Winter Wildlife Talks Programme

Just a reminder that our winter Wildlife Talks programme starts again on the first Thursday in October at the Methodist Church, Musters Rd, West Bridgford as usual. we cover a range of topics relating to both local and world wildlife using knowledgable speakers. A snip at £3 per head (incl tea & biccies). Come along and try it, all welcome.

Full details of the 2017/18 Wildlife Talks Programme can be found on our web site 

Whats on a Twig ?

Tim Williams, lover of obscure and curious wildlife, used his microscope to take a selection of shots from a single twig I got from Wilwell. Not a special twig just a dead twig. If thats what on one small twig about the size of a pencil it makes you appreciate how vibrant and diverse the whole reserve is. He identified five different species of fungi, lichen etc living on that one small twig. It makes you wonder how much diversity a thorough study might throw up on just one site. Biodiversity is not just birds and butterflies fundamental to a healthy ecosystem will all these unsung heroes” making a living on twigs and stones, high in trees, underground, in marshes and on hard ground – life gets everywhere.

Photos of Tim`s little “menagerie” can be found here  

Moth trapping in Cotgrave Forest

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust carried out a moth trapping evening at Cotgrave Forest on 4th August 2017. The event was hosted by one of the woodland owners. Neighbouring owners were invited along and the evening was supported by two local naturalists/ ecologists, Neil Pinder and Mike Hill.

The event yielded a total of 27 species, which is good given the recent unsettled weather. Although no particular rarities arrived at our moth trap, the diversity in colouring and patterning of the moths was outstanding. This ranged from the mainly yellow Brimstone moth to the quite large and numerous Large Yellow Underwing, both of which came to our trap early on. We also saw the Blood-vein and Peach Blossom; the latter arrived at the sugar mix we painted on a nearby fence post. Both have very beautiful markings. Further information on
the moths mentioned can be found on the UK Moths website  ttps://www.ukmoths.org.uk/

Cotgrave Forest is one of the ‘focal areas’, identified by
the Rushcliffe local nature partnership (RNCSIG). We are currently working up a project focused on Cotgrave Forest and it sourroundings. As part of this, we are offering support to woodland owners in managing their sites for wildlife and will be offering a free woodland training course for them in the autumn. http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/.

Ben Driver, Southern Conservation Officer, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust