Wildwood e-news April '12
1) Spring events at Wildwood
2) Job vacancies at Wildwood
3) New konik horse foals
4) Cute baby red squirrels
5) Birthday Parties at Wildwood
6) Conservation courses
7) Easter bunny trail winners announced
8) Animal of the month - Adder
9) Stuff we need - can you help?
1) Spring events at Wildwood
We have lots of exciting events lined up this spring, including many free events!
Sunday 29th Apr - Leapers & Creepers! - FREE EVENT
What's the difference between snakes and slow-worms, or lizards and newts? Learn all about the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians with our experts and meet some creatures who leap, creep, slither and slide!
11am-3pm. Free event. Drop in at anytime.
Sunday 6th May - Hare's Moon Night Tour
See our animals under the moonlight on a guided Night Tour of Wildwood. Night Tours coincide with the full moon, giving you a chance to see our animals at a time when the darkness belongs to them. Experience the wolves tracking you silently through the woods like silver shadows on silent feet. Hear the beavers splashing in their pond and spot the wild boar rooting under the pine trees.The tour includes a hot meal in our restaurant, served 30 minutes before the start of the tour. Tours are scheduled to last approximately 2 hours.
7.30pm-10pm. £25 per person (min age 10yrs). Must book.
Saturday 12th May - Birdsong Walk - FREE EVENT
Spring is the time when the woodlands come alive with the sound of birdsong. Listen to the spring symphony on a guided walk through the woodland and learn to identify key woodland bird calls with Natural Heritage Officer Steve Kirk.
10am - 12pm. Free event. Must book.
Sunday 13th May - Bee Day - FREE EVENT
Did you know we make our own honey at Wildwood? Visit our bee area to meet our resident bee-keeper and find out all about the fascinating world of bees and bee-keeping.
11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. Free event. Drop in at any time.
Saturday 19th May - Mammal Society Water Vole Course
Learn about water voles, how to identify water voles and their signs. Opportunity to handle a water vole under supervision.
£95 per person / £120 organisations.
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk
Sunday 20th May - Be Nice to Nettles - FREE EVENT
We all know about the nettle's formidable stinging power, but do you know just how useful the humble nettle is? Learn about nettles throughout our history and we have used them for food, clothing and medicines with Natural Heritage Officer Steve Kirk.
11am - 3pm. Free event. Drop in at any time.
Sunday 27th May – Spring Tree Walk - FREE EVENT
Discover many of Kent's woodland trees and learn how to identify them on a 2-hour guided walk through the woodland with Natural Heritage Officer, Steve Kirk.
1.30pm - 3.30pm. Free event. Must book.
Tuesday 29th May - Photo Day
Wildlife photography with tuition from our resident photographer. Learn how to get the most from your camera and enjoy exclusive access around the park with special animal feeds to help you get those close-up shots. Over 18 unless accompanied by an adult who is also taking part in the photo day.
10.30am - 4pm £79 per person (min age 18yrs). Must book
2) Job vacancies at Wildwood
We have the following vacancies at the park. To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.
Bookkeeper & Administrator
Function: Co-ordination of financial systems and administrative support
Responsible to: Administrative Co-ordinator
Salary: £12,000 to £17,000 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)
The post holder will support a number of tasks that are crucial to the wellbeing of a growing organisation, notably financial & office management. The post holder will work closely with the Administrative Co-ordinator to ensure sound financial administration and the smooth running of a busy office.
Specifically:
- To maintain the Wildwood procedures and systems and ensuring an efficient secretarial facility.
- Responsible for facilitating internal communications, particularly through the dissemination of all incoming communications.
- To maintain personal records, staff timesheets, produce letters of appointment and arrange advertisements and interviews.
- To assist with all financial administration, playing a key role in cost control and making financial systems effective.
- To ensure that Wildwood's health and safety arrangements are effective, consistent and well documented across the board.
The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.
To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.
Keeper / Senior Keeper
Function: Care of the Wildwood animal collection & conservation projects
Responsible to: Head Keeper
Salary Keeper: £13,000 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)
Salary Senior Keeper: up to £15,272 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)
This role will suit a fit, practical person who can work outdoors during all weathers doing a physically demanding job.
Specifically:
- Care for our collection of British native & once native wildlife.
- Build and maintain our natural woodland animal enclosures.
- Help educate the public through talks and demonstrations about our animals.
- Help our conservation projects to promote wildlife conservation.
The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.
To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.
Water Vole Keeper (maternity cover)
Function: Husbandry of Wildwood's water voles
Responsible to: Conservation Officer
Salary Keeper: £11,364 to £13,174 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)
This role will suit a fit, practical person who can work outdoors during all weathers doing a physically demanding job. You need to be able to work independently as well as part of the Keeper & Conservation team.
Specifically:
- Husbandry of water voles in our conservation centre
- Captive breeding of water voles
- Preparation of water voles for reintroduction
- Trapping, monitoring and release of water voles
The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.
To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.
Cafe assistants (temporary summer cover)
Function: To assist in Wildwood's Beaver Lodge Cafe
Responsible to: Cafe Manager
Hours: Temporary summer cover, flexible hours
Salary: on application
The Beaver Lodge Cafe is set amongst the ancient woodland of the Wildwood Park on Herne Common and, with a very busy summer ahead of us, we need your help!
If you are fantastic with customers and are willing to multi task behind the scenes too, please send your CV and a covering letter telling us why you'll be a valuable addition to our summer team
To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter to info@wildwoodtrust.org
3) New Konik horse foals at Wildwood
Welcome to Wildwoods' new cute wild horse foals
Wildwood is celebrating a boost to its conservation programme with the arrival of 2 beautiful wild horse foals. The first foal, a female, arrived in March and the second (a male) was born last week. Both can be seen exploring their enclosure at the park. Senior keeper Alan Keeling said "Spring is an exciting time of year when we have births at the park. Both foals are doing very well; they are strong and healthy and are mixing well with the rest of the herd."
Konik foals are able to stand as soon as one hour after birth and start walking and running soon after in order to keep up with the herd. New foals are weaned at around 2 months and are eating grass with the rest of the herd by 5 months. The foals are unlikely to be officially named as they will eventually be moved out of the park to join other herds in Wildwood's conservation grazing programme.
The new arrivals are currently living with the small herd of horses resident at Wildwood, but most of our horses reside on nature reserves. Wildwood manages herds of Koniks on nature reserves around Kent, at Stodmarsh, Gibben's Brook, Wraik Hill and South Swale. There are public footpaths running through or past all four nature reserves so the horses can be seen by the public. Numbers of horses on the reserves varies as foals are born and horses are moved from one reserve to another in order to avoid inbreeding and to maintain harmony amongst the herd.
For more information on Wildwood's conservation grazing programme click here.
The keeper team at Wildwood are celebrating as our red squirrel breeding progamme goes from strength to strength with a four babies born at the park.
The four new babies, the first of which was born at the end of March are now venturing out of their nest boxes and are Wildwood's first brood this year. After maturing at the park they will either be used for captive breeding or will be sent to a conservation site such as the island of Anglesey in Wales to live wild and free, helping form a buffer population to safeguard the species against national extinction.
Red squirrels went extinct in Kent in the 1960's but many people still remember them from their childhood when once many areas like Kent teemed with these beautiful acrobats of the trees.
Peter Smith, Wildwood Trust's Chief Executive said: "Red squirrels are one of the most beautiful animals in the UK but sadly they face extinction unless urgent action is taken. But it's not yet too late. If we can help restore areas of woodland to a native state and make a concerted effort, we might just be able to tip the balance back in the red squirrel's favour. Wildwood Trust, as a charity, is committed to restoring our native and once native species and will continue to champion the restoration of natural woodlands."
Don't forget to look out for the new arrivals on your next visit to the park!
5) Wildwood birthday parties
Celebrate your child's special day with a Wildwood birthday party and give them a day to remember!
A Wildwood party is the perfect way to celebrate your child's special day with VIP treatment, your chance to meet an animal and a fantastic birthday meal in our restaurant, the birthday group can then run off some steam in the play area or around the park.
Wildwood Birthday Parties include:
- All day admission to Wildwood
- A birthday meal in the Beaver Lodge restaurant
- A meet an animal session at an animal enclosure
- Free colouring sheet for every child
- A cuddly toy gift from our shop for the birthday child
- Free entry for 2 adults accompanying the party group
Birthday parties cost £10 per child (£7 for children who are members) and are for a minimum of 10 children. To remember your day, you can also choose to include birthday party bags from the Wildwood gift shop at a cost to suit you.
For more information visit our website:www.wildwoodtrust.org or call Laura in the shop on 01227 712 111.
6) Consevation courses announced
Wildwood has a new diary of conservation courses. More events are to follow - to keep up to date please click here to visit our conservation page
Saturday 19th May - Mammal Society Water Vole Course
Suitable for all levels of experience, this enjoyable, detailed and highly informative one day event focuses on one of Britain and Ireland's most iconic river dwelling mammals, the Water Vole.
The course includes information on identifying Water Voles and their field signs, Water Vole habitat requirements, their ecology and their predators and threats. It also provides details on their legal protection and the necessary actions to ensure that those working in a riverside environment fulfil their legal obligations. The course will also include an opportunity to see captive Water Voles in situ at The Wildwood Trust and possibly handle and sex the Water Vole under supervision.
£95 per person / £120 organisations.
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk
Sunday 24th June - Owl Pellet Analysis
Dissect owl pellets and learn to identify the small mammal remains inside. We have pellets for you to practice with or you may wish to bring along some that you have collected yourself.
9.30am - 12.30pm. £20 per person.
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 7th July - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.
11am - 3.15pm £40 per person.
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
Sunday 15th July - Kent Mammal Identification Course
Learn how to identify our larger mammals form their tracks, signs and sightings. Please note that this course does not include mice, voles or shrews which are covered in the Small Mammal Trapping Workshop
9.45am - 4pm £30 per person.
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 21st July - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence.
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness.
£95 per person / £120 organisations.
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk
Saturday 28th July - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.
11am - 3.15pm £40 per person.
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 18th August - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence.
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness.
£95 per person / £120 organisations.
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk
Saturday 8th September - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.
11am - 3.15pm £40 per person.
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 22nd September - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence.
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness.
£95 per person / £120 organisations.
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk
For more information on our conservation services, please contact our team on 01227 711 471 or email: conservation@wildwoodtrust.org
7) Easter bunny trail - winners announced
Congratulations to the Hammond family who are the lucky winners of this year's Easter Bunny Trail! They win this fantastic cuddly bunny (pictured). We would like to say a big thank-you to all of our members and visitors that came to the park over the holidays, especially those who braved some pretty serious April showers - we hope to see you again very soon!
8) Animal of the month - Adder
The adder is one of only three native snakes in the UK, along with the grass snake and smooth snake. It is probably the most commonly seen British snake because when disturbed it's natural instinct is not to hide in the undergrowth, but instead to 'freeze' in self-defence and rely on its camouflage to keep it hidden. The best time to see them is in spring when they emerge from their hibernation dens. Adders are Britain's only native venomous snakes, although they will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on. Despite the reputation that comes with being a venomous snake, adder venom is designed to kill voles so only causes a bee-sting like inflammation in healthy adult humans.
Life as a reptile
Adders can be seen in a variety of habitats, from woodland to riverbanks. They eat small rodents, such as voles and mice, as well as lizards, frogs and newts and young birds from nests on the ground. When hunting, adders strike swiftly at the prey, injecting a deadly dose of venom.
The adder is occasionally confused with the grass snake but adders have thicker, shorter bodies and a distinctive zigzag stripe on their back. They are found in a wide range of colours, including all black. Females are usually brown with a darker brown stripe, males tend to be lighter in colour with a bold black zigzag. Adders are also sometimes referred to as common vipers or European vipers.
Like all reptiles in Britain, adders hibernate through the winter, generally from late September or early October to late February or early March. In spring adders disperse from their hibernation sites and spend lots of time basking in the sun. The males shed their skins at this time of year and mating also takes place. The adders then move to feeding sites for the summer.
Adder families
Warm spring days are a busy time for adders, with males looking for females and occasionally wrestling with other males for supremacy. After mating, females seek out a suitable place to give birth, often travelling up to 2 kilometres from their hibernation site. Young are born in late August or early September.
Unlike most reptiles, adders do not lay eggs. Young snakes are born live, about the size and shape of an earthworm, and are a perfect miniature of the adult snake. In the autumn, adult snakes will follow scent trails left by other adders to find their way back to the hibernation site, which is often used by many snakes over several years. The young adders tend to hibernate in the area where they were born, although the number of young which survive until the following spring will depend on the severity of the winter.
Adders At Wildwood
We have male and female adders at Wildwood. The females are stouter than the males and are more often seen basking in the sunshine. All our females are different colours; black, green, olive green and brown, all with brown zigzag markings. The males are yellow with a black zigzag on their backs. Our adders are usually active between April and September but if the day is too cold they will be hidden away and if the day is too hot they may warm up very quickly in the morning and then move into the shade.
Current Status of the Adder
Adders are found throughout mainland Britain, right up to the far north of Scotland, but they are not found in Ireland or the Isle of Man. Adders are still widespread and locally common, particularly in the southwest, although numbers are in decline. Habitat loss is the main threat to adder populations, from intensive agriculture, forestry and urban development. They also suffer from human persecution, despite being a protected species. Young adders are threatened by a variety of predators, including domestic cats, birds of prey such as the common buzzard and sometimes adult snakes. Others may be killed and eaten by rodents whilst in hibernation. Adders are protected by law against being killed or injured through human activity.
Mythology
Like many other snakes, the adder has been the subject of numerous myths, legends and superstitions. There are stories of female adders swallowing their young to protect them, but in reality this would not work as her strong stomach acids would digest them! The story probably arose when a pregnant female was killed with well-developed young inside her. There are also many superstitions regarding the adder as an omen, either of good or ill fortune. For instance, the ancient Britons believed that crossing the path of an adder would bring bad luck, whereas killing the first adder of spring would bring good luck. There are many mythical cures for adder bites. Of course, as adder bites are rarely fatal, these would often have appeared to work! Rubbing on the grease from an adder's body fat was supposed to work, as was killing the snake and rubbing it whole on the wound or even jumping over water within sight of the snake. Adders were also used to cure other ailments. Dried adder skins were wrapped around the relevant part of the body to cure rheumatism, thorn pricks and headaches. They were even added to soup into the early 20th century as a cure for constipation.
9) Stuff we need - can you help?
As a conservation charity we love to recycle and can make use of lots of things that might otherwise go into landfill. We urgently need the following items for use around the park, if you can help please contact the office on 01227 712 111.
- Large plastic storage boxes with lids - For use in our new conservation building.
- Old sheepskin slippers or boots - for use by our educational workshops (sheepskin prefferred, faux fur OK).
- Flatscreen TFT computer monitors - for use in the Wildwood office.
- Glass fishtanks / vivariums (min 2ft long, lids not required) - for use in our conservation centre.
If you can help with any of the above items please contact the office on 01227 712 111. Anything you can help with will be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Fiona Paterson
Wildwood Trust
Herne Common,
Herne Bay,
Kent
CT6 7LQ
