Roebuck 156 - Spring 2022

The member magazine for Northumberland Wildlife Trust Spring 2022 | 156 Roebuck The verge of success How roadsides can become wildlife havens Trees a crowd Restoring our wonderful woodlands Wildlife spotting Beetling About Six places to see these mighty minibeasts

Welcome 6 A new wave of recovery Wildlife Trusts are at the forefront, nationally, of a new wave of nature recovery action aimed at not just conserving what we have, but actively restoring nature and its processes at scale. We are all rising to the urgent and massive challenge needed to turn around species loss and destructive climate impacts. The game has changed and we are gearing up. This means we’re working more with landowners and farmers, in bigger partnerships. Northumberland Wildlife Trust is helping threatened species and habitats as well as reintroducing lost species on even more land and wilding its own existing sites, as appropriate. We are also trying new and wider ways of enabling and engaging people to take action in their local patch. We can all be part of a big ‘Team Wilder’ to help everywhere become a little, or even a whole lot, wilder. It’s about collective action to achieve bigger impacts and gains for nature. You will read about examples of wilding and community action in this edition and even more in future Roebucks. It really can’t come too soon; we need to be very focussed as we are already two years into the critical decade when we have to make a lasting difference to ensure future generations can enjoy a life in a biodiverse world. Chief Executive Northumberland Wildlife Trust Follow me on twitter @Mike_Pratt_NWT Mike Pratt: Jacky Seery. Wood Anemone: Guy 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: Spotted longhorn beetle © Stephen Dalton / Registered company number 00717813 naturepl.com Website nwt.org.uk facebook.com/northumberlandwt twitter.com/northwildlife instagram.com/northwildlife 2 Roebuck | Spring 2022

7 17 Contents 23 4 Your wild spring Edwardes/2020VISION. bee: geoff dobbins. HElicopter: geoff dobbins. west chevington: duncan hutt. 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 The Wildlife Trusts ambassador, Sophie Pavelle, discovers a sea of surprises 16 Wild news The latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts 23 Focus on: Wilding West Chevington Double your donation and help kick-start nature’s recovery 24 Right tree right place When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for the trees 28 On the verge of recovery Discover a roadside haven with wildlife- friendly verge expert, Mark Schofield 30 West Chevington From coal mining to tackling climate change 32 The lonesome pines of Kielder Possibly the only remnants in England of the post-glacial pinewoods 34 Gardening for wildlife Spring wildlife gardening, it’s an exciting time of year! 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 2022 3

Your wild spring The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it Dingy skipper butterfly 4 Roebuck | Spring 2022

Thank you To Karpet Mills for donating £1,300 of carpeting and fitting costs to the Trust as part of the refurbishment of our Garden House offices in Gosforth Spring SPECTACLE Dingy skipper: Vaughn Matthews Small and perfect Dingy skipper butterflies are found in the UK and Ireland. They are a moth-like small butterfly with 29mm grey-brown wings sporting mottled brown markings and two rows of small white spots, enabling them to be extremely well camouflaged. They are a small butterfly with a low, darting flight. In the sunshine, they often bask on bare ground with their wings spread wide. In dull weather, and at night, they perch in patches of taller vegetation and on the tops of dead flower heads in a moth-like fashion with wings curved in a position not seen in any other British butterfly. They have seriously declined in recent years and are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. SEE THEM THIS spring † Weetslade Country Park Wideopen, North Tyneside, NE23 7LZ. Probably the only reserve to see them due to their decline, however it hosts one of the biggest populations in the region. Roebuck | Spring 2022 5

Your wild Spring Sun worshippers The sun loving wood anemone is found in woodlands, meadows, graveyards, parks and alongside hedgerows. It’s an easily recognisable flower with six to seven large, white petals with a pinkish tinge surrounding many distinct yellow anthers. A member of the buttercup family, it’s one of the first spring blooms. Its seeds are mostly infertile, so it spreads slowly through the growth of its roots. The wood anemone is named after the Greek wind god, Anemos, who sent his namesakes, ‘the anemones’, in early spring to herald his coming. This legend gives the flower its other common name of ‘windflower’. SEE them THIS spring † Juliet’s Wood Slaley, Northumberland, NE47 0BQ. † Priestclose Wood Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 5DL. † Briarwood Banks Bardon Mill, Northumberland, NE47 7DQ. Wood Anemone: Guy Edwardes/2020VISION Wood anemone gull: Peter Cairns/2020vision urban fieldcraft European herring gull European herring gulls Whilst many people may have seen and with a red spot near the tip. their distinctive bills, while visiting the heard the Tyne kittiwakes nesting along Once thought to be very common North Sea coast this spring. the Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides and close to the ferry landing in North around the northern hemisphere, in Shields, European herring gulls are recent years scientists have realised that just as recognisable along the region’s there are several similar, closely related coastline. species of herring gull, including the yellow-legged gull, the American herring European herring gulls can be gull and the Caspian gull. very difficult to tell apart from other members of the gull family, especially During spring breeding season, they immature birds. Adult European herring nest along the UK’s coastline on clifftops, gulls are large (up to 66 cm long), silvery- rooftops and islands and possibly seaside grey above and white below, with pink towns, but during the winter they can be legs. They have a white head (streaky found on farmland, wetland and coastal during the winter) and black wingtips habitats, inland landfill sites, playing with white spots. They have a yellow bill fields and reservoirs. So keep an eye open for them, and 6 Roebuck | Spring 2022

DO THIS SEE THIS Seek out the first crocuses, daffodils and other spring Watch the bees in your garden. The anthers of some flowers. Better still, take photos and share them with flowers (the parts carrying the pollen) release their us on social media. pollen if they are shaken, so try not to disturb them. species spotlight Top tips Bees 3 species to spot Tree bumble bee Bees are probably our most A very distinctive species, important pollinators, contributing to with a completely ginger- the health of ecosystems and playing brown thorax and a black a crucial role in our food production. abdomen with a white tail. Despite the rapid decline in most bee species, many are easy to spot in our Native honey bee gardens and reserves. The honey bee is remarkable for the Daffodils: Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION. carder, tree bumble and leaf cutter bee: geoff dobbins. honey bee: steven playle. There are broadly three groups of bees in Common carder bee waggle dance - a way of the UK - the native honey bee (one species), communicating direction, bumble bees (26 species) and solitary bees Both strategies distance and supply of (200+ species), including the cuckoo bees of mean they are possibly nectar to its hive members. bumbles and solitary bees. more efficient pollinators than honey bees and bumble bees, which clean Leaf cutter bee Honey bees and bumble bees live socially, the pollen from their bodies, mix it with These are medium-sized with a queen and female worker bees. The saliva and stick in special pollen baskets bees (about the size males contribute little other than mating. (corbiculum) on their back legs. of a honeybee). With a The solitary bees are, as their name suggests, distinctive feature of a not social (apart from one of the mining bees) Encourage bees into your garden yellow ‘stomach’, usually and have no queen, but may live near to each • Provide a range of easily accessible, nectar- coated with pollen. other in what appears to be a colony. rich plants that flower from spring through Bumble bees can be split into two groups: the winter such as winter honeysuckle those that build their nests on the surface (Lonicera x purpusii ‘winter beauty’), from grass, moss or similar - the ‘carder’ bees Californian lilac (Ceonothus species) or (from the word to card, to tease or comb wool) mature climbing ivy (Hedera helix) and and those that nest below ground in holes white dead-nettle (Lamium album). left by small mammals or tree roots. • Cut the grass less frequently, at a higher cutting height, to allow clover and other Although a fairly recent arrival, the tree lawn species to flower. bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) nests in tree • Leave a small area of bare, undisturbed soil holes, bird boxes or small gaps in buildings. in the sun. • Don’t use pesticides. Solitary bees can be split into three groups: mining bees, mason bees and leaf cutter SEE THEM THIS SPRING bees. Mining bees make holes in the ground, † Tony’s Patch Slaley, whilst leaf cutter and mason bees use mud and leaves to make nests in existing holes Northumberland, NE47 0BQ such as hollow stems or small cavities in † Hauxley Low Hauxley, wood or walls. Northumberland, NE65 0JR Solitary bees may be considered as the † Close House Riverside Wylam, most important pollinators, as they collect dry pollen on their legs and body which Northumberland, NE418BW transfers more easily to the next flower they visit. Join the national campaign to ban deadly neonicotinoids for good! Visit Leaf cutter bees collect dry pollen on a wildlifetrusts.org/say-no-neonics special pad under their abdomen which comes into contact with the flower stigma (female part). Roebuck | Spring 2022 7

HEAR THIS FORAGE FOR THIS Blue tits tentatively sounding out mates and Turn hawthorn berries into jelly, wine and ketchup. neighbours with a clear, two-note call tee-cher, tee-cher, The young leaves and shoots of common hawthorn are tee-cher. edible and were once referred to as ‘bread and cheese.’ not just for kids Seven wild activities for spring Reignite your love of nature with these really wild things to do Bullfinch Hawthorn: Philip Precey. Bullfinch: Tim Mason. Cowslip: Guy Edwardes/2020vision. waterfall: natasha hesley. 1 Play birdy bingo 2 Create a mini Make your own birdy bingo sheet, wildflower meadow then head out with your friends or Why not treat your garden to family and see how many birds you a great selection of flowers to can see or hear then shout “Bingo” attract wildlife? This seedball when you have a full sheet. tin, made for the Wildlife Trusts, is perfect for the job. Get yours at nwt.org.uk/shop. 4 Attend a virtual exhibition Take a guided tour around the Planet Recovery Project Exhibition hosted by Labyrinth Gallery. Pause on the images you want to find out more about and don’t forget to watch our Benshaw Moor film produced by our trustee Trai Anfield, labyrinthgallery.co.uk/prp. Cowslip Waterfall at 5 Share your random Benshaw Moor acts of wildness 3 Become a flower This June, sign up for the detective Wildlife Trust’s annual 30 Download the spring flower spotter Days Wild challenge and sheet at wildlifewatch.org.uk/ get a FREE pack of goodies activities then head out and see how at wildlifetrusts.org. many you can find in your local green uk/30dayswild. Don’t forget to space. share your 30 days of wildness with #30DaysWild and 8 Roebuck | Spring 2022 @30dayswild.

Your wild spring 6 Location, location, 10 upcoming events location Many natural nest sites, such Take your pick from this selection of some of the as holes in trees and buildings, best seasonal activities and events close to you are fast disappearing. Many more have been destroyed 1 Easter egg trail 6 Summer trail during the recent storms and 15-18 April 23 July - 7 August high winds. Why not install Northumberlandia, NE23 8AU Weetslade, NE23 7LZ a bird box in your garden, Find the hidden wooden Self-led family friendly back yard or work place and eggs, solve the word puzzle wildlife trails. see who pops in for a visit? and collect a chocolate treat. Trust supporter, Vine House 7 Osprey watch Farm, has a wonderful range 2 Pelagic cruises Weekends April - August of boxes to choose from Dates in June - September Tower Knowe, NE48 1BX vinehousefarm.co.uk. Royal Quays Marina, NE29 6DU Join us for the return of North Sea wildlife spotting osprey watch from our new 7 Give your flowers a helping hand boat trips with Northern location. How to make a garden wigwam Experience Wildlife Tours. 8 Dawn chorus You will need Ncaratuftre 3 Big Wild Weekend 1 May birdbox: Ross hoddinott/2020vision. illustration: corinne welch. osprey: peter cairns/2020vision. † Bamboo canes or hazel sticks. 18 June St Nicholas Park, NE3 3XT † Garden twine. Hauxley, NE65 0JR Join local bird expert Chris † Vegetable or flower seeds or small Including outdoor yoga, Wright to celebrate Dawn mindfulness, music in Chours Day. plants. nature and more. 9 Enchanted trail What you can grow 4 Outdoor theatre 30 July - 7 August † Tomatoes 17 July Northumberlandia, NE23 8AU † Runner beans Northumberlandia, NE23 8AU Created to spark children’s † Cucumbers Heartbreak Productions imagination with folklore † Courgettes presents Jane Eyre. and nature. † Squashes † Roses 5 Childrens activities 10 Pond dipping † Honeysuckle School holidays 23 July & 23 August † Jasmine Northumberlandia, NE23 8AU East Chevington, NE61 5BG † Clematis Including mini beast hunts, Join Catch My Drift as we How to make † Use six to eight canes per owl pellets, bug and bird box search our ponds for a wigwam, between 1.5m making and more. variety of wildlife. and 2m in height. † Push each cane lightly Discover more on these and all forthcoming events into the soil, about (including prices and booking), by visiting our website 15cm to 20cm apart. nwt.org.uk/events † Gather the top ends of the canes Osprey together and tie tightly with string. † Now you can start growing! Roebuck | Spring 2022 9

Tony’s Patch Tony’s Patch is a In 1968, the site was gifted to skating on the surface hunting for their hidden gem of west Northumberland Wildlife Trust by Roger invertebrate prey. Northumberland. Clissold in memory of his brother Tony, a It may be small at a keen naturalist, who died tragically young. Wide spacing between mature trees mere 2 hectares, but A memorial plaque can be found attached allows light to flood through onto this ancient woodland to a large boulder on the eastern bank. luxuriant carpets of flowers. Veteran oak is a perfect slice of trees are bejewelled with mosses and paradise and a favourite The Honeycrook Burn flows gently polypody (ferns). amongst many Trust through the reserve, passing under a members. wooden footbridge near the entrance. The canopy is largely composed of oak From here, water crickets can be seen and ash with an understory of magnificent 10 Roebuck | Spring 2022 hazel stools. A fine stand of bird cherry Bluebells can be found straddling the footpath, which often becomes shrouded in the webs of bird cherry ermine moth larvae. In some years, larvae on roadside trees spread out along the dry stone wall - an eerie sight! There are two small stands of conifer which are being gradually replaced with native species as and when timber is required for fence repairs. A large open area in the centre of the wood is testament to the ravages of dutch elm disease and it is feared that ash dieback will have an even greater impact

£500 our best spring reserves From online company now you do it nland250.com from sales of its 250-mile adventure route Visit Tony’s Patch map and discovery guide for Northumberland. Fifty pence Know before you go from every map is donated to Location: 2km north west of Haydon the Kielderhead Wildwood Bridge, Northumberland, off the A69. Postcode NE47 6HN. OS Map Reference NY project. 822 655. Opening times: All day, every day. Access: Via a wall stile alongside a minor road (NY 819 654), and across a field to its southern edge. Paths can be muddy, wet and uneven. top WILDLIFE TO SPOT In springtime, it is the top reserve to see bluebells which form a wonderful blue carpet. There is other rich ground flora including wood anemone, wild garlic, early purple orchid, wood sorrel and sweet woodruff. The reserve is an ideal place to spot birds such as tawny owl, barn owl and great spotted woodpecker. Red squirrels and roe deer have been recorded on the site as have several species of locally uncommon beetle. Tony’s Patch Bird cherry ermine As spring progresses, migrant birds Red-headed Images: geoff dobbins moth larval webs bring melody from distant lands; redstart, Cardinal Beetle pied flycatcher and cuckoo adding to the on the appearance of the wood. symphony created by resident species. If THINGS TO DO In early spring, the ghostly flowers of you’re lucky you may witness a handful of † Grab a pair of binoculars and look downy balls staring back at you from the toothwort burst through the ground, their branches above, as tawny owl chicks warm skywards. growth fuelled by plundering nutrients themselves in the sun. † Listen out for the resident barn owls and from the hazel stools they grow under. The migrants arrive in time to fatten tawny owls. Other spring flowers include herb paris their broods on a myriad of invertebrates † Marvel at the bluebells - but watch and primrose, however the carpet of - the reserve being home to a number bluebells steal the show. A bench, (made of uncommon species associated where you put your feet to avoid on site from a pine tree), offers the perfect with deadwood and other habitats. trampling on them. picnic spot to become immersed in the Colourful insects to look out for are the display. unmistakeable bug, the red-and-black froghopper and the red headed cardinal beetle which may be seen hunting other insects. Parking is extremely limited, be careful of the soft verges and take care not to block access for farm machinery, particularly on the corner near the stile. n Roebuck | Spring 2022 11

our best spring reserves More Northumberland Wildlife Trust nature reserves for a great spring day out Berwick upon Tweed Alnwick Holystone Burn Kielder Morpeth Why now? Tony’s Patch One of the most prominent species found Newcastle upon Tyne here are wood ants - their large mound Hexham often situated next to the paths. Spring is a good time to watch their activity on the anthills. Birds to be spotted now include goosander and pied flycatcher. Know before you go Location: 1km west of Holystone Village, Holystone, Northumberland, NE65 7AX. Open: All day, every day. Wildlife to spot: Roe deer, badgers and red squirrels can be seen together with adders, common lizards, common frogs and common toads. Bird species known to breed on the site include pied flycatcher, merlin, green woodpecker, greater spotted woodpecker, dipper, goosander and common sandpiper. Juniper pug moths have been seen in large numbers and, in total, 186 species of moths and butterflies have been recorded. Holystone North Wood Why now? Know before you go Holystone Burn The reserve is home to woodland birds Location: 0.5 km north of Holystone Village, such as wood warblers, tawny owls and The lowdown woodcocks. During spring, the males’ roding Holystone, Northumberland, NE65 7AX. The eastern end is mixed heather moorland (display flight with unmistakeable calls) can Open: All day, every day. with scattered birch and willow woodland. be heard at dusk and dawn as they patrol Wildlife to spot: Many of the trees hang There are large stands of bog myrtle and the canopy looking for mates. areas of juniper - some natural, some with lichens such as usneas and bryorias. replanted. Further upstream are the north wood: NWT. Burn: Duncan hutt. Yardhope Oaks with a small area of reedbed Notable species of ground flora include near the stream. chickweed wintergreen and lesser The reserve is managed in partnership with twayblade. Moss hummocks of Leucobryum Forestry England. glaucum are a special feature of this wood Plan your next great day out and can be seen at the northern edge. from all our nature reserves at: nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves Holystone North Wood The lowdown It is a semi-natural, acid sessile oak wood, which is a habitat more typical of the Lake District. Many of the trees are multi-stemmed, indicating former coppicing, although records show the land was last worked in this manner over 70 years ago. The reserve is managed in partnership with Forestry England. 12 Roebuck | Spring 2022

WILD THOUGHTS Sophie Pavelle @sophiepavs Seas of surprise illustration: Chris shields. As I write, it’s a moody, overcast our two native species. I Ocean updates Tuesday afternoon. Desk days like was paddleboarding on a Discover more about our these make me crave the sea. I calm April afternoon, when seas by signing up for want to be fully in it, head and all, with (ideally) the water had this glassy appeal. our marine mailing! You’ll the sun streaking through. I’m lucky enough Paddling in random circles and enjoying the get an exclusive monthly to have boomeranged home to Devon after rare absence of swell on this particular stretch newsletter packed with university, and the southwest coast has lodged of coast, I adopted a downwards gaze, unsure marine conservation news itself deep in my heart. I think of the sea daily, what I was really looking for. But then, there from around the world, envisaging myself on, in or indeed under it… he was. About 10 feet away from me — an exciting wildlife sightings if possible. enormous bull grey seal. He was bottling as from our amazing UK One of my favourite things about British seals do, with only his (gigantic!) head above seas, and updates on the coastlines is that they are never the same. The the water. Whiskers twitching, eyes watching. latest developments in rhythm of the tide brings new sights, smells, I stopped breathing, just in case. And then as protecting our oceans. colours and characters to our shorelines four quickly as he had surfaced, he disappeared wildlifetrusts.org/ times a day. Give me a spare spring hour and below the waves. Off on some covert marine-mailing you may find me walking barefoot along the assignment, no doubt. local beach, looking for snakelocks anemones Sophie Pavelle is a science at low tide. Aside from their striking green Rather incredibly, the UK is home to 40 per communicator and Ambassador and purple colour, I love how it takes barely cent of the world’s population of grey seals. for The Wildlife Trusts. Her first any water for them to sway their thick Perhaps they enjoy the variety of the coast as book Forget Me Not, Finding tentacles like hula skirts, dancing in their much as I do? I think of that moment often the Forgotten Species of Climate rockpools like a couple of TikTokers. and look forward to being surprised yet again Change Britain is published On this same beach, a colony of breeding by the beauty of the British seas this spring. 9 June 2022 (Bloomsbury) kittiwakes nest on the sandstone cliff face, coming home after a challenging winter in Find inspiration to get outdoors and the Atlantic. As one of our most endangered discover your own spring surprises with seabirds, seeing them so free as they wheel our selection of seasonal spectacles! with abandon about the clifftops, diving for food to feed their growing chicks, is a sight to wildlifetrusts.org/spring-wildlife raise even the gloomiest spirits. But for me, nothing quite compares to the sighting of a fellow mammal in the water. Last summer, I had a particularly memorable encounter with a grey seal— the larger of Roebuck | Spring 2022 13

Acorn weevil © Alan price/naturepl.com 6 places to see beetles 14 Roebuck | Spring 2022

Find out how you See the spectacle can help beetles and other imperiled insects for yourself at wildlifetrusts.org/ action-for-insects 1 Ayr Gorge Woodlands Wildlife Reserve, Scottish Wildlife Trust Did you know that there are over 4,000 species of beetle in the UK? These This ancient woodland is full of beetles. You may be lucky incredible insects come in a huge array enough to spot rhinoceros beetles crawling over old logs, of shapes and sizes. There are broad- two-banded longhorn beetles resting on fence posts, or bodied ladybirds, slender rove beetles, longhorn even a beautiful thorn-tipped longhorn beetle perfectly beetles sporting oversized antennae, and weevils camouflaged on a lichen covered tree trunk. with oddly elongated faces. Many of our beetles Where: Failford, KA5 5TF have fantastically evocative names to match their looks or lifestyle. Head out on a beetle safari and you 2 Briarwood Banks, Northumberland Wildlife Trust could meet tigers, stags, wasps and even minotaurs! A fantastic example of rare, semi-natural woodland in Beetles fill vital roles in nature, including pollination, Northumberland supporting a host of interesting beetles predation, and the recycling of dead wood, dung and including rhinoceros beetle, two-banded longhorn beetle, dead animals. One of the best things about beetles is European bark beetle (a predator of other beetle larvae that you can find them almost anywhere, from parks under bark) and the ground beetle. and gardens to meadows and moorlands, or even Where: 5km south-east of Bardon Mill, NE47 7BP beneath the surface of ponds. But some places are beetle hotspots — here are six of our favourite places 3 Highgate Common, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to see beetles… An ancient lowland heath brimming with beetles, including the incredible glow-worm with its bioluminescent behind. Other impressive insects you could spot include black oil beetles, bloody-nosed beetles, green tiger beetles and minotaur beetles. Where: Swindon, DY7 5BS 4 Balls Wood, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust This varied woodland with its sunlit rides is a wonderful place for beetles that depend on deadwood, but it also has an unusually large number of ponds, supporting a range of water beetles. You might even spot the rare poplar leaf-rolling weevil. Where: Hertford Heath, SG13 7PW 5 Sydenham Hill Wood, London Wildlife Trust London Wildlife Trust’s oldest nature reserve is home to many rare and scarce beetles, from metallic jewel beetles and tiny flower beetles to the impressive stag beetle, the largest species in the UK, growing to over 7cm long. Where: Sydenham Hill, SE26 6LS 6 Bystock Pools, Devon Wildlife Trust Bystock’s mosaic of habitats provides a home to many different beetles. Whirligig beetles spin across the ponds, tiger beetles hunt the heathlands and soldier beetles march over meadow wildflowers. If you’re really lucky, you could spot the greenish glimmer of a glow-worm on a summer evening. Where: Near Exmouth, EX8 5EE Did you spot any beetles? We’d love to know how your search went. Please tweet us your best photos! @wildlifetrusts

wild news Thank you All the latest regional and national news from The Wildlife Trusts To TyneMet College City & Guilds Level 2 painting and decorating students for sprucing up our Gosforth offices free of charge. Remember - not all support has to be financial. Bumblebee regional Something to buzz about The Beelines North East Project is a friendly sites throughout our urban areas, important role that pollinators play in our partnership between the Trust and which provide food and places to live for daily lives. Urban Green Newcastle, funded by the pollinators all year round. Government’s Green Recovery Challenge There will be opportunities for members Fund. It aims to ‘Bring the Buzz back to Secondly, we aim to explore nature-based of the public to get involved in citizen the City’ by improving urban parks and solutions for climate change as part of the science, perhaps for the first time, and greenspaces for pollinators and wildlife project. We will do this by reducing mowing assist with surveys over the summer to throughout Newcastle, South East regimes to increase biodiversity and lower help us gain a better understanding of Northumberland and North Tyneside. soil compaction. We are also planting what is happening with pollinators in our trees and restoring hedgerows, which in urban environments. Bees and other pollinators depend on a turn, will store carbon whilst creating an network of nectar rich food sources and incredible habitat. It will also improve The project will also be training young suitable nesting habitat to thrive. This natural flood resilience by reducing water people and offering lots of practical project will join the dots in our urban run-off and enhancing wetland margins. conservation volunteering opportunities areas, improving our urban greenspaces to ensure that the project achieves its and unlocking their potential to provide The third aim of the project is vital. We ambitious targets to improve over 40 sites for bees, butterflies, and a range of other want to get people connected with nature across the city for wildlife species. by offering multi-sensory experiences from nectar-rich habitats across the project. This Find out more about the Beelines Firstly, we are aiming to improve our will include providing opportunities for North East Project at: sites by creating a variety of habitats and schoolchildren, NHS hospital staff, patients nwt.org.uk/beelines-north-east planting a wide range of different species. and visitors and members of the public to In doing so, we can hopefully create wildlife reconnect with nature, and recognise the 16 Roebuck | Spring 2022

News Helicopter delivery Gifts in Wills regional Together we’re stronger with legacy support Up in the air at Whitelee Moor The Trust is delighted to have Restoration of degraded blanket bog on erosive force during heavy rainfall. been named as a beneficiary in Whitelee Moor has been carried out by This will enable plants to establish, and the following legacies: estates staff and volunteers. hopefully halt the loss of precious peat. Mark Johnson - £157 The team recently enjoyed the The heather moorland is home to Irene Robinson - £24,066 excitement of working with a helicopter birds such as red grouse, buzzards and Anne Henson - £1,000 crew to create a series of dams in a hen harriers and and insects such as the Judith Bulmer - £263 number of the worst erosion channels on northern eggar moth and ringlet, small Anthony Lee - £2,000 the site. heath and green veined white butterflies. Judith Peel - £250 James Parrack - £33,077 Around 100 tonnes of sandstone were Further down the slopes, wild goats can lifted to the top of the huge reserve with been seen on the border with Kielderhead This selfless generosity is hugely each drop then manually shaped into a appreciated. If you are inspired by the dam by the team. The peat on the Moor stores millions wildlife and landscapes in our region of tonnes of carbon and water, making and would like to leave us a legacy In The dams are situated close together restoration vital in efforts to mitigate your will, please visit website nwt.org. along each erosion channel and are climate change and maintain steady uk/legacy to find out more or, contact designed to slow the flow of water and flows of clean water into the River Rede Dan Venner, Trust Director of Finance catch sediment, thereby reducing the throughout the year and Business on (0191) 284 6884 or via email [email protected]. regional Why not give a gift to the Trust in your Bee: Marcus Wehrle. Helicopter: geoff dobbins. Northumberlandia: Lynette Friend, Will and help to protect the wildlife and Helping people to connect with nature wild places you have loved even after your lifetime? In addition, any gift left is The Trust recently ran the pilot ‘Growing programme of activities. also exempt from Inheritance Tax. with Nature’ project at Northumberlandia, The team engaged 15 adults struggling funded by Citizens Advice Northumberland. Write your Will for FREE today with with mental health issues, or in recovery our partners Guardian Angels! The project’s aims were to connect for substance or alcohol issues. Attending adults, aged 25+, to the natural world weekly sessions, they learnt about wildlife, Friendly and compassionate, whilst supporting their mental health bush-skills and mindfulness practices and the Guardian Angel team is online to and well-being through a five-week took ‘time out’ to appreciate nature. help if you need it. Your Will is certified by a legal professional, and if they have any questions they will contact you directly. Visit gawill.uk/northwt. Roebuck | Spring 2022 17

uk news Wally the Walrus made a surprise visit to UK UPDATE our shores in 2021 The weird, wonderful & worrying Our 2021 Marine Review wally the walrus © joe pender etaceans take centre stage Whales and dolphins weren’t alone in seagrass meadows, oyster beds and many in our round-up of marine popping up in unexpected places. 2021 saw more habitats and species. In March, a news from the last 12 months, two walruses recorded in the UK, with new byelaw was passed to stop damaging with success stories, tragic one, nicknamed Wally, spending weeks in fishing practices off the Sussex coast. To tales and strange sightings. There was south Wales and then the Isles of Scilly; speed up the area’s recovery, the Sussex hope for humpback whales, with strong and a second (known as Freya) briefly Kelp Restoration Project will restore a vast numbers recorded around the southwest visiting Northumberland before being 200km² of kelp forest, providing feeding and further sightings in Scotland. One spotted in Shetland. There was also a and nursery grounds for molluscs, shrimp, individual, named Pi, delighted whale pufferfish found washed up on a Cornish and cuttlefish. watchers on the Isles of Scilly for over two beach, which is an oceanic species that months. The surge in sightings in recent rarely comes this far north. Seagrass habitats also got a much years reflects populations recovering after needed boost. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and bans on commercial whaling. These unusual sightings provide further Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust It wasn’t all good news though, with evidence of the impacts of climate change transplanted seeds and plants to areas large numbers of seals and cetaceans on our seas. Temperature changes can where seagrass has previously flourished, reported stranded across the UK, including cause disruption to feeding habits and whereas Manx Wildlife Trust discovered a a minke whale calf that tragically had to be breeding cycles, driving animals to move new seagrass meadow, Cornwall Wildlife put down after stranding in the Thames. out of their usual range. Some species Trust mapped seagrass regrowth in areas In Cornwall alone, over 170 cetaceans and are shifting their distribution completely. where moorings had been removed, and 247 seals were stranded, with a further 51 The ringneck blenny, a small fish Cumbria Wildlife Trust carried out the cetaceans recorded stranding in Devon. normally found in the Eastern Atlantic or first surveys of seagrass on mudflats off Many of these animals showed signs of Mediterranean, has become common in Walney Island for over 20 years. injury from fishing gear or propellers, Cornwall’s Fal estuary, with further signs including a humpback whale off Looe of breeding in the English Channel. There are even more sea success stories Island that was caught in fishing lines. in our full round-up, which you can read at: One of the stranded animals in Cornwall Our marine life faces many threats wildlifetrusts.org/marine-review-21 was a striped dolphin, which are common in addition to climate change, including in the Mediterranean but seldom seen disturbance from recreational activities. Ocean oddities around the UK. Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported that This wasn’t the only surprising cetacean disturbances of marine wildlife have „„ Adders took to the surf as snakes sighting in the south of the UK. Two orcas tripled since 2014, with an increase of jet were seen paddling in the waves from the Hebrides made a scene-stealing skis and motorboats a major cause for on Wembury Beach, Dorset and off appearance off the cliff-top Minnack concern. Elsewhere, The Wildlife Trust of the coast of Anglesey, North Wales. Theatre in Cornwall — the most southerly South and West Wales witnessed a seal sighting of members of this group of pup being abandoned after people got too „„ Devon Wildlife Trust reported a killer whales in over 50 years — and close to it. Surveys by Dorset Wildlife Trust surge of compass jellyfish, believed white-beaked dolphins, usually found in recorded damage to the seabed caused by to be caused by the July heatwave. subarctic waters, were seen in Essex for the anchors of large cruise ships, moored the first time since 2000. off the coast due to the pandemic. „„ Scottish Wildlife Trust rangers were wowed by a white puffin on But there was also plenty to celebrate Handa Island. The pale puffin lacks last year, with good news for kelp forests, pigmentation in its feathers, due to a genetic condition called leucism. 18 Roebuck | Winter 2021

News UK UPDATE uk highlights Splatters matter Discover how The Wildlife Trusts The latest results from the Bugs Matter for anyone with a smartphone or tablet to are helping Survey show that significantly fewer record the insects on their car, bringing wildlife across insects were recorded nationally in 2021 meaningful citizen science to the pockets the UK than 17 years ago. These results add to the of thousands. Last year there were growing evidence that insect populations nearly 5,000 journeys logged, helping Seabird power are declining across the world, with scientists monitor the alarming declines potentially catastrophic consequences for in our insects. The Scottish Wildlife Trust has joined wildlife, wild places and people. forces with alternative rock band Sea Find out more and get involved at Power to raise awareness of the urgent The Bugs Matter Survey, initially kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/bugs-matter need to tackle the nature and climate developed by the RSPB in 2004 is based crises. The Wildlife Trust worked with on the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, the band to create a new video for their originating from the observation that classic track “The Great Skua,” featuring people find fewer insects squashed on footage of seabirds on Handa Island the windscreens of their cars compared Wildlife Reserve. wtru.st/seapower to several decades ago. The survey was revitalised and made more accessible in 2021, when Kent Wildlife Trust created the Bugs Matter App in partnership with Gwent, Somerset, and Essex Wildlife Trusts, and Buglife. The app makes it easy Failing farmland wildlife This January, the Government announced includes a lot of the right rhetoric, but A city sanctuary new schemes to reward farmers in still lacks any clear details or urgency. The England for supporting nature’s recovery. published documents failed to provide Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Farmland accounts for a huge proportion details on eligibility, the determination of welcomed plans for a new‘Green Heart’ of our land use, so it’s imperative that priorities or how Government will ensure in Nottingham city centre, after putting we have policies that support farmers to these schemes achieve target outcomes. forward a bold ambition to transform help nature. The latest announcement Read more at wtru.st/farm-reform a derelict former shopping centre into wildlife-rich greenspace. The vision is Welcome to the team! billed as a blueprint for sustainable great skua © peter cairns/2020vision; hoverfly © chris lawrence city centres in a post-COVID world. The Wildlife Trusts are delighted to wtru.st/green-heart announce that GP and TV presenter Dr Amir Khan, and naturalist, TV presenter Wild in Wales and author Iolo Williams, have become vice presidents of the charity. We also Radnorshire Wildlife Trust has warmly welcome award-winning TV purchased a 164-acre farm in mid- presenter Maddie Moate, and The Vamps’ Wales, with plans to transform it into a lead guitarist, James McVey (pictured), haven for wildlife. Initial steps to bring as wildlife ambassadors. The nature nature back to the former livestock enthusiasts will use their voices, influence farm will include scrub development, to and audiences to help The Wildlife Trusts provide shelter for wildlife. The Wildlife shine a spotlight on the urgent need for Trust will work with neighbours, local nature’s recovery in the UK. Meet our new farmers and landowners to create more vice presidents and ambassadors at space for nature in the region. wtru.st/new-voices wtru.st/mid-wales-farm Roebuck | Spring 2022 19

regional Uncovering lost Redesdale With the River Rede at its heart, Redesdale (Above) Uncovering found. The team also carried out fieldwork is a landscape of 347km2 extending from a Roman kiln at High looking for physical evidence of the Battle the Scottish border at Carter Bar to the Rochester. (Right) of Otterburn, fought between the English North Tyne confluence at Redesmouth. Reconstruction drawing and the Scots in 1388. It includes three reserves managed by of the Romano-British the Trust: Whitelee Moor, Mill Burn and settlement on Whitelee A range of other activities and events are Benshaw Moor. Moor. planned for 2022. However, the area is also exceptionally their families who came from near and far revitalisingredesdale.org.uk rich in archaeological remains: from to build the Catcleugh Reservoir. Revitalising Redesdale prehistoric funerary monuments and @OurRedesdale Roman forts to 19th century industry and Constructed between 1890 and 1905, the [email protected] First World War practice trenches. reservoir was commissioned to provide water to the booming population of The Revitalising Redesdale Landscape industrial Tyneside. Partnership aims to celebrate and protect the rich cultural heritage, landscape and The play is available to listen to online, wildlife of Redesdale. on the Revitalising Redesdale website, at revitalisingredesdale.org.uk/water-to- Alongside habitat restoration and tyneside. wildlife recording projects, the team has been researching and interpreting Other community archaeology activities archaeological sites. It hopes that, by the in 2021 included archaeological digs on end of the National Lottery Heritage- the Otterburn Ranges and at Fawdon Hill funded project, now in its fifth and final near Otterburn, discovering evidence of year, visitors will be coming to explore prehistoric settlements and burial cairns. all aspects of the valley’s heritage, both natural and cultural. Volunteers also undertook a dig at High Rochester Roman Fort, which uncovered Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was previously unseen features, including the a busy year for the partnership, with the remains of two annexes to the fort, a huge team being able to hold several community kiln and a Roman midden (rubbish dump), archaeology events. where a huge amount of artefacts were As well as being the Trust’s largest reserve and a National Nature Reserve, Whitelee Moor is also rich in archaeological remains. In April, volunteers carried out a survey of the Romano-British settlement on the southern end of Whitelee Moor (and spotted three basking and mating adders during the survey!), which resulted in a new detailed site plan of the settlement. One of the volunteers also produced an artistic reconstruction drawing of the settlement, which will be displayed on new interpretation for the site, to be installed in May 2022 at the new Catcleugh car park. In May 2021, staff and volunteers recorded their community radio play, ‘Amid the Hills of Redesdale,’ telling the story of the forgotten army of workers and 20 Roebuck | Spring 2022

News Reedbeds at EGGER Corporate Hexham that are part of Membership the Sustainable Urban We offer three levels of corporate Drainage System membership which are designed to enhance your Corporate Social regional Responsibility commitments, provide year-round benefits to your business Wood specialists carve and support your staff development, out a gold membership PR and marketing strategies. You choose the level that you feel reflects We have welcomed Hexham based in the log yard. The EGGER team has your company’s commitment to the dig: Karen Collins. reconstruction: Keith Cooper. Reedbed: EGGER UK (Ltd). Coffee machine: susan wilson. EGGER (UK) Ltd as our first gold built bespoke nest boxes for the birds, local environment. category corporate supporter of 2022. which start to nest in March, to protect them from daily site movements. In Become a corporate member, The wood-based materials addition to this, EGGER is also home to contact Elizabeth Lovatt, via email at manufacturer makes chipboard panels oystercatchers, stoats and hedgehogs. [email protected]. in the UK for the furniture and interior design industry, and structural flooring After the floods in 2015, EGGER Gold for the housebuilding industry. It is installed defences to protect its site. committed to producing products that As part of this, the team planted wild Aaron Optometrists have as little impact on the environment flowers to provide pollinators and insects Andrew Poplett Ltd as possible. with leaves, pollen, nectar, shelter and EGGER (UK) Ltd places to breed. Northumbrian Water Ltd The site is thriving with local wildlife Ringtons and it actively maintains and promotes The site is also home to over 200,000 Tarmac biodiversity in the area. Each year bees (in four beehives) that help pollinate Thermofisher Scientific hundreds of sand and house martins the local area, and provide delicious Thompsons of Prudhoe migrate to the manufacturing site to nest honey for employees. silver regional New coffee machine at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Harlow Printing Ltd Brewing up Herding Hill Farm corporate support Centre’s Café Historic Property Restoration Ltd Karpet Mills Pumphreys of Newcastle is our latest silver Northumberland 250 category corporate supporter. Original Cottages Potts Printers Ltd The family owned business, established Pumphrey’s Coffee in the centre of Newcastle in 1750, still uses Riverside Leisure traditional 80 year old open flame roasting drums to produce over 80 different award bronze winning coffees and teas. Bell Ingram Try Pumphrey’s hot chocolate, barista Blyth Harbour Commission style and filter coffee with caramel, vanilla, Cottages in Northumberland gingerbread and hazelnut syrups in our EcoCabs Hauxley and Northumberlandia cafés. Holidaycottages.co.uk Howick Hall Gardens Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Northumberland County Council Northumberland Estates Ord House Country Park Poltross Enterprises Propology Boutique Properties Shepherds Retreats The First and Last Brewery Verdant Leisure Wardell Armstrong Roebuck | Spring 2022 21

We bet you didn’t know... TThhaannkk Red clover contains phytoestrogens that are similar to the hormone yyoouu ! oestrogen. It is commonly used as a natural remedy to help with menopause symptoms, brittle bones and male-pattern baldness. £1,000 regional and geologist, Ian Jackson, the book has From Annabel Graham, Director at been endorsed by BBC TV presenter, Iain Successful Training to help repair the A right rocky read Stewart, and international best-selling damage at Hauxley caused by Storm author, Simon Winchester. A book celebrating the Trust’s 50th Arwen. successfultraining.co.uk anniversary Rock Festival has been Priced at £10, it is available from nwt. launched. org.uk/shop and northern-heritage. £5,208 co.uk and a number of stockists around Featuring all the region’s special rocky the region. Donated to the Catch My Drift project places from the Festival, the book: during 2021 by customers of the Amble Northumberland Rocks, tells the story and Hadston Co-op stores via the Co- of Northumberland’s landscape from 425 op Local Community Fund. The money million years ago to the present. raised is being used to support the The 114 pages open a window into the project’s education programme and Northumberland beneath everybody’s feet and reveal the origins of its rocks activities in local schools. and habitats. The sites featured are diverse, from country to town, including £215.76 the rocks of Newcastle. A donation from Amazon Smile made Designed and written by NWT Trustee everybody smile at the Trust. Shop at smile.amazon.co.uk and the company Book Sunday 24 April, 1:00pm & 3:00pm, Free entry. Launch The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, Bardon Mill, will make a donation to the Trust. Hexham, NE47 7AN. For more visit nwt.org.uk/events. £2,018 regional Red clover: Lee Schofield. From the Ray Wind Fund (via the Ray Cycling Classics Wind Farm) enabled children from six schools in Northumberland to join the The HandleBards are back at Restoring Ratty team to find out more Northumberlandia for a bicycle- powered, laugh-out-loud about water voles. production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on Thursday 11th August. £19,670 This year we are being visited From the Ventient Sisters North Steads by Handlebards’ all boys troupe Windfarm Community Benefit Fund at - cycling to and from venues the Community Foundation to support and often using cycles in their performances. During the summer a year-long trainee placement for a the troupe cycles across the UK with young person to work across our five all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, covering reserves at Druridge Bay. over 1,000 miles and performing high quality Shakespearean Donations, whatever the amount, are productions. always welcome by the Trust and never A limited number of early bird more so as we continue to recover tickets are available at £16, when from the effects of coronavirus and the they’re gone, they’re gone. Standard recent storms. To find out how you can price £18 adults, £11 under 18s. help us visit: nwt.org.uk/support-us Book early to avoid disappointment! Visit nwt.org.uk/handlebards. 22 Roebuck | Spring 2022

focus on... Focus on... Wilding West Chevington Match fund for How to double local nature recovery your donation Well, it’s official - a £2m donation from Broadly nature recovery plans include: This is the tricky part – to secure The Reece Foundation enabled us to buy the match funding you have to go the 327-hectare site at West Chevington, Creation and restoration of rare via The Big Give to donate during which is a game changer for lowland wildflower meadow and grassland the campaign, from noon 22nd April Northumberland and the Druridge Bay to boost pollinators, including bees and to noon 29th April. area. butterflies ʈʈ Please use the link from But securing the land is only half the Naturalising wetland and our website nwt.org.uk/ battle (well, maybe a bit more than half!) watercourses to improve water WildingWestChevingtonAppeal as we now need to get on with restoring quality and reduce flooding downstream ʈʈ Or you can scan this QR code nature at scale and fighting climate change. Can you help us with the next Enhancing ponds to encourage ʈʈ Pop the postcard on your fridge step? There’s a great ‘double your birds and other species diversity or noticeboard to remind you donation’ opportunity coming up with to donate, or put a reminder on The Big Give in April and the key task is Planting additional broadleaf trees your phone to develop specific plans to transform to store carbon, reduce carbon West Chevington: Duncan Hutt. the land. Please would you donate to emissions and improve air quality, as ʈʈ Include Gift Aid where you can our Wilding West Chevington Appeal to well as creating valuable habitat as it adds 25% to your donation at raise £25,000 to allow us to get going. no extra cost to yourself Reintroducing species such as The West Chevington land sits harvest mice, water voles and More information on atop a former opencast coalmine and maybe something bigger West Chevington is is currently a mosaic of woodland, available, visit nwt.org.uk/ grassland and low-quality arable, with If we get this right, nature will recover WildingWestChevingtonAppeal a system of ponds, ditches and streams and flourish, rather than decline; natural that will add to the connectivity and processes will be restored to reduce resilience of existing nature sites and the climate change impacts. The key is the landscape around Druridge Bay. But it planning. needs a lot of work. Please donate to the campaign to take We need your contribution to fund action for nature and climate on your surveying (for example, GIS mapping, doorstep. aerial photography, soil sampling), detailed planning and developing a Thank you number of rewilding methods. We also intend to actively involve the local community, farmers and landowners in achieving wider gains for nature across the area. Roebuck | Spring 2022 23

When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for the trees, as Barnaby Coupe explores… 24 Roebuck | Spring 2022

For many people, trees and woodlands are misty woodland © mike read/naturepl.com emblematic of our deepest connections with nature. They are a constant in our culture and histories, from the Hundred Acre Wood to the adventures of Robin Hood, and with good reason. Our native woodlands are vibrant, wild, and shrouded in mystery — the perfect place for nature to thrive. Ancient native woodlands in particular hold a wealth of life, with a complex weave of ecological networks and relationships between a huge array of diverse species. For example, the mighty oak, a staple of British woods, provides habitat for more than 2,300 species, from woodland birds to fungi. These long-standing woodlands also possess trees of varying ages, with old trees offering nest holes for birds like redstarts and pied flycatchers, dead and dying trees providing essential habitat for fungi and insects like stag beetles, and young trees and dense, thorny scrub creating nesting sites for warblers and nightingales. Stag beetles and nightingales, amongst other benefiting wildlife, are some of the most threatened species in the UK, so having wilder, natural woodlands which contain these habitats are critical for their continued survival. Yet as we are now seeing the impacts of a changing climate, our woodlands are receiving increased interest in another of their magical properties — the ability to take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and lock it away for centuries in their branches, their roots, and within the soil. As a result, trees have increasingly been put forward as a win-win solution for nature and the climate, but are trees always a silver bullet? Roebuck | Spring 2022 25

Many birds, like pied flycatchers, depend on diverse, native woodlands Heroic habitats Shallow peat soil is particularly at risk from tree While important, trees are not the only answer planting, and creating new woodlands in these areas to solving the climate crisis. Habitats such as can release more CO2 than the trees end up taking chalk downland, hay meadows, peatlands, in through soil degradation. Multiple examples and heathland all have extraordinary value of this were seen in the mid-20th century, when for wildlife and will play a large role in vast areas of peatland were drained, ploughed, and addressing the climate crisis too. Yet, in the assailed with single-species plantations of non- drive to plant more trees, it is precisely these native conifers in a short-sighted bid to increase habitats that can be put at risk. timber resources. In fact, planting trees on the above habitats often Right tree, right place does more harm than good. Trees planted on habitats This approach to planting trees has been rightly such as our flower-filled meadows, most of which have already vanished in the past century due to castigated by the majority of environmentalists and increased agricultural intensification, can lead to a foresters alike, yet we are still seeing examples of this loss of wildlife, and further threaten the precious happening today in the increased drive to plant trees remnants that remain. Yet this bias for trees exists, as to address the climate crisis. In just one example from evidenced in a recent decision to replant an area of last year, 100 acres of bog, heath and grassland were degraded heathland with conifers rather than restore destroyed to plant trees. So what’s the answer? Have it to its natural state. we learnt from the mistakes of the past? 26 Magazine Name | Winter 2020 Fallen trees can provide an essential habitat for beetles

Right Tree Right Place Branching out If you are considering planting a tree in your own garden or pursuing a small woodland creation project, check out our guide to tree planting at wildlifetrusts.org/plant-a-tree Jays play a vital role in natural If you’re considering a larger woodland regeneration, carrying away acorns and caching them in the ground creation project, then check out our guidance on suitable sites for tree planting at wtru.st/tree-chart We know that trees are not just carbon-capturing You can also get in touch with your nearest bluebells & deadwood © neil aldridge; jay, pinemarten, pied flycatcher © mark hamblin/2020VISION; oak sapling © alan price machines. They are part of a living, breathing Wildlife Trust who can help with any specific ecosystem. When creating new woodlands, it has to queries you may have when considering how be the right tree, in the right place, working with the best to go about a new tree planting project. environment around it. By ensuring that the right tree Barnaby Coupe is planted in the right place, large areas of new, highly is the Land Use biodiverse, native woodland can be created as part of Policy Manger at a joined-up system which benefits other habitats for The Wildlife Trusts nature, whilst drawing down carbon at the same time. and leads on the development Wilder woodlands of tree and Of course, one way to get around the issue of woodland policy. where to plant trees is to let trees plant themselves. After all, planting trees does not create a woodland. A nuanced approach Forests are diverse and dynamic environments which Now, natural regeneration won’t be possible have developed over years, decades, and millennia. Their complex ecological networks are both above everywhere, and in some locations it will need a great ground and within the soils, involving a huge array of deal of support to get going. It is clear that expanding interdependent relationships between many species. the UK’s network of native tree and woodland cover And these systems were operating long before the will have a huge role to play in rebuilding ecological development of wooden stakes and plastic tree guards. networks, delivering nature’s recovery, and tackling the climate crisis, and if we are to increase woodland cover Natural regeneration is the best way of creating in this country significantly then we will need to look new, natural and wilder woodlands for wildlife. This at planting more trees. is particularly powerful when expanding ancient semi-natural woodland, as it allows the expansion of But we must not forget about the other habitats the entire woodland ecosystem, where new saplings across the UK. Restoring the UK’s peatlands will be can take advantage of symbiotic relationships with critical to meeting our climate ambitions, and the networks of fungi in the soil. With time and patience, protection and restoration of our other threatened this can result in stunning woodlands for wildlife, habitats are crucial if we are to bend the curve on such as Brampton Wood in Cambridgeshire. biodiversity loss. A nuanced approach is required, one which creates more, bigger, better and more joined-up Not only is it more cost effective than planting, but woodlands, hedgerows, trees and scrub thriving with natural regeneration is also the best way of creating wildlife and accessible to people, while also ensuring woodlands that are resilient to a changing climate. protection of other vital habitats where tree planting It allows these habitats to develop a dynamic age- may be more damaging than helpful. structure, genetic variation, and associated ecologies, where trees that grow to maturity will be best suited to their local micro-climatic conditions, such as soil type, water availability and sunlight. All of this makes them more resilient to external pest and disease threats. Roebuck | Spring 2022 27

Discover a roadside haven with wildlife- friendly verge expert, Mark Schofield illustration by rachel hudson illustration oad verges make up 1.2% increases the soil fertility as the cuttings Removing cuttings simulates wild of the UK, some 2,600km2 decompose. This gives an unnatural grazing and reduces fertility in the soil, — that’s an area the size of advantage to the most competitive maintaining more natural conditions Dorset. This county-sized tract of land, plants. Spoil from ditch clearance is often that support a wider diversity of hidden in plain sight, is home to over 700 spread across verges with similar effect. wildflowers and the invertebrates that species of wildflowers, representing 45% Conversely, too little mowing can also be rely on them. Open drainage ditches can of our native flora. In many cases, verges a problem; many verges are left unmown add habitat for aquatic and marginal act as vital corridors for wildlife and can and the strips of grassland are lost as they plants too, but spoil should be disposed often be the last stand locally for scarce grow into scrub. Scrub is great for wildlife, of away from the verge where possible. or declining wildflowers, such as sulphur but a mix of habitats which include scrub clover, spiked rampion, Deptford pink, and wildflower areas is far better. Verges near you may be crew-cut and perennial flax. strips that flank suburban crescents and The safety of road users demands that A road verge that is well managed for cul-de-sacs, or they might be overgrown verges are maintained with shorter turf wildlife can be a set of parallel worlds rural lane sides. Your local highways on approach to bends and junctions each offering different niches for wildlife. authority (typically your county council and with safe pull-over zones. However, Tall, wide, diverse, native hedgerows at the or unitary authority) will have these beyond these requirements there are back of the verge, complete with trees, can managed under contract. A local petition huge opportunities to create more space grade through infrequently trimmed tall may be able to reduce the frequency of for nature. Huge opportunities that are herbs and tussocks to grassland meadows cuts in your area, delivering cost savings all too often missed. mown once or twice a year, where the and lowering the carbon footprint for Many verges are mown too frequently cuttings are collected and removed. Here public services. Cutting and collecting and the cuttings left in place, which first mowing is best done in late summer, to the cuttings is the main challenge cited creates a physical barrier to growth, then allow seed to ripen and insect lifecycles to by authorities, but affordable machinery complete, or even later where soil is poorer. exists to achieve this; and it has been 28 Roebuck | Spring 2022

implemented with success by some councils. There are roadside nature reserves across the UK that set the standard for roadside habitat, but we must call for better management of the rest of our verges if we want to achieve a national Nature Recovery Network. For advice on where to start, visit wildlifetrusts.org/verges Roebuck | Spring 2022 29

Part of West Chevington West Chevington: from coal mining to tackling climate change A £2 million donation from The Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s fight engaged with their natural heritage and Reece Foundation at the very against global warming. take action for nature and against climate end of 2021 enabled the Trust to change. purchase a 327-hectare piece of Visits last summer by Alice McCourt, land at Druridge Bay as part of our bigger Conservation Officer, and Duncan Hutt, Connectivity plans for a wilder Northumberland. Director of Conservation, revealed a The land is currently a mosaic of woodland thriving butterfly population, with a (108 ha), grassland (110 ha) and lower- The large site at West Chevington was staggering number of skippers to be found quality arable land (109 ha), with a system acquired from regeneration specialist, in the grasslands on site. The wetter areas of ponds, ditches and streams that will Harworth Group plc. It sits atop a also already support rare and declining add significantly to the connectivity and former opencast coalmine, like many of breeding waders (including lapwing), resilience of existing nature sites and the Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s existing northern marsh and common spotted whole landscape around Druridge Bay. sites in the area, and will showcase how orchids flourish, and there’s an abundance nature can recover in this manufactured of hares. In the coming months, the Trust will landscape. seek to involve the local community, The site is close to a number of NWT’s farmers and landowners in achieving Nature recovery nature reserves, and near to Amble, wider gains for nature across the area; our The new land at West Chevington will Morpeth and Ashington. It will allow conservation and estates teams have a provide opportunities to explore the conservationists to test a number of long-term vision to improve the whole area rewilding concept further, and to work rewilding methods with the aim of for wildlife and people. across a much larger scale. It will become storing carbon, boosting biodiversity a game changer for nature recovery, and connecting wildlife habitat on an Plans include expansion of the existing and will be one of the most ambitious unprecedented scale locally. broadleaf woodlands to store more lowland rewilding projects in the north carbon, reduce carbon emissions and of England, forming an integral part of The methods used will restore natural improve air quality. processes to reduce climate change impacts and encourage people to become more The site will also see the creation and 30 Roebuck | Spring 2022

west chevington River corridor within tree plantation at West Chevington Small skipper restoration of wildflower meadows and than commercial breeds, which promotes catchments that alleviate flooding and West Chevington and small skipper: Duncan Hutt. River: Alice McCourt. grasslands to boost pollinators including a more diverse range and prevents more filter out contaminants. bees and butterflies and development of aggressive species from taking over. They wetlands and watercourses to improve really are biodiversity boosters! The Trust still needs to raise additional water quality and reduce flooding funds to help it develop and manage downstream. In addition, work will include Wilder Druridge the site to realise its full potential. enhancement of ponds with reed beds to For a long time the Trust has long held Anybody wishing to support the work encourage birds and other species. a vision to develop a large network of can do so via The Big Give Wilding West sites for wildlife in the Druridge Bay area. Chevington Appeal. Anybody wishing to Missing species Now the hope has become a reality. The donate can do so by visiting nwt.org.uk/ Also included in the plans is the opportunity exists here, perhaps more than WildingWestChevingtonAppeal. encouragement of scrub and more in any other part of our county’s lowlands, broadleaf trees and the re-introduction of to develop that network. This whole area Across the UK, all 46 wildlife trusts are species such as water voles and harvest has the potential to be a spectacular calling for at least 30% of our land and sea mice, to complement the nearby harvest example of a ‘Living Landscape’, a large- to be connected and protected for nature’s mice population at East Chevington Nature scale network of connected land where recovery by 2030. Making more space for Reserve. Other missing species that will wildlife can move freely, adapt and thrive. nature to become abundant once again contribute to the ecosystem will also be will give struggling wildlife the chance restored over time. West Chevington will be the Trust’s to recover and also restore beautiful wild largest area of land in the lowlands, places - places that store carbon and help to We will join forces with the Flexigraze complementing the large holdings of tackle the climate crisis. conservation-grazing scheme and Whitelee, Benshaw and Butterburn in the introduce extensive targeted cattle grazing uplands and Border Mires. It is hoped that on the rough grassland as they enjoy a in 30 years’ time, the West Chevington site much wider range of plants and grasses will help to deliver fully restored water Roebuck | Spring 2022 31

‘Reseeding’, the Kielderhead Wildwood project book, will be available September 2022. Keep an eye on social media and at nwt.org.uk/ wildwood for updates! The lonesome pines of Kielder 32 Roebuck | Spring 2022

The lonesome pines of Kielder A t the top of Kielder Forest, academics over the years including: quite a challenging undertaking. tree: Heinz traut. Grafted pines: Neil Bebington. up a tributary of the Scaup Flora and lichens: a number of plants Seeds: there has been limited success Burn as it nears the borders of Scotland, are a group of Scots and lichens that are associated with the growing directly from the seeds from the pines together with a single lone pine on Scottish Highlands and their pine forests original cones due to low germination. the Carry Burn. are also found in the areas surrounding As this method has produced relatively the Williams Cleugh. Such plants include small numbers, other techniques have These are possibly the only remnants chickweed wintergreen, Issler’s clubmoss been tried. in England of the post-glacial pinewoods. and Alpine clubmoss. The lichen, This makes them hugely significant, commonly called witches hair, was found Micropropagation: secondly, and their protection and expansion a on the Kielderstone less than 1km away micropropagation was attempted; this key part of the Kielderhead Wildwood from the Williams Cleugh trees. involves growing trees from genetic project. material in a laboratory. The quality of Bioclimatic: the temperature, material from the old trees was not good Scots pine were once widespread rainfall and soils of the Wildwood are enough and produced zero saplings. throughout the British Isles, but now extremely similar to those of the Scottish Scots pine forests are restricted to the Highlands. These are the factors that Grafted pines Scottish Highlands. determine where plants and animals occur, so with a similar bioclimate you Grafting: a third method known as The Williams Cleugh pine trees would expect Scots pines to naturally grafting, has proved more successful. were first discovered by forester and occur here. The uppermost branch with terminal photographer, Valdemars Blankenburgs, bud (scion) is removed from the pines in 1955 whilst undertaking surveys for Genetic analysis: genetic analysis has and sent to nurseries to be grafted onto the then Forestry Commission (now shown key differences in each Scots pine nursery trees. The same process is used Forestry England). tree and between the Williams Cleugh with fruit trees. trees and native pine woodlands of the At that time, there were eight Scots Highlands. Once the graft is established, the pines - six at Williams Cleugh and lone growth of the nursery tree is removed pines on the Scaup Burn and Carry Burn. The level of inbreeding shown in the to just leave the graft and therefore the Unfortunately, the number is now down genetic analysis was similar to that of genetics of the Williams Cleugh pines is to six, as a pine on the Williams Cleugh the Highland trees. This alone does maintained. died several years ago and the Scaup not prove anything, but does indicate Burn pine was destroyed at the end of that these pines are unlikely to be from Grafting of 1,250 scions from the November 2021 by Storm Arwen. nursery stock, which would have a Williams Cleugh cluster in 2021 has smaller source and more inbreeding as produced around 600 trees that will As well as being the most accessible to well as more similarities to the Highland be ready to plant next winter. In order the public, the Scaup Burn Pine was the trees. to get the genetics from the now emblem of the Kielderhead Wildwood fallen Scaup Burn pine, the project Project, proudly displayed on the project Piecing all the evidence together, there team collected scions from the tree in logo and very close to the heart of the appears to be no local source of the February (2022) together with the Carry project. As conservationists, the loss of pines. Burn pine, in order to keep their genetics the pine has been devastating. alive. Genetic uniqueness and the age of The ages of the Scots pines have been the trees indicate that multiple seed Unfortunately, however, the cost determined by Forest Research, the UK’s sources, at different times, would have of grafting is considerably more that principal organisation for tree related been required for these trees to grow growing from seed but with the research, and the provision of scientific and that bio-climatically, the conditions importance of these trees the cost is evidence in support of sustainable are right for Scots pines to be in this definitely worth it. forestry. area. This suggests these trees may be a remnant population and thus important Should anybody wish to help support Forest Research scientists took sample to be conserved… which is where the the cost of protecting and conserving cores from the pines to count the rings to Kielderhead Wildwood project comes in. this last remaining population, they can age the trees. They were able to ascertain donate at: nwt.org.uk/donate. that the oldest pine on the Williams The aim of the five-year Kielderhead Cleugh was approximately 175 years Wildwood project is to create an upland old. The Carry Burn pine was 154 and broadleaf and Scots pine woodland by the (now) fallen Scaup Burn Pine dated planting trees on the 95ha site adjacent back to 1912. With all the trees predating to the location of the existing trees. The a number of key world events and the seeds for the 30,000 plus broadleaf trees first planting of Kielder Forest in 1926, have been collected locally and grown on it is key evidence that they may be a to be planted on the site. remnant population of the post-glacial pinewoods. The project is aiming to plant between 2,000 and 4,000 Scots pine trees that are Further evidence that these are descendants of the original Scots pines. remnant populations comes from To grow such a large number of trees various fascinating studies carried out by from just a handful of source trees is Roebuck | Spring 2022 33

illustration by Hannah Bailey, photo © Sarah Cuttle Spring Kate Bradbury is passionate Wildlife Gardening about wildlife- Our gardens come alive in spring. Ponds fill with mating amphibians, borders buzz with the season’s first bees, and everywhere else, from trees friendly gardening and hedges to fences and roof panels, birds are busy singing to defend territories, mating or feeding young. It’s an exciting time of year. and the author of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything in association with The Wildlife Trusts. While all of this goes on around us, there lungwort, primroses and other primulas, by bees. Make a note of are things we can do to make our gardens and bulbs like crocus and snake’s-head which flowers you have, even better for wildlife. First, take a look fritillary. Later grape hyacinths, alliums, and fill gaps with pollinator at your borders — in early spring they cranesbills, bugle and cuckooflower take favourites. should be carpeted with flowers such centre stage. The early flowers are the most important as they provide food for Ponds are full of mating amphibians as spring-flowering hellebores, and invertebrates, so are best left alone pollinators emerging now. However, it’s important to check from hibernation that wildlife can enter and exit your pond — remember that safely — add a log or large stone to help daffodils and wildlife access the water safely. If you don’t tulips are have many plants in the pond you can add usually more now, as long as you don’t disturb the ignored water too much. Aim for a mix of floating, submerged and deep-water plants, with around two-thirds of the surface of the pond covered. Plants absorb nitrates from the water and therefore inhibit the growth of algae. They also provide hiding places for tadpoles and other larvae from 34 Roebuck | Spring 2022

predators such as diving beetles and shelter for beetles and dragonfly nymphs. Choose and other invertebrates, plus native marginals such as brooklime amphibians, small mammals and and water forget-me-not, floating even hedgehogs. plants such as frogbit, and oxygenators like hornwort and water crowfoot. Get more wildlife-friendly gardening tips at Around the pond, think ahead to summer, when froglets and toadlets may wildlifetrusts.org/gardening be exiting the water for the first time. Let the grass there grow long and grow plants to protect them from predators. Cranesbill geraniums and birds’ foot trefoil work well around ponds, providing plenty of shelter for amphibians big and small. If you have a meadow then cut it back in early spring and remove clippings, then let it grow until autumn. As well as providing wildflowers for pollinators, the long grass will provide foodplants for caterpillars Roebuck | Spring 2022 35

Photo: Chloe Cook by Duncan Hoyle Thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting Chloe Cook, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Estates Assistant and her estates team colleagues, working tirelessly to keep the ‘wild’ in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. For the past 13 years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting the Trust as it protects and conserves the region’s land, sea, flora and fauna for future generations to marvel at. Your support is invaluable, so please keep playing.