These are run every year by Notts Wildlife Trust to recognise local efforts to promote wildlife and nature conservation around the county. This year the following people and groups were nominated for the Rushcliffe area Derek Rudge (Wilford Claypits), Stonepit Wood Group, South Notts Bird Ringing Group and the Grizzeled Skipper Project.

But the well deserved winners were

Jenny Craig – Jenny is one of the mainstays of the Friends of Bingham Linear Park for many years, both in the administration where she acts as the groups secretary, but also on the practical side where she leads the monthly site work party, leads a programme of site walks in the summer, is an active recorder of the sites butterfly populations (as well as providing analysis of the results). Jenny is the sort of person who is the cornerstone of good local practical conservation.

Gotham Sandbanks Nature Reserve Trust – Gotham Sandbanks is part of one of a handful of SSSI`s in Rushcliffe and includes a range of interesting and uncommon (for the area) wildflowers, such us harebell, greater knapweed, ladies bedstraw, common centuary, hoary plantain, common restharrow and over the last 10 years some 83 other types of flora, plus at least 11 species of grass. The site was gradually deteriorating with taller grasses and scrub encroaching on the remaining fragment of species rich grassland within the sandbank itself. But funding from Higher Level Stewardship was obtained to allow the Trust to put up stock proof fencing around an extended area of the species rich grassland. In the winters of 2013 and 2014 local volunteers put in a great effort brushcuting the open grassland in both years and clearing the area of encroaching scrub and clearing the fence lines, with the fencing going in during 2014. Whilst all this was going on there has been survey work carried out recording flora, birds, butterflies etc, as well as getting the local school involved in outdoor activities. This is all the start of a long process, but in the last 4 years far more has been achieved by the Nature Reserve Trust than was thought possible.

The South Notts Local Group 2016/17 AGM saw the following ratified as the committee for 2017/18 are Gordon Dyne (Chair), Jacquie Glenn (Secretary), Valerie Holt (Treasurer), Margie Richards, Graham Leigh Brown, Niel Glenn, Judith Booth, Cath Lovatt, Cally Keetly, and Chris Overton. For the AGM minutes and accounts follow these links NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST AGM Minutes 2017  and SNG Accounts 1617

Notts Biodiversity Action Group are currently running a project in Bulwell to support our native white-clawed crayfish (a LBAP species).  The project, at Bulwell Hall, is seeking to control and eventually eradicate signal crayfish from two fishing ponds at this site.  Bulwell sits within the River Leen catchment and this is currently one of the best catchments for white-clawed crayfish in the East Midlands. Signal crayfish (as well as other American crayfish species) carry crayfish plague which causes mortality in the native white-clawed crayfish when it comes into contact with infected individuals.

As a result this is an incredibly important project to try to stop the signal crayfish from spreading into the wider River Leen catchment. In order for the project to work we require the assistance of a large numbers of volunteers.  The volunteers will help with emptying the traps, recording the catch and then sterilising and returning the larger male crayfish. We will provide gloves, life vests, waders (as close to your size as possible) and other equipment. If you are interested in getting involved and are free on any of the dates below then please feel free to contact Chris Jackson at biodiversity@nottscc.gov.uk

 Saturday 6^th May, Tuesday 9^th May, Friday 12^th May, Monday 15^th May, Thursday 18^th May, Sunday 21^st May, Wednesday 24^th May, Saturday 27^th May, Tuesday 30^th May, Friday 2^nd June, Monday 5^th June, Thursday 8^th June, Sunday 11^st June, Wednesday 14^th June, Saturday 17^th June, Tuesday 20^th June, Friday 23^rd June, Monday 26^th June, Thursday 29^th June

 More details about crayfish in Nottinghamshire can be found on the NottsBAG website (there is a leaflet at the bottom of the projects and publications page – I’m afraid it may be slightly out of date due to recent survey work).

On 15th May 2017 – 6.30pm – 10.00pm, This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people’s sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton’s bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds. The workshop will be led by Lisa Worledge, Head of Conservation Services at the Bat Conservation Trust .  There will also be infromation about how you could help with the National Bat Monitoring Programme and our Echolocation Location project.

For more details and to book please visit nottsbatgroup.org.uk/events/?event_id1=38

South Notts Bird Ringers have been running bird ringing sites in Rushcliffe and elsewhere for many years and have just published their latest report. See attached a link to the SNRG Report 2015 .