June 14th & 22nd
Wander through the wildflowers
On Sunday 14th and Sunday 22nd June the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust gave members of the public the opportunity to wander trhough the wildflowers. During this guided walk visitors had a fantastic opportunity to discover the spectacular wildflower life of Maltby Commons, led by local expert Partrick Harding. This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its flurry of flowers attracts an extensive variety of insects. Why not join the trust on other guided walks throughout the summer to discover the wonderful world of nature on a reserve near you!
June 10th
Humber Environment Fair celebrates World Ocean Day and World Environment Day
On June 7th-8th the Deep hosted the second annual Humber Environment Fair, sponsored by the Environment Agency, to coincide with World Ocean Day and World Environment Day. Having welcomed 2000 schoolchildren over the week, the big marquee opened its doors to the public. With its 35 stands, all with the same goal – to help us live greener! At the event launch, Hull College fashion students modelled dresses created from recycled everyday objects. The official opening was performed by Paul Hudson, BBC Look North’s weatherman at 10am, Saturday June 7th.
The Deep’s curator and organiser of the event, Katy Rigby explained;
“Following the success of last year’s event, I am delighted that this year’s Humber Environment Fair was even bigger with much more family fun. The aim of this special weekend event was to demonstrate how we can all live in a greener way. Coinciding with World Ocean Day (Sunday June 8), and with World Environment Day earlier this week, the weekend was a perfect way to celebrate an incredibly successful week. This event was made possible thanks to the tremendous commitment of our sponsor – the Environment Agency. Our sponsors have worked closely with The Deep, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and East Riding of Yorkshire Council recycling team to deliver an action packed green weekend for all visiting families. We want to really show people of all ages, how they can play a part in conserving our planet by living a greener lifestyle.”
Phil Young, of the Environment Agency said;
"We are thrilled to have been able to sponsor the region’s top environmental fair for a second year. It is fitting that the event co-incided with World Ocean Day and World Environment Day, and we are very much part of the crucial drive to conserve and the natural for future generations.”
June 5th
Sprotborough's Wonderful Wildlife
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust invited members of the public to discover Sprotbrough’s natural wonders with an evening guided walk at Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve on Thursday 5th June, World Environment Day. Sprotbrough Flash is a wildlife hotspot in the gorge of the River Don, and has been attracting naturalists from across Yorkshire since the 19th Century. The picturesque reserve contains open water, ancient woodlands and stunning wildflower meadows, and has been designated a Site Of Special Scientific Interest.
The Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Officer Nabil Abbas said:
“Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve is an incredibly rich area for wildlife. The combination of different habitats makes it is a particularly valuable place and provides a home to more than 100 bird species and over 500 species of wild plants. This is the best time of year to see the wildflowers on the reserve, with brilliant displays of bluebells in the woods and the meadows full of colourful cowslips and primroses.”
This guided walk allowed us to celebrate the recently completed two projects aimed at helping people enjoy and learn more about the wildlife on the reserve: two new birdwatching hides have been built on the Flash and a new education pack has been produced for Doncaster’s schools.
June 2nd - 8th
Pupils pledge to live greener at teh hUmber Environment Fair
The Deep, is launching its second annual Humber Environment Fair, sponsored by the Environment Agency, June 2-8, to coincide with World Environment Day. Whilst the weekend is aimed at the public, (separate release to follow), the week-day events (June 2-6) are for pre-booked school groups. The Deep has worked with the event’s sponsor the Environment Agency, who together with Kingston Communications, have funded some 2000 places for Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils from around the region. There will be lots of fun activities aimed at helping children understand how they can live greener. The hands-on workshops for school groups all take place in a giant marquee at The Deep and are a vital ingredient of this year’s event. Susan Hornby, The Deep’s Head of Education explains,
“The schools’ workshops are being run by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Recycling Team. Hull City Council’s parks team are giving their home-made bird boxes (using materials donated by B&Q), to each visiting class. In addition, each pupil will be writing a pledge committing to change some part of their life, to live in a more environmentally friendly way. The Environment Agency and Kingston Communications have funded 2,000 places for school children to visit the event. The broad range of hands-on sessions are created to enable children to find out about serious environmental threats and what they can do to help, in a fun way. The displays and activities are designed to engage the interest of Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils and are about recycling, composting, wind and solar power, pollution, and wildlife. We have asked them for prepare for muck, creepy crawlies and wiggly worms!”
Phil Young, of the Environment Agency said,
"Following the success of last year’s event, we are thrilled to be able to support the event for a second year. It is poignant that World Environment Day falls on the first day of this event. It is so important that environmental messages reach each child as part of their learning as they will have an enormous impact on the future of our planet”
June 2nd
Yorkshire Wildlfie Trust and the BBC celebrate Springwatch at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
On Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June over 500 people joined teh Yorkshire Wildlfie Trust at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve to celebrate a fantastic family fun ‘Springwatch’ weekend. This weekend was part of the BBC Breathing Places Campaign aimed at promoting local action for wildlife. Breathing Places aims to inspire everyone – friends, family, and neighbours in order to create and care for your local green places wherever you may live, from neighbourhood parks school grounds and workplaces to local nature reserves. Places that are great for wildlife and for people too! The campaign aims to get you out of your armchair and into the great outdoors to explore the wonders of nature around you and to help inspire you to help take action to protect your local environment.
Over the weekend members of all the family took part in a range of activities aimed at introducing people to their local environment, Throughout the weekend there were a series of guided walks introducing people to the wildflowers of the reserve, tours of our brand new extension, paw print making and pond dipping activities for children, there was also the chance to chat to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust staff about how our reserves are managed and a range of stalls were present demonstrating the work of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and its partners.
On Sunday, we officially opened our new extension at the reserve, which covers approximately 75hectares, almost doubling our site, giving you the opportunity to view more of the amazing wildlife found here. The official opening took place with a speech given by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust chairman David Sharrod. During this teh long- standing volunteers of Potteric Carr Nature Reserve were deeply thabnked for all their hardwork on the site.
May 18th
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust launches Churchyard Management Booklet
On May 21st Yorkshire Wildlife Trust launched its first Churchyard Management booklet. It brings together the leaflets produced by the Yorkshire Living Churchyard Project team over the years and takes into account current issues such as climate change and best management practices. The booklet can be obtained from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust office at 1 St. George’s Place, York or at Yorkshire Living Churchyard Project events this summer (or click on this link).
May 15th
Coastal Art show launched at the deep
The Deep, Hull’s award-winning aquarium is hosting a new art exhibition by artist Martin Waters, featuring pictures made from rubbish collected at Spurn Point. The show highlights the enormous problem caused by litter deposited on our beaches and the impact it has on the environment. The show is launched on May 19th and coincides with key environmental awareness dates, including World Environment Day (June 5), World Ocean Day (June 8) and The Deep’s Humber Environment Fair (7-8 June).
Martin Waters, who lives in Hull, was the 2007 artist in residence at Spurn Head lighthouse in the Spurn National Nature Reserve, which is managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Over the last few years, Martin has been collecting the rubbish he finds on beaches. From this he has made a vast range of pictures, sculptures and installations to highlight the scale of this environmental problem.
Martin explains;
“As a lifelong collector of many varied and peculiar things, it was the sheer quantity of the same items that excited my artistic taste buds: 1000 plus Smartie tops, 650 rubber gloves, 250 babies’ dummies and thousands of pieces of plastic cutlery. One of the aims of my work is to inform and educate people about Spurn Point and some of the work undertaken by the Yorkshire Wildlife
Trust .”
Kirsten Smith, Communications Officer for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, commented,
“Martin’s stunning pictures carry a strong message to all of us by demonstrating the seriousness of the litter problem along our coastline. Litter poses a serious threat to both marine and terrestrial species. Since 1994, rubbish on UK beaches has almost doubled. Up to 55% of all litter recorded on our beaches is plastic, a material which may never fully biodegrade and often gets broken down into a dust which is very harmful to marine species. Discarded fishing lines, nets, balloons and plastic bags can cause entanglement and injury to marine mammals, turtles and seabirds.”
All Martin’s work is on sale and he is donating half of the proceeds to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
May 13th
Bretton Family Fun Day
On Sunday 11th May hundreds of people turned out to Bretton Lakes family fun day. Fun was had by all the family, as all got stuck into a variety of activities. Activities included face painting, spring quizzes, pond dipping and log and lard bird feeders. There was also an opportunity for people to catch a glimpse of the resident baby Herons feeding. Also attending the day will be the National Trust, BTCV, West Yorkshire Police and many, many more.
April 17th
Spring spectacle guaranteed to shake off the winter blues
The Wildlife Trusts are reporting carpets of bluebells in full bloom across the UK, and are encouraging people to get out and enjoy this springtime spectacle while they can. Dazzling displays of this popular native wildflower can be seen in woodland areas up and down the UK throughout April and May. But The Wildlife Trusts are warning that bluebell woods may be an early casualty of climate change. The bluebell’s early appearance is determined by unusual genetic limits and naturalists are now worried these limits may make this wildflower less adaptable to changes in its climate than trees and other flowers, putting it more at risk from climate change.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Head of Conservation Projects, Terry Smithson, said:
“Bluebells make the most of a brief window of opportunity in early spring, growing to full height and flowering before the trees that they grow amongst come into leaf and cast them into deep shade. However, the effects of climate change mean this window is slowly closing.”
Terry explains:
“If bluebells’ neighbouring trees adjust to warmer weather by coming into leaf several weeks earlier in the year while the bluebell’s timing remains much the same, they may not receive the light they need to grow and flower, and so may fast disappear from our woodlands. If this were to happen, we would lose one of spring’s natural spectacles. Thankfully, Trusts up and down the UK are reporting that this year’s bluebell woods remain a spectacular sight, and well worth a visit this spring.”
So why not take this opportunity to make the most of these stunning flowers and go for a walk on one of our nature reserves
April 15th
Springtastic!
On Sunday 15th April, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust hosted a ‘Springtastic’ event at Nostell Priory in Wakefield. Members of all the family came along to learn more about the season of new life and to have a go at making customised bird feeders and boxes. Fun was had by all!
April 14th
'Treasure revealed at Yorkshire Wildlfie Trusts Spurn National Nature Reserve'
On Sunday 6th of April a woolly mammoth tusk was found at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts Spurn National Nature Reserve. The tusk was first noticed on Saturday 5th by some unsuspecting passers by who initially dismissed it as rubbish. However, on Sunday 6th a group of three excited children happened to stumble across the tusk believing it to be something of a treasure. They were later found to be right! The treasure was revealed buried within the sand of spurns beach during a family day out. Arachai and Blousy Haorang and their cousin Connor Clark came across what looked like a ‘piece of old wood’, believing it to be part of a dinosaur or whale. The children who were instructed by their family to leave the object alone were determined to dig out their treasure and discover what it could possibly be.
After their hard work to carry what proved to be a very heavy object to our on site warden Andrew Gibson for identification, the family were very pleasantly surprised to find the ‘piece of old wood’ was in fact part of a woolly mammoth tusk. Andrew’s initial identification was later confirmed by Peter Holken a palaeontologist based at Hull University. The tusk, found near post 17 of the reserve has now been dated as being aged between 12,000 and 75,000 years old based on the last ice age. It could potentially be the largest piece of tusk ever found within the East Yorkshire region.
We are very keen to keep this rare treasure at our spurn reserve where the public can have access to view it. We are currently investigating the best possible methods in which to conserve the tusk it in its present state. We would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to Northern Gas Networks, a gold corporate member of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, who are kindly sponsoring the preservation of this exciting artefact. John o’Grady, Director of Communications for Northern Gas Networks commented;
“We are delighted to be able to help with the preservation of this unique and important find. The gas which we transport through our 37,000km of pipes was created in prehistoric times so we have a close affinity to things like this.”
Interestingly, Arachai and Blousy Haorang have again visited spurn this weekend and have now found an Elk bone at the point, in a totally separate location to the tusk! The bone is thought to have been washed out of the peat bog at the reserve and again provides us with another interesting insight into the history of this incredible reserve. These children could be on the verge of a future career in archaeology! There will be a bus service operated by EYMS to spurn reserve from Sunday 4th May until Sunday 26th October. So why not take this opportunity to visit the site and discover some history for yourself!
April 10th
The Jewel of the Dearne
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has given the wildlife on a Dearne Valley nature reserve a huge boost with the injection of £20,000 into the reserve over the past year. Denaby Ings Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife on the outskirts of Mexborough in the Dearne Valley. This scenic reserve contains marshland, open water, wildflower meadows and woodlands, and has been designated a Site Of Special Scientific Interest. The reserve was badly hit when the River Dearne burst its banks in last summer’s floods, leaving much of the site submerged. At the height of the floods the reserve car park was under 8 feet of water!
However, this little known gem in the Dearne Valley has now bounced back, after completion of a year-long programme of environmental works by the Wildlife Trust, which have improved the reserve both for wildlife and for visitors. Last July dedicated local volunteers and Trust staff teamed up to clear up the debris left by the floods. Since then two new bird hides have been constructed on the reserve, steps and fencing have been installed and overgrown paths have been cleared of vegetation. Finally, the reserve car park was resurfaced in March, making it easier for people to visit the reserve.
Wildlife Trust Volunteer Dennis Moffat said:
“Many people associate the Dearne Valley with unsightly coal mining, heavy industry and dereliction, but Denaby Ings dispels the myth – it’s a real beauty spot and a great place for wildlife. The reserve was in a real mess after last summer’s flooding, but thanks to the hard work of Wildlife Trust volunteers and staff it’s now looking better than ever”.
The reserve car park is located on Pastures Road, one mile northeast of Mexborough, and is open all year round. Entry is free but in the interests of conservation dogs are not welcome on the reserve.
March 23rd
‘Spring at the Ings’
Spring has sprung at Denaby Ings, and the reserve is looking better than ever following the completion of a £20,000 package of works. The work began with a big clean up following the extraordinary floods of last summer, which saw an 8 foot rise in the water level, and complete submersion of the reserve car park! Since then the Trust’s staff and dedicated team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to install two new bird hides, construct new steps and fencing and remove non-native trees along the former railway embankment. Selective felling of these trees has opened up the reserve footpath and will let in more light to encourage spring wildflowers such as cowslips, ground ivy and red campion. Finally, the reserve car park was resurfaced last week, with funding supplied by the Environment Agency.
Now that spring’s in the air, there’s no better time to visit the reserve. The first chiff chaff – a summer migrant - was seen on the reserve last week, and if you visit the new bird hides you’ll have good opportunity to see a range of water birds such as heron, mute swan, gadwall, little grebe and great crested grebe.
March 16th
Keep our beaches clean!
On Sunday 16th March Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, along with a group of very brave volunteers ventured out into the cold to our Spurn nature reserve for a beach clean. After very high tides at the beginning of last week a lot of rubbish had been washed onto the reserves beautiful beach leaving it looking very untidy. Spurn is now registered as part of the Marine Conservation Society's Adopt A Beach scheme. To take part in this scheme all you need to do is register a beach and conduct four beach cleans a year covering all seasons. During the clean you need to record the types and quantity of litter collected. This data is then used by the Marine Conservation Society on a national scale to campaign against the quantity of litter that gets deposited on our beaches and left floating within our seas.
The clean on Sunday was undertaken on the estuary side of the beach alongside the cobbled road. Between twelve people approximately 800 metres of beach were covered and 30 bin bags collected! Alongside these bin bags a large quantity of additional rubbish was collected. This consisted of some very large items, such as car tyres and pieces of drainpipe. As usual the main type of litter found was plastic based, a material which is potentially incredibly damaging to seabirds and marine mammals.
Marine litter causes great damage both onshore and within the sea. Fishing nets and ropes often result in the entanglement of seabirds and marine mammals, such as seals and dolphins. Plastic bags, to turtles look remarkably like their favourite food the jellyfish. Turtles as a result often eat these which can lead to chocking and even death. We need to help reduce this litter now before it's too late! You can help! All you need to do is recycle, reuse your plastic bags and get out and have fun, take part in local activities to help keep your local beaches clean! It's so simple, why not start now.
To find out when future beach cleans will take place please check our website, events guide and the Marine Conservation Society webpage at http://www.mcsuk.org/ . Thanks again to all that helped this weekend!
March
YES! I want to help grazing for Yorkshire's wildlife
For thousands of years man has shaped Yorkshire's countryside. From clearing woodlands to modern farming, our actions have helped to form the diverse range of habitats that we now treasure. The threats to these 'semi-natural' habitats from changes in agriculture, industry and the need for more housing and transport are well known. But there is another, less obvious threat. Many of our most vulnerable habitats were created and maintained by grazing. Without grazing animals, grasslands and heathlands will be lost to scrub and will, as a result, lose their wonderful associated wildlife.
Since December Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been running the appeal 'Buy a cow', appealing to local people to donate money to help Yorkshire Wildlife Trust buy much needed tools, vaccinations and grazing animals to help maintain the extensive network of nature reserves managed by the Trust. The appeal has been very successful raising over £9,000. These donations will allow us to purchase much needed items, such as fencing, fencing posts, spades, pressure washers, drinking water, vaccinations and animals, such as sheep and cows.
David Hargreaves, the Trust's Head of Nature Reserves commented:
"We need your support to restore Yorkshire's vulnerable landscapes. Your gift will help us to buy and care for grazing animals to protect some of the region's cherished habitats including lowland heaths, chalk grasslands and, of course, our precious and scarce meadows. Thank you to everyone who has donated and to those who continue to donate, your support will make an incredible difference".
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated to this appeal. We would like to highlight our special thanks to Mr Colin Slator, the Chairman of Ripon Loop who has very generously given us forty-six of his own Hebridean sheep for our appeal. These sheep, will like others purchased from appeal donations, be used to graze our nature reserves. Mr Slator's donated sheep have this winter grazed at our Stavely Nature Reserve and are now located at Low Carr Farm Nature Reserve, located just south of Pickering. We are very grateful for this incredible gift, especially as a lot of the donated sheep are currently in lamb, which may mean we are soon to expect more sheep!
February 23rd
Springtastic!
On Saturday 23rd February, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Seacroft Library combined forces in order to run a Springtastic event for local people. The day started well with clear blue sky's and continually got between as we made hanging bird tables, log and lard feeder and animal masks with families from this very urban area of Leeds. In total we attracted 49 people who greatly enjoyed the day. This event was part of the Wildlife Wealth projects continuing drive to attract more people from urban areas, especially those from disadvantaged areas within Yorkshire.
February
Half-term Potteric Carr Mystery Tour
This half term saw Potteric Carr Nature Reserve host 'Mat's Mystery Tour', an activity designed for children by one of our very own nature reserve trainees.This activity involved a guided walk, looking for interesting objects. A crowd of over 50 were lead round the reserve to the field centre, where there were three different activities occurring to keep everyone busy. The activities ranged from bird watching, identifying birds, creating bark rubbings, to completing journey log books. Everyone went away extremely happy, with the children walking away clutching their creations!
February 15th
Birds in the Garden!
On Friday 15th February, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust attended the Royal Horticultural Society's Bird's in the Garden Event at Harlow Carr in Harrogate. The week long event saw different organisations working in partnership to create public awareness about wildlife within their own garden. Throughout the day members of the Trust staff helped children to get crafty, creating their own unique bird masks and construct an exciting bird collage. The highlight of the event however, had to be when the children got the opportunity to get their hands dirty and create log and lard feeders to take home with them. The day was incredibly successful, with over 200 people attending.
February
New Boardwalk for Burton Riggs
We've been busy at Burton Riggs Nature Reserve this winter. The Scarborough Conservation Volunteers, led by Tom Normandale from Scarborough Borough Council, and with the help of YWT staff spent three days building 50 metres of brand new boardwalk. This, combined with the construction of a new section of path that had been badly eroded, has made circumnavigating the second lake much easier. Materials for the boardwalk and hire of a contractor for path construction were funded by the nearby Scarborough Building Society � corporate members of the trust. Thanks to all who helped!
Burton Riggs is a fantastic place for a walk; feeling wild and with lots of birds to spot, despite its location on the edge of Scarborough. During construction works this January we were watched by a great-northern diver and scaup as well as commoner birds (or perhaps it was the other way round�.).Other work at the reserve this winter has included scrub clearance in order to preserve wild flowers 'which make a great display in summer' and construction of a living willow fence to prevent erosion of the lake side.
Why not visit Burton Riggs?
Situated to the south of Scarborough close to Seamer village, the reserve entrance is located off the roundabout opposite Morrissons on the A64 just south of the A6121 junction and Eastfields.