Night-time visitor November 13, 2015

A Night-time visitor is captured on film!

Badger filmed in night time vision, visiting Martineau Gardens

Badger filmed in night time vision, visiting Martineau Gardens

If you’ve ever followed our nature trail, within our wildlife area,  then you will have noticed that Post Number 5, marks a badger path. Badgers are creatures of habit and follow set paths. A regular visitor to Martineau Gardens, our badger ‘tends’ the path itself, shoots and brambles are nibbled away  the path is kept clear so that the badger always enters the garden along the same route. It digs up insects, earthworms and other grubs – when we arrive in the Gardens the next morning, we can often see scuffle marks in the leaves, particularly at this time of year.

Being a nocturnal animal, we’ve never seen the badger that is, until last week. One of our wildlife supporters was taking an evening stroll, whilst managing the rat population, and managed to catch the badger on UV film. Click below to watch the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPCpO-5Owpc&feature=youtu.be

We’re delighted to be able to add a badger to our species list – view the full list here: www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Species-Lists1.pdf

Martineau Gardens manages the wildlife area for its biodiversity – part of our wooded area is a SLINC. 

For more details about badgers – read this: http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/inthewild/badgers/law

 



Unusual moth spotted November 13, 2015

Red Sword-grass Moth ac Nov 2015

Once again, our wildlife volunteer surveyor Andrew Curran has spotted a moth unusual for this area of Britain. Resembling a twig, this is the Red Sword-grass moth (Xylena vetusta). The moth was recorded on the most recent moth session earlier this month. We understand this is a scarce visitor to the Midlands and is a new moth for our moth species record. Find out more about this moth here:

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/xylena-vetusta/

 

 

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In summer we reported this beautiful moth – the Scarlet Tiger, and a new species to add to our list of wildlife. It’s also rare to see this moth in the midlands, find out more about this and its part as a possible climate change indicator here, with this article by MothsCount: http://bit.ly/1IrvfLs

 

 

 

Andrew with Brian Perry, regularly carry out moth trappings throughout the year, here at Martineau Gardens. Our moth trap is a light-box contained within wood – it’s put out in the evening, the light attracts the moths and a few fly in. The box is filled with cardboard egg boxes providing dark nooks ad crannies where moths can hide. The moths settle. The next morning, our willdlife surveyors inspect the egg trays, and the moths are released unharmed.

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens

Identifying moth before it is released at Martineau Gardens

Identifying moth before it is released at Martineau Gardens

Yellow brimstone moth, recorded one summer

Yellow brimstone moth, recorded one summer

 



Winter conservation returns November 6, 2015

Working in the woodland at Martineau Gardens

Working in the woodland at Martineau Gardens

Great  exercise that helps our wildlife! Saturday 14 November  marks the return of our Winter Working Parties. This is a chance to work with others in the woodland at Martineau Gardens, on a range of conservation tasks.

Conservation work includes:

  • Coppicing trees and bushes
  • Digging out roots
  • Pruning hedges
  • Clearing  brambles, ivy etc

Stewart Holmes (Therapeutic Horticulturalist, Martineau Gardens) will be leading the sessions, Brian Perry will join him as the volunteer wildlife recorder. Read a report with more details and photos here:

The sessions run on the second Saturday each month 10.30am until 3.30pm, on the following dates:

2015: 14 November, 12 December. 2016: 9 January, 13 February  and 12 March.   

 Please note:

1) If you can only do morning or afternoon—that’s fine

2) In the event of severe weather, work parties will be cancelled

3) If you want to join us, there’s no charge, but please book a place in advance at the Office or call us on 0121 440 7430. We will need your contact details in case the party gets cancelled.