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Cumbria Wildlife Trust Quarterly Report

Q1 Apr-Jun 2012

Highlights of the quarter

STANDING UP FOR WILDLIFE WC1: Undertake the next stage of the Cumbria Hay Meadows Project and secure funds for its continuation Eight visits with advisers to farmers who will have new Higher Level Scheme agreements have been undertaken, and management prescriptions have been written into two Higher Level Scheme agreements. Five visits have been made to farmers and smallholders who are undertaking restoration of their meadows this year. New donor sites have been surveyed for the Food Environment Research Agency registration, and an organic derogation has been secured for Mr Parry, Caldbeck for this restoration. Method statements have been written for harvesting from Bowber Head and Piper Hole Site of Special Scientific Interest and consent applied for. Sites requiring hard grazing prior to scarifying have been grazed with dry heifers and scarifying has been organised via local farmers/contractors. A meeting was attended in Orton, set up by Deborah Land (Natural England) to discuss harvesting seed from good quality verges owned by the Manor Court, Orton. Permission was granted for hand and machine harvesting of verges in Orton by the Court. Almost all restoration sites (71ha in total) have been visited and monitored (26 fields). Some juggling of restoration sites has been necessary – two smallholders dropped out at the last minute, and two fields tenanted by a farmer under Higher Level Scheme required more preparatory work on them before they are restored, so we won’t be doing any of these this year (four fields). WC2: Continue the Cumbria Juniper Woodlands Project

Target Achieved Comments

Plant 2ha Juniper (High Fells)

0.5 ha Lingmoor Fell

Plant 1ha Juniper (Low Fells) 0.25 ha Lowick Common

Survey 200+ juniper sites 100

Deliver two training modules Two carried out this quarter Lingmoor and Tilberthwaite – 24 attendees

Identify 10 Juniper CWS’s Zero Criteria not agreed.

Write 47 Management Plans 15 written

Reporting to BARS 1 report written

Train volunteers in juniper survey

Ongoing

Four hundred junipers were planted on stock-excluded land at Lingmoor, Little Langdale, allowing for the spread of juniper upslope above the existing 40ha juniper site. Surveys and juniper records continue to come in from volunteers around the county. 25 volunteers undertook grazing impact training at Glenridding. The aim of this was to help with the assessment of juniper stand health, and to guide restoration recommendations. Training modules were also carried out for National Park and National Trust staff and volunteers, with 24 people attending two sessions. These modules considered the role of montane scrub in catchment

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management, its importance for wildlife, and the landscape and land management issues thrown up by fencing and protection of seedlings. The Project Officer gave a presentation at the Annual Conference of the Ancient Tree Forum, and also co-led a guided walk for the Duddon Local Support Group, along with commoner, Arnold Lancaster. The second ‘Juniper Tree’ newsletter was produced and sent out to partners, volunteers and other interested parties. WC3: Implement the Uplands Wetlands Project, including a programme of wetland restoration

Upland Wetland Restoration Project Targets

Wetlands restoration target of 270ha – year 1 = 2.3ha

Specific Targets (with year 1 achievements): Identify 10 sites per year for restoration – year 1 = 38 sites including 4 very large areas with multiple wetlands. 90 site visits (over 3 years) – year 1 = 65 visits. 10 management plans written per year – year 1 = 4 completed and submitted. 30 applications agreed with Natural England over 3 years – year 1 = 1. 15 sites with capital works delivered over 3 years – year 1 = 1 achieved. List of 20 potential new County Wildlife Sites created – year 1 = 23 identified. 1 leaflet produced and distributed – year 1 = 0. 10 talks to stakeholders delivered – year 1 = 1. 6 newsletters delivered – year 1 = 0. 3 agricultural shows attended over 3 years – year 1 = 1.

Management plans for three sites (74 hectares) were completed and written into Higher Level Scheme agreements, committing the farmers to undertake peat restoration in return for subsidy payments. A plan for another Higher Level Scheme site (150+ hectares of blanket bog) has been completed but funding not yet found for the work to proceed. A further two are underway and management recommendations have been prepared for eight wetland areas (gained from undertaking a combined 13 site visits). Seven of these areas had not been previously surveyed by the Wetland County Wildlife Sites project although four were existing County Wildlife Sites but based on old data. Funding from Defra’s Catchment Restoration Fund has been secured for restoration of blanket bog habitats covering 200+ hectares near Selside, with work to start in spring 2013. A further application has been successful for 15 hectares of bog restoration around the Loweswater catchment. Work to jointly restore valley mire has been agreed with the Forestry Commission, and will start this autumn. Vegetation monitoring has been carried out on two drained bogs with the help of a Lancaster University student (researching how vegetation changes near to the ditches). The first project newsletter produced and delivery plan identified to ensure that the outstanding editions can be prepared during the remainder of the project. Concept of project leaflet agreed but will not be prepared until winter 2012/13. Exhibitor plot booked for the Westmorland County Show in September 2012. WC4: Publish the results of the Upland Oral History project The main High Fell project finished in April 2012, with the successful launch of an exhibition at Tullie House in Carlisle, a mobile exhibition which tours Cumbria until April 2013, an interactive website and an audio trail in Great Langdale.

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An additional three months’ work on High Fell began mid-June. The project target for these three months is to promote the High Fell project to the wider public, archive the High Fell audio material with Cumbria Records Office, and create a 2nd audio trail in the west or north Lakes area using the existing recorded material. As the project restarted mid-June, work towards these targets has only recently begun. Volunteers have been organised to help with the three targets. Proof-reading of the interview transcripts has begun, prior to their archiving; potential routes of the 2nd audio trail are being investigated; the project officer has also been working out the budget/capital costs for the next quarter to decide what is feasible regarding promotional work, as well as researching /designing promotional material to advertise the Great Langdale audio trail and website. WC5: Prepare a plan for the survey and restoration of woodlands in the Lake District National Park, building upon the work of the WoW project. The Barrow Wildside Project Officer has been investigating woodland survey methodology and, using the information collected, has developed a draft woodland survey form. This form has been written to in order to enable volunteers to assess woodland type and condition. The intention is to send the final draft around a few partner organisations to seek comments. The Senior Conservation Officer has floated the idea of developing this project with the Lake District National Park and has received favourable noises from those approached so far. WC6: Follow up the Cumbria Tarns project by developing a tarn conservation plan in association with other members of the Lake District Still Waters Partnership No work has occurred this quarter. WC7: Deliver the Algal Bloom project to monitor algal blooms in fresh waters (in partnership with the FBA) Meetings have been attended by the Senior Conservation Officer. This project is being delivered by the Freshwater Biological Association. Delivering Biodiversity Action Plan and contributing to Local Nature Partnerships and Nature Improvement Areas. WC8: Ensure, with partners, that there is funding to continue the Local Biodiversity Manager post and/or establish a Local Nature Partnership Funding for the Biodiversity Action Plan manager’s post is increasingly difficult to sustain. Alternative methods of funding are being sought to maintain this post. The Cumbria Local Nature Partnership has been accredited by Defra. Work has continued this quarter on developing a Local Nature Partnership in Cumbria and in particular the preparation of an application to Defra for official Government Local Nature Partnership status. There has been good progress in the Cumbria Biodiversity Plan projects: Cumbria Hay Meadows Project and Small Blue Project. There were no applications for the Small Projects Contingency Fund this quarter WC9: Deliver the grassland restoration as part of the Morecambe Bay Nature Improvement Area Helen Rawlinson started in the role 11th June 2012, and has primarily focussed on familiarisation of the Nature Improvement Area and limestone grassland habitat in particular, visiting six sites including Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Trust reserves and County Wildlife Sites. Nature Improvement Area monitoring forms created for suite of habitats, to enable baseline audit of sites being worked on within project. Farm advice visit carried out to discuss hay meadow restoration within existing Higher Level Scheme agreement. WC10: Continue to contribute to the Red Alert project See attached newsletter.

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WC11: Respond to requests for advice on habitats and on species management through approximately 10 advisory visits in addition to those provided in the context of the Hay Meadows and Wetlands Projects The Senior Conservation Officer has conducted no visits this quarter. The Conservation Manager has made three visits in connection with Derwent Forest, where a large area of species rich grassland has been protected from tree planting. WC12: Promote wildlife conservation through advocacy, attending meetings, working in partnerships and catalysing initiatives A large number of meetings have been attended this quarter. WC13: Help to deliver active conservation on land and in the seas through promoting the work of volunteers A number of volunteers continue to work on projects throughout the Wider Countryside including the Wetland Wildlife Sites Project, Hay Meadows, High Fell and Juniper Projects. In particular Christine Davison continues to work on projects in the wider countryside including a continuing update of the Wildlife Sites system. Sarah Johnson has been taken on as a Volunteer Conservation Officer, helping deliver hay meadows and juniper work over the summer months. WC14: Promote marine conservation in the north-east Irish sea, including the establishment of Marine Conservation Zones The Marine Conservation Officer continues to promote the Living Seas message. Of particular note this quarter has been efforts to organise marine conferences in both Cheshire and Cumbria. In the last 12 months:

• Over 5,000 people have attended events; • 6,000 people have signed Petition Fish in support of Marine Protected Areas since the beginning of the

project; • 2,500 people are on a North West Wildlife Trust database of supporters with interest in marine

campaigning; • The Wildlife Trusts Living Seas – Irish Sea Facebook page has 353 members • Living Seas North West have 574 followers on Twitter and have tweeted 1,610 times in the last 6

months • We have also given 21 ‘Living Seas’ talks to a total audience of around 1,200 individuals

WC15: Deliver marine expertise to the Skills for the Future project The Marine Conservation Officer continues to help the new marine graduates deliver marine events, promoting the Trust’s conservation message in the Irish Sea. WC16: Link with the Wild Oceans project as a specific means for advancing marine conservation The Marine Conservation Officer now line manages the Wild Oceans Project Officer. The project has engaged directly with a further 895 people this quarter, bringing the total of people spoken to, to 3278. Total reach through all media is currently at 15,441. The project has run three school workshops with The Lake District School of Food and Wine, with a further two planned. Five days of shows were attended to promote local seafood in the last quarter. World Oceans Day was spent at The Aquarium of the Lakes, offering seafood tasters using sustainable, local species.

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The blog has been updated on a regular basis and has gathered a total of 78 followers. A more accurate representation of its popularity is the number of hits received, which are now 7,320 since its creation in May 2011. Three fishmongers continue to offer 10% discount to Wild Oceans and a total of 473 fishmonger business cards imprinted with Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s logo and a message about sustainable fish have now been handed out to members of the public. Four cookery schools are still positively engaged with the Wild Oceans project, with four seafood courses, school workshops and industry events planned in conjunction with them. Three ‘talk and taster’ sessions have taken place at the Dock Muesum in Barrow, with a further two planned during Marine Weeks. The Lucycooks cookery school event is planned in, aimed at creating awareness for the seafood industry stakeholders in the county. The PR seafood lunch event with the restaurant Cottage in the Wood is organised, involving press, MPs and members of the tourism industry involved in seafood in Cumbria. Resisting inappropriate development and influencing policy documents WC17: Assess all submitted planning applications for biodiversity constraints and comment where necessary regarding negative impacts or/and potential for mitigation or biodiversity enhancement Number of consultations assessed: 174 Number of planning application responses sent with comments: 16 Objected: 3 WC18: Comment on national Consultation Papers, Local Development Frameworks and other relevant strategic documents The Conservation Manager has contributed to tele-conferences organised by RSWT relating to CAP reform and Biodiversity offsetting. Promoting the review and designation of County Wildlife Sites WC19: Supply information about current or potential County Wildlife Sites examined in the Hay Meadow and Juniper projects to the Wildlife Sites Selection Panel No sites yet selected WC20: Urgently seek resources for the continuation of the review of County Wildlife Sites No resources identified. WC21: Interpret and analyse data originating from the Hay Meadows and, Wetland projects for dissemination to a wider audience The Hay Meadow project has published its first paper, “Going for Gold (purple and pink) in 2012” Results from five years of hay meadow restoration in Cumbria. This appeared in Aspects of Applied Biology 115, 2012. WC22: Work with partners in the Cumbria Biological Data Network No work undertaken this quarter. WC23: Ensure that all new data are collected and held electronically in a form that can easily be exported to the Biological Records Centre No resources have been allocated to this and so it is falling to the Senior Conservation Officer to pick up work in this area.

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WC24: Establish procedures for the management of the Trust's ecological data. A strategy for GIS and data handling has been written. INSPIRING PEOPLE ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD Creating opportunities to learn about and enjoy wildlife is a vital part of enabling people of all backgrounds to connect with nature. Our Senior Education & Community Officer is responsible for the key objectives listed below. This quarter has been mainly focused on workshop provision and project support. As well as the usual work, we have also worked with the Co-operative Bank on school environmental education and Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC). A priority for the next quarter will be to improve the marketing of our services and events. We have received very positive feedback from all venues and recipients visited this quarter and a very strong endorsement from Stramongate School which invited us to present our work to the Kendal cluster of school heads following a school workshop.

Key Objectives

e1. Organise and/or participate in at least four family focused events that promote the wildlife value of ‘Living Landscapes’ and ‘Living Seas’, including an annual Barrow's Wildside event The Senior Education & Community Officer attended Thacka Beck’s open day and Grange’s Prom Art in June and will attend three other events between July and August. e2. Deliver at least 20 wildlife workshops as part of the Trust’s education service 18 have been successfully delivered this quarter. Marine, nocturnal wildlife and wildflowers are the most popular themes this year. Barrow’s Wildside is presenting a session on birds and adaptation. e3. Actively participate in the development of education facilities at Trust and partner sites Events are being encouraged at Plumgarths, and will include a moth trap evening, a family event and (possibly) a woodworking club. e4. Deliver key education/community engagement targets as detailed in the project applications for Barrow’s Wildside’ and ‘Morecambe Bay Wealth of Wildlife’ We have delivered two out of five school sessions, and one of three community session for Wealth of Wildlife, with the remainder to be done next quarter. Barrow’s Wildside sessions are delivered by a member of Natural England’s staff, supported and mentored by our Senior Education & Community Officer. The Senior Education & Community Officer has observed two sessions and is satisfied with their content and delivery. e5. Provide specialist advice and work experience for four graduates employed through the Heritage Lottery Fund Marine Graduate Training Scheme Advice has been provided on event delivery and all will be enabled to attend school workshops, under the Wealth of Wildlife project.

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e6. Co-ordinate the level of staff support required for the Local Support Groups and organise an annual Local Group Liaison Day The 2012 liaison day is being planned for October and will include an update on the Local Support Group’ss Big Buzz fundraising. e7. Continue to develop and promote at least three ‘Benjamin’s Wildlife Adventures’ New Benjamin stories continued to focus on Barrow’s Wildside for this quarter. e8. Co-ordinate and manage the Trust’s annual members’ conference The conference will be at Newton Rigg on Saturday 23 March 2013. e9. Attend at least two regional or national RSWT People & Wildlife Meetings No meetings have been held this quarter. e10. Contribute to the planning of the Trusts’ 50th Anniversary celebrations The Senior Education & Community Officer assisted with the VIP event and Badger’s Paw Awards at Plumgarths in May. The Senior Education & Community Officer will support Upper Eden and Sedbergh’s event, and provide a school prize for a wildlife art competition. The RSWT gardens event is in July. e11. Deliver three ‘open garden days’ between May and October, to recruit volunteers and new members The first event will be in July. We are discussing a day of ‘preparing the garden for winter’ for later this year. VOLUNTEERING AND TRAINING The administrative and practical help provided by long term volunteers such as Maggie Acomb, Judith Wallen and Jan McArthur is invaluable in ensuring that this area of work is successfully delivered, and has been vital in keeping the department running effectively during staff absence this quarter. A volunteer (Maggie Acomb) has completed analysis and data entry of ancient tree information and this has been submitted to the Woodland Trust for verification. The second year of the Trainee Marine Graduate Scheme has now begun with two officers based at Walney and two at Plumgarths. V1. Help to recruit and support volunteers for work that promotes the wildlife value of the following projects: • Keeping the seas alive • Hay meadow monitoring • Dragonfly surveying Between April and June, we received the following number of enquiries: April - 6 May – 10 June - 9 The following volunteer opportunities were advertised in Involve and on the Trust website: • Big Buzz tea party

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• Monitoring algal blooms on Windermere • Beached Art helpers • Survey opportunities in Barrow • Himalayan Balsam pulling at Wreay Woods Nature Reserve • Plant surveyor at Newton Reigny Nature Reserve • Upland Wetland Restoration project • Online communications wiz • Hay meadow plug planting We have now reviewed the Volunteer Registration Process and started to plan the development of the Volunteer database on subscriber. V2. Carry out an annual audit of volunteering activity across the Trust and accurately work out how many are ‘active’ and how many volunteer on a more sporadic basis Still pending due to staff absence V3. Work with all Trust departments to ensure that volunteer enquiries, recruitment and support is dealt with consistently across the whole organisation Maggie Acomb continues to respond to volunteer enquires and liaise effectively with relevant officers across the Trust. This helps to ensure that all enquiries are dealt with consistently and volunteers are ‘matched up’ with the opportunities that are relevant to their skills, experience and aspirations. V4. Provide sufficient management time and support to staff associated with delivering and supporting ‘Barrow’s Wildside’ and the ‘HLF Marine Graduate Training Scheme’

• Completed and delivered the Barrow’s Wildside displays to the library and Forum. Posters sent to all the smaller libraries in the area. Continued to seek permission to put up the display at Furness General hospital.

• Organised dates for Group Surveys of County Wildlife Sites in Barrow through Barrow’s Wildside V5. Use the quarterly reporting cycle to ensure that ‘Barrow’s Wildside’ and the ‘HLF Marine Graduate Training Scheme’ are delivered effectively and on time Barrow’s Wildside The main focus for Barrow’s Wildside for the quarter has been the planning and implementation of Barrow’s Springwatch, the idea being that as people are more interested in wildlife and the natural environment due to the popular TV show BBC Springwatch. Throughout June a total of 12 events were held with the view to engaging with as wide an audience as possible. Springwatch was launched at the Dock Museum attracting around 90 people (mostly families). Some of the activities held throughout the month included a wildlife photography course focusing on wildlife in unusual places and how it can thrive in the urban environment, bat and wildflower walks, tree ID course, foraging for food walk, guided walks at South Walney which attracted 26 people, a wildflower and birds walk for the local ‘walking for health’ group and a group survey of a local brownfield site. During June the project worked worked with 189 people. This was also an opportunity to continue the successful work we have been doing with Furness Academy Secondary School who surveyed the hedgerows in their school grounds as their contribution to Barrow’s Springwatch. In addition Barrow’s Wildside project has: • Continued to run the monthly ‘Walney Werewolves’ Wildlife Watch club

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• Enabled six students from Barrow's 6th Form College to complete their BTEC entry level in sustainability. As part of this students have improved a grass bank and small wooded area in the college grounds by planting wildflower plugs • Delivered three training sessions to teachers to enable them to include wildlife in their lesson plans • 17 students from Furness Academy have achieved their John Muir Award - Discovery Level. They have helped with practical conservation work in the Borough, carried out surveys of school grounds, visited South Walney and Barkbooth lot • Attended the love learning event at The Forum in Barrow • Given a talk to Station View Sheltered housing • Continued to work with the Neighbourhood Management Junior Wardens • Delivered eight primary school workshops/including two follow up field visits • Delivered one family event not included in Barrow’s Springwatch HLF Marine Graduate Training Scheme In April applications were received from 104 candidates for the 2012 intake of marine graduates. Emily Baxter, the new Marine Graduate Training Programme Manager came into post on 14th May 2012, after which the 12 shortlisted candidates were called for interview on the South Walney Nature Reserve and the four new marine graduates were selected. The new graduates started on 25th June 2012, they are settling in well and are already busy with their training programmes. The new graduates are:

• Joseph Moulton from Morecambe, who graduated last year with an MSc in Stainable Aquaculture from the University of Stirling;

• Rebecca Wilcox from Liverpool, who graduated last year with a BSc in Marine Biology from Bangor University;

• Emily Miles from Kent, who graduated with MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from Exeter University and;

• Rebecca Hunter from Belfast, who achieved an MSc with Honours in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Glasgow.

Joseph Moulton and Rebecca Wilcox will be based in the Kendal office for the first 24 weeks and then they will move to be based from the South Walney Nature Reserve for the remainder of the programme, and vice versa for Emily Miles and Rebecca Hunter. During the first week they had a general introduction to the Trust and South Walney as well as some of the projects that they will be involved with including:

The Living Seas campaign

Wild Oceans Project

Barrow’s Wildside Project

The Morecambe Bay Wealth of Wildlife Project (joint CWT and WTLMNM project) The Kendal-based graduates also took part in a school event as part of the Morecambe Bay Wealth of Wildlife project where they took a class of school children to meet fisherman down on the beach at Morecambe. The Walney based graduates have started to re-design the interpretation for the hides on the South Walney reserve and to try and make the visitor experience more interactive. All graduates have also started to plan the events that they are involved in for Marine Weeks (28th July – 12th August) Future projects that the graduates will help to deliver include:

Continuing the volunteer-based coastal ShoreSearch and seal surveys that were started by last year’s graduates

Delivering events as part of Morecambe Bay Wealth of Wildlife and Barrow’s Wildside

Delivering events and talks as part of Living Seas North West

Surveying cockle, mussel and honeycomb worm reefs with the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

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The graduates will also be attending a number of on-the-job and taught training days over the course of their programme. V6. Co-ordinate the delivery of at least eight training workshops/courses for staff, members and volunteers This quarter, we have held the following training events • Botany for Beginners (Ptyxis) • Plant Indicator Species for Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Ptyxis) • Natterjack ecology and conservation for people working with youngsters (ARC) • Wildlife Photography (Rachel Wegh Photography) Courses that have been organised for the next quarter include:

Outdoor First Aid (First Aid Academy) V7. Carry out an audit to assess the quality of training delivered and implement ways in which feedback from events can be collected through the Wildlife Trusts’ ‘Developing Audiences Project’ In order to ascertain the level and types of training attended, the staff team was asked to complete a training log for 2010/2011. Unfortunately, few responded to this request and it will need repeating. An assessment of the feedback gathered from the courses will then be carried out. V8. Attend at least four meetings/field visits organised by the Ulverston Local Support Group Prevented due to staff absence – however, with regards to all support groups, a volunteer has: • Updated Local Support Group contacts on subscriber • Drawn up a system for regular mailing of all Trust publications to our local support groups V9. Involve Local Support Groups and volunteers in the monitoring and selection of wildlife sites. Barrow’s Wildside? V10. Attend at least three regional or national RSWT People & Wildlife Meetings Currently awaiting a date for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust meeting V11. Contribute to the planning of the Trust’s 50th Anniversary celebrations Nothing to report this quarter. CREATING WILDLIFE HAVENS 1. Management and management plans Create Additional habitats at Gosling Sike Farm The wetland creation project at Gosling Sike Farm was carried out by Story Construction and has been completed. There are eight new ponds and scrapes and a meandering sike with the old ditch filled in. Numerous tile drains were became blocked in the course of the project and the fields are wetting up nicely. Manage and monitor all reserves and features in accordance with their Management Plans.

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(Carry out boundary repairs, ditch blocking, scrub control, grazing, mowing, coppicing and control of invasive species as detailed in management plans.) Walling has begun in a large restoration project at Barkbooth Lot. Two wallers will be working on site over the rest of the summer. Initiate major bog restoration works at Foulshaw & Meathop and Drumburgh. The restoration works at Drumburgh Moss are about 80% complete, and the newly created cells are charged and holding water well. Approx. 60 ha of conifers were cleared from Foulshaw Moss. Bunding and drain blocking has commenced on Meathop Moss. Trial grazing at Clints Quarry Completed and to be repeated in 2012. Grazing at Quarry Banks Completed and to be repeated in 2012. Major boundary works at Smardale under Higher Level Scheme. Completed Management plan for restoration/stabilisation of the lime kiln at Clints Quarry to be written/implemented Written but not yet implemented. Restoration/stabilisation of parts of track bed at Smardale Gill Done. Dredging of two ponds at Bowness on Solway Done. Extend trials of predator management and nettle control to try and increase gull productivity at South Walney and extend tern protection at Foulney Island. The RSPB included South Walney as part of their survey of large gull colonies across northern England. As part of the survey they carried out monitoring of predators using ink tunnels, scat transects, and camera traps. The results did not show much predator activity with foxes only being captured on cameras once. At South Walney Simon Mulgrew local farmer has continued shooting and we are also trialling a pest control company filling in the gaps when Simon is not around. Predation at Foulney Island was a significant problem this year. Mike Bannister trialled a number of methods to deter predators, and stop them taking chicks, with limited success. The main predator problem came from avian predation in the form of corvids and kestrels. Carry out fixed point photography, butterfly transects, vegetation monitoring, water level recording and other species monitoring as detailed in management plans, and monitor and protect nesting birds at FoulneyIsland, Rockcliffe Marsh and South Walney. Butterfly transects and fixed point photography have been carried out at Thacka Beck and Drumburgh Moss. Water level monitoring at Drumburgh Mosscontinues to be carried out by the Honorary Reserve Manager. Foulney Island Seasonal warden Michael Banister has undertaken the monitoring and protection of the Island. Two new natterjack toad ponds to be included under Eskmeals Higher Level Scheme. Plans for the new ponds at Eskmeals Dunes have been submitted to two separate funds and we are awaiting the outcome of these to determine if we have funding and how much would be available to the project. The same plans have been included in the new Higher Level Scheme document and can be removed from there if needed. Take on the management of Thacka Beck Nature Reserve at Penrith.

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Management plan has been written, and the site has been added into the Dubbs Moss/Clints Quarry etc Higher Level Scheme agreement. Monthly volunteer work parties have continued to take place throughout the period. 2. Access and interpretation Improve access and interpretation for all reserves, on and off site, where appropriate as detailed in the management plan. At Smardale Gill funding was secured to replace five of the reserve information board plinths. The old ones were made of elm but they have now completely rotted. The signs are to be re-used except for one which has gone missing. A new gate was installed to replace a rotten one at the C13 boundary, and a redundant nature reserve sign was removed. A frame for the new reserve sign for Hutton Roof Crags was made by Toby Fisher. It was all installed onto the stone plinth at the reserve entrance and then unveiled during the Rothschild event held on the nature reserve. The new interpretation panel at Dubbs Moss was installed. A contract for making Thacka Beck accessible by all was agreed, funded by Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust and Eden Rivers Trust. South Walney interpretation and signage is slowly being added to and improved. Possible eight new gates to replace stiles at Brown Robin Completed. Produce interpretation and new leaflets for Drumburgh Moss, Orton Moss, Brown Robin, Augill Wood and Waitby Greenriggs. Two new interpretation panels and nine ‘infoposts’ were installed at Drumburgh Moss and a new leaflet was produced. Planning application was sought for a raised viewing platform. Interpretation and leaflets for Orton Moss are in progress and should be in place for the next quarter. No movement on Brown Robin. Contribute to the production of interpretation and information for Thacka Beck. Two new interpretation panels and eight ‘infoposts’ were installed at Thacka Beck and a new leaflet was produced. Continue to target access improvement and accessibility to South Walney, Foulshaw, Smardale, Brown Robin and Orton Moss, where appropriate. No movement on Brown Robin. No further development at Orton Moss. The Council still say they have no plans for any works to improve the PRoWs at Orton. The owner occupier access track leading to Bucknill’s Field and the southern stints has been cleared. Small group set up to plan and take forward further access and accessibility issues at South Walney. Meetings continued between the Trust, Artgene Barrow and Natural England looking at taking forward plans to increase visitor numbers at South Walney and look at improving visitor infrastructure. Initiate improvements to middle cottage to accommodate graduate training placements and future long term/residential volunteers.

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Completed. Plans to renew interpretation at South Walney in observation hide (former coastguard lookout) to use as an information point. Also a system of information for each hide, specific to its location and the time of year. Working towards with help from the graduates at South Walney Aim to increase the profile of, and visitor numbers to Brown Robin, through improvements in infrastructure, interpretation and a variety of events. (May open weekend). The May open event was a good success with around 200 people visiting the nature reserve over the weekend. A number of activities took place with the woodland workshop being utilized. An Easter event at the Netherwood Hotel saw Pete Jones and Tony Saunders (Brown Robin Honorary Reserve Manager) leading guided walks on the Cumbria Wildlife Trust nature reserve for people at the event. The walks were not well attended due to very poor weather, but it was a good PR exercise with the hotel. Renew part of track bed path at Smardale to further wheelchair access. Done Take forward plans to make new areas of Orton Moss accessible. Tracks giving access to the southern stints have been cleared. Further work is planned once bird nesting is finished. Replace visitor management signage for Foulney. Done Produce an interpretive strategy for reserves. 3. Funding Continue to secure funding for all reserve work primarily through five Higher Level Scheme applications HLS agreements for Foulney Island, Eskmeals Dunes, Thacka Beck and possibly Orton Moss to be sorted. At Smardale Higher Level Scheme special projects funding was secured to replace five of the nature reserve information board plinths. The Higher Level Scheme application for Orton Moss has been submitted and is being processed. Thacka Beck has been added into the Dubbs Moss/Clints Quarry etc existing agreement and is live. Eskmeals Dunes Higher Level Scheme bid underway. Work with Fundraising to realise other funds when and where necessary. A funding bid has been put into two different funds for the natterjack ponds and new interpretation at Eskmeals Dunes nature reserve. 4. Acquisitions and tenure Look at opportunities to fill in gaps at Orton Moss to allow continuity of management. Leases with neighbouring land owners have been signed. Cumbria Wildlife Trust owns 9.41ha and leases 8.11ha, so now manages 17.52ha, including a contiguous area on the southern side of the site. Act upon any potential new reserves or reserve extensions in accordance with the Reserves Acquisition Policy.

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Acquisition reports have been produced for Hallinhag Wood, the Drumburgh railway line, and two fields adjoining the wet heath at Drumburgh Moss. The purchase of the Millers land at Drumburgh was completed. Efforts were made to purchase Wan Fell. Seek alternative grazing for Gosling Sike Farm Done 5. Health and Safety Risk assessments for all work and all sites. Done. 6. Volunteers Carry out at least 1,000 volunteers days on nature reserves. On Hutton Roof Crags three butterfly transects were walked weekly, two bird transects walked bi-monthly additional bird records and surveys of plants of interest have been carried out by volunteers. At Smardale Gill the butterfly transect was walked weekly, a survey of plants of interest have been carried out by volunteers. At Waitby Greenriggs the butterfly transect was walked weekly, frog and fly orchids were monitored by volunteers. Frog orchids were counted at Augill Pasture. 36 volunteer days were carried out at Thacka Beck. More than 10 days were spent surveying birds by local volunteer John France. Three volunteer work days were carried out at Drumburgh Moss. Five days were spent monitoring water levels by the Honorary Reserve Mananger. 44 volunteer days were carried out on northern reserves managed by Kevin Scott. Two days of several volunteers were held counting white-faced darter exuviae at pools at Scaleby Moss. There are now 15 regular volunteers at South Walney covering all but one day of the week. The gull monitoring organised by the RSPB revealed that the gull colony is smaller than previously estimated, but that the colony had good fledging success during 2012, with some 800 young birds ringed. Increase volunteer opportunities in north of county and nurture volunteering through Gosling Sike Farm. Volunteer work party days at Gosling Sike Farm were limited as the wetland creation project was on-going. Establish a new volunteer group at South Walney. Ongoing. Reserves Specific Augill Pasture Frog orchid counted at Augill revealing over 90 spikes. Barkbooth Lot Joe Murphy took walling contractors around the site to assess and give out contracts for nearly 200m of walling work to be completed over the summer. This was begun in June and will continue into September.

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Joe Murphy took a number of guided walks around the site including two bluebell, Big Buzz Tea Party walks, Sedbergh Local Support Group, Grange Natural History Society and a group of teenagers from Barrow for the Barrow’s Wildside project. Brown Robin Easter saw the Netherwood Hotel’s Easter event attended by Pete Jones and Tony Saunders. Two guided walks were led around the reserve in the heavy rain. Not many people attended but it was a good PR exercise with the Hotel and relations with them seem to be good. The open weekend on the reserve took place in May. Tony Saunders organised a good woodland crafts demonstration and there were Cumbria Wildlife Trust and local interest stalls, guided walks and food provided. In all, around 200 people turned up for the event, which was a really positive way of increasing people’s knowledge of the nature reserve. The fencing of the forest coups felled last season were finally fenced in June. They are now deer proof and we look forward to seeing the regeneration within these areas. Brain Jackson was approached again this year about grazing the nature reserve. The grazing went on in early June with nine cows being put on. The trough in the wall of Top Field was fixed to allow water up on the top of the nature reserve. Bowness on Solway Work has started to rail and gate the boardwalks on the north eastern compartment so that grazing can be trialled. Burns Beck Moss Two fencing contractors were shown a length of the perimeter fence to replace under Higher Level Scheme and quotes were received. This will be undertaken next quarter. Clawthorpe The reserve was assessed during a site visit with Claire Cornish to consider the possibility of putting it into the hay meadows project. This could provide plug plants and labour to increase species diversity of the grassland. Dorothy Farrer’s Spring Wood Two new Honorary Reserve Managers were recruited, Claire and Andy Gillham. Drumburgh Moss Restoration works continued and the bulk of the works are now completed. Newly created cells are charged and holding water well. New interpretation has been produced and installed. Ponies have been grazing in the wet heath area and on Whiteholme Common. A new water supply to Whiteholme Common was installed. Purchase of the Millers land was completed and two new possible acquisitions have been investigated. Eskmeals Dunes A new Higher Level Scheme plan has been put together for the reserve based on some elements of Edwin Lawson’s plan. Lawson left the reserve and as a result we have been trying to put our own plan together. A new Farm Environment Plan needs to be done but that is the last thing before the plan is submitted. As part of the plan we need to get grazing back on the reserve and we have been in contact with David Wilson, a farmer near the reserve, who has expressed an interest in grazing rare breed cattle. However, one of the things that came out of talks with potential graziers, was the need to fence the reserve. This would cattle being able to wade across the water at low tide and get onto the railway line or swept away. This fence has been included in the new Higher Level Scheme plan and we have been talking to contractors regarding costs.

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The natterjack toads have again laid spawn in the emergency pond and we are awaiting to see what the outcome of this is. Foulshaw Moss The conifer harvesting work continued throughout the winter and the final tree was felled of 60 hectares by mid-April. The Reserve Officer spent considerable time overseeing this project in particular to make sure it ran as smoothly as possible. To ensure visitor safety, the reserve was closed during Monday to Friday for around eight weeks. All timber was removed from the northern end of the reserve by June and the reserve re-opened. A trial was carried out in an area of clear-felled bog to test cell bunding methodology. Natural England assisted with this which aimed to test how machines would be able to carry out cell bunding amongst so much brash and tree stumps. This work has never been carried out on a raised bog which has been clear-felled before. The trial was successful and the Reserve Officer has now put the bunding work out to tender. The Reserve Officer approached contractors for quotations and method statements with regard to harvesting timber from the western edges of Foulshaw Moss. Access is very poor onto this land and due to the close location of three houses the timber removal is a sensitive issue requiring considerate planning. A harvesting contractor will start to remove the 25ha of woodland using conventional harvester and forwarding machines in October which will finally complete the conifer removal at Foulshaw Moss. As with previous years, the Reserve Officer has been working with David Clarke to continue with white-faced darter (WFD) monitoring at Scaleby Moss. Several volunteers were recruited to assist this work. Around 100 mature WFD larvae were removed from pools at Scaleby Moss at the end of April and introduced into a pool on Foulshaw Moss as part of the reintroduction project. As a result of this, and the previous year’s introduction of larvae, exuviae were found at the sides of the pools, adults were observed emerging and adults spotted on the wing during May and June. Volunteers were recruited to survey for WFD on Foulshaw Moss. The poor weather during this period will not have helped the reintroduction as it reduces survivorship and the chance of egg laying. There will be further larval introductions later in the year. In response to concerns from Jonathan Standing (Deer Stalker for the reserve), the Reserve Officer has been working to secure future access for his shooting operations with regards to forest retention and bunding locations. A felling licence application has been submitted to the forestry commission for removing grand fir, western hemlock and red oak from Ulpha Fell. This is largely selective felling and not clear fell. Two ospreys arrived at Foulshaw Moss in April and it is now thought that they have raised one chick that fledged. Contracts have been issued to carry on control of rhododendron by spot praying herbicide. Foulney Island Michael Bannister undertook the role of seasonal warden on Foulney Island monitoring and protecting the birds. Overall it has been a terrible year for nearly all breeding birds on Foulney Island , for a number of reasons. Spring tides and a further two more high tides claimed a large number of nests. Due to the bad weather chicks died on hatching and on the nest. Even though fox predation was recorded, predation by birds was much higher and with the arrival of six kestrels at the end of June this resulted in massive predation to all eggs and chicks contributing to total desertion. The only bird species to do well has been the eider with 24 ducklings. Taking their young to sea allowed them to escape predation and also the effect of the high tides.

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Predation control has been in place all season with the use of electric fences, chick shelters and nest cages. Michael Bannister was also issued with a catapult to deter bird predation. Black headed gulls hatched for the first time since 1996 but didn’t fledge due to predation. Visitor numbers on the island are at a similar level to last season. Andrew Walter helped move the caravan onto the island and the South Walney truck off! Michael Bannisters report for Foulney Island will be completed and available by July Hervey (Whitbarrow) The site was visited by Joe Murphy, Andrew Walter and Rob Petley-Jones of Natural England under his new remit in overseeing Section 35 National Nature Reserves. The visit at this time of the year highlighted the very healthy population of hoary rockrose at the southern end of the site. The butterfly transect was walked by the Honoary Reserve Manager as much as possible under difficult circumstances. Howe Ridding Wood A site visit with Rob Petley-Jones of Natural England proved very productive with much praise of the management of the site. The butterfly transect was walked by the Honorary Reserve Manager over the period. Humphrey Head There has been little movement on Humphrey Head other than the guided walk to the Kendal Natural History Society. The walk saw good numbers of spotted cat’s ear on the cliffs overlooking the western part of the bay. Hutton Roof Crags A ‘Rothschild event’ to mark the Wildlife Trust’s centenary and Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s 50th birthday was held at Hutton Roof village hall where presentations were given by Andrew Walter and Peter Bullard with Susan Johnson as master of ceremonies. Tea and cake were had and the 50 strong group of attendees then gathered at the new sign for its unveiling by Susan. After that two groups were taken for a guided walk of the reserve with a splinter group of 15 visiting the view point as a part of it. The day was a great success many new connections were made and old ones re-enforced. Richard Body who has the commoners rights to Burton Fell died this quarter. He allowed his sheep rights to be grazed off by the Trust using cattle. He also encouraged his game keeper to crush the bracken on the reserve. He therefore had a positive influence over reserve management. During the Rothschild event a good connection was made with Richard’s wife Judy, and hopefully the Trust can continue with a similar arrangement. A frame for the new reserve sign was made by Toby Fisher. It was all installed onto the stone plinth at the reserve entrance and then unveiled during the Rothschild event held on the reserve. A volunteer Bryan Yorke, has been accruing breeding bird data and visual migration data to feed into the bi-monthly bird transect carried out by John Peatfield. In addition he has spent an inordinate amount of time surveying the rarer flora of the reserve mapping and counting species of interest. The solar panels were connected to the borehole pump and the system is working perfectly, even on a dull day. It will be interesting to see how it works throughout the year. Walling was repaired up to the borehole access gate At long last, after the third attempt, using a thicker bore of pipe, the small spring and pond has been successfully tapped so that it is self-priming rather than syphoning. This means when the pond over flows the spare water is captured in a 1000 gallon tank to store it and the water level of the pond remains unaffected. It will hopefully now allow the lower part of Lancelot Clark Storth to be grazed properly as there will be a sufficient water supply. Next quarter it will be connected across to a trough on Burton fell. If found to be reliable

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it will also allow the Trust to disconnect the trough near the bridle path and move the watering area away from it reducing poaching by the path. Together with the borehole, water on the reserve should now be sorted. A local resident was taken around the coppice area to consider if he would be interested in cutting a coupe in the autumn. He was interested in cutting a new coupe for firewood but not re-cutting an existing coupe as the product was not useable to him. The three butterfly transects have been walked by transect walkers, but the weather has not been ideal to say the least. Hutton Roof Common Some progress has been made towards the future of the common and possible new lease. Simon Webb has had an initial meeting with the Parish council and has arranged another in August. Ivy Crag Wood Squirrel monitoring by Red Squirrels Northern England recorded both red and grey squirrels in the wood and grey squirrel control is being carried out. Juniper Scar Joe Murphy visited Juniper Scar with the Honorary Reserve Manager in April. A tree was cut from the wall and walling stone replaced. The site appears to be being heavily used as a lying up site for red deer. It was agreed that this was a good thing for the site and was not apparently of detriment to the juniper and other interest on the site. The deer have made a system of paths through the densest vegetation which makes navigating the site slightly easier. Stock do not appear to be getting in at present. Three new flowering spikes of Daphne mezereum were found, which was nice. Latterbarrow Little movement at Latterbarrow this quarter other than the guided walks that were carried out. Meathop Moss A contract was awarded to carry out drain blocking work and bunding at the edges of the Moss. This work commenced during April and stopped for the bird breeding season at the start of May. It will resume again in mid-July. Natural England has visited the work and is extremely happy with progress. Contracts have been issued to carry on control of rhododendron by spot praying herbicide and pulling up of birch and pine seedlings from the open moss. Newton Reigny The monitoring regime was re-worked and new volunteers to assist the Honorary Reserve Manager were recruited. Conversations with Natural England Site of Special Scientific Interest Officer confirmed that they have no appetite for helping to get stints not in Cumbria Wildlife Trust ownership into better management. Next Ness A work party was carried out on the reserve cutting back some of the vegetation from the path. A session of pulling Himalayan balsam was planned but unable to be completed due to high water levels on the reserve. Orton Moss Leases have been signed with two neighbouring landowners giving Cumbria Wildlife Trust management control over nearly double the area we own. The Higher Level Scheme application has been submitted and is being processed. Scrub clearance has been started in some of the southern stints preparatory to erecting fencing. An invertebrate survey has been started and the final report is due in October. Park Wood

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The reserve was assessed during a site visit with Claire Cornish to consider the possibility of putting it into the hay meadows project. This could provide plug plants and labour to increase species diversity of the grassland. Quarry Banks Several large sycamores were felled at the beginning of April. Remaining timber from the railway line was removed from site. Rockcliffe Marsh Jenny Campbell, seasonal warden for 2012 has been in post for the season and has done a very thorough job. Numbers of lapwing, redshank and oystercatcher all appear to be fairly similar to last year, but the gull colony has experienced another crash, probably largely due to unseasonal high tides and extremely poor weather. The cormorants had their eggs vandalised again and no chicks were born. A man was caught on one of the trophy cameras appearing to be carrying a bag of eggs at around the same time the cormorant eggs disappeared. More common tern nest with eggs were found than in recent years. A new electric fence was installed around the entire marsh to prevent cattle being lost. This runs around the back of the gullery and appears to have caused an increase in cattle in the gullery, which has probably worsened the gull situation. The estate is considering not using the fence again next year as they have had many instances of vandalism. Researchers from RSPB have been looking at the impacts of predation on the gulls, and appear to have discovered that this is not a very significant factor at Rockcliffe. Rarities observed this year included avocets, little gulls and a Ross’s goose. Smardale Gill After 10 years without a fly orchid record, four were found in 2010, last year zero, this year 14, (four in Compartment 5 and 10 by the track before dry gill viaduct). A new gate was installed to replace a rotten one at the C13 boundary, and a redundant reserve sign was removed. Funding was secured to replace five of the reserve information board plinths. The old ones were made of elm but they have now completely rotten. The signs are to be re-used except for one which has gone missing. The butterfly transect was walked weekly. South Walney Adam Maher, the seasonal warden, is now in place and working towards completing all relevant aspects of the management plan. Volunteer meetings have been held with Adam Maher and volunteer numbers are being increased. Currently there are 15 volunteers working all but one day of the week and also weekends. Adam Maher and volunteers are catching up with practical tasks replacing damage signs, posts, fixing hides etc. The general maintenance of the site is being kept up to date with help from the volunteers. Adam Maher and Pete Jones have met with local police and PCO to discuss the patrolling by staff and volunteers on the reserve and also the issues that may be faced over the winter period. WW2 bunker has been cleared out and secured so as to house all electrical fence equipment after nesting season has finished. Improvements to volunteers sheds have been started, re-felting the roof and making water tight also repainting with new colour scheme.

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Interpretation is being added to and updated with the addition of a monthly what’s about board, a new children’s seal trail and trakker packs for kids. With the aim of trialling them over the summer period. The marine graduates are now in place living and working on Walney. They are taking a hands-on role at Walney, helping with visitor engagement, interpretation and practical tasks. Cattle and sheep continue to graze the site. Simon Mulgrew local farmer is continuing regular fox control. Next season Alpha pest control will be used to fill in the gaps when Simon is not shooting. The two electric fenced areas used to protect breeding gulls have been up and running with minimal issues. After discussions with Pete Jones and the RSPB next breeding season portable electric fenced areas will be used to protect high densities of breeding gulls outside of the fenced area. The RSPB have continued surveying predator density, looking at predators we have on the reserve and relating that information to ascertain population and production trends. Ink tunnels, scat transects and camera traps have been installed to help with the predation survey with the RSPB regularly changing memory cards every ten days. Gull population surveying has taken place on two areas of the reserve that take in the electric fenced plots, installed to protect the birds from predation. Area one called “the spit” has been split into two sections looking at the birds within the electric fence and the birds outside. Inside the fence 1000 nests were recorded outside 2000 nests were recorded. In the second area called “Gull Meadow” 350 nests were recorded within the electric fenced area. Over the two locations the RSPB with help from Cumbria Wildlife Trust have been ringing fledgling gulls, with over 500 birds ringed so far. Fox predation has affected many bird species and all areas of the reserve, with the loss of many gull nests. Fox predation has been found within both fenced areas but to a lesser degree than outside. Access of foxes may have been gained due to voltage loss of the bottom wires of the fence due to vegetation cover. A schedule of spraying needs to be set in place, before next breeding season begins and continue through the season. Although gull numbers are up on previous years it is currently unclear why. The results of the RSPB’s survey will come out later this year and will hopefully shed some light on the breeding season and the effectives of the electric fenced plots. Tarn Sike During a meeting with the Honorary Reserve Manager she mentioned that she finds it difficult to get round site and would like someone else to take on the reserve. Grazing is still an issue and it has not been ideal for a number of years. Our neighbour is considering an Higher Level Scheme, which could help to get the grazing right. Thacka Beck The management plan for the reserve was signed off. Two longhorn cattle, later increased to four, grazed down the flood storage basin sufficiently and have latterly been grazing the hay meadow areas, prior to restoration seeding works. The site was added to an existing Higher Level Scheme agreement with options for wet grassland for breeding waders, hay meadow restoration and scrub and successional areas. New interpretation was created and installed and a new leaflet was produced, all funded by Eden Rivers Trust.

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Path improvement works were scheduled to begin in June but were postponed until July due to the wet weather. These works, funded by Cumbria Waster Management Environment Trust will make the reserve accessible for all. A butterfly transect has been established and walked twice by Lee Schofield. Vegetation surveying has been carried out by a group from the university of the third age. Waitby Greenriggs The butterfly transect was walked weekly. Fly orchids were marked and counted, and frog orchid protected from the rabbits. Wreay Woods The fence on the eastern side of the reserve along the northern boundary was replaced and a new 8’ timber gate installed. Several days were spent pulling Himalayan balsam, although there remains a significant amount. Discussions were held with the council regarding the renewal of the lease.