tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474525019137345302024-03-16T18:51:15.024+00:00Wirral Wildlife BlogWirral Wildlife is a branch of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, one of the network of 47 local Wildlife Trusts protecting wildlife across the UK. Wirral Wildlife manages local nature reserves, keeps records of wildlife, scrutinises planning applications and runs a programme of meetings and guided walks open to the public.Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11457321939444169794noreply@blogger.comBlogger789125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-74939842807664509152024-03-08T11:51:00.002+00:002024-03-08T12:04:21.107+00:00Hoylake Beach Management Consultation<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Wirral Council is undertaking a Have Your Say consultation on Hoylake Beach. The purpose of the consultation is to seek views from residents and the wider community on their preferred management option for Hoylake Beach. The management options for consultation have been developed based on the initial consultation undertaken from June to August 2022. <br /><br />The consultation is open until 25th March 2024 and can be found here: <br /><a href="https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-management-plan" target="_blank">https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-management-plan</a> <br /><br />The outputs from the consultation will be used to identify a preferred management option for Hoylake Beach and will be taken forward for political approval via Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee in spring 2024. A preferred option will then be submitted to Natural England for their consideration, as the beach is internationally important, being a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area for birds and a Ramsar site. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRM-H4t1UoRuKohCy0ZoROomHofpypjlwTpgqfXHb5Z88Z2KwkOkidOR-ArM364B7sC1eP_W8gnTrHDxwbJRcSSOBF6zaW96NmMUldg5LJAyDfkrzcQDuIvKSzEegYLQLp5w3RYUkAFzmESwSrjK52sfa8wTetZ1fLhWBj-CKAsndfmiXwiiqymdzrsuk/s1871/Hoylake%20beach%20option%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Option 1: Access for All" border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1871" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRM-H4t1UoRuKohCy0ZoROomHofpypjlwTpgqfXHb5Z88Z2KwkOkidOR-ArM364B7sC1eP_W8gnTrHDxwbJRcSSOBF6zaW96NmMUldg5LJAyDfkrzcQDuIvKSzEegYLQLp5w3RYUkAFzmESwSrjK52sfa8wTetZ1fLhWBj-CKAsndfmiXwiiqymdzrsuk/w400-h139/Hoylake%20beach%20option%201.jpg" title="Option 1: Access for All" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Option 1: Access for All</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFHPEV8CbZNC2BMpd_XcgO4Fs85vqSMhB5buQdnpAHAZhOduqKynfiyAoL6HgPQ_UhRJbYSUYgtIJY9Oia0-KJwoPsQ3TVo6D7vLO9UK0GerNyMcaiMt0e7YZnzp6FXOJC6zNfMhMGMUhBerYlawYDHVzj56Di3lN50CKkOOH0-jenHc0lKfYRZEF1Pw/s1872/Hoylake%20beach%20option%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1872" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFHPEV8CbZNC2BMpd_XcgO4Fs85vqSMhB5buQdnpAHAZhOduqKynfiyAoL6HgPQ_UhRJbYSUYgtIJY9Oia0-KJwoPsQ3TVo6D7vLO9UK0GerNyMcaiMt0e7YZnzp6FXOJC6zNfMhMGMUhBerYlawYDHVzj56Di3lN50CKkOOH0-jenHc0lKfYRZEF1Pw/w400-h139/Hoylake%20beach%20option%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Option 2: Amenity Beach</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">There are details of both options on the <a href="https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-management-plan" target="_blank">Hoylake Beach Management Plan website</a>.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Wirral Wildlife committee feel that the best option for wildlife of the beach would be not to have any clearance at all of the naturally developing vegetation as it will remove important habitat. However, if clearance is needed for the RNLI operations, this should be the minimum area possible. Option 1 would be better than Option 2 as that involves least clearance but we would </span><span style="font-family: arial;">still</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">have concerns about the damage this would cause to this rare habitat. The cost of yearly operations to achieve this outcome is another consideration. These are the points we will make in our submission.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">We would encourage you to submit any comments you may have regarding this phase of consultation to <a href="mailto:hoylakebeach@wirral.gov.uk">hoylakebeach@wirral.gov.uk</a> by 25th March 2024. More information regarding Hoylake Beach and the consultation process can be found here:</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><a href="https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-management-plan" style="font-family: arial;">https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-management-plan</a><div><br /></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-14120014856367112802024-03-07T11:37:00.003+00:002024-03-07T11:42:23.790+00:00Ron's Rotary Club Award<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPTUJDC0ds_PVpar8hJt0KFq0eV-D28Ufaj_axwRKu7rEgHG5fhm-VRcfKHKyb5QKr9o3w30N_f0OR__-3RW5y4h8TraNbEplkAOZnaXBIO9-qPcDkJDhmuAvW7uajYSDXVl2zQWsLlH_vwG-Z4WtpUxqxUw60gg_8rdvfxpYGHd4bkAezeZmBsHZnnk/s1850/Ron%20Warne.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ron Warne (on right in Christmas jumper!) after being given his award from the Rotary Club" border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1850" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPTUJDC0ds_PVpar8hJt0KFq0eV-D28Ufaj_axwRKu7rEgHG5fhm-VRcfKHKyb5QKr9o3w30N_f0OR__-3RW5y4h8TraNbEplkAOZnaXBIO9-qPcDkJDhmuAvW7uajYSDXVl2zQWsLlH_vwG-Z4WtpUxqxUw60gg_8rdvfxpYGHd4bkAezeZmBsHZnnk/w400-h266/Ron%20Warne.jpg" title="Ron Warne (on right in Christmas jumper!) after being given his award from the Rotary Club" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Ron Warne (on right in Christmas jumper)<br />after being given his award from the Rotary Club</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>We are very pleased to congratulate Ron Warne for his recent award from The Rotary Club of Birkenhead.</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ron was awarded the Sam Lamour Award for Developing Youth. This is because he has quietly worked to ensure that the world young people will inherit will be a good physical environment. He has provided support for the amazing fundraising by Woodchurch High School pupils, by identifying a system whereby funds raised can be shared amongst voluntary groups that aim to improve Wirral's environment.<br /><br />Ron was a recorder with Wirral Wildlife for some years, recording small mammals and plants. It is due to his good offices that Wirral Wildlife has received generous funding from Woodchurch High School's fundraising activities, for heathland restoration work at Cleaver Heath. Also New Ferry Butterfly Park has received funding towards a new large barrow.</span></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-15888356093194869522024-03-06T11:19:00.005+00:002024-03-06T11:37:57.644+00:00An Assembly of Tiles: Part 1 - the Comma Butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YBUBGmSAnCiBwmMX8-jDQi6MeBQWaV9OpSxu2aEtIBIVLFc7-cLs4gNygBcH6J7m2cdh92FY-DeyOLma-Y4N3DHvfRIZiNVjpIi1ZgCIaL1t9nxc5HM_vfUqZc5-I7Yl-iOueZlIoDMKk42D8ZT8kwZ612_JZK6a7bvAJ1y76_5-xTTiLP08VxiK3R4/s4000/20230816%20Comma%20tile%20in%20%20progession.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tile in progress showing Freya Levy's painting of a comma butterfly" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YBUBGmSAnCiBwmMX8-jDQi6MeBQWaV9OpSxu2aEtIBIVLFc7-cLs4gNygBcH6J7m2cdh92FY-DeyOLma-Y4N3DHvfRIZiNVjpIi1ZgCIaL1t9nxc5HM_vfUqZc5-I7Yl-iOueZlIoDMKk42D8ZT8kwZ612_JZK6a7bvAJ1y76_5-xTTiLP08VxiK3R4/w300-h400/20230816%20Comma%20tile%20in%20%20progession.jpg" title="Tile in progress showing Freya Levy's painting of a comma butterfly" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tile in progress showing Freya Levy's painting of a comma butterfly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Neil Glendinning, a ceramic artist based at the Canal Warehouse Workshops, Chester, and Freya Levy, a local artist from Birkenhead, have collaborated together to create six bespoke decorative tiles for the brick pillars supporting the Silver Jubilee Gates at New Ferry Butterfly Park.</span><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqyNGwSzpgwVaS_Yxv6Fo1k49WhNRWbW2SuGElZ7ADRcfnTKzTkJY4Ww48OIeeOBFBc7FcnVeEaIlk1eNEbaT2teqpxvNj9f3Gaq0N26nnCGn20Xl0LqWw1I1bDOBryLyIc2Kt2OzH9CjtNKKRs3jZqBzZwBYnnfy1p7td491iK7GsyNYSKCwf8fNALU/s4000/20230816%20Comma%20tile%20in%20%20progession2%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The painting of the tile nears completion" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqyNGwSzpgwVaS_Yxv6Fo1k49WhNRWbW2SuGElZ7ADRcfnTKzTkJY4Ww48OIeeOBFBc7FcnVeEaIlk1eNEbaT2teqpxvNj9f3Gaq0N26nnCGn20Xl0LqWw1I1bDOBryLyIc2Kt2OzH9CjtNKKRs3jZqBzZwBYnnfy1p7td491iK7GsyNYSKCwf8fNALU/w300-h400/20230816%20Comma%20tile%20in%20%20progession2%20.jpg" title="The painting of the tile nears completion" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The painting of the tile nears completion</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Freya painted the tiles at the workshop periodically from May until September. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">She worked on several images with some designs not making it, such as a railway tile and some butterfly species including the gatekeeper, the small copper, the brimstone, and the burnet moth, as these did not fit in aesthetically with the gates and pillars. Neil coached Freya about the colours as they do change once baked.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0h971_jvdPKr8FFGpzXp0jqyN0Gnes5cDzHqjOms-nCLY_CjG8WqjIcPdkpqoYWoU0rI3fq3jQcwuq_pN4OgD6UCZji15guKNJ3BceLD9arLqFj92QnRW5qg8siHFP9crhFVkyDMhzFVFEpCmgEPgqgagYNDQxx8w3uft2CXO-B9MfvSc23qh7dUAlU/s4128/20240218_Neil%20Glendinning%20%20with%20the%20%20completed%20tiles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Neil Glendinning with the completed tiles" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0h971_jvdPKr8FFGpzXp0jqyN0Gnes5cDzHqjOms-nCLY_CjG8WqjIcPdkpqoYWoU0rI3fq3jQcwuq_pN4OgD6UCZji15guKNJ3BceLD9arLqFj92QnRW5qg8siHFP9crhFVkyDMhzFVFEpCmgEPgqgagYNDQxx8w3uft2CXO-B9MfvSc23qh7dUAlU/w300-h400/20240218_Neil%20Glendinning%20%20with%20the%20%20completed%20tiles.jpg" title="Neil Glendinning with the completed tiles" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Neil Glendinning with the completed tiles</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>The completed art works were glazed, and the tiles baked at 1250</span><span style="vertical-align: super;">o</span><span style="font-family: arial;">C in a kiln to vitrify them into stoneware, making them waterproof and sun resistant. Each tile is dedicated to a person or group. In a series of small blogs each dedication will be explored, starting off at home base.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Comma Butterfly tile is dedicated to the Wirral Wildlife group who support the park. This tile remembers the Comma (community art) Project of 2012. The original art concept of the butterfly was by Carol Ramsay and is the logo for the park and the comma logo can be found on the wardens' clothing. It is the butterfly on the gates. Pictured are Stephen Ross and Linda Higginbottom of Wirral Wildlife committee with the tile dedicated to Wirral Wildlife.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I4b4dHqdlx8HXJL1v0qFzBL8ZQKP1b6YqPlyKO-ZB8aJRmb2oO3MuWBLjZ-Z-qgbh_JikwtEjwH3-sb_DNERonVs7GXLCUFrl62Sx3FeUvuSPu5VFCoZ15w_8hpJvIaUH3rrQH0SAFD0rHprOifxHBhamSyF6HooJJpOmewtq32m9LMOIF6xiiPGw34/s4128/20240219%20StehenRoss%20and%20%20Linda%20%20Higginbottom%20with%20the%20Comma%20tile.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stephen Ross and Linda Higginbottom with the tile dedicated to Wirral Wildlife" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I4b4dHqdlx8HXJL1v0qFzBL8ZQKP1b6YqPlyKO-ZB8aJRmb2oO3MuWBLjZ-Z-qgbh_JikwtEjwH3-sb_DNERonVs7GXLCUFrl62Sx3FeUvuSPu5VFCoZ15w_8hpJvIaUH3rrQH0SAFD0rHprOifxHBhamSyF6HooJJpOmewtq32m9LMOIF6xiiPGw34/w400-h300/20240219%20StehenRoss%20and%20%20Linda%20%20Higginbottom%20with%20the%20Comma%20tile.jpg" title="Stephen Ross and Linda Higginbottom with the tile dedicated to Wirral Wildlife" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Stephen Ross and Linda Higginbottom with the tile dedicated to Wirral Wildlife.<br />Note the comma butterfly on the Butterfly Park T-shirt and fleece!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Stephen Ross, chair of Wirral Wildlife entertains the guest of honour on our opening day and promotes the park whenever he can. Stephen suggested that the butterfly committee should apply to the Duchy of Lancaster for £5,000 funding for the gates. The application was successful and enabled the gates to go ahead. Linda Higginbottom, Wirral Wildlife Publicity Officer, amongst many other projects organises the warden rota for the summer Sunday afternoon openings and assembles teams to host group visits. Linda designed the logos for the New Ferry Butterfly Park wardens branded T-shirts and sweatshirts. Linda is a great communicator, running the Wirral Wildlife Blog, sending out regular Wirral Wildlife emails and hosting the Facebook page of New Ferry Butterfly Park and Wirral Wildlife. Wirral Wildlife group host an impressive plant sale on the park’s opening day each season and from there on after nearly to the end of the season. This plant stall is another attraction for the Sunday visitors. Recently Wirral Wildlife have started hosting apple days at the park too.<br /><br />The Comma butterfly has distinctive ragged wing edges which camouflage it. At rest it looks just like a dead leaf! The Comma can be seen at any time of the year, occasionally awakening on warm winter days.The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appears at the end of June and start of July. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides, and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides, and are known as the form <i>hutchinsoni</i>. This form is named after Emma Hutchinson who discovered that this form goes on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another emergence of fresh adults in late summer. The food plants of the caterpillars are nettles, elm and hop which are all present at the park. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Paul Loughnane</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>New Ferry Butterfly Park Reserve Manager</i></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><br /></div></div></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-23673198899703839252024-03-02T11:39:00.004+00:002024-03-02T11:39:49.046+00:00Autumn/Winter Activity at Cleaver Heath (2023/24)<span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In October the volunteers cleared grass, bramble and bracken which was growing in an area of sloping heath that was cut close to ground level in 2022 as part of a long term plan to increase the age range of heather across the reserve by rotational cutting of specific areas over a twenty year period. This unwanted vegetation was threatening to outgrow and shade out the small regenerating heather plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ1IyCjOtglYxRb3QJlVwJ5z8a59PJXyGyCv_EJZ21IIzMeLyLVM6s4ZYh19oSxICYsWgBOjcNX2ug86VwKAHMoAMKJNA3GBIuadz6HSD08sImBYY10CS-pxfUl56QM1AJT54mOn5S5gK9LnqaqMdbMutgi5PsUOb8ZEZ-94scLVlHtcreS8P0u90tyA/s3056/PHOTO%20A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="cleared grass, bramble and bracken" border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ1IyCjOtglYxRb3QJlVwJ5z8a59PJXyGyCv_EJZ21IIzMeLyLVM6s4ZYh19oSxICYsWgBOjcNX2ug86VwKAHMoAMKJNA3GBIuadz6HSD08sImBYY10CS-pxfUl56QM1AJT54mOn5S5gK9LnqaqMdbMutgi5PsUOb8ZEZ-94scLVlHtcreS8P0u90tyA/w400-h400/PHOTO%20A.jpg" title="cleared grass, bramble and bracken" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clearing grass, bramble and bracken</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEFCA9m1FDmy7szAa-sc_Nu6JrzLyefeBuJoUFS7V78__Z_m7Xh887UbPjWIsVKlrBcBUvBT8kN875p953ptGqEdSLts7h_7kYBsRhwWj1Tpt52v3YezcurGIjKIPtkCXlO0F4cBMX7DqPVwCTUdoR5ooTkaJryo7Q-Oq9tssm-cNYVgYOP0SMqTUIYA/s3056/PHOTO%20B.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Managing the heathland to create space for regenerating heather plants" border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEFCA9m1FDmy7szAa-sc_Nu6JrzLyefeBuJoUFS7V78__Z_m7Xh887UbPjWIsVKlrBcBUvBT8kN875p953ptGqEdSLts7h_7kYBsRhwWj1Tpt52v3YezcurGIjKIPtkCXlO0F4cBMX7DqPVwCTUdoR5ooTkaJryo7Q-Oq9tssm-cNYVgYOP0SMqTUIYA/w400-h400/PHOTO%20B.jpg" title="Managing the heathland to create space for regenerating heather plants" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Managing the heathland to create space for regenerating heather plants</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">During this work some interesting insects were observed in the thin surface soil and leaf litter. Several parasitoid ichneumon wasps were possibly looking for moth pupae to lay their eggs in and the very characteristically shaped bishop's mitre shield bug was running at the base of some grass tussocks. This bug has been previously recorded in several coastal dune locations across Wirral in recent years.</span><div><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dkh1DhjOj9GTkkGIWCh5QljYB_hJyQ_i-wt9zO8x9lk5ztEcn_QxCTX6gtb0FM9Wnd1d3zvDkRMf82zaRMz4rPuYWUvkTiU1xB3eJ8N9Od_vi1QfttTHWtw75DmUuSipOmReJwRt7cjIZLQCdCCqsbTfFAOX_vfhSfDknoMKvE9ShB3CjgTzAlhQfpI/s511/PHOTO%20C.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ichneumon sarcitorius - female" border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dkh1DhjOj9GTkkGIWCh5QljYB_hJyQ_i-wt9zO8x9lk5ztEcn_QxCTX6gtb0FM9Wnd1d3zvDkRMf82zaRMz4rPuYWUvkTiU1xB3eJ8N9Od_vi1QfttTHWtw75DmUuSipOmReJwRt7cjIZLQCdCCqsbTfFAOX_vfhSfDknoMKvE9ShB3CjgTzAlhQfpI/w400-h400/PHOTO%20C.jpg" title="Ichneumon sarcitorius - female" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Ichneumon sarcitorius</i> - female<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi731L6_mhwAAknXCEmNOydd5yT3BZ1qV7ysOdUVkMF2XzDHh62O4AsBarD8RaQCEBYHRkgO1AaF0kQnyzQ-bGP5uCq6W4bPxOjouX2bczMSQwkI_SwHxrGbgRzbdX3sStLj1Ap6nmnYARNLouCTllbkGXkdM7c-M-6y3aNPOkxUkz0wgiCBQXRrd4sfLQ/s335/PHOTO%20D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bishop's mitre shield bug (Aelia acuminata)" border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi731L6_mhwAAknXCEmNOydd5yT3BZ1qV7ysOdUVkMF2XzDHh62O4AsBarD8RaQCEBYHRkgO1AaF0kQnyzQ-bGP5uCq6W4bPxOjouX2bczMSQwkI_SwHxrGbgRzbdX3sStLj1Ap6nmnYARNLouCTllbkGXkdM7c-M-6y3aNPOkxUkz0wgiCBQXRrd4sfLQ/w400-h400/PHOTO%20D.jpg" title="Bishop's mitre shield bug (Aelia acuminata)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bishop's mitre shield bug (<i>Aelia acuminata</i>)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">During November and December we worked hard on a range of tasks despite some very wet and cold weather. Overly tall birch was coppiced in the 'managed scrub' area to provide improved habitat conditions for nesting birds and, working with Graham from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, we removed and stump treated a section of unwanted tall birch and gorse from within the central heather panel. While dragging away cut birch, one of our volunteers observed an empty cocoon of an emperor moth attached to a small oak sapling, hopefully we will see some adult moths flying in the reserve in Spring.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxH-HP7IOgY2pvW4ua9g9W5LbBNvjq8Nqw9Z5dM-7E5Akug-ICgOTbv71cAYQ0nxY7fw9NVlCPpuRu7MTXFrOF68Uk4SfwvxXAKRLXC-nF-OEvQHWdOct6G_7RL2stuNTd4TuCSMNlmTf6XSh71zxWLv80hktB9Wr6ntOF8WY8YNc-4zVWhY-eiAG3hA/s889/PHOTO%20E.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The empty cocoon of an emperor moth found at Cleaver Heath" border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="889" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxH-HP7IOgY2pvW4ua9g9W5LbBNvjq8Nqw9Z5dM-7E5Akug-ICgOTbv71cAYQ0nxY7fw9NVlCPpuRu7MTXFrOF68Uk4SfwvxXAKRLXC-nF-OEvQHWdOct6G_7RL2stuNTd4TuCSMNlmTf6XSh71zxWLv80hktB9Wr6ntOF8WY8YNc-4zVWhY-eiAG3hA/w400-h400/PHOTO%20E.jpg" title="The empty cocoon of an emperor moth found at Cleaver Heath" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The empty cocoon of an emperor moth found at Cleaver Heath</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">Some interesting fungi were also observed at this time, thriving during the very wet conditions.</span><br /><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmDQrsvTOrYJI8MQphzFZi9gwp1V4VhHgNlnUMdIFuso12XYM3Xe1X6gVVovd9Swe6DVpPM8yKKrSKd9qQHuEcgnv_XdS51DT8HRSwfMhYSUNiVe8zoNuEHvgCphP9TgQqmVfzj1kq0sAyqgxEbF4oRlRqk9k-APFq4law16R62ZC-dMH25l5x-uL6Co/s2880/PHOTO%20F.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clockwise from top left: birch polypore, common earthball on the woodland floor, turkey-tail fungus and oyster mushroom." border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmDQrsvTOrYJI8MQphzFZi9gwp1V4VhHgNlnUMdIFuso12XYM3Xe1X6gVVovd9Swe6DVpPM8yKKrSKd9qQHuEcgnv_XdS51DT8HRSwfMhYSUNiVe8zoNuEHvgCphP9TgQqmVfzj1kq0sAyqgxEbF4oRlRqk9k-APFq4law16R62ZC-dMH25l5x-uL6Co/w400-h400/PHOTO%20F.jpg" title="Clockwise from top left: birch polypore, common earthball on the woodland floor, turkey-tail fungus and oyster mushroom." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise from top left: birch polypore, common earthball on the woodland floor,<br />turkey-tail fungus and oyster mushroom.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvpjqIdALUc501Wawh7EZNZ_0N2_DO6ai0cOYGTPEvkLJxVyMPVpffgjtSTWA0FZKTvdr9LWAY_6z31ePrO4PfsAFYqOcmLlt_4PucMYKqnXe5jxuClwrqMD6qSoU5vIYBmLPyaaaeEMAFCHsDza8jmuz9Obmw0Vt2lWGG29ZTpR9X_zLbOlqd5RyNRg/s1584/PHOTO%20G.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tiny bonnet mushrooms on dead bramble stem - Mycena sp. ?" border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvpjqIdALUc501Wawh7EZNZ_0N2_DO6ai0cOYGTPEvkLJxVyMPVpffgjtSTWA0FZKTvdr9LWAY_6z31ePrO4PfsAFYqOcmLlt_4PucMYKqnXe5jxuClwrqMD6qSoU5vIYBmLPyaaaeEMAFCHsDza8jmuz9Obmw0Vt2lWGG29ZTpR9X_zLbOlqd5RyNRg/w400-h400/PHOTO%20G.jpg" title="Tiny bonnet mushrooms on dead bramble stem - Mycena sp. ?" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiny bonnet mushrooms on dead bramble stem - <i>Mycena </i>sp. ?</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>More wet and cold task days in December and January saw us carrying out widening of some narrow overgrown sections of the public access pathways close to the main entrance. We also continued to cut back vegetation that had overgrown through the iron railings onto Oldfield Road.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY7hpASPU-gKm9t1V5Qib5e6mW167yc2XvWh9yc7xV3rWJWKG2FkpZtRDhXmc1OhCRQ2ketlnvWr4GfexYpxmdoweks0hlCcFKQ7dxqskjzt1QQL_pWhbZ1QGB2OP17gQLJXXjw2cZhEzpHh9hWx9i0ggcp9vLmXneTs0M6169wzSNDX2tVk4fMXyoeA/s3056/PHOTO%20H.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Widening a narrow section of the path" border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY7hpASPU-gKm9t1V5Qib5e6mW167yc2XvWh9yc7xV3rWJWKG2FkpZtRDhXmc1OhCRQ2ketlnvWr4GfexYpxmdoweks0hlCcFKQ7dxqskjzt1QQL_pWhbZ1QGB2OP17gQLJXXjw2cZhEzpHh9hWx9i0ggcp9vLmXneTs0M6169wzSNDX2tVk4fMXyoeA/w400-h400/PHOTO%20H.jpg" title="Widening a narrow section of the path" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Widening a narrow section of the path</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGDzViovj5RRK8tMAy33KrQA4Krfs9k6id1HVlzTroNRwBKAIJejHRrJtgy6pFmoA4IapIyA5dPZyR95k-6Gly9HuY1UUiVP6VAKc_q3oTI1RUwUNItuMeT3lqo-FGbXJYkji6b8xHG0i71qxg5kb-MIgxEoy7jVwUB2C8IQtlm-wrmcStP40AKFxkjs/s3056/PHOTO%20I.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Cutting back vegetation that had grown through the railings onto Oldfield Road" border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGDzViovj5RRK8tMAy33KrQA4Krfs9k6id1HVlzTroNRwBKAIJejHRrJtgy6pFmoA4IapIyA5dPZyR95k-6Gly9HuY1UUiVP6VAKc_q3oTI1RUwUNItuMeT3lqo-FGbXJYkji6b8xHG0i71qxg5kb-MIgxEoy7jVwUB2C8IQtlm-wrmcStP40AKFxkjs/w400-h400/PHOTO%20I.jpg" title="Cutting back vegetation that had grown through the railings onto Oldfield Road" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cutting back vegetation that had grown through the railings onto Oldfield Road</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">During January and February, working with Graham from CWT, we cleared and stump treated invasive birch within the lower sloping heath and cut back and dug out many of the roots of a very large rhododendron that was growing within the woodland area.</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">The planned contractor-led heathland regeneration project should be going ahead shortly and we will be topping up the recently widened public paths with stone in March so plenty to do in hopefully much improved weather conditions as Spring approaches.</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><br style="font-family: arial;" /><i style="font-family: arial;"><br />John McGaw<br />Volunteer Warden Cleaver Heath</i><br /><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-76661744644948553972024-02-21T14:27:00.003+00:002024-02-25T12:59:24.375+00:00The Evolution of New Ferry Butterfly Park’s Promotional Leaflet<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9BTeLZexGSx8UzkkhSz4hld_UqeIJpy1MgowfoG6OZAJ5LMOKJL_hO68xu0uETChmPUhz0bmgDRbIJhavq-ijmMOqzDizp0AGl7HCWvVxm4J5-_VYOws1Pz1Z5eJqELdSpjtU6HO7S4HCFoGZ2CYL6N4_FJlg2iHOl7-7ib_BxI7EqIaX91TxbSrEas/s3241/Peter%20Martin%20&%20Freya%20Levy%20with%20the%202024%20NFBP%20promotional%20leaflet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peter Martin and Freya Levy with the 2024 Butterfly Park promotional leaflet" border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="3241" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9BTeLZexGSx8UzkkhSz4hld_UqeIJpy1MgowfoG6OZAJ5LMOKJL_hO68xu0uETChmPUhz0bmgDRbIJhavq-ijmMOqzDizp0AGl7HCWvVxm4J5-_VYOws1Pz1Z5eJqELdSpjtU6HO7S4HCFoGZ2CYL6N4_FJlg2iHOl7-7ib_BxI7EqIaX91TxbSrEas/w400-h349/Peter%20Martin%20&%20Freya%20Levy%20with%20the%202024%20NFBP%20promotional%20leaflet.jpg" title="Peter Martin and Freya Levy with the 2024 Butterfly Park promotional leaflet" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Peter Martin and Freya Levy with the 2024 Butterfly Park promotional leaflet</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Butterfly Park’s first promotional leaflet was derived from a visitors’ guide and was created in 1998 by Year 8 students from Bebington High. It was a black and white leaflet with a good park map, but with few illustrations and the location map was a photocopy from an A to Z. Interestingly the leaflet described the park’s entrance road, Howell Rd, as lying between the railway line and the Queen’s Public House. This pub was soon demolished after Aldi’s arrival in 2002.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRnVZMW7qJzWpjLaG79wY8D5wCbIvc2xEDtVA8FQ_y_8F7l_yE24zkd4NMCoglepboGSkYWsxLYjO9g_oTNwy_dim8dUjPx211Dnk0Le2IqPmrehaxGMAtqWlWlTLJyJK9pDhCMcB5LEPtwgL3BrQPpQub0mFkxk1q0B0iG3zNr12bEy-gB4j1VbGcs4/s3509/NFBP%20Original%20Advertising%20Leaflet%20(Cleaned)-images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The front of the first promotional leaflet in 1998." border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3509" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRnVZMW7qJzWpjLaG79wY8D5wCbIvc2xEDtVA8FQ_y_8F7l_yE24zkd4NMCoglepboGSkYWsxLYjO9g_oTNwy_dim8dUjPx211Dnk0Le2IqPmrehaxGMAtqWlWlTLJyJK9pDhCMcB5LEPtwgL3BrQPpQub0mFkxk1q0B0iG3zNr12bEy-gB4j1VbGcs4/w400-h283/NFBP%20Original%20Advertising%20Leaflet%20(Cleaned)-images-1.jpg" title="The front of the first promotional leaflet in 1998." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The front of the first promotional leaflet in 1998.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXYPvgeyX6ALh6ExZ6OsByVEyTXAUMA1QmFwGm0NBab4J2K0Ljzsy9YmZKO15Vl8qwsOmsy0U-47elFLv5q33iHXjQnYWn-Bb-Z9xbGSBIbgOBb6ro3d6TuNF2eUF0vLE7I5oVtTXdMWvfUKV2kVnJlS4JpDPjveSjyOjdnjDEgDHZ6nyP4jkjVnudgg/s3509/NFBP%20Original%20Advertising%20Leaflet%20(Cleaned)-images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The map inside the 1998 leaflet." border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3509" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXYPvgeyX6ALh6ExZ6OsByVEyTXAUMA1QmFwGm0NBab4J2K0Ljzsy9YmZKO15Vl8qwsOmsy0U-47elFLv5q33iHXjQnYWn-Bb-Z9xbGSBIbgOBb6ro3d6TuNF2eUF0vLE7I5oVtTXdMWvfUKV2kVnJlS4JpDPjveSjyOjdnjDEgDHZ6nyP4jkjVnudgg/w400-h283/NFBP%20Original%20Advertising%20Leaflet%20(Cleaned)-images-2.jpg" title="The map inside the 1998 leaflet." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The map inside the 1998 leaflet.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2006, this leaflet was revamped by Steve Niblock, then local councillor for the Ward. The 2006 leaflet had specially made black and white illustrations produced by artists Emma Greenwood and Bob Hughes, used to illustrate the park map, and the location map developed into a sketch map.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUXfbk1DpKUSiMkry4meUqjrwmNLEOnTD4g9jekSq0oGx48c3bZpZyp5FDgtdGQQ55now6hxpAvJ4Gm-CGdzk5_T2VeNGk_mNllz9ldTED9gSbNNXe6F8VbmK30VPUnpg_VoP6PKQc028KbR_Y-jLaW6qSGQSsyX4_MovhyZJEwU9BMBQb1wlvHAmkLU/s3509/2006NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%20front.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The 2006 version of the Butterfly Park's leaflet" border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3509" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUXfbk1DpKUSiMkry4meUqjrwmNLEOnTD4g9jekSq0oGx48c3bZpZyp5FDgtdGQQ55now6hxpAvJ4Gm-CGdzk5_T2VeNGk_mNllz9ldTED9gSbNNXe6F8VbmK30VPUnpg_VoP6PKQc028KbR_Y-jLaW6qSGQSsyX4_MovhyZJEwU9BMBQb1wlvHAmkLU/w400-h283/2006NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%20front.jpg" title="The 2006 version of the Butterfly Park's leaflet" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The 2006 version of the Butterfly Park's leaflet</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSAn5Kt637o0ysPLdiXC7JHwsVnn6EYGc2uKtE7TmKjykN7RRz7cVFF_XvhNwsdhaPN_Y9Xwzfalck32UIdoHmXqIpzIixkNFrpL3VLuqjujwexChQMwOZqIgcftE5ooPUKtmg6HWI0Ew6XCtsPiyNAaQ54XAaOTCk8BbX4CsXWaIqt6VJm4oWBrH0Jg/s3509/2006NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white illustrations on the map in 2006" border="0" data-original-height="3509" data-original-width="2480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSAn5Kt637o0ysPLdiXC7JHwsVnn6EYGc2uKtE7TmKjykN7RRz7cVFF_XvhNwsdhaPN_Y9Xwzfalck32UIdoHmXqIpzIixkNFrpL3VLuqjujwexChQMwOZqIgcftE5ooPUKtmg6HWI0Ew6XCtsPiyNAaQ54XAaOTCk8BbX4CsXWaIqt6VJm4oWBrH0Jg/w283-h400/2006NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%20map.jpg" title="Black and white illustrations on the map in 2006" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Black and white illustrations on the map in 2006</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In 2012, as part of the Comma Project the promotional leaflet was revamped by Carol Ramsay, Artist in Residence at the park. At this stage, the leaflet went into colour production and the park map was replaced by Vicky Hose’s brilliant artistic map of the park. On the front the Comma butterfly replaced Speckled Wood, to fit in with the COMMunity Art (COMMA) project running at that time. The leaflet also mentioned the caravan-based visitor centre, which although fantastic, sadly did not last due to vandalism.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB4wGC4VBy9MRr4JMul1B6gU9PwEx6QJPHGdMTrjpSaHyD4DHrVhAkyaFsrz1l4K4NnfjuaeD8CRMBwafkgooANN1ck3SHJZzJ8NtXvlr2vyAaor0baAvLtjnP4Pug22rcGtAImkIeaRyUCwhD7HG-kIJ8x4ty3xBeUf0db_hQl0fNH5gxv7wiriFOwQ/s3509/2012NFBPpromotional%20leaflet-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The first leaflet in colour in 2012" border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3509" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB4wGC4VBy9MRr4JMul1B6gU9PwEx6QJPHGdMTrjpSaHyD4DHrVhAkyaFsrz1l4K4NnfjuaeD8CRMBwafkgooANN1ck3SHJZzJ8NtXvlr2vyAaor0baAvLtjnP4Pug22rcGtAImkIeaRyUCwhD7HG-kIJ8x4ty3xBeUf0db_hQl0fNH5gxv7wiriFOwQ/w400-h283/2012NFBPpromotional%20leaflet-1.jpg" title="The first leaflet in colour in 2012" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The first leaflet in colour in 2012</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPcnAtCqyAcRnUxfc-o_zz5hi3cs9PUr9ioX1yqhvvDX2xZavMQW7c48_xvOzMlmm39HkqcoV2Ilc2DRop4CD7gao7n9XzZQ2byDijNu1SF_J72Q1jolKwC6kYhdeB41YhsauzZ1nqkMhu8GLMt_2AyieAWzhNELJ6BRiln9WEXmBw1Duvf8L0co-uuM/s3509/2012NFBPpromotional%20leaflet-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The park map, with illustrations in full colour" border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3509" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPcnAtCqyAcRnUxfc-o_zz5hi3cs9PUr9ioX1yqhvvDX2xZavMQW7c48_xvOzMlmm39HkqcoV2Ilc2DRop4CD7gao7n9XzZQ2byDijNu1SF_J72Q1jolKwC6kYhdeB41YhsauzZ1nqkMhu8GLMt_2AyieAWzhNELJ6BRiln9WEXmBw1Duvf8L0co-uuM/w400-h283/2012NFBPpromotional%20leaflet-2.jpg" title="The park map, with illustrations in full colour" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The park map, with illustrations in full colour</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In 2018 the promotional leaflet was improved by John Ash with the addition of a colour location map.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsSeSxTbcTYkN2BT_p5HdOHTafEKNbI5WeYlU3z2rmdBg9kFmNcX5SVboHDQN3m1WQOAHQ6vTUHX9MbzlhfQk0Lsh8FvmIwchP51hnm37y_KMFFCwh21mcDvmyOBYQQ-nPt2VcIq53CC5oBnpE7PU3YbrRdP_dngCO_9YHpNVhm1W5dNlL6dtGjlCEus/s3508/2018%20NFBP%20promotional%20lealfet%202018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An update to the location map on the back of the leaflet in 2018" border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3508" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsSeSxTbcTYkN2BT_p5HdOHTafEKNbI5WeYlU3z2rmdBg9kFmNcX5SVboHDQN3m1WQOAHQ6vTUHX9MbzlhfQk0Lsh8FvmIwchP51hnm37y_KMFFCwh21mcDvmyOBYQQ-nPt2VcIq53CC5oBnpE7PU3YbrRdP_dngCO_9YHpNVhm1W5dNlL6dtGjlCEus/w400-h283/2018%20NFBP%20promotional%20lealfet%202018.jpg" title="An update to the location map on the back of the leaflet in 2018" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">An update to the location map on the back of the leaflet in 2018</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This year the promotional leaflet has been enhanced again. The leaflet’s front now has an illustration of the Park’s Silver Jubilee Gates, complete with the new decorative tiles inset into the supporting brick pillars. The leaflet has an email contact address, QR codes, a link to the Park’s Facebook page and another to the Wirral Wildlife website, both full of useful information about the Park and ongoing activities. These extra resources give extra life and vitality to the leaflet. Two art works within Vicky Hose’s original 2006 illustrated map have been changed, to feature creatures that visitors are more likely to encounter. One of these was first recorded breeding at the Park and Wirral in 2014. Freya Levy, an artist new to the park, has blended these images into the leaflet following Vicky’s style. Can you see the different styles or work out which two invertebrates have been removed and which two added?</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDdjy9XpS3rn3NzgZxiESzFzK6gNaSIWcR_lrfKddJpZfPd3WkRMiCxBJwDJv0z-bds_zkt2irIRkDzjV5iPoSAlaBx2-A1c1lMjLPVnzOjsY3lWWV9joBA9aq2tHds-xtIKB3XKggmQLLPECsP-e8_XpqUeC-T9OShvlUGWUmCTQarOThrg39HLCRz0/s3579/2024NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The latest version of the Butterfly Park leaflet" border="0" data-original-height="2552" data-original-width="3579" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDdjy9XpS3rn3NzgZxiESzFzK6gNaSIWcR_lrfKddJpZfPd3WkRMiCxBJwDJv0z-bds_zkt2irIRkDzjV5iPoSAlaBx2-A1c1lMjLPVnzOjsY3lWWV9joBA9aq2tHds-xtIKB3XKggmQLLPECsP-e8_XpqUeC-T9OShvlUGWUmCTQarOThrg39HLCRz0/w400-h285/2024NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%202.jpg" title="The latest version of the Butterfly Park leaflet" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The latest version of the Butterfly Park leaflet</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHzPKHZoKB6Ahrt1Cs5aIN8j71Wu88CTEsyZ8wDdDwObK9Nd3oO8wAL4H7tFq2KJdopz7KaZEfC4XtuvvkNcpOpylu7MBTAqXDbUGqrAcNxONwV8KQ9PtKXeCq4NbhE90fHPYWBh8KAou_B5O6wk12xef-49xRn1I_K8FwZ32R4PsV7ECKV-sdRRKeYI/s3579/2024NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><img alt="See if you can spot the difference as two species on the 2024 map have been changed" border="0" data-original-height="2552" data-original-width="3579" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHzPKHZoKB6Ahrt1Cs5aIN8j71Wu88CTEsyZ8wDdDwObK9Nd3oO8wAL4H7tFq2KJdopz7KaZEfC4XtuvvkNcpOpylu7MBTAqXDbUGqrAcNxONwV8KQ9PtKXeCq4NbhE90fHPYWBh8KAou_B5O6wk12xef-49xRn1I_K8FwZ32R4PsV7ECKV-sdRRKeYI/w400-h285/2024NFBPpromotional%20leaflet%201.jpg" title="See if you can spot the difference as two species on the 2024 map have been changed" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">See if you can spot the difference as two species on the 2024 map have been changed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The 2024 leaflet has been an in-house collaborative effort via numerous emails and two in person meetings, patiently co-ordinated by Peter Martin. The meetings discussed ideas with the leaflet projected onto a screen for all to see clearly, allowing Peter to try out some changes there and then with instant feedback. The leaflet got up to version 22! Hopefully, the leaflet can be enjoyed by many, and more visitors will be attracted to the park resulting in some more volunteers. Thanks to Freya for her artistic talents, Peter Martin for his digital proficiencies in making this 2024 leaflet revamp happen and all who have commented at the various stages of its development. Creativo have printed the leaflet and there are plenty of copies at the Park. Do drop in once we are open, or on a workday, and collect some to share with friends or use as publicity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Paul Loughnane</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-41483671469927641222024-02-13T11:19:00.042+00:002024-02-13T11:26:54.002+00:00 Wirral Council and Climate Action Scorecards<p><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://climateemergency.uk/" target="_blank">Climate Emergency UK</a> assessed all UK councils on the actions they've taken towards net zero</b><span style="font-family: arial;">. The </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/" target="_blank">Council Climate Action Scorecard</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">assessment consists of 91 questions or fewer, depending on council type, across 7 different sections, created in consultation with over 90 organisations and individuals. Each council was marked against these criteria and given a right to reply before the scores underwent a final audit. This work was completed between January and August 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The good news is that <a href="https://www.wirral.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Wirral Council</a> is slightly above the average for single-tier councils - though at a Total Score of 42% well below the top scorers, who are London boroughs at 55-60%.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>See the full Climate Action Scorecard results for Wirral Council here:</b><br /><a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/councils/wirral-council/" target="_blank">https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/councils/wirral-council/</a></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszk6zd2peRjkAsa4ECAVpIKzPA6cMXwVqDKraFEZJpmMo0NtQTvMQTdVvK7E6dDto0_sY2oda2j9LLozl-sv_aXYO5xV1k_tLgWiVkwEo4YCdyTNFRhyphenhyphenezH1pCVXPgrfbAN2Z00V6IsmJEdkSZOYyWVXNDY6AEnefNpxpuEy9WPUZ8U93Yti35sUG0ag/s500/climate%20scorecard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="500" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszk6zd2peRjkAsa4ECAVpIKzPA6cMXwVqDKraFEZJpmMo0NtQTvMQTdVvK7E6dDto0_sY2oda2j9LLozl-sv_aXYO5xV1k_tLgWiVkwEo4YCdyTNFRhyphenhyphenezH1pCVXPgrfbAN2Z00V6IsmJEdkSZOYyWVXNDY6AEnefNpxpuEy9WPUZ8U93Yti35sUG0ag/w400-h209/climate%20scorecard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">A summary of Wirral Council's Climate Action Scorecard results</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wirral Council scored particularly well on </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Biodiversity </b><span style="font-family: arial;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Planning </b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>and Land Use</b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">. They have a score of 69% for Biodiversity (compared to an average of 27%) and 55% for Planning and Land Use (compared to an average of 35%). The lobbying that Wirral Wildlife and other voluntary groups have done over the last 50 years is having an effect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A <b>Waste Reduction and Food</b> score of 34% and a <b>Transport </b>score of 20% are low results. However everyone can play a part by thinking about everyday actions.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>To</b> <b>reduce waste </b>remember the three Rs: <b>Reduce, Reuse, Recycle</b>. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We must try and use fewer resources, mend whatever we can, share our good but unwanted items and recycle anything that has got to the end of its life.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>For tips on how to mend, recycle, reuse and upcycle see</b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/recycle-and-reuse" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/recycle-and-reuse</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WirralRepairCafe" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"><b>Wirral Repair Café</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> can help with repairing items such as clothing and electrical appliances. On the first Sunday of each month they can be found at Wirral Deen Centre, 371-375 Borough Road, Birkenhead, CH42 0HA. Email: wirralrepaircafe@gmail.com<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br />Wirral Repair Café is one of an
international network of repair cafes where volunteers try to fix items,
brought in by members of the public, that would otherwise be thrown away
because they’ve stopped working or (in the case of clothing, can no longer be
worn). The goal is to reduce landfill waste, encourage people to carry out
their own repairs and save them money in the process.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br />They do not take business away from
professional repairers and will refer the visitor to a professional if it’s
appropriate. However, people are often aware that the cost of repair could be
more than that of replacement, or that the value of the item is too little to
justify the repair cost. Their motto is ‘Bin it? No way’</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Get advice and learn repair skills </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Examples of types of repair: electrical appliances, computer software, bicycles, clothing and textiles, upholstery, toys, costume jewellery, wooden items, musical instruments</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Soldering and sharpening services available </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Free repairs, but donations are welcome</span></li></ul></span><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">To influence the <b>Food </b>score we can <b>be careful what we eat, reduce food waste and shop and eat to reduce the climate impact of food</b>. Planning meals in advance and using all of the food we buy will reduce waste. We can eat less meat, choose local and seasonal produce or even grow our own vegetables and fruit. If there is anything left over then home composting could be another thing to try – don’t send your waste to landfill. <br /><br />For <b>composting advice</b> see<br /><a href="https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/how-compost-your-waste" target="_blank">https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/how-compost-your-waste</a> <br /><br />What about the <b>transport </b>score? If we travel less, walk when we can, cycle or use public transport we can cut our carbon footprint. Of course, the public transport and active travel infrastructure needs to be there and that is something you could lobby about.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg_rbKJhuI4Vy8G4Hm6_0KLlTwinpwqH7KUDcNovP5_2Jo7Ti_u197wuGd9UG1vWZ-GvpHK6Aef97B00aBixPhlQkUGIxHK-4MavqpG-yVi75KsCoHDqqKzK3Sv0-REfdT79SndHkOrftjWSoB9A42TtZ4R2YQPTLJCJFh8up_4qk4WW1PwPYoAlZScQ/s2500/climate%20action%20hub.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="2500" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg_rbKJhuI4Vy8G4Hm6_0KLlTwinpwqH7KUDcNovP5_2Jo7Ti_u197wuGd9UG1vWZ-GvpHK6Aef97B00aBixPhlQkUGIxHK-4MavqpG-yVi75KsCoHDqqKzK3Sv0-REfdT79SndHkOrftjWSoB9A42TtZ4R2YQPTLJCJFh8up_4qk4WW1PwPYoAlZScQ/w400-h156/climate%20action%20hub.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Wirral Council has a Climate Action Hub</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wirral has a target to be carbon neutral by 2041. This means that the amount of carbon that we produce compared to what we take out of the atmosphere is balanced. Learn more at the Climate Action Hub:<br /><a href="https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hub-page/climate-action-wirral" target="_blank">https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hub-page/climate-action-wirral</a><br /><br />Public and personal action together will help us reach these targets for a more sustainable future on Wirral.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXODrYJ7qSXZooInWU_FElUK0fD3kqRXSX0AAOA2-eXBgi5kbVJ2ZGA6GDYzr65OL5Cz5XwJWlvDnsTdf0m0zCiHDpSdSjE7D9UIifpKAyd2DvPLODFHoB-4hMlPIiJU-n0kCbPI43hKj0IHCP49Rln2PK02NIRznRXiwkLFiA-Eo5dZvQQ1D4UAxkiw/s1207/Cool%20Wirral%20Climate%20Action.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1207" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXODrYJ7qSXZooInWU_FElUK0fD3kqRXSX0AAOA2-eXBgi5kbVJ2ZGA6GDYzr65OL5Cz5XwJWlvDnsTdf0m0zCiHDpSdSjE7D9UIifpKAyd2DvPLODFHoB-4hMlPIiJU-n0kCbPI43hKj0IHCP49Rln2PK02NIRznRXiwkLFiA-Eo5dZvQQ1D4UAxkiw/w400-h284/Cool%20Wirral%20Climate%20Action.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/climate-challenge" target="_blank">Take part in the Cool Wirral Climate Action Challenge</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-25604143586092857352024-02-06T16:18:00.004+00:002024-02-06T16:20:01.133+00:00Autumn/Winter 2023 Prize Quiz: Winner and Answers<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz6GOQj2sSG_Zf6EOUFGtB9jqSBsvuOMAfSRCHzzUBT80eR2nu1DJY_Qt_VqLbKixZVeqAWO4MtJYLeUttET1YDPeunX_gho0qL2Vzd116CGc4SsOFoPg8moZvrs-5GiohNCMECQQf78fh29iYSFuXkW32QEBZznsbixNyedBA_R0_garKNWrLX9DrXo/s640/hilbre%20island.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hilbre Island, the answer to question 4 in the quiz" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz6GOQj2sSG_Zf6EOUFGtB9jqSBsvuOMAfSRCHzzUBT80eR2nu1DJY_Qt_VqLbKixZVeqAWO4MtJYLeUttET1YDPeunX_gho0qL2Vzd116CGc4SsOFoPg8moZvrs-5GiohNCMECQQf78fh29iYSFuXkW32QEBZznsbixNyedBA_R0_garKNWrLX9DrXo/w400-h300/hilbre%20island.jpg" title="Hilbre Island, the answer to question 4 in the quiz" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hilbre Island, the answer to question 4 in the quiz. Photo: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/206451" target="_blank">Peter Craine</a> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The <b>autumn/winter 2023 prize quiz</b> featured <b>50 cryptic clues to the names of islands or island groups that are part of the British Isles</b>. The entries have been marked and the winner from the correct entries chosen.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Congratulations to </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><b>Mrs Julia Needham, of Hope Valley, Derbyshire</b>, who will be receiving a £10 gift voucher.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are the answers to those clues:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1. Named after a six-times Olympic gold medallist? You can find the Old Man here in 29 (3). HOY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2. In 49 an island with strong spirit!<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(3). RUM</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">3. A Clyde island? No, a Welsh one! (6). CALDEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">4. Greeting Pound concerning this English island. (6). HILBRE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">5. Beccy unable to stir without little Cyril in 26. (9). BENBECULA</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">6. One of 21, shares its name with a garment and a cow... (6). JERSEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">7. ... and another one of 21, also shares its name with a garment and a cow. (8). GUERNSEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">8. Silence and French territory in this group. (8). SHETLAND</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">9. High tension under hairpiece – sounds colourless! (5). WIGHT</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">10. Dress up to ruin drag here in Scotland! (8). GRUINARD</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">11. Shakespeare, for example? Looking back, yes. (7). BARDSEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">12. Television company, oriental, one of 49. (4). SKYE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">13. What do I hear? Someone calling a taxi? Or frozen rain falling? No, an island! (7). HAYLING</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">14. Sport associated with All England, Wimbledon, without Radiohead. (6).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>COQUET</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">15. I start rearing African antelope.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(7). IRELAND</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">16. A winter illness in 15. (6). ACHILL</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">17. Island fern I uprooted here. (11). LINDISFARNE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">18. You are unlikely to find a coconut shy, ghost train or waltzer here! (4). FAIR</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">19. Chap with three legs?..... (3). MAN</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">20. ..... Part of one of those legs? (4, 2, 3). CALF OF MAN</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">21. Tune your television to this group? (7). CHANNEL</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">22. Low pitch sound of popular music. (4, 4). BASS ROCK</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">23. One of 49, reportedly first person to possess article. (4).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>IONA</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">24. Dad Raymond, has taken in direction to one of 29. (4, 7). PAPA WESTRAY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">25. Short holy person follows international organisation, one of 8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(4). UNST</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">26. EU brothers die in excitement in this group. (5, 8). OUTER HEBRIDES</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">27. Personnel with article, one of 49. (6). STAFFA</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">28. This one of 21 came out of Noah’s Ark! (4). SARK</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">29. Group caused excitement for New York, but not Washington initially. (6). ORKNEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">30. Would you like to visit this one in 15? Rather! No hesitation! Nothing back to follow. (7). RATHLIN</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">31. This one is shut out roughly in 26. (5, 4). SOUTH UIST</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">32. Mostar rebuilt here, near JoG?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(6). STROMA</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">33. Sounds daft! (6). SCILLY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">34. Controversially, I target Brian. (5, 7). GREAT BRITAIN</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">35. Contemplate one of 49. (4). MULL</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">36. Might be right, solid or acute, with South European unknown.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(8). ANGLESEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">37. Weary at end of adventure in 49. (5). TIREE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">38. Am backing away from the coast in 8, and in 29. (8). MAINLAND</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">39. English football’s Alf, Welsh football’s Aaron and the CofE’s Michael share its name. (6). RAMSEY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">40. I whirl, as sander starts up. One island or two in 26? (5, 3, 6). LEWIS AND HARRIS*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">41. For starters, look under North Devon – you’ll see this one. (5). LUNDY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">42. There are several of these: they are entirely islands, so we are told. (4). HOLY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">43. Punctuation mark for example, one of 49. (8). COLONSAY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">44. Romeo enters the supermarket – one of 33. (6) TRESCO</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">45. An annelid’s loaf of bread? (5, 4). WORMS HEAD</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">46. One of 21, well wrapped up in thermal underwear. (4). HERM</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">47. British railway with that woman – one of 33. (6). BRYHER</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">48. I am a murderer, one of 49! (5). ISLAY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">49. Her Late Majesty, after pub, found ladies to be married, led by His Excellency in this group. (5, 8). INNER HEBRIDES</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">50. A small river flowed on this one. (5).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ARRAN</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">*We also accepted “Harris and Lewis”, as this is an accepted name for the island, although the letter count is wrong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-67452053139491710812024-01-04T13:51:00.007+00:002024-01-04T13:52:39.153+00:00New Ferry Butterfly Park Photo Recording 2023<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>In this blog post, Roy Lowry reviews his photo recording visits to the Butterfly Park </i></span><i style="font-family: arial;">in 2023</i><i style="font-family: arial;">.</i></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>I started photo-recording wildlife in New Ferry Butterfly Park back in 2014 making 2-3 visits a year when the reserve was open. Then in 2022 I was entrusted with a key and the number of visits rose to 23. In 2023, it increased to 28 between March and December. On each visit I wander around photographing anything that attracts my attention. Back home the images are converted into wildlife observations on either iRecord or iNaturalist. Inevitably, there is a bias towards pollinating insects because these are the most accessible and also interest me the most. it is also a long way from scientifically rigorous systematic biodiversity surveying, but it provides some evidence on how well the reserve management is working. <br /><br />During the year I logged a total of 628 observations, which I have now compiled in a spreadsheet to provide an overview. I classified them into 22 categories (ants, bees, other beetles, birds, bugs, butterflies, damselfies, dragonflies, other flies, grasshoppers, hoverflies, isopods, ladybirds, mammals, moths, plants, sawflies, slugs, snails, soldier flies, spiders, spittlebugs, and wasps). Over half of the observations belonged to just three groups, namely bees (81), butterflies (114) and hoverflies (171), so I will concentrate on these for the rest of this summary. <br /><br />I find bees the most difficult of these groups to record because of the lack of accessible identification support. Bee records submitted to <a href="https://irecord.org.uk/" target="_blank">iRecord</a> are very rarely verified and whilst the community approach of <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/" target="_blank">iNaturalist</a> can be helpful it can also be disruptive, especially when identifiers fail to take account of differences between bee populations in the UK and elsewhere in the world. Consequently, I am trying to develop my bee identification skills with excellent support from the Cheshire Bee Group and the <a href="https://www.northwestinvertebrates.org.uk/" target="_blank">Tanyptera Project</a> who also help with identifications should I come across anything particularly interesting. Recording hoverflies and butterflies is much easier because all records submitted to iRecord are verified within a couple of weeks or even a couple of days. <br /><br />Because of the identification uncertainties I can't precisely report the bee species diversity, but it is possible to give an overview based on genus-level identification. During the year I recorded six 'types' of solitary bee in addition to the social honeybees and bumblebees. In early spring there were flower bees (<i>Anthophora</i>) and mining bees (<i>Andrena</i>), followed by mason bees (<i>Osmia</i>), plasterer bees (<i>Colletes</i>), leaf-cutter bees (<i>Megachile</i>) and furrow bees (<i>Lasioglossum</i>). In addition there were cuckoo bees (<i>Melicta</i>, <i>Nomada</i>, <i>Coelioxys</i> and <i>Sphecodes</i>) whose host preferences covered most of the solitary bees seen. <br /><br />The highlight of the bee recording was the sighting of a male red-girdled mining bee (<i>Andrena labiata</i>) in April. This is quite a rarity with only five records for the Cheshire recording area (which includes Wirral) in iRecord and no other records north of Birmingham in INaturalist. As it was so unusual I had the ID checked and confirmed. I kept a careful lookout after this for any other sightings, preferably of a female, but to no avail. I'll continue the search in 2024 as this species is documented as one of many increasing its range northwards.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUb3zV7LtGDfU_AY7HW6SqqxdfHHRu6OiIi_mIm3vAmuiOTZPSvAsSC2H_Fl1X3fCY3lcxAqo_mA8tpztUDTcBf5PS7n1c4FQ2GxxUoqe5GGUY918SsEQGq-Gg3LwSVrLfNrRZ3LXCQ-7D3n-H0hy1X66yBA7HIGknFQFGb4M68IyG4TZDMHDLFCq1rA/s2313/PIMG_8182_Andrena_labiata_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Male red-girdled mining bee Andrena labiata" border="0" data-original-height="2313" data-original-width="1542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUb3zV7LtGDfU_AY7HW6SqqxdfHHRu6OiIi_mIm3vAmuiOTZPSvAsSC2H_Fl1X3fCY3lcxAqo_mA8tpztUDTcBf5PS7n1c4FQ2GxxUoqe5GGUY918SsEQGq-Gg3LwSVrLfNrRZ3LXCQ-7D3n-H0hy1X66yBA7HIGknFQFGb4M68IyG4TZDMHDLFCq1rA/w266-h400/PIMG_8182_Andrena_labiata_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Male red-girdled mining bee Andrena labiata" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Male red-girdled mining bee</span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Andrena labiata</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The hoverfly records were both numerous and diverse with 45 different taxa (species or genus not identifiable to species) logged. These included the four of the five large and spectacular members of the Volucella genus: two variants of the bumblebee hoverfly (<i>Volucella bombylans</i>), two species of hornet mimic (<i>Volucella zonaria</i> and <i>Volucella inanis</i>) and the black and white (almost transparent) pellucid Hoverfly (<i>Volucella pellucens</i>). This last species is a very noticeable resident of the Butterfly Park because the males are very territorial and spend their flight season (June and July) defending their territories against all comers, including people. There was one particularly aggressive specimen on the path between the pond and the lime waste who seemed to have a particular dislike for photographers with telephoto lenses.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D4l9DpuQ-2dEGlA9WH6kwIisxIBSttoyFT_jR619s4heYPKPOF6y1CiOQQlu7wB_rwSaFMq2uMVPlS3zG25jUIJsdh20XamEU-r8Rys-OijdnM1S0FPOs16ztmff5ewR7UeYkJclPJfWkEgtmVmadqzJeulAjCtmEkEEzznwCIngFYpXcN7UvLxELms/s2514/PIMG_0405_Dasysyrphus_tricinctus_Female_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Female yellow-girdled fleckwing hoverfly (Dasysyrphus tricinctus)" border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2514" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D4l9DpuQ-2dEGlA9WH6kwIisxIBSttoyFT_jR619s4heYPKPOF6y1CiOQQlu7wB_rwSaFMq2uMVPlS3zG25jUIJsdh20XamEU-r8Rys-OijdnM1S0FPOs16ztmff5ewR7UeYkJclPJfWkEgtmVmadqzJeulAjCtmEkEEzznwCIngFYpXcN7UvLxELms/w400-h266/PIMG_0405_Dasysyrphus_tricinctus_Female_NFBP.JPG" title="Female yellow-girdled fleckwing hoverfly (Dasysyrphus tricinctus)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"> </span>Female yellow-girdled fleckwing hoverfly (<i style="text-align: start;">Dasysyrphus tricinctus</i><span style="text-align: start;">)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favourite hoverfly sightings of the year were a yellow-girdled fleckwing (<i>Dasysyrphus tricinctus</i>) in May and a gorgeous superb ant-hill hoverfly (<i>Xanthogramma pedissequum</i>) in September. I thought the fleckwing (called the yellow-girdled brusheye in iNaturalist) was a rarity. I hadn't seen one before but during the year I found them at Burton Mere and the Liverpool Festival Gardens so maybe they are just under-recorded. The superb ant-hill hoverfly is fairly uncommon (15 Cheshire records in iRecord), but the Butterfly Park is just the place to attract them with its large number of meadow ant nests. The larvae of this hoverfly develop in these nests feeding on the ants' fungus gardens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8KrnHTYbhkz6QaVFUBiznVHusXxNpfXDI3Df_rcCIexjTx75BJ1NuyBb2BMCmrUPncKT7ren8ezPaD1uATWrSr6XUdaW___mWkFS20RG73JQu2k4yBnwWjrYnioidPL_kpNZVlU1Sc4haofhXKuPW3a7F7ON0seO_gSZAhjOsAx2pHZfeOQq8UMGbIg/s1980/PIMG_7285_Xanthogramma_pedissequum_Female_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Female superb ant-hill hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum)" border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1980" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8KrnHTYbhkz6QaVFUBiznVHusXxNpfXDI3Df_rcCIexjTx75BJ1NuyBb2BMCmrUPncKT7ren8ezPaD1uATWrSr6XUdaW___mWkFS20RG73JQu2k4yBnwWjrYnioidPL_kpNZVlU1Sc4haofhXKuPW3a7F7ON0seO_gSZAhjOsAx2pHZfeOQq8UMGbIg/w400-h266/PIMG_7285_Xanthogramma_pedissequum_Female_NFBP.JPG" title="Female superb ant-hill hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Female superb ant-hill hoverfly (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Xanthogramma pedissequum</i><span style="text-align: left;">)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Butterfly records were also pleasingly diverse with 20 species recorded (14 on a single day - July 19th), which was up from 16 in 2022. The four species added were the brimstone (<i>Gonepteryx rhamni</i>), Essex skipper (<i>Thymelicus lineola</i>), painted lady (<i>Vanessa cardui</i>), and small tortoiseshell (<i>Aglias urticae</i>). The first two of these were artefacts of my modus operandi because although I saw brimstones in flight and what I was convinced were Essex skippers I couldn't get the necessary photographic proof. This year the brimstones co-operated by landing in camera range and I managed to get Essex skipper pictures clearly showing the black antenna nudum. This verified the species and got New Ferry Butterfly Park formally recognised as an Essex skipper site.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGSC06bXwLrJTZ3St7PeXLisRJX5DeugcqmAMBSGdC2KKMrOLfTRBYluCQbv3VDSdmliQuHxUPfWMiOnESdk33-RJiWhlCtGiCb5Ql9xTdYi4g18J2wuEefT8f7BYFT6tI-QNo5n2eylGuZQnWLSHk0OCC771gKeopftc71AMDMbVO2xQcKgXR120eyk/s1932/PIMG_9334_Brimstone_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Male brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)" border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1932" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGSC06bXwLrJTZ3St7PeXLisRJX5DeugcqmAMBSGdC2KKMrOLfTRBYluCQbv3VDSdmliQuHxUPfWMiOnESdk33-RJiWhlCtGiCb5Ql9xTdYi4g18J2wuEefT8f7BYFT6tI-QNo5n2eylGuZQnWLSHk0OCC771gKeopftc71AMDMbVO2xQcKgXR120eyk/w400-h266/PIMG_9334_Brimstone_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Male brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Male brimstone butterfly (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Gonepteryx rhamni</i><span style="text-align: left;">)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKQqMfVH6c3R8_3drNOAyUJKdEKlmepVA1IY6MR4pZEylSvrzU963gVNR1m-Pfuf9S7kqSq8GztfGtjzC3fy-SOsZRDAR0JX8ywQCeYZC9LJYRS1aKI1c6UUiHuwOgNNHR-G0XU5rD_ME_BBtZW7E8ExuUAR8FtX4c3PGRVa-flAVf8VrsU0S7BfYcPs/s3162/PIMG_3390_Essex_Skipper_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Male Essex skipper butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)" border="0" data-original-height="2108" data-original-width="3162" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKQqMfVH6c3R8_3drNOAyUJKdEKlmepVA1IY6MR4pZEylSvrzU963gVNR1m-Pfuf9S7kqSq8GztfGtjzC3fy-SOsZRDAR0JX8ywQCeYZC9LJYRS1aKI1c6UUiHuwOgNNHR-G0XU5rD_ME_BBtZW7E8ExuUAR8FtX4c3PGRVa-flAVf8VrsU0S7BfYcPs/w400-h266/PIMG_3390_Essex_Skipper_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Male Essex skipper butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Male Essex skipper butterfly (<i>Thymelicus lineola</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The small tortoiseshell and painted lady were different stories. The former have been noticeably absent in the past couple of years so it was delightful to see one. I hope I will see more in 2024. The latter are migrants, arriving in the UK when favourable winds carry them from Africa and Spain. There were about half a dozen present on a single day and I also saw significant numbers in Mayer Park around the same time so I guess this was a migratory fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possibly the most satisfying butterfly sighting was catching a couple of dingy skippers egg laying on patches of birds' foot trefoil, which means that this butterfly not seen in the area for 20 years until last year is now listed as a breeding species for the site.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwLDQdSsNNDRNZRvMAf3d_zwnElixx66wSkTE-6uMuaW6oWBfSAB_3dFTxMiRtoRguFlX45hu9Dipx_s42sM6S9p8m5oiBgTvr9aRk1RUI5JiAuAzSba50wiL90b1TmwmudW5-HM8W4gCbPy120EEIt2xkxWHYcWz9iZkFFf0ITOHvRyrFotEEqdLy-I/s2484/PIMG_1514_Dingy_Skipper_Female_Egg_Laying_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Female dingy skipper butterfly (Erynnis tages) laying eggs" border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="2484" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwLDQdSsNNDRNZRvMAf3d_zwnElixx66wSkTE-6uMuaW6oWBfSAB_3dFTxMiRtoRguFlX45hu9Dipx_s42sM6S9p8m5oiBgTvr9aRk1RUI5JiAuAzSba50wiL90b1TmwmudW5-HM8W4gCbPy120EEIt2xkxWHYcWz9iZkFFf0ITOHvRyrFotEEqdLy-I/w400-h266/PIMG_1514_Dingy_Skipper_Female_Egg_Laying_NFBP.JPG" title="Female dingy skipper butterfly (Erynnis tages) laying eggs" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Female dingy skipper butterfly (</span><i>Erynnis tages</i>) laying eggs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />New Ferry Butterfly Park has provided me with a most interesting year of invertebrate observation in both 2022 and 2023. I can't wait to see what 2024 brings.</div></span><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-76900803289464075592023-11-26T12:54:00.000+00:002023-11-26T12:54:05.285+00:00Tree Pruning Workshop at Dibbinsdale<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLUssabApjd0zYofrIl7CCbYGvFYf4tB_7U3hic8tFQ3NUwz_ZFf7ybACJ6wTwwGV7WMoJt8O7elXufBWqftIjr_CvzhrlM3s_lYc9HcBhBb7vh9p-9jHLnWtk3XKVfToiLHh3IR-Wv66xy1ECMzfg2Aig0fR6Q-RgBMighgf8hDQJz5MKq6vTAPS1Dc/s2848/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0002%202023_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Looking carefully before pruning the Bramley tree planted by Alison McGovern MP and Stephen Ross in 2021." border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLUssabApjd0zYofrIl7CCbYGvFYf4tB_7U3hic8tFQ3NUwz_ZFf7ybACJ6wTwwGV7WMoJt8O7elXufBWqftIjr_CvzhrlM3s_lYc9HcBhBb7vh9p-9jHLnWtk3XKVfToiLHh3IR-Wv66xy1ECMzfg2Aig0fR6Q-RgBMighgf8hDQJz5MKq6vTAPS1Dc/w400-h300/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0002%202023_1125.jpg" title="Looking carefully before pruning the Bramley tree planted by Alison McGovern MP and Stephen Ross in 2021." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking carefully before pruning the Bramley tree</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">planted by Alison McGovern MP and Stephen Ross in 2021.</div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We had an excellent training day on pruning fruit trees on 25th November, led by Katie Tonge of </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/heathfieldorchards" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Heathfield Orchards</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Katie talked us through the things to think about, then we went out for practical demonstrations and to try our own hand, in the walled garden at Dibbinsdale.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFfNTAQamsbaB8g_x0pF_FCNEXBx6ii3mWXbRdN9VFnTjT7ge4l7t1ztRLnS4Bsde0G26Qp38W-RpD9txJXkm26rxEA5Ppc5S4i3AjrnKNUjPq4p5YZzf1vXXw6q2j67kmMIs9hXv9ku30eUEw-vSqKXAuGzJBmNYFpLD3nLJvhlcJY4X0wNcgUUYuhs/s2848/Pruning%20course%20Dibby00042023_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The tree before pruning (Katie Tonge in the baseball cap)." border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFfNTAQamsbaB8g_x0pF_FCNEXBx6ii3mWXbRdN9VFnTjT7ge4l7t1ztRLnS4Bsde0G26Qp38W-RpD9txJXkm26rxEA5Ppc5S4i3AjrnKNUjPq4p5YZzf1vXXw6q2j67kmMIs9hXv9ku30eUEw-vSqKXAuGzJBmNYFpLD3nLJvhlcJY4X0wNcgUUYuhs/w400-h300/Pruning%20course%20Dibby00042023_1125.jpg" title="The tree before pruning (Katie Tonge in the baseball cap)." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The tree before pruning (Katie Tonge in the baseball cap).</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the process the six apple trees we planted for Wirral Wildlife's 50th birthday in 2021 were given expert pruning to train their shape as they mature. Several members of the Friends of Dibbinsdale were left with guidance on what to do with the plum trees, come spring, and how to set about some of the older trees that have been neglected for the last few years through the pandemic.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZdkWOdnzDnfcmdTQnu_tduikF9w8gC1Wa8nuXMmI7a70AHk1tO3PmJNEf3EC6aThwKL0kmJD4lKXIQszV02ohzxiJjmNah43cY_4emMCOBQwLnTfHzyh1lEgi_W8ZzqqagZmk29pr7fJggJcjQ6Rl5ip_Ucr3YTx8yAq7Q92Q-YtnhFzxxjWguNqRdM/s2848/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0005%202023_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Yes, I really do mean take that much off"" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZdkWOdnzDnfcmdTQnu_tduikF9w8gC1Wa8nuXMmI7a70AHk1tO3PmJNEf3EC6aThwKL0kmJD4lKXIQszV02ohzxiJjmNah43cY_4emMCOBQwLnTfHzyh1lEgi_W8ZzqqagZmk29pr7fJggJcjQ6Rl5ip_Ucr3YTx8yAq7Q92Q-YtnhFzxxjWguNqRdM/w400-h300/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0005%202023_1125.jpg" title=""Yes, I really do mean take that much off"" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">"Yes, I really do mean take that much off"</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If you have or are thinking about starting a community orchard, we can recommend booking a workshop with Katie to learn how to prune them to get a crop and to benefit wildlife. Thank you to Wirral Borough Council for use of the walled garden, Ste Smith, the Ranger, and the Friends of Dibbinsdale for hosting us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaccvJg6AaUSVXLOH9itA4ytgwPn1W4laDNgaZLTQ2uTHb03Ag9JOfGnf-5kAekns2Q5UjUOvPieAZUNeuP_siRQrtOyLpOxJj30wVjL6jD6ir8z2meEcS_KbX-588hcJKyZPztmyX4tK6LScWUlHcluQoH7lxuJ5oVDo-Px2Y-tiFzmFP3d-_YqCgrV8/s2848/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0006%202023_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pete does the next cut." border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaccvJg6AaUSVXLOH9itA4ytgwPn1W4laDNgaZLTQ2uTHb03Ag9JOfGnf-5kAekns2Q5UjUOvPieAZUNeuP_siRQrtOyLpOxJj30wVjL6jD6ir8z2meEcS_KbX-588hcJKyZPztmyX4tK6LScWUlHcluQoH7lxuJ5oVDo-Px2Y-tiFzmFP3d-_YqCgrV8/w400-h300/Pruning%20course%20Dibby0006%202023_1125.jpg" title="Pete does the next cut." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Pete does the next cut.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Hilary Ash</i></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-11043407128522683522023-10-27T15:33:00.001+01:002023-10-27T15:33:52.353+01:00Fungal Foray at Dibbinsdale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrVAIGJbSP_29gIcCLZcfnbYMWUoRiMKtUNg-pVObBeZLZ_xz5Zsr4BbauIGBBy4_W7NdNzDEAjkQZ9cWPGKVZQeZaUAgEYRnyCU-FtJ727IYFg7PUde4-ZHCslOd9-712PAFmn2ENcVRDDWGxIZpsnQT1_GdC_tD70RiwACQMSW8MWhyphenhyphenUyExWopT2Ls/s3721/20231014_Fungal%20Briefing%20by%20John%20Ratcliffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fungal Briefing by John Ratcliffe" border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="3721" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrVAIGJbSP_29gIcCLZcfnbYMWUoRiMKtUNg-pVObBeZLZ_xz5Zsr4BbauIGBBy4_W7NdNzDEAjkQZ9cWPGKVZQeZaUAgEYRnyCU-FtJ727IYFg7PUde4-ZHCslOd9-712PAFmn2ENcVRDDWGxIZpsnQT1_GdC_tD70RiwACQMSW8MWhyphenhyphenUyExWopT2Ls/w400-h303/20231014_Fungal%20Briefing%20by%20John%20Ratcliffe.jpg" title="Fungal Briefing by John Ratcliffe" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Fungal Briefing by John Ratcliffe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A third fungal foray was held by Wirral Wildlife at Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve. Prior to the foray a recognisance survey was undertaken by John Ratcliffe of North-West Fungal Group, and it was found to be a fungal desert as a result of the dry weather. John added “Our only hope is rain.” The Eventbrite attendees were emailed to warn them the host of fungi may not be as impressive or abundant as other years. Luckily for these fungal detectives it did rain, it rained so much that the path by Otter’s Tunnel under the railway was flooded and the planned route was altered. The autumn flowers of the fungi came out, though not very as abundant in numbers a respectable diversity of 52 species were recorded with 30 species not having been recorded on the previous fungal foray here.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ymeEQ1vLbbvuekdQhLrDhQyJd9TBLrOOTu7cBuiShP5Ax0RjB2k87bKdmQmdVLhRc9d6RuAJvSC98XoSptp2Odwg-4H64NHgqadVlcu2YfYM-r6UK7b8n1BhU1X1sNs2sXA37UKrzwUSkoMKWGMcI3uww4ryPuPk53xXfbqhr9DrNtiumyk20B0cBA/s4032/Amethyst%20%20Deceiver.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Amethyst Deceiver" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ymeEQ1vLbbvuekdQhLrDhQyJd9TBLrOOTu7cBuiShP5Ax0RjB2k87bKdmQmdVLhRc9d6RuAJvSC98XoSptp2Odwg-4H64NHgqadVlcu2YfYM-r6UK7b8n1BhU1X1sNs2sXA37UKrzwUSkoMKWGMcI3uww4ryPuPk53xXfbqhr9DrNtiumyk20B0cBA/w400-h300/Amethyst%20%20Deceiver.JPG" title="Amethyst Deceiver" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Amethyst Deceiver</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The gills/pores of a mushroom head give 20 times the area of the mushroom for spores' dispersal. It can be quite daunting with all those new names in English and Latin, but as the attendees went along, they started recognising the fungi that were seen early in the foray. Crib sheets of the previous year’s fungal records were provided to help recall the names. <br /><br />One fungus found was the Beef Steak mushroom which when you pressed it oozed out red dye as you see in a steak. Also found was the attractive Amethyst Deceiver and a Blushing Bracket. Clive, another fungal expert, was full of anecdotes about each fungus. Cramp balls, so called as you put them down your breeches when on a long horse ride to prevent cramp. Birch Polypore can be dried and used as a razor strop, or the fresh elastic skin peeled into a strip could be used like a sticking plaster, with the inside being clean. John was pleased to see attendees were all interested. One of the attendees, Ben Hart, typed up a list of the species seen on the day in the evening, including the common and Latin names. John, our fungal leader, searched for the Horn of Plenty on the damp rock cutting on the banks of the river Dibbin but unfortunately, we did not find that this time. We will look for it during next autumn’s Fungal Foray.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z0jpIpEsjY4i_UVCikm7vuG-sW3zOzy3Mka_9wgqfdYcv-rPb9_DnJRXjTWDm3X0T8ioz2Grg8fvW5cfPxRxNfGCgo-RUFIF1eIrndM3zGnoZuq6z7HYbJO2Wx0RxRhSjk2PU_43WNBLpxp43jNR7twOAh7Dl5TtyRhVVqmyMHqltDUNk6-fxtrZwSw/s3264/Horn%20of%20plenty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Horn of Plenty" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z0jpIpEsjY4i_UVCikm7vuG-sW3zOzy3Mka_9wgqfdYcv-rPb9_DnJRXjTWDm3X0T8ioz2Grg8fvW5cfPxRxNfGCgo-RUFIF1eIrndM3zGnoZuq6z7HYbJO2Wx0RxRhSjk2PU_43WNBLpxp43jNR7twOAh7Dl5TtyRhVVqmyMHqltDUNk6-fxtrZwSw/w300-h400/Horn%20of%20plenty.jpg" title="Horn of Plenty" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Horn of Plenty</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-2986518947585462952023-10-19T11:51:00.005+01:002023-10-19T11:51:39.443+01:00Your Views Wanted on Local Nature Recovery Strategy<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdLUCD9sGuLdyrdgFSkzUY8j_n7aai3SSIshMOmxieBV_LZKDPF5u95LWajx9sj_qjrOmyn_a5wUNgwBUvgvoApeeQ-SCWXq27osDVYEQWJnmFHT6yR50YA-o44TteUHtoepthAS1qqSEpLW1TP1ufoPPhrUAv1d5oe12Fo6wnd9rnLDxuhJBTRyeWq8/s400/50140189366_be8dcd9e3a_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdLUCD9sGuLdyrdgFSkzUY8j_n7aai3SSIshMOmxieBV_LZKDPF5u95LWajx9sj_qjrOmyn_a5wUNgwBUvgvoApeeQ-SCWXq27osDVYEQWJnmFHT6yR50YA-o44TteUHtoepthAS1qqSEpLW1TP1ufoPPhrUAv1d5oe12Fo6wnd9rnLDxuhJBTRyeWq8/w400-h268/50140189366_be8dcd9e3a_w.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favourite Wirral view for many, looking over the Dee Estuary.<br />Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tmjokl/50140189366/in/photolist-Fkwa1R-FrBZYu-2joHzry" target="_blank">Tim Jokl, Flickr</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">How can we all encourage nature to recover in Wirral?</b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The first phase of <b>public engagement for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the Liverpool City Region has begun</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The LNRS is a new plan designed to <b>support and improve nature and biodiversity in the Liverpool City Region</b> (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens & Wirral). It will use key evidence and the views of local people. The LNRS will act as a blueprint for protecting and enhancing nature, and will:</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Map our most important habitats </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Map opportunities for nature recovery </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">List the priorities for reversing the decline in plant and animal species</span></li></ul>In order to create this strategy, everyone can share their views on the nature, the places and the species that they value most. <br /><br />A survey is live now and continuing until November 15th. <br /><br /><b>Please find the link to the survey here:</b><br /><a href="https://lcrlistens.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/engagement/local-nature-recovery-strategy">https://lcrlistens.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/engagement/local-nature-recovery-strategy</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-53121087842446407972023-10-12T11:04:00.005+01:002023-10-12T11:05:11.436+01:00Apple Afternoon at New Ferry Butterfly Park<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8ZIQN0huISOrUNycrBK5J-uRvPhED1KuohlAEZVv6pCTBRBv7PXg-vGPyEzfIJH5BIacPE7DK2X_3I0BUtECCLCD5uUawH1aN8J2Zo-vNDZYNcSP3z1IlNZwb9r98eis3V0M81zTLtxrt1-jJuTw4t22iH6hbuHkKaNPttZiK6XpqP4EAONeM-uxTUg/s1600/IMG-20231008-WA0016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tasty display of apple varieties next to our apple information board" border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8ZIQN0huISOrUNycrBK5J-uRvPhED1KuohlAEZVv6pCTBRBv7PXg-vGPyEzfIJH5BIacPE7DK2X_3I0BUtECCLCD5uUawH1aN8J2Zo-vNDZYNcSP3z1IlNZwb9r98eis3V0M81zTLtxrt1-jJuTw4t22iH6hbuHkKaNPttZiK6XpqP4EAONeM-uxTUg/w400-h285/IMG-20231008-WA0016.jpg" title="A tasty display of apple varieties next to our apple information board" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">A tasty display of apple varieties next to our apple information board</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunday </span><span style="font-family: arial;">8th </span><span style="font-family: arial;">October was a warm October day - perfect weather for all things appley. Volunteers at New Ferry Butterfly Park organized an afternoon to celebrate locally grown apples. Thank you to everyone who visited.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQCPxI5sN9XLP_IgB3csx5CcleZRFxDU_FXfyXTBIHHyouS7k3Sgkjy3NDkDYFs9ufjdVd-h-bZXC2ygHx3x16lMFUIVLmlfFzl9DN45amLLBPgf_wnUyK4wENLwZzk4hGSDWCKX4TBbi67BHCjKcpaP32nGMdF19ytrfrdegbgGaYHvI_3Unwi-BF_A/s4032/IMG_20231008_142425613_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="John has been coming to Apple Days since he was about 4 years old!" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQCPxI5sN9XLP_IgB3csx5CcleZRFxDU_FXfyXTBIHHyouS7k3Sgkjy3NDkDYFs9ufjdVd-h-bZXC2ygHx3x16lMFUIVLmlfFzl9DN45amLLBPgf_wnUyK4wENLwZzk4hGSDWCKX4TBbi67BHCjKcpaP32nGMdF19ytrfrdegbgGaYHvI_3Unwi-BF_A/w300-h400/IMG_20231008_142425613_HDR.jpg" title="John has been coming to Apple Days since he was about 4 years old!" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">John has been coming to Apple Days since he was about 4 years old!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The first Apple Day was organised on 21st October 1990 by Common Ground to celebrate apples and orchards. Many traditional orchards were being dug up and the country became reliant on imported apples despite about 3,000 apple varieties having been grown in the UK. The aim was to bring the wide variety of local apples to the attention of the public.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r553Jy3iw9I88gYsaKHmhMyQ5f3quCl5VQsTIBqpbDwuKnN-Im4nuXUHFF6o7Z6yBGy-uy1jBG-GEzlDg4RJJlnRcvvf5uWzasLL_ucNwP26tGUzlXipcgb5So80nP4JjYybU-i11eFwbwcyoX6CUiXqioo6URlIkhyphenhyphenQq6vVcULvis32uUD7dDac8-0/s3208/IMG_20231008_190921484.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A selection of apples to take home" border="0" data-original-height="3208" data-original-width="2801" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r553Jy3iw9I88gYsaKHmhMyQ5f3quCl5VQsTIBqpbDwuKnN-Im4nuXUHFF6o7Z6yBGy-uy1jBG-GEzlDg4RJJlnRcvvf5uWzasLL_ucNwP26tGUzlXipcgb5So80nP4JjYybU-i11eFwbwcyoX6CUiXqioo6URlIkhyphenhyphenQq6vVcULvis32uUD7dDac8-0/w349-h400/IMG_20231008_190921484.jpg" title="A selection of apples to take home" width="349" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">A selection of apples to take home</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Many groups joined in the annual celebration and Wirral Wildlife began organising Apple Days. As far as I know the first Wirral Wildlife Apple Day was held on 19th October 1996 at Bob’s Orchard in Eastham.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88aXm1bYE0KubuBpo15CqLkdSL51H8uspq3WgfMgr8vYynBTI9XBY2emhblrdWuRkiV15iIR3qc15N8HmsjjyunGD_0AXYia3oeTsLhfHhBJgDlKb3z8LfelfBaN08bU9red5yxeU2rm-KuKaQvXTcqBECrenKL7mhE3VBSqiA57bHRCnEp52iFHIaB4/s2575/IMG_20231008_151636644_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Using the traditional wooden apple press to make juice" border="0" data-original-height="2366" data-original-width="2575" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88aXm1bYE0KubuBpo15CqLkdSL51H8uspq3WgfMgr8vYynBTI9XBY2emhblrdWuRkiV15iIR3qc15N8HmsjjyunGD_0AXYia3oeTsLhfHhBJgDlKb3z8LfelfBaN08bU9red5yxeU2rm-KuKaQvXTcqBECrenKL7mhE3VBSqiA57bHRCnEp52iFHIaB4/w400-h368/IMG_20231008_151636644_HDR.jpg" title="Using the traditional wooden apple press to make juice" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Using the traditional wooden apple press to make juice</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Later it moved to Brimstage Hall and then we added a second day at Eastham Country Park. In the last Apple Day before Covid (Wirral Wildlife’s 22nd Apple Day) we had 28 varieties of apples from orchards at Brimstage, Willaston and Upton Hall School. We also had enough apples to juice using our traditional wooden press. The Mersey Morris Men danced and the Tree Wardens sold apple goodies like pies and jam.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-a3SUgVgW5TYmP0vlxv0boHoknH2oYp_Z_mmIDrKXtxLHLahW_30VEVrJh5NOW4ebzJ1_jVFttx73buRxuUHiMz43Nx9Ht7ttCJiLdkVTDsptVJI9Yo94BY2Ptd1-Tl6ljzmClPymcoTwLeQwj1RUxvr1fHhTcwHxsoJzrWsz__1k2_8b1f6Jr2qTMM/s1600/IMG-20231008-WA0017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Checking the apple juicing equipment" border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-a3SUgVgW5TYmP0vlxv0boHoknH2oYp_Z_mmIDrKXtxLHLahW_30VEVrJh5NOW4ebzJ1_jVFttx73buRxuUHiMz43Nx9Ht7ttCJiLdkVTDsptVJI9Yo94BY2Ptd1-Tl6ljzmClPymcoTwLeQwj1RUxvr1fHhTcwHxsoJzrWsz__1k2_8b1f6Jr2qTMM/w400-h301/IMG-20231008-WA0017.jpg" title="Checking the apple juicing equipment" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Checking the apple juicing equipment</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />This year we decided to reinstate a smaller version – an Apple Afternoon at New Ferry Butterfly Park. John Bateman collected apples and manned the apple press so that visitors could taste freshly pressed juice. We had 21 varieties of apples picked from Brimstage and Upton Hall School orchards plus two varieties from the NFBP committee chairman’s garden. What wonderful names these old varieties have – some dating back to the 17th century. Some varieties like Peasgood’s Nonsuch are named after the person who raised them. Others like Lord Lambourne are named after a person. Catshead is named because of its shape, Red Love for the colour of its skin and flesh and Bee Bench after the tradition of taking bee hives to orchards to pollinate the flowers. A full list of our varieties is given below.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVhceTcRX8PywIOIiLyow8fWKPPcnOHtHU5hdAvW6xoAAiZ9gTelU35yzrhzzMH_Qxqxbg0jNOUsew9ZKxrZtylvMko4JC7JKhhwErMzYjKbIOYw3PJZWNqvjq6jGIdJmNAKrAJQZ1iqol8vwCGtaJmWLVzw7pgu197xugfA3YMgdq67Ra88cmvpgeso/s1600/IMG-20231008-WA0014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The peeling machine in action" border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVhceTcRX8PywIOIiLyow8fWKPPcnOHtHU5hdAvW6xoAAiZ9gTelU35yzrhzzMH_Qxqxbg0jNOUsew9ZKxrZtylvMko4JC7JKhhwErMzYjKbIOYw3PJZWNqvjq6jGIdJmNAKrAJQZ1iqol8vwCGtaJmWLVzw7pgu197xugfA3YMgdq67Ra88cmvpgeso/w400-h301/IMG-20231008-WA0014.jpg" title="The peeling machine in action" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The peeling machine in action</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Our apple peeling machine is always popular – who can create the longest piece of unbroken peel? This year the longest was 266 cm. Common Ground used to run a national competition and one year someone from our Apple Day won the under 16 competition with a piece 269 cm long. Maybe someone will break this record next year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRftgHgbGOdV5XTFgi-X6lmh2njqTvuy7owWksoBZmp8rdpNEIcCwHZD6v-PTieHHNjDryefWOS1COl4xgyoX00XsnPI3vzMCxcPzTgAyD8kRHnBPm9nAEaYzEbbNQN4WlfSu33yWI1BtvfozMm19rq3_ZSjfBxmHQh_oPlxHh7tP1VPcbjt_SGz2-FAM/s3024/IMG_20231008_151632535_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Can you peel a whole apple without breaking the peel?" border="0" data-original-height="1996" data-original-width="3024" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRftgHgbGOdV5XTFgi-X6lmh2njqTvuy7owWksoBZmp8rdpNEIcCwHZD6v-PTieHHNjDryefWOS1COl4xgyoX00XsnPI3vzMCxcPzTgAyD8kRHnBPm9nAEaYzEbbNQN4WlfSu33yWI1BtvfozMm19rq3_ZSjfBxmHQh_oPlxHh7tP1VPcbjt_SGz2-FAM/w400-h264/IMG_20231008_151632535_HDR~2.jpg" title="Can you peel a whole apple without breaking the peel?" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Can you peel a whole apple without breaking the peel?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So watch our Event listings for 2024 and put the Apple afternoon onto your calendar. <br /><br /><br />Apple varieties on display:</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Annie Elizabeth <br />Arthur Barnes <br />Ashmead’s Kernel <br />Bee bench <br />Bramley <br />Burr Knott <br />Catshead<br />Court Pendu Plat <br />Crawley Beauty <br />Egremont Russett <br />Golden Noble <br />Grenadier <br />James Grieve <br />Lord Derby <br />Lord Lambourne <br />Peasgood’s nonsuch <br />Phil’s cooker <br />Red Love <br />Redsleeves <br />Ribston Pippin <br />Withington Welter <br />Worcester Pearmain</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-8097498700477797792023-09-26T17:20:00.004+01:002023-09-26T17:20:38.069+01:00Seasonal Booster from AstraZeneca<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>An AstraZeneca team of a dozen employees came to work their restorative magic on New Ferry Butterfly Park. They came from the Speke site, where seasonal influenza vaccines are produced. After short briefings from Penny Underwood (from Employee Volunteering) and Paul Loughnane (the Park’s secretary), the AstraZeneca team split into groups and busily got involved improving the park.</div><div><br /></div><div>Three of these fit young people rapidly removed brambles from behind the Brick Pit Coppice, so it is now possible to access a large, coppiced ash stool to assess it for ash dieback.</div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohrxFmtWrSjllDvU0By_WYknYWekMYmNfETJVt8r9r3QmI4OF1SOKrCkroka2uX1YQQA6rBLondQ9dc0Q0XN44ekOVEpuI-5-QqNp1UP4IMD-zRU6_uWG327Jd_Ni9moSOJShpY7znA31ohSK3x4eFyKlAhKHEdfXxhXTGd6TYczPIMd5lbd49SKQH5c/s2848/Bramble%20%20team%20by%20Hilary%20Ash%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Removing brambles from behind Brick Pit Coppice" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohrxFmtWrSjllDvU0By_WYknYWekMYmNfETJVt8r9r3QmI4OF1SOKrCkroka2uX1YQQA6rBLondQ9dc0Q0XN44ekOVEpuI-5-QqNp1UP4IMD-zRU6_uWG327Jd_Ni9moSOJShpY7znA31ohSK3x4eFyKlAhKHEdfXxhXTGd6TYczPIMd5lbd49SKQH5c/w400-h300/Bramble%20%20team%20by%20Hilary%20Ash%20.jpg" title="Removing brambles from behind Brick Pit Coppice" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Removing brambles from behind Brick Pit Coppice</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Another three equally strong employees used root slaying spades to remove encroaching blackthorn from the grasslands surrounding the pond, whilst another four took up scythes and mowed the herb rich, aromatic smelling calcareous grassland. It was easier and more effective than they thought and proved enjoyable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTGDlJvsyZ_v74l0A5kc0em-l5QZWJwEqpLPT-FZyWEAawBLqZNUzkISjAkfvnI9JJoyDMAwnFm1jhs6WDPXi4PVwzSliQFI5AKwGRiZujVFQab1eRs25wcMLdxvWPaUqYO0AziOjxkhJ1IWyyaJUxIXF1XxlrF7bZk7RassYKzwUAdm-i-_23RJryDM/s4128/Blackthorn%20Removal%20%20Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Getting rid of blackthorn in the grassland near the pond" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTGDlJvsyZ_v74l0A5kc0em-l5QZWJwEqpLPT-FZyWEAawBLqZNUzkISjAkfvnI9JJoyDMAwnFm1jhs6WDPXi4PVwzSliQFI5AKwGRiZujVFQab1eRs25wcMLdxvWPaUqYO0AziOjxkhJ1IWyyaJUxIXF1XxlrF7bZk7RassYKzwUAdm-i-_23RJryDM/w400-h300/Blackthorn%20Removal%20%20Team.jpg" title="Getting rid of blackthorn in the grassland near the pond" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Getting rid of blackthorn in the grassland near the pond</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_EtCqy6qw2UfpNsGxwZsRzpoK2qhHT9_xg4OLj53MSLFhMnBbNF0AqIdqRR-miqi4nSDJ6m3lMokTI58oOBoGraAv75nnxJWXjy1X5o4zCBy82CVUgSQeEV2GyTlQavBJQTUSz9j3sZKTJrMBuJ527dXQrz94JhFC_ZSwXKo0IrhTd6949w3yj_0NVo/s1024/Scything%20%20%20fun%20%20by%20%20John%20Bateman%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scything fun!" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_EtCqy6qw2UfpNsGxwZsRzpoK2qhHT9_xg4OLj53MSLFhMnBbNF0AqIdqRR-miqi4nSDJ6m3lMokTI58oOBoGraAv75nnxJWXjy1X5o4zCBy82CVUgSQeEV2GyTlQavBJQTUSz9j3sZKTJrMBuJ527dXQrz94JhFC_ZSwXKo0IrhTd6949w3yj_0NVo/w300-h400/Scything%20%20%20fun%20%20by%20%20John%20Bateman%20.jpg" title="Scything fun!" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Scything fun!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFcmk57pbwpA_hBtXyx0gkBUcZrKUQrM6vU7lMtU286jiEljaRHzZhg0eHzH1ObZOjIUdRJQN51KKNS0vmQtNQ-EECi_FgRZ7BMTqKy5CZ02UQmV6H6SVKXyDVIIwtydeTlRxfYWfmmGXTJGK2fvIsfPltSLStdkw1F3hWznyCWrluo74maP2AP1A-bw/s2197/Scything%20%20Group%20by%20Hilary%20Ash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The scything team" border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="2197" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFcmk57pbwpA_hBtXyx0gkBUcZrKUQrM6vU7lMtU286jiEljaRHzZhg0eHzH1ObZOjIUdRJQN51KKNS0vmQtNQ-EECi_FgRZ7BMTqKy5CZ02UQmV6H6SVKXyDVIIwtydeTlRxfYWfmmGXTJGK2fvIsfPltSLStdkw1F3hWznyCWrluo74maP2AP1A-bw/w400-h185/Scything%20%20Group%20by%20Hilary%20Ash.jpg" title="The scything team" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The scything team</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The final pair of employees got down and dirty building a pond dipping platform. Yes, they became covered in clay as they smeared a layer of clay along the pond edges to protect the pond liner and built a dipping platform of breeze blocks topped off with paving stones, using a spirit level to ensure a true level.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNYzKAvLgXxrpyJm4Bjbl05XcTBAx9TUsmRcPTa4NS6YlHVCZMtKiV3M884UnPXAcqdM2lBc_9XiBW57CRvogYcwvlgU2lcjynY95TyEFMtQT-mJ_bj4_PbzhUQKlHI97MBsQ8Yog29jfHRJu_dEaZWH7UrjgYu2AmD3Tqrwgu45FrY3NoKrEwcbkdzQ/s1920/Covered%20%20in%20clay%20by%20Hilary%20Ash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Getting covered in clay while building a pond dipping platform!" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNYzKAvLgXxrpyJm4Bjbl05XcTBAx9TUsmRcPTa4NS6YlHVCZMtKiV3M884UnPXAcqdM2lBc_9XiBW57CRvogYcwvlgU2lcjynY95TyEFMtQT-mJ_bj4_PbzhUQKlHI97MBsQ8Yog29jfHRJu_dEaZWH7UrjgYu2AmD3Tqrwgu45FrY3NoKrEwcbkdzQ/w400-h300/Covered%20%20in%20clay%20by%20Hilary%20Ash.jpg" title="Getting covered in clay while building a pond dipping platform!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Getting covered in clay while building a pond dipping platform!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCvV_mhUJkGUO03cnMSqG7_Y6pkNU9ZfIxCdC7vXYjOZPyboMJf8_EEMP7FmSH2dsLWvndhd0-KbxAqd9GB3nORukhMLRpBf5AkWu6knoA6Wwz6G0P_6ekSeyxphwAFn9A_H0WLBYozr0uzvU-PeyB7zZeNw7GKUeLaE6LblfSC1Y4ynaI7fr6dIYv2A/s4122/Getting%20the%20clay%20to%20the%20right%20constitency%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Getting the clay to the right consistency" border="0" data-original-height="4122" data-original-width="2894" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCvV_mhUJkGUO03cnMSqG7_Y6pkNU9ZfIxCdC7vXYjOZPyboMJf8_EEMP7FmSH2dsLWvndhd0-KbxAqd9GB3nORukhMLRpBf5AkWu6knoA6Wwz6G0P_6ekSeyxphwAFn9A_H0WLBYozr0uzvU-PeyB7zZeNw7GKUeLaE6LblfSC1Y4ynaI7fr6dIYv2A/w281-h400/Getting%20the%20clay%20to%20the%20right%20constitency%20.jpg" title="Getting the clay to the right consistency" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Getting the clay to the right consistency</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYd_I97ikfrdWv96ZD94FDc3Iwuszxz44OhjTRfHRKe7_Ok9_2iUXGoOsRblOLPTDlh0QCjG2u_FuHmTNQrtnTvC_Spyu21JzVICKY-4XkRdZ2xM0a1fAtA3mDqHgqyMjCQiz2tn1KbA46P4N-eH-SmrkDVRxYrSaX_FCZ94ypppZKV2tfWIwf4Rfw94/s4128/Keeping%20it%20%20level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Making sure the paving stones are level" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYd_I97ikfrdWv96ZD94FDc3Iwuszxz44OhjTRfHRKe7_Ok9_2iUXGoOsRblOLPTDlh0QCjG2u_FuHmTNQrtnTvC_Spyu21JzVICKY-4XkRdZ2xM0a1fAtA3mDqHgqyMjCQiz2tn1KbA46P4N-eH-SmrkDVRxYrSaX_FCZ94ypppZKV2tfWIwf4Rfw94/w300-h400/Keeping%20it%20%20level.jpg" title="Making sure the paving stones are level" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Making sure the paving stones are level</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Following lunch Hilary Ash gave a tour of the site and expanded on the reasons for the projects carried out that day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDOuNSMR0PzKP8zgb-hSlIVaHLRYDHmj-FkgAwDkR0KxwFZz9Lp6B4yFvQRiNI4gQn-3uyOW4AK4sGmMhNGAQqbsu6fMjIP5190Oh_EBK_mEBU6ofMwU6QP2MmPoEabg2RuYWoHvSDuEC7HZSoVcsBgB1pH-pXQjSAUpETTC0yXk0R-lHsShKyIA3JcU/s3240/Lunch%20time%20%20tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A lunchtime tour of the Butterfly Park" border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3240" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDOuNSMR0PzKP8zgb-hSlIVaHLRYDHmj-FkgAwDkR0KxwFZz9Lp6B4yFvQRiNI4gQn-3uyOW4AK4sGmMhNGAQqbsu6fMjIP5190Oh_EBK_mEBU6ofMwU6QP2MmPoEabg2RuYWoHvSDuEC7HZSoVcsBgB1pH-pXQjSAUpETTC0yXk0R-lHsShKyIA3JcU/w400-h286/Lunch%20time%20%20tour.jpg" title="A lunchtime tour of the Butterfly Park" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">A lunchtime tour of the Butterfly Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Following the tour, some took on lighter duties such as bringing in the trail posts and composting the dead plants left over from plant sales. The pond group continued to complete the task. At the end of the day the twenty empty buckets which contained the soaking clay, and the temporary safety cordon were all removed from around the pond. Four thousand litres of rainwater from the park’s water butts were released to fill the pond, no need to call the fire brigade to help fill it as on previous occasions. The pond area was transformed and with its clay surround looks much more natural than the previously exposed membrane. The pond will fill a little more throughout the winter season with the rainfall and the rainwater harvested from the tool container roof. <br /><br />This corporate workday really gave a great boost to the Park as we were able to finish the long ongoing project of restoring the pond, and start tackling the more vigorous projects of removing the blackthorn and bramble. The pond has been much missed during this last season by our visitors, as the Park is one of the few places you can just turn up on summer Sundays and see what lives in the pond using a net. Thanks go to John Bateman, New Ferry Butterfly Park Treasurer and AstraZeneca employee, and Sarah Edgar of AstraZeneca, who were instrumental in organising this corporate workday, as well as our own experienced volunteers who led the various projects. AstraZeneca in addition to providing employees also kindly purchased the breeze blocks, sand and cement for the pond dipping platform project to progress. We hope to get another seasonal shot from the Speke AstraZeneca team next year.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-64157604370134324852023-09-18T12:35:00.000+01:002023-09-18T12:35:19.000+01:00Late Summer Activity at Cleaver Heath<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRbHrx6TEVOo_0gymQ-tskXW5rgOt7ZyJWbYFMdMGeu6Cjza4FoohqNSCvDsOnBOsSXVHbuoVePn3ahMS4sfbY8Zb1D7oZLjEvnPAt20iqUM_V-diazwWUqrmrKh4XrTm9ytpEBOPL0s8PPuD81brnxL4tLCrLRpsVWLs1i9zuhFf5Fbb0yNCnRyJHME/s280/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The main heather panel at Cleaver Heath" border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="280" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRbHrx6TEVOo_0gymQ-tskXW5rgOt7ZyJWbYFMdMGeu6Cjza4FoohqNSCvDsOnBOsSXVHbuoVePn3ahMS4sfbY8Zb1D7oZLjEvnPAt20iqUM_V-diazwWUqrmrKh4XrTm9ytpEBOPL0s8PPuD81brnxL4tLCrLRpsVWLs1i9zuhFf5Fbb0yNCnRyJHME/w400-h329/Picture1.png" title="The main heather panel at Cleaver Heath" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The main heather panel at Cleaver Heath</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">During late August and early September two volunteer task days were organized at Cleaver Heath to deal with the annual problem of bracken re-growth within the upper heather panel. Bracken fronds were removed by stem pulling - rewarding work but laborious, especially in the recent very warm weather! After the main panel was cleared, we concentrated on clearing bracken and pruning overhanging trees along the edge of the Eastern woodland to allow more light to fall onto the nearby heather and encourage fresh growth.</span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWwFy7R3zuXxTC9HVIhBdVywEUnTb8nkkT43bMWSggEEM2ZebQKWhC8EfMjKRUbn_o2EnDz_IhaCJxpJLVXbxMptth8hI0_qKDRFY5Se8SZ6A_t-C8MRbffTc2kpREj-98w57lVLjvPH7frMnkld4xM7n21tThItdOBiA8J3SS7cMNVirmJL9ChYgegs/s288/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The woodland edge after bracken pulling" border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="288" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWwFy7R3zuXxTC9HVIhBdVywEUnTb8nkkT43bMWSggEEM2ZebQKWhC8EfMjKRUbn_o2EnDz_IhaCJxpJLVXbxMptth8hI0_qKDRFY5Se8SZ6A_t-C8MRbffTc2kpREj-98w57lVLjvPH7frMnkld4xM7n21tThItdOBiA8J3SS7cMNVirmJL9ChYgegs/w400-h322/Picture2.png" title="The woodland edge after bracken pulling" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The woodland edge after
bracken pulling</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">While working we took the opportunity to look out for any interesting wildlife especially as the weather was warm and sunny.<br /><br />Gall wasps had been busy during the year and young oaks along the woodland edge displayed a variety of galls.<br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dgaEI8X1wIVQtAgGNC696zlS7QN3PX-55_2Fy33_bEtSlBr2yfsEE5r-wwE05DmYgQNrJtJ5HYW7cVgj_DjDIpD1SMTR2FDG59b5JkC63k3nCYtSxv1tlCR5QmCzx7ftxQAAuATqhE2U1nxY4_wDL9mFvH1pPLEm-NpJW1yH9-N11HlH75stTIbGsMo/s338/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clock-wise from top left : Marble Gall, Artichoke Gall, Cola-nut Gall, Spangle Gall, Knopper Gall" border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="338" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dgaEI8X1wIVQtAgGNC696zlS7QN3PX-55_2Fy33_bEtSlBr2yfsEE5r-wwE05DmYgQNrJtJ5HYW7cVgj_DjDIpD1SMTR2FDG59b5JkC63k3nCYtSxv1tlCR5QmCzx7ftxQAAuATqhE2U1nxY4_wDL9mFvH1pPLEm-NpJW1yH9-N11HlH75stTIbGsMo/w400-h398/Picture3.png" title="Clock-wise from top left : Marble Gall, Artichoke Gall, Cola-nut Gall, Spangle Gall, Knopper Gall" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;">Galls on oak trees.<br />Clockwise from top left:<br />Marble Gall, Artichoke Gall, Cola-nut Gall, Spangle Gall, Knopper Gall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">The young oaks were also providing shelter and home to some spiders.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqbx5GyvEaFfWXG2EGM-LC_MGMddEsuyvFS0Er3wIhOpOpB4E6B8yYWHy7CsxNoOs-hFJ67ghXh9yCE666m7MTW9iTD_kTqsZF3rEnrJrTrnm9N8OLxhkxVuP350zMhx_ADNu4oElSTZu5WpT58TQ7j2ik9uEjY79GIlPUN87Au1OXokNwWYzzimN-k4/s300/Picture4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lesser Garden spider (Metellina sp.)" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqbx5GyvEaFfWXG2EGM-LC_MGMddEsuyvFS0Er3wIhOpOpB4E6B8yYWHy7CsxNoOs-hFJ67ghXh9yCE666m7MTW9iTD_kTqsZF3rEnrJrTrnm9N8OLxhkxVuP350zMhx_ADNu4oElSTZu5WpT58TQ7j2ik9uEjY79GIlPUN87Au1OXokNwWYzzimN-k4/w400-h400/Picture4.png" title="Lesser Garden spider (Metellina sp.)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;">Lesser Garden
spider (<i>Metellina </i>sp.)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV6b49dHLgbx19vCWz15FV1dpbWWxejYHfm-eaLGqk29cj2sgRPf8RLahnxl0o_ow76-oE46L5csI0OYEipaf7JLaSPqjkNYKzwMJUICeokxhWkT6RNOJ9fb76TRKT8LqE2ZsuozXl6-pI2goGoHTe3leZVwYwQF_yWAzOUX3-O6UXMZtsRPIfQFx5ok/s299/Picture5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The 'Sputnik spider' (Paidiscura pallens) so-called because of the spiky shape of its eggsac which is attached to the underside of an oak leaf" border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="299" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV6b49dHLgbx19vCWz15FV1dpbWWxejYHfm-eaLGqk29cj2sgRPf8RLahnxl0o_ow76-oE46L5csI0OYEipaf7JLaSPqjkNYKzwMJUICeokxhWkT6RNOJ9fb76TRKT8LqE2ZsuozXl6-pI2goGoHTe3leZVwYwQF_yWAzOUX3-O6UXMZtsRPIfQFx5ok/w400-h400/Picture5.png" title="The 'Sputnik spider' (Paidiscura pallens) so-called because of the spiky shape of its eggsac which is attached to the underside of an oak leaf" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;">The 'Sputnik spider'
(<i>Paidiscura pallens</i>)<br />so-called because of the spiky shape of its eggsac<br />which
is attached to the underside of an oak leaf</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">By far the most interesting 'find' during the day was the Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus).</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bNjjCjbR1ngEYy57eLXuOLKo5mJ73568GY-T-__8ZUdXXjL8zwM9FhvvxcHon3KoCRfwzIC3ahfC7PkVdi-EUgFXnZExtsnMnzI9-R_SOVE2_ZqZjiGfQJwFnkkR0rcl_ytgqQSKQhj9W6BtZRDp5Z_jRz7noXq19KVBVDK5IXOYek1Y4F2C-34_qC8/s445/Picture6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)" border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="445" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bNjjCjbR1ngEYy57eLXuOLKo5mJ73568GY-T-__8ZUdXXjL8zwM9FhvvxcHon3KoCRfwzIC3ahfC7PkVdi-EUgFXnZExtsnMnzI9-R_SOVE2_ZqZjiGfQJwFnkkR0rcl_ytgqQSKQhj9W6BtZRDp5Z_jRz7noXq19KVBVDK5IXOYek1Y4F2C-34_qC8/w400-h400/Picture6.png" title="Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 107%;">Heather Ladybird (<i>Chilocorus bipustulatus</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">This very small ladybird was found on mature heather close to where we were working along the woodland edge. It is black and shiny with two or three red spots, sometimes fused, running in a line across the body. It is more likely to be found on mature heather on heathland as at Cleaver, but has been occasionally recorded on coastal dunes. It was recorded in the Wallasey sand dunes in 1991. Nationally it is classed as local and declining so we are very fortunate to have it with us! It feeds on aphids and scale insects and overwinters in litter at the base of heather and gorse.<br /><br />Future work at Cleaver before the end of the year includes the regeneration project next month, birch cutting and stump treatment with Graham from Cheshire Wildlife Trust and coppicing within the managed scrub area. A lot to keep us busy.<br /><br /><i><br />John McGaw<br />Volunteer Warden, Cleaver Heath</i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-6229479272962078652023-09-13T19:03:00.002+01:002023-09-13T19:03:20.184+01:00End of Season Party at the Butterfly Park<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />On Sunday 10th </span><span style="font-family: arial;">September, to mark </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the last day of the 2023 opening season, the volunteers had an end of
season party. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">here were two other celebrations
that afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">First, the industrial history lectern by the brick pit was officially
unveiled in honour of Frank Cottrell.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ1NE1j6tFLQJY1pUiFa2GUaFv_08yA0JXBNF_nHZZAIgU8XkiRWvjFSzHKgz9z7NjGMbkeYvHjn20l0z3tiOAYExRoAi9P7x8NrR8rL0mEkNKQjhXSG-EL4UwxR0CppAunkxFQzAZ8nDc5JZ0Iwkoy4-rvaP04lUYCJDMcju0WyNK-63TliTU5D7a3k/s2848/unveiling%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Unveiling of the industrial history lectern, dedicated to Frank Cottrell" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ1NE1j6tFLQJY1pUiFa2GUaFv_08yA0JXBNF_nHZZAIgU8XkiRWvjFSzHKgz9z7NjGMbkeYvHjn20l0z3tiOAYExRoAi9P7x8NrR8rL0mEkNKQjhXSG-EL4UwxR0CppAunkxFQzAZ8nDc5JZ0Iwkoy4-rvaP04lUYCJDMcju0WyNK-63TliTU5D7a3k/w400-h300/unveiling%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0010.jpg" title="Unveiling of the industrial history lectern, dedicated to Frank Cottrell" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Unveiling of the industrial history lectern, dedicated to Frank Cottrell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hilary Ash
gave a short speech about the late Frank Cottrell’s contribution to wildlife locally
and the Butterfly Park in particular.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Frank lived in
Spital and worked at Unilever, after a short spell in the RAF - which left him
with a military bearing and an impressive moustache.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Frank’s passion
was butterflies, but there being no locally active branch of Butterfly Conservation,
he became chair of Wirral Wildlife (1989 - 1998) and a trustee of Cheshire
Wildlife Trust in 1992. He </span><span style="font-family: arial;">persuaded his fellow trustees that CWT should hold the Park's lease,
opening up the way for the Park to start. Later he was a Sunday warden, with
his friend Elaine Mills, retiring eventually at age 94! He gave a generous
donation towards the new gates. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Donations collected at Frank’s funeral were
matched by Wirral Wildlife to enable the purchase of the lectern. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It will help us display the history of the Park to
visitors. The lectern is made of recycled plastic and aluminium, and we hope
will last as long as Frank did - nearly 99 years.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE__Zd8aRqYpjxWzKUt3vAtOAAwo1o453lVKL0Tsq9yzE9rogUgCp8Kv3HmQn3uh7bodf2GyATeN8Bi58zMFiLCXiSi-rsHo2LFX0O5YTUMHmrThKyhmTtLVJVv6WTRwzeYhUVLkhlcXmRHIuLEfh_j0wfU40Vduprby9sp6kGWCf36PkmWSi_Zf0ALI/s2848/Paul%20Hilary%20Pete%20and%20lectern%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peter Miller, Paul Loughnane and Hilary Ash with the lectern" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE__Zd8aRqYpjxWzKUt3vAtOAAwo1o453lVKL0Tsq9yzE9rogUgCp8Kv3HmQn3uh7bodf2GyATeN8Bi58zMFiLCXiSi-rsHo2LFX0O5YTUMHmrThKyhmTtLVJVv6WTRwzeYhUVLkhlcXmRHIuLEfh_j0wfU40Vduprby9sp6kGWCf36PkmWSi_Zf0ALI/w400-h300/Paul%20Hilary%20Pete%20and%20lectern%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0006.jpg" title="Peter Miller, Paul Loughnane and Hilary Ash with the lectern" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Peter Miller, Paul Loughnane and Hilary Ash with the lectern</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The lectern display was created by Peter Miller and reflects the industrial
legacy which has given the park such biodiversity.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Howard Gibson and Peter put the lectern in together.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Following this the party moved to the Park’s entrance for a second
celebration.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJAeymdIo1D6Sg_TTsFo8ngjIQev5LRxBJLbA9d9LjeY048lcWiFLxSykmzNTESTkf-q7EMK7QRJLgAR7F-YQdXTYkReqpfDq2k4m7Y9SThkfWi15dKAQ5xH43lY82iBYa1-HGemfngTYLsBlNrUyd5AcJSbEDtFC2WIqZ9GNjsITGR30w0P96V530Tw/s2848/flag%20raising%20Steve%20Lyus%20Phil%20Putwain%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steve Lyus and Phil Putwain raising the Green Flag" border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="2136" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJAeymdIo1D6Sg_TTsFo8ngjIQev5LRxBJLbA9d9LjeY048lcWiFLxSykmzNTESTkf-q7EMK7QRJLgAR7F-YQdXTYkReqpfDq2k4m7Y9SThkfWi15dKAQ5xH43lY82iBYa1-HGemfngTYLsBlNrUyd5AcJSbEDtFC2WIqZ9GNjsITGR30w0P96V530Tw/w300-h400/flag%20raising%20Steve%20Lyus%20Phil%20Putwain%202023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0014.jpg" title="Steve Lyus and Phil Putwain raising the Green Flag" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Steve Lyus and Phil Putwain raising the Green Flag</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>The 2023/24 Green Flag was jointly raised by the former chair of
the Park’s committee, Steve Lyus and the new chair Phil Putwain.<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the 11th consecutive year
that the Park has achieved a Green Flag. In his report the Green Flag judge
could not think of any improvements needed to the Park!<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Steve Lyus became the Chair of the Park committee in 2013 and was
instrumental in redefining our relationship with Cheshire Wildlife Trust. He maintained
the insurance cover, regularly reviewed risk assessments, kept the information
board up to date and was a logical head at the Park committee meetings.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Steve is a keen gardener and was presented
with an interesting plant, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Hydrangea </i><span style="background: white;"><i>Preziosa,</i></span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;"> which
bears bright pink flowers, which mature to red and eventually burgundy in
autumn.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Steve retired to the
Wirral because of its acidic soils, so that he could grow Camellia and Azalea
shrubs.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We welcome Phil Putwain to his role of Chair of New Ferry
Butterfly Park committee.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Flag raising wasn’t the end of the afternoon’s celebrations. It was
followed by a BBQ for 28 guests - a
great coming together of the estate, wardening and recording teams. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The volunteers demonstrated their culinary
skills by bringing dishes such as spinach pie and banana cake, to mention but
two contributions. Despite the heavy rain, resilience was demonstrated, and the
BBQ continued until 7.45pm when the light was starting to fade. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a lot to catch up with!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s1QJxECIUx2iVlX7TUoORyIaK3Bz8PnNxaaGXsky9tVhqF9GaQuic08a2D1XBPWfDTXbghemilAn6LvVKFgi5fwvPVc6ESXSqxA92Ma2NbBLbxu86xhOY76XwcWGW6LgpjqP5v01Qz1W4QEGxeQTowmBfjezvqyUCO87P-Bd5LahkXbYOFbThcR3Akw/s4128/20230910_BBQ%20in%20the%20%20rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="BBQ in the rain!" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s1QJxECIUx2iVlX7TUoORyIaK3Bz8PnNxaaGXsky9tVhqF9GaQuic08a2D1XBPWfDTXbghemilAn6LvVKFgi5fwvPVc6ESXSqxA92Ma2NbBLbxu86xhOY76XwcWGW6LgpjqP5v01Qz1W4QEGxeQTowmBfjezvqyUCO87P-Bd5LahkXbYOFbThcR3Akw/w400-h300/20230910_BBQ%20in%20the%20%20rain.jpg" title="BBQ in the rain!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">BBQ in the rain!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There was also a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">display about Frank Cottrell’s contribution to
Wirral Wildlife with photographs of him with his Frog Dip children's game at Ness Gardens, at Apple Days at Brimstage Hall orchard and </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">at the Butterfly Park when he retired as a warden,</span> aged 94.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You are never too old to
volunteer!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtc7QFDWmaEhtDxla6DVXuUkym0fPreKlsS8xbF3w8Q2ssSILmfBSCHeCykq2F25YaXXCxSBmKI_bc3xA044g4uhyOMZUqy0rIQIZJlGZVtP-TtBmf9vgJLrQXpEY7g8w9NDzaHJN3gfonLN0FOfNULMdL18odADsAarps4ideJd2a_Uj04FRTKrFlU0/s2848/Mike%20Cottrell%20Elaine%20Mills%20Hilary%20and%20Paul2023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mike Cottrell and Elaine Mills with the display about Frank, with Paul and Hilary" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtc7QFDWmaEhtDxla6DVXuUkym0fPreKlsS8xbF3w8Q2ssSILmfBSCHeCykq2F25YaXXCxSBmKI_bc3xA044g4uhyOMZUqy0rIQIZJlGZVtP-TtBmf9vgJLrQXpEY7g8w9NDzaHJN3gfonLN0FOfNULMdL18odADsAarps4ideJd2a_Uj04FRTKrFlU0/w400-h300/Mike%20Cottrell%20Elaine%20Mills%20Hilary%20and%20Paul2023_0911NFBP%20Frank%20and%20Green%20Flag0004.jpg" title="Mike Cottrell and Elaine Mills with the display about Frank, with Paul and Hilary" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Mike Cottrell and Elaine Mills with the display about Frank, with Paul and Hilary</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">This opening season, there have been 18 open Sundays and 19 group visits, amounting to 2,138 visitors (and still counting). </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The volunteer event marked the end of the public opening season and the start of
the winter workdays, which will be on the second Sunday of each month.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial;"><br />Paul Loughnane and Hilary Ash</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-9000793923849711382023-09-04T16:08:00.001+01:002023-09-04T16:08:13.929+01:00Tribute to Guy Huntingdon (1949 - 2023)<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnaSZxU8_DiW49cXdmNVGs8oh9kGt4PBFKnsYFz0B6Qu03A259PBWAw8w8XmpOwLFfq9187PErdx_GKKSQt0M0y1z49y2W0hYO3RCykkvmHyR7RQIv-QWeycJzEkr-gyKauqF08OKQAxyq2x3lPr55zm4lI-YXKLL1jbgsApVCA57fPNCnuLEVWmgGjw/s888/Guy%20Huntington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnaSZxU8_DiW49cXdmNVGs8oh9kGt4PBFKnsYFz0B6Qu03A259PBWAw8w8XmpOwLFfq9187PErdx_GKKSQt0M0y1z49y2W0hYO3RCykkvmHyR7RQIv-QWeycJzEkr-gyKauqF08OKQAxyq2x3lPr55zm4lI-YXKLL1jbgsApVCA57fPNCnuLEVWmgGjw/w343-h400/Guy%20Huntington.jpg" width="343" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Guy Huntingdon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We were saddened to hear of the death of Guy Huntingdon, after a long illness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the 1980s and 1990s he was an active volunteer with Wirral Wildlife, especially at Red Rocks nature reserve.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Guy was born in Upton in 1949 and was interested in photography from his teens. He specialised in natural history and countryside images. He became a member of the Royal Photographic society in 1984. His technical skills and affinity with countryside and wildlife gave lasting impact to his photographs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">He worked with local historian Ken Burnley to produce three illustrated books on Wirral: <i>Images of Wirral</i> (1991), <i>Seasons of Wirral</i> (1994) and <i>Reflections of Wirral</i> (2011). The books feature many images of Wirral's wildlife and wild places including our nature reserves. Ken was our volunteer reserves manager at Red Rocks in the 1980s. Guy was already a warden at Red Rocks before Ken was appointed Reserves Manager and they didn't know each other before then, but became firm friends.</span></p><div><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-6970213764693723952023-08-06T13:55:00.002+01:002023-08-06T13:55:20.917+01:00Spring/Summer 2023 Prize Quiz: Winner and Answers<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVG75IksgpGGCZxTGNZp6dtnwsSLlRUiaEiz-f4ey1hL2S3EGwuC7JFnfNNvwTzUWQSP7cWA4riUldNS8153WjXUbrYKCxwsDbcXo91_oOkwJ6qv1un1bWzpAPOAoxO3lLTcDmKA7ituaYfOavviRZ9Nklc9ch-WSu4RdxNFKYIKOwV1jjnOYGoWRkEI/s1920/silver%20birch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Silver birch (the answer to question 2 of the quiz). Photo: Wikipedia" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVG75IksgpGGCZxTGNZp6dtnwsSLlRUiaEiz-f4ey1hL2S3EGwuC7JFnfNNvwTzUWQSP7cWA4riUldNS8153WjXUbrYKCxwsDbcXo91_oOkwJ6qv1un1bWzpAPOAoxO3lLTcDmKA7ituaYfOavviRZ9Nklc9ch-WSu4RdxNFKYIKOwV1jjnOYGoWRkEI/w400-h300/silver%20birch.jpg" title="Silver birch (the answer to question 2 of the quiz). Photo: Wikipedia" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Silver birch (the answer to question 2 of the quiz). Photo: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betula_pendula" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Congratulations to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mrs Ruth Woodhouse of Pontefract, t</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he winner of the Spring/Summer 2023 Prize Quiz! A gift voucher is in the post.<br /><br />The quiz had a theme of trees and shrubs. If you want to find out how you did, here are the answers to the cryptic clues.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>1. Manx town first to lose street. (7, 3). <i>Douglas Fir</i></div><div>2. Long John’s cane? (6, 5). <i>Silver Birch</i></div><div>3. For starters, you eat what?!! That’s poisonous! (3). <i>Yew</i></div><div>4. Tree found in polar chalk and limestone soils. (5). <i>Larch</i></div><div>5. Like hard wood. (3). <i>Ash</i></div><div>6. In the role of Mr Harman, of Grace Brothers, started owning a kitten. (7, 3). <i>English Oak</i></div><div>7. This one will make hotel throw an upheaval. (8). <i>Hawthorn</i></div><div>8. This one had noisy dispute and died away. (5). <i>Rowan</i></div><div>9. Originally, many young Russians tried learning English. (6). <i>Myrtle</i></div><div>10. I hear Mrs Blair is furious!<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(4, 6). <i>Wild Cherry</i></div><div>11. Strangely a spire stuck in this tree. (5, 6).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Sitka Spruce</i></div><div>12. Tiny, swallowed up in thoroughfare, with crate and bonce. (5, 8). <i>Sweet Chestnut</i></div><div>13. Little holiday for daughter and crazy Emil. (5-6, 4). <i>Small-leaved Lime</i></div><div>14. This tree initially has only red nuts, by early autumn mainly. (8). <i>Hornbeam</i></div><div>15. Sobbing Bill: “That hurt!”. (7, 6). <i>Weeping Willow</i></div><div>16. Ladies first in sacred tree.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(5). <i>Holly</i></div><div>17. There’s some cooked ham, look! (4, 3). <i>Holm Oak</i></div><div>18. I rose in high dudgeon when confronted with this one. (5). <i>Osier</i></div><div>19. I hear Hebridean island has fruit. (8). <i>Mulberry</i></div><div>20. Don’t sit under here, unless I’m with you for a sing-song! (5, 4). <i>Apple Tree</i></div><div>21. You don’t want to be stuck up in this one!<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(3, 4). <i>Gum Tree</i></div><div>22. Ray comes to grief in this tree.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(8). <i>Sycamore</i></div><div>23. D’you pinch the girl? That’s what I heard!<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(7). <i>Juniper</i></div><div>24. A tree with foliage to prevent embarrassment.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(3). <i>Fig</i></div><div>25. Little brother has honour for distinguished service. (5). <i>Broom</i></div><div>26. ‘E orders glue, prepared for this shrub. (7, 4). <i>Guelder Rose</i></div><div>27. British have no spine; but this one has plenty, and reportedly an unhurried fruit.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(10).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Blackthorn</i></div><div>28. Elaborate leaf dimple. (5, 5). <i>Field Maple</i></div><div>29. The first-born sibling. (5). <i>Elder</i></div><div>30. A ray of sunshine with all colours of light combined. (9). <i>Whitebeam</i></div><div>31. Oliver’s companion, Stanley. (6). <i>Laurel</i></div><div>32. You would find this one in woods that formed large parts of the National Park. (6). <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Medlar</i></div><div>33. Did Prince Charles notice this in Lady Diana Spencer? (5). <i>Aspen</i></div><div>34. Not very deep, with no hotel. (6). <i>Sallow</i></div><div>35. Nigel, or Nigella maybe, goes to island in the Mediterranean, I hear. (6, 7). <i>Lawson Cypress</i></div><div>36. Hesitation after finding large container behind scientific test site. (8). <i>Laburnum</i>*</div><div>37. It’s not true a metallic element leads the spy network. (5, 6). <i>False Acacia</i></div><div>38. Why Mel C? I’m confused. (4, 3). <i>Wych Elm</i></div><div>39. I’m told that he is a mural obsessive! (6).<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Walnut</i></div><div>40. Raced recklessly from Beirut perhaps? (5, 2, 7). <i>Cedar of Lebanon</i></div><div>41. Aircraft bound for Heathrow? (6, 5). <i>London Plane</i></div><div>42. Christmas dinner on a knife-edge initially. (6,3). <i>Turkey Oak</i></div><div>43. With choice of two directions a Yankee is natty. (6, 6). <i>Norway Spruce</i></div><div>44. Creature whose eye is a target, with card (one of thirteen). (7). <i>Bullace</i></div><div>45. Type of elected councillor, not man. (5). <i>Alder</i></div><div>46. Mistiness on head of lake. (5). <i>Hazel</i></div><div>47. Decomposed pin money tree. (8, 4). <i>Monterey Pine</i></div><div>48. Initially, because leaves actually can kill, people often put large awnings round this tree. (5, 6). <i>Black Poplar</i></div><div>49. Find this tree in which the queen bee chooses to make its nest. (5). <i>Beech</i></div><div>50. From hotel, or south east Switzerland, is French crackpot. (5, 8). <i>Horse Chestnut</i></div><div><br /></div><div>*We also accepted “Viburnum”.</div><div><br /></div></span></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-30270047511829584002023-08-05T14:17:00.004+01:002023-08-05T14:18:57.201+01:0030 Years a Wild Flower Grassland<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTALm-TAW-D0xHqQxiplZvVR__roijH78H4YAn6BbuXZO6xNrn1IdamSGN5EDeGGOViKhnxZ3rMl4sGJYE8dCpjL-3JWxJH4slOu5o7kX3ATNYkITAD1rJ9AV7ofFfsDYfKR_KxGx3v21x-BG5p26D1uRjucdHrCdDFAQqEF5wPTiCW0gUmNTgoRVLks/s4128/Marsh%20orchids%20at%20Poulton%20Hall%20%20wildflower%20%20grassland%20by%20Paul%20Loughnane%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marsh orchids at Poulton Hall wild flower grassland. Photo: Paul Loughnane" border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTALm-TAW-D0xHqQxiplZvVR__roijH78H4YAn6BbuXZO6xNrn1IdamSGN5EDeGGOViKhnxZ3rMl4sGJYE8dCpjL-3JWxJH4slOu5o7kX3ATNYkITAD1rJ9AV7ofFfsDYfKR_KxGx3v21x-BG5p26D1uRjucdHrCdDFAQqEF5wPTiCW0gUmNTgoRVLks/w300-h400/Marsh%20orchids%20at%20Poulton%20Hall%20%20wildflower%20%20grassland%20by%20Paul%20Loughnane%20.jpg" title="Marsh orchids at Poulton Hall wild flower grassland. Photo: Paul Loughnane" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marsh orchids at Poulton Hall wild flower grassland.<br />Photo: Paul Loughnane </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Celebrating National Meadow Day, the first Saturday in July, the Lancelyn Green family and Wirral Wildlife hosted a cream tea and open garden event afternoon at <a href="http://www.poultonhall.co.uk/" target="_blank">Poulton Hall</a>, Poulton Lancelyn, Bebington. <br /><br />At 10.30am the cream tea making and gazebo transport teams arrived. Gazebos were put up and secured by weights and 140 cream teas prepared. At 1pm stall holders arrived to set up a butterfly craft activity, Wirral Wildlife display, Samaritans plant sale and a beehive demonstration stall. At 1.30 pm the entrance and car parking teams arrived. Crowds gathered at the entrance over the ha-ha for the 2pm opening. The draw bridge was lowered over the ha-ha and visitors entered the enchanting world of the walled garden greeted by a friendly witch. There were musicians, roving archers and story tellers.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnG82FUxQkk1oRep5k86BxxDGusdJzVg9Gquu-eJTpLgRw4nuU2-b6oTJXPvYqTGp_vzg5nFyexGPPeBZL2_Aif3uypRe9jPqOnF_E6rNZ4J1ltxHYFFWyhgiQK8tMtqxcq1Amsa8O49kGuNRe8zKhQiShx3_TqIDhbNVZqtk6fv8rJxC66nliR9CyCk/s2992/Cream%20%20Tea%20%20Team%20%20%20by%20John%20Bateman.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Cream Tea Team. Photo: John Bateman" border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnG82FUxQkk1oRep5k86BxxDGusdJzVg9Gquu-eJTpLgRw4nuU2-b6oTJXPvYqTGp_vzg5nFyexGPPeBZL2_Aif3uypRe9jPqOnF_E6rNZ4J1ltxHYFFWyhgiQK8tMtqxcq1Amsa8O49kGuNRe8zKhQiShx3_TqIDhbNVZqtk6fv8rJxC66nliR9CyCk/w400-h400/Cream%20%20Tea%20%20Team%20%20%20by%20John%20Bateman.jpg" title="The Cream Tea Team. Photo: John Bateman" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The Cream Tea Team. Photo: John Bateman</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The Walled Gardens, which include an Oriental, a Classical, a Nursery Rhyme and a Witch’s Garden, have interesting artworks inspired by the literary works of Roger Lancelyn Green, his friends and associates: Robin Hood and Excalibur from his Robin Hood and King Arthur retellings, an Ent from J.R.R, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and a Jabberwock from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. The Parkland has a wildflower meadow surrounded by a nine-species laid hedge, each species with at least one tree allowed to grow. Mown paths enable walkers and runners to immerse themselves in it. <br /><br />Dr Hilary Ash gave two tours of the wildflower grassland outside the ha-ha. The area was used for growing potatoes until 1993. Since then, it has been mown annually in late August or early September, with occasional aftermath grazing. The grassland’s fertility has gradually reduced and the grass sward height and density lowered. Grasses have become finer which has allowed space for marsh orchids to get in and for plants such as meadow buttercup, common sorrel, ribwort, and hairy tare to colonise the grassland. Yellow rattle could be rattled and seeds scattered and there were many meadow brown butterflies on the wing. This area is looking like a classic Cheshire meadow. The marsh orchids and their hybrids were particularly numerous this year. Much patience is required to make a wildflower meadow and this one has been 30 years in the making. <br /><br />On the second tour Caroline Lancelyn Green, our hostess, joined the tour and expanded on how the hedgerow came about. Two of the far copses were occupied by badgers, one a sett and the other a latrine. The family loved badger watching and wanted to connect the copses up. Further to this there was an old painting in the hall looking over the copses which showed a previous hedge linking them together. In 1993 planting of the hedgerow started, a few sections at a time over the next few winters. Hedgerow shrubs were chosen for coloured flowers, fruits and winter coverage, with a total of nine species, one species for each century the family have lived here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAavZLizwBfxcXZbGohpDKVCyFUlXNYLDXVfxBpyknX4nctAZAGC_H24vB66QnWyR0Spjd3WvhTVEqD6sERmVDgLjcp2SrTPBDXToDHzSgwl4AqWOi1MNv16wGRocE8m5zlvVuDbChPVOMfQmh2fv9tz7j8rYi4DDd3l52IX_del_2gOe1NQh41yKyp7E/s2992/Tool%20%20Sharpening%20at%20the%20WCV%20stall%20%20by%20John%20Bateman.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tool sharpening at the Wirral Countryside Volunteers stall. Photo: John Bateman" border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAavZLizwBfxcXZbGohpDKVCyFUlXNYLDXVfxBpyknX4nctAZAGC_H24vB66QnWyR0Spjd3WvhTVEqD6sERmVDgLjcp2SrTPBDXToDHzSgwl4AqWOi1MNv16wGRocE8m5zlvVuDbChPVOMfQmh2fv9tz7j8rYi4DDd3l52IX_del_2gOe1NQh41yKyp7E/w400-h400/Tool%20%20Sharpening%20at%20the%20WCV%20stall%20%20by%20John%20Bateman.jpg" title="Tool sharpening at the Wirral Countryside Volunteers stall. Photo: John Bateman" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Tool sharpening at the Wirral Countryside Volunteers stall. Photo: John Bateman</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://wcv.today/" target="_blank">Wirral Countryside Volunteers</a> held a mock ‘come and have a go’ hedge demonstration, tool sharpening, scything, and making a newspaper pot for taking cutting of plants such as rosemary. Three pots completed and then you could take them home in your very own plant incubator, a reused pipette tip holder box. One of the Wirral Countryside Volunteers, Jane, came and helped serve the cream teas and whist she was doing this had her billhook sharpened at the Wirral Countryside Volunteer stall. Jane was very pleased with this. Poulton Hall head gardener, Irene, got her billhook sharpened too and was equally delighted. <br /><br />A new and interesting stall this year was <a href="https://www.wirralarchaeology.org/pages/" target="_blank">Wirral Archaeology</a>, a group of well informed and enthusiastic volunteers who research into the battle of Brunanburh in 937AD which is thought to have occurred nearby. This is when an alliance of Dublin Vikings, Scots and Britons came from the north of the peninsular and were defeated by Anglo-Saxon forces as they entered into the Anglo-Saxon part of Wirral. They had many interesting finds, all found within three miles of Poulton Hall, ancient coins, dice, a crotal bell that still worked after several centuries in the ground and Irish arrow heads from pre 950AD. They had excellent enlarged photographs of these artefacts so that you could really appreciate them and volunteers to explain their significance and bring them alive to you. <br /><br />The day is a wonderful team effort requiring various roles, including being a witch at the entrance to the walled garden! Thank you to the 24 volunteers who made this event possible. This is the third time Wirral Wildlife have held this type of event and it is running along more smoothly each time it is hosted. Thanks also to Roger and Lynn for serving the cream teas, and Scirard, Caroline and Arthur Lancelyn Green and the hall staff for all their support to make it a successful day. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-30251485075049342962023-07-24T16:50:00.000+01:002023-07-24T16:50:40.877+01:00Butterfly Bonanza<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Roy Lowry visited New Ferry Butterfly Park on 19th July. Here are the photos of all the species of butterflies he saw, minus a camera shy male brimstone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">What an excellent day!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsEIkd7UAe7Tyxf35iuIK6YuOkrrcr7AYokAeFZaekPOybAT_DkFespn0PUoHmaZ1A5Xqo8lQWeeL8nqDU7aH4PT2sNc4b_3UGj-VVBokPeF9B4Nu8jdexOH7YJm_oFYndC_FIX81kdtf9fp_lr8wGSRw4P4_2HPv4s4C4wYbG-szHfPCx_HLZd34mnI/s3330/PIMG_4992_Red_Admiral_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red admiral" border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="3330" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsEIkd7UAe7Tyxf35iuIK6YuOkrrcr7AYokAeFZaekPOybAT_DkFespn0PUoHmaZ1A5Xqo8lQWeeL8nqDU7aH4PT2sNc4b_3UGj-VVBokPeF9B4Nu8jdexOH7YJm_oFYndC_FIX81kdtf9fp_lr8wGSRw4P4_2HPv4s4C4wYbG-szHfPCx_HLZd34mnI/w400-h266/PIMG_4992_Red_Admiral_NFBP.JPG" title="Red admiral" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Red admiral</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6XGHa2_lq_LGqUJaD5F5U9KZ_NTE1dQiraJ9YNfEq6XzR9LXUp3UPAsM7ErBuiIKw5SieCcPthoeu-6n6IfHixlbgAtM8OXi6MyfZc_ttt2zEeaz_kwi5C3npErDegdDP0daeiHEJBi2DoUV-H9Jlzsfg4CjV7fnOes9Sj9MWjqh4QLQ2QX8v4FJ3A8/s2946/PIMG_4506_Meadow_Brown_Female_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meadow brown (female)" border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2946" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6XGHa2_lq_LGqUJaD5F5U9KZ_NTE1dQiraJ9YNfEq6XzR9LXUp3UPAsM7ErBuiIKw5SieCcPthoeu-6n6IfHixlbgAtM8OXi6MyfZc_ttt2zEeaz_kwi5C3npErDegdDP0daeiHEJBi2DoUV-H9Jlzsfg4CjV7fnOes9Sj9MWjqh4QLQ2QX8v4FJ3A8/w400-h266/PIMG_4506_Meadow_Brown_Female_NFBP.JPG" title="Meadow brown (female)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Meadow brown (female)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBcpDHPucXVFz_H3bPLkXRnlD2AZiTQcoPVRy_ILl6A9NcZXUgE8KoLGYBPm-Xxk6iUz9iA6sWqP8eoi3DiOPlcmbMwUFZe0q28Dke-obuUZ-oy4dDkDyEy97L5NaFqOtESnnW0_U35dbTgzX3Ikfy4hG-aC5eEpKknQ78Yl0LH3-KHO-l5_s0uYSBls/s4104/PIMG_4991_Comma_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comma" border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="4104" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBcpDHPucXVFz_H3bPLkXRnlD2AZiTQcoPVRy_ILl6A9NcZXUgE8KoLGYBPm-Xxk6iUz9iA6sWqP8eoi3DiOPlcmbMwUFZe0q28Dke-obuUZ-oy4dDkDyEy97L5NaFqOtESnnW0_U35dbTgzX3Ikfy4hG-aC5eEpKknQ78Yl0LH3-KHO-l5_s0uYSBls/w400-h266/PIMG_4991_Comma_NFBP.JPG" title="Comma" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Comma</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5ajt0vVt1hYXic1xGkiYkjRmhdnumzFKJIR_EFRqSWxBfQ_EFxG8vC599clCGcI3qLo1BGQJXTqWBHTWsXXdREBQy7cli7BGMBlE58SRKegB_DMtVqFopBbA95Andy6vNTVvmIB6Zag8bM7Arymotic-zpQ7Y4juHn2s-9gmoCw6Ton4MXtHUvvIQdA/s4640/PIMG_4979_Small_Copper_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Small copper" border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="3093" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5ajt0vVt1hYXic1xGkiYkjRmhdnumzFKJIR_EFRqSWxBfQ_EFxG8vC599clCGcI3qLo1BGQJXTqWBHTWsXXdREBQy7cli7BGMBlE58SRKegB_DMtVqFopBbA95Andy6vNTVvmIB6Zag8bM7Arymotic-zpQ7Y4juHn2s-9gmoCw6Ton4MXtHUvvIQdA/w266-h400/PIMG_4979_Small_Copper_NFBP.JPG" title="Small copper" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Small copper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEQnC6YucXdmZTmUQutBJChDPlvVoe8DxS5YT8RWm7A0VITbyrLG_fPOQUvl2jOFhQO1Xw2EEZOfoiq7BGRRXEsiYIIWIwxjQf40xocgQ53o_Nfo_6wtisFYERyz-BBvmB-WYVDerDRSqOqASnyQvrqluji8nHk3OnFlIBZgcxIXXFIWEQg6ECrbaQdc/s2610/PIMG_4955_Essex_Skipper_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Essex skipper" border="0" data-original-height="1740" data-original-width="2610" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEQnC6YucXdmZTmUQutBJChDPlvVoe8DxS5YT8RWm7A0VITbyrLG_fPOQUvl2jOFhQO1Xw2EEZOfoiq7BGRRXEsiYIIWIwxjQf40xocgQ53o_Nfo_6wtisFYERyz-BBvmB-WYVDerDRSqOqASnyQvrqluji8nHk3OnFlIBZgcxIXXFIWEQg6ECrbaQdc/w400-h266/PIMG_4955_Essex_Skipper_NFBP.JPG" title="Essex skipper" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Essex skipper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56TGYas3Zn41CPyc8MT629ph6LDLe5MLurz2AVJuw7p1xGWn2MOLJ6pgggF99xre295IUQKI0CeYzhSKf-UvaosgV5gIVaIMC6Bv4dP3J12ZYAvQ3VDCMlIsy1LJ4hoVD6-wUCnHCjTlr5d-v6gdWk13-29TF_hny8nnfnJkNTJmHuLdz63NC7GqcvNA/s2670/PIMG_4884_Speckled_Wood_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Speckled wood" border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="2670" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56TGYas3Zn41CPyc8MT629ph6LDLe5MLurz2AVJuw7p1xGWn2MOLJ6pgggF99xre295IUQKI0CeYzhSKf-UvaosgV5gIVaIMC6Bv4dP3J12ZYAvQ3VDCMlIsy1LJ4hoVD6-wUCnHCjTlr5d-v6gdWk13-29TF_hny8nnfnJkNTJmHuLdz63NC7GqcvNA/w400-h266/PIMG_4884_Speckled_Wood_NFBP.JPG" title="Speckled wood" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Speckled wood</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUdtnSiGQTwqVQElLKKW-cfAv2_YhJet0AeQzu3PM-l3OgCqkudfLf2K4y3qqJfvsB5JA7SnL577tj6iHnbLk6SISM4Qd_01_26BBufKjtDmhYdeAZI84I1myRmImzJ83XW_Y2S40dixn-OFDbBE2EFL2N9YjPEf6KkoYBSkcRC9C1kuNcviOWahu6QU/s3372/PIMG_4828_Small_White_Female_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Small white (female)" border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="3372" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUdtnSiGQTwqVQElLKKW-cfAv2_YhJet0AeQzu3PM-l3OgCqkudfLf2K4y3qqJfvsB5JA7SnL577tj6iHnbLk6SISM4Qd_01_26BBufKjtDmhYdeAZI84I1myRmImzJ83XW_Y2S40dixn-OFDbBE2EFL2N9YjPEf6KkoYBSkcRC9C1kuNcviOWahu6QU/w400-h266/PIMG_4828_Small_White_Female_NFBP.JPG" title="Small white (female)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Small white (female)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaAYTcVXdNmdA6E85vJ8pRWBK923HAwS4S2jG6bXlesTJte11hBupivZo-cCcOY0T9ic78ryYSzum0BNjpO5d7rkTEfeq3z_D75w5ciwCtfa4EZ2CQZhEi3ygu3Q0ndU3Td4svp6LWkP34BlN7iicn8UgViDhsXtHlMVzRn_Gz2X6itr89BGYv5yXe9c/s2754/PIMG_4799_Large_White_Female_NGBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Large white" border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2754" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaAYTcVXdNmdA6E85vJ8pRWBK923HAwS4S2jG6bXlesTJte11hBupivZo-cCcOY0T9ic78ryYSzum0BNjpO5d7rkTEfeq3z_D75w5ciwCtfa4EZ2CQZhEi3ygu3Q0ndU3Td4svp6LWkP34BlN7iicn8UgViDhsXtHlMVzRn_Gz2X6itr89BGYv5yXe9c/w400-h266/PIMG_4799_Large_White_Female_NGBP.JPG" title="Large white" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Large white</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu0l79bhk5ZfrogO0-O46nv5asEyQBGmybJmTJZS__3dva0ggVMTcOQdei_-q6DkkSOBOr-WmCPB2A9DgOa2Wir-4c3Ha08UYFJpv2UyHrJd1Y2CTpYAxbyymWkyO0rewDXujjjb-Zw7OEMDFaWpwicIm0DqXP_D8myQa8_pLA2_1Xru4E_e_cLyBcrI/s4898/PIMG_4795_Peacock_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peacock" border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4898" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu0l79bhk5ZfrogO0-O46nv5asEyQBGmybJmTJZS__3dva0ggVMTcOQdei_-q6DkkSOBOr-WmCPB2A9DgOa2Wir-4c3Ha08UYFJpv2UyHrJd1Y2CTpYAxbyymWkyO0rewDXujjjb-Zw7OEMDFaWpwicIm0DqXP_D8myQa8_pLA2_1Xru4E_e_cLyBcrI/w400-h266/PIMG_4795_Peacock_NFBP.JPG" title="Peacock" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Peacock</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cTTIyos-PIwwE0dTKNsA8oi2sGnnAwdVSpf2gCRzIz8aNLoV_RvtIhzTra-VNVavdRz7y3_k_29rUUU7Rxak2rScXKnR9uSsqQ9MlCT7WQ9_ECdfD_TvFhyAoboHyJA96z78xLPxZJxgSy-D6A0FHLRJiBPalecxATu0DARz9QaXwf1EH4d41ci97MI/s2766/PIMG_4743_Small_Skipper_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Small skipper" border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="2766" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cTTIyos-PIwwE0dTKNsA8oi2sGnnAwdVSpf2gCRzIz8aNLoV_RvtIhzTra-VNVavdRz7y3_k_29rUUU7Rxak2rScXKnR9uSsqQ9MlCT7WQ9_ECdfD_TvFhyAoboHyJA96z78xLPxZJxgSy-D6A0FHLRJiBPalecxATu0DARz9QaXwf1EH4d41ci97MI/w400-h266/PIMG_4743_Small_Skipper_NFBP.JPG" title="Small skipper" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Small skipper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6WkJJZDwphfE32k7rU1SozE3HV3mOJ1GaKptTg_87NyEjD1VVBqJ4H6PYS7xEJH-oSwVnjyDyclAdtdH1pyL0IKVBYBn1Pjs38uSv3qMZAeP3dg1uaLK8e_qgB7eExRFG7jZgELYyngVKE7IJ5wAz4UmqNizIGwGLHJvyHIFGSkbLekHLgxkirAHJaw/s3804/PIMG_4676_Gatekeeper_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gatekeeper" border="0" data-original-height="2536" data-original-width="3804" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6WkJJZDwphfE32k7rU1SozE3HV3mOJ1GaKptTg_87NyEjD1VVBqJ4H6PYS7xEJH-oSwVnjyDyclAdtdH1pyL0IKVBYBn1Pjs38uSv3qMZAeP3dg1uaLK8e_qgB7eExRFG7jZgELYyngVKE7IJ5wAz4UmqNizIGwGLHJvyHIFGSkbLekHLgxkirAHJaw/w400-h266/PIMG_4676_Gatekeeper_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Gatekeeper" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Gatekeeper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydryzBUeH8MEo1rKOcdL58bx59mjeEkZxjNFP3F7TJYJHmGbqrBs3LZPWiaG5-J_ODZcYAGfhgwJNXdV3GKOoOmWFNDSMbP2rY4m8J-88jSH8EHw7iLmewvyxGS3R8u4JsSDGHDILe6-NO5juT02SJnQHS1_0rZAb0kzoTxI0qLVKmXA8yEZpPtQzy4M/s2976/PIMG_4590_Green-veined_White_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green-veined white" border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="2976" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydryzBUeH8MEo1rKOcdL58bx59mjeEkZxjNFP3F7TJYJHmGbqrBs3LZPWiaG5-J_ODZcYAGfhgwJNXdV3GKOoOmWFNDSMbP2rY4m8J-88jSH8EHw7iLmewvyxGS3R8u4JsSDGHDILe6-NO5juT02SJnQHS1_0rZAb0kzoTxI0qLVKmXA8yEZpPtQzy4M/w400-h266/PIMG_4590_Green-veined_White_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Green-veined white" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Green-veined white</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebyNtAAuYosgroIU5uULnDwRZdMaJeR5V_1UG6b76XfwgSc1qnR14pzJ9A_8rSrslvgaD5uAfe1Use_6gXFzCzRxTxPLWod6BJCSJWy3x8G_WaR3RMnyNUozQsCZlBwsfcEtIW3taYNqUbpr5wkNLf1alhAQqS7ikD-dxoA2cK5HSSsp_j8TBF5LAnAI/s2940/PIMG_4539_Holly_Blue_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Holly blue (male)" border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2940" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebyNtAAuYosgroIU5uULnDwRZdMaJeR5V_1UG6b76XfwgSc1qnR14pzJ9A_8rSrslvgaD5uAfe1Use_6gXFzCzRxTxPLWod6BJCSJWy3x8G_WaR3RMnyNUozQsCZlBwsfcEtIW3taYNqUbpr5wkNLf1alhAQqS7ikD-dxoA2cK5HSSsp_j8TBF5LAnAI/w400-h266/PIMG_4539_Holly_Blue_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Holly blue (male)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Holly blue (male)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5RlqN2KwmcoD3QCVZIpwmQsaayIkSQwAav5QtkXFBl0n75Vwa63dFN8TGHbOS4T7cpjoH-6WFsldrXqyWo2bcLpKIiJ77BmidQ1JGBsbwNvpYv9q3-non6Z-tJCTjnCLyVIswEVba0J0jUMRTeQCvqQwurGmrjXqHkIKkUFYy8UtapydTiul_KxiCjc/s3546/PIMG_4515_Common_Blue_Male_NFBP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Common blue (male)" border="0" data-original-height="2364" data-original-width="3546" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5RlqN2KwmcoD3QCVZIpwmQsaayIkSQwAav5QtkXFBl0n75Vwa63dFN8TGHbOS4T7cpjoH-6WFsldrXqyWo2bcLpKIiJ77BmidQ1JGBsbwNvpYv9q3-non6Z-tJCTjnCLyVIswEVba0J0jUMRTeQCvqQwurGmrjXqHkIKkUFYy8UtapydTiul_KxiCjc/w400-h266/PIMG_4515_Common_Blue_Male_NFBP.JPG" title="Common blue (male)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Common blue (male)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-691976358496064462023-07-22T11:39:00.003+01:002023-07-22T11:39:18.420+01:00A Busy Year at New Ferry Butterfly Park: Annual Secretary’s Report May 2022 - April 2023<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEqsq9lQwnZcsqZtxzMrQrFrKh_8uxbFGHPnHTiRAj2qKt4gU89dqpaxtja9HtyYVYX5Xbp0Jkm-tv83JkrG_FtrBBHLEJ0On3hXOGoqI2FLsZfSDBJWr26TBfa4vC58U5usxoY_lo-PhWUOZULsjPwWQ6hHJfvIWQ99kRa0PGgAqVptNYzDstiVl_40/s2364/2022_0504NFBP%20gates%20opening%20LL%20%20opening%20the%20%20gates%20%20by%20%20Hilary%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mr Mark Blundell, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside opening the Silver Jubilee gates at the 2022 Open Day" border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2364" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEqsq9lQwnZcsqZtxzMrQrFrKh_8uxbFGHPnHTiRAj2qKt4gU89dqpaxtja9HtyYVYX5Xbp0Jkm-tv83JkrG_FtrBBHLEJ0On3hXOGoqI2FLsZfSDBJWr26TBfa4vC58U5usxoY_lo-PhWUOZULsjPwWQ6hHJfvIWQ99kRa0PGgAqVptNYzDstiVl_40/w400-h300/2022_0504NFBP%20gates%20opening%20LL%20%20opening%20the%20%20gates%20%20by%20%20Hilary%20.jpg" title="Mr Mark Blundell, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside opening the Silver Jubilee gates at the 2022 Open Day" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mr Mark Blundell, </span>Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside opening the Silver Jubilee gates at the 2022 Open Day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">There were 2,453 visitors this year, which is a good recovery after the Covid pandemic. The <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/05/two-new-sets-of-wings-for-butterfly-park.html" target="_blank">Opening Day</a> saw the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Mark Blundell, open the Silver Jubilee gates, attracting nearly 1,000 guests with little promotion of the event. There were 16 guided visits this year: 2 schools, 13 uniformed groups and 1 adult group of refugees, totalling 366 people. The Butterfly Park also welcomed Bebington Photographic Society and Cheshire Bee Group. Two plant identification courses and two heritage walks were held as well as talks given to Dale Farm, Audlem Wildlife Group and Heswall Gardening Society. Stalls were held at Poulton Hall, Wirral Farmer’s Market, Brackenwood Infant School Fair & Wirral History Fair.<br /><br />In July, there was a corporate workday for M&S Bank. They did not turn up, however the workday continued with one ton of gravel being spread next to the tool container and two 1000 litre water butts installed on the gravel bed. Thanks to Richard Sawdon for arranging the delivery of 4 x 1000L water butts and gravel and the plumbing in of two of these water butts. This allows the lower pond to be topped up. Charlie’s Field was also mown. Scything continued in July around the west of the pond and part of the BBQ grassland. Compost bins bays were relined with recycled plyboard from building site hoardings. July, a busy month at the park, finished with a <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/08/what-difference-day-makes.html" target="_blank">workday with WSP</a> when the mobile allotment trailer and trolley were repaired, and the rest of Charlie’s field was mown.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE0IQnu4Xwg-5r_IKwbbENzz7qIcSRvwZQ8fDlu8V2YcKNXYmBpPBlyMfOFEj_Y7_vHqAZ985Mvmy09M6HnkQaWNtctdtInvT5aE9mapVS79ZLQnoU2bOjsqQijb3T2y705orvx2v_7L41mn1ztHaKrKT5I41uRdxOdMaFjM-uMPQ6o6s6-LbUtl7FPw/s683/20220728_John%20Bateman%20and%20co%20fixing%20the%20trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fixing the mobile allotment trailer on a workday with WSP" border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE0IQnu4Xwg-5r_IKwbbENzz7qIcSRvwZQ8fDlu8V2YcKNXYmBpPBlyMfOFEj_Y7_vHqAZ985Mvmy09M6HnkQaWNtctdtInvT5aE9mapVS79ZLQnoU2bOjsqQijb3T2y705orvx2v_7L41mn1ztHaKrKT5I41uRdxOdMaFjM-uMPQ6o6s6-LbUtl7FPw/w300-h400/20220728_John%20Bateman%20and%20co%20fixing%20the%20trailer.jpg" title="Fixing the mobile allotment trailer on a workday with WSP" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Fixing the mobile allotment trailer on a workday with WSP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In September, the rest of the BBQ grassland was scythed, bramble removed from Charlie’s Field, compost bins turned, the remaining compost bays re-lined, and a volunteers’ BBQ held. In October, the calcareous grassland was rapidly scythed and reedmace was dug out of the Brick Pit Pond. A new venture took place - <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/10/review-of-2022-at-new-ferry.html" target="_blank">25 litres of apple juice were pressed</a>. Thanks to John Bateman for taking this initiative and carrying it out so well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyP4LYcO-l4Y7epjOJge8kfXcEciDsPCtmlAomcLYsONOOqxUrBn3jP_eZslbvs1WHh77_6Pa1l575ti6s-MpeHA8OHWp69WjuoSTk0R_pYArZyi-uePvDODHG5dPWdU1wUVjhUKMFawvg0Hn8uld9nBVZasXsCQPahp6XimUMqQ8W12MmqiaGCfhGW8/s2016/20221009_122202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Juice pressed from apples grown at the Butterfly Park" border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1134" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyP4LYcO-l4Y7epjOJge8kfXcEciDsPCtmlAomcLYsONOOqxUrBn3jP_eZslbvs1WHh77_6Pa1l575ti6s-MpeHA8OHWp69WjuoSTk0R_pYArZyi-uePvDODHG5dPWdU1wUVjhUKMFawvg0Hn8uld9nBVZasXsCQPahp6XimUMqQ8W12MmqiaGCfhGW8/w225-h400/20221009_122202.jpg" title="Juice pressed from apples grown at the Butterfly Park" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Juice pressed from apples grown at the Butterfly Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In November, a corporate workday was hosted, this time for Unilever. The overgrown hedgerow by 52 Windsor Close was dealt with, a third of the pond vegetation was removed in the lower pond, the acid grassland within the gates mown and half of Charlie’s Field got its second mow of the season. The November workday was the largest workday to date with seventy volunteers in all, 46 students coming from the University of Manchester. There was further scything of Charlie’s Field, coppicing on the embankment, hedge laying, and apple picking. Winter Coppicing on the embankment gave a harvest of 400 stakes and a pleasing primrose display in April. There was a good go at removing bramble and blackthorn from the rough calcareous grassland aided by the use of root slaying spades. Three morning sessions were held for <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2023/01/routes-to-success-at-new-ferry-butterfly.html" target="_blank">Route to Success Students</a> from Wirral Met, they removed ivy, bramble roots, coppiced buddleia, and cleared up brash.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRvb-1Ii9e6_oWneIMg9BHCsU0oi-soTf-yjmG4yuU_AUyQA91BNiD1wLGBhVI-V-RjE0D9XsAPcembjKIa7asRVtrB0peil3CPftXfNqOpR4MYfCe-XSDqPm1MEOP7hE9YBzod3vUqAtKs0vW6-DcsYSpAebam2suYLtXOHa7n24gOjIrVXCtNdchFA/s2364/wheelbarrow%202023_0117Routes2Success%203%20NFBP0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Learning wheelbarrow skills with Route to Success!" border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2364" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRvb-1Ii9e6_oWneIMg9BHCsU0oi-soTf-yjmG4yuU_AUyQA91BNiD1wLGBhVI-V-RjE0D9XsAPcembjKIa7asRVtrB0peil3CPftXfNqOpR4MYfCe-XSDqPm1MEOP7hE9YBzod3vUqAtKs0vW6-DcsYSpAebam2suYLtXOHa7n24gOjIrVXCtNdchFA/w400-h300/wheelbarrow%202023_0117Routes2Success%203%20NFBP0008.jpg" title="Learning wheelbarrow skills with Route to Success!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Learning wheelbarrow skills with Route to Success!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In January, thanks to Steve Yandell, a safe storage cupboard for gas cylinders was bought. In March, about 30 square metres of turf were removed from over the railway ballast area. In spring, Dingy skipper butterflies were spotted using these areas. Hiring a suitable chipper proved difficult but thanks to John Bateman a contractor was hired and over half the brash cuttings chipped. April saw the laying of a <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2023/04/leaky-pond-at-butterfly-park.html" target="_blank">new membrane</a> in the <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-did-it-pond-repair-at-butterfly-park.html" target="_blank">leaking pond</a>. The vandalised notice board in Charlie’s Field has been repaired with stronger 4mm Polycarbonate sheeting. Charlie’s Field is steady improving in its flora as it receives a second cut in a year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXmN9usLItYyk1k_gp07LX1IFJM4649ooqIumH4TSpkvcE3ABPL5WAb8x8r3V9jUGsTvwlq_fIMxga9_d4F-fG7hO483XPG0PFNh0uGnVo4jr8TvQfYbq3rE9chiR7jVBcpHM1C0UhoFY4fYKFgwabRcI_VVQoVvCoVMYfODBi-gZMAXO8YCF6D6plY/s2848/beginning%20to%20look%20like%20a%20pond%202023_0411NFBP%20pond%20stage%202%200042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The new pond liner in place and some water returned to the pond" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXmN9usLItYyk1k_gp07LX1IFJM4649ooqIumH4TSpkvcE3ABPL5WAb8x8r3V9jUGsTvwlq_fIMxga9_d4F-fG7hO483XPG0PFNh0uGnVo4jr8TvQfYbq3rE9chiR7jVBcpHM1C0UhoFY4fYKFgwabRcI_VVQoVvCoVMYfODBi-gZMAXO8YCF6D6plY/w400-h300/beginning%20to%20look%20like%20a%20pond%202023_0411NFBP%20pond%20stage%202%200042.jpg" title="The new pond liner in place and some water returned to the pond" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The new pond liner in place and some water returned to the pond</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/11/june-receives-volunteer-award-from.html" target="_blank">June Mortazavi</a> received an Eric Thurston Award from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, partly for her input at the Park. <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/search/label/Roy%20Lowry" target="_blank">Roy Lowry</a> recorded and took photographs of invertebrates at the park and shared them on four excellent Wirral Wildlife blogs. His identification of hoverflies totalled 34 species over the season. City Nature Challenge had a recording session at the park.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC7LnN83ZZ4JLd3ORsJDqt3aFto9KaHVKORFDLPQ1s5vRTCcJ_2C973bjNxhCm6F-ZOp8PzBPpz500S2xHepbwqzirRiU-Dd_mzvQGkMu9Tdh2PDmvsUYigE3LW9WmlQ4cFGrTU1nQmclKTnWgRc_COj78WlIPcgfDGOEZJSprk5hXo6ge5Rk43cleSo/s1027/June%20M%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="June Mortazavi (centre) with Felicity Goodey, President of Cheshire Wildlife Trust (left) and Charlotte Harris CEO of Cheshire Wildlife Trust (right)" border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC7LnN83ZZ4JLd3ORsJDqt3aFto9KaHVKORFDLPQ1s5vRTCcJ_2C973bjNxhCm6F-ZOp8PzBPpz500S2xHepbwqzirRiU-Dd_mzvQGkMu9Tdh2PDmvsUYigE3LW9WmlQ4cFGrTU1nQmclKTnWgRc_COj78WlIPcgfDGOEZJSprk5hXo6ge5Rk43cleSo/w396-h400/June%20M%20(2).jpg" title="June Mortazavi (centre) with Felicity Goodey, President of Cheshire Wildlife Trust (left) and Charlotte Harris CEO of Cheshire Wildlife Trust (right)" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 11.96px;">June Mortazavi (centre) with Felicity Goodey, President of Cheshire Wildlife Trust (left)<br />and Charlotte Harris CEO of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Cheshire Wildlife Trust (right)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsH1lALjogZKYohvXsCtZDe3h_1Nw99lFsjI4gIJJYebAl6NeyCpuKU6eGCQhTPFfBubmGMtUrJPsiV_aeVOxsiDPvT-sRxJBI1L3ave_KLuhXHp-a4ZqgtrglnEdgUYC3cj_WOeafvLD-xXIKEhnFqdoKgt58OT8iTthCwi_SvmZ6NixATWWN55MuIQ/s1379/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bumblebee hoverfly (Volucella bombylans plumata) recorded and photographed by Roy Lowry." border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1379" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsH1lALjogZKYohvXsCtZDe3h_1Nw99lFsjI4gIJJYebAl6NeyCpuKU6eGCQhTPFfBubmGMtUrJPsiV_aeVOxsiDPvT-sRxJBI1L3ave_KLuhXHp-a4ZqgtrglnEdgUYC3cj_WOeafvLD-xXIKEhnFqdoKgt58OT8iTthCwi_SvmZ6NixATWWN55MuIQ/w400-h266/Picture2.jpg" title="Bumblebee hoverfly (Volucella bombylans plumata) recorded and photographed by Roy Lowry." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Bumblebee hoverfly (</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Volucella bombylans plumata</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">) recorded and photographed by Roy Lowry.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of open season, Alison Bailey Smith’s </span><a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/09/eco-art-at-butterfly-park.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Eco Art flower sculptures</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> were displayed around the park. Over the winter Yan and Charles revamped Mel’s Garden and have made excellent progress. They also sourced holly saplings and planted a holly hedge by 52 Windsor Close.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIOcV3emSyvTOIDnQKg-7qq96e4Nv5Q19aJuJiKhw-BmTPR9cJhRK13HTK3vcgzc_c3z-aTqTlmoDhYT15SMWecRRrqmaH2pelpIrE_D-HqkXQhz19KJkLLZmjA1iPRPaLUtF6Jgu2FYO5I2hK6ilicootHVPfNVckUj7FMUWVmylvk8dFRnie2uoTMU/s604/eco%20art%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White clover (left), dandelion (middle) and spear thistle (right) sculptures made by Alison Bailey Smith from repurposed materials" border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="604" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIOcV3emSyvTOIDnQKg-7qq96e4Nv5Q19aJuJiKhw-BmTPR9cJhRK13HTK3vcgzc_c3z-aTqTlmoDhYT15SMWecRRrqmaH2pelpIrE_D-HqkXQhz19KJkLLZmjA1iPRPaLUtF6Jgu2FYO5I2hK6ilicootHVPfNVckUj7FMUWVmylvk8dFRnie2uoTMU/w400-h291/eco%20art%201.jpg" title="White clover (left), dandelion (middle) and spear thistle (right) sculptures made by Alison Bailey Smith from repurposed materials" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial;">White clover (left), dandelion (middle) and spear thistle (right) sculptures</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial;">made by Alison Bailey Smith from repurposed materials</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite increases in nectar sources and host larval food plants, butterfly numbers remained low except for holly blues which had their best year ever. This is in line with national and regional trends. Records of <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/05/two-new-sets-of-wings-for-butterfly-park.html" target="_blank">Dingy skipper</a> and <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/07/white-letter-day.html" target="_blank">white letter hairstreak</a> were highlights of the butterfly year. Other insects such as bumble bees and hoverflies seem to be doing reasonably well, though we do not have numerical records.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgandkzZB7VFDDAxDw27SkgWv-XUIV17nk_SUPp_2TDYOnl7t88STu0B1MRX084DpNDasZqDmKNyYnl9tE8Fkvji_WawbamFvYGNyHej8s9jsmSKxeQsjND21wy8d5nlQYf1pMW8zt4Gl3N9bpDbNZgwSvfAc8g60EeiZPeDhEzspjVMkiw-HHo2qh09Wo/s2862/_Dingy_Skipper_NFBP%2029April22%20bt%20Roy%20Lowry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dingy skipper, photographed at the Butterfly Park by Roy Lowry" border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="2862" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgandkzZB7VFDDAxDw27SkgWv-XUIV17nk_SUPp_2TDYOnl7t88STu0B1MRX084DpNDasZqDmKNyYnl9tE8Fkvji_WawbamFvYGNyHej8s9jsmSKxeQsjND21wy8d5nlQYf1pMW8zt4Gl3N9bpDbNZgwSvfAc8g60EeiZPeDhEzspjVMkiw-HHo2qh09Wo/w400-h266/_Dingy_Skipper_NFBP%2029April22%20bt%20Roy%20Lowry.jpg" title="Dingy skipper, photographed at the Butterfly Park by Roy Lowry" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dingy skipper, photographed at the Butterfly Park by Roy Lowry</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2023/05/new-industrial-heritage-lectern-at.html">lectern</a> was bought in memory of Frank Cottrell, using funds donated in his memory at his funeral and by Wirral Wildlife. Frank also left a legacy of £500 to the park. A display about the history of the park (brick-making and railway) was put together by Pete Miller. Pete also did new displays for the siding lectern and the acid grassland lectern, so all three wooden lecterns now have seasonal sheets.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Thanks to all who have contributed their time and energy to the park in anyway, especially to; Linda Higginbottom for organising Sunday Wardens and visiting groups, Hilary for being the main host for Routes To Success sessions and John Bateman for moving us into the world of electronic donations. Also, Mike Maher for his weekly plant sales, Wirral Countryside Volunteers, Liverpool John Moores Conservation Society, and our corporate volunteers. Thanks to Steve Lyus for being chair for the last decade and for his valuable cool head during some of the challenges the park has faced. The park was awarded a <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2022/08/raising-green-flag-at-new-ferry.html" target="_blank">Green Flag</a> for the tenth year running.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT32kNHUUY4w9STKq4v7U6hoWE0Avf-jqECDjHRW865HneBOI7ToQR62P5acLVNoIhmF2eSinqqjNaAzzGTOZ9vfIYATtMT_VK6_9kvWaQm_58gPB-unuWryuRLBDxxKtveaby0hNuZxt7w_W_gAXTPUGIPBqfDbvDqCLEa_EyDEDxjD-7x9FZLJp_WYA/s4272/52249026424_ebc3b15b7f_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Raising the 2022 Green Flag at the Butterfly Park" border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT32kNHUUY4w9STKq4v7U6hoWE0Avf-jqECDjHRW865HneBOI7ToQR62P5acLVNoIhmF2eSinqqjNaAzzGTOZ9vfIYATtMT_VK6_9kvWaQm_58gPB-unuWryuRLBDxxKtveaby0hNuZxt7w_W_gAXTPUGIPBqfDbvDqCLEa_EyDEDxjD-7x9FZLJp_WYA/w400-h266/52249026424_ebc3b15b7f_o.jpg" title="Raising the 2022 Green Flag at the Butterfly Park" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Raising the 2022 Green Flag at the Butterfly Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Paul Loughnane, BEM, Hon. Secretary, New Ferry Butterfly Park Committee <br /></span><br /> </div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-31755524319754494032023-07-03T13:58:00.169+01:002023-07-18T14:52:36.594+01:00Liverpool CCS Get Stuck In at Butterfly Park<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Thanks to <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Claire Hastewell of </span>Liverpool Crown Commercial Services for sending us this report after their volunteering day at the Butterfly Park.</i></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn6fcS-t1BLTLgqHTbzqZmjTDVZMf1IJ23gJdgXf2lyvxXhPV4u08RxUk5_ZIODAnlTUqJYYO8Y0Xm_VtuWHIf1UQT3yaB4cZgUSrJ6xcEFwJfZYWlSI9OXmO-wP4vDzs5auIoRqKRczjA615yoQKzMMZgMx-Edp_lZLyGyTvk2bRxsYqlQc3BQfWy-c/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The container near the entrance of New Ferry Butterfly Park" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2480" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn6fcS-t1BLTLgqHTbzqZmjTDVZMf1IJ23gJdgXf2lyvxXhPV4u08RxUk5_ZIODAnlTUqJYYO8Y0Xm_VtuWHIf1UQT3yaB4cZgUSrJ6xcEFwJfZYWlSI9OXmO-wP4vDzs5auIoRqKRczjA615yoQKzMMZgMx-Edp_lZLyGyTvk2bRxsYqlQc3BQfWy-c/w400-h290/CCS%20at%20NFBP%201.jpg" title="The container near the entrance of New Ferry Butterfly Park" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The container near the entrance of New Ferry Butterfly Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />On a cloudy overcast Tuesday in June, three colleagues from Liverpool Crown Commercial Services headed down to the New Ferry Butterfly Park, with sleeves rolled up ready to get stuck into learning how to puddle a pond, scything, understand the ecology of the park and making bug houses. What a great day it was!<br /><br />The colleagues were warmly welcomed by the Butterfly Park lead Paul and a team of merry men and women, all local volunteers, who entertained us with nostalgic stories from the past, lots of tea and biscuits and let's not forget the homemade cake.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlWAbIgNX2UpwPao3YiAUu30oEtyWwKyhED6xn30QFd4CwCNzLG0hXx0cP7aTvg9Zgno2s_CqSawwjhSr-CssBnPBB5pWL74OyYAHTCS922uiSjqIAS_YWsD43tLnprH--rpu1aebM_lEruapNb8Hy3j-ycGAyNiE0JQyPmNogJaLPFghuVIj72oG34M/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Preparing clay to rebuild the pond" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlWAbIgNX2UpwPao3YiAUu30oEtyWwKyhED6xn30QFd4CwCNzLG0hXx0cP7aTvg9Zgno2s_CqSawwjhSr-CssBnPBB5pWL74OyYAHTCS922uiSjqIAS_YWsD43tLnprH--rpu1aebM_lEruapNb8Hy3j-ycGAyNiE0JQyPmNogJaLPFghuVIj72oG34M/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%202.jpg" title="Preparing clay to rebuild the pond" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Preparing clay to rebuild the pond</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwCOmkgCqpUfUiy92X3CdeY4Y1m47bKLa_WOdeMo4I_FJfMll1ztwZRfFo1Y3QZ67kYbWgP1YXAFvUbTdSCdaMSfAr5yJQ8npEjPFU-tpseZri5_OJM6FUkIE1h9iLlHs6GyGtFY3MHy2wcAW2ikfuO0HgaVQHV2lOwNJLrdhmav7MoLL8iLYhacvocI/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Soaking the clay in buckets and a bath to soften it!" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwCOmkgCqpUfUiy92X3CdeY4Y1m47bKLa_WOdeMo4I_FJfMll1ztwZRfFo1Y3QZ67kYbWgP1YXAFvUbTdSCdaMSfAr5yJQ8npEjPFU-tpseZri5_OJM6FUkIE1h9iLlHs6GyGtFY3MHy2wcAW2ikfuO0HgaVQHV2lOwNJLrdhmav7MoLL8iLYhacvocI/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%203.jpg" title="Soaking the clay in buckets and a bath to soften it!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Soaking the clay in buckets and a bath to soften it!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">After brief introductions and an outline of the exciting day ahead, they got to work straight away with puddling the pond. Recently the pond had leaked so the team were helping to rebuild, starting with building a barrier of clay around the outer of the pond. The only challenge being the clay was in solid rock form and had to be soaked to make it pliable. Off they went to work, collecting buckets, filling with water and lumps of clay! Even the bath became a source of soaking and was offered as a spa treatment to those that wished to have a dip!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstTWIol48nkaGxLndFh7WscctnWgeGKYnWvoV3etkA2J-Rnap6eSFo76owlJg4Wtpv8L7_pP4afkjlRKm4mu4DxW4v0_IsgMu6ojn6NSRq6lZD9RY26j2sXyrLTidJV2N5xsR85IjOsyrUYDZYzMd27O3IWSsLrIwo8L9UGiYBu3lIZkveTFNmsSjhVM/s3085/CCS%20at%20NFBP%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Getting hands-on with the clay" border="0" data-original-height="3085" data-original-width="2314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstTWIol48nkaGxLndFh7WscctnWgeGKYnWvoV3etkA2J-Rnap6eSFo76owlJg4Wtpv8L7_pP4afkjlRKm4mu4DxW4v0_IsgMu6ojn6NSRq6lZD9RY26j2sXyrLTidJV2N5xsR85IjOsyrUYDZYzMd27O3IWSsLrIwo8L9UGiYBu3lIZkveTFNmsSjhVM/w300-h400/CCS%20at%20NFBP%204.jpg" title="Getting hands-on with the clay" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Getting hands-on with the clay</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst the team were breaking the clay with pick axes, loading buckets with water and clay to soften, one of the volunteers was knee deep breaking the clay down in the buckets, like a pig in muck!</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">By 11am the kettle was on and a well deserved tea break was had by all.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71xSz2gezg6jIcvXwkpo5VtS4c-PPtUUdjWGcIa5gHlmXDTna2l6hBF476LfYK2ER2N0D6SLA4H7LJN3I7c6kuYN7tpwveLeUG26FZh-54kz2DGR5FxEoGls2LSKbN3AQh3oL9xm004RSwx34RmS3psZK9TAf4D-9k0qqOCRXvjTZ5xlXivspkldbaJQ/s3307/CCS%20at%20NFBP%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Taking a break" border="0" data-original-height="3307" data-original-width="2480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71xSz2gezg6jIcvXwkpo5VtS4c-PPtUUdjWGcIa5gHlmXDTna2l6hBF476LfYK2ER2N0D6SLA4H7LJN3I7c6kuYN7tpwveLeUG26FZh-54kz2DGR5FxEoGls2LSKbN3AQh3oL9xm004RSwx34RmS3psZK9TAf4D-9k0qqOCRXvjTZ5xlXivspkldbaJQ/w300-h400/CCS%20at%20NFBP%205.jpg" title="Taking a break" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Taking a break</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst the kettle was boiling, they wandered off to explore the length and breadth of the Butterfly Park and the delights along the way. Hidden deep were volunteers busily tucked away in pockets of the park, beavering away scything the paths and replacing an old sign. Digging holes 2ft deep, one of the volunteers had put the original sign in 15 years ago and was cracking the concrete from the original site.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3UXTNnx4mzM2xPaQNu-xFdOgwpgs5dkQh0mwECGPIutkgXeEmzDc8bxoqLbmWJ2vhmBnccTKwF9D3EqppUhe9PfKp7lA9vvf_rnQ9t9LJdIYOLakhCwoFcX15mAqkgIfOxyarVZH59lm-7r-4nMWNqqhkDcXlGCqhPWArznMGBY88YdlhXw3Kw6nRU/s3187/CCS%20at%20NFBP%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Digging a hole to replace an sign at the park. Not deep enough yet!" border="0" data-original-height="3187" data-original-width="2390" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3UXTNnx4mzM2xPaQNu-xFdOgwpgs5dkQh0mwECGPIutkgXeEmzDc8bxoqLbmWJ2vhmBnccTKwF9D3EqppUhe9PfKp7lA9vvf_rnQ9t9LJdIYOLakhCwoFcX15mAqkgIfOxyarVZH59lm-7r-4nMWNqqhkDcXlGCqhPWArznMGBY88YdlhXw3Kw6nRU/w300-h400/CCS%20at%20NFBP%206.jpg" title="Digging a hole to replace an sign at the park. Not deep enough yet!" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Digging a hole to replace an sign at the park. Not deep enough yet!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The next job was to learn how to scythe the paths. There is something very satisfying about swinging a tool that sharp - just watch out for the fellow volunteers. One swing too hard landed one of the CCS colleagues into the brambles and nettles, which caused a giggle. The cart to collect the cuttings to take to the compost proved to be challenging to navigate, but once mastered they managed to fill the compost heap, and even had a visit from the local wildlife!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLYHwZ28G7yRo3MIY4gNeUxHKAn1E1GOA7pWJZHdUJMy6MXsObPpKQbAtNdxlG4W3Z_NW6zU0Fuqc6lsptqLLRYUdRAafDQ_QZVLSQuD7hzaS0KlGyV9TQfdjo7vkg3D7nAr6YDVtfJz-5aG3APBcwwYOLHDOylVLaj5FdaJSlJu21Ify-QcxcAMeDNc/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Collecting the scything cuttings in the cart" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLYHwZ28G7yRo3MIY4gNeUxHKAn1E1GOA7pWJZHdUJMy6MXsObPpKQbAtNdxlG4W3Z_NW6zU0Fuqc6lsptqLLRYUdRAafDQ_QZVLSQuD7hzaS0KlGyV9TQfdjo7vkg3D7nAr6YDVtfJz-5aG3APBcwwYOLHDOylVLaj5FdaJSlJu21Ify-QcxcAMeDNc/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%208.jpg" title="Collecting the scything cuttings in the cart" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Collecting the scything cuttings in the cart</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHEWc47vrcXx2E4rwPlNP_5Pf1f-WYWKrfPVaK0Wj9XKywI6qZgXiWpWYAEg9w-Kh4hb-xLyVXICglV1p2fpkWcN9v6Cq7NslWkCka023BkCxVGOu4y6yh7MlISGlGBeIjakTkrrBJeeSwIEaFWW_eOHnINDOLgBIeoVkSrVKODsfMqbNKcLmXrc5cYg/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Adding the scything cuttings to the compost heap" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHEWc47vrcXx2E4rwPlNP_5Pf1f-WYWKrfPVaK0Wj9XKywI6qZgXiWpWYAEg9w-Kh4hb-xLyVXICglV1p2fpkWcN9v6Cq7NslWkCka023BkCxVGOu4y6yh7MlISGlGBeIjakTkrrBJeeSwIEaFWW_eOHnINDOLgBIeoVkSrVKODsfMqbNKcLmXrc5cYg/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%207.jpg" title="Adding the scything cuttings to the compost heap" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Adding the scything cuttings to the compost heap</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigutDk3Yq2nMkSKTfJkEDEsMeuI1ImmBPgmaweCykWCJB7gJi_Q072YUB7IRum25a_U7Eo4l9FAVXWjQWZ8VwTf3SJH66mLqDFcWnEmgeFB4gCVmR5icxrXN30uq2Yq2ZvNGLdEX2hfyn7Sa1K1m_scP3HpifLKBmv1_LSPHNLHPrhKnPZf-I3lmQtP7I/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigutDk3Yq2nMkSKTfJkEDEsMeuI1ImmBPgmaweCykWCJB7gJi_Q072YUB7IRum25a_U7Eo4l9FAVXWjQWZ8VwTf3SJH66mLqDFcWnEmgeFB4gCVmR5icxrXN30uq2Yq2ZvNGLdEX2hfyn7Sa1K1m_scP3HpifLKBmv1_LSPHNLHPrhKnPZf-I3lmQtP7I/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%209.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A robin checking out the volunteers' hard work!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlLVySjB6OtlFzXmpORJTaIIUaQ9DdihOUFchWrx3aH1ybFIC8-Yy6k663uHHpD1IjfBFuT5ZIfjLUVeMyxI2X_zHq9gSROFpWhcFXznLcfvTfGbkk_88G1GffGLLb_5mLZ0FbI95xxH1RP7-gmJ0JL0tul2B7fsbXYaZVx3ofELKc4nFnYBzHovFwAo/s3117/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scything complete!" border="0" data-original-height="3117" data-original-width="2338" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlLVySjB6OtlFzXmpORJTaIIUaQ9DdihOUFchWrx3aH1ybFIC8-Yy6k663uHHpD1IjfBFuT5ZIfjLUVeMyxI2X_zHq9gSROFpWhcFXznLcfvTfGbkk_88G1GffGLLb_5mLZ0FbI95xxH1RP7-gmJ0JL0tul2B7fsbXYaZVx3ofELKc4nFnYBzHovFwAo/w300-h400/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2010.jpg" title="Scything complete!" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scything complete!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Another refuel of tea and biscuits, they were then met by Hillary Ash, who gave the team a 40 minute walk around the park, sharing tales of the history, educating the team on ant hills, hazel trees and mistletoe as well as about the projects and plans for the park.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">One final job was to help rebuild the bug hotels, filling tubes with canes and paper and making sure there were plenty of dark secure places for our bugs and insects to hibernate in safety of the local birds and other wildlife.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeWK5UFtJ0ax89LzZVO4LJu4yElzhaAU9OLtvF8AZ1xmZmhJCED-fgqLUcVtyv8paMUkn5CmGxxzKmJUuIMZPILriUjPsFxzlHnbdZCjz0SzudUZDwbDbofBlnzdkgkwZ4ZYL-EEaphuQxPn-cQPr5BZ022wJbjyCNokdRRlOtlY7_mqkhoEcW_tOn6o/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Layering up a bug hotel at the Butterfly Park" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeWK5UFtJ0ax89LzZVO4LJu4yElzhaAU9OLtvF8AZ1xmZmhJCED-fgqLUcVtyv8paMUkn5CmGxxzKmJUuIMZPILriUjPsFxzlHnbdZCjz0SzudUZDwbDbofBlnzdkgkwZ4ZYL-EEaphuQxPn-cQPr5BZ022wJbjyCNokdRRlOtlY7_mqkhoEcW_tOn6o/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2011.jpg" title="Layering up a bug hotel at the Butterfly Park" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Layering up a bug hotel at the Butterfly Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmHefeudHe71tMhqlm4vjyCg5r1FQFtm71aYxzOX_PuwEWO0zefdchc5pNy3F-nhKF7h41zoTGgOIfQ3pqoJ9tAFqFZOWaq-XmliImsBiVAobSfVbxcb7lypj-_V7nN5d6GGepGAM0P6sL_5cte5RbyYnCnvzaLAnkD-VWbM93zhXOUeOtmUEuLtN0co/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rebuilding the bug hotels" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmHefeudHe71tMhqlm4vjyCg5r1FQFtm71aYxzOX_PuwEWO0zefdchc5pNy3F-nhKF7h41zoTGgOIfQ3pqoJ9tAFqFZOWaq-XmliImsBiVAobSfVbxcb7lypj-_V7nN5d6GGepGAM0P6sL_5cte5RbyYnCnvzaLAnkD-VWbM93zhXOUeOtmUEuLtN0co/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2012.jpg" title="Rebuilding the bug hotels" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Rebuilding the bug hotels</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6muwobbHZNP1kzM3NXddh-wRylf5rUm1ifjLxOvyZDf5JbE8MdjDY9sjjpQzaGFntE1-pp3P5GrHVOlhJ4UIuzsTe5W7fjAJzau3WfynSAsSCT3gb3p82f2Y3HrHwH568bC-8Q3iaRp5uL6hkLmwjZlMWRZANjPjZqomjHzHGye2UWS8QT01SYJu1avg/s2480/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Hilary Ash (second from right) with the three CCS volunteers" border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6muwobbHZNP1kzM3NXddh-wRylf5rUm1ifjLxOvyZDf5JbE8MdjDY9sjjpQzaGFntE1-pp3P5GrHVOlhJ4UIuzsTe5W7fjAJzau3WfynSAsSCT3gb3p82f2Y3HrHwH568bC-8Q3iaRp5uL6hkLmwjZlMWRZANjPjZqomjHzHGye2UWS8QT01SYJu1avg/w400-h300/CCS%20at%20NFBP%2013.jpg" title="Hilary Ash (second from right) with the three CCS volunteers" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hilary Ash (second from right) with the three CCS volunteers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The feedback from the CCS team was how educational and enjoyable the day had been, which had variety and plenty to keep them busy, as well as being in great company! In their words, "We will be back!"</span></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-11018505085104047562023-06-22T10:44:00.001+01:002023-06-22T10:59:31.085+01:00Unusual Insects at New Ferry Butterfly Park<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Roy Lowry makes regular trips to New Ferry Butterfly Park to photograph and identify the wildlife. Here are some of his more recent photographs.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBLfgqIBwvtFpQNFotw8xbUqHsduey2aUZc2OdSVX7nB9a60IjWt_Tvdk24kt1GRFPVvSDaHNSXJOIkTw6b3d8ORLGD8h8-ZuyDpPAo2_dlnUAMd2dkDdcyIlmujbWmeAknlb-5RQBWbTZGlb3RIzeHWcBzc8tik2GFyMEHmPn7dgFXCY-ODiz04QJo4/s2874/yellow%20girdled%20fleckwing%20hoverfly%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Yellow-girdled fleckwing (Dasysyrphus trincinctus)" border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2874" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBLfgqIBwvtFpQNFotw8xbUqHsduey2aUZc2OdSVX7nB9a60IjWt_Tvdk24kt1GRFPVvSDaHNSXJOIkTw6b3d8ORLGD8h8-ZuyDpPAo2_dlnUAMd2dkDdcyIlmujbWmeAknlb-5RQBWbTZGlb3RIzeHWcBzc8tik2GFyMEHmPn7dgFXCY-ODiz04QJo4/w400-h266/yellow%20girdled%20fleckwing%20hoverfly%202.JPG" title="Yellow-girdled fleckwing (Dasysyrphus trincinctus)" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Yellow-girdled fleckwing (<i style="text-align: start;">Dasysyrphus trincinctus)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />At the end of May he came across a hoverfly laying eggs on a hazel leaf. Its scientific name is <i>Dasysyrphus trincinctus</i>, common name yellow-girdled fleckwing. Roy could only find one previous Wirral record of it since 2000, which was in 2017. There are a total of six records in iRecord and iNaturalist for VC Cheshire (one in 2015, four in 2017 and one in 2022) and just 32 records in the RECORD LRC database from between 1982 and 2019. It's either under-recorded (hard to believe for such a distinctive fly) or a local rarity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_USYVg1eB0hd0MmuzmexfBDgo9HKPRiqrR-aXsGv-Btp21ScDnjPmCFp0Lxwzaa5CP7UL7Dm0no7CfsgbhtdZA-R84zIm80gNMv_n0aUWfBdvLmvWO0TGB-v5mOxo6NslmK9wTlMwswYbppL1CzOaYQy8Rykvbp2yFsZpuI7EovGizNMqvaZwY7KMlV0/s1589/PIMG_1776_Broad-bodied_Chaser_Male_NFBP.JPG%20June%2023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)" border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1589" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_USYVg1eB0hd0MmuzmexfBDgo9HKPRiqrR-aXsGv-Btp21ScDnjPmCFp0Lxwzaa5CP7UL7Dm0no7CfsgbhtdZA-R84zIm80gNMv_n0aUWfBdvLmvWO0TGB-v5mOxo6NslmK9wTlMwswYbppL1CzOaYQy8Rykvbp2yFsZpuI7EovGizNMqvaZwY7KMlV0/w400-h266/PIMG_1776_Broad-bodied_Chaser_Male_NFBP.JPG%20June%2023.JPG" title="Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: start;">Broad-bodied Chaser</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: start;"> (</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: start;"><i>Libellula depressa)</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">On June 1st Roy paid another visit to the Butterfly Park. The most interesting things that day were a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Broad-bodied Chaser </span><span style="font-family: arial;">dragonfly </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Libellula depressa</i></span> <span style="font-family: arial;">patrolling the much reduced pond and two pristine specimens of </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Volucella bombylans</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> (bumblebee mimic hoverfly). These were the two common variants of the species and they were seen within a couple of metres of each other which suggested to him that their larvae possibly developed together.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkrczBlRcI7A5_4i7MH5C4V3kgGL8tBMwep8OB9EcA0qxx8bYNQMYdN2lFrG3AGlVkKpRomgp3XgDTWyf9nnaVtMYDZ9KMI9RXSByd2exJkdxY2NJerT39qFWe5a_86V22y6in4HyFMbGfaH6E71S2K3DiEmkGyVG9T2ezQlmX5AmSswpVEHrCboyFvk/s2880/PIMG_1823_Volucella_bombylans_plumata_Male_NFBP.JPG%20june%2023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bumblebee mimic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)" border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkrczBlRcI7A5_4i7MH5C4V3kgGL8tBMwep8OB9EcA0qxx8bYNQMYdN2lFrG3AGlVkKpRomgp3XgDTWyf9nnaVtMYDZ9KMI9RXSByd2exJkdxY2NJerT39qFWe5a_86V22y6in4HyFMbGfaH6E71S2K3DiEmkGyVG9T2ezQlmX5AmSswpVEHrCboyFvk/w400-h266/PIMG_1823_Volucella_bombylans_plumata_Male_NFBP.JPG%20june%2023.JPG" title="Bumblebee mimic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bumblebee mimic hoverfly (<i style="text-align: start;">Volucella bombylans)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw0mBJ518HcUZf3CmM-58hafKVPjyWzxSHOKzLYIIhQNOhdwrReZVhPplzbiYDyq82JitUOCX8B6BDSkBKW_FLKt2nd09cIbIO-Wx1r0J-XXcuBsKzXSQ8jwev6MJI6PWIgTr1LjAC5zbmJpq5C5oCc92n4WDhxdsSzX8qCb9-mRT6iguKFvgDxlgOlg/s3180/PIMG_1832_Volucella_Bombylans_bombylans_Male_NFBP.JPG%20june%2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A second bumblebee mimic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)" border="0" data-original-height="2120" data-original-width="3180" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw0mBJ518HcUZf3CmM-58hafKVPjyWzxSHOKzLYIIhQNOhdwrReZVhPplzbiYDyq82JitUOCX8B6BDSkBKW_FLKt2nd09cIbIO-Wx1r0J-XXcuBsKzXSQ8jwev6MJI6PWIgTr1LjAC5zbmJpq5C5oCc92n4WDhxdsSzX8qCb9-mRT6iguKFvgDxlgOlg/w400-h266/PIMG_1832_Volucella_Bombylans_bombylans_Male_NFBP.JPG%20june%2023.JPG" title="A second bumblebee mimic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A second bumblebee mimic hoverfly (</span><i style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Volucella bombylans)<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On another visit Roy spotted a rather smart sawfly, <i>Macrophya rufipes</i> - another unusual record from the Butterfly Park. His researches show it to be the first record in Cheshire on iRecord (recorded in West Lancashire in 2022) and the only UK record north of Birmingham on iNat. However, there is a 2012 record from Winsford in the RECORD LRC database. Could this be under-reporting or another species migrating northwards?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMhbjNLYMm5fcqsOfZw57B2jfbxc3QiR93O3UzsEq7pjRv6Ye865vuyN8ZfofrDk9ULMuJ1aJaRHJ972wnoV4SytGsj2eP8nH6CoSyOoderUqH7PEKAu9xvkAgzV5nJjofjoBKkvBC8twhiGKXMFh_LeWnCaASvuwysGIn2haMSgPVdMfiF-fxZEinAI/s1890/PIMG_1391_Macrophya_rufipes_Male_NFBP.JPG%2023%20May.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sawfly (Macrophya rufipes)" border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1890" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMhbjNLYMm5fcqsOfZw57B2jfbxc3QiR93O3UzsEq7pjRv6Ye865vuyN8ZfofrDk9ULMuJ1aJaRHJ972wnoV4SytGsj2eP8nH6CoSyOoderUqH7PEKAu9xvkAgzV5nJjofjoBKkvBC8twhiGKXMFh_LeWnCaASvuwysGIn2haMSgPVdMfiF-fxZEinAI/w400-h266/PIMG_1391_Macrophya_rufipes_Male_NFBP.JPG%2023%20May.JPG" title="Sawfly (Macrophya rufipes)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Sawfly (</span><i style="text-align: start;">Macrophya rufipes)</i><span style="text-align: start;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We have three more interesting photographs. The first two show two stages in quite a vicious fight between two orange-vented mason bee (<i>Osmia leaiana</i>) males. The fresher looking one getting stuck in with his mandibles in the first picture was feeding on a hawkbit flower when the second one attacked him. The second picture shows the aggressor as loser (lower bee) about to be kicked off the flower.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg557mMFH6as6NcBbM2gOihVOZa5XEemesisf3A636vJf9db8RcVFmbn0GInhJobJtx_J0FDMivzH0kFAj6soCEWAzLxGv1kpUgIn_VM4zzsHr59fUeTO_ZgVdsmjlHS8flV7UHX0PaakCBjCysk5E8MnF6ctx2m3_qnn4D6pQLXLMp4ifvBIhvMsaYMps/s1704/PIMG_2013_Osmia_leaiana_Males_NFBP.JPG%20orange%20vented%20mason%20bee.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="1136" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg557mMFH6as6NcBbM2gOihVOZa5XEemesisf3A636vJf9db8RcVFmbn0GInhJobJtx_J0FDMivzH0kFAj6soCEWAzLxGv1kpUgIn_VM4zzsHr59fUeTO_ZgVdsmjlHS8flV7UHX0PaakCBjCysk5E8MnF6ctx2m3_qnn4D6pQLXLMp4ifvBIhvMsaYMps/w266-h400/PIMG_2013_Osmia_leaiana_Males_NFBP.JPG%20orange%20vented%20mason%20bee.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Two fighting </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">male orange-vented mason bees (<i style="text-align: start;">Osmia leaiana</i><span style="text-align: start;">)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iAbgOm0RT11v3NU-hRgxxc-_mDixFAiNNWKwKgL4HPPLVnuS8nSr3-pQ-_PSwKW3qYBFG5fvjOxFSeYrXphgEVTQ_C4Jgs24s5msUv2yH6unfFkLNTAg79hlJ6TZRJoZLO6uA1Q0VGkIim1VU5hDz1HK64HH6wgdxtp_uYiji_cSO6R3LNjhdZJA08E/s2502/PIMG_2014_Osmia_leaiana_Males_NFBP.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="The victorious orange-vented mason bee about to kick his rival off the hawkbit flower" border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2502" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iAbgOm0RT11v3NU-hRgxxc-_mDixFAiNNWKwKgL4HPPLVnuS8nSr3-pQ-_PSwKW3qYBFG5fvjOxFSeYrXphgEVTQ_C4Jgs24s5msUv2yH6unfFkLNTAg79hlJ6TZRJoZLO6uA1Q0VGkIim1VU5hDz1HK64HH6wgdxtp_uYiji_cSO6R3LNjhdZJA08E/w400-h266/PIMG_2014_Osmia_leaiana_Males_NFBP.JPG" title="The victorious orange-vented mason bee about to kick his rival off the hawkbit flower" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The victorious orange-vented mason bee about to kick his rival off the hawkbit flower</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The final picture below shows a 2-spot ladybird (<i>Adalia bipunctata</i>) emerging from its pupa.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-BhgBdfXBjVWO_hwh-1oIz83pZpwo64aKAV0IKm7vtT9QZwJz87ihcl-Qb0s1uZqwEcIgPH3BTzS-7K7P_Y31vX-PlbH1AAp6s1yh0yQowgiUv7MZPywCS8D84zIRj5odTbYNUwsONJ7gTi1C9Fob8898-OOEC9oys-JtsyATmJQ7jruwqUvDTV9dp0/s1596/PIMG_2117_2-spot_Ladybird_NFBP.JPG%20emerging%20from%20pupa.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="2-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)" border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="1064" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-BhgBdfXBjVWO_hwh-1oIz83pZpwo64aKAV0IKm7vtT9QZwJz87ihcl-Qb0s1uZqwEcIgPH3BTzS-7K7P_Y31vX-PlbH1AAp6s1yh0yQowgiUv7MZPywCS8D84zIRj5odTbYNUwsONJ7gTi1C9Fob8898-OOEC9oys-JtsyATmJQ7jruwqUvDTV9dp0/w266-h400/PIMG_2117_2-spot_Ladybird_NFBP.JPG%20emerging%20from%20pupa.JPG" title="2-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">2-spot ladybird (</span><i style="text-align: start;">Adalia bipunctata</i><span style="text-align: start;">)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We are indebted to Roy for providing such a comprehensive record of invertebrates and sharing his wonderful photographs with us.</span></div><br />Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-47092936796541879282023-05-10T18:18:00.005+01:002023-05-10T18:18:57.332+01:00New Industrial Heritage Lectern at Butterfly Park<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>At the 2023 Opening Day on 30th April, Caroline Lancelyn Green unveiled a new information lectern dedicated to the industrial heritage of the park. This will be sited near to the Brick Pit pond at the far end of the park.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can take a look below at the information used on the board, which describes the history of Bebington and New Ferry train station and brick making in the area. Click on the images to view them at a larger size.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdljL25QLzXIRiHSvooUJtbDyqbY8Zllahz5WixTYo9Di83EtS3jHSRQcpqG4o99VVyxFE9JwVnsbbbb-cdGkOILA7NhYOHJ0uDzxrG2XpIMj7sVOS8JK36psSARNhw59iVpviere_B1xJtK7xbMjOKw4JbFWHnBL_Ba_KpoI__h9a5CQCUTRT18td/s4369/railway%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="History of Bebington and New Ferry station" border="0" data-original-height="4369" data-original-width="3417" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdljL25QLzXIRiHSvooUJtbDyqbY8Zllahz5WixTYo9Di83EtS3jHSRQcpqG4o99VVyxFE9JwVnsbbbb-cdGkOILA7NhYOHJ0uDzxrG2XpIMj7sVOS8JK36psSARNhw59iVpviere_B1xJtK7xbMjOKw4JbFWHnBL_Ba_KpoI__h9a5CQCUTRT18td/w313-h400/railway%20poster.jpg" title="History of Bebington and New Ferry station" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">History of Bebington and New Ferry station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakaT5A7biVW6YNX9a8LEouIdPg2Hv3Dk7qd5J27XRz41m2ESJMIJhoxOLJYFGiaFJ3hibGJgiy6Tji79aUgFRVz4C39rsYXYsCB6D950N3NOVE6feNDxOCeklY_9sKaF9STPs3FpHJzipteY5dnZt6J44h8VO7plZMO_gTp5SM_PiM6Q_sje_c2Fl/s4369/Brickmaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brick making at New Ferry" border="0" data-original-height="4369" data-original-width="3478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakaT5A7biVW6YNX9a8LEouIdPg2Hv3Dk7qd5J27XRz41m2ESJMIJhoxOLJYFGiaFJ3hibGJgiy6Tji79aUgFRVz4C39rsYXYsCB6D950N3NOVE6feNDxOCeklY_9sKaF9STPs3FpHJzipteY5dnZt6J44h8VO7plZMO_gTp5SM_PiM6Q_sje_c2Fl/w319-h400/Brickmaking.jpg" title="Brick making at New Ferry" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brick making at New Ferry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></span>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-30720555458951152332023-05-06T18:22:00.004+01:002023-05-06T18:23:35.395+01:00City Nature Challenge at New Ferry Butterfly Park<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRT3tbPYNXIG-55Ack8qoCHIJmcgmE-3Ew_lvIjoz_GPkWCOedoetYeoEFRQgm113ixzRcdIwH8frZxbtEFMT6zU9PD9_Um4d1i41qaoasS06c8rmmBugsENF0GTvTn60_tFziJKGF5PKgW7uVPk1NB3LpW9uMj-_OMyXtp_2TD-Vj_MkjThF2Udu/s1280/7f8b22d4-c07b-412a-bcf0-9783a284a640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wildlife recorders taking part in the City Nature Challenge" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRT3tbPYNXIG-55Ack8qoCHIJmcgmE-3Ew_lvIjoz_GPkWCOedoetYeoEFRQgm113ixzRcdIwH8frZxbtEFMT6zU9PD9_Um4d1i41qaoasS06c8rmmBugsENF0GTvTn60_tFziJKGF5PKgW7uVPk1NB3LpW9uMj-_OMyXtp_2TD-Vj_MkjThF2Udu/w300-h400/7f8b22d4-c07b-412a-bcf0-9783a284a640.JPG" title="Wildlife recorders taking part in the City Nature Challenge" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wildlife recorders taking part in the City Nature Challenge. Photo: Elina Doss</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The international <a href="https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/" target="_blank">City Nature Challenge 2023</a> ran from 28th April to 1st May. As part of the Liverpool City Region Nature Challenge, eleven wildlife recorders met at New Ferry Butterfly Park to learn how to identify some species and submit the records. The morning was chilly, so we mostly recorded plants, but in the afternoon the sun came out bringing with it bees, hoverflies and even a few butterflies.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr Hilary Ash</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJQ-gKMCx1MpWAqJWmgT_JhrFwogxQaDENQW3SsPZ89tzAavVaFrIx-5vsNQZ-rz5V9Ux90V96UcrCMvIOTbO60-a8s5gfO191OUGViFg521dqsQFi3j2mcOTlaWLBzHW-n30cLYC_2VcNSxQK_foDILAWkXVrkKIE8wvHN6B2fcciWbFNAqdqeV0/s1709/Brimstone%20and%20bluebells.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brimstone butterfly on bluebells" border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1709" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJQ-gKMCx1MpWAqJWmgT_JhrFwogxQaDENQW3SsPZ89tzAavVaFrIx-5vsNQZ-rz5V9Ux90V96UcrCMvIOTbO60-a8s5gfO191OUGViFg521dqsQFi3j2mcOTlaWLBzHW-n30cLYC_2VcNSxQK_foDILAWkXVrkKIE8wvHN6B2fcciWbFNAqdqeV0/w400-h266/Brimstone%20and%20bluebells.JPG" title="Brimstone butterfly on bluebells" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Brimstone butterfly on bluebells. Photo: Roy Lowry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMZ6U40SvxVr2gE9r9EidUW5CH-jvFQbFDHtKIKtqqHLaEYiVEDqhk-GuAFU6HFew5Gp7F0zixLq48XkiAoLtSiln45LjclIJLCJMNhvrzjpWeW-JaBQ-twGIjDBbOlqrL0GKHX2CDodTh3xMUeU-S0lZTauH-0s8yLefIJnQg9u7Y8c5i-5J83T-/s1212/PIMG_9280_Apion_frumentarium_NFBP.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apion frumentarium. Photo: Roy Lowry" border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1212" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMZ6U40SvxVr2gE9r9EidUW5CH-jvFQbFDHtKIKtqqHLaEYiVEDqhk-GuAFU6HFew5Gp7F0zixLq48XkiAoLtSiln45LjclIJLCJMNhvrzjpWeW-JaBQ-twGIjDBbOlqrL0GKHX2CDodTh3xMUeU-S0lZTauH-0s8yLefIJnQg9u7Y8c5i-5J83T-/w400-h266/PIMG_9280_Apion_frumentarium_NFBP.JPG" title="Apion frumentarium. Photo: Roy Lowry" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Apion frumentarium</i>. Photo: Roy Lowry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOOwBsydzDsaTlZwXlWELYWr9MYRusixyzRMJAOIwtwx-aHuPubTc1ieVEECPPOLz2tm13heOMqGgb1C22JoH9U_5vyR4Vio-jmgSfmWP7nP-lFTvkX9yGyyQlWLIK38XsCJ1N9p-aaVFW-dYv343YX-_3Wth3EYPMgtMk2wfgMomb3iTtr4Q7bQH/s2369/PIMG_9277_Dock_Bug_NFBP.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dock Bug. Photo: Roy Lowry" border="0" data-original-height="2369" data-original-width="1579" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOOwBsydzDsaTlZwXlWELYWr9MYRusixyzRMJAOIwtwx-aHuPubTc1ieVEECPPOLz2tm13heOMqGgb1C22JoH9U_5vyR4Vio-jmgSfmWP7nP-lFTvkX9yGyyQlWLIK38XsCJ1N9p-aaVFW-dYv343YX-_3Wth3EYPMgtMk2wfgMomb3iTtr4Q7bQH/w266-h400/PIMG_9277_Dock_Bug_NFBP.JPG" title="Dock Bug. Photo: Roy Lowry" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Dock Bug. Photo: Roy Lowry</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pxfJ-bdrUtcw9bmuBGrnn5FRasLEe956JpD2i99bwp4itLfb_NK-LVz09a44K8va6AzstBMKSQ9JZ0sOE5c4i49MQQXj_8TQrCu4_8-lwxscxfh1kEHKunbDGXHyHnVLSMNFVRdDLzkmuO5Afp-vaLOw7HZQpNu7mRfuLCnkSPEg49npC6Rvr0en/s4158/PIMG_9245_House_Sparrow_Female_NFBP.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="4158" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pxfJ-bdrUtcw9bmuBGrnn5FRasLEe956JpD2i99bwp4itLfb_NK-LVz09a44K8va6AzstBMKSQ9JZ0sOE5c4i49MQQXj_8TQrCu4_8-lwxscxfh1kEHKunbDGXHyHnVLSMNFVRdDLzkmuO5Afp-vaLOw7HZQpNu7mRfuLCnkSPEg49npC6Rvr0en/w400-h266/PIMG_9245_House_Sparrow_Female_NFBP.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: arial; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start;">House sparrow. Photo: Roy Lowry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The results and photos for the Liverpool CIty Region can be found on the iNaturalist website:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://uk.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-liverpool-city-region" target="_blank">https://uk.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-liverpool-city-region</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-647452501913734530.post-12989440691614483282023-05-04T16:00:00.002+01:002023-05-04T16:08:25.810+01:00A VIP Butterfly<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYk-TzcLiA1gJ3UcIshFH1U7QJK9O5WtqEPr29vC71Yi1gD6M1omLOYslUViX_BvIFsjgF41I8ycAs8_5WnE5rNXa7KOUpOTG_Es0eESISFEfiNx533j-3fdL4K02vcdb2Hjd548G7YF51NMDhHOq_-HUoMIROPwQ46nRhgsmT5iDob56OSl5I6B7/s2048/344355003_142589548664448_5151252863452747954_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stalls at the New Ferry Butterfly Park 2023 Opening Day" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYk-TzcLiA1gJ3UcIshFH1U7QJK9O5WtqEPr29vC71Yi1gD6M1omLOYslUViX_BvIFsjgF41I8ycAs8_5WnE5rNXa7KOUpOTG_Es0eESISFEfiNx533j-3fdL4K02vcdb2Hjd548G7YF51NMDhHOq_-HUoMIROPwQ46nRhgsmT5iDob56OSl5I6B7/w400-h300/344355003_142589548664448_5151252863452747954_n.jpg" title="Stalls at the New Ferry Butterfly Park 2023 Opening Day" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Stalls at the New Ferry Butterfly Park 2023 Opening Day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">New Ferry Butterfly Park held its 12th Opening Day which marked the start of the 28th season of being open to the public. Despite the drizzle there were 567 guests on the day. They enjoyed the alluring smell of caramelized onions from the BBQ, delicious homemade cakes, a magnificent plant sale, stalls of local talented crafters and children’s craft activities, including making badges and sowing seeds in newspaper pots. It was a first sight for many of the revamped wildlife demonstration garden dedicated to the park’s founder Mel Roberts. There was lots of information and inspiration to get people started on their own wildflower adventure.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZCQavumSz_nTnh6gyAZ3ANFtizXmOuWtFnvMb-20Rfv4gQyGKixZF-eicEmfgrTcsrJMi1ouqj_MMegHNRqYArMB2TVC9-oUDbP4SAzI_W4H2-hNiol3uuUzJaSLy-3OVSMY7MbY3LtbSYBjhCdThe69TtVCY6y0PuvEYV_oPb624kqCO7PvT_Zd/s2848/HA%202023_0501NFBP%20Opening%20Day%2020230005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Caroline Lancelyn Green in her butterfly scarf, unveiling the new information board." border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZCQavumSz_nTnh6gyAZ3ANFtizXmOuWtFnvMb-20Rfv4gQyGKixZF-eicEmfgrTcsrJMi1ouqj_MMegHNRqYArMB2TVC9-oUDbP4SAzI_W4H2-hNiol3uuUzJaSLy-3OVSMY7MbY3LtbSYBjhCdThe69TtVCY6y0PuvEYV_oPb624kqCO7PvT_Zd/w400-h300/HA%202023_0501NFBP%20Opening%20Day%2020230005.jpg" title="Caroline Lancelyn Green in her butterfly scarf, unveiling the new information board." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caroline Lancelyn Green in her butterfly scarf, unveiling the new information board.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The guest of honour for the day was Caroline Lancelyn Green. Caroline is a long-term supporter of the Park. She and her family host fundraising garden parties at nearby Poulton Hall from which the park has benefited. The next wildlife fundraising garden party there is Saturday 1st July which, appropriately, is National Meadows Day. Caroline, who is delightfully theatrical, rose to the occasion and came along in a wonderful butterfly scarf which she unfurled to applause.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Caroline came to unveil the latest feature at the park, a new information lectern dedicated to the industrial heritage of the park. This lectern was made possible by a legacy from the late Frank Cottrell, a former chair of Wirral Wildlife and a former Cheshire Wildlife Trust Trustee, combined with donations made in his memory and funding from the Wirral Wildlife. Hilary Ash reading a tribute to Frank and said, “He would be wryly amused to be now part of the history of the park.” It was Frank who persuaded the Cheshire Wildlife Trust to take on New Ferry Butterfly Park. For more on Frank’s substantive contribution see <a href="https://wirralwildlife.blogspot.com/2021/10/frank-cottrell-1922-2021.html" target="_blank">Wirral Wildlife Blog: Frank Cottrell 1922 - 2021</a>. The lectern will be finally installed by the Brick Pit later on in the season during a family and friends’ ceremony.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97-klx-INkcuuWogJlJp56I4OcyAtHjh5BnTRtb7C5Z_7gwcLP2ooIMkYw0mrxvNHvtpG3EHusw2yQwb5FYcSTPQTEJV6DVa8aE_kSS0qbb6SKyDEjOBFRKD4Y7up-GdQ7AiJtSM76BsO9XScKXQ_-iSEQoQIjDlPYJHuwoj4v5tJY_uc7ugAYR70/s1280/20230430_101839.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Plant stall at the Opening Day" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97-klx-INkcuuWogJlJp56I4OcyAtHjh5BnTRtb7C5Z_7gwcLP2ooIMkYw0mrxvNHvtpG3EHusw2yQwb5FYcSTPQTEJV6DVa8aE_kSS0qbb6SKyDEjOBFRKD4Y7up-GdQ7AiJtSM76BsO9XScKXQ_-iSEQoQIjDlPYJHuwoj4v5tJY_uc7ugAYR70/w400-h300/20230430_101839.jpeg" title="Plant stall at the Opening Day" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The plant stall at the Opening Day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">After unveiling the display Caroline was presented with a wild pear tree propagated by volunteers from Willaston stock, which she was delighted to accept. Frank’s successor as Wirral Wildlife Chairman, Stephen Ross, gave Caroline a guided tour of the park and the delights of the stalls. Despite a third less guests than last year, slightly more funds were raised due the generosity of those who supported the park and stalls and made it an enjoyable day with a great atmosphere. Thank you everyone who came for supporting the park. We hope you can visit us on a sunny day and appreciate all the butterflies, other insects and wildflowers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sQWl_zjdoz7G3zKWp2lY_dX0p5-VheIG6EKV23I_ztz2mhM0Vd22xxh52tuTXzoLm2rb7Jtw1iDcPsdDnCwBeCgpBPTM73Droste8Y7CnCp24ELY7U99p3LSzF0pxmt6HGayu1NtjSMFwqJkeXDocAy6-OKF3PsWBwHdpd9cm-TUrDNKjfNugxJX/s4128/PL%20you%20can%20eat%20cakes%20in%20the%20rain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The cakes are just as delicious in the rain!" border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sQWl_zjdoz7G3zKWp2lY_dX0p5-VheIG6EKV23I_ztz2mhM0Vd22xxh52tuTXzoLm2rb7Jtw1iDcPsdDnCwBeCgpBPTM73Droste8Y7CnCp24ELY7U99p3LSzF0pxmt6HGayu1NtjSMFwqJkeXDocAy6-OKF3PsWBwHdpd9cm-TUrDNKjfNugxJX/w400-h300/PL%20you%20can%20eat%20cakes%20in%20the%20rain.jpg" title="The cakes are just as delicious in the rain!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The cakes are just as delicious in the rain!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Paul Loughnane</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Wirral Wildlifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16841454711020135179noreply@blogger.com0