Wildwood e-news June 2010
In the June edition of Wildwood's e-newsletter we have:1. Babies galore - we are celebrating the arrival of baby badgers, foxes, owls, beaver, polecat and more - come and see.
2. BBC One Show highlights vital work to rescue Water voles
3. Baby Beaver - Huge hit on BBC News
4. Bill Oddie - picks Wildwood Dormice as his number one animal
5. EVENTS - Booking now!
6. PHOTO DAYS - Take photos of animals around the park
7. Electronic Equipment Needed
1. Babies galore - we are celebrating the arrival of baby badgers, foxes, owls, beaver, polecat and more - come and see.
Photo Credits Les willis, Jon White and many thanks to all our photography enthusiasts who help us out with photos
We have had a bumper season of births - so make sure you come and see some of our lovely baby animals. The baby beaver can be seen in the big lodge and there is a baby badger in our set (although mum is not letting the cub out yet...)2. BBC One Show highlights vital work to rescue Water voles
Wildwood’s vital work has been supported by the BBC Wildlife fund and to highlight this, the One Show followed the work of Wildwood Trust’s team in the water vole conservation centre.
Modern farming, land drainage and destruction of river banks have combined to drive the water vole to the very edge of extinction with a catastrophic 90% drop in numbers over the past 20 or so years.
Twenty or thirty years ago, if you walked along any British river, you might easily see Water Voles shambling along the bank, or dropping into the river with a distinctive ‘plop’ and swimming across the water. But today, a Water Vole is a very rare sight.
Wildwood Trust has helped rescue water voles from sites which were about to be destroyed by development. These water voles were brought back to Wildwood's specially constructed water vole rescue centre. From there the animals and their offspring are taken to newly created sites, where the habitat has been restored to a state suitable for water voles to thrive.
Scientific research so far shows that most of these rescued water voles have survived and created new colonies that could help prevent the water voles extinction in the UK.
3. Baby Beavers - Huge hit on BBC News
Wildwood's two adorable newborn baby beavers, born on Thursday 14th May 2010, made an exciting debut on the BBC’s local television news. BBC Environment Reporter Yvette Austin has followed the story of the Beavers and previously joined the Wildwood & Kent Wildlife Trust team to pick up our first beavers on our expedition to Norway ten years ago.
The beaver kits, as they are known, are set to help with projects to restore this remarkable mammal back to our riverbanks. The beaver are a part of a bold and innovative conservation programme, designed to protect and restore our wetland habitats.
Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust, who first brought the European beaver into the UK in 2001, have pioneered the use of beaver as a wildlife conservation tool. The success of this project has inspired a number of other projects in Gloucestershire and in Scotland.
The baby beavers parents were given to Wildwood Trust as a gift from the German Government, and they arrived in the UK earlier last year. Their journey to Wildwood was documented in a special two part programme shown on countryfile.
Peter Smith, Wildwood's Chief Executive said:
Peter Smith, Wildwood's Chief Executive said:
"More than 20 other countries, including France, Germany and Denmark have reintroduced beavers and the experience has been very positive. Beavers fit into the landscape very well and in places like Brittany they have become part of the environment, with minimal damage to agriculture and other forestry.
4. Bill Oddie - picks Wildwood Dormice as his number one animal
Bill Oddie came to Wildwood to film his top 10 wildlife frights and delights, and named the dormouse as his number one favourite animal. He is pictured holding one of Wildwood Trust's dormice from our breeding programme. Wildwood's dormouse breeding centre helps breed many dormice every year for reintroduction to woodlands where they have been made extinct.
5. EVENTS - Booking now!
1st – 4th June Half Term
Summer Celebration week
Tues-Fri, 2-3pm, celebrate summer with a range of seasonal crafts all about minibeasts, including ladybirds, spiders, dragonflies (£2.00 per person for materials)
Sunday June 13
2-3pm Minibeast Sunday
Be a mini-scientist and discover which tiny animals live on the woodland floor, using sieves and pooters to collect them. £2 each. Must book.
Saturday-Sunday
July 10-11 Fossil Weekend!
Owing to the popularity of our previous one-day fossil roadshow over the last two years, this year we are now hosting a two-day Fossil Weekend. Fossil experts from Kent RIGS will run both a roadshow and fossil walk on the beach over the two days Road show – free admission; must book for beach walks.
Monday July 26 Thunder Moon night tour 8-10pm (hot meal at 7.30pm) £20 each, min. age 10yrs. Must book
Wednesdays August 4, 11 and 18
Junior Zoo Keeper half day events:
August 4 and 11 for 7-11 year olds; 10am-12noon, £50 each. Must book
August 18 for 12-17 year olds, one session, 10am-4pm, £100, Must book.
TODDLER CLUB
For members with pre-school children, meet in the restaurant 10.30am-12.00pm.
Every Monday except for school holidays. For info contact Penny Cornet on 01227 712111.
6. PHOTO DAYS - Take photos of animals around the park
Wildwood is offering the opportunity to take photos of our animals with our resident photographer Ryan Ladbrook.
These days will allow photographers of all skills levels the chance to get close to and photograph British animals, at the same time Ryan will be on hand to give help and advice on how to get those special shots.
Different animals will be photographed across the day.
Days will run from 10:30 – 12:30 and 1:30 – 3:30 allowing an hour for lunch when you can make use of our restaurant or bring your own packed lunch.
The days will have a minimum of four people up to a maximum of 10.
The cost will be £75 per person.
These unique days are on June 25th and July 30th this summer, with further dates for the autumn.
If you would like to book or would like more information please contact Beth on 01227 712111 or e-mail beth@wildwoodtrust.org
All information and booking form available at
7. Electronic Equipment Needed
Wildwood loves to recycle and is again in need of equipment.
Computer monitors LCD only (including broken ones), TV’s LCD/plasma only (including broken ones), computers/laptops less than 5 years old, digital projectors, USB keyboards and mice, duplex laser printers, webcams, networked attached storage, digital cameras/digital video recorders, sat navs, PDA, phones cordless, mobiles & smart phones.
If you can donate any of the above please get in contact with the office on 01227 712111
Peter Smith
Wildwood Trust
e-mail: petersmith@wildwoodtrust.org
