September 2009
Dear
As autumn begins we have a chance to look back over the summer and take stock of some of our many achievements. Over 100 baby water voles were born in our captive breeding programme; our plans to manage Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve gained strong public backing at an open day to discuss the proposals and the reserve has now re-opened and many people are enjoying its fabulous wildlife; the hay meadows restored in our Hay Day project burst into colour this summer and the beauty of these meadows have been reflected by the winners of our Hay Day photography award. Read on to find out more.
Peter Bullard
Director
Hay Day photography competition winners announced
Cumbria has some fantastic hay meadows that have been maintained by farmers for generations. The Hay-Day project aims to help farmers identify, protect, restore and manage these meadows using traditional practices to increase plant diversity.
This summer we launched a photography competition asking for people to capture the essence of the hay meadow. The competition was open to all and the overall prize winners won a day's photography in the Lake District with award-winning wildlife photographer Nick Garbutt.
Runners up prizes included vouchers for Hayes Garden World and copies of the book 'A Year in the life of an English Meadow' by Andy Garnett and Polly Devlin.
Water vole breeding success
Twenty-five pairs of water voles are breeding in specially built pens for the first time in Cumbria.
Approximately one hundred babies have been born in the first litters. It is hoped the water voles will produce further litters this summer and will be released into the wild in 2010.
The Cumbria Water Vole Project, a joint project of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Eden Rivers Trust, is working to support and expand the population of water voles in Cumbria. Water vole populations have dramatically declined in previous years and it is hoped that the population will increase through reintroduction programmes such as this one.
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.
Wildlife Walks and Talks
05 Discover the Solway Mosses
19 The Ferns of Warton Crag
23 The Galapagos Islands and a taste of Ecuador
Learning about wildlife
05 Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Annual General Meeting
Conservation Work Parties
06 Conservation work party at Argill Woods Nature Reserve
09 Conservation work party at Drumburgh National Nature Reserve
12 Conservation work party at Clints Quarry Nature Reserve
15 Conservation work party at Smardale Nature Reserve
16 Conservation work party at Wreay Woods Nature Reserve
30 Conservation work party at Orton Moss Nature Reserve
Family Wildlife Days
15 Kendal Kingfishers Watch Group
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Saving on your home utility bills will give you that little bit extra of your hard earned money to spend. At the same time you can help Cumbria Wildlife Trust raise funds.
Visit the utility comparison website to see what savings you are likely to make on your domestic gas and electricity bills. If you go ahead and make the transfer this will start to generate donations to Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Go to www.saveandraise.co.uk to start saving.
Focus on: Latterbarrow nature reserve
Latterbarrow Nature Reserve near Witherslack offers the visitor a mosaic of different habitats to explore. With grassland, woodland, and scrub the reserve supports a huge variety of plants. In the summer it is a haven for butterflies such as the northern brown argus, brimstone and meadow brown.
There are some lovely trails that take you through the reserve and its a short walk or cycle ride to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, which has recently been reopened to the public.
For more information about Latterbarrow Nature Reserve click here.