August 2009
Dear
The summer may feel a bit of a wash out, but it might just be worth braving the rain to experience some of our nature reserves. This is one of the best seasons to visit our reserves, with fantastic wild flowers, and meadows to be seen. Check out our nature reserves pages on our website to find out about reserves near you. But if the rain really sets in, why not sit down with a copy of The Wildlife Trust's 'A Living Landscape' document and find out how we are encouraging communities to help wildlife adapt in our changing climate.
Peter Bullard
Director
Living Landscapes - a call to restore the UK's battered landscapes for wildlife and people
How can our wildlife and wildplaces adapt to climate change? How can we continue to ensure an abundance of wildlife, whilst maintaining sustainable economies?
In order to adapt, the UK’s wildlife needs to be able to move along ‘climate corridors’ up and down the country, or to shadier slopes or cooler valleys. For that to happen, we need to address the whole landscape. Critically, we need to restore healthy, living landscapes that can help to alleviate floods, store carbon, control pollution and help us cope with extremes of temperature.
To help the natural environment survive the dramatic climatic changes, Wildlife Trusts around the UK have an ambitious vision known as A Living Landscape. Throughout the UK, in urban and rural areas, The Wildlife Trusts are putting this vision into practice.
Click here to find out more, and here to download 'A Living Landscape for the North West' document.
Allotments photography campaign
Hopefully at this time of the year your allotment or garden is full to bursting with home grown produce. There's nothing better than a plate of just dug spuds and freshly picked salad. Allotments can also be a haven for wildlife, there is plenty you can do to encourage wildlife into your allotment.Our article in the upcoming Cumbrian Wildlife magazine will give you ideas of how to do just this. You can also click on to our Magazine Extra pages on our website from 18 August to find out more.
For now we are calling on you to submit your pictures to our Wildlife on Allotments campaign on our flickr site. If you have spotted a mouse in your straw mulch, or even a particularly interesting looking slug on your lettuces take picture so we can all see. We will displaying the best on our website and in our magazine.
Membership Recruiters Wanted
Various locations in Cumbria
Commission Based.
An exciting opportunity to earn extra income whilst raising vital funds for wildlife in Cumbria. If you are dynamic, highly motivated with outstanding communication skills then click here for further information about this rewarding role.
Learning about Wildlife
07 Moth Evening at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve
23 Dragonflies and butterflies at Bowness-on-Solway nature reserve
29 Denizens of the deep - exploring below the water's surface
Conservation Work Parties
08 River Kent Himalayan balsam removal work party
20 Conservation work party at Wreay Woods Nature Reserve
26 River Kent Himalayan balsam removal work party
26 Conservation work party at Drumburgh Moss Nature Reserve
28 River Kent Himalayan balsam removal work party
30 Conservation work party at Meathop Moss Nature Reserve
Wildlife Walks & Talks
09 Guided walk around Brown Robin Nature Reserve and the Cumbria Grand Woodland
12 Go with the flow on the Esk Estuary
12 Explore Smardale Gill Nature Reserve
15 A walk beside the River Eden
26 Go with the flow on the Esk Estuary
Members events
20 Clints Quarry Nature Reserve members’ reception
22 Wreay Woods members' reception
Play the North West's Trusts lottery and Win for Wildlife!
With a monthly jackpot prize of £500 and costing from as little as £2 per month your chance to win a great cash prize could not be easier.
Over 750 players have received winning cheques since the lottery started 5 years ago. Recent winners, Gordon and Dot from Cockermouth, Cumbria, said “How fortunate we were when in March Lady Luck smiled upon us and we won £500 in the North West Wildlife Trust Lottery. We debated on how to use this windfall and decided we couldn't put it to better use than the upkeep of our garden, which attracts a considerable variety of wildlife. We also indulged ourselves with a good meal and a nice bottle of wine!” The garden attracts red squirrels, lots of butterflies and bees, and a variety of birds. There have also been traces of foxes and hedgehog" You can see the results in their garden in the picture opposite.
Click here to find out more about the Win for Wildlife lottery.
Focus on: The limestone pavement of Hutton Roof Crags Nature Reserve
Come and explore the wealth of wildlife that makes its home in the limestone pavement of Hutton Roof Crags Nature Reserve. In these summer months' you can find a whole host of ferns making in the dykes, such as limestone and rigid buckler fern. If you stay still long enough you might catch a glimpse of small pearl bordered, high brown and dark green fritillary butterflies. The nature reserve also has areas of woodland, scrub, grassland and heathland and with footpaths throughout the reserve there is plenty to see.
Click here for more information on Hutton Roof Crags nature reserve