Botanical Recorders at work

Voluntary botanical recorders have been doing a survey on Wallasey Golf Course SBI. This photo shows them busily engrossed in identifying a plant that turned out to be Fool's Parsley. It fooled them by being rather shrivelled after the salt-laden gales of the previous week.

Thankyou to Ron Warne for the photograph.

Wildlife Quiz

The latest Wirral Wildlife Prize Quiz is now running. The price per entry is 60p and copies of the quiz may be purchased at our meetings or obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope with your 60p payment to:
Wirral Wildlife Prize Quiz, Lindisfarne, 25 Park West, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 9JE

There are 21 clues. The first 7 clues lead to the name of a bird; the next 7 are other animals; and the rest are places in Wirral where you might find wildlife.

The closing date for receipt of completed entries is 31st January 2011. The prize for the winner will be a gift voucher value £10.00. The judges’ decision in all cases is final. The name of the winner and the answers will be published in the newsletter of Wirral Wildlife. All the proceeds from this quiz will go to Wirral Wildlife.

Save the bat roost

We have heard about an appeal relating to part of Overchurch Park Woods SBI, which is adjacent to the western end of the J2 spur of the M53. It is SBI because it contains bat roosts in trees; Noctules, Pipistrelles and Brown Long-eared. Most of the SBI is owned by Wirral MBC, but part was originally Scout land and recently has been owned by a developer, who put it up for auction on 9th September 2010. Local people, desperate to protect the land, have managed to win at auction, and now need to make up the funding. Please read what they have to say:

"We would like to make you aware of some developments in our local area, namely the sale of the woodlands that run alongside part of the Upton By-pass to behind the Overton Community Centre. These Private Historic Woodlands were auctioned on 9th September 2010.

Many local residents had concerns that these woodlands may fall into undesirable hands, the woodlands becoming damaged and Anti-Social Behaviour occurring causing great fear and distress that the general peace and serenity of our area may have been adversely affected. So Volunteers from Friends of Warwick Park and Overchurch Residents Association worked quickly to spread the word to residents and have worked together to find a solution to a potential problem at very short notice.

Since last Monday more than £16000 has been pledged by local residents of Upton, who felt that the risks were too high if we didn’t attend the auction and attempt to purchase the land. At auction we purchased the land at a cost of £28500 plus legal fees. We are now keen to raise the rest of the funds required as if we are unable to pay within 28 days of the auction the land will be sold to another bidder.

The generosity and pride in our community has been overwhelming and we need to work together to ensure the safe future of this woodland.

If you have questions about why we are doing this or would like to make a DONATION please Ring Jean on 07762641297 or via email

Please help us to raise the rest of the money needed to secure our historic woodland or who knows who will buy it or what may happen?

All previous and new donators are invited to attend a meeting at Overton Community Centre (160 Royden Road, CH49 4RH) on Wednesday 15th September at 7pm to consider the future management of the woodland.

New donations can be made by ringing the above numbers or at this meeting on Wednesday. All donations are greatly appreciated (receipt will be given).

Cheques should be made payable to “Overton Community Centre” and have your address, contact number & name written on the back.

MANY THANKS"

Silver Jubilee for Wirral Countryside Volunteers

On August 14th Alison McGovern MP was invited to New Ferry Butterfly Park to unveil a seat made by Wirral Countryside Volunteers to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

A splendid cake had also been made (but didn't last as long as the bench will!).

The volunteers celebrated their work with an afternoon barbecue.

For details of Wirral Countryside Volunteers and how to join them in their work, see their website http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~jpl/wcv/

Wildlife Watch group is relaunched

The Wirral group of the Wildlife Watch club is relaunching this weekend with a Meadow Safari. This is a club for children aged 8 to 12. Places are limited and booking is essential. Telephone the Visitor Centre on 0151 648 4371 to reserve your place.

Saturday July 31st

Meadow Safari 2 – 4 p.m.

We will be making our own “pooters” before investigating the insect life of the meadows at Wirral Country Park using sweep nets, beating trays and our own pooters.

Saturday 14th AugustA Big Moth Breakfast 10 – 11.30 a.m.

Join us at Wirral Country Park to open up the moth trap to see what’s been caught overnight. There will be some weird and wonderful moths inside, but don’t worry you won’t have to eat any!

Saturday 11th September

Bat Detectives 7 – 9 p.m.

On this trip to the Dungeon Woodland we will be searching for bats before they go into hibernation for the winter. Come along and have a go on our bat detector!All children must be accompanied by an adult for this event.

Saturday 9th October

Wildlife Garden 2 – 4 p.m.

Come along and help us to create the Thurstaston Watch Club’s very own wildlife garden at Wirral Country Park. We’ll make bug boxes and create habitat piles for now, but this is just the start of a long term project! We’ll do more in the spring.

Saturday 20th November

Mud Soup 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

We’ll be out and about on Thurstaston Shore to look at the thousands of waterbirds that visit us in the winter. They feed on worms in the gloopy mud but we won’t be getting muddy we’ll use telescopes to spy on them!

Saturday 4th December

Our Days Are Numbered 2 – 4 p.m.

Come and join us making calendars for 2011. We’ll use recycled materials to make a calendar to record our wildlife moments for the coming year.

Talk at Thurstaston Visitor Centre

BIRDS : AN ILLUSTRATED TALK

Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston
Wednesday 28th July 2010
7.30pm

An illustrated photographic talk by Derek Cotgrave, a well known and accredited bird ringer and photographer, featuring birds from the African continent and elsewhere. Entrance is £2 per head, with refreshments included.

Ness Gardens summer events

Andrew Lambie, Adult Education Co-ordinator at Ness Gardens has asked us let our members and supporters know that they will now be running all adult education activities themselves as their partnership with the Welsh College of Horticulture has ended.

Andrew says: "We have developed what we feel is a strong, interesting programme of courses, workshops, guided walks and lectures at Ness for anyone who is interested in learning more about plants, wildlife and gardening. This includes a range of introductory workshops/courses and the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture."

Gardening Club
What should you be doing every month to get the best of out of your garden? All is answered in this monthly guide.
First Tuesday of every month, 10.00-12.30.

Ness through the Seasons
There is always something see at Ness, with thousands of plants from all over the world. Learn more about the plants at Ness and gain inspiration for your own garden.
Last Tuesday of every month, 10.00-12.30.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the Ness Gardens website. To book and for further information telephone 0151 353 0123.