Wildlife Watch issue 93 - Spring 2020

© Oscar Dewhurst / natureplFSwRanEE!snuswgganlisng 30 DAYS HOMES IN Issue 93 Spring 2020 TohuoeBtfyatoebwfnyitlhhlsewiatclacshoonlasdsharwierdelaetetceorarnullaentnhdddeecirrykhgemeenurpemtsws’t.ishnWbegmashcetoksna.stTfhheheaifsydro’elremeotssupmttrhetaehdlmlea, ttsghoueernsty.. WILD THE TREES poster Take the ultimate Discover a wild challenge woodland in spring WSANKAEKYEY WTAHLAELSE Get to know our slithering serpents Humpback whales in Scotland

Wild Things News from our Wildlife Watchers Ecdoirtnoerr’s Cover art Tom Hibbert Elsie, aged Editor, Wildlife Watch 7, liked the cover of Spring is here! For lots the autumn of wildlife it’s the most Wildlife Watch so much she couldn’t exciting time of year. resist recreating it! Many of our smaller animals Her kingfisher is as are waking up after a long bright and beautiful hibernation. As the days get as the real bird. warmer, insects, frogs, lizards and snakes all emerge from Planet Buzzing their winter hiding spots. You protector about can learn all about our waking bees snakes on page 18! Erin, aged 12, One of my favourite things completed her Nature about spring is that lots of Ranger Award with a birds arrive from Africa to project on bees. Erin spend the summer here. I’m monitored the activity of garden looking forward to a spring and bees and learnt all about the summer seeing all of them and important jobs they do. hearing their songs. What do you like most about spring or CJ, aged 6, is very BE A JUNIOR EDITOR summer? Why not write about passionate about helping combat We’re looking for issue to tell us what you thought it for Your Stories? climate change. regular Wildlife about the magazine. You can In this issue we’ve got some He has even started his own Watch readers also tell us what wildlife and great ideas to help you get campaign to challenge people to join our junior topics you’d like to read about outside and discover wildlife to help the planet, with lots of editorial panel. If you’re aged in the future! If you’d like to this spring. On page 4 you can posters to spread the message. between 5 and 15, you can find out more, or apply to be discover tips for taking great Great work, CJ! apply! As a junior editor, you a junior editor, please email nature photographs, or head to get to fill in a survey after every [email protected] page 6 for ideas to make your garden wonderful for wildlife. If you fancy a challenge, see if you can do 30 Days Wild! On page 8 we tell you everything you need to know to get started. Have fun going wild this spring!

Dormouse © Staffordshire Wildlife Trust detective 08 Five-year-old Asher loves to be involved with nature projects. He recently took part in a dormouse survey for the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme. Asher helped check for dormice that were sleeping through the winter. © Will Atkins In This Issue… Check out 22 02 Wild Things wildlifetrusts.org/ 16 0 4 Wild Skills privacy-policy to find out how we keep your Nature photography information safe. 0 5 Your Stories! Wildlife SFWRANEE! 30 DAYS HOMES IN © Philip Precey Watch 93 WILD THE TREES Read stories from Wildlife Watchers pOSTER Take the ultimate Discover a wild challenge woodland in spring 06 Turn Your Garden Wild © Oscar Dewhurst / natureplsnuswgganlisng Issue 93 Spring 2020 08 30 Days Wild TohuoeBtfyatoebwfnyitlhhlsewiatclacshoonlasdsharwierdelaetetceorarnullaentnhdddeecirrykhgemeenurpemtwss’t.ishnWbegmashcetoksna.stTfhheheaifsydro’elremeotssupmttrhetaehdlmlea, ttsghoueernsty.. Cover: © Danny Green / 2020VISION Take the challenge! Editor: Tom Hibbert 10 At Home in the Trees Editorial Team: Spring Abbie Hargreaves Anna Maggs 11 Butterfly Poster Joanna Richards 12 The Humpback Comeback Mike Watson 14 Gallery Charlotte Varela 16 Weird Nature Plants 1 7 How to… Make a bug hotel 18 Wakey Snakey Meet our slithering serpents 2 0 New Neighbours Recent arrivals to the UK 22 Feature Creature Slow worm 23 How Long do Insects Live? 24 Competitions WSANKAEKYEY WHALE What’s Wildlife Watch? Get in touch The Wildlife Get to know our TALES Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. Join Wildlife Watch Trusts slithering serpents and start your nature adventure - prices range from £10-24 per year for Email us at: [email protected] Registered Humpback whales child-only membership and £30-60 for family membership. or ring: 01636 677711 or write to us at: Charity No in Scotland You’ll receive a starter pack and four issues of Wildlife Watch magazine Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road 207238 a year. This is packed full of amazing pictures, posters and competitions. Newark, Notts, NG24 1WT We also have a really wild website and e-newsletter full of wild ideas and Keep watching! nature-spotting tips. Plus you get access to local events and groups. Go to wildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts wildlifewatch.org.uk to find out more. thewildlifetrusts

by HibTobmert Nature Photography Tpthheosneepchaflauoekmntnion.sesgYrtowoapuidhcthdoaootnaiont,stp’taeohnkiftoeehwneeseidrol.!dmaEHlvieeffeeargnenarcaaenyardcetcowpasmoihmlmpdoeateporcaglttairpwccasaiepttmhshoisaesgr–elbaoItitgotssortlaooofrkntegadll. The little things Get low Insects and plants make For really cool wonderful subjects for photographs. You can photos, try find them in almost any showing the park or garden, so there world from the is always plenty of choice wildlife’s point when looking for something of view! to photograph. Unlike most birds and mammals, if you are Get down careful you can get right up to them to take a photo without low so frightening them away. nccyrorooetuhuarictnuhcgaroemsrhyeeoarvuraepnwisoalrieensyttoeitnnolgetpvihneheglofwtilnooigtothhrr,aethspoweha.mYyaofkuiresmts. iugrhet have to TBfloyutpatewtrfialpiyesfraomndydoruagthoannflibeusgasreanmdobreeeliktleelsy. to there’s Top tip For the best light, try to make sure the sun is behind you. The rule of thirds Do some research Lteeoytaahoprtius?hnropTacthhhoseoagmtnmroaucopoecrfhhsea.oayWfpsopuhuyhsaoksotunthmoocagawobrntaihataapbctbhaodointuoeugtretypsitothi.liuletaI rlwriaksbnaeuyis?bmljaWeeabaclhtlrey,anottithnuodegowgbweeaesthnttiittechr Instead of always plants they like to eat. putting your subject in Send us your wild photos! the middle, try putting it [email protected] slightly to one side for a change. This one’s a bit tricky, but can really help make your photos more eplwtihnxhhiceoseisttpior.nehPgisout.wttsIomotpholaoietfgfuamitnphsoeepisntelthtinocinaeknttlseeiynrdcoeerusowertsionqsoguodapvlebasruretetctoaetifrcofyhlnyosouf,otrhsrpeeahpr.noaCterohaxetiaencmdkapboslyuept.ot Top tip sure your animal is facing Try to make towards the centre of your photo. 04

SYtoourries Save the Planet Reducing our family’s wasteby Abi (aged 10) by Amelie (aged 10) y friends andthinking, “Eww, who would I went on aThank youwant to spend their free time rescue missionpicking up rubbish?”. But it n November, my beeswax wraps and reusable to save the family and I decided napkins and water bottles. planet. Wemakes you feel much better to reduce the amount To reduce our waste even if you do something to make of waste we produce, Mwent through all of theour planet a better place. after reading about more, we signed up for different things that affected Bex’s inspiring plastic-clear vebefofgouergtthattbolpeblaubsyotixlcoe-csfra,elmefoacodadersdasannadt Iour home and chose the oneWorst case scenario, you year in Wildlife Watch. We that was the largest concern.get a little stinky! We weredid it to help the oceans and We decided on plastictold that we were wasting protect the planet. Read on pollution. We went aroundour time but honestly to find out more about our church. My dad gave up the playground litter picking what we did and a few tea bags and now uses tea and asked our parents to stopwe weren’t. We tips to get you started. lceraisvpesp.aWckeetrsecayncdlemd iplkenbso,ttle buying certain items to helpwere spending the planet by reducing litter.our time very We were already We brought carrier bagswisely. I loved doing some things to tops at our school. to school and ate our lunch reduce our waste. We We found it easy to get quickly to get straight to it.taking a parttoAAmbeiliaen! d pasta, dried fruit, nuts, I felt a stab of pride everyin the safety were going to rice and milk, but berries, time I filledof the Earth the refillary sellotape, cheese and a up a bag of and I am sure to buy things rubbish. We you will too. without fAelwthoveuggehtawbelems awdeerechhaanrdg.es, actually had a great time packaging, we still continue to find collecting refilling these things hard. If you litter. Some washing- want to reduce your waste, up liquid you could try using beeswax wraps, refillable pots, and and soap. handkerchiefs instead of tissues. people We were might have also using Dmidoaeygaoasuztwionawen?atStcteohnw@drwyitoeiludfrolisrfteothtrreiuesstas.nodrg! wrinkled their noses by now, 05 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020

gTwyauiorrluddnrePbAnaybiine O auforhrgowamirlddeelifnfoesraamnreadnicmyapdnoifpfretraorenvnitdte sayyopoonfeuuvicnrisciqegiotsuaou.irrlsFddsirteoiibnvnmeetowfwaoyitexohtil;uncwbroyymiplhdaloiolntivofcgeehkrai.ifnnllygl mstaooifnrttdesr, Get Crafty © Anna Guthrie B uwgosrladr!eBtuhteutninfoyrhtuenraoeteslyo, fstchieenntiasttusral © Peter Cairns / 2020VISION are saying their numbers are dtmhoeaapcbnroietylaaliontstfaihontergert.hpsWelpameencntsbieeyaesmn.dYdatohpkueirnmocgaviniydnoehouefurolprvogedtorayfropdorrewonvnside © Tom Marshall 5-star bug hotel! D epending on where you live, Discover how on page 17. H edgehogs are nocturnal, which there could be all sorts of means they are awake at night. birds visiting your garden. By fhhionueotomddg,yaeosnhousomDr, gotuehwrhteiinmonygunegstesaheerti,srddyaetovianmue;hlelcgion,aimvtgnhineeqeg.yunBticfthoyeoermuafmargaare.skgJoienfuomgstrhteaelwikmehere bvraauilisuldeainbyogleuasnpngae. cYseot bufoocrxotuyholedumewvtoeillnsphpreoalvtineidtretohre outside in bright colours to give new warm welcome! safe and cosy to nest. visitors a how: wildlifetrusts.org/nestbox Discover how: wildlifetrusts.org/hog-home Discover Mspalkaesha© Dale Sutton / 2020VISION AcontainergyWporeouhanretdtghw,aeiartrdycieto’tsnoualiedsngabciatyotrnumatrcapatgokdiennrdagwgoaiolrdnpalifofleilneititdsnle,.to bcgAcaooarddontndtdutoacniminnilndimseawaorb,finmtemhidnwesafaianblklninairnndidctggikvoaesttuhhnopteedreogtpasnoatosdpopiplnyplsee.ilnwvaYseonyistlutohoswucsabiratonehnifilm.otahrelaeslos filling with rainwater. 06 birds and even frogs. Get more tips for making a pond: For a mini pond, start by wildlifetrusts.org/build-a-pond digging a hole big enough for a bucket or watertight container. Line the

Plant for pollinators pPoowlleirnator aBuntdtceartfelriepsil, lmaortshs P ollinators are animals that can sit and watch the pollinators © Zsuzsanna BirdA dult butterflies and plants, you can help butterflies fertilise plants by moving enjoying the buffet you planted © Lizzie Wilberforcemoths lay their eggs and moths to thrive. from one flower to the – landing on the flowers and on specific plants. They You can feed hungry next. Most pollinators are buzzing around your garden. © Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photographyccahtoeorpseillaprlasnlitksethtoatfetheedyoknnwowhethneircaterpillars by having your insects like bees and butterflies. they hatch. By growing the right own nettle patch which is a When they land on a flower favourite of a number of different to eat its nectar, they pick up species. Or you can provide food the flower’s pollen. When they for butterflies with common move to the next plant of the knapweed or scabious. Plant same species, the pollen rubs these where they can get plenty off on to that flower. This results of sunshine and they will attract in the fertilisation of the plant, different species for you to spot. which will then produce seeds Check out our website for a and grow the next generation list of more plants that provide of that plant. More plants = food for butterfly caterpilllars: more happy pollinators! wildlifetrusts.org/butterflygarden You can help pollinators by planting flowers they can feed from. Cornflower, viper’s bugloss and lavender are all loved by pollinators. Once they are in flower, you Look out for garden visitors © Bob Coyle iwlynBgeosailaluuelrvsedncettgeasstni.rtaatBscnnbyadduwmnislsidlahpelivekneidiilgdsnpeisgtrtahytwaoeoweiuherhbroanosgmte.laessBeortesydfctoeuAhornsepsaiynrytoilslglc,twahfemenumimldnorlatsatioffsielose,t,erhsyrtoihvueeri!r © Rachel Scopes © Margaret Holland tafToenheededmbhoeuonrtlg,tleyperlfbailnilenusstesp, trbthoinuelgtyat.’eyllLrienfklgeeygeodwsthoifllelonbrwaemensordsttahgtrosrtienegn sirsGnenorsayottoiirlunsyung,rnkdgoueatnbetrdepodeeienkrtngellee.estaYhpovelyiueikorsecunaotruorngmleoafibangredtdsressiglnnurugottnohsudoenaedtdnirdadbcyyoe!tinemttrleeo,sl spaces to rest in. 07

30 Days WildAre you ready for the challenge? By Emma Lusby © Tom MarshallCould you do © Chris Lawrencesomething to help © Staffordshire Wildlife Trustwildlife or notice nature every day in June? Then take on the barGeofoot mLioniobkeafsotrs Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge! To complete the challenge, you just have to do one © Matthew Roberts wild thing every day, for the whole of June! Htyphtoaheuuvrdoegrdurfyaelgeoeshsust,t?iethnrIveytsefsaoerqnoetiudzplsiytdoolmugre,sidnuwhgdbhu!ayenorndeuefrroartfoioonteoacst.rceBroaustresys blLeuifatsvsyetobsnutoegsssaeisenudwplhotoagtstothadenadky.ilnogodkoumndoefr It’s great fun and we’ve got loads of lovely ideas Nsiogthetyiongusr Defsoirgwnialdhliofmee for wild things to do in your garden, park, with friends or even at school. Here are some ideas to get you started! © Chris Lawrence adawIrfrfeatewe,wrswehtthhkhaneeoromnesweaopunymrordoouwphresoeorerwlalyed.b,mKwoneauoitetnthiptny,h.gwaewedcrihcaeaearnryteuolortrheoseky Margfeonaacryrkytmdheceliientnnhdgi.ebBofepruboaeijmlserdtfcseabtcswatdfirbrtrkohyumaglaonnptydsdoaosudctfroicuhhsksiyodsinmestgohyeehlatoenlerds. 08 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

© Adrian Clarke © Penny Dixie Orgliatntiesrepiackmini Cautdrdelee © George Stoyle © Penny Dixie cBheaamwpiiolnd! © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION ptahoLlanietctydleopgrla,lreiogsbcurttaaenrgbrdur.b.isbGRobloeemiscfoheoyucrfgotlewlwuowinvlidtedhhlsiafif,nertia.eyyGnoolitdeuutetsrcrapoapnarnicrfa!akkdmosurtililtcytko Gsaqnoudoeinen,zsgeei.cvTtesh,yeaoynu’rdrefgaaiwvvoeeusuroistmeshteraefodereababirnidgds oxygen. Thanks, tree! someNtohtiincge new Uinnlneearsahrtyiosutr © Adrian Clarke wWpwYiylholoaWdeocTofunfbul3erfilhnf uokesact0’ewfovintinivaennthanCteeDGkHeoirntdagtedtcpoouYhshwglarafothieoaoorlaurysidolywvoynaseuotrc!lenrtseitosdemgelfgkiuPwalgfl.fctueWaeedesyaoeurfcceahrnoorcmrlnrhplmaiihnienualhgfgwruCyntdeininabldotee/odgotsegi?gdSatlsa3yuran-odmwwhfoootTkAn0rMyritiieedechnetouucim!iwdppdttlfehagrhm’thlpfoolraadiurlaatiTeahelntfwtcyyoduinehslHlacwklogesdorileiaiteskttlnwnahumiroydonisccssldedenhrdntaghoieSeahlyfdeasndcuepvest.roetclsbteetrlpu.oTisauhlflwvopsrohpwrcro!riostutroethsioh.faettyrohlotshoel. Lttnooirseer?teewwDsniof,taahwyncyotdhsououfilnkodrnwoWboeoewilsordskttlhihsyfea,eootuTnrnbuasliiresmndtee.e?ssoDnoisgf cthboeevelorng © Matthew Roberts Look at the shapes and patterns in nature. What can you see? Now recreate them with a pencil, paint, clay or crayons. You can send your artwork in for the Wildlife Watch gallery! 09 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020

Ethveerfoyriessstucehathnigseyseeaarcwhes’ereastaonkiangndawlohoakt at woodland wildlife! Discover how special wildlife you can spot. Spring by Leanne Manchester S ptorviisnitgaiws oaogdrleaantdt!ime © Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION The bare branches from winter are replaced with beautiful green leaves, flowers spread along the floor and birdsong fills the air. Here are just some of the delights you could find on a visit to your local woodland this spring! Badger cubs Bluebells © Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION I s there anything more adorable © Katrina Martin / 2020VISION I n April, something magical than a badger cub? Cubs happens in many of our are born in their setts (big, woodlands. The undergrowth underground homes) in February beneath trees is transformed and start exploring the world in into a carpet of blue by one of the spring. Badgers like to avoid our most popular flowers – the people though, so your best bluebell. This famous bell-shaped chance of spotting one is flower spends most of its life by joining a special badger underground as a watching event. Take a look bulb. There can be at wildlifetrusts.org/events millions of bulbs in to find one! just one woodland! Speckled wood butterfly Nightingale © Neil Aldridge I f you head into a woodland in © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION N ightingales arrive in April spring and summer, you have and sing their song across a good chance of seeing this woodlands in the south east handsome butterfly. Look at areas of England. They blend in very well where the sun breaks through with their home, and they’re shy, the trees (called ‘sun-dappled’). so you’re much more likely to hear You might even spot two males them than see them. They can spinning together. This can look like make over 1000 different sounds, a dance, but it’s actually a fierce giving them a complicated, beautiful fight for territory! song. In fact, their song is so special that it has inspired books, poetry kDnidowyo…u The UK Some and music for many, many years. 10 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 is home to bees ‘steal’ more than half the nectar from What will you spot this world’s population bluebells by biting spring? Let us know at of bluebells - a hole at the bottom [email protected]! amazing! of the flower to easily reach in!

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 112020 FlGyeimnsg © Iain Leach wbgwGuirniretnetgeegesnrsnftluiocehnlwosadsailreoesrrvddtwres,eissnathhugkeonsswb.saTuailnhwnthgeatisontyhegswe,dsiatraiitlrsztmwihznliigintunhyptght.heeirir

By Emily Cunningham © The Big Picture / naturepl The Humpbac G reat news! We’re All about Humpback seeing humpback whales comeback more humpback whales Humpback whales look very For the past few centuries, means whales, dolphins and in the seas around porpoises) and report what the UK every year different to other whales as humans have hunted whales they are spotting to scientists. – hooray! Marine A great example is in the biologist, Emily they have a knobbly head to turn their blubber Firth of Forth, near Edinburgh Cunningham, tells in Scotland. Here, a group of us all about them and HUGE white (fat) into oil. This local whale watchers has been and how YOU can keeping an eye on the visiting help scientists learn flippers that they Hgwmurhotmheawatplreatebu’ssssapcaaclotaskobnnluog16sn–!g was really bad humpback whales. By sending more about these love to slap on for whale information and photographs ocean giants. the surface populations to scientists, it helps us of the sea. and many understand why we are seeing st@hoFoemsl’esloaebwrewineEhenmabstiilpowyoliootltdnginlyiIgfnlei.sfetagram Humpback species more humpback whales. whales are of whales, We hope this means our found in oceans including humpback whale population all around the is getting bigger, but we need humpback to keep watching them to make sure it’s not something world. They make very whales, became bad – such as climate change or overfishing forcing the long journeys between endangered. This hunting, whales to change where they feed. One thing is for sure the cold, polar called whaling, has mostly though, we’d know a lot less if it wasn’t for volunteer whale sckarremiilsaflifent–saumgvsraeeioazrsuelaTnhlrhbaifartiieoiesmsli!huryfptooa-tounlhidkrdee places where been banned and now many watchers! Let’s meet a couple. their favourite whale populations are starting food lives and to get bigger again. the warm, Here in the UK, we are tropical places seeing more humpback where they whales every year. We only go to have their know this because of the calves (a baby thousands of whale watchers whale is called a calf). all around the UK who This is called migration. look out for cetaceans (this 12 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Hhuemropebsa!ck HbwehocawolmeYeOwUaatccahner 1 You don’t need to go out on a boat, just find a spot with a good view of the sea. Viewpoints and piers are perfect! 2 Look for any splashes or dark shapes in the sea. You don’t need binoculars, but if you can borrow a pair they are helpful. bthaloetirowywhplihbekhooearaHefldelwaute!shtmseheobepidnrrbooetahua–cetthbkoeuft If you spot any whales or dolphins, report them to Hannah, 9 Harry, 6Hannah and her family started 3 whale watching when they Harry goes whale watching with seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ moved to the Firth of Forth in 2014.his parents, brother Jack andsightingsform Hannah feels very lucky when shetheir dog, Dougal. They love to sees whales, but likes dolphinsspend lots of time outdoors as 4 Not sure what you’ve spotted? a family, looking for whales and Get help finding out over at Comebackthe best because they’re cute!doing beach cleans. wildlifetrusts.org/marine-life ck Cceelteabcreiatnys © Sandy Morrison Svalbard Sonny VYking Sonny loves to jump out of VYking is named the water – when whales after the “Y” marking jump like this it is called on its tail and was breaching. Sonny was seen spotted near Edinburgh in Scotland in 2017 and in February 2018. 2018 and we’re keeping We don’t know our fingers crossed this whale comes back to see whether us soon! VYking is a © David Thomson boy or a Edinburgh girl, but we © Iain Rudkin Photography do know that it visited Svalbard (an island in the Arctic) in May 2017. That’s a whopping 2500km away! 13 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020

1 GAllery Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance of featuring in the gallery. If your artwork is Twphiicnekeypodeurarfesvcethtreystosatwratn-ruedpnratsrwyetyinofogur’kllit! any budding wildlife artist. 2 3 5 6 4 14 HEwomOWTirTtaNWhhNwihlieedletorhwwliTWttiKefetOaaesiisltltrnoNdWcukE,hlbGuNiaMf@jse2etTcawc4aEThttrtRi:h1ulliGdWneslaetriTsfleR‘lGetorraauyldlsetrsy.oerngtroayiTnnwInr’flasucewoslmsuotewsd,echsife,ilealoaaatilrhngdetmueceolymreuneaodd’.tunyieWafrdoo.yduerWogrrmaueialwrdtrigttfliwiionhfresgottsrk

7 8 1) Butterfly by Kea, aged 9 10 Kea has captured the colour of this 9 blue butterfly wonderfully. The textures are 11 perfect, with shiny wings and a hairy body. Congratulations on winning star entry! 12 2) Otters by Ruby, aged 10 Ruby is sending a positive message with her artwork. Who wouldn’t want to help these adorable otters. 3) Hedgehog by Teagan, aged 8 We love the way Teagan has used natural materials to make a home for her drawing of a hedgehog. That looks like a very cosy place to hibernate! 4) Sparrowhawk by George, aged 8 Not only has George created a fantastic picture of a perched sparrowhawk, but he did it using an actual feather! We’re very impressed. 5) Bat by Holly, aged 7 We’re just batty about Holly’s drawing! This bat looks like it’s excited to take off for a night of hunting down insects with its friends. 6) Pollution book by Rose, aged 8 Rose cares about the planet so much she made her own book, encouraging people to recycle and not create pollution. We love her passion for the planet! 7) Bird silhouette by Lena, aged 12 The colours in this artwork are amazing. Lena’s sharply silhouetted bird looks like it’s ready to burst into song at any moment. 8) Fox by Lorna, aged 9 Lorna has drawn a fantastically furry fox walking through the snow. The fox’s bright orange coat is a lovely blast of colour in the falling snow. 9) Rockpool by Holly, aged 7 We love this model of life in a rockpool. Holly has made some great underwater creatures. We especially like the bright red anemone! 10) Garden birds by Isabella, aged 10 For years Isabella’s garden had no birds visiting, but now there are birds galore! Isabella was inspired to draw this picture of all her garden visitors. 11) Barn owl by Alexandra, aged 10 Alexandra has made a magnificent mosaic of a barn owl. It looks so alert and the heart- shaped face is perfectly captured. 12) Humpback whale by Frank, aged 5 Frank made a big splash with his lovely drawing of a humpback whale. You can read all about humpback whales on page 12. 15Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020

WNaetiurrde Ftlllhrbiaewokoauaroemeettvkitwsreosflmdlosnieokemseetwesh,lettlehabopreoteslrfaleloynutsr! w eird-o-me te •r• • Weird l • • • • Wacky • Wonderfu Fly orchid This issue: Plants by Lucy Shepherd Pineapple weed Lords-and-Ladies Seagrasses © Neil Wyatt © Vaughn Matthews © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk © Philip Precey As its name suggests, if you squeeze LstTsythohhhmuaraeedctepkspfhll!el-olsiaaIddtwslnneilkedetsberap-ewLhuvrraorieartididhessniiuseenaacsantaegordhsercaaoatopvitsntbesosryarmiaassccior-artdrlynilioeklnsow,eftsluaoae-“slwshcstaoiestthnor-addt”. taotshopShlvuesferaeboopiarnrtmlgerhak1o0crenesaot%ltreopstgtsarshoesrgehae!dfsredtTtahilchaunpseaecrssesneyoeee’rcgspcaceeorofuweoatalrhlaraneisnetst’tsetaapohorctlal.eenaaeWklnsyrwriobneeeshsgoatpciinolbeuas.netcpnTdiaeh!ssey Tilpncodwhphrsoiioogaseekldgscmlcelputeliseknicsrcevie,aawnewsllntirsatoptdh)pslepshiplccaieomfh.alnrliTrleoatiirhlnsamyucia,scrsiobttietaidnotnusotegtetarmnaisatittfncaia!(emstolTcmsmlythithcumaeeprealyliaerlfclylltloypkoewluafoepnorts.l the cone-shaped flower heads of can irritate your skin. this plant you’ll be treated to the delicious smell of pineapple! It loves growing in pavements, and along roadsides and other places with well trampled or compacted soil. Mistletoe Navel wort Snowdrops Bird’s-foot trefoil © Zsuzsanna Bird © Philip Precey © Katrina Martin / 2020VISION © Philip Precey Moglbbiblnknoeieisrereoaatrtdrlrwemveneiseiytecnoibwsshssge,utn.eilpgensIoisnseeecttt-thheawottlhiirdenkiupcensseglsaietrobehbrmabfaereenmeeshsirtirastitfpniihesseekdreytassoltmeh.sbfdortBatoeosunioteaermcgdtnlekrvgrsesswetorhe!oswheTwuhiscp!eh, riwbrGto’oseourcolgrnlkytwoydibsoipnaudalgnattadsocfrtuenofhclssemco,scuplhdaclleayinrnannwgbctt,skeiwtwshtfhaohianatuiectdnwhrl.idomamG!ollprNkseelaaeleaiknvnnees,dl Snowdrops look delicate but are really tough plants, with Bird’s-foot trefoil is a bright plant 16 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 htghaerrotdtuoegonhecdhoaltdirpdtshgeforyormupnuadsy.hwIifnitlght,ey that grows in grassy areas. Its btfhrueeteirnzalientaguvr. aeWlshasentontipfrtsheeethzweemeinaftrhoemr flowers are egg yolk yellow with in the middle, these lovely little splashes of red, like bacon, giving plants grow on stalks and them the nickname eggs and people actually eat them! some bacon. They’re also called granny’s toenails because of the claw-like gets warmer they spring seedpods that develop in autumn! back to life again! www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

17 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020

SWnaakkeeyy! by Pete Dommett © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography © Danny Green / 2020VISIONRight now, all three species of Britain’s snakes are waking up from a long, winter sleep. After emerging fhiwbtbrnhiooeadimtdsfrheomityeertr-heishsuoe.ptophLiorlreeieftnhhtyss’gies,lbsitiptlshreaiuptreckhnneoyeeasrlbyrdhatiao-isobnlfsenofelkr.oo.p.tokoedanettds Adder A dders are famous for spots on heaths, moors or the being the UK’s only edges of woods. If you’re lucky, venomous snake, you might spot several adders but – don’t worry – warming up together. They’re they hardly ever bite people. These surprisingly short snakes (only 60- shy reptiles prefer to munch on 80cm long), but have chunky, grey mice, voles, baby birds and lizards. ozCirgobm-zroapwglentpeablytotbedrlianecsskdwaoidtwhdndeirtshsteihniarctvbiveaecaklsso. been seen! In early spring, adders spend Adders are ovoviviparous. This a lot of time basking in sunny means they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. A female adder can produce up to 20 baby snakes at one time! 18 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 © Will Atkins

© Steve Davis © Margaret Holland Grass Smooth snake snake T he beautiful barred This is the only native snake N amed after its smooth Like adders, smooth snakes grass snake (to give this that lays eggs. Females deposit scales, this seriously glaivyeinbgirethggtos.liBveutb, laikbeiegsrarastshsenrathkaens, species its proper name) as many as 40 eggs in a pile rare snake is only they’re not venomous. Smoothies is Britain’s biggest snake of rotting plants, including found on a few sandy (as snake fans call them) are – often growing to over a metre compost heaps. When they heaths in the south of England. It’s constrictors – they kill prey long! It has a greenish body with a short but slim and looks a bit like (including other rare reptiles, such yellow ring around its neck. hatch, each baby snake is the an adder that’s been on a diet! In as sand lizards and slow-worms) Grass snakes live in watery, school pencil! by coiling their bodies around grassy places. In spring, you might size of a snakes aren’t venomous, spring, this scarce species prefers them and then squeezing them see one sunbathing near a river, Grass to warm up under stones and logs, to death! canal or even your garden pond. but they do have a couple of They’re skilful swimmers, gliding clever ways to put off predators. i–nswtehaicdhomf baakesskinitgveoruyttrinickthyetoopspeont! gracefully through the water in Sometimes, they ‘play dead’ by search of food – like fish, frogs, lying on their backs with their toads and newts. tongues hanging out. They can also produce a terrible smell from their bottoms! FAt5chese0oa1esl.nreL5ycUeotunemrunnKedal’ad)r,teraaspbvobrn!entiunesadNnAdetnenaohvtoeeanhlneomssrakedmbrnvcesyoeSursatsNa’euvilkonsanleeeosleflcypi,sdrstEbetahcibfihauon.eaaeurnLugekWrprotiesinknenapiaenedlndgrlealieeovgb,iy!funsirtrosnlopeoanoattghghmnsamtnresgghtadeiezseevssreoehrenroaoseoaa(au!fntosovfskttdvohheeienr,esrs, e FTleiihtkn’aseeoaaskrcmlosteuwomau-alswlSylleonasarnmlraeathgkmwkeleiogosersrhm!teli,zlvoabeornukdta! n SIAPstrnacnrucattroahekilcirevdiklskesiocndtianhhengbilaatnyoont-tsotrtehtFthdehhldeepNeergtaycoisleeolehrelntuoahandenfve!a,teIrBrtrSniyevutn..leItaeTrtehvntholeedaer’nsd OBaAordflistaauddgirenper’ssr,iSssscimnannangoaklroyeetklshaoclnseivhgnesa1t5ifkmo!eyrese.ars 20 years Find out and the Republic and grass more on of Ireland is the snakes 25BirHtahppdyay page common lizard. might even celebrate 22. their 25th birthday! © Will Atkins 19

Lucy is a conservationist, wildlife lover, birdwatcher and proud nature nerd! NeNigehwbours by Lucy Hodson © akwildlifeimages.com hDoimd eyowuitkhnsoowmween’erewsnheairgihnbgoouursr? dscsoasoanabpfplemrserwceeeowclacaeiotmmigodepmheaislesanaetatocgvecoanwete.phcsnsTathetohsarshraomeusetnwmarmeegtvikhlefriedfev!eeelyicf’eitvn,e The wildlife in Britain has lot oBaocittfnybrhnhrretoeieaerdpamcoyrceutosd’cu.r,rmieuhrpdSoecaeooenrsevsmnobidehentteeaa,vtanitolannvliaymlegseicttiwuhovtebrlereieusetacl,neeahlhtltnaynherinisdelepegss.de changed a oihonswvupveraemeeryrccatiteihemhnnesesetrmew,pdelaenhasckainzpaetezeudittcnrh.eaigaSselloilwyarlym,lilbtehut 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

t © Jane Adams So,iwn htoow’snn?ew emerald dam at white egre Gre selfly This beautiful n © Fra Willow Great white egrets green gem is the are massive white willow emerald birds, the same damselfly. They’re size as herons and big fans of willow and much bigger than alder trees that hang nk Porch the familiar little egret. They love cst waitotebmbhthsoqhnaeaoetWeveruetntrdeieeswnkayi!slyarr,loutAiohainmwawtuceowagtnenaBhpratosdrogprteericerinebtmrbsrd‘arceod,ea,peaaiewvalsntsroccmniruethpaoawhouacaeosmrlrnhldmade.sttlboiailt.Tandlfheeelhyl2ygsaorrifsevo’0mlhwaaeearh0faeenetspeli9tinmetafcreoahet–lhtmonefaedhlaeigdwlueeteeesshg,slrhr,nteuasgheihddt.sniatnnaaprWeosegadmlssfohewhuhfops’ersedeeeonsnldsrlpmlfyieloneybnmt!dtohleyeteehonevmreerpcmw4oet0ihoarlrld0ceovnKheeiwgewredleiewendeptrhimunaedorangnaneenlsdmeriktaewoeslydueiegmtldsfloaa;aieutnmtshtay!sefoeofyutlrfhnsliteneircysk wetlands, where you’ll see them stood onifer seed bu sTtmihcnekeeiGssrta,rtrneeamiesnansetodtttrsfwrfecehaeathirwsnteeeiudbmgepeerg!aotnrdoueeent1asdor2l!afyndwithfl©orittoeuhotPhmenekteiesssgURhuOlhitriciKhskeshnump.eettlgoasyWeitrerhchaiascftebaoiuarsnyimvrphrlg’edrtshoeeehhfburrwirestaahnrswihotereslhtilmiouderdnaasewlaigtdershniptltelhnotnawhharbeeogaeseaserrwovt.ytasaaaee,Tisykmnrnhab,s!wdcettweeosaeiymieraagtseu2unnthpcce0bssotrehe1iyaingva2.ninregrreegroyainft fden nonparei Cli g Western c l The western conifer The snazzy Clifden seed bug is a nonpareil is a hefty critter, monster moth, originally coming with a wingspan from Northern reaching nearly America. They’re 10cm! It’s easy to sap suckers with see where it gets a taste for pine its other common trees; using their name of ‘blue sucking mouth parts © David Kjaer / naturepl underwing’ from. The © Adrian Knowles (proboscis) to drink the tree’s juices – mmm! moth appears grey, until it is threatened by a They were accidentally potential predator. It reacts to danger by flashing its deep black introduced to Italy in 1999 in a shipment of timber and have spread throughout Europe since. The CslSuihffwgdaroaevleemrene,fttaanaotnootudsnaotusptwagthaeiat!rllernfydoiilgsrrmihnitkx. underwings, crossed by a beautiful bright blue first bugs were spied in England in 2007, and stripe. It’s thought this flash of colour startles the year after lots of them appeared on the ttoryaidntshegtetIifentsortkehyasrbncesuoyaugftbpfsesrtnesthaepdendramac,tyeo! r predators, allowing the moth to escape! south coast – which means they probably Clifton nonpareils became extinct in the UK flew over naturally! during the 1960’s, but recently they’ve made a comeback. More have been spied since 2018, with sightings in Wales and the Midlands! Fruetsiudreents W ho might move aettbhmhevnueexeoutontndumeteinsercbfaeel-liyelc-rwo,earfotueathoekrtrefuiennlcrodpgeeanri,nbegbgidanvhe-iittcboeda,lo-uuaaileuedsntaelrdidynsstegbetifrhnoxl.uetrienct © John Bridges in next? Many species that need 21 wttcohlaiesmryumarcvetoeirvuecwldhiennaa’ntBtghbrieeetar.foiTanrhrewee,rdhaeeubanelereto

Feature nWohteansins aaksen?ake Creature When it’s a slow worm! It’s called a worm, Slow looks like a small snake, but is really a worm legless lizard. Slow worms can measure up to 50cm, are quite harmless and can by Kat John be found throughout mainland Britain. But you’ll never meet an Irish slow worm as Essential they don’t live there at all! Facts © Will Atkins Slug hunters SAcinegnutiifsicfrnaagmilise UpfotrToy53p40icyyaeeal alrisrfseins(opanaeznoliove!)d In the summer, slow worms like to hide in selIofsawcratetwaapcceoAkh.rmemItidtasrecbzoagyirnnriaoggswipnhfasaree,clddbtleiautnsttogwtrat,hoial.nto’t humid places and might live in compost 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2020 heaps or log piles in your garden. Away from the garden, they can be found in meadows and woodlands. They often emerge from their hiding places at dusk or after rain, to go looking for food. Favourite meals include slugs, snails, spiders, insects and earthworms. The teeth of the slow worm curve backward so are especially good for eating wriggly food! Shy sunbathers Like other lizards, slow worms do not regulate their own body temperature and rely on warming up by basking on sunny days. But they prefer to be covered by some vegetation rather than soaking up the sun out in the open. When it gets cold, they like to move underground or under tree roots to hibernate through the winter months. This is so they can save their energy between October and March when there isn’t much food around for them. Tricky tail Slow worms tend to be on the menu for several predators including adders, pheasants, hedgehogs, ortland badgers, and domestic cats Sh - but they have a few ways to avoid being eaten. © Bruce poo, producing a foul The first is to smell to put off some predators. The second is by shedding their tail which continues to wriggle to distract the predator while the slow worm escapes. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

LilnHoisonvegwec?tdso © Jon Hawkins / Surrey Hills Photography by Tom Lansley I nsects are the most successful creatures on earth. They were here before the dinosaurs and there are now over 800,000 different species across all continents! A complicated lifeIwlctcntasamnuhaihhsydtyratheeranmueyettcpilrsaegntptkpeasgmigeh(itllslhiielhisnoiaksnepwa)rsret.trpssavihod)Thetagit,hechaohearb,wheseepuieihnreshpuitevins.tacupeaoetsShtpeanlrrcelofayathwflc(uyomdltisi)ianiulk.ntlesoltraeltaeTeyfogishfranateehteihtslasaasceeaaglttroocccisecvnltchtaathsssgisoaert.invobnhalcTai(gnegfahshleifeavkeaaooaeencysnrriseydsgaachecnleseal,llled © Luke Massey / 2020VISION life expectancies depending on pupa stages. their role in the colony. Male drones only live for a week or tadweoyce,aawdroearskn.edHrsaouwqsiulelelefilvineescfaocnraunlipvlievtoefofror 15-25 days depending on the temperature and how much food they find. grbocfiagwetgwe1er0wrpS,0iioenll0meaj0kruessst!ticmaanes Sltoohhnegoywdloive? Hidden livesStoOtco1hbnhouinnee7cyemteemafonoycdesmpreyfiaecpmhaissonaesriebpnsgdscamehehhtairuehcfiet,edossn,,tirest,rodsbbgamenaeeuicuganlritfatenygnmgghoTnthdrehraoheaooeteyelbfexlsuirlovrottitwatneerrhanlhveypdaetneleafmypttyoyiomrerergmferoenbrlarlyapiaocepefrfetoieeufcuhcvxalor!onoeaarscsrinudmnImlnynacagpcbgeafppnlotuftetnahlieiraoengm,arewd.staadhctoepusrSUwuhaiodeilaoKltoiltoutnlndisdemcu,n.edtyudrhmdewenslata.aastrsyspflys The simple answer is © Vaughn Matthews a range from hours to that lay eggs in spiders, so decades! A mayfly will the young wasp does all its only live for around 24 growing inside the spider, hours in adult form but eating its way out – freaky! a termite queen in Africa can live for up to 50 years! 23 Most insects live for less than a year because they are cold blooded and don’t survive donTnDah’eetmsyjaueplcsl,itatsmeunfltamyhbyiemenfliirseeMers.eany! winter. Ants have different

Competitions Win SGecoroedtieGsarden TRFeFOLlloOBurWIsNwEy,RhGo,iAcPuhROrDwLELocENrhNd, a,HisTnERmRcEBiEse,,sBiNntEgEoES,fTrwWomiOnRth:Me,wSoOrdILs,earch! The N E L L OPW E I EGSOB We’ve got an exciting housekeeper Mrs Medlock DHBAR E L prize for a lucky reader (Julie Walters) in a mysterious RT EOEDF – your own prize manor, she discovers an A RWT RWR bundle to celebrate the enchanted garden that has release of The Secret Garden film been hidden for years. GES F LOE in cinemas from Easter Monday, a This exclusive prize bundle I E NH E R B new adaptation of the well-loved is packed with limited edition N S O I L MA children’s book. When 10-year- movie goodies. © 2020 Studiocanal S.A.S, All Rights Reserved old orphan Mary Lennox is sent Find out more about the film: to live with her reclusive uncle thesecretgardenfilm.co.uk Archibald (Colin Firth) and his strict IN CINEMAS THIS SPRING SLpWoeinscties Win Journey back in WToipldTlirfuemps time and meet Play and discover more some of the world’s about the wonderful this most extraordinary wildlife of the UK with lost creatures – from Tafafraununsndmitmefspasaetscs,le.t!prsGaEweaarechebctiaoshototluccogetaardeynrmtiodthifuoieoinsrnrsdftpwaotfavfheitocThreookufcepcrruiiidtoeetenuwwsdsitts,ihldlife. the awe-inspiring wooly We’ve got Five packs to give away. mammoth and the ferocious Spinosaurus, FJaounsritmtyealollsuucsarwn hcmicohhvaeofnththceefesaestteost!win: to the shy Chinese river a) Snail dolphin and incredibly rare Toad Pinta Island tortoise. b) Brown hare c) We’ve got Four copies to give away. For your chance to win: Just answer this question! If you get stuck the answer is in the magazine. What UK animal is called a worm, looks like a snake but is really a legless lizard? Buy online at hachettechildrens.co.uk RRP: £14.99 Competition Rules Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT entDrieosn’ttofoursg:eBt ytoeimncaluildweaytocuhrconmampse@, awgieldalifnedtruaswtsa.yorogf By post Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road, May 2020 Send your competition contacting you with your entry! DEADLINE: 31