Welcome to the spring 2010 edition of the WNCF newsletter. I’m writing this at the beginning of February when the winter is still here in the form of sleeting rain alternating with large snowflakes. I’ve just re-read the last couple of spring newsletters to see what I wrote in previous years, and one of the themes was how un-winter-like our winters have been. Well, this winter has definitely been a ‘proper’ winter with icy temperatures, bitter winds, snow (and sledging) and lots of cold bright days. The older kids have loved the snow, but my youngest boy was not impressed with his cold hands after joining in with the snowball making. Our garden was invaded by a dominant fieldfare that chased away all the blackbirds and stripped the berries from the pyracanthus. According to the BTO website we were not alone as a huge and unexpected number of these birds visited gardens all over the country. The fieldfare had gone when the time came for Garden Birdwatch, but at least our blackbirds had returned. Getting the kids to birdwatch the garden for an hour was a bit of a challenge, and they were disappointed when I said we couldn’t count the long-tailed-tits in someone else’s tree but the sparrowhawk that scattered small birds everywhere caused great excitement. The bird visitors in our new garden are slowly increasing although I’ve decided not to try to compete with the well-stocked bird feeding station in our next door neighbour’s garden. We can just about see ‘their’ birds from our landing window! Our neighbour’s love of wildlife definitely doesn’t extend to grey squirrels though. They meet the end of a gun if they dare to tread next door in search of a peanut. I’m not sure it's quite fair to lay out lots of tempting food. So, instead of squirrels, my kids have taken to spotting the house mice that bravely run across the short stretch of path outside our patio windows before climbing up the wall and leaping onto our bird table. I’m still deciding where to put my nestboxes (yes, I’m a bit late, I know). The ideal spot for us to watch is probably not great for the birds as its right underneath where all the woodpigeons perch and in prime position for being knocked down by a stray football. We’ve found lots of old nests in the tangle of overgrown shrubs at the bottom of the garden, where deadly thorns do not seem to deter breeding birds. I was hoping for lots of spring bulbs to appear but no signs yet. We will be planting some snowdrops, primroses and daffodils over the coming year, as seeing spring flowers just makes me feel better! Keep your eye out for blackthorn and hawthorn coming into leaf in early March as well as the appearance, on days when the sun shines, of over-wintered butterflies, bumble bees and ladybirds. Before you know it the hour will be changing, birds will be singing their courtship songs, all the daffodils will be flowering along the road verges and it’ll be Spring! Nature conservation roles and responsibilities are changing once again at Warrington Borough Council as budgets are tightened and staff lost. For an update and more, please come along to the next general meeting on Saturday March 6th at Risley Moss, 10:30am start. Anyway, enjoy the next few months of wildlife activity, noise and general excitement, in your garden, local park or further afield. If you have any articles or items of interest please email mel.bradley@sky.com

Contact the Forum! We’d love to know your thoughts on the newsletter or meetings, if you have any comments or questions please get in touch with Helen or Melanie.

If you do not have internet access and would like any further information on articles please contact Helen. Helen Lacy WNCF General Secretary 01925 442839 hlacy@warrington.gov.uk

In this issue- The Winter Whiteout, sights and smells of Spring, International Year of Biodiversity, focus on Toads Plus much more >>

Winter Diary – Paul Hazlehurst

Winter came as a shock for me on the 23rd December with the first fall of snow. After doing some late night shopping my car skidded into the next lane when leaving the car park. Luckily there were no casualties. I spent Christmas day at Woolston eyes nature reserve. The water was frozen over but the feeders at the side of the new hide were busy with finches and tits and a great spotted woodpecker. A couple of snipe flew over and walking down to the weir I was treated to excellent views of Goldeneye on the pool. I also counted twenty two cormorants roosting on the pylon opposite Paddington Meadows. The paths at Moore Nature Reserve were frozen solid but by Boxing Day news had spread about sightings of the bittern and birders were risking broken bones, binoculars and camera equipment to get a view. Unfortunately, I missed them but I did see the cheeky Robin in the hide perching on the end of camera lenses and getting well fed by the birders. I also missed a barn owl flying across the reedbed but I caught sight of a skein of one hundred and fifty pink footed geese flying over upper moss side heading towards Southport. The landscape was transformed on the 5th January with heavy snow and freezing temperatures at night and according to the news ‘the worst winter for thirty years’. It also brought extra birds into my garden from Sankey Valley Park and turned me into a ‘curtain twitcher’ (note the bad joke!). A mix of sunflower heads, grated cheese, fat balls, sultanas and a golden delicious apple attracted chaffinch, pied wagtail, field fare and Redwing which formed a temporary roost in my holly bush. On the 7th January a wintering blackcap came to my bird table to refuel. It stayed for twenty minutes before disappearing into next doors hedge. Driving home from work that night the temperature outside my car dropped to minus eleven. Today, Saturday 16th January, the temperature is slowly rising, the snowmen melting, the ice thawing, the Sankey brook overflowing, my garden quieter and I am thinking about bird song, courtship displays, nest building, spring, and the year ahead.

Photos: Helen Lacy & Dave Bowman (Woolston Eyes Conservation Group)

MoleWatch Although mole hills are a common sight, especially after harsh weather of recent weeks, very few people have actually seen a live mole. Their life is an underground one, rarely coming to the surface. At present, the only way we have of recording the presence of moles is by observing a molehill. MoleWatch would like your help by taking part in their survey, so if you are interested, you might like to visit their website www.molewatch.org.uk, email help@molewatch.org.uk or call 020 7498 4533 for a pack. **Please don’t forget to add any data to rECOrd first ! You can enter the records into RODIS and then export them back and save them as a file on your own PC so you can pass them on elsewhere too.**

Managing Flood Risk in Warrington The Environment Agency are currently drafting proposals for flood risk in Warrington, there's still time for you to comment (ends 8th March). The document is fairly concise and includes an easy to understand colour coded map. You can read more details here: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/109697.aspx What are the proposals? Warrington is surrounded by water and is at high risk from both tidal and river flooding. The most recent serious events were in 1990 and in 2000. The EA is looking at how to manage the risk of future flood events, with the focus on managing risk of flooding from rivers. The strategy they have produced looks at the River Mersey, Sankey Brook and its tributaries, Spittle Brook, Padgate Brook, Whittle Brook and Penketh Brook. Proposals include maintenance of existing defences as well as building flood defence walls and embankments, a new barrage and pumping station. At this stage, it's difficult to predict how these changes will affect wildlife or what opportunities for habitat improvement exist but it's worth having a look.

Round-up.....the sights and smells of spring When you're out walking this month, you might detect the smell of garlic rising from underfoot. The new shoots of ramsons (Allium ursinum) begin to spear through the soil in February, often in vast numbers. As with all our native spring bulbs, the flower buds were formed last year, alongside a food store. This starchy reserve accumulated in the swollen, underground leaf-bases that form the bulb and is now fuelling a vigorous burst of growth, which will eventually carpet the woodland floor in starry white flowers. Also adding a splash of colour to woodland floors this month are the tiny blue flowers of dog violets. The first honey bee workers are often active in February, visiting flowers such as snowdrops and hellebores, which offer the easily accessible, high-energy nectar that the bees need after a winter of hibernation. Once the queen starts egg-laying, the workers need to provide pollen for the brood, and when supplies are short, they will even collect pollen from hazel catkins. Honey bee numbers have fallen drastically in Britain over the past decade, since the arrival of the Varroa parasitic mite, which has devastated hives and driven some beekeepers out of business. The male great spotted woodpecker is out head-banging now. You'll notice him mainly in the early morning as he beats out a repetitive "rat-a-tat-tat" sound on a dead branch or tree trunk with his beak. It's a kind of woodpecker code language - a bit like Morse code only much faster. The noise is telling other male woodpeckers to clear off, this is his space and only interested female woodpeckers should intrude. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/greatspotted.htm Unless you're an angler you're unlikely to ever get a good view of the common carp; often all you see of them is a quick flash of silver as one zips through the murky green water. But early spring is different as there's less vegetation and the water can be surprisingly clear. If you wrap up warm and sit quietly by a lake or slow-moving river you might get to see this freshwater fish, one of our bigger species. It can grow up to a metre long, and if you drop small pieces of bread on the water you may tempt it to feed at the surface. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/commoncarp.htm Safe in the security of their underground setts female badgers are giving birth to their cubs. There can be up to five cubs, all about 12cms long, grey in colour, and already displaying their distinctive dark head stripes. If you have a sett near you, you may notice more activity at the surface including fresh footprints near the sett entrances and piles of old discarded bedding as the badgers start spring cleaning. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/badgers.htm Female bumble bees are on the wing again. On sunny days you can see them buzzing around the few plants which are in bloom now, or hovering around small holes in the ground in search of a nesting site to lay their eggs. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees build a completely new colony every year. They usually make their nest in a disused mouse hole, which can come fully furnished with some old mouse bedding. If not you'll see them carrying bits of dry moss and grass down into the hole. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/bumblebees.htm Trees will soon be covered in fresh foliage, but this month it's still easy to find the bracket fungi growing on the trunks of birch trees. In the past these fungi were used to sharpen razor blades. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/birchbracket.htm Hare-brained is sometimes how we describe someone or something which is a bit foolish or mad. If you've ever seen hares in March you'll understand where the expression comes from. At this time of year pairs can sometimes be seen chasing each other round and round or standing on their hind legs boxing. Very often one of the hares is a male and the other is an unreceptive female resisting his advances. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/brownhares.htm

One of the first butterflies to appear each year is the brimstone. This species is thought to be the origin of the word "butterfly" on account of its "butter" coloured wings. It is only the male which has yellow wings. The female is has cream coloured wings. Both the male and female have orange spots on the upper surfaces of their wings, although you rarely get to see them, as they rest with their wings closed together. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/brimstone.htm The caterpillars of the orange tip butterfly feed on the stems of the cuckoo flower, so you might notice the female of this species dipping on and off the stems of these plants as she lays a single egg on each one. She looks a bit like a cabbage white butterfly, but of course there are no cabbages around at this time of year. The male is unmistakable with his bright orange wing tips and lichen coloured underwings. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/orangetip.htm There's a lot of superstition surrounding the blackthorn tree. It's said that if you bring the blossom into the house a death will follow! Maybe it's best to just appreciate the brilliant white flowers outdoors. The blooming often coincides with a cold spell of weather generally known as a "blackthorn winter". More at: http://www.uksafari.com/blackthorn.htm The early bird might catch the worm, but it's the early bat which catches the gnat. On mild days you can sometimes see congregations of tiny midges flying up and down in the sunlight. These are a strong temptation for pipistrelle bats to leave their winter hibernation sites and fly out to feed. Because they're so hungry you may see them flying at odd hours. Last year I noticed one flying round my garden in broad daylight at midday. It very nearly became lunch for a sparrowhawk which may have mistaken its erratic flight for that of an injured bird. There's a few seconds of shaky video of this on the website. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/commonpip.htm Warm weather may bring adders out of hibernation. They often sit motionless in the sunshine for long periods while they warm up their bodies. Frequently found in heathland and sand dunes with plenty of vegetation to hide in, Risley Moss is a known local site with the species. Keep yourself (and any pets) at a safe distance though as they do have a venomous bite. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/adders.htm Spring is the time when this bird returns from Africa to start its notorious nesting behaviour. Rather than go to all the trouble of building a nest and raising its own chicks, the cuckoo simply places its eggs in another bird's nest. For their size, the cuckoo's eggs are very heavy. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/cuckoos.htm Aphids are starting to multiply like mad, so the emergence of the seven-spot ladybirds from their winter hibernation is a welcome sight for most gardeners. They're difficult to miss in the early morning sunlight as they glisten like little red jewels as they get warmed up, ready for the day's aphid munching. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/ladybirds.htm They're wet, they're slimy, and they're coming to a garden near you soon. All the new vegetation is like a magnet for the slugs. There are more than thirty species of slug in Britain, and at this time of year they multiply like crazy. At the first sign of leaf damage some gardeners do the knee-jerk thing and reach for the slug pellets. These weapons of mass destruction are responsible for the loss of many birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals which eat poisoned slugs and then die of secondary poisoning. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/slugs.htm On sunny days you can see little black and white striped arachnids called zebra spiders running about on walls in search of prey. They catch their food by literally jumping on it. They're only about 5mms long, but they can jump more than 20 times their own body length. They have superb eyesight and if you get too close they rise up and stare straight back at you. More at: http://www.uksafari.com/zebraspiders.htm

Go Wild on the Moss Do you live or work in Birchwood?  

Do you know that the Risley Moss Local Nature reserve is only a few minute drive from your home or workplace? 

Are you aware that Risley Moss is a nationally important nature reserve? Would you like help in making the most of the Moss and the unique wildlife it supports? 

“Make your mark in the National Year of Biodiversity”

Risley Moss Action Group is organising a series of workshops to encourage people who live or work in the Birchwood area to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the reserve and its wildlife.    

These free and informative sessions will cover basic identification, ecology, surveying, recording and fieldwork techniques and cover current legislation as well as some practical content. Workshops are open to all adults and are suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous knowledge.     

Support for these activities has been provided by OPAL and Lottery Funding.  

Places are limited on these special introductory sessions, so booking is essential. To book contact RIMAG by email at mail@rimag.org.uk  or telephone Rob Smith on 07847 072526 

Amphibians & Reptiles Saturday 24th April; 10.00am to 2.00pm

In the United Kingdom there are 12 species of amphibians and reptiles, several of which are found here in Cheshire.  If you would like to discover more about this fascinating but secretive group of animals and be able to tell an adder from a grass snake, this 

workshop will reveal all. 

Flying with Dinosaurs and Floating with Butterflies Saturday 6th June; 10.00am to 2.00pm

Dragonflies are among the oldest of living creatures.   Fossil records show that these insects were flying some 300 million years ago, even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. A little later, along came the butterflies.  This course is designed to aid identification 

of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies and will include habitat association, flight periods and study of their life cycle. 

Moths for Beginners Friday 16th July; 9.00pm until late

There are 2500 species of moth recorded in the UK so you may find our team of experts invaluable in helping you discover the nocturnal world of this diverse group of insects.    This workshop takes a practical and informative approach to moth trapping, 

monitoring and species identification.  

About Bats Friday 20thAugust; 8pm until late

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. Discover the fascinating but often misunderstood world of these amazing creatures.    An illustrated talk and walk covers species identification, distribution of species, monitoring techniques and equipment

The Mammals of Cheshire

Saturday 11th September; 10.00am to 2pm With over 40 species of mammal recorded in Cheshire, this session will cover basic identification, tracks and  signs, recording and fieldwork techniques and current legislation relating to British mammals.   The workshop will include a practical session involving 

small mammals.               Risley Moss Action Group  These training opportunities are organised by Risley Moss Action Group (RIMAG) a registered charity working for the future of Risley Moss. The group is run by volunteers who work with the Ranger Service, supporting them in many aspects of the reserve’s management including public events, surveys and other work.  New members are always welcome and the group meets regularly throughout the year. If you would like more details of the group please visit the RIMAG at www.rimag.org.uk website or enquire through the ranger service. 

2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations – the year that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism. The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB), to coincide with the Tenth Convention of the Parties meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD was established as part of the 2002 Rio Earth Summit when a global target to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 was agreed by nearly 200 countries. The COP10 meeting will take place in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. It will be a major international moment in the future of biodiversity as the parties discuss the success of the past years and set new targets for the decade ahead. In the UK, more than 200 organisations have signed up as partners to the International Year of Biodiversity to raise the awareness of the importance of protecting our natural resources. There will be many national exhibitions, events and surveys to take part in. 22nd May is International Biodiversity Day with the theme this year of Biodiversity for Development. In Cheshire, many Local Biodiversity Action Plan partners will be hosting events, including a Bioblitz. This is an event to record as many species as possible within 24 hours. Everyone is being encouraged to ‘Do one thing for biodiversity in 2010’. Events and talks put on by partners will hopefully encourage families, individuals and groups to do just this.

The UN would like everyone in the UK to do one simple thing to preserve biodiversity:

Pledge ideas • Create a wildflower meadow or plant a window box – get some ideas from the Royal Horticultural

Society • Learn new skills, have fun, and help scientists in important research by taking part in one of the OPAL

national surveys • Enjoy the seasons and the changes each month by going for a walk – the Ramblers Association have

ideas for routes • Don't mow your lawn – an untidy garden encourages wildlife • Learn how to identify 12 birds this year • Go on a bat walk this summer with the Bat Conservation Trust • Link your home, school or office garden into Cheshire's Living Landscape by entering the Wildlife

Friendly Garden Award scheme – it’s free • Visit a roost or potential foraging site on two evenings this summer to help the National Bat Monitoring

Programme • Visit one of Warrington’s special Nature Reserves or SSSI’s • Get out of the house/office! Join the Rangers in one of Warrington’s parks to

undertake tasks such as pond-building or maintenance, fence or path construction, clearing invasive scrub, cutting or planting trees.

• Support biodiversity by planting night flowering blossoms in your garden to encourage bats into your garden

Find out lots more at: http://www.biodiversityislife.net/ http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/

To offer your support for the project or for more detailed  information please contact Richard Gardner, Living Landscape Manager, rgardner@cheshirewt.cix.co.uk or telephone 01948 820728  

The Gowy and Mersey Washlands Project  

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is thinking big. The Gowy and Mersey Washlands Project will realise our landscape‐scale plan to restore, recreate and reconnect floodplain grazing marsh in the River Gowy and River Mersey corridors creating a ‘Living Landscape’.  

                                  The Mersey Washlands. Photograph: The Forestry Commission                 Red Poll cattle and scrapes, Grange Farm, Mickle Trafford  Cheshire Wildlife Trust will work with partner agencies* and  landowners  to create a  resilient network of wetland habitats that will benefit local wildlife as well as people and the economy. By reducing the fragmentation of wetlands key  species  such  as  curlew,  redshank,  lapwing,  water  vole,  great  crested  newt  and  mud  snail  will  have  the opportunity to thrive. Wetland restoration will mitigate the likely impacts of future flooding and a changing climate providing  environmental,  social  and  economic  benefits  for  people  living  and  working  in  the  Gowy  and Mersey Washlands.   Three phases of work will forge the wetland vision: 

1. Wetland Landscape Creation – supporting ambitious agri‐environmental schemes to secure the  long term positive management of the washlands. Species and habitat fragmentation will be mapped and monitored to  chart  the  changes  in  the  landscape  and  species  range.  Supported  by  funding  from  Natural  England through Wetland Vision. 

2. Site Management ‐ using our herd of traditional English cattle to manage 266Ha of floodplain grazing marsh, maximising  its potential  to  support  key  species  and wildlife  communities.    Supported with  funding  from WREN and Environment Agency. 

3. Community  Engagement  –  enabling  everyone who  lives  and works  in  the Gowy  and Mersey Washlands opportunities to experience the Living Landscape and understand why it matters. We will work with schools, community groups and volunteers  to  inspire  them about  these habitats and ecosystems.   Supported with funding from Heritage Lottery Fund. 

 Together these efforts will make a real difference for nature conservation by creating space for wildlife but also by providing  essential  ecosystem  services  such  as  floodwater  storage,  carbon  capture  and  tranquil  places  for  local people to visit and enjoy.  *Project partners  British Association for Shooting and Conservation ,Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership, Cheshire West & Chester,  Environment Agency, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Forestry Commission, Halton Borough Council,  Natural England, RSPB, Warrington Borough Council. 

What a Whiteout! Well it would be wrong for the newsletter not to mention the short snowy period we had back in January- what a fuss it caused! While people stayed off work and kids sledged, it seemed to be the wildlife which caught a lot of media attention. Birds flocked (I had to!) into our gardens to find food and some people were treated to quite rarities. Here’s a synopsis of what made the news: Dr Tim Harrison, BTO Garden BirdWatch, commented, “It is amazing to see the dramatic effect the weather has had on our wild birds. The increase has been most marked in the ground feeding species that are using

the food put out by householders. Such provision could make the difference between life and death.”

Snow tracks show otters thriving Staff at Moor House, Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve have found the tracks of a family of three of the elusive mammals in deep snow. Experts are keeping the location of

the "exciting find" a secret. The reserve extends from the upper edge of the Eden Valley in Cumbria to High Force waterfall in County Durham. Reserve manager Chris McCarty said: "Otter populations are difficult to

monitor because they are very shy creatures. "Usually our only clues that otters are living in an area are the signs that they leave behind. Because of this we were naturally very excited by the discovery of a clear set of

tracks showing an adult otter and two babies. There were three sets of paw-prints left in the snow, and we could even see the marks made by the tails of two of the animals as they slipped into the water.”

Wild boar spotted rooting through rubbish bins to find food during the big freeze. It is

believed the creatures - famous inhabitants of the Forest of Dean - have been unable to forage for food on the frozen ground. Roxanne Blake, of Buckshaft, near Cinderford, was shocked to find two of the animals hunting for provisions outside her home. She said: "They came of out of the woods by my flat and scavenged through the rubbish. They were probably hungry because of the snow. I don't think the boar would normally do this but the snow is affecting everyone and everything." A spokesman for Forest of Dean District Council said rubbish

was being collected but the more remote parts remained inaccessible. After reaching virtual extinction 700 years ago, wild boars have bred rapidly in recent decades. Escapes from wildlife parks and farms and

deliberate releases into the wild have been blamed for the rise. A cull of boar in the Forest of Dean is due to start this year, with trained marksmen picking them out. It is estimated that there could be up to 150 of the

feral pigs in the area, with the Forestry Commission wanting to maintain an average of 100 roaming animals.

Fieldfares forced to scavenge for food. The fieldfare, a common winter visitor to the UK from northern and central Europe, usually feeds on hedgerow fruit and worms in the countryside. With the ground frozen and berries scarce, the birds searched gardens in warmer areas – giving birdwatchers a glimpse of

wildlife not usually found so close to home. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was inundated with calls from people who saw fieldfares in their garden for the first time. Tony Whitehead, RSPB's public affairs officer, said: “With the freeze, we were visited by a flock of a dozen fieldfares, only the second

time we'd seen these birds in our garden in a decade. At the same time, colleagues at our regional office started to receive calls from members of the public wanting to know more about the unusual thrush-like bird in

their garden." The wildlife charity suggested householders leave out apples for fieldfares as the fruit is a suitable replacement for the natural berries they would normally eat.

Thousands of dead crabs washed up on Kent beaches Thousands of dead crabs were washed

up on Kent's beaches after being killed by the cold weather. The velvet swimming crabs littered beaches around Thanet, along with smaller numbers of whelks, sponges and anemones. It is the second year that icy temperatures have killed off the sea creatures in such large numbers. Last year the Environment Agency set up an inquiry amid fears a mystery virus could be to blame. But a spokesman for Thanet Coast Project said

the inquiry concluded the deaths were linked to the cold weather. Manager Tony Child said: "This shows just how much severe weather can disrupt marine life, as well as our

own lives. Usually the temperature of the marine environment is much more stable than our air temperatures. However, investigations into a similar incident we had along the Thanet coast last year now make it more likely that the crabs just couldn't cope with the severe cold. As happens with the circle of life in nature, we expect the

crabs to be naturally dispersed from our shores very quickly by our local seagulls." The crabs account for about 95% of the marine life affected by the cold snap.

Toads on the road By Melanie Bradley Every day is different when you work as a Ranger, and the day we were called to help with thousands of toadlets on the move through the Lever Brothers toothpaste plant will never be forgotten. Trying to detour hundreds of toadlets out of the way of delivery lorries and collecting bucket loads from the factory floor was a pretty bizarre experience. Why this amazing amphibian exodus happened, whether there was some local disturbance or just that the weather was right, I’m not sure, but it has left me with a soft spot for toads.

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) is looking for volunteers now to run ‘toad patrols’ on roads where toads are crossing to reach their breeding ponds. Monitoring the movement of toads and other amphibians and recording their numbers can help determine how the UK populations are doing. Transporting toads from one side of the road to another in a bucket is usually straightforward and rescuing any stragglers likely to get squashed by passing vehicles is always a bonus, although obviously putting yourself in danger of being run over is not a good idea! Toads usually start to move at dusk so are in real danger of getting run over by evening

traffic. More info : http://www.arc-trust.org/toadsonroads/patrolling.php ARC is working closely with Pond Conservation on the Million Ponds Project, an initiative to support the creation of an extra 5,000 good water quality ponds by 2012. This is a positive project to try to combat pond loss and deterioration. The Countryside Survey 2007, just published, shows that 80% of ponds in the British countryside are in a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition, and that pond condition has deteriorated since 1996. Small waterbodies are in poorest condition in intensive agricultural areas and where they have high nutrient levels. Many ponds were both shaded and polluted which further reduced their wildlife value. Ponds support more threatened freshwater plant and animal species than either rivers or lakes and, in a typical patch of English countryside, a wider variety of common species too. Loss of breeding ponds is a main factor behind recent declines for a number of amphibian species. Significantly, the study shows that large numbers of new ponds are created annually in Britain (more than 7,000 ponds per year), and that many of these new ponds rapidly became rich wildlife habitats. “If most new ponds are located in areas where they are protected from pollutants, and are not fed by streams or ditches, they rapidly become wildlife oases that help to protect Britain’s freshwater biodiversity in the long term.” say Pond Conservation . The report also highlights the ecological value of ‘protective networks’ of ponds, where freshwater habitats are linked together. These can be valuable to amphibian populations, offering corridors for dispersal and helping reduce the fragility of local populations

Dating Season kicks off!

We may have past Valentines Day but the dating season for our birds is just about to begin! Those loosely held territories of the winter months will be firmed up over boundary battles and birds will become more aggressive to each other in a bid to claim their spot. Traditional territories often centre on a particularly good nest site (although a new nest is built each year) in a certain thicket or dense patch of shrubbery. So from now onwards there will be much chasing and posturing, a lot of sitting in prominent positions and energetic singing. If you really want a day by day story to follow then you need a nest box to watch (not Corrie!). As Melanie said it’s not too late and boxes are fairly quick and easy to make : Here’s the RSPB’s guide on how to make a nest box:

1. Natural nest holes don't come in 'standard' sizes, so please use the following sizes as a guide. Use a plank about 150 mm wide and 15 mm thick. Use the diagram to help you.

2. The inside of the box must be at least 100 mm square and the bottom of the entrance hole must be at least 125 mm from the floor. If it is less, young birds might be scooped out by a cat.

3. Use galvanised nails or screws. The inside front surface should be rough - this will help the young birds to clamber up. A drainage hole in the base will also help to stop the box getting damp inside.

4. Hinge the lid with a strip of leather or rubber (an old piece of bicycle inner tube would do). Do not nail the lid down (because you will need to clean out the box in the autumn). Instead, use a catch to keep it closed.

5. The entrance hole size depends on the type of bird you want to attract:

25 mm for coal tits, marsh tits and blue tits 28 mm for great tits and tree sparrows 32 mm for nuthatches and house sparrows A starling box needs to be 25-30% larger with an entrance 45 mm across

If you remove the top half of the front panel, the same type of box could attract robins, pied wagtails or wrens to nest. Spotted flycatchers prefer an even shallower, open-fronted box.

Softwood boxes (such as pine) can be treated with water-based wood preservatives, such as Fenceguard or Sadolin: apply only to the outside of the box, and not around the entrance hole. Whatever you use, make sure the box dries and airs thoroughly before putting it up.

Further advice and helpful hints at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/nest_box/ Also see: Nest box challenge http://www.bto.org/nbc/

What’s going on?!

Want to go further a field? There are more events across the Cheshire region, for details see rECOrds events calendar.

Moore Nature Reserve http://www.wrg.co.uk/moorenaturereserve/default.asp

01925 444689 2/5/2010 Dawn Chorus Walk Come along to experience the sights and sounds of Moore Nature Reserve at dawn as we walk around to hear the magnificent birdsong. Local experts will be on hand to help you learn to identify the birds by their song. 9/5/2010 Great Crested Newts A chance to see the Great Crested Newt, a rare and protected amphibian found at Moore Nature Reserve. We will also be pond dipping to discover other creatures lurking in our ponds. 15/5/2010 Beginners' Bird Walk - Spring / Summer Birds A chance for anybody new to birdwatching or with a passing interest in wildlife to learn about the variety of birds at Moore. Please bring binoculars if you have them, although some pairs may be borrowed from the wardens. 23/5/2010 Arpley Landfill Site Tour This is a rare chance to visit the restored areas of Arpley Landfill Site, to learn more about the area, the landfill process and plans for the future. To date over 100 acres have been restored to woodland and grassland, and are home to a variety of wildlife. * Places are limited, please book on 01925 444689. 3/7/2010 Insect Identification Discover more about insects as local experts help us to find and identify our wide variety of creatures including bees, dragonflies, butterflies, beetles and many more. more...

WNCF Activities Next meeting: Saturday 6th March 2010

Risley Moss 10.30 am

Cheshire Active Naturalists http://www.cheshireactivenaturalists.org.uk/

Activities for this year are booking up fast, if you’re interested sign up now!

Cheshire Mammal Group Nunsmere Luxury Mammal Hunt Sunday 2nd May- Tuesday 4th May 2010 Over the course of our short-stay we will explore the grounds and set Longworth Traps for small mammals, look for signs of badger and fox - who knows if we find an active badger sett we may even be able to see some! The weekend will not just be about mammals though, as with our previous trips we will take the opportunity to look at other wildlife in the area. Moth traps will also be used and there’ll be other nocturnal activities such as bat detecting. If you are interested and want to know more please contact Sarah as soon as possible on s.bird@chesterzoo.org

What’s on in Warrington’s Parks http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Leisureandculture/Parksandopenspaces/parks/index.aspx#0

Ranger Service led events and more can be found in the events leaflet (see link above). Events beyond April will be announced shortly so keep checking the web site or ask one of the Rangers.

Sunday 7th March Mad March Hare March 10am-4pm Culcheth Linear Park 01925 765064 Sunday 14th March Frog March 1-4pm Sankey Valley Park 01925 571836 Sunday 14th March Navies Trek 11am-3pm TPT Latchford 01925 758195

Wednesday 17th March An Afternoon Stroll 1-2.30pm Walton Gardens 01925 601617 Sunday 21st March Spring Walk 11-1.00pm Risley Moss 01925 825339

Saturday 27th March Practical Management 3 1.30-3pm Rixton Clay Pits 0161 7779726 Sunday 28th March Who wants Moore? 1-4pm Walton Gardens 01925 601617

North Cheshire RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/north_cheshire/ Monthly outdoor meetings are held throughout the year apart from July. Indoor meetings tend to be held on the third Friday of the month January to April & September to November in Appleton. The group has two long weekends away during the year. We have evening outdoor visits in May, June, July and have just introduced three midweek visits per year. Two social events are held throughout the year as well. Up coming events include indoor talks plus trips to Stoke’s only NNR, Lake Vyrnwy, Cilcain, and a weekend trip to Speyside. For more information contact Paul Grimmett 01925 268770 or 07711 387631