At a very good awards ceremony held at Beckett School local nature conservation groups & people were well represented. In the Environment Category the winner was Tim Williams & Ian Workman for their particular contributions to the Wilwell Farm Work Party (and also Wilford Claypits), but in addition the East Bridgford Wildlife Group were short listed for their work at Springdale Wood and Bridgford Street Meadow. In the Young Environmentalist category I am delighted to say that Samuel Mark won for his volunteer work at Skylarks and that the Rushcliffe Wildlife Group were also short listed.  As was Bill Logan in the Volunteer of the Year category , Bill is an NWT Trustee but locally is a principal organizer of the Friends of Sharphill Wood.

So congratulations to the winners and short listed, but also a big thanks to all the other nature conservation related groups nominated (South Notts Ringing Group, Grizzeled Skipper Project, Radcliffe on Trent Conservation Volunteers, StMarys Convent, Whatton Prison) for their distinctive contributions to the natural environment of Rushcliffe.

 It demonstrates how vibrant the local nature conservation community is, as  that list could have easily been doubled.

In this years Spring Fair at Ruddington (Sat 18th May) we are hoping to extend the range of our crafts stall. Do you have any ideas/skills that might provide us with some different craft goods, particularly if it is wildlife themed ?

We would love to hear from you, as it would be assist us in our major fund raising exercise.

Contact gordon.dyne@gmail.com

Butterfly Conservation (East Midlands) have produced a summary for the Dingy and Grizzeled Skipper Project results for 2018. See attached 2018 DSandGS Project-progress report.     The key conclusion for Rushcliffe is that Grizzeled Skippers are doing well in this area (Dingy Skippers are not found locally).

In part this is the result of the good work being done by the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group Grizzeled Skipper Project and as it happens they have released details of thier 2018/19 winter work party programme. So if you would like to help with this important project, for more details follow this link NottsBAG Grizzled Skipper Practical Work Poster 2018-19_V2

Do you live near Trent Bridge and would you like to help look after a site on the southern banks of the Trent, off Wilford Lane? If so, we have set two initial work party dates: Sunday October 28th and Sunday 11th November. We will be meeting up at the boardwalk entrance off Gresham Park Road (road leading to Emmanuel School) at 10.15am for a 10.30am start. Work parties will be led on both occasions by Practical Conservation Volunteers (former TCV). Ben Driver (NWT) will be along on the day. Anyone is welcome to come down for part of the session if you are not available all day.

The WATCH group based at the Rushcliffe Country Park are appealing for additional volunteers to help them ensure the group can offer a wide range of activities and help young people to have fun, enjoy the outdoors and develop an awareness of the environment around them. For more information, please contact Lynn Victor, Wildlife Watch organiser, on 0115 9588242, or email : lvictor@nottswt.co.uk.

For more details follow this link http://www.southnottswildlife.org.uk/content/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Watch-Vol-Poster-Rushcliffe-2018-1.pdf

Due to our fundraising efforts over the past 12 moths South Notts has made two donations to Notts Wildlife Trust. One of £1,900 is to provide a badly needed equipment store at Attenborough for the Southern Reserves Team which will be soon based Attenborough, but operating across the reserves in south Notts including Rushcliffe.

The second is of £100 to support the continuing work of the Keeping It Wild Group which is aimed  at people aged between 13 and 25. This donation represents our belief that this is a really important initative and how much we are impressed with the verve and enthusiasm of the groups members.