Nature Watch - Dog Roses & Yellow Rattle

What's Happening In Nature Now?

Despite all the wind, rain and cool temperatures, nature is soldiering on with summer regardless!  There are lots of things in flower right now including the very pretty dog roses:

On a recent visit to a Wildflower Meadow carefully planned and planted by Severn Trent Water at Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire Wild & Green took this picture of the now quite rare Yellow Rattle wildflower.

Wildlife Watching In Norway

Elizabeth G Charterswww.elizabethgcharters.co.uk
Elizabeth G - Scenic & Wildlife Cruises Norway 2012.

Norway is easily one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Its fjords are a stunning natural phenomenon and you will be inspired by the contrast of snow-capped mountains, steep green hillsides and powerful waterfalls plunging into the calm, clear waters of the fjords. You can discover these classic landscapes by joining a scenic, wildlife or diving charter on board the Elizabeth G - there are dates throughout 2012 and these include a Sea Eagle Spectacular in August/September.

Elizabeth G has comfortable and modern accommodation for up to 12 guests, great food, an experienced skipper, and a friendly and knowledgeable crew. You can relax in a friendly and informal atmosphere and unwind while we look after you.


Find wildlife watching trips in the UK on Wild & Green Escapes

Rare Fungus In Norfolk

Internationally rare fungus discovered on restored Norfolk heathland  

One of Europe’s rarest fungi, the nail fungus Poronia punctata, has been discovered on pony dung in the Forestry Commission’s Thetford Forest in Norfolk.  It has not been recorded in the county for nearly 70 years, the last record being in 1944.                                                                          
Where is has come from is baffling but it is clear that heathland restoration and management in Thetford has successfully created the particular conditions this very rare fungus needs - rough heathland and grassland grazed by ‘organic’ ponies.
The discovery surprised and delighted Forestry Commission ecologists making a routine inspection of the restored heathland. Jonathan Spencer, Forestry Commission Head of Environment and Planning, local Forestry Commission expert Neal Armour-Chelu and Andy Palles-Clark, the site manager with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust when they spotted the rarity.
Jonathan said:
“We really were delighted and are very excited by the discovery. Until recently this fungus was only known in the UK from the New Forest, but it has started to appear in a tiny number of other places where ponies have been used to restore heathland.
“As well thrilling conservationists, the fungus is drawing serious attention from the world of medicinal research too. The peculiar way it competes with other bacteria and fungi in the dung using antibiotics is new to science and only just beginning to be explored, so its use and value could be huge. Fungi have so much to offer in this way; they are key parts of our biodiversity that could hold huge potential for services yet to be realised.”
“We are delighted that the restoration work we have done and our ongoing management on this heathland have created the special conditions needed for this very rare fungus to thrive. And not just fungi. The heathland sites are also home to woodlarks and lapwings, and all a s a result of the restoration pony grazing in place. We might have some superstar ponies on our hands that will be in great demand too.”
The ponies are owned and managed by the Norfolk wildlife Trust who work with us as partners in our ambitious habitat programme at Thetford.
The fungus, named after its distinctive appearance (like an old-fashioned flat headed nail), grows only on dry dung from ponies that have fed on heathy grassland that has not been agriculturally improved. The ponies it passes through have to be organic and treated only by benign veterinary products.
The site, near Hockwold in Norfolk, has been restored to heathland as part of a major plan to link up and expand existing Breckland heaths. The Breckland is one of the most important areas for biodiversity in England and the Forestry Commission is a major player in its management and conservation.

Wildlife Watching In UK - Sparrowhawk Webcams

Fancy a spot of at-home wildlife watching?  The Logan Botanic Gardens in Scotland's Dumfries & Galloway has live images from the sparrowhawk nest in the gardens.

View the nest via this link:
http://www.rbge.org.uk/the-gardens/sparrowhawk-nestcam

Wildlife & Nature Events -July @Sherwood

Tree huggers unite!  

Magic, folklore and wood combine in Sherwood Pines Forest Park on Saturday 14 July to create an unmissable event for people who keep barking up the wrong tree.

The Forestry Commission's 1,200 hectare beauty spot, near Clipstone, Notts, is home to over 1.5 million trees and will be the venue for an event to shed light on trees great and small, from their identification to their weird and wonderful uses.

A few centuries ago it was common knowledge that waving a stick of Rowan wood saw off troublesome witches, while miscreants were flogged with birch because the tree was thought to drive off evil spirits - i.e. birched.  These days we may have forgotten the magic, but often still use the words emptied of their original meaning.

“Trees are totally fascinating in their own right, but their place in myth, literature and daily life will all be explored,” said event leader Patrick Harding. “Alder is a lovely tree, but few know that when it is turned into charcoal it provides a key ingredient for explosives. And how many types of wood were used in old fashioned wagon wheels?  The answer is three, oak, ash and elm, all employed for their specific qualities. And if you know your trees, you'll be able to track down fungi much better as the two are very often closely linked. There’s a lot more to trees than meets the eye.” 

The event runs between 11am and 3.30pm and costs £25.  Booking is required on 01623 821459  or by emailing karina.thornton@forestry.gov.uk  Suitable for adults and youngsters over 12 years old.
For further information go to www.forestry.gov.uk/EastMidlands

Eco Friendly Log Cabins In Derbyshire

Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington, Matlock, Derbyshire

www.hoegrangeholidays.co.uk
Hoe Grange offers four eco friendly award winning cosy self catering log cabins set on a working farm on the edge of the Peak District, Derbyshire. Hoe Grange Holidays offers a real "home from home", with superb views, fully equipped kitchen/open plan lounge, luxurious whirlpool bath and spacious bedrooms for up to 18 guests.

Hoe Grange are proud holders of the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award and the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark, awarded for use of local produce, energy-efficiency and nature conservation.

The log cabins are located on the Pennine Bridleway, with stabling & grazing available for guests to bring their own horse on holiday. Excellent walks, cycle and riding routes from the door.

Relax in the outdoor log-fired Swedish hot tub, or enjoy delicious local foods delivered to your door. Open all year, families and large groups welcome.

Find eco friendly log cabins on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Top Five Wildlife Ponds In UK

The Countryfile magazine has recently listed its top five wildlife ponds in the UK, find out more on the magazine's webiste:


http://www.countryfile.com/countryside/top-five-wildlife-ponds?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=NLT_CFIL_01-06-2012_BGW-MalvernShow

Good News Story -

Wildflower and tree planting on former mine spoil heap  

An abandoned coal mine in St Helens is set to be transformed into a haven for wildlife.

The Forestry Commission is teaming up with ex-miners from the Shining Lights Heritage Group to plant wildflowers and native trees on the former Sutton Manor Colliery spoil heap.  

The idea is to introduce more nectar to the site, which in turn will attract more insects.

Adam Evans, Forestry Commission ranger, said:“This is a fantastic community project that will not only transform the landscape but attract more species of insects to the area. It is always nice to be able to encourage wildlife to an area and it should be exciting to see how it develops over the next few years.”

The planting took place on June 17 and involved children from Sutton Manor Primary School.

Adam added: “The mine is an important part of the town’s heritage and always will be – the Shining Lights often come up to the site to teach local school children about its history.But there are many benefits of it being turned back into a semi-natural habitat for wildlife and I’m sure many people will be happy to see it transformed.”

Forest Diary - Butterflies Get A Boost

Forest Diary, A boost for butterflies 

"In my opinion there is no better symbol of summer’s arrival than the delicate beauty of the butterfly, as it feeds on the forest’s array of wild flowers.

However, this year’s unwelcome spring weather has seen butterfly numbers drop substantially – with one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, the pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, worst affected. In fact, if it weren’t for the Forestry Commission’s ongoing conservation work near Brockenhurst, we could easily have seen the last of them in the New Forest.

For the past decade, we have been committed to give the delicate insects a helping hand, as part of our continuing forest management programme across the region. Our team of keepers, foresters and volunteers has been busy creating suitable open habitats, by coppicing and opening up woodland ride edges, to boost the numbers of the threatened species.

However, this year’s weather has had a devastating effect on the small population. The year started too dry which had the effect of decimating the little violet plants that were providing a rich food source for caterpillars. This was then followed by intense rain which flooded many roadside drains, washing out the caterpillars themselves. Temperatures have also negatively impacted on development during the larval stages.

Thankfully, last year’s preferred weather conditions – combined with our conservation work – enabled the adult butterflies to lay eggs in new areas that had become suitable habitats for breeding. It is this growth, twelve months ago, that has ensured the rare butterfly can survive the current adverse conditions brought about by our unpredictable British weather.

Pearl-bordered fritillaries live in woodland clearings where trees have recently been cut down or coppiced, and where there are areas of grass, bracken and open scrub. They depend on a mosaic of open areas for movement between colonies and for food.

Our work concentrates on creating a finely balanced habitat for all their needs – even ensuring there is leaf litter along the ride edges for the caterpillars to sunbathe on after feeding and to roll in to hibernate. This project is being replicated in other areas too as we are constantly planning four to five years ahead to ensure the survival and, ultimately, the growth of these precious insects.

The pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly gets its name from the series of ‘pearls’ that run along the outside edge of the underside of its hindwing. The woodland butterfly lays individual eggs in May on dead bracken or leaf litter near to grassy areas where dog-violets (the caterpillar’s main food source) are growing. After about two weeks, the larva hatches and starts to feed. It will moult four times before it then hibernates for winter. In the early spring it comes back out to feed for the final time before its pupation, followed by its emergence as an adult butterfly, flying between late April and May."

For more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest.
Jonathan Cook, Forestry Commission Keeper 

Wildlife Watching Event - Glow-worms!

Search for mini bright sparks in the wood  

A tiny creature will be lighting up in the forest to attract a mate – but it there’ll be no question of reuniting with an old flame!

The Forestry Commission is staging its annual walk in search of glow-worms in Chambers Farm Wood, near Wragby, Lincolnshire, on Friday, 29 June, from 10pm.

Female glow-worms produce a soft light in their tails during early summer nights to attract males. But the romance is a rushed one - adult beetles survive for just a few weeks and in that time they need to mate and lay eggs to ensure the survival of the next generation. 

Once far more widespread than they are today, glow-worms have cast a spell over humans for centuries. Shakespeare mentions them in Hamlet and their soft glow on mid-summer nights must have seemed like a scene from a magical world.

Hannah Darcel, Forestry Commission ranger, said: “Habitat loss and even light pollution may be responsible for the glow-worm’s national decline. But thanks to sensitive management, Chambers Farm Wood is a haunt of this wonderful mini-beast which is at the northern extent of its range.  We can never tell how many we will see, but once you know what to look for its soft glow is really quite apparent set against the darkness of undergrowth in the wood.”

The walk meets at 10pm at the Chambers Farm Wood Centre off the B1206 Bardney to Wragby road.  Booking is required on 01623 822447  and the cost is £5 per person. Car parking is free.

More Wildlife Watching Experts - Wild West Safaris, Scotland

Wild West,  Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
www.wildwestsafari.co.uk



Wild West offer a selection of safaris and wildlife experiences based in Scotland's Great Glen. Red deer, osprey, sea eagle and golden eagle are amongst species regularly sighted. Or join a searchlight safari to look for elusive nocturnal species such as pine marten which inhabit the forests. Half day and full day trips are available. Daily trips to see the red deer rut run throughout October. Bespoke trips can be arranged. Bookings are recommended but not always essential. Parking available.

Wild West customers can take in the wildlife as the minibus slowly winds it's way along the tranquil shores of Loch Garry, looking for the special birds that nest there in summer. Then on to wild Loch Quoich where magnificent stags graze nonchalantly on the verges and golden eagle, buzzard and kestrel soar over the moorland and high ridges.
Find wildlife watching holidays on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Wild & Green Bushcraft Ideas

Fancy learning some back to nature skills? Want to spend some time learning and practising bushcraft in UK woodlands?

Wild North Discovery run a wide range of nature based activities including bushcrafts and developing the ancient craft skills of greenwood turning on a pole lathe and willow basket making. From firecraft and wilderness cooking to making a rolling pin or a chair there is something for everyone with a love of the natural world and natural materials.

Wild North Discovery experiences are based in the North Pennines and the North West Highlands, activities ranging from half day to full week can be booked for two people or more.
www.natureholiday.co.uk

Last Minute Offers @ Burnbrae

Late Availability
All for Begrum cottage, Burnbrae Holidays:
*June 23-July 7th 2012 any 7 nights £395
*July 14-19th 2012 5 nts £375 / July 22-26th 2012 4 nts £350

Burnbrae Holidays, Burnbrae Mill, Nenthorn, Kelso, Scottish Borders
www.burnbraehol.co.uk

Burnbrae offer eco friendly cottages in a peaceful spot in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The site is surrounded by agricultural land but is no longer a working farm and is home to 3, four star cottages which were converted from a stone barn. The south facing conservatory in each cottage has views across the secluded garden, Eden Water and across the border between Scotland and England to the Cheviot Hills.

Burnbrae is the perfect spot for wildlife enthusiasts to relax and view a wide variety of native wildlife. The fields and banks of the Eden Water can be explored directly from your cottage. Cycling is a particular pleasure on the network of quiet lanes around Burnbrae and for mountain bikers the world renowned Glen Tress is short drive away.

PV solar panels on site provide electricity and the owners grow their own wood for the wood burning stove in each living room. They aim to ensure that the overall effect of the business activities enhances the local environment, and has minimal detrimental impact on the wider environment, including impact on the availability of resources in the future. As evidence of their success in this Burnbrae hold the gold award under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Wildlife Events - Wild About Gairloch

Wild About Gairloch in Wester Ross in the west coast of the NW Scottish Highlands is running a Wildlife Week from June 21st to June 27 this year.

There's lots going on including:
*on the water - kayaking and sea watching for puffins, whales, sea eagles etc
*wildlife talks and walks on such topics as wild flowers, moths, bats, lichens and minibeasts
*wildlife photography workshop
*arts and crafts fair

Find out more on the Wild About Gairloch website:
http://www.wildaboutgairloch.com/

Find out about other UK wildlife watching and nature events on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Help For Rare Snake In Yorkshire

The Snake Pass! Wildlife routes through forests could help rare adder  

A new study is helping the Forestry Commission plan a brighter future for the increasingly rare adder in the North York Moors.

The creature is one of the world’s most studied snakes, but mysteries still remain, especially why it is found in some areas, but not others. 

Reptile expert James Stroud, 25, pulled on his walking boots and set out to shed light on the subject.
Working with forest rangers he delved into the creature's secret world in Dalby and Langdale Forests, near Pickering, and Harwood Dale, Wykeham and Broxa Forests, near Scarborough. Adders are thought to be on the decline due to habitat loss, but the Forestry Commission’s North Yorkshire woods are a stronghold.

As part of his Master’s Degree at the University of Hull’s Scarborough Campus, James probed why the snake preferred some areas over others.  He looked at factors like the availability of food like small mammals and the age of trees.  He also investigated the threat posed by predators like birds of prey and crows by deploying 250 plastercine adders - some of which showed signs of being attacked. 

What he found was that young conifer plantations were adder hotspots and surprisingly the abundance of food seemed less important than the threat from potential foes in determining whether the creature frequented a forest haunt. But he also concluded that linking together adder breeding colonies with snake friendly corridors could give the species a big boost.

James said: "Young forest plantations are an important refuge, offering a place to bask and with shelter from potential predators. My data suggests that linking together such areas could be a real help to adder populations.  That would allow them to spread more easily and not become isolated by denser forestry, which is not such a good snake habitat. There is something intriguing and unknown about snakes. Very encouragingly, I found that there are quite a lot in local forests, but you need to know where to look."


Brian Walker, Wildlife Officer with the Forestry Commission, added: “James’ work is really important – it reinforces the value of creating wildlife corridors throughout the forest, not just for snakes, but other animals too. Adder colonies are particularly vulnerable to becoming fragmented, which is bad news. They are cold blooded and need to sun bathe to keep up their body temperature. That means they may find it hard to travel long distances under denser forest canopies which block out the sun's warming rays.”

Forestry Commission design plans could be tailored to create adder “corridors” in woods where possible - breeding sites are already plotted on a hi-tech mapping systems. The University of Hull also want to do more research.  Projects could include could DNA testing of adder colonies to discover whether they intermix.

www.forestry.gov.uk/yorkshireandthehumber

Wildlife Watching With The Experts - Isle of Skye

Seaprobe Atlantis - Glass Bottom Boat Trips, Isle of Skye

www.seaprobeatlantis.com

Seaprobe Atlantis is Scotland's Only Semi-Submersible Glass Bottom Boat, operating from the Marine Conservation area at Kyle of Lochalsh and recently voted 'Best UK Wildlife Experience' by the Daily Telegraph June 2010.


Seaprobe Atlantis visits the common seal colony with 25 - 45 seals, the local seabird nesting islands, with 16 different species spotted, and you can look for otters along the coast with an average one otter sighting per day.

Lochalsh is probably the best place in the UK for otter spotting. The unique feature of the boat is the large underwater viewing gallery with 26 underwater windows. The boat explores in the shallow coastal waters, amongst the kelp beds and egg wrack, where you can see a number of different fish species as well as star fish, jellyfish, sea urchins and crabs.

Operating 4 trips per day from March to 31st October.
All trips are guided, binoculars, refreshments and toilets are available.

Discover wildlife watching holidays on the Wild & Green Escapes website

Ospreys @ Kielder Update

Jubilation!  

A young pair of adult ospreys in Kielder Water & Forest Park has successfully hatched Jubilee chicks.
The female on the second of two nests in the 62,000 hectare (155,000 acre) Northumbrian wilderness had been incubating three eggs and the first two hatched on Monday and Tuesday adding to the Golden Jubilee feel good factor.  Last year this same pair reared two ospreys for the first time in Kielder.

The news is yet another step forward for this magnificent species which was once extinct in England
Forestry Commission staff were able to watch the first birth on high definition cameras at Kielder Castle Visitor Centre. 

Breeding ospreys returned to the North East for the first time in at least 200 years in 2009 and since then three chicks have fledged each year. 

Nature fans can watch the action unfold on CCTV at Kielder Castle and also at Leaplish, where the Kielder Osprey Watch 2012 is being operated by volunteers on weekends and Tuesdays and Wednesdays.   

You can follow the fortunes of both nests at  http://kielderospreys.wordpress.com/, Get regular Twitter updates @KielderOspreys, Record your own osprey sightings at the VisitKielder Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kielder
Kielder Osprey Watch 2012 is being organised by the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, the RSPB and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.  The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest site.  To find out more go to http://www.visitkielder.com/

Eagle Watch On Mull

Eagle Watch brings fantastic boost to Mull’s tourism industry  

Mull’s Eagle Watch has just pulled off a double whammy in tourism awards!

As well as winning a top notch 4-star wildlife experience award from Visit Scotland the team behind the successful centre have also scooped a silver grade Green Tourism Award at their first attempt.

Sue Dewar, one of the hide rangers said: “This is fantastic for us and really sets Mull Eagle Watch up there with Scotland’s finest nature tourism destinations. It’s been a real team effort all round – so the Green Tourism Award is a great achievement, especially as it’s our first ever attempt! We got a very good feedback report from the people behind the Green Tourism Business Scheme and it’s given us a couple of pointers for things we could do a little more work on and maybe get the gold award next time.

“We were pretty close to getting the 5-star award from Visit Scotland, too, so you can be sure that we won’t be resting on our laurels. We’re already looking to next year – a 5-star and gold award would put us well and truly on the visitor map!”


Mull Eagle Watch is a partnership involving Strathclyde Police, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mull and Iona Community Trust, RSPB and Forestry Commission Scotland.
Now situated at Glen Seilisdeir (say Shellister), Mull Eagle Watch is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy unique and spectacular views of white-tailed sea eagles. Visitors can also spot golden eagles, hen harriers, buzzards and red deer.

More popular than ever, the two trips to the hide each day (10am and 1pm) have all been fully booked so far this season, so if you’re planning to enjoy this amazing experience, book well in advance.

For more information about the hide – and how to book – visit www.forestry.gov.uk/mullseaeagles

Eco Event - Big Green Week June 2012

If you live near Bristol then you might be interested in Big Green Week whch runs from the 9th to the 17th June and includes lost of events, speakers and activities relating to all things green.

Head to the festival website for more details and to download a 'what's on' programme:
http://biggreenweek.com/