Welcome to the June Wildlife Warden newsletter – it has been such a busy month with lots of events, surveys and wildlife!

This month:

• CWS Grassland Training 
• Bumble Bee ID Training
• Dragonfly and Damselfly ID skills
• Ticks
• Dates for your Diary
• Yellow Rattle Seed Collection
• Water Quality in Teignmouth Talk
• Round Up of Wildlife Warden Activity Across Teignbridge

CWS Grassland Training at Ruggadon Nature Reserve, Trusham 

Paul Seymour and Jack Rivers from Devon Biodiversity Record Centre (DBRC) very kindly led a group of Wildlife Wardens on a County Wildlife Site (CWS) Meadow training session, at the end of May. It was a glorious morning spent in the sunshine at the Ruggadon Nature reserve, surrounded by plants! Paul and Jack showed us step-by-step, how we would go about surveying and completing the relevant forms when looking at lowland meadow sites.

Using this knowledge, CWS trained WWs will be able to complete further surveys across Teignbridge. DBRC has a list of UWS (Unconfirmed Wildlife Sites) that need surveying but not enough surveyors on the ground to get through them quickly. Our WW team can give very practical help with this. Once given CWS status, the site will be given due consideration in any future planning applications close to it.

Please get in touch if you would be interested in finding out more about joining us for CWS surveys 

vicky@actionclimateteignbridge.org 

Bumble Bee ID Training at Deer Park Farm with Debs Rylands

Thank you so much to Teignmouth WW Debs Ryland for running a thoroughly enjoyable Bumblebee ID event at Deer Park Farm. The sun shone but sadly there were very few bumblebees out and about. We wondered whether this was due to the late spring or a general drop in numbers. How are the bumblebee numbers in your area? Everyone made up for it on the day by finding lots of other interesting invertebrates and enjoying the wonderful meadow plants.

For anyone wanting to brush up on their Dragonfly and Damselfly ID skills, dragonfly expert and Chair of Chudleigh Wild, Dave Smallshire, has pointed us towards these really interesting and informative YouTube videos he has produced on the topic.

Dragonflies in Devon
 
Britain’s Dragonflies –  An Introduction to Damselflies and Dragonflies 
 
Britain’s Dragonflies – Common Species
 
Britain’s Dragonflies – Uncommon Species

Stover Country Park, Newton Abbot are looking for 16-25 year olds, who are interested in taking part in monthly dragonfly monitoring, as part of the Restoring Stover Lottery Project. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested in getting involved. Email restoringstoverpark@devon.gov.uk or Phone 01626 835236 for more information.

It seems to be a year for ticks!

We just wanted to bring ticks to your attention in terms of your risk assessments and making sure people are made aware, at the beginning of any activity or event you might be running.

Although getting a tick is quite likely to happen when we are out fossicking around the countryside, the likelihood of contracting a disease from a tick, such as Lyme’s or Tick Encephalitis, is relatively low. Studies in Europe estimate that 1-5% of tick bites can lead to Lyme’s disease. With this is mind, we would suggest a Likelihood Score of 1 on a risk assessment.

However, the consequence if you were to contract a disease is high, as they can potentially cause lifelong, debilitating illness if not treated promptly. We would suggest a Consequence Score of 4.      

It is always worth bringing this to everyone’s attention and advising precautions such as:

• Wearing long sleeved tops and tucking trousers into socks
• Avoiding walking through dense bracken, if possible
• Using an insect repellent
• Checking for ticks and removing them correctly to prevent the mouth parts remaining attached
• Seeking prompt medical attention if you find a rash around a tick bite or have flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks following a tick bite

Dates for your Diary

Yellow Rattle Seed Collection

Audrey is planning to collect yellow rattle seeds at her farm on June 28th. If you would like to collect seeds for your own project on this date, please get in touch vicky@actionclimateteignbridge.org

If you are unable to make this date but would like seeds, please send a stamped addressed envelope to:
Audrey Compton (Yellow Rattle), Deer Park Farm, Trusham, Devon
 
Please let us know the approximate area you would like to use the seeds for. We would be grateful for any small donation for this which will go into the Wildlife Warden Scheme.

Water Quality in Teignbridge – How to make a difference!

Monday 26th of June from 7.30 to 9.30 PM

at the Teign Valley Community Hall

Come and hear about the Citizen Science projects which are measuring and improving the health of our rivers in Teignbridge.

Our speakers:
Anna Seal (West Country Rivers Trusts), Rachel Land (Peatland Restoration Project), Louise Davies (River Teign Restoration Project) and Emma Magee (Environment Agency) will give an overview of their work in Teignbridge.

We will then discuss areas where we can work together to improve the water quality of our rivers/ estuaries and plans for the future.

Come along, get involved and take part in the discussion!

Book your place HERE

Join us for refreshments at 19.15. Talks will start at 19.30 and there will be a Q&A sessions at the end.

Round up of Wildlife Warden Activity Across Teignbridge

Abbotskerswell
Abbotskerswell WWs are in the second year of an “Eco Church Project” and ran a mini bioblitz of the churchyard. 133 species were recorded. A negative backlash from some residents regarding the new mowing regime was put to bed by the supportive vicar. Hurrah!   

Ashton
Shira helped survey a meadow in Dunsford as a possible County Wildlife Site and will be opening up her meadow for Moor Meadows on 25th June, whilst raising money for the Wildlife Warden scheme. Thank you!

Bradley Ward
NEW Wildlife Warden for Highweek – welcome Jules!  

Chudleigh
Chudleigh WWs have been involved in the Riverfly surveys as part of the River Teign Restoration Project. They have been surveying the Kate Brook and River Teign, helping to determine long term trends in water quality and invertebrate populations. Wardens will also start sampling the Brook as part of the Westcountry Rivers Trust CSI  again, all providing baseline data for the Brook which is especially important as there is further proposed housing development planned in the area.

WW Sue, along with husband Dave, have written a packed newsletter for the Chudleigh Wild Group. This contains information about frog populations, the new Chudleigh nature trail, the power of dandelions, Cirl Buntings and what to feed hedgehogs.

WW Val, along with a small team of wardens, surveyed Badgers Wood near Ashburton as a potential County Wildlife Site – we look forward to the result of this.

NEW Wildlife Warden for Chudleigh – welcome Barbara!  

Dawlish
What a fantastic event the Dawlish WWs achieved with the Turn the Tide Festival at the end of May. The sun shone and lots of people were out talking about all things environment, nature and climate whilst having lots of fun. ACT ran a busy stand and we had a stream of interest to the Wildlife Warden display. Everyone loved Audrey’s “Box of Treasures” along with the barn owl pellets containing tiny bones! It was great to have so many discussions and especially lots of children, curious and interested.

The Dawlish wardens have also had success with a recent Tree Protection Order being confirmed for a group of trees along the boundary of Dawlish Cemetery. Excellent news!

NEW Wildlife Warden for Dawlish – welcome Mandy!

Doddiscombsleigh
Joanna helped survey a meadow in Dunsford as a potential County Wildlife Site. Thank you! 

Dunsford
Julia has been doing Riverfly surveys in Reedy Brook and Fingle Brook. She organised to survey a meadow in Dunsford as a potential County Wildlife Site along with Shira, Joanna and myself. The meadow was packed with Greater and Common Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Knapweed, Meadowsweet, Meadow Vetchling and Corky Fruited Water Dropwort, along with many others. A glorious morning! 

RSPB Cirl Bunting surveys are also taking place, with several Cirl Buntings having been seen in Dunsford recently. A regular wildlife meeting took place in The Palk Arms with discussion about wildflower verge management to create a diversity of habitats, solitary bees, wren behaviour and swift surveys.

We have THREE NEW Wildlife Wardens in Dunsford having completed their training – welcome Helen, Glyn and Jess!

Exminster
Exminster ran a highly informative and well attended Nature Evening at the end of May with speakers from RSPB, Devon Wildlife Trust and a Ridgetop Park Ranger. Following on from the event, the Exminster Greenspaces team and Wildlife Wardens are planning to create a Wildlife Garden Buddy Network; encouraging the adoption of wildlife friendly management in gardens, linking greenspaces as wildlife corridors through the village and promoting further uptake of the Devon Wildlife Trust Wildlife Garden Award.

Hennock
Becky and Chris have done the first part of the RSPB Cirl Bunting survey, recording one singing male in their tetrad. It is great to hear that they have also become Parish Counsellors and are on a number of committees including Climate Change, Sustainability and Planning.

Ilsington
Sheree and Linda completed the Riverfly training in April and have been sampling at Benedicts Bridge and further upstream toward Ilsington, as well as a site at Heathfield. Sheree continues to sample several sites on the Liverton Brook for the Westcountry Rivers Trust CSI and I am keenly awaiting my first kit to arrive so I can start sampling the River Sig. Linda and Sheree have started conversations with the village hall committee, discussing a possible wildflower area behind the hall which they are hoping to get local school children involved with.

Kingsteignton
NEW Wildlife Warden for Kingsteignton – welcome Robin!  

Starcross
WW Ali ran a stand to promote discussion and interest in a newly proposed wildlife area for the local park in Starcross. Around 50 people attended the event with the official project title now being “Starcross Goes Wild”!

Thank you so much for all your hard work – let’s keep celebrating all our positive achievements across Teignbridge! 

ACT Website

ACT have asked that any events the WWs are running are listed on the ACT website Events Area HERE  

Please click on “Tell us about your event” in the first box, and follow the link.

MailChimp

If you update any of you details via a Mailchimp link please also let me know by emailing vicky@actionclimateteignbridge.org as it does not automatically change the Wildlife Warden database. Many thanks. 

Hello! 

Thank you so much for welcoming me so warmly into the Wildlife Warden Coordinator role. It has been really lovely to meet some of you in person and find out about the wonderful work you are all doing across the parishes. We have already got the year off to a good start with some Wildlife Warden training events and we have more planned throughout the spring/summer (see Diary Dates below). I look forward to meeting more of you in the coming months. 

Toothwort at Deer Park Farm

Ancient Woodland Plants ID Walks at Deer Park Farm

Thank you to Audrey for taking several groups out to look at the ancient woodland species found at Deer Park Farm. I think everyone who attended would agree that we learnt so much. Audrey believes in getting very intimate with the plants; exploring them with all your senses to recognise and fix them in your mind! It is a wonderful way to learn and we took home lots of information by sniffing, touching and taking apart the plants we saw.  Audrey suggests talking out loud and naming the plants when seeing them … I’ve only had one odd look so far out on a walk!

CWS Woodland Training at Dunsford Nature Reserve 

We had a really informative morning with Jack Rivers, from Devon Biodiversity Record Centre (DBRC),at the end of April. He led a group of Wildlife Wardens on a County Wildlife Site (CWS) Woodland training session looking at ancient woodland indicator species and learning how to complete the DBRC survey forms. Using this knowledge, trained WWs will now be able to complete surveys at other Unconfirmed Wildlife Sites (UWS) across Teignbridge. If given CWS status, following a survey, the area will be given consideration in any nearby planning applications.

We will be running a further CWS Grassland training session with DBRC on the 26^th May. If anyone is interested in coming, please do get in touch with me at  vicky@actionclimateteignbridge.org 

Woodland Bird Song Walks at Blackley Wood 

Thank you so much to our WW Anna for leading two Woodland Birdsong walks in April. I was able to come along to the Saturday walk and we had a glorious morning in Blackley Woods tuning in to all the bird song around us. Sometimes, it was hard to pick out a particular song as there were so many birds singing! We heard blackbirds, song thrushes, black caps, greenfinches, greater spotted woodpeckers, wrens, robins, wood pigeons, blue tits and great tits. Thank you Anna!

WW Risk Assessments

As you know, we are very keen to keep you as safe as possible when carrying out any work, projects or events as a WW. You may remember (perhaps far back on your introductory training course!) that Audrey and Flavio went through how to complete a Risk Assessment (RA) form.

We would ask you to refresh your memory on completing a RA and use one when you are going to be doing a new activity. If you are running an event (having completed the additional “Leading Volunteer Training Course”) please do make sure that you chat through your risk assessment with everyone at the start of an event.

Audrey and I are always happy to read through and make suggestions for any Risk Assessments that you do (please give us a few weeks to do this before an event).

Please do get in touch if you have any queries or if you need me to resend you the introductory handout document which contains more information about how to complete risk assessments at vicky@actionclimateteignbridge

Lucy’s Illustrations

Our very talented Bridford WW Lucy has produced some beautiful illustrations that are being used as part of an information board placed in a bus shelter. The board will display details about the wildflower verges in Bridford and managing them for wildlife. Lucy has kindly said she is happy for other WW to use her illustrations for their own projects if they would like to. These are a couple of examples but Lucy has also painted knapweed, cuckoo flower, cleavers, fox and cubs flower, ox eye daisies, cow parsley, yellow rattle, crested dog’s tail, shining cranesbill, cinquefoil, common shrew, goldfinch, dormouse and ivy.

If you would like to use any of her work for your own projects, please do email Lucy Smerdon at lucy.c.smerdon@gmail.com

Westcountry Rivers Trust CSI sampling 

Several of our Wildlife Wardens have signed up to take part in the Westcountry Rivers Trust Citizen Science Investigations (CSI) project. Volunteers commit to sampling their local river or stream on a monthly basis.

The aims of the Westcountry CSI are:

• To educate and engage people with the water environment.
• To produce data that can be used to target work and identify degrading water bodies.
• To spot pollution events which can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
• To create a network of catchment communities that are invested in their local environment.

The River Sig and River Lemon are both very close to where I live, so I have just signed up as a new volunteer and received a river location to sample. It is a very easy process to get started. Check out Westcountry CSI if you are interested in becoming a volunteer too. 

Please let me know if you do sign up. We keep a list of WW who are actively sampling and this information is always great to feedback to funders and donors.

Tree Felling in Your Parish

Watching any trees being felled is very emotive but it can be especially difficult if you feel that there is a particular reason that the tree(s) should not be cut down. We have had several emails recently from people concerned about trees being felled in their area and we felt a summary of the steps you can take would be helpful.  

If anyone is worried about trees being felled, they can contact Teignbridge District Council on 01626 361101 (Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5pm and Friday 8.30am-4.30pm) or as an emergency out of hours on 0330 678 2382.

Ask to speak to the Tree Officer, who can find out whether the tree/s have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or whether they are in a Conservation Area (which gives similar protection to a TPO). They can also advise, visit or contact the tree owner if a tree felling licence might be required.

You can also search online for whether a tree has a TPO using this checker HERE
 
Tree felling licences are needed for trees that don’t have a TPO and are not in a Conservation Area however, tree owners are allowed to fell up to 5 cubic metres of timber every 3 months without a licence (if they are not selling the wood). To fell any more, they must apply to the Forestry Commission for a licence.

Link to the government rough guide to timber volume calculation HERE 

Welcome to Chudleigh Prickly Hedge
Thank you to Barbara for writing this piece for the newsletter about setting up a successful hedgehog group in Chudleigh. You may be keen to set something up in your parish too!

Our group was formed in September 2019 and, being hedgehog activists (so a friend called us!) we have:

• a very active Facebook Page (Chudleigh Prickly Hedge) with over 500 members both local and far afield.
• successfully lobbied both Linden Homes and Wainhomes to implement hedgehog highways on their developments.
• erected 25 hedgehog go slow signs, bought from British Hedgehogs and sponsored by members.
• made two eye-catching hedgehog signs at the entrance to the town, numerous hedgehog cut outs and great hedgehog houses and feeders from recycled materials (made by member Jonathan Valentine).
• volunteered at ELM Wildlife Hedgehog Rescue at Seale Hayne.
• helped four new local groups (Ippleprickle, Newton Hoggits, Ogwell Hedgehogs, Bovey Hedgehogs) to form, encouraged by our activities. Jonathan has made large hedgehog signs for the village of Kingston in the South Hams.

• distributed information and ‘Top Tips’ brochure at the Christmas market and around the local estates. All promotional information readily available at Hedgehog Street and British Hedgehogs. These websites/Facebook pages are a valuable resource.
• run a community art project during Hedgehog Week where over 200 hedgehog cut outs (made by Jonathan) were decorated and displayed around the town. These are still being proudly displayed at Chudleigh School and by the residents at Palace Farm.
• rounded off 2020 with ‘A Prickle of Hedgehogs’; a display of 49 decorated hedgehogs at Pottery Court coinciding with Open Studios and Chudleigh Arts Festival.

Chudleigh is now aware and supportive of our local colony of hedgehogs.

If you want to set up a local group supporting hedgehogs my main suggestions are:

• Facebook/social media is an excellent way of promoting and informing people about hedgehogs. It also involves people by getting them to upload photos, etc. It is essential to keep it up to date and interesting. Most of our posts/ideas are from British Hedgehogs, Hedgehog Highways and other hedgehog groups and rescue centres.
• Distribute leaflets from Hedgehog Street/British Hedgehogs in garden clubs/pet shops/library and in residential streets that have hedgehogs. You also end up talking and involving the residents.
• Become a Hedgehog Champion with Hedgehog Street. This gives you access to a wide range of free resources and advice on how to involve individuals/schools/towns/developers. It also provides you with a slide show which you can use to give a presentation.
• Chudleigh Wild organised an interesting presentation given by Stephen Powles who talked about Hedgehog Highways 
• Do a project that involves the community or local school. It can be a simple footprint tunnel to see if hedgehogs are present. Our community art project was very successful.

The ultimate purpose is to promote the awareness and support of hedgehogs.

Barbara Steele, Chudleigh Prickly Hedge

Dates for your Diary

Please also look at the Devon Local Nature Partnership Upcoming events

There are lots of interesting meetings coming up, along with the 2023 LNP Conference which will be held at Exeter Racecourse on 13^th June.

Join us on the 22nd of May for an online talk on the PEAT RESTORATION IN DARTMOOR.

David Leach, the Peatland Restoration Officer in Dartmoor, will be giving an overview of the project and Rachel Land, Education and Engagement Officer, will be talking about volunteer opportunities..

‘Through funding from DEFRA, the South West Peatland Partnership will restore 1599 ha of degraded peatland on the South West’s iconic moors (Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor). Around 300Ha of this restoration will take place here on Dartmoor.

Research carried out by the University of Exeter found that just 1% of Dartmoor’s peatland area is still intact, healthy peat-forming bog, whilst lots of the remainder has been severely damaged by drainage, cutting, drying and erosion. Water is coming off the damaged peatlands more quickly, contributing to flood risk downstream. The damaged peat is releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and dissolved carbon and silt into our rivers and drinking water. The wider moorland landscape is changing, as peat dries out and gradually we are losing the wildlife that relies on peat bogs.

The project is working on 5 restoration sites to block erosion gullies, drainage channels and peat cuttings, and re-wet the peat.‘

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/wildlife-and-heritage/our-conservation-work/the-south-west-peatland-project

Meeting Details:

ACT is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Peat Restoration in Dartmoor
Time: May 22, 2023 19:30 London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3684268674

Meeting ID: 368 426 8674

The evening of 24 May should prove to be a highlight in the calendar. The Greenspaces Team in Exminster – members of the Wildlife Warden Network – are joining forces with the RSPB, the Teignbridge Ranger team and DWT to showcase how community action can work with partners to demonstrate a love for the natural world. From the Exminster Marshes to the Ridgetop Country Park and a host of village based projects in between. The evening is free and open to all – come and join the conversation.

ACT Website

ACT have asked that any events the WWs are running are listed on the ACT website Events Area HERE  

Please click on “Tell us about your event” in the first box, and follow the link.

MailChimp – If you update any of you details via a Mailchimp link please also let me know by emailing vicky@actionclimateteignbridge.org as it does not automatically change the Wildlife Warden database. Many thanks.

Round up of Wildlife Warden Activity Across Teignbridge

Ashton
Shira has written an article in the Parish magazine about the wonderful achievement of Spara Bridge Meadow being designating a County Wildlife Site. 108 wildflowers and grasses were identified last year! Shira plans to be involved with surveying other possible sites in Ashton this year and has started surveying The Forestry, Higher Ashton; 23 veteran trees identified so far!  A swift survey at the church has found it is suitable for fitting swift boxes on all four louvred windows of the bell tower. Hopefully, these will be put up this year or next. Shira continued to survey hedges for a neighbouring farmer, to enable him to apply for funding under the SLI Hedgerows Standard. 

Dunsford
WWs have continued to survey hedgerows for DBRC. Julia and Jo have also surveyed for Brown Hairstreak butterfly eggs over winter. A small group have helped survey the wildflowers along the Dunsford lanes. Julia has written an article for the Unity Magazine and also liaised with the local church warden about greening plans for the year. Julia is now on the parish council subcommittee to promote rewilding and greening in Dunsford and she continues to join “Smatters” the litter picking group regularly. 

A group of ten WWs joined Julia in a Woodland Trust wood, at the end of April, to help create a species ID list for a UWS. We all had a great morning, immersed in plants and learning lots from each other. We look forward to Julia’s report later. Thank you to everyone for their help!

Exminster
Exminster Greenspaces are busy organising the “Exminster Loves Nature” event on 24th May (see poster above). As part of the Exminster Nature Recovery Project Greenspaces volunteers have been planting trees and bulbs, tidying up the village orchard and managing the tree nursery. A tawny owl box has been installed in the oak tree by Devington Park and the bat box, won as runner up prize in the Wildlife Community Group of the year, has been put up along with another 12 bird boxes – fingers crossed for inhabitants soon! In order to create community engagement the team have been promoting the Devon Wildlife Trust Garden Award – 45 have now been awarded in the village. In January a successful Wassail was held in the village orchard attracting over 100 people to the event! The team are also working with the church to help develop the churchyard for wildlife as well as coming to agreement with Teign housing to plant a tree on land near the school.  

Hennock
Chris and Becky have signed up to take part in the RSPB Cirl Bunting surveys over the summer. They have also been recording and submitting general wildlife sightings to the DBRC. They are getting more involved with the parish council and have been reviewing planning applications and feeding in the importance of environmental issues. Recently, they have had solar panels fitted to their house which is creating some interest and discussion with others in the village. Chris and Becky have been involved in a litter picking event and are encouraging others to pick up and bin one piece of plastic every time they are out. Over the past few years, they have also been making efforts to reduce the number of days they eat meat; now down from over 50% to 25%. They have created an online folder with rated recipes to help them meal plan, reduce waste, save money, and eat vegetarian dishes they enjoy!  

Ideford
Our Ideford WWs have been busy raising awareness of the local wildlife with regular parish news articles, market stalls and a photographic display in the village hall. They have also been improving habitats and creating new ones by making a wildlife area and starting to put up swift boxes in the church, restoring the Fever trees, distributing 200 saplings from the Woodland Trust and continuing to offer a slug pellet amnesty to local residents. The WWs have also been involved in various local surveys including hedgerows, monitoring bat flight paths (with Chudleigh Wild) and monthly water quality measurements of a stream. Finally, they have been assisting the Parish Council on planning issues as well as supporting local residents with any environmental concerns. 

Ilsignton
Linda and Sheree have been busy at Liverton Village Hall creating a wildflower area to encourage insects bees, birds & hedgehogs into this unused space. The local Beaver group have also been involved and will plant their homemade wildflower seed bombs here as well. They are looking to find other areas within the parish to improve too.

Thank you all so much for letting me know what you have been up to and apologies if your parish has not been mentioned in this newsletter – (I have only included the information that I have recently received and have access to as the new coordinator). Keep your updates coming, they are a joy to read! 

Well done if you have made it to the end! 

Look forward to hearing from you soon, 

Vicky

Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Newsletter 

December 2022

Celebrating two years!
It was the Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Scheme’s two-year anniversary in October. Wildlife Wardens have done so much for wildlife since we started the scheme. Your projects fill me with hope, and Audrey and I are always amazed by your enthusiasm! I’m pleased to say that there are now 105 trained and active Teignbridge Wildlife Wardens covering 38 of the 53 Teignbridge parishes and Newton Abbot wards. Your hard work is being recognised by other organisations! Audrey was awarded Radio Devon’s Make a difference award for her work on the Wildlife Warden Scheme, and Teignbridge Wildlife Wardens were given an award by the Devon Local Nature Partnership at the Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards evening. Ogwild and Exminster Green Spaces also won awards. Well done all of you!!! I look forward to celebrating with lots of you at the Wildlife Warden big gathering in January.

What’s more, we are helping other groups to set up there own schemes. There is now a Wildlife Warden Scheme in Mid Devon, and we are sharing our knowledge with groups in North Devon, the South Hams and West Devon. I am excited to see how these new schemes help wildlife across the county!

Looking for a new coordinator
I (Flavio) am leaving my position as the Coordinator of the Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Scheme at the beginning of February, as I have accepted a job as a Seasonal Ranger with Aigas Field Centre in the Highlands. Whilst I am excited about this new chapter in my career, I will very much miss working with all of you. It has been a pleasure to work with you on some of your amazing projects that are helping wildlife in Teignbridge. I will also very much miss working with Audrey, as she is a big inspiration to me! 

We will advertise the Coordinator role after Christmas. In the meanwhile, do get in touch with me if you, or someone that you know, are be interested in applying!

Fantastic fungi finds!
The world of fungi is mysterious and fascinating! Over the last 3 months there have been several fungi surprises in Teignbridge, which is cause for excitement! Here are a few.

The bottom photo shows Audrey Compton with some rare hazel gloves. This specimen was found by Anna Leatherdale in Audrey’s Blackley Wood. Anna wrote this very interesting article about it. It is an intriguing fungi with very specific habitat requirements and is an indicator of good air quality! 

Sheree Sedgbeer shared the top photo, which is of a wrinkled peach. It was found not far from Audrey’s farm, is on the global fungi red list, and may be the first ever record in the South West! They are most commonly found on dead elms, which are becoming uncommon due to Dutch Elm disease.

We held a couple of waxcap walks at Deer Park Farm for Wildlife Wardens in November. We were thrilled to find orange waxcaps (middle left), which previously had never been recorded at the farm. The farm now has a total of 19 waxcap species. A site needs 18 species to be of national importance for waxcaps. This is just one reason why Deer Park Farm is such as special place!

Shira Rub found this rare octopus stinkhorn (middle right), which smells of rotting meat (yuck!). Flying insects are attracted by the smell and unknowingly help the fungus to spread its spores.

COP 15
World leaders met this month to discuss how they will ensure the survival of species on this planet. This was the 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and was much less publicised than COP 27, which was the UN Convention on Climate Change. Leaders reached an agreement (although, it seems that China forced this through by ignoring an objection from the Democratic Republic of Congo). The deal included a target to protect 30% of ecosystems by 2030. Other main points include more protection for indigenous groups, and providing more money towards protecting biodiversity. Previous targets from COP10 haven’t been met, so lets hope that COP15 is taken more seriously! You can read more about it here.

Local Plan
TDCs revised Local Plan was meant to be out for a final consultation earlier this month. However, Michael Gove wrote a statement, which outlined changes to the planning system. This means that TDC’s consultation has been delayed by several weeks. We will let all WWs know when it is out for consultation.

Teignbridge Lottery
You can now raise money for ACT by buying a Teignbridge Lottery for Communities ticket! 50% (50p) of every ticket that you buy goes to ACT if you choose us as your chosen charity. Money raised will go towards our Carbon Cutters Scheme and Wildlife Warden Scheme. Many thanks to anyone who has already bought a ticket!

Current projects
Here is an overview of some of the wonderful things that you have been up to.

Abbotskerswell
Click here to listen to Emily Marbaix’s latest podcast!
Ashton
Shira Rub has written articles for her parish magazine on hedgerow management, reducing the spread of disease at bird feeders and ragwort. She has been surveying hedgerows in Ashton using the PTES Healthy Hedgerows app and hopes this will show where deer browsing is an issue. Shira also wrote to Mel Stride to ask him to speak out against proposals in the governments mini budget. She has continued to monitor water quality for the Westcountry Rivers Trust and has been helping Kerri Watson (Bridford WW) with riverfly surveys. Shira ordered a picnic bench for the community orchard. The bench is being made by Co-Create using reclaimed/surplus wood .
Bishopsteignton
Sarah Cochrane wrote to Anne Marie Morris asking her to speak out against proposals in the governments mini budget. These proposals would have weakened laws which protect wildlife and the environment.
Buckland and Milber Ward – Newton Abbot
Eloise Rokirilov commented on the Bradley Mill Industrial Estate planning application and included concerns regarding local wildlife.
Buckland in the Moor
The WWs in Buckland held a tree hub for the Devon Wildlife Trust and distributed 350 trees.
Chudleigh
Chudleigh Wild held 2 Bat evenings, which were well attended by children and adults! They also organised a talk where John Evans (a local professional geologist) spoke about Chudleigh’s geology. As mentioned previously, Chudleigh Wild are part of a trial to develop a new system to track bats and birds called the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. Professor Fiona Mathews from the Uni of Sussex is leading the trial and, so far, it has been successful. More greater horseshoe bats were tagged this autumn! Chudleigh Wild continued to do riverfly surveys in the River Teign and Kate Brook. They also walked the Kate Brook to record anything that may be reducing water quality.
College Ward – Newton Abbot
Christine Callard sowed lots more yellow rattle at Ogwell Cross Cemetery and also sowed greater knapweed, hedge bedstraw and field scabious.
Dawlish
Dave Hutton, Scott Williams and Gill approached TDC to ask for permission to plant native trees and an orchard on council land. Scott held a WW information stand at a CAG event in Dawlish. Dave and Scott are starting a Devon Carbon Plan reading club to bring people together to understand what the plan means for the community. Jo King has been using Birdtrack to record oystercatchers, curlew and other waders that are using fields  near to the Exe Estuary, but outside of the Special Protection Area (SPA). Her records will help to show what land is functionally linked to the SPA, and this information should be taken into consideration in any planning applications. More waders are using fields to forage, as cockle and mussel numbers have crashed by 70% in the estuary. 
Dunsford
Julia has joined Smatters, which is a Dunsford-based litter picking group. Dunsford WWs sowed yellow rattle at St Mary’s Churchyard under the guidance of Elliott Fairs (WW for Doddidiscombsleigh). Elliott also led a bat evening at the church. WWs led a moth trapping session at the churchyard with the help of Sam Gray, who is a local moth expert! 80 species were recorded and Julia wrote about the evening in the parish newsletter. Julia and Pip Hayes have continued to organise monthly meetings at pubs around the Teign Valley. Dunsford WWs are using the DBRC’s methodology to survey hedgerows and have found it easier to use than the PTES survey. Pip contacted a local farmer about adopting a 3 year rotational hedge cutting practice.
Exminster
As many of you know, Peter Chandler, our Exminster WW, sadly passed away in September. Peter is greatly missed, as he was a lovely person and an enthusiastic WW, who enjoyed sharing his skills with others. The Exminster Green Spaces group have now taken up the Wildlife Warden role. They have been working on the Exminster Nature Recovery Project for last 10 months. This has 3 main themes which are building on existing voluntary action, community engagement and partnership working. Some highlights of their work over the past season include tree planting, creating a community tree nursery (with kit from DWT), installing a barn owl box at a green space and planting bulbs. They have also been promoting DWT’s Wildlife Gardening Award, organised the Exminster Environment Fair, have been writing articles for the parish magazine and manage a Facebook page. They are in discussion with TDC and the local churchwarden about the management of St Martin’s Churchyard. Log piles have been created and areas have been identified for ecological enhancement. 
Ilsignton
Linda Corkerton and Janet Miller (Bovey Tracey WW) have an agreement with the editor of The Cottage Magazine to write articles about wildlife. The Cottage Magazine goes out to 6,000 households.
Ipplepen
Members of Ippleplanet have joined the WW Scheme. They have agreed to help DCC plant 3,000 trees at Bulleigh Elms Farm!
Ogwell
Ogwild are promoting DWT’s wildlife gardening scheme. They will plant more fruit and deciduous trees at Rectory Field this winter, and have planted several kilos of daffodils around the village. They have also been busy with the seasonal management of sites that they manage.
Shaldon
Paul Havemann has been writing articles for the parish magazine. Topics include gardening for wildlife, the DWT gardening award, impacts to nature from unseasonal weather, COP 27 and  COP15, the government’s mini budget, the state of UK’s dragonflies (which are doing well!), ocean pollution, and reducing carbon emissions.
Starcross
Alison McGregor wrote to Marie Morris about proposals in the government’s mini budget.
Stokeinteignhead
Jill Connole has been looking into why one of the mature trees on the village green is diseased and what is causing it to lose bark as well as possible solutions.
Teignmouth
Marije helped on ACT’s stand at an XR event in Teignmouth. She also helped the TDC rangers to coppice hazel at Orley Common and used the leftover brash to create a coral around the coppiced stumps to prevent deer browsing. Marije also put out hedgehog footprint tunnels at Teignmouth Cemetery.There wasn’t presence of hedgehogs, but she did get prints of a fox and cat!

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing many of you at Wildlife Warden events in January!

Best wishes,

Flavio

Two Years of the Wildlife Warden Scheme

Season 2, Episode 10 of the Devon Wildlife Warden Podcast – Click here to listen, or here to read.

This episode brings you:

• A chat with Audrey and Flavio about the first 2 years of the Wildlife Warden Scheme. We discussed how we set up the scheme, what training sessions we have offered, what the Wildlife Wardens have achieved, and what our plans are for the future.
• Emily’s bird and plant of the month.

Bat Chat

Season 2, Episode 9 of the Devon Wildlife Warden Podcast – Click here to listen, or here to read.

This episode brings you:

• A chat about bats with Anne Roberts, who is a local ecological surveyor. This includes information on why bats need protecting, how they are protected, population trends, their biology, and a recording of Emily and Anne listening to bats with a detector. They also discussed how to join the Devon Bat Group, and where to find more information about bats.
• An update on Wildlife Warden projects.
• Information about the ‘People’s Plan for Nature’ project.
• Wildlife considerations on Bonfire Night.

The Eco Church Scheme

Season 2, Episode 8 of the Devon Wildlife Warden Podcast – Click here to listen, or here to read.

This episode brings you:

• Information about why churchyards are important for wildlife, and how habitats in churchyards can be improved for wildlife under the Eco Church Scheme.
• A chat with St Mary’s Church (Abbotskerswell) vicar, Michael Wilkie, about the Eco Church Scheme and how the churchyard is being managed for wildlife.
• An update on Wildlife Warden projects.
• Emily’s bird and plant of the month.
• Ideas on what you can do to help wildlife. This includes signing a petition calling for the government to not remove the Habitats Regulations, wildlife gardening ideas, using ACT’s carbon footprint tracker, and volunteering with ELM Hedgehog Rescue Centre.

Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Newsletter

August 2022

Hi all, It’s coming to the end of summer; migratory birds are massing in large numbers before they make the long journey back to Africa, and berries and nuts can be seen on trees. But this is not a normal year and some autumn spectacles have started early. Leaves, seeds and nuts are already dropping from trees as a result of the prolonged drought. Usually, the shedding of leaves is a slow process, as trees break down and recycle chlorophyll. However, some trees haven’t had chance to do this, because they have shed their leaves early to conserve water. I went to Fingle Woods recently and was shocked at how many trees had brown, shrivelled leaves. Young trees, smaller species (such as elder and spindle) and those growing on thin soil seem to me to be most affected. Berries are ripening early and seeds and nuts are already dropping in an attempt, by trees, to save energy. The Woodland Trust records seasonal changes and, this year, received its earliest ever record of ripe blackberries (28th June). Will there be enough food for wildlife later in the year? Some people have noticed fewer nuts and berries (although, this seems to vary between sites), flowers have produced less nectar and worms and certain invertebrates are harder to find. Low water levels mean that there is less habitat for species that live in and around freshwater habitats. Reduced water flow in rivers and higher than usual water temperatures are also an issue. Less food and water will make survival more difficult for many species. That said, one exceptionally dry and hot year won’t necessarily spell complete disaster for our wildlife, but populations may struggle if this becomes a common occurrence. I have to say that I am looking forward to the rain that has been forecasted over the next week! So, what can we do to help wildlife? – Provide water sources, food and refuge for garden wildlife. – Make your own compost to improve the health of soil in your garden. This will make plants more resilient and will increase the moisture holding capacity of soil. – Reduce your water consumption to protect our rivers.  – Reduce your carbon footprint. Start off by using ACT’s Carbon Footprint Tracker, and find out about our Carbon Cutters Scheme. Brown leaves at Fingle Woods

A pair of blue-tailed damselflies mating at Stover Country Park. Many thanks to Dave Smallshire for taking a group of 13 Wildlife Wardens on such an interesting and informative walk! We were lucky to see more than 10 species of dragonfly and damselfly. Stover is a dragonfly hotspot, and 24 species have been recorded since 1974! Thanks to Dave Hutton for taking such beautiful photos like this one.

Finlay’s student placement Finlay Heppell, a student from Bournemouth University, worked with several Wildlife Wardens over the summer as part of his student placement with ACT. Here is a piece that Finlay wrote about his experiences.

Helping nature to thrive at Trusham Churchyard Wildlife Warden, Helen Harding, has been working hard with her local church council to improve Trusham Churchyard for wildlife and to survey the species that can be found there. Helen described what she has been doing as a slow pilgrimage towards hope and has written an inspiring article about it that you can read here.

Community rewilding days at Embercombe Find out more and book onto sessions here. All sessions are free to attend.

Current projects Here is an overview of some of the wonderful things that you have been up to. Abbotskerswell You can listen to Emily Marbaix’s latest podcasts here! Bovey Tracey Janet Miller and Ann Sullivan  held a stand at the Garden Show in Bovey Tracey. They spoke about the WW Scheme, and the public were very interested to find out about the wildlife that can be found in the parish. Janet and Ann have continued to volunteer at Yarner Wood where they have led guided walks and are surveying dormice. Bridford Bridford Wildlife Wardens organised a wildlife gardening competition, which attracted 15 entries ranging from courtyard gardens to expansive wildflower meadows! An informal presentation was held for participants and everyone who entered was given a certificate. Chudleigh Chudleigh Wild hosted ‘Open Gardens’ and twelve gardens were open to the public, including the primary school which has a wildflower area and pond. They held their annual ‘Swift Night’ and had a record count! Chudleigh Wild also hosted two bat evenings for local people and Wildlife Wardens were invited. The highlight, for me, was seeing a greater horseshoe bat up close. Sue Smallshire also kindly demonstrated small mammal trapping to a group of Wildlife Wardens and we caught a wood mouse and a common shrew! College Ward Christine Callard has been working with Alistair Whybrow (a Kingsteignton WW who also leads Kingsteignton Swifts) to install swift boxes in the bell tower of St.Mary’s Church. They are waiting for approval from the Diocese of Exeter. Chris is continuing to sow wildflower seed at St.Mary’s Churchyard and at Ogwell Cross Cemetery. Dunsford Samuel Gray, who is doing a student placement with Bridford Wildlife Wardens, visited Dunsford Churchyard and surveyed moths with local Wildlife Wardens. 70 species were recorded! Julia Kirkland has been writing monthly articles for her parish magazine where she promoted Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Gardening Award, and wrote about species to look out for in August. Ilsington Linda Corkerton asked villagers in Liverton to send her sightings of hedgehogs in the village as well as information about existing hedgehog highways. Linda had a wonderful response from people, and records were submitted to iRecord and PTES’s Hedgehog Street. Linda is also monitoring water quality through the Westcountry CSI, and has signed up to do Riverfly surveys for the River Teign Restoration Project. She is also in discussion with her parish council about managing verges for wildflowers. Kingsteignton Kingsteignton Wild voted for the winner of their nature trail sticker/logo competition. They held a stall at Rydon School Summer Fair where they had information about the nature trail and how to make bug hotels. Alistair Whybrow had a stall in Newton Abbot as part of Swift Awareness Week. Kingsteignton Wild have been offered funding from SWW Neighbourhood Fund! They now have 179 members on their Facebook Group. Shaldon Paul Havemann wrote an article for the parish magazine about how to help wildlife during the heatwave. Teignmouth (project in Dawlish) Marije Zwager helped TDC ranger, John Steward, to count the size and number of the endangered small-flowered catchfly at Dawlish Country Park (DCP). This species had previously been sown there with seed from the Kew Millennium Seedbank as part of the Back from the Brink project. After 5 long hours, they counted 380 specimens! Marije also helped with the annual wildflower survey at DCP and was able to add 30 new species to last year’s list, including common fumitory, wild basil and common fleabane! County Wildlife Site Surveys Wildlife Wardens have worked together across Teignbridge to survey several Unconfirmed Wildlife Sites. These are sites that have been noted as potentially special for wildlife, but have never been properly surveyed. Reports on these surveys have been sent to the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre. If these sites meet criteria, they will be designated as County Wildlife Sites, which gives them recognition and some protection from development. This project will be ongoing and surveys will recommence next spring when plant species are more visible.

Regenerative Farming

Season 2, Episode 7 of the Devon Wildlife Warden Podcast – Click here to listen, or here to read.

This episode brings you:

• Information on what is regenerative farming, and the benefits that it brings.
• An interview with tenant farmer, Mark, about Challacombe Farm, which is the world’s first certified regenerative farm.
• An update on Wildlife Warden projects.
• Emily’s bird and plant of the month.
• Information on how to volunteer with the Devon branch of Butterfly Conservation.
• Details of a Butterfly Conservation moth event.

Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Newsletter

June 2022

Moth trapping event Barry Henwood, the Devon Moth recorder, kindly led a moth trapping evening for Wildlife Wardens at Orley Common. We were fortunate to catch 92 species of moth, which had unusual names, such as willow beauty, orange footman, Chinese character and the swallow prominent. Those that stayed until the end were lucky to see 4 striped hawk-moths, which is a scarce migrant species that most moth enthusiasts would be delighted to see once in their lifetime.

Wildlife Gardening Award UK gardens cover an area larger than all of our national parks combined, so gardening for wildlife can have a huge positive impact.  Devon Wildlife Trust have launched a wildlife gardening award. Households receive a sign to stick on their gate if they can prove that they are doing certain things to help wildlife in their gardens. Successful applicants also receive a book with ideas on wildlife gardening. It’s a great scheme to promote in your local area! Rewilding Britain have some useful ideas on how you can help wildlife in your garden.

Current projects Here is an overview of some of the wonderful things that you have been up to since the March newsletter. Abbotskerswell Emily Marbaix appeared on BBC Spotlight and spoke about projects that are happening in the village. Emily and other members of Abbwild have been managing an orchard and a wildflower verge, and they have recently gained permission from the church warden to improve habitats at the churchyard. As usual, you can listen to Emily’s most recent monthly podcasts here! Ashton WWs for Ashton and Doddidiscombsleigh met with three farmers/landowners to discuss hedgerow management. They have since surveyed hedgerows using the PTES Healthy Hedgerows App, and decided to map hedges within Ashton. Shira has been writing monthly articles for her parish magazine, including topics such as orchards, ponds, hedges, slug pellets, light pollution and rare birds. She has removed three-cornered leek (an invasive, non-native species) from the churchyard, and surveyed an Unconfirmed Wildlife Site for the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre. Bridford Wildlife Wardens have been managing grass verges for wildflowers and plan to undertake baseline surveys to determine what is already there. They have also surveyed the churchyard and are working in collaboration with the church community to manage it for wildlife. They organised a wildlife gardening competition to engage local residents, and have been working with a student from Bicton College who has written articles about moths for the parish magazine. Broadhempston Over the winter, Wildlife Wardens planted a 300-400 meter long hedgerow on farmland, and another 60 saplings on the village playing field. Chudleigh Chudleigh Wild organised a river dipping event for families. Since receiving training from the River Teign Restoration Project, they have also been surveying river invertebrates to determine water quality. The group has been involving local residents in practical conservation tasks, including management of wildflower verges and wildlife gardens throughout the town. Chudleigh Wild have also been surveying orchids at a Devon Special Verge. College Ward With help from a friend and TDC, Christine Callard designed and installed a notice board at Ogwell Cross Cemetery and Wolborough Churchyard to explain to the public what she has been doing to help wildlife. The yellow rattle that Christine seeded at the cemetery is now well established! Dawlish Dave Hutton and Scott Williams organised the Turn the Tide Event in Dawlish as part of the Jubilee celebrations and it was a great success! It had an environmental theme and Local organisations held stands at the event, including the Wildlife Warden Scheme, Devon Wildlife Trust, Dawlish Against Plastic, Sustainable Dawlish, Shores of South Devon, Recycle Devon and many more. There were events and activities for all ages as well as talks and live music. Here is a link to the event’s Facebook page. Dave, Scott, Jo King, Neil Howell and Clive Sheppard-Allen have continued to survey river water quality for the Westcountry CSI. Doddidiscombsleigh Elliot Fairs and Laura Fairs hosted a community orchard event at Embercome as part of national blossom day. They have been planting their own orchard on their smallholding, and are working with other landowners and parish councils to do the same. Dunsford Pip Hayes has continued organising informal wildlife meetings for WWs and other local people at pubs throughout the Teign Valley. Pip and Julia Kirkland worked alongside church wardens and villagers to plant a wildlife area at the churchyard, and even made a sensory bed and a small pond. They surveyed the churchyard in conjunction with Caring for God’s Acre and the Eco Church initiative, and have been surveying hedgerows with the PTES App. Julia has been surveying dormice with someone from Exeter University. Exminster Peter Chandler organised a hedge planting session and invited children from Exminster Primary School’s Eco Team. 200 saplings were planted along bunds at a new development site. Holcombe Burnell Kate Morley finished planting and distributing wild service trees throughout the parish. In total, 71 trees were planted and they have been registered under the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. Kate has continued to survey water quality of rivers for the Westcountry Citizen Science Investigations. Kingsteignton Kingsteignton Wild wrote their first article for the KTC newsletter. They wrote a proposal to install swift boxes on the Community Hall, and provided guidance on sourcing and planting wildflowers. They have made a plan for biodiversity enhancements at Oakford Lawn History Garden, and met with the church warden at St Michaels to discuss how they can work together. The group held a pop-up community nature event where they had a stand with information as well as activities for children and families. The nature trail is progressing and they held a competition to choose a design for the sticker which will be used to mark the route. Ogwell Ogwild invited local residents to help make a stone pile and log pile at Rectory field, which will act as a refuge for various species. They planted a 3.5m oak tree at Rectory Field in commemoration of the Jubilee. The group organised a bat walk for villagers and 33 people attended. Sarah Butcher, lead of the Devon Bat group, led the walk. Shaldon Paul Havemann has been writing monthly articles for the parish magazine. He has covered various topics, including the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch, No Mow May, wildflowers; swallows, house martins and swifts; the right to roam and the importance of wasps. Stokeinteignhead  Jill Connole wrote an article for the parish magazine about how to identify wildlife and mentioned some useful resources! You can find plenty of useful links on the ACT website. Jill helped to put up nest boxes in the churchyard, and also helped to plant 300 trees at the village hall.  Tedburn St.Mary The Tedburn group are looking to create a wildflower verge and make wildlife friendly improvements to the local recreation ground They have also been creating bird boxes, and have plans to do bat and swift surveys.