Wildwood Newsletter - September 2018

Wildwood Newsletter - September 2018

Beaver pond gets a clean-up   Our beaver pond has been undergoing maintenance over the last few weeks and the enclosure is now once again open. Thank you for your patience while we have been making these improvements!

Birds of prey   This summer, Wildwood's birds of prey have been flown daily while on a monitored diet. Their regular flying regime has now finished and the birds are being fed in preparation for their annual moult. We plan to have them back flying in Spring.

Harvest mouse survey   Wildwood Trust is working in collaboration with the Kent Mammal Group on a project to find out the current distribution of the Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus) across the county of Kent. The species is thought to be declining, but without an up-to-date survey of their distribution it is difficult to know its true conservation status. If you are interested in helping us reach our goal of surveying the whole of Kent for Harvest Mice you can attend one of the free “Harvest Mouse Ecology and Surveying” courses at Wildwood (and at other locations around Kent) that will give you all the background and field skills required to go out and survey your local area for Harvest Mice. The next survey season has just begun, just go to our courses page to see when the next training day is happening or contact harvestmouse@wildwoodtrust.org for more information.   Book a 'Harvest Mouse Surveying' course

Red deer in full rut, reindeer shedding antlers   Our red deer stags, Desmond and Desmondson, have shed their antler velvet and are now in rut for the Autumn. They're both a bit noisy and will be bellowing constantly. This is regular behaviour for the stags, and quite an impressive display of courtship. Our reindeer are still shedding their antler velvet and should be showing full antlers within a few weeks. We can't wait to see reindeer Kenny's magnificant antlers in their full glory.

Bears are getting sleepy   Our bears, particularly Scruffy, are slowing down in preparation for their winter torpor. We will start keeping them in their small enclosure at some point in October when we feel that they are on the verge of torpor, so make sure to visit the park before the end of September for your bear fix. They'll be active again in March 2019.

Red squirrel reintroductions   You may remember that back in Spring, Wildwood's red squirrel captive breeding programme was once more successful as we welcomed baby red squirrels to the park. In the next month, these grown up squirrels will be transported to two sites in Wales to live wild and free, helping form a population to safeguard and expand the species. After efforts to reintroduce pine martens over the last 3 years by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, it is now hoped the red squirrel can out compete invasive grey squirrels from North America to once again become part of lives, eventually being restored across Southern Britain.

Autumn/Winter Conservation Courses   Our popular Wildwood nature courses are now available for the Autumn/Winter period, catering for complete beginners and amateur naturalists through to wildlife professionals. We cover a variety of topics ranging from species ecology, conservation and handling to outdoor crafts. To find out more, visit: https://wildwoodtrust.org/wildwood-kent/conservation/conservation-courses To book, visit our shop: https://wildwoodtrust.shop/collections/conservation-courses

World rivers day   This week saw #WorldRiversDay which celebrates all of the animals who live on our waterways, including the water vole. Our work to stop the extinction of the water vole appears in this video by the Sanger Institute, who are mapping the genetics of our most threatened wildlife.   Watch the video here

Halloween half-term at Wildwood   Summer is just a distant memory as we celebrate Halloween half-term at Wildwood from Saturday 20th October to Sunday 28th October. Each day, paying visitors to the park will be able to enjoy free Halloween crafts & events, spooky animal talks, meet a snake and a fiendish witch's trail. We'll also be holding a pumpkin competition and three special 'Coming of the Ice Age' days which we're very excited about! More information will be up on our website at the start of October!

Santa's Grotto   It's only September, but we're already planning the building of the best Santa's Grotto that we have ever had at Wildwood. We're now taking bookings for selected dates and will be revealing full dates and information on our website soon. For more details, email help@wildwoodtrust.org or phone 01227 209621

Wolf cub update   Our four gorgeous male wolf cubs are now 20 weeks old and, although they aren't considered adults until 2 years old, are almost as big as their parents. All four cubs and their parents are in very good health and becoming more active each day.

Save our red squirrels   Wildwood are delighted to announce that thanks to our unbelievably amazing supporters, we did reach our target of £3,750 in pledges before the deadline! We are so grateful for all of your support and thanks to all of those pledges, we will now be able to unlock the maximum amount of funds possible through the Big Give. This also means we have qualified and will be taking part in the Christmas Challenge (27th Nov – 4th Dec) https://www.thebiggive.org.uk/christmas-challenge/ which will help raise even more to save these beautiful animals and ensure they have a wild future! For everyone who wanted to contribute, but were unable to make a pledge, this will be your chance to get involved and make a difference. Please save the date and make a donation during the Christmas Challenge week to get your donations doubled!

We're looking for a fridge   Our animals need a replacement fridge to keep their food fresh after one of our long serving fridges came to the end of its life. If you are upgrading your kitchen and getting rid of your old fridge, please let us know at info@wildwoodtrust.org and we can probably take it off of your hands. We have a lack of space, so can only accept single fridges rather than the American style freezer/fridge. Thanks!

Picture of the month

FOLLOW US Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildwoodtrust Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewildwoodtrust   ABOUT WILDWOOD Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Wildwood Kent: 01227 712 111 Wildwood Devon: 01404 822 188 info@wildwoodtrust.org

Wildwood Conservation Courses

CONSERVATION COURSES  October 2018 - February 2019

Wildwood is proud to announce details of their upcoming Autumn and Winter conservation courses for professionals, students and nature lovers. All levels of experience are welcome to attend. For enquiries, please contact us on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org. Most courses can be booked online at https://wildwoodtrust.shop/collections/conservation-courses

Download and print the full leaflet here

Small Mammal Survey Skills Saturday 13th October Tutor: Suzanne Kynaston In partnership with Kent Mammal Group (KMG) Learn how to survey for our smallest mammals using live, humane traps. Includes handling, sexing and identification, trap designs and mechanisms and principles of baiting and setting traps, surveying methods and legislation. 9.30am - 4.30pm £30 per person * * Book together with Kent Mammal ID course held on 27.10.18 for £50

Fungi Ecology and Identification part 1 Saturday 20th October Tutor: Steve Kirk Aimed at beginners, after a presentation to introduce this amazing life form, specimens will be looked at and discussed in the classroom. The course includes a foray in the park and the woods of two hours or more, depending on conditions, and a chance to make a collection. Participants will have the opportunity to take digital photographs and notes as they are given insights into how to identify fungi as well as background information on their ecology, history, folklore and uses, including as food and medicine. 10.00am – 4.00pm £30 per person * * Book together with Fungi Ecology part 2 held on 10.11.18 for £50

Kent Mammal Identification Saturday 27th October Tutor: Hazel Ryan In partnership with Kent Mammal Group (KMG) Learn how to identify our larger mammals from their tracks, signs and sightings. Includes a tour of the park to see some of the animals in the flesh and a close up examination of skins, skulls and antlers. Please note that this course does not include mice, voles or shrews which are covered in the Small Mammal Survey Skills course. 9.45am – 4.15pm £30 per person * * Book together with Small Mammal Survey Skills course 13.10.18 for £50

Kent Mammal Tracks and Signs Saturday 3rd November Tutor: Suzanne Kynaston In partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust Learn about which mammals might be living in your area by identifying the signs (including tracks, droppings and feeding remains) they may have left behind. The course includes a tour of the park, a ‘Who nibbled this nut?’ practical and a poo quiz to test your newfound knowledge! 9.45am - 4.15pm £33 per person * Please book with Kent Wildlife Trust 01622 662012 or email studydays@kentwildlife.org.uk * KWT volunteers, senior citizens, unemployed and students entitled to £5 discount.

Harvest Mouse Ecology and Surveying Saturday 3rd November Tutor: Steve Kirk In Partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kent Mammal Group (KMG) This course is for anyone wishing to participate in the Kent Harvest Mouse Survey. It will inform you about the key factors affecting the status and distribution of harvest mice in this country. Examine a variety of harvest mouse nests and gain the practical surveying experience in the field needed for the survey. This course will take place at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. 10.00am – 4.00pm Free for survey volunteers * * To book, email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

Fungi Ecology and Identification part 2 Saturday 10th November Tutor: Steve Kirk Aimed at intermediate level, i.e. those who have completed part 1 or who have been on previous forays who wish to expand their knowledge. This course will include an extensive foray in the park and woods, including drawing fungi. More scientific terms will be applied than in part 1. Participants will be introduced to some simple chemical tests to assist in the identification of certain species. They will also be taught how to make spore prints and will examine spores under the microscope to understand their use in the identification process. 10.00am - 4.00pm £30 per person * * Book together with Fungi Ecology part 1 held on 20.10.18 for £50

Harvest Mouse Ecology and Surveying for Consultants Saturday 17th November Tutor: Steve Kirk A course designed for environmental professionals such as ecological consultants, reserve wardens and other land managers to raise awareness of this important and frequently overlooked small mammal, in this the 250th anniversary year since its discovery. The morning will be spent with a classroom-based presentation on the most up-to-date understanding of harvest mouse ecology, and will also cover different survey techniques to search for the presence of this Species of Principal Importance. There will be an opportunity to view live harvest mice in Wildwood’s captive breeding programme and also to examine specimen nests. The afternoon will be spent in the field surveying and finding evidence of these creatures, to demonstrate some of the factors that might influence their distribution in the environment. 10.00am - 4.00pm £50 per person

Connecting with Nature through Art Sunday 18th November Tutor: Laura Thomas-Walters As more of us live in cities we can feel increasingly disconnected from the natural world. Art has the power to bridge this divide, capturing our hearts and minds to instil in us a renewed appreciation for wildlife. During this workshop you will learn about how images of animals can engage people in conservation and create your own animal art on a tote bag. You will also have the opportunity to see and sketch some of Britain’s most iconic wildlife species in the flesh. 10.00am - 1.30pm £25 per person

Wildwood’s Natural Skincare Lab Sunday 25th November Tutors: Donna Murphy and Helen Lynn In this hands-on one day course, learn how to formulate your own medicinal balms, deodorants, scrubs and other natural skincare products. Find out about the detrimental impacts to health, wildlife and the environment from the plastic packaging and ingredients used in everyday skincare and personal care products. Discuss how you can reduce the impact of your own routine and your exposure to potentially harmful ingredients. You’ll work with herbs, essential oils, nut oils, butters and a range of other natural ingredients to make your own products to take away with you, along with the formulations to get you started in setting up your very own skincare and cosmetics chemistry lab at home. Take home what you make as gifts or to pamper yourself. For adults and young people. Minimum age 14. Conditions apply for under 18s, please email or phone before booking. 10.00am - 3.00pm £40 per person

Festive Willow Wreaths Saturday 1st December Tutor: Hazel Ryan Use locally grown colourful willow and dogwood stems to make a re-usable wreath base then decorate it with natural materials, all sourced locally. Take it home to hang on your front door or as a table decoration. Materials provided. 10.30am - 1.00pm £25 per person

Small Mammal Survey Skills Saturday 12th January Tutor: Hazel Ryan In partnership with Kent Mammal Group (KMG) Learn how to survey for our smallest mammals using live, humane traps. Includes handling, sexing and identification, trap designs and mechanisms and principles of baiting and setting traps, surveying methods and legislation. 9.30am - 4.30pm £30 per person * * Book together with Kent Mammal ID Course held on 9.2.18 for £50

Harvest Mouse Ecology and Surveying Saturday 19th January Tutor: Steve Kirk In Partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kent Mammal Group (KMG) This course is for anyone wishing to participate in the Kent Harvest Mouse Survey. It will inform you about the key factors affecting the status and distribution of harvest mice in this country. Examine a variety of harvest mouse nests and gain the practical surveying experience in the field needed for the survey. 10.00am - 4.00pm Free for survey volunteers * * To book, email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

Skull Preparation Course Saturday 26th January Tutor: Anne Riddell Hands-on course for bones enthusiasts. How to prepare a mammal skull for education or reference use, plus what skulls can tell us about the age, gender and health of their former owners. Prepare animals such as rabbits or water voles, but participants are able to bring a specimen of their own in to prepare if preferred. 10.30am - 4.00pm  £30 per person

Kent Mammal Identification Saturday 9th February Tutor: Suzanne Kynaston In partnership with Kent Mammal Group (KMG) Learn how to identify our larger mammals from their tracks, signs and sightings. Includes a tour of the park to see some of the animals in the flesh and a close up examination of skins, skulls and antlers. Please note that this course does not include mice, voles or shrews which are covered in the Small Mammal Survey Skills course. 9.45am - 4.15pm  £30 per person * * Book together with Kent Mammal ID Course held on 12.1.18 for £50

Important Information: * Minimum age for all courses is 16yrs unless specified. All under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult unless specified. * All courses are held at Wildwood Trust, unless otherwise specified, and include Wildwood entry fees and materials. Wildwood does not provide transport. * All courses are booked directly with Wildwood unless otherwise stated, please check listing for details. * All courses must be paid for at the time of booking and are non-refundable unless cancelled by Wildwood. * Lunch is not provided. Participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch or purchase lunch in the Wildwood Cafe.

Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Wildwood: 01227 711 471 courses@wildwoodtrust.org