Protecting Wildlife for the Future

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Wildlink

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News from the Urban and East TeamWorking for living landscapes Issue 4 April 2013

DORSETWILDLIFETRUST

In this issue...• Wildlink

• River Allen funding boost• Upton Heath update

• Brownsea live• River Avon Source to Sea

• Get involved

Lytchett Bay, Poole HarbourPhoto: N Hoar

Inspired by a once in a lifetime opportunity to save some of the

most valuable wild landscapes in urban Dorset, Dorset Wildlife Trust is leading an ambitious new initiative, ‘Wildlink’.

Last June, unexpectedly, the Canford Estate came onto the market. The Portfolio included parts of Lytchett and Holes Bays in Poole Harbour, internationally important heathland including the northern section of Upton Heath, Dunyeats Hill, Ferndown Common and Parley Common, and sites of local and amenity value with the potential to be developed for community use.

Thus, though suddenly faced with the possibility of losing management control over the third of Upton Heath which we lease from the Estate, we

were also presented with an extraordinary opportunity to work with partners and the community to secure the future of a substantial area of land in an area described by Natural England as ‘one of the most important areas for wildlife in the country’.

We are pleased to report that the Canford Estate accepted a bid from a consortium of DWT, the Erica Trust, Poole Harbour Commissioners, Borough of Poole, Dorset County Council and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust for the purchase of 581 hectares (1435 acres) of the land. This has enabled us to start work with conservation partners and the local community to create Dorset’s first urban Living Landscape, linking the New Forest National Park and Wild Purbeck Nature Improvement Area.

We are delighted to have received Stage 1 approval and a development grant of £85,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop Wildlink and will be applying to them for £2.4 million later this year. With a total project cost of £4.4 million, we have already secured £1.69 million, so now need to raise a further £300,000. We will be consulting widely to develop a full programme for the area and launching an appeal. Please visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlink or contact me on 01202 692033 for further information.

Nicki Brunt

Dunyeats Heath, PoolePhoto: N Hoar

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Upton Heath Update

River Allen Funding Boost

The River Allen Project to restore and protect one of

England’s most important chalk streams is being funded by a grant of £44,480 from Biffa Award, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts which uses landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. Chalk streams are the richest river habitats for wildlife and the River Allen holds the strongest population in Dorset of rare wildlife such as the native white-clawed crayfish. We now have a chance to do something to protect this important and

Last autumn/winter was the moment we were waiting

for, when we could finally get to grips with restoring the Rothchild land. Unfortunately, the start of major clearance work coincided with the beginning of the wet weather, making working conditions difficult and the scale

of the work has meant that the use of machinery has been necessary. This has caused damage to the tracks, although it has now largely been repaired. The contractors have done a fantastic job in opening a significant block of heathland. Whilst the larger trees were being tackled by

vulnerable habitat and its wildlife before it is too late.

The River Allen Project will restore natural features where the river has been straightened and deepened. Flow will be improved by techniques such as felling and securing small trees to the river bank, resulting in cleaner gravel for fish to spawn on, more cover for crayfish to hide and lush bank-side vegetation for water voles to feed on. The enhancements will also reconnect fragments of habitat so that isolated populations of crayfish, water voles and other species can move freely along the river,

particularly important with the increasing pressures associated with climate change.

Additional funding of £15,000 for the detailed plans, displays and public awareness events has been granted by Sembcorp Bournemouth Water.

Amanda Broom

contractors, the smaller scrub was no match for our Thursday work party and numerous corporate and college groups.

The three Shetland cattle and two British Whites are doing a great job on the heath. Although extensive grazing on Upton Heath is really the only way to manage the heath long-term, it has not met with universal approval. Some horse riders find the bridleway gates difficult and have been worried about riding near the cattle, even though the cattle were picked for their placid nature. After several meetings, we have hopefully found solutions to all the issues. It is a difficult job, balancing conservation needs and recreational pressures.

Andy Fale

Upton Heath after restoration Photo: A Fale

Supported by

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The project has been generously sponsored by the Sound Approach and the images can be viewed on the Birds of Poole Harbour and Dorset Wildlife Trust websites. The camera was officially launched by Mark Constantine in January.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/brownseacam

Chris Thain

EventsFri 12th April

Reptile Ramble: 10am-1pmJoin warden Andy Fale for

a morning of snake & lizard activities including a fun quiz,

reptile ramble on Upton Heath & a free activity pack. Suggested donation £2 per child. Meet at

the Urban Wildlife Centre.

Sat 15th & Sun 16th June Wild about Brownsea!

Discover the bugs and beasts of Brownsea Island with the Wild Trek Hi-Tech Trailer, minibeast

hunts and guided walks. Wildlife displays, crafts and

activities about bees, butterflies, moths and dragonflies. Plus

face painting, story-telling, sales stalls and much more. A free

family event by Dorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, celebrating 50 years on the

island. Boats from Sandbanks and Poole Quay.

Sat 20th July look out forWild about Boscombe!

More details & more events atdorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events

Brownsea Live!

A live webcam now allows us all to watch Brownsea lagoon

on the internet. Two cameras have been placed on the high hide and Macdonald hide and can zoom considerable distances. For most of the year the camera will show the internationally important wading flocks but in summer months it is planned to switch to close-up views of the nesting gulls and terns.

Source to Sea Project

Wildlife Sightings

The ambitious Source to Sea project begins its 2nd

year in 2013. The Environment Agency, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust have joined together to remove invasive non-native plants from the entire length and tributaries of the Hampshire Avon. We’re targeting plants such as Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed. Last year the project employed 4 surveyors, contacted 100

landowners, walked 20km of river bank and recorded 10 non-native species! Source to Sea calls on walkers, anglers, landowners and local volunteers to get involved by keeping an eye out, allowing access and removing the problem plants all the way from the Vale of Pewsey down to the mouth of the Avon at Christchurch.

www.wiltshirewildlife.org/what-we-do/The+Source+to+Sea+Project

Amanda Broom

Photo: N Hoar

Claire Dixon NT, Nigel Webb Chairman DWT, Paul Morton, Jason Fathers and

Mark Constantine.

Bird sightings on Upton Heath include flocks of redwing and fieldfare and up to 6 snipe on the

wetter areas.

A hoopoe was spotted in January at Hamworthy by staff

Nicky Hoar and Steve Davis.

Wood ants were among the first

insects in February sunshine at Sopley

Common – can you count them?

RedwingPhoto: S Davis

Wood antsPhoto: N Brooks

HoopoePhoto: C Dresh

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Get Involved

Contact the team Nicki Brunt - Urban & East Dorset Living Landscapes Manager

Rachel Pearce - Conservation Officer (River Allen)Noel Bergin - Conservation Officer

Amy Baker - Skills for the Future Conservation TraineeAndy Fale, Warden - Urban & East nature reserves management

Nigel Brooks, Warden - Urban & East nature reserves managementSusanna Holford - Urban Wildlife Centre Administration Assistant

Chris Thain - Brownsea Island Nature Reserve Manager Abby Gibbs - Brownsea Island Warden & Woodlands & Trees Officer

01202 692033 (01202 709445 - for Brownsea Island staff) urban@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill LaneCorfe Mullen BH21 3RX

The Urban Warbler | Edited: Nicky Hoar | Design: Errin Skingsley

Heathwatch Scheme Commended

Waders and wellies or loppers and bow

saws – the Friday team of volunteers from mental health charity Richmond Fellowship never fails to deliver staggering conservation results. Working on our nature reserves and other Dorset wildlife sites for over 5 years they have restored ponds, tackled Himalayan balsam, filled hundreds of bin bags, slashed at Rhody and bashed at scrub. Whilst our precious wildlife benefits from all the commitment and enthusiasm, the team also reaps the rewards, with most of them saying they feel fitter, more confident and have been able to make positive changes in their life as a result of volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust.

“It’s given me the bug for getting out in nature more.”

“I like the outdoors, fresh air and feeling of contributing to something.”

“I’ve implemented conservation at home in the green spaces where I live.”

HeathWatch launchPhoto: K Staddon

Richmond Fellowship

Dorset Wildlife Trust has received a certificate of

commendation for outstanding contribution to community safety for its continuing efforts to preserve Poole’s natural environment following the Upton Heath fire.

The John Jay awards are awarded by the Safer Poole Partnership to celebrate the people who have gone out of their way to make Poole even safer. Following the blaze that destroyed a third of the nature reserve in 2011, with the strong support of the community

Scott Cahill Richmond FellowshipPhoto: N Bergin

we launched HeathWatch, with local people getting out on the heath to act as extra eyes and ears for the wardens. Over 60 people have joined HeathWatch so far and already they have reported fires and motor bikes and enabled police to prevent damage to the vulnerable and extremely rare habitat.

To volunteer for Upton HeathWatch, please visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/heathwatch or ring 01202 692033.

Nicky Hoar