Grant helps create great grasslands
22 December 2010
Network Rail has supported local wildlife with a grant of £4,900, helping to restore grassland habitats at seven nature reserves in Hertfordshire during the year. Work was carried out at Aldbury Nowers, Alpine Meadows, Blagrove Common, Hexton Chalk Pits, Kings Mead, Rye Meads and Broadwater Lake Nature Reserves.
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers got stuck into removing ‘aliens’ like Hungarian spurge as part of the work, allowing native wildflowers space to thrive. The money helped the Trust’s nifty nibblers too - grass was bailed up to feed our resident flock of sheep, who help to improve the condition of grasslands for wildlife through grazing regimes.
In total the grant has allowed the Trust to carry out over 100 days worth of work and seven volunteer work parties, a fantastic contribution to protecting local wildlife.
Bringing barn owls back
14 December 2010
We're hoping for a baby barn owl boom next spring, following the installation of eight specially designed nest boxes in the Stort Valley, between Bishop’s Stortford and Roydon in November.
Last summer four baby owlets fledged from a nest box at Thorley Wash Nature Reserve (see photo!). Hopefully this success will be repeated at the new nest sites.
The boxes make up for the shortfall in traditional nesting sites, as many barns and outhouses have been converted or demolished, leading to a decline in the barn owl population.
We're giving people the opportunity to sponsor a barn owl. You could befriend one of our local owlets!
Stop the badger cull
3 December 2010
The Wildlife Trusts do not support a cull of badgers. We don't believe the cull will deliver a significant and sustained reduction in cattle TB. There is a very real risk of exacerbating the spread and incidence of the disease in the badger population.
There are alternatives to culling badgers, such as vaccination, that will deliver more effective, suitable, and sustainable reductions in cattle TB.
The Wildlife Trusts will be submitting a response to the public consultation which ends 8 December. You can respond too
Top five wild christmas gifts
10 November 2010
Stuck for gift ideas?
Get inspired with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s wild gift guide this Christmas!
Choose from a range of great nature books, sponsor a local animal or get a fun free gift with our fantastic membership package... and help protect local wildlife this winter.
Huge financial threat from loss of biodiversity
28 October 2010
The threat to the global economy from the loss of species and ecosystems is seen as a greater concern for businesses than international terrorism, a report commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has found.
A number of issues that ranked as being of greater concern than biodiversity loss in the report, such as coastal flooding or water scarcity, are fundamentally affected by the loss of ecosystems. The report suggests loss in biodiversity could have a "severe" $10bn (£6bn) to $50bn impact on business.
There is still time for you to influence policy on nature's future here in England. Ask your MP to back a strong Natural Environment White Paper, due out Spring 2011.
Wear your Wellies for Wildlife!
19 October 2010
Wear your Wellies for Wildlife is a truly brilliant fundraising campaign, which will see everyone enjoying such fun filled antics as wacky-welly-races or designing a wildife welly in our children's drawing competition.
In addition to the fun, there is a serious environmental and educational message underpinning this campaign. We all have a role to play in protecting our local wildlife.
Register for our welly-tastic pack full of information or enter our Design a Wildlife Welly competition (age 5-15)
Play your part in nature's recovery
22 September 2010
The Government has launched a Natural Environment White Paper discussion document to ask for your views on nature. Anyone can take part. Whether you enjoy a walk in the woods, wildlife photography, gardening, birdwatching, visiting nature reserves or enjoying nature with your children or grandchildren, the Government wants to hear your views on how nature in the UK should be protected and enhanced – for all of us to enjoy.
The Government's online survey only takes a couple of minutes to complete. The deadline is Saturday 30th October. Please complete the survey and play your part in nature's recovery. Find out more at http://www.playyourpart4nature.org.uk/ or go straight to the Government's survey.
Read more about our vision for nature
50% off new butterfly book
21 September 2010
Guardian writer Patrick Barkham set out to find all 59 species of UK butterfly over the summer and he decided to chart his journey in The Butterfly Isles. The book has received a four star review in the latest issue of BBC Wildlife magazine.
Supporters can get 50% off at waterstones.com before 20 December - use promotional code KR5538 when you order.
Read an extract on the Guardian website
Remember a Charity Week
13 - 19 September 2010
Gifts in wills are the cornerstone of many good causes. Without legacies, many charities would simply not survive. We’re taking part in Remember A Charity Week from 13-19 September to help raise awareness of legacies.
Please give a thought to your favourite charity this week. And when the time is right, after taking care of your loved ones, please remember us in your will.
The winner of our wildlife drawing competition is...
13 September 2010
...Ryan Voisey, aged 5 from St Albans. Well done Ryan! We loved your colourful chameleon drawing.
We had over 120 entries to our wildlife drawing competition, during our Wild Summer event in Verulamium Park this year.
Ryan and his family will receive the Wildlife Trusts' great new book, 152 Wild Things to Do.
Annual review 2009-10
3 September 2010
Our annual review 2009/10 is now available to download.
Read about our progress in the Stort Valley, the latest on our water vole project and how we have encouraged rare wildlife to return to some of our nature reserves.
Plus, find out what our plans are for 2010/11.
Support for wildlife is deep-rooted
23 August 2010
Local tree management company Gristwood and Toms has given its support to wildlife conservation by joining the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) this summer.
The company is no stranger to local wildlife - they manage a piece of nature in their own back yard! With a plot of about 17 acres in Shenley, Hertfordshire they have enough room for offices, workshops, vehicles, tree nurseries and a recycling centre. They leave ten acres of the site free for wildlife to roam around in, with bee hives, two wildlife ponds, and an area of native woodland.
Have a wild summer...
3 August 2010
There are loads of free Wildlife Trust events going on during August.
Join us in St Albans for wildlife fun and games in Verulamium park, get active on a canoe trip or bike ride along the River Stort - or catch our wildlife exhibition and guided walk in Ware!
For even more events, take a look at our calendar.
A new era for nature?
26 July 2010
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman called on the public to help shape the government's policy on the natural environment today. The resulting White Paper will be DEFRA's first in 20 years.
Collectively, the Wildlife Trusts have suggested a framework for the Natural Environment White Paper - an ambitious vision of living landscapes, with habitats for wildlife restored and reconnected across the UK, on land and in the sea.
More on the Wildlife Trusts' vision for the White Paper
An invitation to shape the Nature of England - DEFRA's website
Join in the big butterfly count
21 July 2010
Butterfly Conservation are asking for your help to record butterflies between 24 July and 1 August. Write down all the butterflies you see in your chosen area, in the space of 15 minutes.
There are lots of great nature reserves you could choose to visit to do your count - Aldbury Nowers Nature Reserve is one of the best sites for butterflies in Hertfordshire. Or try Hexton Chalk Pit, Alpine Meadow or Tewin Orchard Nature Reserves. Or why not do your count on our Butterfly and Bug Walk at Pryor's Wood this Sunday?
Download a butterfly ID chart, record your sightings and find more information on how to do your count at http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/
Advice on alien invaders...
21 July 2010
Is your garden being invaded by aliens?! The Environment Agency has launched Managing Invasive Non-native Plants - a handy booklet providing guidance on seven of the most problematical alien species.
There is advice on how to control Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam (pictured), Australian swamp stonecrop, parrot's feather, floating pennywort and creeping water primrose. Many 'aliens' cause no trouble to our wildlife at all but some can take over and suffocate native plants.
The Small Blue is back!
22 June 2010
Britain's tiniest butterfly, the Small Blue, has returned to Hertfordshire for the first time in eight years. This dinky little delight, which is barely bigger than a five pence piece, was spotted at Aldbury Nowers Nature Reserve recently.
The return of this species to Aldbury Nowers NR is thanks to extensive work carried out by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in the last few years to encourage the plants that butterflies favour, such as Kidney Vetch in the case of the Small Blue.
The reserve is now the number one site in the county to see butterflies, with 25 species present.
Good vole vibes at Purwell Meadows
22 June 2010
Children had fun making music about water voles and their wetland friends at Purwell Primary School in Hitchin recently. Here's just a sample of the tunes they came up with, after a walk round Purwell Meadows to seek out watery wildlife.
Open day at Lemsford Springs
16 June 2010
Join us for a free day out at this lovely nature reserve to help celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday 19 June. Activities for children will be provided, including pond dipping and wildlife identification.
Guided walks will be taking place at 12.15pm and 2.15pm. There will be a demonstration of bird ringing and an opportunity to sample some cake too! Join us by 12 noon if you want to see the cake cutting ceremony.
Gates open to the public at 11am and and the day is completely free. We will be winding down at around 3pm. Bring suitable footwear as this is a watery reserve! How to get to Lemsford
Orchids in bloom
14 June 2010
Catch a fantastic display of wild colour at Amwell Nature Reserve right now - hundreds of marsh orchids are out in bloom.
Other good reserves for orchids include Ashwell Quarry, Blagrove Common and Stocking Springs Wood.
Why not go on one of our guided walks to see the orchids this month? Visit our events page to find out more.
'Go 4 Green' for World Environment Day 2010!
5 June 2010
World Environment Day is celebrated every year on the 5th June in more than 100 countries around the world, with the aim focusing worldwide attention on the importance of the environment.
The best way to take action on global environmental issues is to start locally, and that's where 'Go 4 Green' comes in!
Getting involved is easy, all you need to do is wear something green during the six weeks between Earth Day on the 22nd April and World Environment Day on the 5th June, and give a minimum donation of £1 to help Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) protect the many habitats that are under threat across our two counties.
For more information, visit our 'Go 4 Green' webpage or email sarah.mee@hmwt.org. Springwatch snaps!
31 May 2010
The new series of Springwatch has just started and you can post your wildlife photos on Springwatch's Flickr group.
We would love to see your snaps of Hertfordshire and Middlesex wildlife too, so why not email us (attachment should be no more than 5MB) or post them on our Facebook group?
We recently found this May Bug literally on our doorstep in Verulamium Park in St Albans - have you spotted any this year? They are sporadic visitors to Hertfordshire these days, but used to reach plague proportions. We will feature the best local wildlife shots in our magazine. Happy snapping!
Get active during Wildlife Week
28 May 2010
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are running a range of activities for you to get involved in during Wildlife Week. Fancy making music about wildlife? How about a walk to see some stunning wild orchids? Go to our events calendar to find something happening in your neck of the woods!
For even more inspiration The Wildlife Trusts have just launched 152 Wild Things To Do which is packed with ideas for getting closer to nature, whether at home, out and about in the countryside or in the heart of a city. Amwell Nature Reserve, one of our flagship sites for wildlife, is featured.The book is full of stunning full-colour photography. It includes entries from each of the 47 Wildlife Trusts across the country, describing what you’ll see during a reserve visit – be it a sea of bluebells, diving ospreys, or an awe-inspiring waterfall.
Vote for wildlife at Waitrose
24 May 2010
Every month Waitrose supports three local charities with a £1000 donation as part of its Community Matters campaign. Shoppers can vote for the cause they would most like to help and each charity gets a proportion of the money, depending on the number of votes. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is one of the charities you can vote for at the South Harrow branch of Waitrose, until the end of May. At the checkout you will get a green token to put in the box of the charity you want to support.
Don’t forget to vote for us next time you shop!
Bounty of rare orchids found in Stort Valley
11 May 2010
A survey by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has found record breaking numbers of a beautiful rare orchid flowering at a nature reserve in the Stort Valley.
Thirty six Green-winged Orchids were counted during recent survey work by Trust staff. In Hertfordshire, the orchid is known in only seven places and has suffered a significant decline in the last 50 years.
The orchid gets its name from the green striped sepals - the 'wings' on the flower. They are found in damp meadows, many of which have become unsuitable or been destroyed.
Ratty returns after 13 year absence
6 May 2010
The water vole has set up home once again on the River Beane near Hertford for the first time since 1997, thanks to the efforts of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and local people.
The Trust's Wetlands for Water Voles and People project, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has brought the species back from the brink of extinction in Hertfordshire. Water voles are the fastest declining mammal in the UK, with 90% of the population lost in the last century.
Ratty's return to the River Beane indicates that the animals may have moved up from the river from important sites in Hertford like King's Meads Nature Reserve, where a core population is being protected.
Adopt a water vole and help us to Rescue Ratty.
