City Nature Challenge 2021

The City Nature Challenge is a global citizen science event, taking place in more than 400 cities from 30th April to 3rd May 2021. Over the four days of the challenge, people across the world come together to share observations of the nature all around us, using the iNaturalist app. It's open to wildlife recorders of all ages and abilities.

The challenge in Liverpool City Region is being co-ordinated by RECORD, Merseyside BioBank and Lancashire Wildlife Trust and this year is the third time that the region has competed. 

How do I take part?

1) Download the iNaturalist app and make an account.

2) Join the Liverpool City Region project:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-liverpool-city-region

3) Photograph your wildlife observations and upload to the app. Don't worry if you're not sure of the species - other observers will help to ID from your photo where possible. You can also include sound recordings (e.g. birdsong) and photos of evidence like footprints too.

What happens to the data?

Observations uploaded to iNaturalist are available to Local Environmental Records Centres and other conservation organisations. As always, all records really are vital to conservation efforts. Records of both common and rare species help us build a picture of how our local wildlife is doing, which helps us understand how to protect it.

How many observations are we aiming for?

Last year, 5,946 observations of 978 species were recorded by 180 people in the area and we hope to beat these numbers this time round, but we need as many people as possible to join it to help make this happen!

Where can I find out more?

Take a look at these websites:

City Nature Challenge UK

Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Global City Nature Challenge

Merseyside BioBank

Thanks to RECORD for providing the information and asking us to get involved.

A Blooming Success On Road Verges in Eastham

Ladies smock and dandelions in the verge at Lowfields Avenue, Eastham

These photographs show first results of the changed mowing regime for some road verges that is being done in Wirral. These verges are rich in Ladies smock (also called cuckoo flower) and dandelions. The Ladies smock is a key food plant for the orange tip and green-veined white butterflies. Dandelion are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies coming out of hibernation, when they need to eat straight away. They also make a brilliant yellow display to delight the eye.

Ladies smock and dandelions in the verge at Lowfields Avenue, Eastham

Listen to Dr Hilary Ash talking about wildflowers and road verges in a Radio Merseyside interview next Wednesday, 28th April, at 3.30pm.

You can listen via BBC Sounds:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09dlqt8

Ladies smock and dandelions in the verge at Eastham Rake

Photos from Eastham Rake/Plymyard Avenue corner, and Lowfields Avenue, both in Eastham.

Wild About Wildflowers

Are you wild about wildflowers?

Did you watch Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wild about Wildflowers’ webinar?

If not here is your chance to watch a recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OamJDEnrSVE

A panel of speakers shared their knowledge of how to take action to bring back wildflowers to our green spaces, including Dr Hilary Ash talking about New Ferry Butterfly Park. Recommended viewing if you are thinking of setting up your own community project, asking your council to mow less or are simply wanting to create your own meadow patch.

If you are inspired to do something yourself Cheshire Wildlife Trust have plenty of suggestions to help you get started:

We’re giving you early access to our road verge citizen science project! Have you ever looked at the road verges in your neighbourhood and thought they could be great for wildlife? If so, then submit a photo and tell us where it is. We want to map Cheshire’s road verges so we can work out which ones could designated as local wildlife sites and which ones would be great for a local community to adopt.

Wildflower guide from Cheshire Wildlife Trust

If you want to go further and learn how to recognise wildflowers, then download our Wildflowers Guide. Find out which species are most common and get hints and tips on where to find them.

Take action in your outdoor space

Get creative with container gardening

There are loads of ways you can bring wildflowers to your garden, patio or balcony. By growing a range of flowers you can provide a food source for bees and butterflies throughout the year. 

For small spaces, these cornfield pots and hanging baskets will work perfectly and add that dash of colour. If you’ve lots of wall space, then why not turn it into a vertical garden with a pallet planter?

Vertical gardening with a pallet planter

If you’ve a larger space to work with then try creating your own mini-meadow!

 

Grow a wild patch in your garden

 

Take action nationally

We’re still calling on the Prime Minister to overturn the lifting of a ban on bee-killing pesticides. Not only that but recommended advice suggests adding weedkillers that will kill off native wildflowers. A bit of cold weather stopped the spraying of thiamethoxam this year but the ban still hasn’t been reinstated. Add your name to reinstate the ban – over 100,000 people have signed so far!

 

50 Years of Wirral Wildlife

In the early days of the Cheshire Conservation Trust (how Cheshire Wildlife Trust was originally known), Wirral group was part of the West group based in Chester. Sixty members living in Wirral were needed before the Group could become autonomous. That happened at a meeting at Bebington Oval on 7th April 1971. We now have over 2250 members.

The original committee consisted of Chairman Major Frank White, Margaret Gilmour, Henry Larsen, Nora MacMillan (Mrs Mac), David Mills, Jane Ratcliffe, Richard Smith and Graham Taylor.

The group manned two caravans each summer weekend, one at Thurstaston Visitor Centre and one at Eastham Country Park and meetings were held at a variety of venues. Jim Gilmour, a previous Secretary to the committee, remembered passing a queue waiting for our jumble sale in Liscard and hearing a woman wondering what a ‘Conversation Trust’ actually did. After Wirral became part of Merseyside in 1974 we changed our name to Wirral Wildlife.

We had little base data on species distribution in 1971 – an essential pre-requisite of conservation action. Recording of species in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Local Wildlife Sites has been carried out regularly since then. The information accumulated by our recorders has been of value to the Planning Department and Ranger Service. Our records and plans have been incorporated into management plans and used to obtain grants. They have enabled us to contribute knowledgeably to Council initiatives like the Local Plan and make recommendations when we scrutinise planning applications for their impact on wildlife.

We are now involved with six Wirral nature reserves and practical work is led by honorary wardens and teams of volunteers. Our urban reserve, New Ferry Butterfly Park, celebrated being open to the public for 25 years in 2020.

A busy day at New Ferry Butterfly Park

We have also created a programme of talks and guided walks open to the public. Monthly talks from September to April are held in Heswall Hall and feature a wide range of speakers.  In the summer guided walks include a (very early) Dawn Chorus and a bluebell walk.  Each autumn we hold an Apple Day at Eastham Country Park where visitors can taste locally grown varieties of apples and help to make juice using our traditional wooden apple press. Our group also attends events like Science Day at Ness Gardens, Ness Children’s Day and Science under the Stars.

Our display at Ness Science Day

None of these things would be possible without a dedicated team who form the Wirral Wildlife committee and the host of volunteers who help out in so many different ways. We value their support and we are all committed to a Wirral richer in wildlife.

Science Under The Stars

We are currently considering what we can do to celebrate this 50 year milestone. For our 40th anniversary we met in November at Brotherton Park, Dibbinsdale and planted two native black poplars.

Tree planting at Dibbinsdale to mark our 40th Anniversary

When the newly formed committee left the Oval in April 1971 they could have had no idea of how the world would change. In 2017 we were awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the impact the group has had in protecting nature in Wirral. Our aim is to inspire, inform, educate and encourage people to protect nature in Wirral – values that were as true in 1971 as they are today.

Acknowledgment: most of the early information was taken from an article written by Jim Gilmour for our 40th anniversary.

Spring/ Summer Prize Quiz 2021

View over the Mersey from Port Sunlight River Park.
Photo: Darren Hillman, Flickr

John has set a new quiz to pit your wits against. This time it is in two parts. Part one consists of cryptic clues about butterflies and moths. Part two is called 'Hidden Rivers', where you need to read through four short paragraphs and find the names of British and Irish rivers.

A £10 gift voucher will go to the entry with the best overall score. There will also be two £5 vouchers for the best score in each of the two parts of the quiz.

Download the quiz here

The closing date is 31st July.