WINTERWILDLIFE

WALKSnear you

In this issue ... ■■■■■ How to help garden birds ■■■■■ Wonderful ponds ■■■■■ BBOWT’s green apprentices

Hugh Mellor CBE, steps down as BBOWT chairman after many years of service. Hugh haschampioned both local wildlife and the need to inspire the next generation.

CommentDecember, at the tail end of the year, is always a good timefor reflection as well as thinking about the challenges andopportunities of the year ahead.

This month also marks the end of an era for BBOWT as ourchairman, Hugh Mellor CBE, retires after serving for 15 yearson the Board and for 10 years as Chairman. As a ‘rookie’ ChiefExecutive taking up the role in 2003, I could not have been

more fortunate than to have had such an experienced and benevolent chairman andHugh has certainly guided me through many obstacles and challenges over the lastdecade. In particular we both shared a determination to improve the reach of ourenvironmental education work and as a result we now have centres at College Lake inBucks, Sutton Courtenay in Oxon and Woolley Firs in Berks. But Hugh’s thinking hasgone beyond just engaging with schoolchildren and families. He has always placed apriority on those children who are more familiar with the feel of concrete than grassbeneath their feet – who have not had the advantage of easy access to nature and whostand to gain the most from the experiences we can offer of getting close to nature. Thathas resulted in our travel bursary scheme piloted in Berkshire this year, which we plan toroll out to other counties over the coming years.

Hugh has provided the Trust with vision and ambition and it has been an enormouspleasure and privilege to work with him. Fortunately the Board has found a newchairman, Sir Clive Booth, to take on the mantle. These are difficult economic times, butClive, who has been a member since 1990, is already working with staff to make sure wecan continue to raise the money we need to support our nature reserves and oureducation programmes, and enable us to tackle new sites that could and should besafeguarded for their wildlife value.

It is only through the continued support of our members that we can protect localwildlife. Your monthly membership subscription is vital in these tough times. So many,many thanks and please do continue to support our work in 2013.

Wishing you a very happy New Year.

Philippa Lyons, Chief Executive

2 Wildlife news

Wildlife News ■ December 2012

Contents3 Nature reserve and project news

6 Seasonal highlights • winter wildlife walks

8 Conservation in action • wonderful ponds

13 Quick guide to lichens

14 The future’s bright, the future’s GREEN

16 Hot topics: ash dieback, badgervaccinations, HS2 latest

18 National news: around The Wildlife Trusts

22 10 great places to see otters

24 Sign up a new member and win wildlifepocket guides

Copy date for next issue: Tuesday 5 February 2013.We welcome your views and news; please send to theeditor using our main office address below.© Copyright Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 2012

Editor: Rachel HudsonContributors: Dan Akam, Adriana Alberts, Peter Creed,Emily Gould, Rachel Hudson, Lynn Hughes, Matt Jackson,Philippa Lyons, Jamie Scott, Giles Strother, Wendy Tobitt,Rachel Thorp, Elene Walton, Colin Williams.

Editor of UK content: Rupert Paul

Cover photograph: Yellowhammer (Mark Hamblin/naturepl.com)

Large-print version of Wildlife News(text only) is available on request.Please tel. 01865 775476 oremail info@bbowt.org.uk

Designed and produced byThe NatureBureau, Newburywww.naturebureau.co.uk

Printed by Information Presson an FSC certified paper.

Contact us:Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, The Lodge,1 Armstrong Road, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 4XTTel: 01865 775476Email: info@bbowt.org.ukwww.bbowt.org.uk

MembershipTel: 01865 788300Email: membership@bbowt.org.uk

President: Steve BackshallChairman: Hugh Mellor CBEChief Executive: Philippa Lyons

The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is one of 47 WildlifeTrusts across the country which work to protect wildlife intown and countryside.

Registered charity number: 204330

3

Yellow Plaque for WarburgBBOWT is one of 10 charities in the UKto be awarded a yellow plaque as partof a new national scheme to recognisethe contribution made by people wholeave gifts to charity in their wills. Theplaque recognises the work of lifelongwildlife enthusiast Vera Paul OBE,whose legacy helps us to maintainWarburg Nature Reserve. The plaquewas unveiled by Roger Dobbs,Honorary Vice President, who has alsomade a bequest to BBOWT in his will.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Businesslends ahelping handStaff at PanasonicUK in Bracknellshowed just howmuch you can doto help localwildlife in a sparehour by buildingmore than 30bird, bug and batboxes duringtheir lunch break.In Oxfordshire,the wetland atChimneyMeadows was given a boost thanks to an enthusiastic teamfrom PWC who helped us to clear overgrown scrub. Ourthanks also go to the following companies for renewingtheir corporate membership: Johnson Matthey Plc (Silvermember), Sophos Ltd, Grundon Waste Management Ltd,Thames Water Utilities Ltd, Taylor & Francis and CherwellBoathouse. We’re also delighted to welcome to the schemeOracle UK (as a Gold member) and Anglian Water. Pleasecontact partnerships@bbowt.org.uk for information aboutbecoming a corporate member.

Snowdrops at Bowdown Woods nature reserve.(Rob Appleby)

Roger Dobbs at Warburg Reserve.(Charlotte Snowden)

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Join our recruitment teamOne of the ways we encourage people to become new BBOWT members isthrough recruiters like Adriana Alberts. If you would like flexible workinghours and enjoy getting out to talk to people while helping the Trust at thesame time, this could be the job for you…

“Ever since I was a child, I have always had a passion for wildlife and grewup avidly watching David Attenborough’s documentaries. For me, beingoutdoors has always been a pleasure, whether it’s walking in a woodlandcarpeted with bluebells in spring, or watching a swirling cloud of starlings inlate autumn. As our local charity, committed to protecting and conservingwildlife, BBOWT is a wonderful and worthy cause; for that reason I have been amember for a number of years.

“I started door-to-door recruiting in 2009 and thoroughly enjoy my role.It’s a fun way of recruiting new members while earning some extra money andall for a good cause. People are often very pleasant on the doorstep, the hoursare very flexible (ideal for early retired people) and the job entails a friendly‘no pressure’ approach. I love meeting new people within my local communityand sharing our mutual interest in the outdoors.

“There are lots of wildlifeenthusiasts out there who are oftenhappy to have a chat about DrySandford Pit, a Trust nature reserveI visit with my family. You’d besurprised how often they say to me:’Thanks for coming round – I’vebeen meaning to join BBOWT.’ Evenif people are unfamiliar withBBOWT or don’t join, I like to think Iam promoting the Trust for thefuture. After all, enthusiasm breedsenthusiasm! And the job can be fullof nice surprises, like the time I metand recruited a famous author, orwhen I encountered a universityfriend I hadn’t seen for over 20years.” Adriana Alberts.

Panasonic volunteers with twoboxes for robins and a bat box.(Kelly Hayes)

Celebrate with BBOWTRecently, long-term supporter Shirley Townend celebratedher 90th birthday, and rather than receiving gifts sherequested friends and family make donations to the Trustto help local wildlife. Donations like these help to fund ourconservation work. If you or someone you know would liketo mark your special event or important birthday byhelping to safeguard precious nature reserves pleasecontact membership on 01865 788300 or emailmembership@bbowt.org.uk.

NFU Prize winnerWe’re pleased to announce the winners of the NFU Mutual Oxford Agencyprize draw:1st prize: binoculars worth £350 – Nigel Bilderbeck2nd prize: £250 John Lewis voucher – Elizabeth Walker3rd prize: Concept Safari Picnic Backpack – Marie Hale

For more information about BBOWT’s wider partnership with NFU MutualOxford Agency, please contact ruthgrice@bbowt.org.uk

Find out moreYou don’t need to be a wildlife expert; full training and support is provided. Youcan choose hours to suit you, whether it is part-time, weekend or seasonal work.Please contact Liz Child on 01865 775476, email: lizchild@bbowt.org.uk or visit:bbowt.org.uk/jobs.

December 2012

We are protecting morewildlife thanks to you

4 Wildlife news

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Winter health checksIt’s not just during thesummer months that ourvolunteers, staff and traineeskeep a close eye on wildlife. InNovember we had a teamsearching for harvest micenests. Throughout the wintermonths we are countingpopulations of wetland birds.In January the brownhairstreak butterfly egg countbegins, and when it’s bitinglycold specially licensed batworkers carefully check bathibernacula to recordnumbers and species (theymustn’t raise the temperaturefor the sleeping bats).

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Sowing wild flowersIn September volunteers onthe extension at Dancersendin the Chilterns painstakinglycollected seed on the chalkdownland slopes, andsprinkled them into threelarge scrapes created lastyear. It will take a few yearsfor the chalk grassland plantsto become established, sothe volunteers will becultivating and plantinghorseshoe and kidney vetchto attract butterflies such asthe chalkhill blue, allowingspecies to spill out from thenature reserve.

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Purple emperor.(Jim Asher)

Looking for butterfly eggs.(BBOWT)

Wildlife winnersOur Volunteer of the Year 2012Group Award goes to the ArableWeed Project volunteers atCollege Lake. Since the 1980sthey have pioneered theconservation of cornfield flowerson the brink of extinction.

Every little bit of help y

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RestoringBernwood ForestJanuary marks the beginningof a three-year project torestore and recreate thewoodland, meadow andhedgerow habitats at five ofour nature reserves that wereonce part of the ancientlandscape of BernwoodForest. Thanks to a grantfrom WREN through theLandfill Communities Fund,countless woodland birds,flowers and butterflies,including the magnificentpurple emperor, will allbenefit from the work wecarry out.

Friends of Haymill Valley.(Jamie Scott)

The Haymill RevivalHaymill Valley’s small anddedicated team ofvolunteers has beenbuilding in number andtransforming this greenoasis in urban Slough.They are clearing overgrownfootpaths, installing newentrance signs and ensuringlocal people can enjoy awalk down the woodlandrides and watch birds in thecrowded reedbed. Theirrecent Discovery Day was abig hit, with familiesturning out to explore,compete in a scavengerhunt and watch the teamin action.

Volunteers seedcollecting. (Robert Lewis)

NEWS IN BRIEF

SCHOOL’S OUT!to give children from urban areas the opportunityto get excited about being outdoors in greenspaces. Research shows that children who canget close to nature are happier, healthier and morelikely to become future guardians of the naturalworld.”

Can we change attitudes?During the introductory sessions Catherine isfinding out how the children feel about beingoutdoors to play and explore. Initial findings revealthat the majority of children clearly prefer to playwith friends indoors because “it’s warm and cosy”.Many are not keen to get muddy and dirty or donot want to hurt themselves, and when invited tohold a woodlouse quite a few of the children wereafraid to get close.

Over the school year BBOWT will evaluate theproject to see if we can measure the impact of theprogramme on children’s confidence in beingoutdoors, their understanding of how to engagewith nature, their sense of wonder, and theirknowledge of local wildlife.

Watch this space in forthcoming issues ofWildlife News to find out how the pilot progresses…

As children began a new school term BBOWTlaunched a pilot education project inAylesbury to get children outside the

classroom and into nature. Working with WilliamHarding Combined School we are introducing anentire year group (almost 100 5–6 year-olds) to thenatural world right where they are, starting in theirschool grounds and then reaching out into the localgreen spaces in their community. Kitted out withwaterproof dungarees and raincoats, the childrenare using their senses to explore and discover thedelights of autumn and trees, minibeasts andspring, under the guidance of BBOWT’s educationofficer, Catherine Back.

The project, funded by the RothschildFoundation, will build up to a visit to College Lakenature reserve where the children will have theopportunity to use the skills and enthusiasm theydeveloped over the two terms. With wildlife-richwoodland, wetland and meadows we hope to raisetheir own aspirations about seeing and caring forthe natural world both where they live and beyondtheir own neighbourhoods.

Claire Garrity, environmental educationmanager for Bucks says: “It’s incredibly important

December 2012 5

ON YOUR PATCH:

Cath and Karen (pictured centre) with the Friends of Woolley Firsnext to their recently created homes for stag beetles.

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bit of help you give BBOWT means more wildlife is saved – thank you

(Dav

id K

ilbey

)

Flowers of yesteryear as far as theeye can see. (Helen Walsh)

BBOWT volunteer and wildlife gardener RachelStrachan shares a few tips on how to help birdsthrough the winter.

I love this time of year. As the leaves fall from the trees in mygarden the birds are easier to spot and spend longer fillingup on the supplies I provide. I may even glimpse anoverwintering visitor from further afield – a redwing orfieldfare gobbling berries from my pyracantha.

As our countryside changes increasing numbers of birdsrely on our gardens for their needs: food and water, shelterand roosting cover, singing perches, nest sites, nestingmaterials, and protection for fledglings.

Between December and March natural food supplies arescarce, so supplementary food helps garden birds surviveand stay in good condition for breeding. The greater varietyof food you provide, in different sorts of feeders, the moretypes of bird you will attract. Hanging feeders containingpeanuts or seeds attract tits and finches, as well as nuthatch,brambling (pictured below) and spotted woodpecker. Mixedwinter flocks of tits devour hanging fat blocks, whilst suetpellets on the ground can be eaten by thrushes. Bird tableswith kitchen scraps or bird food will bring starlings, dunnocks,blackcap and others. Windfall apples put out through winterfeed blackbirds and can tempt in fieldfare. Put limited food outat a time, and clear up droppings and waste to reduce disease.Regularly clean all feeders and water containers.

A supply of water for drinking and bathing is a highpriority for birds too. A shallow container kept topped-upwill do. It’s important to remove or melt any ice.

Looking ahead, why not put up some nest boxes toincrease nest sites in your garden? Consider planting a tree,shrub or hedge in the spring, which can provide birds with aberry bonanza plus cover for nesting or roosting. Choosenatives like guelder-rose, spindle or hawthorn, or cultivatedvarieties like pyracantha or cotoneaster.

Feed the birds and help raise fundsA copy of your Vine House Farm bird seed catalogue isenclosed with this issue of Wildlife News. Last year the Trustreceived a donation of £10,000 thanks to orders placed byBBOWT members.

Find out more■ For a copy of BBOWT’s ‘Feeding Garden Birds’ factsheet

no. 10, email wildinfo@bbowt.org.uk or tel 01865799307.

■ Rachel recommends The Birdwatcher’s Garden, by Hazeland Pamela Johnson, (£14.99) ISBN 9781861088703

■ Turn to the back page for the chance to win a copy ofthe RSWT Concise Garden Bird Guide (£4.99)ISBN 9781847739780.

Did you know?You don’t need to be a wildlife expert to become a BBOWTvolunteer. Recently recruited volunteers Cath Moore and KarenPeters are office workers by day and members of the Friends ofWoolley Firs in Berks at the weekend. Cath is now a fully trainedbrushcutter operator and both Cath and Karen built a footpathto the chalk bank. When they are not building paths or cuttingback scrub they also stock watch for us to check that our NewForest ponies and Hebridean sheep are happy and healthy.

Without volunteers like Cath and Karen we couldn’tachieve half as much as we do – so here’s to all our local wildlifechampions! Thank you for your time and dedication.

You can find everything you need to know about gettinginvolved as a Trust volunteer at bbowt.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer/

For details of allaward winners go tobbowt.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer-of-the-year

Your continued supportis making a difference

From bark rubbing to matchingleaves with their trees, children

from William Harding Schoolare discovering nature in a

playful way, learning withouteven realising it.

(Rachel Hudson)

hy not take a stroll around Wells Farm nature reservein Oxon in search of mixed flocks of farmland birds?In winter they are making good use of the energy-rich

seeds at the field margins. At Wells Farm we aim to strike the rightbalance between farming activities and providing a thrivingwildlife habitat. During particularly cold weather the reserve cansupport impressive flocks of finches, buntings and larks.

The real challenge is to identify the birds as they creepamongst the stubble in search of seeds. Look out for the yellowbelly of the yellowhammers, which stand out among the brownsand greys of corn bunting and skylark. The corn bunting is thelargest of the buntings with quite a plump appearance and theskylark should still show evidence of a crest at this time of year.

If they take to the wing and wheel backwards and forwardshigh overhead like a swarm of midges, it certainly helps to knowtheir calls if you would like to tell them apart. The corn buntingutters a rather liquid ‘quit-it-it’ flight call in contrast to theskylark’s ‘chirrup’. Corn buntings also have a habit of danglingtheir legs in flight.

Also look out for finches such as chaffinch and linnet, whichcould also be feeding in the stubble fields. The field margins will bethe areas to check for charms of goldfinches feasting on deadthistle and teasel heads. The hedgerows should have attendantflocks of marauding redwing and fieldfare. These mixed flocks of

winter thrushes, visiting fromScandinavia, can strip ahedgerow of its berry crop in aday or two!

Many of our farmland birdshave suffered catastrophicdeclines in recent decades dueto the increasing intensificationof agriculture. The lack of foodduring winter months is asignificant factor in the declineof yellowhammers and cornbuntings. By creating wide field margins, diverse hedgerows andwild bird seed crops, as well as providing overwintering stubble atWells Farm, we have created a giant bird table packed with thefood our farmland birds need to survive the winter.

Scarlet elfcupHead to the woods anytimefrom December to February

to find these tiny, yet brightlycoloured fungi that decoratefallen, moss-covered, rotten

twigs. The best places to lookare along the path edges at

Bowdown Woods, SydlingsCopse and Dancersend

nature reserves.

TreecreeperThis distinctive woodland bird

often joins flocks of tits andother small birds during the

winter months, so if you comeacross such a flock in a wood

such as Warburg NatureReserve or Finemere Wood,

it is worth listening out forthe high trill of a treecreeper

among them.

IvyContrary to popular belief the

evergreen ivy does not harm itshost tree and provides food and

shelter for a multitude of wildlifeincluding beetles and

hibernating butterflies. Theflowers, produced in autumn to

early winter, are incredibly rich innectar and ripen to dark purple

fruit in late winter to mid-spring.

IT’S TIME TO SEE…

6 Wildlife news

(She

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(Pet

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)

(And

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Farmland birds Corn

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W

Find out more■ Please see your reserves handbook for locations of all nature

reserves or go to bbowt.org.uk/reserves.■ Your Nature Notes e-bulletin sent on 30 November has more

ideas for winter walks across the three counties.■ Go to www.bbowt.org.uk/whats-on for our programme of

guided wildlife walks.

Away from the crowds, free to visit and full of winter wonders.It’s time to get out to a BBOWT nature reserve near you.

Across the lakeWinter is the best time to watchwetland birds and wildfowl. BBOWThas some lovely nature reserves withlakes and waterside views from snughides.

If you seek tranquillity head toWeston Turville Reservoir in Bucks,screened by woodland and fringed withthick reedbeds that rustle in the breeze.From High Bank you have the best viewof the entire lake with great crestedgrebe, geese and swans. If you train yourbinoculars on the fishing platformstucked into the reedbeds you are likely tosee a lone heron poised to catch fish.For a more bustling wildlife experiencespend a few hours at College Lake withits panoramic views across the lakes andshallows. If you’re lucky you may see alarge flock of lapwing. From theoctagonal hide watch colourful wigeonand teal.

RobinThis is one of the only birds to

be heard singing in the gardenon Christmas Day. Both the

male and female sing duringthe winter, though their

winter song sounds morewistful than the summer

version. When fluffed up tokeep warm, these fierce little

birds almost double in size.

BrimstoneWith its distinctive sulphur-

coloured, leaf-shapedwings, the male brimstone

butterfly is a welcome sightafter a long, dark winter.

It is one of the few speciesthat hibernates as an adult

and, as such, spends themajority of its life as an

adult butterfly.

December 2012 7

Winter trackingMustering the will to go out walking in thewinter snow or mud can reward you withsome unique wildlife encounters. You areless likely to see a creature itself, but morelikely to discover the footprints of everyanimal that passes by.

Visit Sydlings Copse in Oxfordshireand you may see the dog-like tracks of thefox, distinguishable by the imaginary ‘X’you can draw between the unusually smallpad and four digits. Drop by Moor Copsein Berkshire and you might find the heart-shaped impressions of a roe deer’s hoovesalongside the much smaller muntjac’s,with its characteristic one cleave longerthan the other.

But don’t forget to look for other signsof winter animals, such as hazelnutslodged in the bark of trees by thenuthatch, the web of a long-gone spideror the droppings of a travelling hare. Eachbuilds the story of a winter in the wild.

(Pet

er C

reed

)

(Sue

Whi

te)

Harvest mouse.(Andy Sands/naturepl.com)

College LakeNature Reserve.(Michaela J. Davies)

For more information about wildlife near you visit bbowt.org.uk/wildlife/species-a-z

In December and Januaryred foxes become more

visible and more audible.(Andy Rouse/naturepl.com)

Fox35 × 50 mm

DogBadger

35 × 45 mm

Red deer70 × 90 mm

Roe deer30 × 45 mm

Muntjac20 × 30–40 mm

Teal

. (Ro

ger W

ilson

)