Wirral Wildlife Spring/Summer 2025 Prize Quiz

Solve the weather themed clues in our prize quiz for a chance to win a £10 voucher

Can you crack the cryptic clues in the Wirral Wildlife Spring/Summer 2025 prize quiz?

All the answers are terms and expressions linked to the weather.

A £10 gift voucher will go to the entry with the best overall score.

Money raised through selling the quiz sheets will go to Wirral Wildlife.

Closing date: 31st July 2025

Download the quiz sheet and instructions here

Cleaver Heath Regeneration Project

Nationally, lowland heathland is a well known type of habitat occurring on acid sandy or peaty soils of low fertility. It is characterised by the presence of a range of plant species such as heather, gorse and bracken together with scattered trees such as birch, oak and pine and mosses, lichens and grasses. In prime condition it is also home to a wide range of both vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

Heathland is one of our most threatened habitats and by 1997 Britain had lost 60% of it's lowland heath, mainly to agriculture and construction. Locally on Wirral, heathland is restricted to areas such as Cleaver Heath, Heswall Dales and Thurstaston Common.

Lowland heathland habitats are typically relatively fragile and susceptible to succession by woodland trees or bracken which out compete and smother plants such as heather. At Cleaver Heath, this situation is exacerbated by the fact that the open lowland heathland habitat is surrounded by silver/downy birch dominated woodland with a ground flora dominated by bracken. Management work at Cleaver carried out mainly by volunteers, involves controlling birch, gorse and bracken growth in the areas dominated by heather, so preventing succession to dense scrub and woodland.

The site at Cleaver Heath before the gorse, bracken and birch were cleared
(photo: Ben Patterson)

In 2019 the possibility of carrying out a heathland regeneration project at Cleaver was discussed with the aim of increasing the overall amount of lowland heath habitat within the reserve. A site of approximately 0.25 hectares in area, covered in gorse, bracken and some birch and with some heather also present was selected for clearing. The plan was to employ specialized contractors to clear gorse, bracken and birch to ground level with machinery within the experimental site and then monitor the regeneration of the heather over time whilst controlling any regrowth of gorse, bracken and birch. To encourage the regrowth of heather after clearing, the additional application of fresh heather seed or heather litter from within the site containing seed would be carried out.

Although at the time, the project was supported by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England, the onset of the pandemic, together with funding issues, prevented the project from going ahead. However, Wirral Wildlife received a very generous financial gift from Woodchurch High School which has now been used to help fund the project. This was carried out by experienced habitat management contractors at the beginning of February.

The work in progress at Cleaver Heath
(photo: Ben Patterson)

After clearing existing vegetation from the selected site, any unwanted regrowth of bracken and gorse occurring during the Spring and Summer will be removed and heather seed from within other areas of the reserve will be collected and applied to the new site during the coming Autumn and Winter months. Regeneration of the heather will be closely monitored and managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Wirral Wildlife volunteer teams.

More work in progress (photo: Ben Patterson)

If successful this project will result in a significant increase in important heath habitat within the reserve.

John McGaw (Honorary reserve manager) 

30th Anniversary of the Butterfly Park: 2021

2025 is the 30th anniversary of New Ferry Butterfly Park. Over the next 5 months we will look back at the five years since our 25th anniversary. In January we began with what happened in 2020. Now to 2021...

In January of 2021, one hazel bush was already in flower.

Hazel catkins in flower at the Butterfly Park in January 2021

Guelder rose berries were still on the bush, a sign that the migratory thrushes like redwing had not found them yet.

Lots of berries on the Guelder Rose bush

A fox was spotted taking a stroll.

 

The pond froze over - we had not seen that many times in recent years.

The icy pond in winter 2021

In May we started opening on Sunday afternoons but didn’t have our usual Open Day as some Covid restrictions were still in place.

By July it was now 18 months since New Ferry Butterfly Park’s Silver Jubilee Gates design was drawn up. Due to Covid the gate costs had risen and the Park’s income had fallen. However with support from several funding sources - New Ferry and Port Sunlight Community Fund, Wirral Wildlife, The Duchy of Lancaster, Wirral Farmers’ Market Community Fund, Poulton Hall Walled Garden Trust and the recent online public Crowdfunder appeal - the money was finally raised. The first physical steps in realising this project started with the post’s foundations being dug out and strengthened and a start made on the brick pillars.

Once the brick pillars were constructed they were left for five weeks to allow the pillars to set. Whilst this happens, the final measurements were taken to make sure the bespoke gates will fit perfectly.

A finished gate pillar

In August, Howard Gibson retired as Honorary Treasurer of New Ferry Butterfly Park, after 22 years of dedicated service. We were immensely grateful to Howard for so many years of sterling work, when we could always rely on the Park’s accounts being accurate, up to date, and professionally presented in apple-pie order. When someone like this retires, particularly after such a long period of service, you suddenly realise how important a Treasurer is. It is the only position that any organisation must have. Organisations can cope without a Secretary or a Chair but not without a Treasurer. Howard was a recently retired HSBC (Midland) bank branch manager when in 1998 he was recruited by Mel Roberts, the visionary founder of the park, taking over from our first treasurer Vi Otter.

Howard Gibson, who retired as Butterfly Park Treasurer in 2021

The Treasurer’s role started on small scale, but developed into a much more involved role reflecting the considerable development and increased activities taking place at the park. It is busy job in the summer, sorting out weekly collections put in the donation tin and distinguishing between donations: general, wood chip, soil improver or group visits. These are accurately and clearly presented in the annual accounts. The accounts give the committee a clear picture of the financial resources and how each income stream has contributed over the year. Howard’s accounts were used to demonstrate the park is a business - we sell wood chip. This was an important point raised in court in 2009 when protecting the park’s business tenancy. Howard became an expert in VAT and claimed 20% refund on our disabled accessible composting toilet via Cheshire Wildlife Trust. This refund helped with funding the surround ground works required.

Following that year’s al fresco AGM at the Park, Howard was presented with a caricature of himself painted by Carol Ramsay. This was beautifully framed, using recycled wood, by Pam Sullivan, who created our Welcome Board. The smile on Howard’s face as he opened the portrait said it all. With such a lovely, personal and fun portrait like that the committee will all want to retire!

The framed caricature of Howard!

Since then Howard has been busy in the Park with many of his other roles such as mowing the grass, fixing and painting the site furniture and offering valued advice.

By November the brick pillars for the Jubilee Gates had been raised, filled with concrete and left to set for five weeks. The new Silver Jubilee Gates could then be installed.

Delivery of the gates to the entrance of the park

The finished gates

The end of 2021 saw relaxation of many restrictions imposed to combat Covid19 and we looked ahead to a more ‘normal’ year for our visitors.

Autumn/Winter 2024 Prize Quiz: Winner and Answers

An armadillo, the answer to clue 1. Photo: Rich Anderson, Flickr

Thank you so much to everyone who sent their answers to our Mammals of the World quiz. We really appreciate your support and welcome the money sent to us for the entrance fee.

We received a total of 147 entries, of which 56 were all correct. The winner selected in a random draw is Miss J E Milne, of Bude. Congratulations!

The answers to the clues are below.

1. Equip a herb with a weapon-o! (9) ARMADILLO

2. Sailor’s reply to an officer’s order! (3-3). AYE-AYE

3. Forbid taking in what a timid person never says to a goose. (6). BABOON

4. Brass ensemble with water bird – I slip in between them. (9). BANDICOOT

5. Prohibit high-tension starts for organised local exhibitions. (4, 4). BANK VOLE

6. A mix-up lets Barry be a pa! (7, 3). BARBARY APE

7. If you see this one in the wild, it will be a very exciting experience. (6). BEAVER

8. I heard him say something like “Cheerio, youngster!” (5). BISON

9. Courage, without any selenium, for the son of the King of France, translated. (10, 7). BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

10. In Downing Street, did Gordon Brown bear responsibility for the Credit Crunch in 2007/8? (5, 4). BROWN BEAR

11. BR won her a makeover. (5, 4). BROWN HARE

12. Describes two US presidents in the first year of their lives. (4, 4). BUSH BABY

13. Arrived and departed shortly after, having got the hump. (5). CAMEL

14. Animal doctor chases a number of Dalmatians. (5). CIVET

15. Could this be Basil Brush, arriving at Heathrow airport? (6, 3). FLYING FOX

16. Goliath, say, with a police car. (5, 5). GIANT PANDA

17. Famous for the decline and fall of an empire. (6). GIBBON

18. British armed service, led by American soldier, gets college training shortly. (7). GIRAFFE

19. Goes round every year, selling endive and lettuce, primarily. (4, 4). GREY SEAL

20. This one stuttered “Mother, save us!”. (7, 5). HARVEST MOUSE

21. I heard “Hello, Mrs Sharples.”! (5). HYENA

22. Type of wild dog for two boys, John and Alan. (6). JACKAL

23. One of Joey’s parents? (8). KANGAROO

24. The wall in Paris. (5). LEMUR

25. You can find this one in all Amazonian forest areas. (5). LLAMA

26. Sounds like a place to play golf at the seaside. (4). LYNX

27. Chap with a shirt. (7). MANATEE

28. Mare, most skittish! (8). MARMOSET

29. Setter swallowed writing fluid and a cry of distress was heard. (5, 5). MINKE WHALE

30. Non-governmental organisation taken in by 31. (8). MONGOOSE

31. Small rodent loses its uniform; Oscar steps in to sort it. (5). MOOSE

32. Searching in the area, there wasn’t a café to be found; so she said “OK, a picnic it is then!” (5). OKAPI

33. These upset Goran’s aunt. (10). ORANGUTANS

34. This one is pro-arable culture. (5, 4). POLAR BEAR

35. Popular reptile loses two times; papas step in and see to that. (8). PORPOISE

36. 37, once Katharina has gone, rides an ancient Greek river horse. (5, 12). PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS

37. One track up Snowdon, with setter’s, or rather Shakespeare’s, Katharina. (5, 5). PYGMY SHREW

38. Motoring services company – company working for a masked mammal. (7). RACCOON

39. Did I hear you say “It’s wet outside, my love.”? (8). REINDEER

40. I heard Charlie remark that the weather had “ ‘eated up”. (3, 5). SEA OTTER

41. One of seven capital vices. (5). SLOTH

42. Seasonal publication, nothing left out – about a rugby player? (9). SPRINGBOK

43. 17th century Dutch explorer, together with a Scot, encountered Satan! (9, 5). TASMANIAN DEVIL

44. Piece of sporting equipment belonging to a hater of garlic! (7, 3). VAMPIRE BAT

45. This one can be found in Heswall, a by-product of 19th century introductions. (7). WALLABY

46. One that wanted seven maids with seven mops to clear away the sand. (6). WALRUS

47. Feature of Oliver Cromwell’s face had others grinning initially. (7). WARTHOG

48. Support for a painter’s use after whiskey. (6). WEASEL

49. Beware of this one – it’d claw you if you annoyed it! (4, 3). WILD CAT

50. Author of “Importance of being Earnest” on Honeymaker Street. (10). WILDEBEEST

Here are some notes on the ones that seemed to cause the most difficulty:

3. BABOON – According to the saying, a timid person ‘wouldn’t say “Boo!” to a goose’.

5. BANK VOLE – Prohibit = Ban; High tension = kV (kilovolts); OLE are the first letters of “organised local exhibitions”.

7. BEAVER – Hidden in the clue: “it will BE A VERy …”

9. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN – We couldn’t allow “Bottlenosed” because it is not the correct name, and it doesn’t match the clue or the letter count.

11. BROWN HARE – An anagram.

14. CIVET – 101 is a number of dalmatians from the Disney film.  That is CI in Roman numerals. Vet is an animal doctor.

20. HARVEST MOUSE – Some entries did not spot the anagram here.  We liked “GRIZZLY BEARS” but couldn’t allow it.

25. LLAMA – Another hidden answer in this clue “in aLL AMAzonian …”

27. MANATEE – We couldn’t allow Mandrill because it has 8 letters, not 7.

29. MINKE WHALE – This was an answer that many people spelt incorrectly as Minky Whale.

33. ORANGUTANS – The clue, and the letter count, require a plural answer here so we didn’t accept ORANGUTAN.

35. PORPOISE – The popular reptile is TORTOISE; replace the “t”s with “p”s.

36. PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS – We were surprised at how many different ways there are of misspelling “Hippopotamus”!  And “Pigmy” is incorrect and not in alphabetical order.

37. PYGMY SHREW – The track up Snowdon is known as the Pyg Track.

38. RACCOON – Another answer that was often misspelt.

46. WALRUS – From “The Walrus and the Carpenter” – Lewis Carroll.

We have launched a weather themed quiz, It Blows It Snows. The closing date for entries is 31st July 2025. Download the Spring/Summer 2025 quiz here.