Patrick Clement: Nature and Conservation, the Work of a Wildlife Group

Nature reserves are often areas reclaimed from a state of dereliction, and they require a huge amount of work to turn them into wildlife habitats. Patrick Clement showed the Malvern Group the example of a small site near Halesowen, where ground was cleared, scrub removed, stiles and footbridges built, hedges laid, a pond was painstakingly dug by hand, and suitable plants were encouraged. Remarkably quickly, nature moved in – newts, toads, dragonflies and beetles in the pond, moorhens nesting on the floating island, voles in the stream, butterflies in the meadow, and birds in the hedges, including a rare pine bunting on one occasion.

A well intentioned nestbox scheme had some surprising results. Many of the 400 boxes were used by squirrels, wasps, bees, and hibernating moths, and not the birds they were intended for! Eventually they had success with birds of various kinds, including tawny owls and kestrels, and Patrick had some superb pictures of those, among his many stunning photos.

WWT is delighted to announce the recent purchase of Hollybed Meadows, near Castlemorton, towards which the local group has contributed. Many thanks to everyone, including all those members of the public who donated so generously when we were collecting at Morrison’s in August.

Our next meeting is on November 6 at 7.30 pm in the Lyttelton Rooms. Dr Peter Richardson will talk about UK Marine Wildlife.

ALISON UREN