The Big Butterfly Count 2016 - The Results

The results of The Big Butterfly Count 2016 have been released.

Species results and more information for 2016 can be found at

www.bigbutterflycount.org/2016mainresults

While the long-term trends of butterflies and moths tend to result from human activities such as habitat destruction and climate change, short-term changes, from year to year, butterfly generation to generation, are typically caused by natural factors such as the weather and populations of parasites. So, in cold, wet summers, such as in 2012, butterfly populations often crash, while in good summers, such as 2013, they bounce back.

The results of big butterfly count 2016, however, don't fit this pattern. It was a pretty good summer, with above average temperatures and yet butterflies on the whole fared badly.

The average number of individual insects of the 20 target species seen per 15 minute count was the lowest recorded since the project began in 2010! A mere 12.2 individuals per count were recorded, down from 13.4 per count in 2015, 14.7 in 2014 and a whopping 23 per count in 2013.

Over half of the big butterfly count target species decreased in 2016 compared with the previous year e.g. Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, however. Seven species were counted in greater numbers than during big butterfly count 2015 e.g. Red Admiral, Green-veined White showed an increase.

(Did you notice a lack of butterflies? We certainly noticed that there were very few caterpillars on our vegetables. Good for our crop but not for the butterflies. It will be interesting to see the 2016 count for New Ferry Butterfly Park).

Biology Week 2016: Vote For Your Favourite UK Mammal

This year a coalition of over 50 wildlife organisations completed a stock take of our native wildlife. The resulting State of Nature 2016 report concluded that it is not too late to save UK nature, but if we are to do so then we must act now. Over half of the species examined in the report have declined since 1970, while more than one in 10 species are at risk of extinction.

This Biology Week, the Royal Society of Biology is asking you to choose your favourite mammal to raise awareness of their conservation needs. There are a total of 101 different species of mammal in and around the UK. Alongside The Mammal Society and People's Trust for Endangered Species this was narrowed down to a top 10 and now it's over to you to choose the UK's favourite mammal.

Choose from water vole, red squirrel, bottlenose dolphin, Scottish wildcat, otter, soprano pipistrelle, beaver, pine martin, hedgehog or fox.

Go to www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek/favourite-uk-mammal for more information.

Cheshire Style Hedge Laying Debut at the National

Evenly pleached Cheshire hedge at Poulton Hall, Bebington.

Photo: Paul Loughnane

Who can think of the lowland Cheshire landscape without thinking of a network of oak lined hedgerows, dairy cattle and marl pits? Cheshire hedgerows are slowly declining, not so much being removed but mainly by neglect and repeated flailing which overcomes the hardiest of hedgerow plants, hawthorn. Hedges can be restored whilst keeping their boundary function by laying them, cutting the upright stems and bending them over to form an impenetrable living fence. The principle is easy but the practice is more complicated than it first seems. Skill is required to create a well-constructed and flowing hedge. Cutting the stems thin enough so the hedge regrows from the base but not so thinly that the stem dies is the trick. If you are interested in hedge laying there is a great opportunity to see the best cutters in country performing the art of hedge laying locally.

On Saturday 22nd October the National Hedge Laying Championship is coming to Cheshire for the first time ever and to stimulate local interest they have a debut Cheshire class of hedge laying. As well as Cheshire style hedge laying there will be nine other regional styles of hedge laid, all cut from the same hedgerow.

The regional hedge laying styles reflect the livestock to be retained, the terrain and climate of these regions. Cheshire laid hedges are one of the thinnest styles being used for turning dairy cattle. Laying hedges looks radical but restores the hedgerow from the base. It is a very modest fee to see such a national event, £5 a car; an incentive to car share. There will be a countryside show too. So share a car load and bring along your friends and make this Cheshire event a great success.

A week before the national event, on Friday 14th there will be an illustrated talk about hedge laying and the national competition at Heswall Hall at approximately 8pm, following the Wirral Wildlife Group AGM. So, if you would like to know what a hedge laying judge may be looking at come along and find out. It will make more of your day at the national championships.

Paul Loughnane

Thank you Mike!

Mike Maher (second from left) with the rest of the
Wirral Wildlife committee at Cleaver Heath.
Photo: Ron Thomas

Wirral Wildlife will shortly mark the retirement from the committee of Mike Maher, who has been engaged in active conservation in Wirral since 1995. He has been our Voluntary Warden of Cleaver Heath for many years where he has implemented the Management Plan as required by Natural England. Cleaver Heath is a lowland heath which is a rare habitat in England as many have been lost to agriculture or other development.

We have been most fortunate in having the service of such a dedicated, knowledgeable and engaging person who has gathered a group of like-minded volunteers around him who regularly attend monthly task days, plus his additional input of every Sunday morning. He is a keen birder who has contributed to the Cheshire Bird Atlas and who has led annual Dawn Chorus and other guided walks around Cleaver and Heswall Dales. He is a great gardener who, over the years, has produced thousands of fine specimens for us to sell at our annual plant sale. He helped at events such as Apple Day and when we have had stalls at Ness Gardens. He has been an effective and much valued committee member. Some years ago he received the Eric Thurston Award for outstanding service to Cheshire WT. We will miss him for his expertise and dry wit and he departs with our best wishes.

Mike will still be contributing to the group’s work but will be succeeded as Voluntary Warden of Cleaver Heath by Alan Irving who has assisted Mike for some years and we also express our grateful thanks to him and all the volunteers.

Environment Day at Wirral Arts Festival

Monday 3 October is Environment Day at Heswall Hall in Wirral Arts Festival, and marks the UN's World Habitat Day.

Wirral Wildlife is involved in an afternoon event “Local Concerns, Global Responsibilities” at which we will have a stall and give a short talk on the work of our group.

The event runs from 1:30 to 5:00pm - admission is free.

Please come along, and tell your friends about it!

To see information about the rest of the day, see the Wirral Arts Festival website:

wirralartsfestival.co.uk/events/un-world-habitat-day

Vote For Tree of the Year

The Woodland Trust are asking people to cast their votes for the Tree of The Year 2016.

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/tree-of-the-year/

The winning tree will benefit from a “Tree LC” care grant of £1,000. Plus all runner-up trees that receive more than 1,000 votes will be eligible for a grant of £500. The grant can be used to arrange a tree health check or advice from an arboriculturalist, provide interpretation or educational materials or simply just hold a celebratory event in honour of the tree.

Each country’s winning Tree of the Year will go on to represent that nation in the European Tree of the Year competition, organised by the Environmental Partnership Association.

Winners will be revealed later this year.

Transition Town West Kirby - October Events

Thursday 6th October 7 p.m.

'The 11th Hour'

Film showing and discussion.

Free entry, but donations welcome to cover the costs. Bar, tea and coffee available.

Incredible Edible

More volunteers are needed to maintain the Incredible Edible planters. If you would like to join in please ring 07724 175779 or 625 9974 to find out more.

The Community Orchard in Grange Cemetery is maintained jointly by Incredible Edibles and Friends of Grange Community Park, in regular sessions on the second Saturday of every month from 3 - 4 p.m. and the fourth Friday of the month at 10 - 11 a.m. Note the new meeting point at the Scout Hut at the Lang Lane entrance to Grange Cemetery. Planned maintenance dates are:

Saturday 8th October 3 - 4 p.m.

Friday 28th October 10 - 11 a.m.

Sunday 23rd October 10.30 a.m. - 2 p.m. (approx)

Fungus Foray

A guided walk with herbalist Jesper Launder.

Discover the fungi on Caldy Hill and find out what's edible and what's not. Followed by mushrooms on toast!

Suggested donation of £12.50 per head to cover costs. Numbers limited, so early booking advised by email.