Macclesfield and Congleton Group

Spring 2007

In editing this newsletter in late November I am amazed how mild it is and can’t help but wonder what effect it’s going to have on the plants and animals in the spring. If we look closely then we may well see unseasonable events such as plants flowering much earlier than usual, insects and hedgehogs out earlier to name a few. If you happen to see anything unusual or just want to record what you do see as you in everyday life don’t forget to send your sightings to www.record-lrc.co.uk or why not have a go at Spring Watch.

And why not come to one of our meetings and hear from like-minded and interesting speakers. Make an entry in your diary and calendar now!


Water Vole Survey
There is a population of water voles at Lindow Common in Wilmslow. Water Vole numbers have crashed in recent years. They are now protected and the subject of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which aims to increase their numbers. A group comprising wildlife trust staff and volunteers visited the common during 2006 to conduct a survey to try and establish the size of the population there to act as a base line. James Baggaley, Macclesfield Borough Council, wildlife officer, and a group member are coordinating the survey. On the first visit the weather was fantastic. We split into groups with each group having at least one experienced surveyor to teach the others. We were looking for signs of water vole activity such as burrows, vole runs, feeding signs and latrines. One group actually saw a water vole. James went away and after analyzing the data the estimated population was 16. Not bad. The trust is happy for others to come along on future surveys, the more people that can recognize water vole signs the more information that can be gathered. If you are interested, contact James Baggaley at Macclesfield Town Hall.

'All fungi are edible - but some of them only once'
Favourite quotation of the late Arthur Wong, remembered with affection.

Conservation Strategy for Macclesfield
Our Group has responded to Macclesfield borough's Nature Conservation Strategy. Here is a resume: the group welcomes the plan to increase Local Nature Reserves and to continue its support for Sites of Biological Importance. But it suggests that the MBC should protect even the lower grade SBIs, and help landowners to protect those on their own land. The group regrets the lack of plans to improve nature conservation within the urban areas. For example, the wildlife value of semi-natural sites and parks could be enhanced, and householders encouraged to grow suitably sized trees. The Borough should make hedge and tree-planting a general condition of planning applications. The resulting network of wildlife-friendly sites linked by trees and hedges should then be given publicity as a healthy and more interesting walking route for residents and as a pleasant environment to attract businesses.

Bird Box Event
The bird box event was great fun. The group got together with the RSPB wildlife explorers to make bird boxes in the car park next to Focus DIY at Lyme Green, Macclesfield. A donation of just £2 was asked for those boxes which were to be taken home, the rest were put up at our reserve at Danes Moss. It was the first time that those making boxes were able to see them installed locally, and though it involved more organization it was worth the effort. In all, over thirty boxes were made and fifteen were put up on the reserve. Thanks go to the explorers who did an excellent job, were interested and well behaved. Thanks also to David and Jenny Tolliday for their organisation and tea.