OUT & ABOUT WITH WILDLIFE – WALKS PROGRAMME

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Coming up

 Wed 15th Sep – Bat Walk with Martin Price & Nots Bat Group. Meet 7 pm at the Skylarks Nature Reserve car park – on right along Adbolton Lane, after Holme Pierrepont Country Park entrances. Bring suitable warm clothing and a torch

Coming up  our 2021/22 Winter Wildlife Talks Programme

Each winter, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s South Notts Local Group presents a programme of monthly talks covering the whole spectrum of wildlife.

Last winter, Jack Perks, the renowned local wildlife cameraman, took us underwater with the fish that swim in our rivers.  We visited the icy wastes of Antarctica and saw fabulous scenery and fascinating animals.  Kyle Carsen, a lifelong birder and musician, joined us from Ohio and opened our eyes – and ears – to the amazing complexities of birdsong.  We heard about successful Welsh bird conservation projects, learnt about the wide range of British reptiles, and shared the amazing range of flora and fauna to be found at Centre Parcs’ Sherwood Village.

This winter’s programme promises to be equally diverse and rewarding:

  • Roadside verges are things most of us drive by without taking much notice, but in October we will explore the wide range of wild flowers to be found there and learn about their fascinating lives.
  • Butterflies nationally are in decline; in November we will look at how our gardens can help these beautiful creatures to survive and grow.
  • December’s talk will transport us from the depths of our winter to sunshine safaris in the national parks of South Africa.
  • In January, best-selling author Gordon Hamlett will take a light-hearted look at the stories behind his book on birdwatching in the Scottish Highlands.
  • We stay in Scotland in February, exploring the magical landscapes and wildlife of Skye, the Outer Hebrides and the Shetland Islands with wildlife photographer Nick Martin
  • Leaving the otters and eagles of Scotland behind us, in March we look at the more prosaic but rapidly-declining Hedgehog, and how two brothers inspired a village to protect and sustain this beautiful creature.

Each talk will be available through Zoom, both live and recorded, so come and join us from the comfort of your own home  in a winter wildlife wonderland.  Each talk costs £3; subscribe for all six for £15. Full details, including technical requirements and how to book, are available on our website at http://www.southnottswildlife.org.uk/content/?page_id=234

 Also see our FACEBOOK PAGE  https://www.facebook.com/SouthNottsWildlifeGroup  for local wildlife news from groups in Rushclife

Wildlife Talks

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COMING SOON – Our online Winter Wildlife Talks programme starts on Thur Oct 7th with a talk on Flowers of Road Verges and Reserves by Gerald who pent two years photographing the Nature Reserves and flower-bedecked roadsides, all within eight miles of his home in the countryside to the south of Winchester.
Talk is online via ZOOM and cost £3 per device (incl booking fee) via https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/…/2021-10-07…

Tree Council

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The Tree Council helps run a network of incredible volunteer Tree Wardens, working together to grow a greener future – and would love for you to get involved. There is a Tree Warden network in Rushcliffe covering many parishes, to see follow this link #trees in your community > https://treecouncil.org.uk/take-action/tree-wardens/

Seed Gathering Season is one of our favourite times of year – and it’s finally arrived! As autumn begins and the nights draw in, it’s the perfect time to get collecting and get to know your local trees > https://bit.ly/3hGtPUS

 

 

 

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards

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In conjunction with media partner West Bridgford Wire, the Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards will celebrate the Borough’s wonderful volunteers, businesses, clubs, organisations, environmentalists, sports teams and athletes and the best of its health and wellbeing and food and drink sectors.
It will also be an opportunity to reflect on those that continue to play pivotal roles in the COVID-19 pandemic and how so many groups and individuals have played incredible parts in assisting Rushcliffe communities and local enterprise in times of need.
You can read the full press release at the link below where you will find more information including a list of award categories:
To make a nomination for one of the 10 awards visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CRAs2021
Nominations are open until 11pm on Monday 18th October and the winners will be announced and celebrated in a ceremony to be confirmed later this year.

Progress on Wilford Fields

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As it stands, the petition will be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee on the 13th of October where it will be considered and responded to, as part of a wider report covering a number of petitions. Not only that, they’re taking it word for word!
It is envisaged that the petition will be accepted and the actions requested in the petition taken forward.
This is fantastic news. The field is days away from being formally protected and will now be in the community’s hands to prepare for its future.
I will be sharing a poll in the coming week for when we might be able to host an online (zoom) inaugural meeting of the Friends of Wilford Field group where we will elect formal committee positions, adopt a constitution and prepare a future plan. This will be integral to the council accepting that Wilford Field has a bright future and we are the right people to be helping to guide its future.
Councillor Gordon Wheeler has continued to be a fantastic support and has committed to being there at every step of the way. Without him, this petition wouldn’t have made it to the committee let alone been accepted. Thank you Gordon!
The first big step is to make Wilford Field accessible.
Many people will know the pain of the slip’n’slide at the Western entrance as soon as there’s any hint of rain. For some who rely on that entrance or most enjoy walking through the field on their daily commute, this is an annual pain!
Please comment with any recommendations or suggestions on how we might make the steep bank more accessible. This might revolve around durable matting, but you might have other bright ideas that are feasible. Unfortunately, it appears that steps, for health and safety reasons, are beyond consideration.
My personal thought is a slight diverted route going left (when coming up from Sydney Park) on a less steep gradient lightly carved into the side of the bank. Please share your thoughts and we can put these to the council.

The Great Big Green Week: A Wilder East Bridgford –

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Saturday, 25 September 2021 | Sunday, 26 September 2021 at East Bridgford Village Hall, East Bridgford, England. Find event and ticket information on this link

 
East Bridgford Wildlife and Biodiversity Group

Big Green Week – Carbon Literacy Course

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Carbon Literacy Course

What to look out for in Sept/Oct

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Summer’s almost ended, and (meteorological) autumn is nearly here. Flowers and leaves may soon be gone for the year, and our summer visitors leaving but the coming two months offer the prospect of lots of birds coming in for the winter to join our resident species, and there will still be plenty of insects to look out for. To find out more, follow this link: http://www.southnottswildlife.org.uk/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/month-ahead-sept_oct-2021.pdf

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Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with the Community to fight Barton/Mill Hill Quarry

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been fighting to protect wildlife from the threat posed by a new sand & gravel quarry proposed for Barton in Fabis – directly across the River Trent from our much loved Attenborough Nature Reserve – since at least 2017.

Whilst we accept that sand and gravel extraction is needed in our county, this allocation is one of the most ecologically damaging we’ve dealt with and we’ve objected to it from day 1 – working closely with local residents, community representatives and members of the Save the Ancient Valley Environment (SAVE) campaign group.

Our efforts alongside the community have resulted in significant and welcome modifications to the planning application, illustrating the importance of us continuing to fight wildlife’s corner but this proposal still poses a threat to wildlife both on the Barton-In-Fabis side of the River Trent and at our much loved Attenborough Nature Reserve and risks disruption and disturbance of people’s enjoyment of a number of vital wildlife areas.

Our Nature Recovery team are currently preparing our official objection to the proposal but given the importance of the sites in question and the strength of feeling within the local community we are asking our supporters to help directly by responding to the official planning consultation by the 10th September 2021.

Having cared for Attenborough Nature Reserve for over 50 years and having only recently been backed by members and supporters to take ownership of the site the prospect of damaging disturbance to its wildlife and of impact on people’s enjoyment of this cherished site is a real cause for concern.

Our key concerns for wildlife

The proposal will result in loss of and damage to areas of designated Local Wildlife Sites (LWS). This is unacceptable given that Nottinghamshire has such a low level of protected habitat and the urgent need to reverse the ecological crisis by ensuring that 30% of land can support nature.

The proposal could have a negative impact of Schedule 1 protected breeding birds recorded within the proposed quarry site

Designated LWS’s including Clifton Wood may be affected by noise disturbance – a real concern for both breeding birds and bats. We are also concerned that the noise modelling data doesn’t enable us to assess the full impact of the noise pollution on species or particular sites.

Noise disturbance could be a real issue for birds just across the river at Attenborough Nature Reserve too – both for breeding birds and species choosing Attenborough a safe haven to spend the winter.

Birds overwintering at Attenborough could face a double blow due to the loss of important grazing habitat on the Barton-in-Fabis side of the river.

Follow this link for guidance https://www.barton-in-fabis.net/wp/?page_id=214

Coming up localy

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There will be a special puppet performance for children 11am to 2pm this Monday 23rd August on The Hook Nature Reserve. Follow the nature trail, see what you can spot and discover the puppets. Flyers available at Mona Road entrance to The Hook.
Handmade Theatre has been funded by Lady Bay Arts Trail.
Also Nick and Jackie Sparrow is holding an official Butterfly Conservation charity garden open day on bank holiday Saturday 28th Aug 1 to 5pm at 20 Trevor Road, West Bridgford. Tea and cakes etc. £3 to get in. Hopefully there will be some butterflies joining us on the day.