Welcome to 2013, now the snow has gone it is time to start planning our programme for the year and we hope as many people as possible will join in. The dormouse, reptile, bat and butterfly surveys will be continuing and we hope to undertake a bee survey as well but if you have any suggestions of the type of activities you would like please get in touch.
Dormouse Survey – 10th November
No evidence of dormice was found but we did find a wood mouse nest. This caused a bit of excitement but unfortunately, the nest was empty! The wooden inners from the tubes have now been taken away to be cleaned and will be put back in March – we will be looking for volunteers to help in the next newsletter
Winter Tree Identification Walk – 15th December
This was a very interesting walk, it is fascinating to see the differing characteristics of trees without their leaves and how it is possible to identify trees even when you do not have the leaves to help.
Butterfly Survey 2012
Thank you to everyone who returned their survey forms, more people took part this year than previously and more species were spotted. In 2012 20 species were recorded (increased from 17 species in 2011), again the most common was the Large White but this year the second most common was the Peacock, followed by Small White, Gatekeeper, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone. There were also sightings of Common Blue, Painted Lady and Small Heath which were not reported last year.
Every garden has different habitats so the more people that take part in the Earlswood Butterfly Survey the more information we will be able to gather, and you don’t even have to leave your garden! The forms will be delivered in the next few weeks, let’s make this year’s survey the biggest yet.
Reptile Survey
We will be putting out more reptile refuges this year. If you come across one of these corrugated sheets (they are all clearly marked with the EWP e-mail address) please do not be tempted to move them. Instead why not join us on one of our walks when we check whether any animals have been using them.
National Nest Box Week 14th – 21st February
This takes place each year starting on 14th February and has been going for 10 years. It is the perfect time of year to install new nest boxes before the birds start to look for that ideal ‘des res’ to bring up this year’s brood. On 16th February we will be putting up some more nest boxes around the area (see Dates for Your Diary) why not come along and help.
We still have a few nest boxes for sale at £6.50 each – if you would like to purchase one please contact us.
Earlswood Lakes Concerns Group
This group has been set up to liaise with the new Canals and Rivers Trust (CRT) and I will be representing the Earlswood Wildlife Partnership within this group. We will be holding regular meeting so if you have any wildlife concerns that you would like brought to the attention of CRT please let me know.
Dates for Your Diary
Bird and Bat Boxes – Saturday 16th February 10am
Meet at Malthouse Lane car park. We will be putting up new bird boxes and putting up or re-siting bat boxes, anyone who would like to come and help will be welcome.
We are always glad to have new members, if you know of anyone who would like to receive our newsletter please pass on a copy and ask them to contact us to be put on the mailing list.
Bob Roberts
(Membership Secretary)