Wild Warwickshire magazine Spring 2019

Issue 161 Spring 2019 WildWildWarwickshire Environment Act Help wildlife now Plastic Pollution What can we do? Bluebell Bonanza Visit our local reserves and discover a riot of colour www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Contact Us Welcome to the spring 2019 edition of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust WildWarwickshire! Brandon Marsh Nature Centre Brandon Lane Spring has arrived, bringing new beginnings and fresh hope for things to come. Coventry, CV3 3GW With that in mind, I’ve been thinking about our origins and how they guide our aims for the future. This beautiful county would be a different place today without 024 7630 2912 the dedicated group of volunteers who formed Warwickshire Wildlife Trust back [email protected] in 1970 - impelled to act by species decline, habitat loss and the national growth of the Wildlife Trusts. They worked tirelessly to protect special local places for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust nature, ran appeals to safeguard those sites, and worked with landowners to Parkridge Centre ensure wildlife could not only survive, but flourish alongside agriculture. Brueton Park Solihull, B91 3HW Nearly 50 years later, and that campaigning spirit lives on in our support for a new Environment Act capable of bringing wildlife back into the lives of children and 0121 704 0768 adults in our cities and countryside. Today, we’re asking you to join our campaign [email protected] to protect nature for current and future generations, both locally and nationally. WildWarwickshire magazine is We continue to work with farmers to create resilient environments rich in wildlife produced three times a year in March, as part of a Living Landscape across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. In this July and November. Views expressed edition we look at how your support has enabled the strategic purchases of key in WildWarwickshire magazine are land like Bubbenhall Wood. not necessarily those of the Trust. By necessity, our work often focuses on safeguarding wildlife for the future, but Design the green places and wildlife we support have a direct influence on the mental Sally Henderson & Matthew Brewer health and wellbeing of local people, as seen in the Your Wild Life Project in North Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Design Studio Solihull. Peregrines have landed at Leamington Town Hall again, so you can follow their progress on the webcam, or get outside to catch them swooping in and out 01904 659570 of their scrape. [email protected] 2020 will be a landmark year as the Trust celebrates its 50th anniversary. Part On the cover of planning for the future involves understanding our history and celebrating Bluebell the people who have made the Trust what it is. If you have any stories or photographs from the Trust’s past then we would love to hear from you! Photo by Josh Raper / Thank you Conservation Media Ed Green, Chief Executive Board of Trustees 024 7630 2912 Frank Almond Helen Brittain AGM 2019 Michael Bunney Andrew Gabbitas We are delighted to invite you to our Annual General Luke Hamer Meeting at Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre on Ron Hill Saturday, the 15th of June.This is an opportunity Susan Juned for you, our members, to hear all about our recent Geoff Litterick progress, plans for the future of wildlife and wild Duncan McCardle places in your local area, and the work we’re John McKenzie (Treasurer) doing to create living landscapes for people and Martin Randall (Vice Chair) wildlife in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Kay Reeve (Hon Secretary) Crishni Waring (Chair) Laurence Wilbraham www.warwickshire wildlifetrust.org.uk/trustees Go Green Would you prefer to receive WildWarwickshire magazine by email? If so, please email [email protected] with your name, membership number and the email address you'd like the magazine sent to! You can change your mind at any time and revert to a paper magazine by emailing lto [email protected] Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a registered charity No209200 and a 2016 company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, No00585247.

X 6 WildWarwickshire 161 Spring 2019 14 8 24 CONTENTS 4 12 4 Plastics 26 6 Glorious grassland 7 Local Wildlife Sites in Warwickshire 8 Find frogs, track toads locate lizards 9 North Solihull Project 10 Help Local Wildlife... 12 The Environment Act 14 A lasting legacy 15 In memory 16 Events 18 Stepping into Spring – Bluebell Bonanza! 20 Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow 21 Education 22 Hedges for hedgehogs 23 Peregrine watch 24 Top places to see orchids 26 Wilder Future 28 Farming and fisheries 29 Butterflies without borders 3

LIVING LANDSCAPES Plastics Plastic is cost-effective, versatile and convenient. In a fast- Membership cards are paced world it has become ubiquitous, used for everything from going plastic free! children’s toys to artificial grass, facewash to contact lenses. In 2018, members highlighted But only now are we asking serious In Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull plastic pollution as one of their questions about the lasting effects of the impact of plastic poses a huge main environmental concerns, and plastic on the environment and the threat to wildlife. On our nature reserves we listened. Our plastic-coated sustainability of our throwaway culture. and across our Living Landscapes we membership cards are gone, and regularly carry out litter picks to reduce we are sending recyclable card The prevalence of all plastics, the impact. Plastic takes hundreds of versions to members from spring. and particularly single-use plastic, years to break down, and can kill animals is a major threat to wildlife, our if ingested. Even once the animal has environment and ultimately the died and decomposed the plastic is human race. It is commonplace in re-released into the environment to our ocean, and increasingly finding potentially kill another animal. its way up the food chain and into the food on our tables. The implications of Every piece of plastic ever produced is microplastics making their way into still with us in some form. That poses the wider environment is still a huge environmental challenge and is unknown, as is their potential impact why it is so important we individually on humans when ingested over a and collectively change our behaviour long period of time. to reduce our reliance on plastic and find suitable alternatives. Plastic Bags © Shutterstock 4

LIVING LANDSCAPES Did you know? Did you know? A plastic bottle can A plastic carrier bag last for 450 years in the is used for an average sea, slowly breaking of 15 minutes and into ever smaller takes 300 years to pieces. break down. You can make a difference Did you know? Everyone can do their bit to Scientists found reduce plastic waste. Here microplastics in 114 are some simple ways you aquatic species, more can help. than half of which end Recycle up on your plate! Participate in a litter pick Re-use plastic before Duckling on recycling a plastic bag Reduce use of single-use © Shutterstock plastics Lobby companies and Government to act Litter picking Ian Jelley © Peter Cairns/2020VISION Director of Living Landscapes 024 7630 2912 [email protected] 5

LIVING LANDSCAPES Glorious Grassland Types of grassland Grassland covers over a quarter of the earth’s surface, and Wildflower meadows consist of occurs naturally where there is not enough water or soil to wildflowers, herbs and grasses sustain tree growth, and also where herbivores prevent the and thrive in lower nutrient soil, growth of shrubs and trees by eating vegetation. as nutrient rich grass allows other species to thrive. Many species The decades following World War Two as farmers adapted their approach of insect rely on specific flowers saw a population boom in the UK and to provide more food for people. and grasses for food and shelter. advances in technology that led to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust believes Greater variety of plants equals farming becoming mechanised on an that, with greater understanding and greater variety of insects. industrial scale. Government policy in technological improvements, farms the 1970s directed farmers to grow can make space for nature and provide Herbal leys grown by farmers are a more to feed the increasing population adequate amounts of high-quality food mixture of grasses and herbs with and drive international trade. The for the population. long roots deep in the soil. These removal of hedgerows was also roots draw up water and nutrients encouraged to allow large new farming Support us in calling Government to to support the grassland during machinery to operate more efficiently. n Reward farmers and land managers drought whilst providing added At the same time, plant species such as nutrition to farm animals. Increased rye grass with more natural sugar and for the benefits they provide for species diversity supports a wider higher calorific content were prioritised society, like clean water, healthy soils variety of wildlife and helps farm to sustain the UK’s fast-growing stock and a wildlife-rich countryside. animals to grow. of cattle. All of this has led to the loss of n Replace the current Common 97% of valuable wild flower meadows Agricultural Policy with a system Rye grass and clover fields since the 1940s. that supports public benefits and provide the sugars that farm environmental outcomes for society. animals need to grow quicker Government policy has led to n Make it easier for farmers to help and bigger. Clover is a legume, widespread land use change in nature - through changing the culture which fixes nitrogen and makes Warwickshire and across the country of regulation, including better use its own fertiliser. Synonymous of technology. with intensive agriculture, clover also provides food for pollinators including bees and butterflies. Rye grass is the predominant grass type across the British countryside. It is cheap to buy, fast growing and high in sugar, which makes it highly nutritious for farm animals. As a monoculture, it offers little value for wildlife. However, if allowed to grow it can support small mammal species, which provide food for top predators like owls and raptors. Our top 5 grassland nature reserves 1. Draycote Meadows SSSI 2. Brook Meadow SSSI 3. Loxley Meadow SSSI 4. Deans Green 5. Radway Meadows Fun in the wildflower meadow © Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography 6

LIVING LANDSCAPES Local Wildlife Sites in Warwickshire Our Local Wildlife Sites project has been recording the best wildlife habitats in Warwickshire for the past 20 years. The project is managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and supported by Warwickshire County Council and the planning authorities. All local planning authorities must identify and support the creation, protection and management of biodiverse, green infrastructure. Local Wildlife Sites are integral to this local environmental plan. How many are they? LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES IN WARWICKSHIRE: OWNERSHIP BY AREA Today there are 616 local wildlife sites in Unknown 8% Commercial Warwickshire, covering 7,000 hectares enterprise 17% (4% of the sub-region, excluding urban Statutory areas). There are 1,318 potential sites to agencies 8% Community be surveyed, covering 11,500 hectares. site 2% This compares with 57 Sites of Private Government Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) landowner 9% covering 1,602 hectares and 64 organisation Warwickshire Wildlife Trust nature 6% reserves (including SSSIs as managed reserves) covering 843 hectares. Where are they? Practicing Local authority farmers 17% 18% The Habitat Biodiversity Audit publish an annual update of Local Wildlife Sites Non-Governmental Mixed (several on the Warwickshire County Council organisation 9% owners) 6% website: http://maps.warwickshire. gov.uk/greeninfrastructure/ Your local planning authority holds a list improved grasslands; species rich generation to leave the environment with information about each site. Some hedgerows; disused quarries; railway in a better state than we inherited it. are on private land but many others lines and rivers. Anywhere one of these If this plan is to come to fruition, the are publically accessible, including habitats exists could be the location for value of Local Wildlife Sites must be numerous Wildlife Trust reserves and a Local Wildlife Site. recognised by the government. They Local Nature Reserves owned and should be protected at the planning manged by local authorities. Better protection for stage to the same level as SSSIs with Local Wildlife Sites funding provided for surveying and Which wildlife habitats are management. Many Local Wildlife Sites included in Local Wildlife Sites? The government has committed to are as biodiverse, if not more so, than the 25 Year Environment Plan with a some SSSIs. The handbook for identifying and focus on improving the environment, surveying Local Wildlife Sites benefitting local communities and In 2017, a survey across the Wildlife recognises 13 criteria for habitats delivering sustainable development. Trusts found that 837 out of 5,202 (16%) covering ancient woodlands; semi- This follows a promise to be the first of Local Wildlife Sites being monitored had been lost or damaged in the LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES IN WARWICKSHIRE: HABITAT BY AREA previous five years, with development cited as a significant cause. The report 3% 1% 39% 33% 13% 11% cited greater planning protection as the key to achieving net gains for wildlife. Tall herb & Woodland Grassland Wetland Post industrial Warwickshire fared better than most, Mosaic heath hedgerow but still noted that 40 sites have been destroyed over the past 20 years and only half of the sites were identified as being positively managed for wildlife. 7

SPECIES FOCUS Find frogs, track toads, locate lizards! Warwickshire Amphibian and Reptile Team (WART) WART is launching an atlas showing the distribution of all native and non-native amphibian and reptile species in Warwickshire. The atlas will be used to compare past the adder Vipera berus, has not been African clawed toad (xenopus laevis), and present distribution, and to focus sighted since 2003. Therefore, this edible frog (pelophylax esculentus) and surveys on areas where particular species is now considered extinct in Alpine newt (mesotriton alpestris). species have not been recently Warwickshire but we continue to check Records of non-native species are recorded or where no species have sites where it has been seen. equally important as they can threaten ever been recorded, despite there being native herpetofauna. suitable habitat. The distribution maps show that surveys should focus on the very north We are grateful to all volunteer According to recent records, of the county where there is a lack of surveyors and members of the public Warwickshire’s only venomous snake, records from 2000 onwards. Particular who collected and shared records. attention should be paid to Polesworth With the help of records made by Native to Warwickshire and Atherstone in the north, as well as the Amphibian and Reptile Groups Bedworth in the east and Shipston-on- of the UK and Amphibian and Reptile Amphibians Stour and Long Compton in the south. Conservation Record Pool, the Warwickshire Biological Records Centre Common frog - Rana temporaria Warwickshire had some new non-native and EcoRecord, WART has a complete Common toad - Bufo bufo species in recent years, such as the picture of the distribution of amphibians Great crested newt - terrapin species of the red-eared slider and reptiles across the region. Triturus cristatus (trachemys scripta elegans) and the Smooth newt - yellow-bellied slider (trachemys scripta WART welcomes new members and all Lissotriton vulgaris scripta), and the invasive species of records are much appreciated. To report sightings please email us Reptiles Common frog your species, date, site name (ideally © Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION with a grid reference), number and Grass snake - Natrix Helvetica sex/growth stage to the WART county Slow-worm - Anguis fragilis recorder on [email protected] Common lizard - Zootoca vivipara or submit your record on Record Pool www.recordpool.org.uk To get your copy... n Download www.arguk.org n Email us at [email protected] n Visit us at https://groups.arguk.org/wart n And for more info, search Warwickshire Amphibian and ReptileTeam on Facebook 8

VOLUNTEERING North Solihull Project Two of our volunteers took Your Wild Life the time to tell us what they get out of volunteering with the project; Our Your Wild Life project, funded by Solihull Metropolitan “I thought we would benefit Borough Council, is coming to an end – but rather than feeling from the fresh air and it has sad, we are delighted to have been able to change lives and proved good for our mental meet some incredible people. and physical wellbeing. We have both been regular Since we started delivering the project in-patient units and Solihull Integrated attendees for the past couple in late 2014, we have worked with Addiction Services. of years. I believe the 90 people over four years, many of company and friendship of whom were experiencing mental ill We have seen people grow in both the staff and volunteers health, loneliness and isolation. Others confidence, make friends, give back and especially the many have learning disabilities or Autistic and feel well as a result. It has been different sites that we Spectrum Disorder. We have worked in truly amazing to see the change that now visit has made it an community gardens, nature reserves, volunteering in the outdoors can have important part of our week.” local parks, community centres for people, and we have learnt so and recovery gardens and received much from the people we’ve worked “Being able to do wildlife referrals from organisations including with too – notably some top veggie and habitat work not just at libraries, mental health clinics, growing tips! Parkridge but at many of the Trust reserves. I absolutely A great harvest! love it. Hard work but well © Dan Loveard worth it. No stress and working in the countryside in fields and woods is just perfect for me” So, because we don’t like goodbyes, we are looking at ways we can keep our wonderful Parkridge Work Parties and Roaming Reserves Group going – watch this space! Your Wild Life has... 9 Delivered over 4000 HOURS of volunteering, many of which have been spent at the Parkridge Centre and Nature Reserve. The project has nurtured volunteers so successfully that we have created a Roaming Reserves Group on Thursdays, working across seven of our Solihull Reserves.

VOLUNTEERING Nature Force, Sam Jones © Paula Irish Help Local Wildlife… PAULA IRISH Volunteer with us! We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who gave 21,366 volunteering hours in 2018. With over 500 active volunteers, create your own talk based on your Why volunteer? volunteering is a key part of everything own wildlife passions, in line with we do here at Warwickshire Wildlife the Trust’s aims and objectives. We Volunteering with Warwickshire Trust. Each role contributes to will support you to create your own Wildlife Trust is a great way to protecting and enhancing wildlife, PowerPoint presentation and we will meet new people and enjoy the natural habitats and geology also book talks on your behalf. great outdoors. Volunteering throughout Warwickshire, Coventry helps you to gain new skills, stay and Solihull. Volunteers work in many Visitor Centre Volunteers help us to active and improve your health different roles, helping us to deliver a provide a warm welcome. You could be and wellbeing. Interested? wide range of environmental services. one of the friendly faces representing Email [email protected] the Trust at our Visitor Centres and to request an enquiry form. We’re looking for volunteers to support Reserves at Brandon Marsh and a number of our projects, so if you’ve The Parkridge Centre. If you have a got some time to give we’d love to particular interest in birds, butterflies, hear from you! fungi or wildflowers, then this is an opportunity to share your enthusiasm Talk Volunteers deliver talks to local with others and help them to spot groups and clubs in order to raise wildlife out and about on our reserves. vital funds. You can choose from our collection of scripted talks covering the Be part of the team who run our Visitor Trust’s history, our beautiful reserves, Centres, and use your passion for the the importance of bats and how we Trust to help us achieve our goal of are supporting hedgehogs across bringing people closer to nature! Warwickshire. Alternatively, you could PAULA IRISH Dave Evans installing a Volunteer, Rhoda new nesting box Bedington © Paula Irish 10 Wendy Knott Volunteer Coordinator 024 7630 2912 [email protected]

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP FREAEcCtihviiltdyr! en's With Easter fast approaching, now is the time to plan those days out to keep the kids occupied. For all our family members, remember your membership includes free activities for your children! Please take a look at our website www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on which lists our daily activities throughout the Easter holidays at both Brandon Marsh and Parkridge visitor centres. How to book your FREE children's activity... 1 Choose one free activity from the following list for each session Nature Families, Nature Tots, holiday workshops or after school club. Details of all activities are listed on our website. 2 Call or email our membership team to book your free place 024 7630 8972 [email protected] 11

PEOPLE & WILDLIFE The Environment Act Warwickshire Wildlife Trust believes in a future where nature is a daily, integrated element of childhood and where wildlife thrives across a connected, living landscape. We are passionate advocates for a new Environment Act capable of restoring wildlife to rural and urban Warwickshire, and one that will weave nature into the lives of every child and adult up and down the county. For this generation and the next, The second map shows that if we nesting and hunting. Bigger, better and nature must be our top priority, and it were able to create new woodlands more connected areas allow wildlife to must be the common thread between in key locations, they would be more flourish, becoming more sustainable, our farming and planning systems. The connected overall. By prioritising more robust and better protected security and health of wildlife and wild the planting of new woodland in key against local population crashes due to places in the UK must be underpinned locations we can boost connectivity disease, predation or harsh weather. by new laws, beginning with the and increase the net benefit for For example, a young dormouse looking best possible Environment Act being wildlife, when compared to planting to leave home, find a mate and set up passed by government. the same amount of trees elsewhere. a new colony could find itself isolated in its existing woodland by barriers The Wildlife Trusts are calling for the Connectivity provides larger areas for such as roads, railways, housing and new Environment Act to include policy wildlife, which is crucial for mating, open farmland. Improved connectivity statements focusing on a Nature Recovery Network. Put simply, this is a This was a landmark moment for us, system where places are joined up to and another step forward in our vision allow wildlife and people to move more for Living Landscapes - delivering bigger, easily through the landscape. better and more joined up areas for the benefit of wildlife and people. The first stage of this process should be the creation of national Nature Recovery Maps which would show where the key sites for wildlife are across the UK. It would also highlight existing links like rivers and canals, and show where we could improve areas for wildlife by creating new habitats. Warwickshire acts as a microcosm for the UK, and shows what could be achieved on a national scale. Our Habitat Biodiversity Audit project has now been running for more than 20 years, and involves mapping all of the habitats across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull down to the level of individual fields. This data is mapped and analysed to identify the best areas for wildlife and to highlight exactly where new habitats would have the biggest impact for wildlife. These two maps show part of the Woodland Dunsmore Living Landscape as an © Guy Edwardes example. The first map shows the existing areas of woodland, including our own Ryton, Wappenbury and Bubbenhall woods. Darker green represents woodlands that are more connected to others nearby. 12

in the form of newly planted trees PEOPLE & WILDLIFE and hedgerows could help that young dormouse to travel to new woodlands Current with reduced risk of predation. New area of The natural world around us that we connected work so hard to maintain and protect woodland forms the very bedrock of our health and wellbeing as a society. A strong, 13 bold new Environment Act represents a once in a generation opportunity to leave nature in a better state than we found it. Please support us today by contacting your local MP to ask the tough questions about the future of Warwickshire’s wildlife and how a new Environment Act will support it. Ian Jelley Director of Living Landscapes 024 7630 2912 [email protected] Future plans Existing coniferous New area of woodland replanted connected with broad-leaved woodland woodland New area of connected woodland

MEMBERSHIP A lasting legacy Alvecote Wood Sarah Walters and her husband Stephen Briggs were drawn to Alvecote Wood by its magical allure. Little did they know that this ancient woodland site nearTamworth would change their lives. “We were always drawn to “We sought advice about it when we cycled past, and became concerned at how restoring the woodland, which neglected it was. When the opportunity arose to buy is how our relationship with the wood in 2007, we found ourselves the proud owners Warwickshire Wildlife Trust of 11 acres of ancient semi- natural woodland in north came about. We have been very Warwickshire! Although we’d always been involved in wildlife grateful to the Trust for advice conservation, neither of us had experience of woodland on numerous topics over the management, so it was a new years and look forward to that Trees In Autumn venture for us both.” continuing. In October 2010, we © Stephen Briggs Passionate about preserving wildlife purchased an additional nine habitats and reducing their impact on the planet, Stephen and Sarah wanted acres of adjacent arable field, to encourage people to appreciate the and planted it with 5500+ native England’ in the Royal Forestry Society countryside through an active lifestyle. ‘Best of England’ awards. Their new woodland restoration project trees, another 500+ naturally- provided volunteering opportunities and events, delivering benefits to the regenerating trees, hedgerows, Tragically, Sarah passed away in 2018. local community. wildflower meadows and ponds Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when to create Betty's Wood. This she was 10, Sarah never let her health linked Alvecote Wood with other get in the way of all she wanted to local wildlife sites like Alvecote achieve. She became the first person Pools, as part of a landscape- with the condition to become a doctor, scale conservation project.” and in 2004 was awarded an OBE for services to medicine. In retirement she In 2014, the couple’s hard work paid sought new challenges and her zest for off and Alvecote Wood was awarded life was undiminished as she took on the prize of ‘Best Small Woodland in Alvecote Wood with Stephen. Sarah and Stephen “Sarah was the most © Stephen Briggs determined of people who lived her life to the full, and we made a great team as we shared the same passions. She continues to be an inspiration to me and to many others that loved and respected her. “It was my privilege to be her partner and soulmate. She was truly my special person.” The Trust was touched to receive significant donations from Sarah’s family, friends and colleagues, and hopes to continue supporting Stephen as he manages this beautiful woodland that has become Sarah’s legacy. 14

IN MEMORY In memory Stella Jarman (1926-2018) Stella was a supporter of the Trust for many years, Stella was also well known locally as one of the serving as a trustee and secretary of the Solihull Solihull Tree Wardens. Her passion for conservation area group, where she helped to organise wildlife was unbounded and the environment in Solihull is a walks and talks for the people of Solihull. Stella also better place for her hard work. coordinated the delivery of more than 600 magazines to members around Knowle, Balsall Common, Hockley Heath and Henley-in-Arden. Stella worked tirelessly to develop the Parkridge Centre in Solihull and created a list of all of the trees on the reserve, many of which are unique to the area having previously been part of Malvern Hall’s arboretum. Her legacy lives on, as we still hand Stella’s list out to our visitors. She also convinced Baddesley Clinton to make a substantial donation to make the reserve more accessible. At one point, when a local National Trust property were Stella Jarman redeveloping their pathways and had installed a temporary ramp for pedestrians, Stella convinced them to donate it to the Trust and Ron Hill and a team of volunteers installed it as a new disabled access ramp at Parkridge. John Walton (1934-2019) John Walton John was a dedicated and passionate volunteer who committed a lot of his time and effort to Brandon Marsh Nature Centre. Born and bred in the village of Wolston, he was involved in the reserve over several decades and in fact before it was even a nature reserve. John was the longest serving member of the volunteer team here at Brandon Marsh, and was an instrumental part of the group from the start 50 years ago. He was a carpenter by trade who helped to build several bird hides on Brandon Marsh, and tirelessly led the local reserves group for many years. John was active right up until the end, and he lived for Brandon Marsh. It is with thanks from the Trust to John and his efforts to help create the wild and vibrant Brandon Marsh we have today. If you would like to talk about how you can remember nature in your will, would like more information on our memory leaf scheme, or would like to make an in memory donation, please call 024 7630 8972 or contact Pip Bradley-Vigor on [email protected] 15

EVENTS & FUNDRAISING Events Last year, our members requested more identification courses, so we launched our Wonders of Wildlife ID courses, where you can learn about wildlife from the experts. Returning favourites include outdoor yoga, skills workshops and outdoor theatre. APRIL Wilder wellbeing walk: Wilder wellbeing walk: Coombe Abbey Wyken Slough Local Nature Reserve Dawn chorus walk in Marton 30th May, 11am – 1pm 25th July, 11am – 1pm 14th April, 5am – 9am JUNE AUGUST Wild Wednesday at Hams Hall 7th April, 10.30am – 12pm Spoon carving Neutral grassland plant ID in Marton 24th April, 10.30am – 12pm 1st June, 9.45am – 4pm 2nd August, 10am – 3.30pm 2nd June, 9.45am – 4pm Wilder wellbeing walk: Outdoor yoga Charter House Outdoor yoga 5th August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm 25th April, 11am – 1pm 3rd June, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Wild Wednesday at Hams Hall Photography fieldcraft with Make a hay rake 7th August, 10.30am – 12pm Simon Watts 8th June, 9.30am – 6pm 14th August, 10.30am – 12pm 29th April, 10am – 1pm 21st August, 10.30am – 12pm Wonders of wildlife ID sessions: 28th August, 10.30am – 12pm MAY The Wild Flowers and Trees of Brandon Wildlife videography with Outdoor yoga 10th June, 10am – 4pm Simon Watts 13th May, 6.30pm – 8.30pm 24th August, 10am – 4pm Wonders of wildlife ID sessions: Acid grassland plant ID at Coombe Country Park Wilder wellbeing walk: Allesley Park Spring birds with Ed Drewitt 13th June, 10am – 4pm 29th August, 11am – 1pm 14th May, 10am – 4pm Wilder wellbeing walk: Key Butterfly and moth ecology in Claybrookes Marsh Wappenbury Wood 27th June, 11am – 1pm Member only 25th May, 9am – 1pm The Environment and Me Outdoor theatre:The Wind in the Dunsmore Living Landscape Willow weaving workshop with Willows at Parkridge Tame Valley Wetlands willow by Christina 30th June, 3pm – 5pm 29th May, 10am – 1pm If you live in Coventry, you can JULY join The Environment and Me Wild Wednesday at Hams Hall project for Wilder Wellbeing 29th May, 10.30am – 12pm Outdoor yoga Walks; free guided walks in 8th July, 6.30pm – 8.30pm parks and green spaces helping you to improve your wellbeing Outdoor theatre:The Taming by reconnecting with nature – Of The Shrew with a free hot drink and biscuit. 10th July, 6.30pm Cleft sheep hurdle making 20th July, 10am – 4pm Wild Wednesday at Hams Hall For updated events listings 24th July, 10.30am – 12pm, and tickets, visit our website 31st July, 10.30am – 12pm and book early to avoid disappointment! Outdoor yoga www.warwickshirewildlifetrust. © Kirsty Evans org.uk. 16

Raffle EVENTS & FUNDRAISING Thanks to everyone who took part in last year’s raffle, Malthouse Dormouse we raised a massive £5018! Can you help us to beat that in 2019? This magazine contains two raffle ticket Huge thanks to Windmill Hill books and a freepost envelope (unless you opted out). If Brewing Co. Ltd, who raised you wish to purchase raffle tickets, please complete the £132.04 for Warwickshire stubs and return them to us along with payment in the Wildlife Trust in 2018 freepost envelope. Remember to keep the counterfoil to through sales of their claim your prize if you win. Malthouse Dormouse beer! Bottles can be If you don’t wish to take part, please pop the tickets into purchased at Brandon your freepost envelope and send them back so we can Marsh. If you’re a resell them. You could even sell some to friends and landlord interested in family! If you require more tickets, you can collect them selling Malthouse from Brandon Marsh or Parkridge visitor centres. Dormouse, please contact us at [email protected] For just £1, you could win: n £100 cash Funding n Two tickets for a foraging course worth £75 from We applied to Warwickshire County The Foraging Course Company Council Councillors' Grant Fund and n Champagne Afternoon tea worth £70 at Coombe were delighted to be awarded £600 towards our project ‘Dunsmore Living Abbey Hotel Landscape – Oak Trees for the Future’. n Voucher for four at Hatton Adventure World n 18-hole golf for four at Coventry Golf Club This funding will allow us to collect and n Breakfast for two at Hilltop Café grow acorns to replenish local oak tree n A drink and a cake for two at our stocks. It is critical that we conserve and sustain our hedgerow network, Parkridge centre parklands and woodlands as trees give n Afternoon tea for four at Badgers Tea Room at us oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil and give life to nature. Brandon Marsh n And more! See our website for our full listing. Mature oaks can shelter bats, owls, breeding birds and innumerable The raffle will be drawn at our AGM on Saturday 15th June specialist insects which depend on at Brandon Marsh. If you are a local business who could mature and ancient trees for their donate a prize, please contact us on survival. Thanks to Councillor Howard [email protected] Roberts and the Warwickshire County Council Councillors' Grant Fund for Raffle Rules supporting our Dunsmore Scheme. • Players must be aged 16 years or over. • Counterfoils need to be completed and returned with payment to Brandon Marsh Nature Centre by 12 noon Thursday 13th June 2019 any counterfoils received after this date will not be added to the draw. • You can either bring the payment and counterfoils to Brandon Marsh Nature Centre or use the freepost envelop with this magazine. • Please make cheques payable to ‘Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’. • Prize winners will be contacted within 2 weeks of the draw if they are not present. • Prizes are non-transferable. • If a winner does not wish to claim their prize they must inform Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and another ticket will be drawn. If Warwickshire Wildlife Trust are unable to gain contact with a prize winner within one month of the draw the prize will be forfeited and used in another fundraising venture by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Promoter: Miss Lindsay Butler, Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Registered Charity No. 209200. Registered with Rugby Borough Council under the Gambling Act 2005 17

SPECIES FOCUS Stepping into spring – Bluebell Bonanza One of the most wondrous and breath-taking sights of spring is the expansive blue woodland carpets produced by our native bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). Taking advantage of the sunlight before the woodland canopy closes in leaf, one of Britain’s most loved wild flowers provides a dazzling display, which indicates that spring has sprung. They are especially important to woodland wildlife as an early nectar source for insects including butterflies and bees. Typically seen in woody habitats, We must do two things to protect our bluebells can also be found in fields and native bluebell for future generations of hedgerows. The best displays occur in wild flower lovers and wildlife. ancient woodlands that are centuries- The first is to avoid introducing non- old, as time allows the bluebells to native species or removing native multiply and produce millions of bulbs. bluebells - which are protected by law They flower from mid-April to the so that the taking and selling of them end of May and can indicate that a is an offence. The second is to ensure woodland is ancient – meaning it has that our woodlands are well managed existed since 1600. These ancient through thinning and coppicing, making woodlands are amongst the rarest them resilient to climactic changes and habitats in Warwickshire but pressure disease. This will also ensure that the from development and fragmentation woodland is diverse in age and structure. of the landscape, along with a lack of Newly opened canopies allow bramble management have led to the decline of and other dominant plants to proliferate. these fragile and important sites over As the canopy returns and shades out the past century. other species, the bluebells left on the woodland floor will wait for the right Bluebells are also threatened by the time to produce their stunning show introduced non-native species, Spanish once again. bluebell (Hyacintoides hispanica). This ornamental and garden import can With spring arriving, now is the cross-pollinate to create a hybrid, which time to plan your visit to one of our creates a shallower genepool for the woodland nature reserves and witness native bluebell. It is easy to spot the these living blue carpets for yourself. difference between our native species Woodland reserves that are great for and the Spanish bluebell. The native bluebells include Ryton Wood, Oakley bluebell has a sweet scent whereas Wood, Crackley Wood and Hampton the Spanish version has no smell. Our Wood. Please visit our website for species is delicate and willowy, and nods more detail and information on how to and droops when in flower, whilst the access these sites. non-native is more robust and upright. Finally, the pollen of our native bluebells Karl Curtis on their anthers is always white or Director of Reserves and creamy and the flowers are always Community blue. The non-native species comes in whites, creams, pinks and purples 024 7630 2912 and the anthers are the same colour. [email protected] 18

SPECIES FOCUS With spring arriving, now is the time to plan your visit to one of our woodland nature reserves and witness these living blue carpets for yourself. 19

RESERVES Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow Progress and Plans Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow is celebrating its third birthday as one of our nature reserves and like most three year olds is full of joy and activity, and can be a little bit wild. In the short time since the nature reserve was purchased in 2015, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has funded a project to bring new people to the site, nurtured a new volunteer group and improved accessibility. At around 40 hectares, Bubbenhall The regular volunteer party has been Looking forward, there are lots of Wood and Meadow nestles in the a real success. To date, our awesome exciting plans for the nature reserve heart of several large woodlands volunteers have dedicated over 1850 over the next couple of years. The owned and managed by the Trust. The hours to the site in just three years. wood produced from our woodland site is now a much more welcoming That’s the equivalent of over 260 work management has delivered products place for visitors due to improved days! They have poured their time and including bean sticks, which will sustain access across the landscape, new effort into improving the woodland the project into the future, whilst the gates, interpretation panels and a habitat – restarting a programme of recently purchased charcoal retort allows viewing screen across the majestic coppicing, where patches of trees are us to produce charcoal for sale. Events “bowl” of the old quarry pit. The cut on short rotation over seven to are planned throughout 2019, and a circular routes around both the wood ten years and allowed to grow back, heritage day next year will celebrate our and meadow open new paths into the providing age and structural diversity achievements on the site as the project old ancient woodland and the newly for woodland wildlife. They have also comes to a conclusion. planted woodland that will connect the planted trees, and last summer planted landscape in future. reeds to increase wetland habitats in If you are yet to explore Bubbenhall, the meadow. come and discover this vibrant green jewel growing in your local area and witness its development as a haven for local wildlife and people! www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org. uk/reserves/bubbenhall-wood Since 2015... 37 691 EVENTS participants Fun in the wildflower meadow Bat walks to den © Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography building, amphibian hunts Reed planting to teddy bear picnics © G Litterick = increased use of reserve 20 and engagement with local community

EDUCATION Education “I completed my forest school training last year Our excellent education team have been delivering holiday and it’s wonderful to see workshops to local families for a number of years now. a child learn how to light Every school holiday brings regular returners as well as new fires or become a confident attendees to our sessions. Some come to take part in pond whittler. It’s healthy to take dipping and learn about the creatures beneath the surface of the children away from our ponds, whilst others come to build a den with their pals. screens, and they always love being outside, building We deliver over 100 workshops dens and exploring the throughout the year, offering children natural world. I can’t wait and their families a chance to do to meet lots of new nature something wild for an hour or so. and bush craft enthusiasts Until now, our main focus has been and I’m looking forward to preschool and lower primary aged seeing what they achieve” children. But now that the education team has learnt new skills in diverse Vicky Dunne, areas such as bush craft, now is the Education Manger. perfect time to launch a brand new session for older children. Whittling © Rosie Charter From February half-term, Brandon and then © Rosie Charter Marsh will host Wilderness Wednesdays each week of the school again from holidays. The sessions will run on Wednesdays from 10:30am until 12pm 1:30-3pm, and cost £5 per child. Children must be eight years old or over, and parents can complete a consent form to leave them to enjoy the sessions with our friendly and welcoming, DBS checked education officers. Just visit the Take Part section of our website to see all events coming up this year. Kelly kettles We are so excited All members of © Paula Irish about launching staff conducting these these new sessions are highly skilled, sessions and enthusiastic practitioners of look forward to bush craft who are looking forward to welcoming lots passing on their skills. of children and encouraging them to get involved. Sessions will contain plenty of bush craft, including learning safe whittling with knives and how to boil a Kelly Kettle using a fire that the children will light and tend themselves. 21

SPECIES FOCUS Hedges for Hedgehogs Last year we formed a volunteer group called The Warwickshire Hedgehog Helper to aid us in our efforts to conserve and protect local hedgehogs. Since the group’s inception, members have been trained in a variety of activities to help conserve hedgehogs and their habitats. Over the course of the long, hot little creatures move around the volunteers have been honing their skills summer of 2018, we focused on landscape with a level of protection. in improving landscape connectivity for surveying techniques, and volunteers hedgehogs across Warwickshire. could be found checking for footprints Laying a hedge helps it to in baited tunnels or spending long regenerate and remain bushy at the If you are interested in learning more nights searching for hedgehogs by base, which is where hedgehogs about hedgehogs, head to torchlight. Once winter set in, the like to nest. In November, our www.helpforhedgehogs.co.uk group turned their attention to habitat volunteers were trained by a management, with hedges top of professional on farmland, with Dr Deborah Wright the list. Hedgehogs really do love a rural landowner wanting to Senior Hedgehog Officer hedges, using them to shelter and manage habitat for wildlife and forage amongst. They also create seeing the value in utilising a 024 7630 2912 a hedgehog highway to help the traditional skill. Since their training, [email protected] The hedge-laying team © Deborah Wright Hedges, before and after © Deborah Wright 22

SPECIES FOCUS Peregrine Watch As a staff member and huge fan of birds of prey, it’s a massive honour for me to manage Peregrine Watch, our annual webcam focused on the nesting peregrines in Leamington Town Hall. However, we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of our inspirational volunteers who give their time to stand outside in any weather and showcase these incredible birds. Focus Optics has been with us Peregrine fromthe start. Company Director Tim © Lucy Burrell explains why he chose to support us: “Peregrines within towns are an exciting and interesting spectacle. All too often the general public walk past looking at a screen without noticing the world around them. Peregrine Watch was an opportunity to advertise our products and at the same time offer the public a close-up view of the Peregrines on their nesting ledgesaround the town. We are pleased to support Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in their educational and conservation objectives”. Warwick District Council and Baydale Peregrine at Leamington Town Hall Dates for the Security joined us in 2017, enabling us © Lucy Burrell webcam this year to set up the nest box and cameras in the building so that we could show the environment and the many rewards • 20th April birds on their nest site. it holds for all of us!” • 11th May • 27th May In 2019, Lockwoods are sponsoring the And finally, thank you to our wonderful • 9th June webcams for three months. \"Lockwoods donors who have so generously given • 10th June is an independent, family run business, their money over the years to support which has served the Leamington Peregrine Watch. These generous community for over 40 years. Whilst we donations help with the daily running of draw customers from across England, the webcam, and we hugely appreciate we still very much value our links with your support. the local community, and sponsoring Peregrine Watch seemed like an If you would like to donate please visit excellent 'fit' for a business staffed by https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust. local outdoor enthusiasts. Although we org.uk/donate specialise in providing kit for what many perceive as more 'extreme' outdoor Philippa Arnold sports - such as skiing, rock climbing Membership Engagement and trekking - we enjoy these sports Officer because we care about our outdoor environment, and the creatures we 024 7630 2912 share it with. [email protected] By supporting the webcam, we hope to inspire others to take an interest in our local outdoor 23

TeoSwrxche@hype#aiowtdLeurouiplrrvesdhedilyoiWeyafoteyonuiotlsrordcuuulbfsiertferotesssmt Top places to see Orchids Colourful orchids might seem too exotic for our wind-swept islands, but we have more than 50 native species. Here’s where to find them Orchids aren’t just beautiful. They’re 1 Talich Wildlife Reserve 3 Mere Sands Wood also ancient. Fossilised pollen suggests Scottish Wildlife Trust Lancashire Wildlife Trust they’ve been around since dinosaurs There’s a proliferation of orchids in this This reserve’s mosaic of habitats walked the earth, and in that time Easter Ross reserve, including fragrant, encourages an impressive array of plants they’ve evolved a spectacular range of heath spotted and the rare lesser to flourish, including marsh helleborine reproductive strategies. butterfly orchid. and common spotted, early marsh, Where is it? Near Tain, IV20 1TP southern marsh and bee orchids. Some, such as fly orchids, mimic Map reference: NH 850 786 Where is it? Near Rufford, L40 1TG insects to seduce unsuspecting Map reference: SD 447 159 pollinators into ‘mating’ with them and 2 Coatham Marsh carrying off pollen. Others take the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust 4 Llanymynech Rocks more traditional route, luring specific A wetland reserve in an urban Montgom/Shropshire WT insects in with bright colours, delicate landscape, with a wide variety of flowers Straddling the border between England nectars and powerful scents. The first including swathes of northern marsh and Wales, this former limestone quarry orchids bloom in April. How many can orchids and clusters of bee orchids. has a great selection, from early purple you find this year? Where is it? Redcar, TS10 5BQ orchids in spring to autumn lady’s- Map reference: NZ 586 247 tresses in September and October. 24

Orchid starters lesser butterfly, frog, musk, fly, burnt and green-winged orchids. Greater butterfly orchid Where is it? Calne, SN10 2LW Map reference: SU 025 672 Graceful night- scented flowers 8 New Grove Meadows attract big Gwent Wildlife Trust moths. June is In May and June thousands of orchids the best time. give a wonderful display of colour. Look for green-winged, common spotted Early purple orchid and greater butterfly amongst the wildflowers. A good first Where is it? Trelleck, NP25 4PD orchid: out Map reference: SO 501 066 alongside bluebells in 9 Dunsdon May, often in Devon Wildlife Trust good numbers. This is a very special place: one of the best remaining Culm grasslands in Fly orchid Devon, with a rich range of wildflowers that includes southern marsh and lesser Easy to miss butterfly orchids. until you get Where is it? Holsworthy, EX22 7JW your eye in. Map reference: SS 302 080 Looks incredibly fly-like. May, 10 Slievenacloy South-East. Ulster Wildlife Tucked in a valley in the Belfast Hills, Gwent Wildlife Trust’s New Green-winged orchid this grassland reserve is particularly Grove Meadow is one of important for orchids, birds and fungi. Found in You can find frog orchid, small white Britain’s wildflower wonders. the open on and lesser butterfly orchids flowering in Green-winged orchids galore grassland that has early summer. © Guy Edwardes/2020VISION escaped intensive Where is it? Lisburn, BT28 3TE agriculture. Best Map reference: J 245 712 in May. Common spotted orchid Our commonest orchid, easy to spot and often in big clusters. May to June. Where is it? Oswestry, SY22 6HD 6 Chafford Gorges 1 Map reference: SJ 262 216 Essex Wildlife Trust An orchid haven thanks to its chalky For a more 5 Tasker’s Meadow soil. Seven different species are found extensive list Warwickshire Wildlife Trust here during spring and early of places to see A beautiful grassland site with summer, including man orchid, orchids visit abundant wildflowers including bird’s nest orchid and bee wtru.st/orchids the county’s largest population orchid. of greater butterfly orchid. You Where is it? Grays, RM16 6RW 10 2 6 can also find twayblade, and bee, Map reference: TQ 588 793 9 common spotted, green-winged 3 and pyramidal orchids. 7 Morgan’s Hill 4 Where is it? 1km north of Nature Reserve Stockton, CV23 8HQ 5 Map reference: SP 437 651 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 87 This scenic reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its orchids, butterflies and chalk grassland. Look for 25

PEOPLE & WILDLIFE Like so many species in our degraded landscapes, brown hares are finding it hard to survive It’s time to join our campaign for a Wilder Future We need massive public support to bring about nature’s recovery – everywhere Our natural world is in a critical – systems that underpin everything Do you share our vision? If so, condition. The laws and systems to we do. We need healthy soil to grow we need your help. We need you keep it healthy are failing. More than food in, clean air to breathe, clean to explain to your local politician 60% of plants and animals in the UK water to drink, and green space that more wildlife is better for us are now under threat. One in eight for exercise and relaxation. No all, so that they support new laws – face extinction. one disputes this, yet our farming, which are being debated right now – planning and economic systems that will succeed in achieving This is our problem too. Nature is vital have often taken us in the opposite nature’s recovery. for our physical and mental health, yet direction. Our wild places are plastic litter, pesticides and dirty air becoming disconnected – and people We also need you to help us create are a fact of life. Our obesity problem disconnected from them too. new wild places, and protect those is the worst in Europe. Floods are we already have. From April onwards, becoming more common and more The Wildlife Trusts want a Wilder we will share actions you can take in destructive. Damage to farmland soils Future. A future where existing your personal life to help. costs us around £1bn a year. wildlife sites are better protected, and connected to more space for Please join us in creating These issues show that our lifestyles wildlife, and people too. A future a Wilder Future. We can overlook the value of natural systems where nature is in recovery. make a difference. 26

From this To this PEOPLE & WILDLIFE Our homes What new laws should contain ©Darren Tansley ©Avon Wildlife Trust Many streets are now sealed under Plants and trees improve the n A Nature Recovery Network tarmac and concrete atmosphere and help reduce flooding A joined-up network of existing and new habitats that provide Our public spaces space for wildlife to recover and allows people to thrive. ©Helen Hoyle ©Helen Hoyle Two-thirds of amenity grassland is ...but research shows meadows benefit n Legally Binding Nature Targets close-mown... people and wildlife For example, clean air to breathe in our cities – which politicians Our cities must report on regularly and ultimately achieve. ©Shutterstock ©AFL architects The sheer mass of concrete in cities Green roofs and spaces absorb n A Nature Watchdog heats them up in the summer heavy rain and cool things down That is truly independent from Government to hold them Our roads to account on decisions that destroy nature – and helps ©GOV.UK ©Highways Agency people challenge this behaviour. Major roads are impassable barriers for Green bridges allow wildlife to shift as the many species climate changes What you can do Our farmland Show your support ©Darren Tansley ©Darren Tansley Grazing too close to riverbanks With a fence the bank becomes The more people erodes soil and destroys habitats stable again and plants return who show they care about bringing back nature, the stronger our case becomes. Visit wildlifetrusts.org/wilder- future where you can find out how to help. Or search #WilderFuture onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram. Spread the word Share your love of nature with family, friends and colleagues. Could they become supporters too? Help nature in your daily life Join a beach clean. Take up wildlife gardening. Walk and cycle more. Shop for food without packaging. Sign up to Wilder Future for more ideas. 27

LIVING LANDSCAPES Farming and Fisheries Bills need more work Brexit represents a challenge, but also an Work by The Wildlife opportunity for government to safeguard the Trusts will ensure UK natural environment for future generations. fishing is sustainable © Toby Roxburgh/2020VISION As part of the arrangements for leaving the EU, MPs and Peers have recently Farm subsidies will enable debated both a new Fisheries Bill and a farmers to reconnect habitats new Agriculture Bill for England. These two key parts of the legal Brexit jigsaw © Kathye Dewitt/Alamy will have a significant impact on the health of our natural environment on land and at sea. On the Agriculture Bill, we have worked hard to ensure there will be long-term funding at the right level to restore and reconnect wildlife habitats on farms, and to create a Nature Recovery Network. On the Fisheries Bill, we have sought to strengthen its sustainability objectives to ensure a healthy marine environment. HS2 dooms 19 ancient woods How will ongoing construction of the high-speed HS2’s proposals pay little railway impact wildlife and wild places for local heed to the amount of people up and down the country? nature the project will engulf © ARUP HS2’s newest phase, due to connect Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds, offers ‘derisory’ consideration of wildlife, The Wildlife Trusts said in a consultation last year. The 176 miles of track will seriously damage 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 111 Local Wildlife Sites and 19 ancient woodlands. “HS2 Ltd’s work lacks sufficient proposals to compensate for nature’s loss,” says Katherine Hawkins, Senior Living Landscapes Officer. “We have challenged it to create and restore more wild places than are being destroyed and damaged, and to save irreplaceable wetlands and woodlands.” 28

SPECIES FOCUS Painted lady, our best- known migratory insect © Jon Hawkins/Surrey Hills Photography Butterflies without borders With luck, you’ll see a lot of butterflies visiting gardens this summer. But the story of how some species get there is incredible Swifts, cuckoos, wildebeest and basking migratory insect but there are many “The killer piece of evidence is that the sharks – we admire these creatures for others, including moths, dragonflies, best time of year to see migrant moths their epic seasonal migrations. But there ladybirds, hoverflies and even aphids. is the autumn,” says Fox. “To me as a is another, far bigger group of species Climate change will bring more to biologist they can’t be ‘proper’ migrants who undertake even more audacious our shores. It seems far-fetched that because the habitat here in winter is journeys: insects. insects can cross continents, but we not going to support their breeding now know they do. Satellite tags are cycle and they are unlikely to survive.” During the Second World War, military still too large, but other technologies In other words, Britain is a dead-end. observers reported a golden ball drifting are shedding new light on the marvels over the Channel. What they feared was of insect migration. In contrast, obligate migrants build a cloud of poison gas was actually a their life-cycle around migration. For huge mass of migrating clouded yellow Each autumn, given favourable British butterflies, the big challenge is butterflies. In 1846, the Canterbury winds, moth traps fill with exciting to survive winters when caterpillars’ food plants don’t grow. Most do this These strong-flying migrants were spotted by hibernating. But migrants such as everywhere from the Highlands to central the clouded yellow survive by moving London, and produced millions more offspring. Journal reported a “cloud” of small continental arrivals such as the Clouded yellows migrate to the whites so dense that it obscured the sun enormous convolvulus and death’s UK from North Africa and the Med as it passed over a Channel steamer. head hawkmoths, and the delicate vestal moth. Enthusiasts call these © Margaret Holland These mass migrations are not ancient migratory moths, but Richard history. In 2009, 11 million painted Fox of Butterfly Conservation lady butterflies arrived in Britain from distinguishes between insects southern Europe. These strong-flying that are simply dispersing as migrants were spotted everywhere widely as possible after a from the Highlands to central London, successful breeding season, and produced millions more offspring. and “obligate”, or true, migrants. Two fields in Cornwall contained 500,000 painted lady caterpillars. Most migratory moths are The painted lady is our best-known on a fairly fruitless dispersal. 29

SPECIES FOCUS south, to warmer climes. It was long entomological radars identified painted Sahara d assumed that the painted lady retreats ladies flying southwards at the end of to Morocco but scientists have recently the summer: the butterfly previously discovered that it also crosses the evaded detection because it rises Sahara. Then, when it gets too hot for to an average of 500 metres to take the sub-Saharan African generation, advantage of prevailing winds, flying they move north again. The painted lady south at 30mph. migration route can span up to 7,500 miles but this may be via three or more These radars have also revealed the quickly-reproducing generations. Such miraculous powers of Britain’s only insights have been gathered using confirmed obligate migrant moth, the new forensic techniques, analysing Silver Y. “We suspected they might chemicals found in painted lady wings have some pretty cool capabilities but to discover where individuals grew up when we saw the data for the first time as caterpillars. it was an exciting surprise,” says Jason Chapman, associate professor at the Until the 2009 painted lady invasion, University of Exeter. it was unclear if Britain was a dead- end for the species. People observed Chapman discovered that the Silver painted ladies arriving but never saw Ys were choosing the altitude that The painted lady migration route can span up to 7,500 miles but this may be via three or more quickly-reproducing generations. them depart and their offspring couldn’t bequeathed most advantageous tail- moth reveals they use the Earth’s survive winter. Scientists solved the winds. Radar also revealed that Silver magnetic field to guide them. mystery using Rothamstead Research’s Ys could even orientate their bodies in two upward-facing radars in Hampshire the correct direction to compensate for As the climate changes, some dispersing and Hertfordshire. These special cross-winds. Most incredibly, Silver Ys insects will take up permanent were revealed to be travelling as fast – residence in Britain. Charismatic arrivals In summer the Silver Y moth and sometimes faster – than migrating could include the continental swallowtail moves from southern Europe birds such as thrushes. This was and the long-tailed blue, but here’s a into Britain, the Netherlands tip: the southern small white is making and Scandinavia because the moths identified the remarkable progress across northern © Margaret Holland best spot in the air column for Europe and was first spotted in the favourable tail-winds, whereas Netherlands in 2015. It could soon cross the larger birds didn’t bother. the North Sea into East Anglia. But how do these Many gardeners will not welcome insects know which another “cabbage white”. Some insect way to go? Lab tests migrations are portrayed as problematic. Tabloid newspapers reported “swarms” have revealed that of harlequin ladybirds “invading” last the lengthening or autumn. Ladybird expert Professor Helen shortening of days Roy worked with Rothamstead’s radar is the painted ladies’ to identify harlequin and seven-spot cue: caterpillars ladybirds flying as high as 1,100m. growing while days Ladybirds, says Roy, are dispersers are lengthening become adults who fly northwards. When days shorten, the butterflies are born with an awareness of the need to travel south, to warmer climes. The painted lady orientates itself using the sun, but night-flying moths can’t use a sun compass. A study of Australia’s bogong 30

SPECIES FOCUS A migration miracle Top sites for butterflies Species: Painted lady Our nature reserves are home Weight: 0.2-0.3g to dozens of butterfly species, Range: 5,000+ miles including (see below) some of the UK’s rarest. But for these insects We’re used to strong-flying insects and other wildlife to thrive, we also migrating to the UK from Europe. need country-wide networks of wild But the painted lady butterflies spaces, and you can help. For tips we see in warm summers easily on butterfly-friendly gardening, visit beat that. Most specimens start wtru.st/butterfly-garden as caterpillars in the Sahel region of Africa. As spring begins they Daneway Banks move north over the Sahara, some Gloucestershire Wt making it to Southern Europe and the Med, others only getting 37 species. Second to North Africa. With summer on the way, the next generation largest known continues the journey north. Research shows some individuals population of © Ellen Winter hop directly from North Africa large blue. to the UK. Others filter through desert Central Europe and then into the Hutchinson’s Bank UK across multiple generations. London Wt But here’s the amazing bit: in 35 species recorded.This is one of the autumn, they’ve been found to the UK’s best sites for the small blue. fly 5,000+ miles back in a single generation! © London WT Key Spring migration north Autumn migration south Lydden Temple Ewell Kent Wt rather than true migrants. “Generally these show an ability to choose 34 species ladybirds are a little bit bumbly. The favourable days for wind-assisted harlequin ladybird is a real opportunist. migration. Hundreds of millions arrive including the Because it is generalist in what it eats, in the spring; up to a billion depart each it doesn’t matter so much which way it’s autumn. “The really exciting numbers,” Adonis and going – its main motivation is to move says Chapman, “are when you calculate out of overcrowded habitat. They can how many aphid pests are eaten by the chalkhill blues. get across the Channel but mostly they hoverflies’ larvae. You rapidly get into are making more local movements.” the trillions. We think they are doing an One of Europe’s The harlequin ladybird’s rapid spread incredible service of free biological across Europe has been assisted by us, pest control.” finest chalk © Ray Lewis however. New research from Croatia downlands. reveals that harlequins are attracted to For all the great insect clouds of old, the lights on ships – they are literally only now are we gaining a sense of the Llanymynech Rocks being ferried around Europe. true scale of insect migration. Migratory ecologists looking at radar data have Montgomeryshire Wt For all the scares about marauding revealed a startling fact: a biomass 33 species, including the very rare “invasive” insects – and there is of 3,200 tonnes of migrating insects. pearl-bordered fritillary. genuine concern about the honeybee- Imagine 270 London buses made from devouring Asian hornet – most solid insects passing over southern © MWT migratory insects perform crucial England each summer. Or, if you prefer, “ecosystem services”. Jason Chapman roughly 3.5 trillion insects. That’s an has studied the Marmalade hoverfly, our awful lot of bird food. And each one a commonest species. To his surprise, minuscule everyday miracle. 31