounts to even more land cared become rare and with that the role or healthy abundance all around us; skies for than by the National Trust! function they are performing in our filled with birds, snowstorms of butterflies ecosystems has also declined. and moths, armies of invertebrates, vast But what matters to me most is that expanses of wetland and wild landscapes, our federated structure means that the We’ve all experienced it. As a five year and seas teeming with life. majority of this is close to where people old, if I left my bedroom light on at live; over 60 per cent of the UK population night with the window open it would be And our vision is also one where there’s live within three miles of a Wildlife Trust swarming with moths 30 minutes later. a positive relationship between humanity nature reserve. And it’s clear that, during Now, I’d be lucky to see one. Similarly, and nature, rather than constantly the Covid-19 lockdown, millions of people when we went on family holidays behaving as if we are almost enemies. have come to a new realisation of just how and drove up the A1 for five hours, the important local nature is to them. windscreen would be covered in squashed This won’t happen overnight, but it insects by the time we arrived at our could happen over the next decade if all of I sometimes wonder if, over the last holiday destination. Now, there might us, people, politicians and 100 years or so, the nature conservation be one or two. business leaders put movement in the UK has focussed a our minds to it. And if it does happen, it will be thanks — in a very large part — to your support as one of The Wildlife Trusts’ 850,000 members. Craig Bennett Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts @craigbennett3 18 Roebuck | Summer 2020

News UK UPDATE uk highlights Tuning into wildlife during tough times Discover how The The Wildlife Trusts created a range heart-warming sounds of a dawn chorus Wildlife Trusts brought of online nature activities to encourage on a sunny April morning. everyone to tune in to wildlife at home wildlife to homes 1 throughout the coronavirus lockdown — There was a clear demand for new and to help people find solace in nature ways to experience nature from home, across the UK 23 during tough times. with more people than ever tuning into our wildlife webcams — a 2,000 percent 1 Birdsong bonanza Wildlife Trusts across the UK increase on this time last year. provided new ways of helping us feel Cheshire Wildlife Trust shared daily more connected to the wider world From the reactions and messages recordings of birdsong in the run up to and each other, via their online and received on social media, it was apparent International Dawn Chorus Day on the social channels. Wildlife experts who that people were treasuring the wildlife 3rd of May. In total they introduced the are usually found leading school visits, they found close to home. For example, songs and calls of 30 different species, events or talking to visitors on reserves hundreds of people got in touch to tell us helping people enjoy this fantastic turned to leading wildlife-spotting tours when they spotted their first butterflies, spring spectacle wherever they were. through their gardens, blogging about or to share new visitors to their gardens. the life cycle of oil beetles or sharing These are joyful moments that people hold dear during difficult times. Golden plover on moorland © Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION, skomer puffin © Lynne Newton Natural solutions to the climate crisis 2 Skomer Live The climate crisis continues to be one of well as allowing our wildlife to recover. By With Skomer island closed to the most pressing concerns in modern restoring precious habitats like seagrass visitors, The Wildife Trust of South and times, linked inextricably with the meadows, saltmarshes, wetlands, West Wales brought all the action and ecological crisis faced by our wildlife. woodlands and peatlands, we can repair excitement of island life to us. Live The Wildlife Trusts are working to the natural processes that store carbon webcams filled our days with puffins, emphasise natural solutions, which are and create more space for nature. whilst the island team joined up with essential to fighting the climate crisis, as wildlifetrusts.org/climate-emergency presenters Iolo Williams and Lizzie Daly to provide weekly round-ups of the seabird season so far. wildlifetrusts.org/wtsww-videos 3 Wildlife TV Essex Wildlife Trust introduced a packed schedule of digital content, bringing Essex’s wonderful wildlife and wild activities straight to people’s homes. Videos included wildlife safaris, top tips for wildlife gardening, and even some mystery and drama with the Mammal Detective. essexwt.org.uk/news/WildlifeTV Roebuck | Summer 2020 19

Watervole on its way to the release site regional Lockdown doesn’t stop Ratty watervole: alice mccourt It takes more than a worldwide pandemic Kielder Reservoir and has now reached the The voles would have to have been and a UK lockdown to stop the Restoring Tarset Burn. The new release sites are only released one way or another and the Ratty project team from releasing more a few kilometres away from last year’s sites welfare of the animals, as well as the water voles back into the region. so they should be able to mix as they find safety of the staff was the priority. The their own territories. next release is in August with more voles There was sunshine in June and 140 coming up from Devon. water voles languishing in outdoor There is little doubt that the Restoring breeding pens at the Derek Gow Ratty team has learnt so much during the Now in its fourth year, and with one Consultancy in Devon, headed back to the water vole journey! year left to run, the Restoring Ratty project waterways of Kielder for release. has all been made possible by National Led by Kelly Hollings and Graham Lottery players through a grant from The 140 takes the total released since the Holyoak, staff and volunteers have put The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The first release in June 2017 to 1,638. voles in places that were text book perfect, team is desperate for this not to be the but in Kielder they have preferred smaller end of the project so is looking at future The water voles were the fourth streams and ditches, so they have listened funding as there is still much work to do to generation of voles that were originally to the furry rodents for recent releases. ensure that these wonderful little animals captured for the project from the North can be enjoyed in Northumberland for Pennines, North Yorkshire and The Water vole releases over previous years generations to come. Trossachs. have provided great joy for people of all ages, including local school children And finally, celebrate the latest In the June release, the water voles were who had the experience of a lifetime release with a bottle of ‘Ratty’ pale ale released from 43 release pens containing helping the project team. Unfortunately, developed by the First & Last Brewery either sibling groups or pairs across three this year due to COVID-19, social in Elsdon, Northumberland. Visit sites: tributaries of the Tarset Burn on the distancing rules and schools being closed, firstandlastbrewery.co.uk for more eastern edge of Kielder Forest. things were different and it was down details. to Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s The original releases back in 2017 were conservation team to fill the gap. North of Kielder Village. The project team has slowly worked around the north of the 20 Roebuck | Summer 2020

News ecocabs vehical: ecocabs Helping you get back to business Corporate We can’t ignore the fact that the natural world has been a life-line for Membership so many during lockdown, and taking some simple steps now can help get your business back on track and protect the wildlife and wild places We offer three levels of corporate membership which are designed we have come to rely on. to enhance your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, provide 1 Recognise the benefits of access to wildlife and green space on positive year-round benefits to your business mental health for your employees. Visit nwt.org.uk for tips on making and support your staff development, your workspace more environmentally friendly. PR and marketing strategies. You choose the level that you feel reflects 2 Follow the Trust on LinkedIn and stay abreast of regional and national your company’s commitment to the topics impacting the environment, your organisation and employees. local environment. 3 Send us your stories on how your company has helped local wildlife and To find out more about becoming we’ll share on social media with our many followers. a corporate member contact our Marketing Office on (0191) 284 6884 4 Build staff morale through team building with volunteer workdays for or via email to elizabeth.lovatt@ your staff following social distancing guidelines. northwt.org.uk. 5 Support the Trust as a corporate member to gain increased recognition Gold and loyalty among your customers, stand apart from your competitors and increase your profile in your local community and business sector. Aaron Optometrists Northumbrian Water Ltd The Trust has three levels of corporate membership. Ringtons Find out more at: nwt.org.uk/corporate Tarmac Thermofisher Scientific regional silver Ecocabs motors in Harlow Printing Ltd Holders of a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, Herding Hill Farm EcoCabs has joined NWT as a bronze member. The Historic Property Restoration Ltd Hexham based company is recognised in the area Karpet Mills for its great service, reliability and friendliness Potts Printers Ltd Riverside Leisure With a fleet of cars, mini-buses and mini coaches, the company was a previous innovator bronze in the use of biodiesel in its vehicle and has now has a fleet of either hybrid petrol or all electric Albion Outdoors vehicles. Bell Ingram Booking: [email protected] Blyth Harbour Commission 01434 600 600 Cottages in Northumberland 600600.co.uk EcoCabs 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 Roebuck | Summer 2020 21

We bet you didn’t know... y o u!TThhaannkk you Longhaired spiders have tiny little paws, not in the way cats and dogs have paws, but pads of hair around their claws known as ‘claw tufts’ which can have around 600,000 tiny strands of fur sticking out. Blue tit at Holywell Pond £529.92 From Roger Malton via giveacar.co.uk the charity car scrappage scheme. £1,000 From the W A Handley Charitable Trust, a grant making trust supporting many charitable and voluntary sector groups. regional £1,000 Cash boost from our feathered friends Annual donation from John Horseman Trust. blue tit: steven morris, Giant house spider: Dr Malcolm Storey The Trust has received £2,150 from including 100 acres of sunflowers and catalogue and online sales, during the produce wildlife products. £250 2019 - 2020 financial year, with bird food growing company Vine House Farm Bird Since 2010, we have received 4.5% of any From The Thomas Rawcliffe Charitable Foods. order purchased by residents of the region Trust which supports many charitable from the Vine House Farm Bird Foods Based in Lincolnshire, the award- website vinehousefarm.co.uk. sectors including the environment, winning Vine House Farm is the home conservation and heritage. of pioneering wildlife-friendly farmer This unprecedented level of charitable Nicholas Watts MBE and his family who support from a small family business is £3,000 annually grow 400 acres of birdseed, extraordinary, with the ongoing total of money received now standing at £22,317. From Northumberland County Council’s Community Chest. regional Rachel Sharp £180 What a woman! Dr Linda France who led a collective Congratulations to Trust member Rachel Sharp online poetry project. You can read the (17) whose Northumberlandia inspired poem group’s poem ‘May Day Gathering’ at scooped first prize in a competition celebrating International Woman’s Day. poeticabotanica.wordpress.com. A Sixth former at King Edward VI in Morpeth and £300 climate change campaigner, Rachel, focussed all her creative efforts on the region’s iconic Lady of From a member of the public following the North, and her winning poem about mother a visit to East Cramlington Pond during nature just tumbled onto the page. lockdown. She received her prize from Northumberland County Council and gave thanks to the great lady £10 herself back in March. From Jack Grummitt-Carel during lockdown who said “COVID-19 has shone a light on how much we must take care of our natural world.” 22 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Focus on... WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Action for Insects Appeal Thank you So far we have raised £5,074 Help us reach our target of £20,000 Right for insects, right for everything! buff-tailed bumblebee: vicky nall, Red admiral: Guy Edwardes/2020VISION We know that people care deeply with nature paying the price. As Craig where insects can thrive and make about bees and have appreciated the Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts, cities, towns and parishes pesticide- importance of pollinators to the UK, a stresses, “It’s up to the Government free. service which is estimated to be worth to ensure we maintain our current ʈʈ Everyone steps up to become an insect £600m to our economy. However, we environmental standards, not let them champion. are faced with catastrophic statistics slip and jeopardise the wildlife we have – a decline of 50% since 1970 and 41% left. The Agriculture Bill is a golden Insects are fundamental to healthy of insect species threatened with opportunity to set high standards in law ecosystems, so as Prof Goulson says, extinction. and make sure insect-friendly farming “If we get it right for insects we get it practices are rewarded.” right for everything else. Insects are the These figures were presented in a canaries in the coal mine – their collapse report by Professor David Goulson: Calls for change is an alarm bell that we must not ignore.” ‘Insect declines and why they matter.’ The Wildlife Trusts are pressing the Now, no-one likes to be a harbinger of Government for: How you can help doom, so it’s important to move on from ʈʈ Setting an ambitious pesticide ʈʈ Above anything, please donate to defining the problem to solving it. His second report ‘Reversing the decline of reduction target, as good as, if not our Action for Insects Appeal for insects’ (downloadable from our website) better than, the EU’s target to reduce a greater local impact. does just that and makes some powerful by 50% the overall use of – and risk ʈʈ Read the follow up report suggestions for farmers, communities, from – chemical pesticides by 2030. ‘Reversing the decline of insects’ charities and local authorities. ʈʈ No weakening of UK pesticide on our website. standards through future trade ʈʈ Lobby your MP about maintaining Agriculture and trade deals, including the UK’s current high environmental protection The report comes at a critical time as hazard-based approach to pesticide in the Environment Bill; also ask post Brexit trade negotiations threaten authorisations. them to link economic recovery to make a bad situation worse. Many ʈʈ Support for farmers to adopt incentives to green improvements. people think that our wildlife and food Integrated Pest Management and ʈʈ Go pesticide free and plant some safety could be put at risk and our other agro-ecological practices. bug-friendly flowers farmers undercut by cheap imports. Last ʈʈ Community Guide to taking year the EU banned four insecticides Wildlife Trusts believe that reversing the Action for Insects and Your Guide (neonicotinoids) thought to be harmful decline of insects is possible if: to Taking Action for Insects are to bees. Many countries, including USA ʈʈ A network of nature-rich areas is available for free at wildlifetrusts. and Australia, still use these and many org/take-action-insects. other insecticides we have banned. If created covering at least 30% of the we lower our standards and allow ‘fair UK, and legally binding targets are Discover how you can help access’, UK farmers will think they can’t set for nature’s recovery which are visit nwt.org.uk/actionforinsects compete unless they adopt the same monitored and enforced. practices – it’s a race to the bottom, ʈʈ Local councils prioritise green recovery and create more nature-rich places Roebuck | Summer 2020 23

Alexander Mustard Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many of our marine species, including spiny seahorses. 24 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Hidden meadows Hidden meadows Marine Biologist Nia Hâf Jones introduces a hidden world beneath the waves, where seahorses roam fields of seagrass. Ifloat weightlessly on the surface, swaying back and brown, red and coralline algae. Some of the rarer and forth as the gentle waves carry me over ‘hangers-on’ include the weird and wonderful stalked the meadow. Fish dart in and out and I notice jellyfish with their alien-like appearance. snakelocks anemones clinging to the thin, bright green leaves, the seagrass seemingly unaffected by Exploring a seagrass bed, you might spot two of the their weight. I’m enthralled and my focus softens — UK’s rarest and much loved species — the seahorses. there’s something auroral in the way the light dances Both short-snouted and long-snouted seahorses are and the seagrass sways. It occurs to me that I had associated with seagrass, where they cling on to the never really appreciated how lucky I was to live so leaves with their prehensile tail to stop themselves close to of one of the UK’s greatest habitats. from being swept away by the tide. Long-snouted seahorses, also known as spiny seahorses, live Underwater meadows amongst the seagrasses, whereas short-snouted Globally, there are around 60 species of seagrass, seahorses prefer sandy and rocky areas nearby. though only four are native to the UK and only two of those are considered ‘true’ seagrasses. These There’s something auroral incredible species are the only flowering plants in the UK that can live and pollinate in seawater. in the way the light dances They have long, green, ribbon-shaped leaves and can grow in small discrete patches or vast beds and the seagrass sways. spanning hectares. Like other plants, they flower, develop fruit, produce seeds and are anchored by a Seagrass also provides the perfect nursery for network of interwoven roots that extract nutrients many fish, like pollack, cod, and dab, thanks to the from the sediment. These traits distinguish them high level of shelter provided by the seagrass itself from seaweeds, which are often mistaken for plants, and an abundance of food available for young fish but do not have roots, and instead anchor using a to eat. Other species, like lobsters, have also been holdfast and take nutrients directly from the water. shown to shelter in the sediment during their early life stages and you don’t have to look for long to see For seagrasses to thrive, they need lots of light and signs of burrowing creatures, such as lugworm or shelter from waves and currents. When conditions sea potato. Hermit crabs, anemones, pipefish, shore are right, the beds they form create a fantastic habitat crabs, cuttlefish and all sorts of sea-snails also call this for a host of wildlife. They stabilise and oxygenate diverse habitat home. the sediment, slowing down water flow and making the area more hospitable for other species. The leaves It’s easy to see why these rich habitats are themselves provide a surface for marine life to live sometimes referred to as underwater meadows. Just on, such as anemones, hydroids, sea-squirts, sea mats like their more familiar, terrestrial namesakes, healthy seagrass meadows are a wonderful place to enjoy the diversity of wildlife we have in the UK. Roebuck | Summer 2020 25

In numbers snakelocks anenome, little cuttlefish © MARKNTHOMASIMAGES.CO.UK, juvenile cuckoo wrasse © paul naylor, hermit crab © alexander mustard/2020VISION more species can be found within a seagrass meadow than on the bare sand next to it. Estimates show that one hectare of healthy seagrass can support up to Globally, even though seagrass Hermit crabs, lobsters, The canary of the sea occupies only 0.1% of the seafloor, shore crabs and other Naturally, the extent and distribution of seagrass crustaeceans call changes with seasonal and annual cycles. Physical it accounts for between seagrass meadows disturbance in the form of the occasional storm may home. help keep it healthy and productive, but persistent disturbance and added human pressures have taken of its annual their toll. In the 1930s a significant proportion of carbon storage. seagrass in the UK died from a wasting disease , which attacks the leaves and prevents photosynthesis, killing 26 Roebuck | Summer 2020 the plant. With added human impact it is estimated that we have lost 92% of our seagrass in the last century. Researchers have dubbed seagrass beds the canaries of the sea — they reflect the general health of our oceans and human impact is becoming increasingly clear. The threats are varied. Nutrient run-off is a double- whammy: whilst toxic to seagrass it also stimulates growth in algae which competes with the seagrass for space and light. Invasive alien species also compete with seagrass and, in many places, it’s a competition they’re winning. Coastal development creates sediment that smothers the beds and damage by anchor chains, moorings, propellers and launching vehicles is also evident where boating activity is prevalent. Even trampling by coast users can be an issue at low tide.

The colour-changing little cuttlefish can sometimes be found in seagrass. Snakelocks anemones are one Seagrass meadows are of the many species that can be important nurseries for found living on seagrass leaves. young fish, like these juvenile cuckoo wrasse. Blue carbon Luckily seagrass is resilient and given the chance Nia Hâf Jones By losing seagrass we also lose the diversity of can recover. Whilst habitat management is not easy in is the Living Seas species that live there. But there’s even more at stake. the sea it is possible! Seagrass restoration projects are Manager for North Seagrass beds provide a whole host of essential being piloted in the UK, with the help of The Wildlife Wales Wildlife Trust. ecosystem services. They filter pollutants, cycle Trusts. Seeds are being collected from various sites One of her favourite nutrients, stabilise sediments and reduce coastal and cultivated, ready for replanting to create new snorkel sites is the erosion. They also absorb huge amounts of carbon meadows. Other work includes looking at mooring seagrass beds of and because of this are increasingly recognised systems that reduce the physical impact of boating Porthdinllaen. in the attempt to tackle the climate crisis and are and educating people around the importance of considered an important natural solution. Seagrass seagrass. Whilst these meadows may remain unseen beds sequester carbon — known as ‘blue carbon’ — in by many, they have a crucial role in bringing about two ways: through photosynthesis and by trapping nature’s recovery in the sea. Fortunately, they feature and stabilising particles from the water column. in a number of our Marine Protected Areas, but If undisturbed, carbon can be locked into seagrass designation is just the first step — to ensure their long- sediments for millennia. It is therefore incredibly term future active management is essential before important that this special habitat is protected. they lose the capacity to recover altogether. It is estimated that we have Find out more about our wonderful seagrass habitats in the UK and the projects to save them lost 92% of our seagrass in wildlifetrusts.org/seagrass the last century. Roebuck | Summer 2020 27

Trailcam from SCOTLANd: the big picture/naturepl Revealing the hidden wildlife on our nature reserves Gordon Buchanan The power of trail cams Wolf © Gordon Buchanan, Wildcat © elliot smith With the use of trail cams, In the early days of my their value for filmmakers, zoologists and Gordon has got up close and career, as I wiled away conservationists and have continued to personal with many wild species. many hours waiting for wildlife to show use them to this day. They have given me up I would have this nagging desire. More views of creatures that would have been of a wish than a desire, given that what I impossible to see in any other way. Giant longed for was impossible. I wanted to be otters and jaguars in South America, snow invisible. With invisibility my job would leopards and tigers living at high altitude be so much easier. I could get closer in the Himalayas. Red pandas, wolves, to animals to observe their behaviour. leopards and illusive Scottish wildcats Filming wildlife would be much less time and pine martens closer to home. consuming and much more revealing. Although technology has marched on a The worlds of startling pace over the past three decades secretive, seldom seen - I think invisibility is going to be beyond animals have been even the most talented tech boffins. But in opened up to us in many ways camera traps are the next best startling and exiting thing when it comes to wildlife watching. ways. I now wile They never tire, get cold, fall asleep or have away moments in families that they need to get back to! nature with another I first used camera traps with real wish… I just wish success back in 2007. I realised immediately I had more camera traps! 28 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Caught on camera The Wildlife Trust for South and West Alderney Wildlife Trust Shropshire Wildlife Trust Wales Alderney have been using trail cams to Camera traps have been an essential The Mid Wales Red Squirrel Partnership record water rails around their ponds. tool in helping Shropshire Wildlife was set up in 2002 after sporadic sightings The cameras were used to show how Trust’s Stuart Edmunds prove the and records. Before camera traps, red accurate an acoustic method was at presence of pine martens in the squirrels were extremely hard to detect in counting the birds with the aim of finding county, where they were presumed mid Wales. They’re in fairly low numbers, how many overwinter in Alderney. They extinct for decades. Although there and live almost exclusively in forestry found 34 rails using the acoustic method, were reported sightings as far back plantations with very little human activity. which was many more than expected as the 1960s, they were impossible Camera traps have been a revolution in and cameras confirmed these numbers. to verify until Stuart began using this project, allowing uninhabited areas The trail cams have also revealed some camera traps. The first Shropshire for red squirrels to be surveyed in a non- interesting insights into the life of a water pine marten appeared on camera in invasive way with minimal disturbance. rail, including a courting pair on Valentine’s July 2015, in woodland previously Cameras are set up where chewed pine Day and autumn footage of young birds deemed unsuitable habitat for the and spruce cones are found to see if it was stretching, hopping and getting ready evasive mammals. Pine martens are a red or grey squirrel. for big migration flights. It is fairly unusual usually betrayed by their scat, but to observe this behaviour as the rails are camera traps have now recorded them so secretive. inhabiting several woodlands across red squirrel © wtsww, beaver © kent wildlife trust, Pine marten © shropshire wildlife trust. water rails © alderney wildlife trust south Shropshire, despite no scat Trail cams have Trail cams have given us a glimpse being found. Camera traps can also be made monitoring into the lives of the elusive water rail. used by bait stations, where martens red squirrels in are encouraged to give a clear view of Wales much easier. their chest “bib” pattern, which is an essential way of telling individuals Kent Wildlife Trust and observed the interesting interaction apart. Without camera traps, we Kent have been using trail cameras between a young beaver and a large wouldn’t have realised there are at Ham Fen for the past few years to adult when they met nose to nose in pine martens living across the wider enable them to view the activities of the stream – the adult made a huge tail landscape at all. They are now a key reintroduced beavers, an animal that is splash and disappeared under water! tool in monitoring the population and crepuscular – mostly active at dawn and distribution of martens in Shropshire dusk. The footage has allowed them to As well as providing some very and beyond. watch the construction of a dam, observe interesting and entertaining viewing, the beaver coppicing trees and feeding the images and videos obtained from Pine martens have made a on the branches, and revealed a little of the trail cameras are helping Kent comeback in Shropshire. the interactions between individuals. Wildlife Trust build a better picture of They’ve watched adults grooming each the activity of these elusive animals other, seen a family group stripping bark and understand more about the group from branches on the bank of the stream dynamics at Ham Fen. Kent have been watching Behind the their reintroduced wild scenes beavers build a dam! See more photos and footage from trail cams and webcams across the UK and find out how to set up your own. wildlifetrusts.org/ caught-on-camera Roebuck | Summer 2020 29

Red squirrel Red report: bouncing back, but support still needed 30 Roebuck | Summer 2020

red report red squirrel on camera & elliot lea: rsne, red squirrel: Peter Cairns/2020vision Since March 2019, Red Squirrels Northern England & District, and Northeast (RSNE) Ranger, Elliot Lea, has been very busy in the area to the west of Wallington and east of the A68, Red Squirrels, as well as which forms a 10 km radius around Ray Wind Farm. National Trust Wallington. It is an area where the RSNE project saw an opportunity to make a real difference and consolidate The RSNE project the local effort to protect reds. It lies at the gateway to a number of red squirrel reserves at Raylees and has been able to forge Harwood Forests and holds a strategic position in preventing the incursion of grey squirrels into lasting relationships these reserves. The area has excellent habitat for red squirrels, which has the potential to see a thriving red with these groups, squirrel population outside of the reserves. sharing information and RSNE’s aim is to deliver a staged local project over five years, focusing on the deployment of a local red providing assistance, squirrel ranger (Elliot), building local community support and ‘buy-in’ from local landowners, managers training and equipment rangReer dElsliqoutiLrreeal and volunteers, to ensure that red squirrels in the area where required, as well as are safeguarded for the long-term. engaging with new local Our principal objective is to eliminate the threat audiences through talks posed by grey squirrels, by removing them across the project area, allowing red squirrels the space they and events. By working with Forestry England, the require to thrive. project enabled new volunteers to undertake squirrel During the first year, Elliot removed 414 grey squirrels. Working daily in the catchment has provided monitoring in Harwood Forest which proved to be him with an excellent knowledge of the area and a unique perspective of the distribution of red and grey exceptionally successful and the detail and extent of squirrels over the wider landscape. the monitoring programme has provided previously The insight and local knowledge afforded by having a local ranger, for example, was illustrated when it unknown information on red and grey squirrel was identified that red squirrels were present in an area of woodland that was planned to be clear felled. presence and distribution. We will continue to support With wholehearted support from the landowner, it was decided to delay felling until after the red squirrel this work in the future. breeding season. The aims of the RSNE project have been shared Results from the first year’s work have been very encouraging: 18 reds were directly sighted by Elliot and across the local area, by the creation of a project 28 detected on monitoring cameras. It is pleasantly surprising that reds are already starting to benefit brochure that was distributed around the area, from this work - turning up in areas where greys were initially present. together with updates in community newsletters Red squirrel caught on covering Kirkwhelpington, Cambo, Capheaton and monitoring camera Bavington. To have a significant impact, in any geographical area, it is vital to involve local residents and Through our contacts with regional land-agents, landowners, as only a joined-up, landscape-scale approach can be effective and we have therefore also delivering local talks and direct approaches/ been collaborating with local red squirrel groups - North Tyne & Redesdale, Coquetdale and Morpeth introductions by the RSNE ranger, the project was able to engage with a wide range of new local landowners who have collaborated in providing historic red and grey squirrel management data and have been willing to grant access permission for Elliot to undertake monitoring and grey control work. RSNE’s officers also dedicated much effort in developing a Countryside Stewardship (CS) grant application for a local landowner. Using our in-depth knowledge of this grant scheme, we are able to help landowners apply for this 5-year government Woodland Improvement Grant, which includes red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel management. The first year of this new project area has demonstrated how valuable a full-time ranger is for delivering a comprehensive programme of squirrel monitoring and grey control - thus starting to reverse the negative impacts on local red squirrel populations. A Ray Wind Funds grant of £31,400 was the catalyst for establishing our first year – it would otherwise not have been possible. RSNE’s ranger is currently ~50% self-funded through two Countryside Stewardship contracts and we are exploring further funding opportunities to help make Elliot’s work 100% funded. We’re not there yet and need to raise the balance for the year ahead, a challenge in the current pandemic. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, our conservation Heinz Traut work cannot be put on hold, as all the progress gained Project Manager, would be reversed, which is why RSNE is committed to keep a full-time ranger in post. Red Squirrels Northern England Roebuck | Summer 2020 31

The birds and the bees: Community projects take flight in Redesdale In Redesdale, as everywhere, the past few Redesdale was born. We were able to depend on insect pollination, as do three months have been turbulent, difficult, and award the group £1,000 to significantly quarters of our food crops. Our native confusing. There has also been a great deal expand their nest box network and honeybee is adapted to foraging on and of generosity, kindness and community monitoring for barn and tawny owls, as pollinating all of our native wildflowers spirit. As we all continue to help keep each well as swifts, tits and flycatchers. that depend on bee pollination. Our other safe, we must also to look forward dark bee was thought to be extinct in to re-engaging with each other, picking up Barn owl populations have suffered in Britain until recently, when colonies where we left off and making the most of the UK since the 1950s and the successive were found in cooler, remote areas where what the future holds. bad winters of 2008 – 2011 particularly non-native honeybees struggle to survive. affected those in Redesdale. Prolonged Northumberland is one of these special Revitalising Redesdale’s Community snow cover prevented them from finding places! Heritage Fund has been ‘on-hold’ since food, which in Redesdale is largely field March 2020, as we and our partners voles, so many owls died. Over 60 ringed We are thrilled to be working with have worked to adapt to the current birds were found dead or dying through Redesdale Beekeepers Group to help make situation. We hope to re-open the fund starvation with a high proportion being Redesdale a haven for our native dark for applications soon, as the need for found by farmers in farm buildings. This honeybee, complementing partners’ work community-focused projects has never iconic bird is in real need of our help. to restore Redesdale’s floral diversity in been greater. its hay meadows and community green By increasing nest box availability and spaces. The natural world has provided us all replacing those in poor condition, the with some respite recently – Spring has Northumbria Ringing Group will provide Both the Northumbrian Ringing sprung outside our windows and on a much needed boost to barn owls in Group and Redesdale Beekeeping Group our Twitter feeds. From bird bingo to a Redesdale. Fortunately, the group were existed before the Revitalising Redesdale national pollinator count, the public have able to put 10 new barn owl nest boxes in Partnership. It is a real pleasure to be able found innovative ways to engage with and place early in 2020. Hopefully many are to support them, through the Community enjoy nature. now being used, but we will have to wait to Heritage Fund, to continue their crucial find out! work in Redesdale for years to come. Just Through Revitalising Redesdale’s like the helping hand they are giving to Community Heritage Fund, we have been In 2019, we awarded funding to the those charismatic birds and bees! working with local groups to help make Northumbrian Ringing Group and sure we can all make the most of the birds Redesdale Beekeeping Group to enhance We are working to re-open our and the bees in Redesdale for years to the conservation of these charismatic Community Heritage Fund and ensure come. No, not those ‘birds and bees’. Barn winged creatures in Redesdale. it is adapted to meet the new needs of owls, tawny owls and the native dark Redesdale. Once the current COVID-19 honeybee – all of which need of our help! The Redesdale Beekeeping Group was restrictions are lifted, look on our awarded £2,000 towards the creation website, at revitalisingredesdale.org.uk, The Northumbrian Ringing Group has of a conservation apiary for the native for updates about our Fund and a re- been actively monitoring bird populations dark bee. They aim to establish three scheduled programme of events. in Redesdale since long before Revitalising conservation apiaries in Redesdale, starting with one near Byrness. The Native honey apiary will be a safe refuge for the native bee on clematis honeybee and, eventually, could contribute to restoring their population numbers. You may have heard of Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Action for Insects campaign, which highlights the dire situation many insect populations are in. With 41% of insect species facing extinction the impact up the food chain will be significant. Many wildflowers 32 Roebuck | Summer 2020

Revitalising redesdale Tawny owl Revitalising native honeybee: Dorian Pritchard, tawny owl: Bertie Gregory/2020VISION, barn owls & nest installation: Bryan Galloway Redesdale Unveils My Revitalising Redesdale Blog and COVID-19 Support Page Revitalising Redesdale has a new blog – My Revitalising Redesdale. Through our blog we hope to share stories from the delivery partnership and Redesdale community about people’s experiences working and living in Redesdale. From hidden wartime history on Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s latest reserve, Benshaw Moor, to beautiful artwork inspired by one of Redesdale’s best kept secrets. Read the latest and previous blogs at: revitalisingredesdale.org.uk/ get-involved/blog-my-revitalising- redesdale. We have also created a COVID-19 funding and resources page on our website. A growing number of organisations are announcing funding to provide emergency assistance for organisations, groups, and charities at the national and local level. Where possible, we will try to signpost opportunities, especially those relevant to Redesdale. Find out more: revitalisingredesdale.org. uk/funding-to-help-organisations- during-the-covid-19-outbreak. Barn owl nest Baby barn owls Find out more about Revitalising box installation Redesdale and its Community Heritage Fund: revitalisingredesdale.org.uk/ projects/community-heritage-fund @revitalisingredesdale @OurRedesdale @revitalisingredesdale Roebuck | Summer 2020 33

Get your garden peat free From making our own compost to thinking before we buy, Kate Bradbury reveals how we can help protect peatlands from our gardens. Leaf mould Leaf mould is an exceptional material, made from leaves that have been left to break down on their own. The easiest way to make it is to fill old compost bags or bin bags with wet autumn leaves, add a few holes to the bag and leave behind your shed. Compost heap Tree choice Start a compost heap or fill a bin with a Leaves of ash, beech, birch, cherry, mix of ‘green’ leafy material, food waste elm, hornbeam, lime, oak, poplar (excluding cooked waste, meat and dairy and willow will break down and products) and ‘brown’ woody material be ready to use in a year. Leaves such as twigs and cardboard. of hawthorn, maple, magnolia, sycamore and horse chestnut Avoid adding large amounts of green take longer to break down (up material, like lawnmower clippings, as to three years). this can make the compost sludgy. Check regularly to ensure it’s breaking down. Wild haven Compost mounds are great for wildlife. Rotting waste is a buffet for many invertebrates, which themselves attract predators like beetles, newts and shrews. Grass snakes lay eggs in compost heaps and toads will use them for hibernation sites. 34 Roebuck | Summer 2020

illustration by hannah bailey, photo © Sarah Cuttle Peat forms when dead vegetation falls into In 2010 the Government announced it was to phase Kate Bradbury waterlogged soil and doesn’t fully rot away. It’s found out the use of peat in horticulture over a 10-year is passionate about in wetland habitats, such as peat bogs and moors, period, to 2020. Sadly we have missed this target and and grows at a rate of just 1mm per year. These slow- peat-based composts remain the most popular choice wildlife-friendly growing ‘peatlands’ are incredibly diverse habitats, in garden centres. You can buy peat-free compost home to rare bog plants and mosses, invertebrates if you know where to look. Made from a variety gardening and like dragonflies and beetles, and birds such as golden of materials including coir, composted food waste, plovers and curlews. They’re not just a fantastic bracken and sheep’s wool, peat-free compost isn’t the author of wildlife habitat — peatlands store masses of always the cheapest option and few garden centres Wildlife Gardening carbon; over three billion tonnes are stored in have a wide range to choose from. Some garden for Everyone and British peatbogs alone. centres don’t stock peat-free composts at all. Everything in Tragically, despite its incredible value, peat is also However, it’s important to persevere. If your local association with widely used as an ingredient in potting composts. garden centre doesn’t sell peat-free compost online, Lightweight, water retentive and low in nutrients, some suppliers offer a discount for bulk orders — The Wildlife Trusts. peat has long been regarded as the best growing why not group together with neighbours and save medium for a number of growing situations. It’s money? However you do it, always make sure you highly likely that, unless you actively sought out buy peat-free compost. Peat-based materials simply peat-free compost, you will have unwittingly aren’t worth losing our wildlife, and our planet over. bought compost containing peat. This is dug out of peat bogs in the UK, Ireland and eastern Europe, Gardens of all sizes are an essential part of a damaging these wild habitats while releasing carbon Nature Recovery Network. For more tips visit dioxide into the atmosphere. wildlifetrusts.org/nature-recovery-network Leaf piles Make sure to leave some leaves for your garden wildlife throughout the year. A leaf pile can shelter moths over winter and provide nesting material for hedgehogs in summer. Peat-free potting mix You can make your own peat- free compost easily, using one part garden soil, one part leaf mould and one part sieved garden compost. For mixes requiring lower nutrients (for example if you’re using it to sow seeds), use one part garden soil, one part leaf mould and one part horticultural sand. Pot plant background check Many potted plants are grown in peat compost. Check the labels and ask your garden centre to make sure the plants you’re buying weren’t grown in peat- based compost. Roebuck | Summer 2020 35

Thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for providing an invaluable lifeline during such difficult times! For the past 12 years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust, but this year, more than any other, their support has been invaluable as it enables us to preserve the region’s green spaces which have helped so many people stay focussed and positive. Photo: Matthew Roberts • 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 across Great Britain and internationally - players have raised over £500 million so far. For details of the charities and good causes which are promoting and benefitting from the lottery draws, please visit https://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 proceed. 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 4HD • Follow us @PostcodePress