Frank Cottrell 1922 - 2021

Frank Cottrell in 2020, with a painting by Mel Roberts of a white tailed eagle

It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of Frank Cottrell who would have been 99 in November.

Frank was the Chairman of Wirral Wildlife from 1989 to 1998 and a Trustee of Cheshire Wildlife Trust from May 1992 to June 2005.

It was Frank who lobbied Cheshire Wildlife Trust to let us use the name `Wirral Wildlife’. He recognised that, with Wirral not having been part of Cheshire since 1974, the `Cheshire’ name made no sense to much of our population. We are still very grateful for that. Frank was ahead of the game in putting the name wildlife in the group’s title, well before Cheshire Conservation Trust changed its name to Cheshire Wildlife Trust in 1991, as it was not clear in the name what we were conserving, 

Frank took a great interest in the planning and development role of Wirral Wildlife and signed our letters to planning authorities when chairman. He and his neighbours campaigned to keep the large oak tree on Dibbins Hey when the Poulton Lancelyn estate was built, getting it incorporated in a roundabout. It is still standing and a favourite tree with local residents for birthday photographs and other family events.

Alison McGovern MP presenting Frank with his retirement present
after he stepped down as a warden of New Ferry Butterfly Park at the age of 94.

In 1993 he was instrumental in persuading Cheshire Wildlife Trust to take on New Ferry Butterfly Park as a nature reserve. He volunteered there as a warden on Sunday afternoons and only retired when he was 94, encouraging others to volunteer too ‘because it was such fun’. Recently he made a generous donation to help fund new, decorative gates for the Park. The Green Flag at the Park has been flying at half mast in tribute to him.

The Green Flag at New Ferry Butterfly Park flying at half mast in tribute to Frank Cottrell

The Butterfly Park wasn’t Frank’s only achievement. He and his friend Eric Warner created a game called Frog Dip consisting of a plastic pond and a dozen plastic frogs. This was taken to fund raising events and for a small charge children could pick a frog out of the water and win a prize. We were still using this until Covid struck -  although the frogs are probably well past retirement age by now. 

Frank with an apple pie made by the Country Mouse at one of our Apple Days

For several years Frank organised our annual Apple Day at Brimstage Hall every October. He managed to persuade the owner of the Country Mouse restaurant to bake a lovely apple pie for us each year. Some of us didn’t have the same success in later years! The orchard at Brimstage was of great interest to him, especially the damsons which he enjoyed stewed at breakfast time! When the trees in the orchard were in need of some care and attention, before the Tree Wardens took over, he and Elaine Mills helped to identify the trees and do some pruning.

Frank never stopped noticing the wildlife around him. A few years ago he and Elaine spotted Henbane at Burton Marshes. Henbane had been recorded at Burton but Frank and Elaine rediscovered it after many years absence. He was always alert to sightings in his own garden and I remember the photograph of the Hummingbird Hawk-moth he sent us for the Wirral Wildlife Blog. The last time I spoke to him he told me he could see a red legged partridge outside his window.

Hummingbird hawk moth. Photo taken by Frank in his garden.

Words to describe Frank?  Supportive, knowledgeable, possessed of a wry humour and a sense of fun.

In the words of Stephen, our current Chairman, Frank was ‘a delightful character who remained interested in all that we did until the end. The happy times we spent in his company will remain in the memories of all who knew him’.

Frank had a long life and has left a lasting legacy through his hands-on involvement with Wirral Wildlife. We thank him and will miss him.

Wirral's Wild 50: October Worksheets

 

Here is the first of our set of worksheets to celebrate Wirral's Wild 50! In October, you will start to see nuts and berries on trees and shrubs. See if you can tick off all the species pictured on the worksheet below.

Find nuts and berries and other things to do in October

Other things to do in October:

● Learn about fungi

What are fungi?

https://growwilduk.com/sites/default/files/media/What%20are%20fungi%20and%20why%20are%20they%20important.pdf

Why are they important?

https://growwilduk.com/sites/default/files/media/Five%20ways%20fungi%20have%20shaped%20the%20world_2020.pdf

Fungi in the woods

https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/application/files/7214/9752/5133/Fungi_in_the_woods.pdf

Identify fungi

https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/application/files/7515/8921/1532/Fungus_Detectives_final.pdf

● Try growing an acorn

● Make a twig tower

Gather and grow your own acorn and make twig towers

Wirral's Wild 50!

Wirral's Wild 50. How many will you discover?

This year it is the 50th anniversary of the creation of Wirral Wildlife as the local group of Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

To mark the occasion we decided to create a monthly educational resource for local schools and called it ‘Wirral’s Wild 50’. We provided a list of 50 species of plants and animals to be found on the Wirral and their habitats. Each month there is a worksheet of things to do, a list of online resources and a relevant activity, game or craft.

This month we are giving you the species list – how many will you be able to find?

5 habitats found on the Wirral and some of the species you will find there

Then each month we will post the sheet on our Blog to reach a wider audience. Please do let us know if you find it useful.

A Treasure Trove of Incredible Invertebrates

Male and female common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus)

In August, New Ferry Butterfly Park had 13 visitors from the Tanyptera Trust and Liverpool World Museum, who had organised an invertebrate recording day. This included experts on beetles, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, spiders and a whole range of other 'mini-beasts'.

Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami)

The sun shone and it stayed dry, and much collecting was done, including in places the rest of us might think unlikely, such as the compost bins and the woodchip pile. The full results will not be known for a while, as identifying these creatures can be difficult, but Roy Lowry has kindly let us show you some of his pictures.

Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)

Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum)

Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria Scripta)

Crab spider (Xysticus cristatus)

In the photo below, a wasp (Glypta vulnerator) was exploring a knapweed flower in search of micromoth caterpillars to lay her eggs in. A honeybee decided it wanted to share the flower. The wasp continued her search, getting quite animated and causing her ovipositor to swing around like a sword in the bee's vicinity. The bee decided it was time to find a quieter flower. There must have been caterpillars in the flower as the wasp soon started egg laying.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) and a wasp Glypta vulnerator

The Transformation of Hoylake Willows

Sally Scott is one the brains behind the idea to rewild an area in Hoylake that was cleared last year. The transformation since then has been amazing to see and learn about. Below we share information from the Hoylake Willows progress report that Sally has produced.

The cleared land in Hoylake in February 2020

The site plan

In February 2020 three willow trees near to Hoylake’s Manor Road Station were pollarded – the site was heavily covered with sawdust and woodchip and the 3 stumps presented a forlorn image.

Gradually plants began to colonise the space, but until the 3 stumps first produced new leaves it seemed very slow, however an idea emerged that this space could be protected and monitored for nature.

The site was considered too small an area to have much status, but in August 2020 a botanical survey was undertaken by Dr Hilary Ash, as a result 88 newly emerged plants species were recorded.

At this point we saw another opportunity… That wildflower species could enrich the rough grass edge of the lane that goes to the Hoylake Allotment site providing another source of pollen – and an informal ‘green corridor’.

Early days at the rewilding area of Hoylake Willows

The wildflower area was given No Mow signs by Wirral Borough Council 

Initial Project Plan

Monitoring of the Rewilding area would continue. This area would have a ‘light touch’ management, with no new planting and the only very limited removal of those plants that risked taking over the site.

Paths would be established, to ease working, to minimise trampling and to increase access to members of the community, many of whom enjoyed spending time in the area during lockdown in 2020.

A Wildflower area (since renamed the Triangle) was prepared, and consideration given to what should be planted and how it was to be best managed.

Our commitment to work with Wirral Borough Council was seen as vital, with the hoped-for increase in Biodiversity and contribution to Green Corridors and Green Space in line with Council policies.

Progress though the year, across all seasons

The earliest flowers in January - Lungwort

Meadowsweet – blossoms and seed

Tangle of flowers including relocated Purple Loosestrife

Rewilding Area

• Species

It appears that a few species have been lost, eg Hop Trefoil, whilst about 20 newly emerged species have been seen, most recently Common Vetch. We have seen some large swathes of flowering plants, eg Lesser Celandine, Greater Birds-foot-trefoil and Meadowsweet as well as significant clumps of Hedge wound-wort, Mugwort and White Campion, and of course the expected Great Willowherb.

A magnificent stand of Purple Loosestrife has not only reappeared this summer, but the species has spread to new locations on the site.

• Invasive species

The botanical survey of a year ago recorded a patch of Himalayan Balsam. However, despite frequent checking only a few small shoots have reappeared. Ongoing close monitoring will be necessary.

Though not initially seen/recorded, a line of Japanese Knotweed appeared close to the railway boundary fence, during the year. Wirral BC and Network Rail have been informed, and this part of the site is registered as needing annual treatment by the Council.

• Trees

As well as the 2 Elder trees, other very young trees have appeared - an Oak and an Ash, 2 Horse chestnuts, 2 Sycamores and numerous Hawthorns. A Norway Maple a few years old has been recognised, but lies just outside the area originally surveyed.

Dr Ash’s survey commented that an Ash tree, also outside the site area, had some signs of Ash Dieback, the visibly affected branches were disposed of, and to date, there is no visible sign of further Dieback.

• Paths

The paths have been managed with the help of WBC, who provided woodchip to ensure greater visibility and to help maintain these paths.

Teasels and sunflowers

Chives and yarrow

The Triangle

This wildflower area has provided interest and delight from Allotment plot holders and members of the community taking walks on nearby paths. An amazing show of flowering plants has replaced some of the rough grass.

About 30 types of wildflower plants were grown from seed, or donated by well-wishers. Experiments to tackle the dominant species, such as course grass and ground elder, were carried out, using Yellow Rattle, rather than chemicals. The results are yet to be seen.

Some so called ‘garden’ flowers were planted if they are ‘native’, pollen rich and locally grown.

View across the fields from The Willows

In conclusion

All this has been, and still is, an ongoing a source of learning! The focus for both parts of the work has mainly been on flora, but as we gain more experience and hopefully will be less undermined by Covid-19, more attention will be given to our better recognition and monitoring pollinators and other fauna.

A ‘private’ Facebook group has been set up to provide a space for information about, and photos of, the site. It is an informal ‘blog’. Group members can comment and it's a resource for anyone interested in rewilding and wild flower policy.

Join Hoylake Willows Facebook group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/140454954632439

Autumn/Winter 2021 Quiz

 

The Lake District is the theme of our new quiz

Try our Lake District themed quiz for a chance to win a £10 voucher.

The closing date is 31st January 2022.

Download the quiz and instructions here

A Simple Pleasure, Well Enjoyed

Tucking into afternoon tea at Poulton Hall Garden

Last month, Wirral Wildlife were fortunate enough to be offered Poulton Hall Parkland and Walled Garden for a fund and awareness raising event. Entrance to the wildflower meadow area required you to pass through a passage way of hedges excellently laid by Wirral Countryside Volunteers. The Countryside Volunteers were offering ‘have a go at hedge laying’ mock up on a fresh upright willow branch hedge, to be cut and laid between hedging stakes. Several guests relished the opportunity to pick up a billhook and slice part way through the willow stem and weave the stem to build a hedge.

Have a go at hedge laying

Along the mown path through the meadow you pass Scirard’s pillar where the inscription says in Latin “Scirard de Launcelyn flourished here in the year 1093”. Entering over the ha-ha you leave the wild area and enter the formal gardens in front of the hall. Continuing on through the shady garden you were able to check out the creatures that live in the shady pond with a bit of pond dipping, progressing through the fragrant rose garden where you could take in the perfume. At the end of the rose garden you were met by a witch who guided you into a wardrobe, from where you come out into the world of Narnia, the enchanted walled garden.

In the walled garden, there are so many features to take in, from triffids, to the smoking Jabberwock, to the Singing Rose. Every half an hour the chimes of the carillon bells play a different piece of music, and the end of the recital heralds the story teller to commence a tale. There were volunteer marshals to guide you around the one-way Covid secure system which also made sure you have a chance to see everything.

Being National Meadow Day there were tours of the meadow and hedgerow by Dr Hilary Ash. The meadow here was potato field until 1993 before being converted to a wildflower meadow. After many years of work, it was looking colourful with the yellow and red of buttercup and sorrel flowers, interspersed with the pink spikes of marsh orchids and blue saucers of meadow cranesbill. Above fluttered meadow brown butterflies. It now looks like a proper Cheshire hay meadow, a habitat that has been almost completely destroyed in the last 70 years. Hopefully it will become more species-rich over time, naturally or with some human help.

Is it a bird?

Scirard was asked what the feature behind the Dalek was? A guest thought it was an art feature. Scirard simply replied it was the top of a cut monkey puzzle tree (see photo above). It shows you how this garden puts you in the world of imagination and fantasy.

Despite the pouring rain in the morning the weather brightened for our guests. If it had been a little wet we were prepared with space in the conservatory and under gazebos. Seventy cream teas were consumed!

If Wirral Wildlife were afforded this opportunity again, they would jump at the chance, not only is it a fund and awareness raising event; it is also a chance of a social where members and friends can meet each other in a convivial and relaxing setting. It provided a wonderful occasion to reconnect with friends as for many it was the first time had actually seen their friends in 18 months.

Many thanks to our supportive hosts, to the 20 plus volunteers involved in running the event and to our friends at New Ferry Village Hall who lent the tables and robust market style gazebos.