conservation – Greener Cuckfield

We can all be home scientists just by observing and recording what is going on around us. Many organisations rely on citizen science (aka crowd science) to get data. This data can make a real difference to where organisations might start projects, what they might ask the government to change and the money they might be able to get to fund their work.

You can have a major role in these citizen science projects. Right now conservation organisations across the UK are asking individuals like you to help them with their important conservation work. There is no way that without members of the public these groups can get a real picture of animal, plant or insect populations right across the country. Take a look at the studies you could be a part of right now:

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Buttery Count
From now until 7^th August Butterfly Conservation are asking you to spare 15 minutes to identify and count the butterflies and day flying moths in the area where you are. This could be out on a walk or in your local park or back garden.

Swift Mapper
The RSPB together with other conservation groups are asking us to record swift numbers on their Swift Mapper. This time of year, you might hear the screaming of swifts up and down the streets where you live. These incredible birds travel all the way from Africa to nest here in the UK and the RSPB want to know if you hear groups of swifts (called a screaming party), if you know where there is a nest or even a swift nest box.

Great Eggcase Hunt
If you are heading to the beach this summer, the Shark Trust are interested in the shark and ray egg cases you might find on the shoreline. Known as mermaid’s purses these fascinating egg shells can be seen all over beaches in the UK and will give the Shark Trust a good idea of how different populations of sharks and rays are doing in our waters.

National Bat Monitoring Programme
The Bat Conservation Trust would like your help to keep a track of where the bats are hanging in the UK. They have a number of different monitoring projects they want you to get involved with. You can do a sunset survey, a night watch or a boost count if you have a bat roost near you. If you know how to use a bat detector – the device which can pick up the bats high pitched calls – you could also take part in a full survey.

Mammal Mapper
If you love our furry four legged friends you might want to take part in the Mammal Society‘s Mammal Mapper app. You can record the signs of mammals – such as dropping, footprints or the mammals themselves, when out and about on a walk, run, cycle or even as a car passenger. The Mammal Society are asking all citizen scientist to help them collect this important biological data so they can keep an eye on mammal populations.

Every Flower Counts
White clover, self-heal or something rarer – what wonders are cropping up on your lawn or greenspace this July? Take part in #EveryFlowerCounts to find out. It’s fun, free and helps Plantlife to better understand our grasslands. The second Every Flower Counts survey starts today and says it runs until the 17 July, though we believe you can still submit your results at the moment. No matter how you’ve been managing your lawn, or whether you took part in the first survey in May, you can still take part and find out how many pollinators are benefitting from the floral feast you’ve created. Click here to take part.

These are just some of the ways you can help conservationists across the UK to help protect our beautiful and diverse animals. If you come across any more then please comment on this blog and we can share. Or email us at hello@greenercuckfield.org

by Nicola Brewerton

On the first really warm day of spring this year I saw my earliest butterfly of the year – always a heart warmer after the long winter (an especially long winter this year). It was a brimstone butterfly, a large, pale yellowy green butterfly – I think it was a male as females are lighter in colour. Brimstones are often the first butterflies seen as they can spend the winter hibernating, tucking themselves into tangles of bramble or ivy (makes sense in our garden as we have a lot of both!) in sheltered sunny places and emerging when the sun warms them enough.

Just a few minutes later a bumblebee dive bombed by, being chased by my father’s dog who thankfully, for both their sakes, didn’t manage to catch her. Female or queen bumblebees are another native insect which overwinter. In late autumn they dig holes in chilly north facing banks to avoid being warmed up by any winter sun and emerging too soon. There are many bumblebee species in this country (24 according to a quick Google), but this one didn’t stop long enough for an ID check.

These insect flybys were just one of many clues that spring has sprung. Snow drops have already finished their bright white show by the beginning of March; crocus, daffodils, aconites and wood anemones close on their heels. The blackthorn bushes – a very common sight on the sides of Sussex roads – burst into beautiful white blossom. If pollinated these flowers will become sloes later in the year. If you look around a wood in early March the buds are bulging, just waiting to burst and fill the canopy with fresh green again.

The birds too, are clearly in the throws of spring, frantically collecting nesting materials and singing for mates.

We have recently moved and are lucky enough to have a lovely garden which backs onto farmland. Although clearly once much loved, our new garden is currently overgrown, full of bramble and bindweed, great for wildlife but not so fab for a gardener perhaps. Saying this – as I spend hours meticulously digging bindweed roots out – I will, most definitely be making room for wildlife in our garden plans. My children have started their wildlife pond design and I will take heed of Monty Don’s advice and leave some areas of lawn long – it will be interesting to see what weed species crop up. I love spring.

by Nicola Brewerton

Tag: conservation

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