Wednesday, 17 July 2013

'Spare a thought for wildlife as South West sizzles'

As the region enters the third week of what is turning out to be a real 'barbeque summer', a leading local wildlife charity is asking people to spare a thought, and a little time, to help nature handle the heat. While news that the sun is here to stay may bring a smile to the tanned faces of the South West's holidaymakers, hoteliers and ice cream sellers, Devon Wildlife Trust is asking us to take a few simple, practical steps which may make all the difference in the struggle for survival of the animals that inhabit our gardens. Speaking for Devon Wildlife Trust, Steve Hussey, predicted some losers in the coming weeks if the hot and dry weather persisted: 'Hot weather can place wildlife under stress. The yellow stems of dry grasses provide fewer calories to grazing animals. The heads of wildflowers go over the top more rapidly denying nectar-seeking insects a food source. Worms bury themselves deep in the soil, beyond the reach of birds. Oxygen levels in rivers and streams drop as their levels fall. These and many other side-effects of the sizzling weather can have a harmful impact on our wonderful wildlife.' Steve continued: 'The effects of this long dry-spell will compound the stresses already placed on our wildlife by what was a very cold spring. That's why it is important that we all think about how we can lend the animals in our gardens a helping hand.' Now Devon Wildlife Trust has put together a six-point plan designed to do just this. It provides easy things that people can do on their own patch to help wildlife:
1) Make available constant and fresh sources of water in your garden. Leave the water at different heights - off the ground in bird baths and in saucers at ground level - to cater for birds and small mammals. Keep water sources topped up throughout the day - evaporation will see them empty quickly. Do a final top up at dusk to provide water for nocturnal animals such as hedgehogs.
2) Leave out windfall or over-ripe fruit. The high energy and water content of apples and soft fruits will prove very popular will garden birds, mammals and insects.
3) Let your grass grow. Frequent cutting will increase evaporation rates from grass stems. Leaving it long will provide higher calorific content for grazing animals to munch on and offer a place in the shade for mini-beasts.
4) Falling water levels in ponds are not necessarily a concern. But dried out ponds can have an impact on aquatic wildlife ranging from dragonfly larvae through to frogs. You can top up your pond, but only use rainwater and not tap-water. This will also save you money!
5) Leave trimming hedges for a few more weeks. Garden hedges, shrubs and untidy corners are great hiding places for garden birds and insects. A hedge's dense foliage will offer deep green shade from the powerful sun and give protection from predators.
 6) Finally, plan ahead by planting some drought-tolerant species of plants such as rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender. The long blooming and nectar-rich flowers of these plants will attract bumblebees, moths and butterflies in coming years.
 Devon Wildlife Trust believes that if people follow this six-point plan then the South West's garden wildlife will be in a better place to cope with what promises to be a long, hot summer. However, the charity's Steve Hussey was keen to stress there were positives to the sizzling summer: 'One benefit of this long, hot summer weather is that it offers a real encouragement to us all to get out and enjoy our region's wonderful wildlife. And if you find the prospect of venturing out potentially all too hot and bothering, then nature has conveniently provided a series of beautiful places for you to cool off in. From snorkelling and rockpooling in the seas around our coast, through paddling in a moorland stream, to walking in the dappled shade of an oak woodland - it's at times like this that we really begin to appreciate what nature does for us!'
Photo 'Keep your garden's bird bath topped up during the sizzling summer weather. Copyright Tom Marshall'

BioBonanza for B10 on Northam Burrows


The Northam Burrows Team are running a BioBonanza for B10, celebrating ten years of North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve. on Tuesday 27 August 2013 9am – 4pm at Northam Burrows Visitor Centre, Westward Ho! This will be a fun and fact filled day on this special, protected area of North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve. Activities will take place in the fabulous inflatable North Devon Biosphere dome and out on the Burrows:
  • Bird Walk and Moth Trapping (9.00am-11.00am) 
  • Flower Trail (11.00am-1pm) 
  • Arts and Crafts (12.00pm-4.00pm) 
  • Rockpooling (2pm-4pm) Meet at the Westward Ho! Slipway
In the Northam Burrows Visitor Centre you will be able to add your chosen words to the B10 word cloud and there will be an opportunity to enter the B10 prize draw with lots of lovely prizes donated by local Biosphere supporters including; a wildlife cruise on the Ilfracombe Princess and a trip to Lundy on the MS Oldenburg.

Photos: Inflatable North Devon Biosphere Dome copyright North Devon Biosphere Reserve
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Northam Burrows B10 BioBonanza Tuesday 27 August 2013 9am – 4pm
Northam Burrows Visitor Centre, Westward Ho! North Devon

Monday, 8 July 2013

North Devon's nature lands half million pound boost.....

Wildlife havens across north Devon will see the benefit of new funding secured by a leading local charity. Devon Wildlife Trust has secured half a million pounds to help its work for the future of some of the region's most valuable natural habitats. The funding from Biffa Award's Flagship Scheme, which will be paid over three years, is set to fund the charity's Working Wetlands project in its work to restore, re-create and re-connect the precious Culm grasslands of north Devon. The money was won under fierce competition as Biffa Award's Flagship Scheme funds only two, regionally significant projects each year throughout the whole of the UK. Devon Wildlife Trust's Land Manager, Matt Boydell, expressed his delight at the news: 'We have a track-record of working in north Devon's wildlife-rich Culm grasslands which stretches back more than 20 years. This funding will help us build on this. Our targets are ambitious: we plan to restore 780 hectares of grassland to make it better for wildlife including species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly and the lesser butterfly orchid. We plan to re-create more than 60 hectares of wildlife-rich grassland in places where it is now absent. We'll also be restoring more than a mile of Devon's hedges.' The funding is also allowing Devon Wildlife Trust to 're-wet' 400 metres of the historic Bude Canal at its Dunsdon and Vealand nature reserves, near Holsworthy. The canal's new water-bodies will then act as a vital wildlife resource for dragonflies, frogs, toads and grass snakes. Matt added: 'The funding is allowing us to do work for wildlife which would otherwise have remained beyond our reach. It will give us the opportunity to work with local volunteers, with local farmers and land managers, both on our nature reserves and across the wider north Devon countryside. It's very exciting news for us and for north Devon's natural environment.' Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager, said: 'The Biffa Award Flagship Scheme is a unique opportunity for regionally significant projects to win vital funding. With only two Flagship grants available each year, competition is fierce. We look for truly inspired projects which aim to have a real and lasting impact, and which are either culturally pioneering, or, as in this case, are aiming to make significant progress for biodiversity. Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project will play a vital role in recreating and protecting native Culm grassland and rare associated species in Devon, and we are delighted to help it come to life through the Biffa Award Flagship Scheme.'  
Marsh Fritillary Butterfly - photo copyright Chris Root