Plant a tree to keep cool...

Plant a tree to keep cool...

 

While Britain swelters under soaring temperatures, one of the best places to be is beside a tree, nature's very own air conditioning system.

 

 

The trees of Wildwood offer visitors welcome relief from the sun and offer an amazing air conditioning effect thanks to water evaporating from their leaves, up to 14°C on the hottest days.

 

 

Ancient man was no fool and often built their homes next to trees, some archaeological evidence suggests that man used different types of trees to keep him cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

 

Scientists are now rediscovering this lost knowledge in their quest to make us more energy efficient.

 

So the advice for keeping cool this summer is to plant some trees or take a visit to Wildwood Trust and spend the afternoon beneath our cooling canopy of trees, looking at the animals that would have surrounded our wise ancestors as they kept cool.

 

Peter Smith, Wildwood's Chief Executive stated:

 

"Remember to plant some trees in front of your house or office this autumn and especially in front of any air conditioning units.

 

I am amazed at how many air conditioning units are left in direct sunlight, just by planting a tree you could drastically reduce the electricity it uses and help cut down on global warming."

 

The Wildwood 'Woodland Discovery Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here.

 

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. www.wildwoodtrust.org  01227 712111

 

 

 

Why trees are good at keeping us cool:

 

1. Trees help keep the air and soil near gardens moist by releasing water through their stomata in a process called transpiration. Every Tree 'transpires' as much water as a tap on full. It is this process that cools down the air. Research by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory suggests that trees lower the air temperature by 3°F to 6°F (2°C to 4°C) in the vicinity just by the transpirational effect.

 

2. Effectively shading a house with tall trees can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 10 degrees when temperatures soar.

 

3. Trees planted to shade an air conditioning unit require less energy to cool a building. Keeping a building cooler and saving you money.

 

4. Deciduous trees planted on the south side of buildings stop sunlight in the summer but when their leaves drop off allow sunlight to warm the house in the winter. This cooling effect has been shown to decrease energy use in a home by 17% and 30% in two case studies in America.

 

5. Evergreen trees planted on the north side of buildings to protect buildings from prevailing winds during the winter can decrease wind speed by half, therefore, decreasing winter energy consumption.

 

 

***********************ENDS**********************

 

 

Peter Smith

Chief Executive

Wildwood Trust

 

Registered Charity No 1093702

 

Wildwood Trust

Herne Common

Herne Bay

Kent

CT6 7LQ

 

e-mail:      peter@wildwoodtrust.org

Tel:          01227 713881

Mobile:     07986 828229

Fax:         01227 711900

www.wildwoodtrust.org

 

Wildwood Trust is Kent's unique 'Woodland Discovery Park', a visitor attraction with a difference.

 

Wildwood is not only the best place to bring the family for a day out, but it is also a bold and innovative new charity, backed by the UK's leading wildlife conservationists. As a new charity Wildwood needs everyone's support in its mission to save our native and once native wildlife from extinction.

 

Wildwood Trust's vision is to bring back our true 'wildwood', a unique new way of restoring Britain's land to its natural state. This involves releasing large wild herbivores and developing conservation grazing systems to restore natural ecological processes to help Britain team with wildlife again.

  

The Wildwood 'Woodland Discovery Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here.

 

Set in a sublime 38 acres of Ancient Woodland, Wildwood offers visitors a truly unique experience. Come Nose to Nose with our secretive badgers, experience what is like to be hunted by a real live pack of wolves, watch a charging wild boar or track down a beaver in his lodge.

 

Wildwood Trust runs a highly successful programme of Conservation Projects – we are the UK's leading experts in rescuing and re-establishing colonies of Britain's most threatened mammal, the water vole. Wildwood Trust has pioneered the use of ancient wild horses to restore nature reserve. Wildwood Trust has been at the forefront of efforts to re-establish the European Beaver back in Britain where they belong. European Beaver have been proven to help manage water ways to bring back a huge range of Plants, insects and animals

 

Wildwood hosting BIAZA Joint Conference

 
www.wildwoodtrust.org

Joint BIAZA Research Symposium & Native Species Working Group Conference
17th - 19th July at Wildwood

Tickets on sale now - Book early to avoid disappointment!

 

Wednesday 17th July - Research Symposium
A full day of talks focusing on research topics such as captive animal behaviour and zoo practices.

Thursday 18th July - Native Species Working Group & Research Symposium
A joint conference day with talks and training on native species running alongside research talks.

Friday 19th July - Native Species Working Group
A full day of native species talks with a field trip to Ham Fen nature reserve.

Ticket prices:

Public / BIAZA Member: 2 Days: £40.00   3 Days: £60.00

Student: 2 Days: £30.00   3 Days: £45.00

Zoological organisation (non-BIAZA Member): 2 Days £140.00  3 Days: £160.00

For full details, or to book, click here to visit our website

 

Please note that agenda details may be subject to change

The Wildwood Team, Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7LQ

Registered Charity no: 1093702    www.wildwoodtrust.org

Spring events at Wildwood

 
www.wildwoodtrust.org

Spring events at Wildwood

We have lots of amazing events this spring at Wildwood, from Minibeast hunts (and crafts) to Saxon invasions and woodland discovery walks
- there is something for every inquisitive mind!

Book now to avoid disappointment!

 

 To book Spring activities - please call 01227 712 111
To book conservation courses - please email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

Tuesday 28th May - Friday 31st May - Minibeast Hunts & Crafts
Go on a woodland minibeast (insect) hunt and collect some specimens to examination under the microscope then make your own cool minibeasts to take home.
2pm - 4pm on Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th & Friday 31st
10.30am - 12.30pm on Thursday 30th
£3 per person, one adult free per group*. Must book.

Sunday 2nd June - Spring Woodland Discovery Walk
As the weather warms up and the woodland starts to wake up for spring, go on a woodland discovery walk with natural heritage officer, Steve Kirk to discover the plants, trees and invertebrates in our woodland.
2pm - 4pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group*.
Must book. Unsuitable for toddlers / pushchairs.

Sunday 9th June - Dormouse Handling & Surveying Workshop
A course for consultants and those in training for their Dormouse Handling Licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle, sex, weigh and assess age and breeding condition of a number of captive dormice under supervision.
11am - 3.30pm. £40 per person.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

Saturday 15th June & Sunday 16th June - Saxon Re-enactment Weekend

Wildwood is getting ready to face a Saxon invasion when Regia Anglorum, one of Britain's best Saxon re-enactment groups will be at the park for their annual Saxon re-enactment weekend. Visitors will be able to step back in time and visit Wychurst, the group's authentic Saxon Burgh (village) nestled in the depths of the forest at Wildwood and experience how our Saxon ancestors lived circa 1000AD.
The site will be open to visitors from 10am to 4.30pm both days. During the day, there will be a range of crafts on display both inside the Longhall and in the various artisan's tents inside and outside of the Burgh. You will be able to see warriors at training during the morning before the big event at 3pm when the Vikings will raid the Burgh! The Viking raid is a competitive open ended battle and either side might win!
10am - 4.30pm. £3 per person, under 14's go free*.
No need to book, drop in any time. Please note that Wildwood membership or entry fees must be paid.

Saturday 15th June - Wildwood Bioblitz
A family day of fun events to help us record as much of the wildlife at Wildwood as possible. We will be in the woods live trapping wood mice and voles, hunting for spiders and recording how many species of trees, plants, birds and invertebrates we have as well as looking for signs of other wildlife such as foxes and rabbits. Come along to help us record as many species as possible!
10am - 5pm. Free event*.
Must book for mammal trapping event, all other activities are drop in. Under 18's must be accompanied at all times.

Saturday 22nd June - Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. It is ideal for those with a general interest or those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence. Included is a field visit to check nest boxes and information on relevant legislation.
£99 for individuals / £124 for groups. 
Please book with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or visit www.mammal.org.uk

Tuesday 25th June - Photo Day
Wildlife photography with tuition from our resident photographer. Get exclusive access and 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.  
Gift vouchers also available.
10.30am - 4pm. £79 per person (includes Wildwood entry fee). Min age 18yrs. Must book.

Saturday 29th June - Gardening For Wildlife

Learn the key features of a wildlife garden and how to encourage wildlife into yours. Learn how to grow a wildflower area and take a tour of Wildwood to see some of the animals that might visit your garden such as mice, bats, hedgehogs, slow worms, shrews and badgers (not all animals are guaranteed).
10am - 4pm. £30 per person.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

 

*Please note that Wildwood membership or entry fees must also be paid to attend events (excludes conservation courses and photo days).

 

To book Spring activities - please call 01227 712 111
To book conservation courses - please email courses@wildwoodtrust.org

Wildwood's new baby beaver is first in line for Welsh reintroduction

An adorable new-born baby beaver was shown to the public for the first time today at the Wildwood Trust, Kent's unique British wildlife park & conservation charity.

 

The birth of the beaver kit, as they are known, is a momentous event for Wildwood as the cuddly little ball of fluff is set to join one of the biggest conservation projects in the UK.

 

The beaver will become part of a bold and innovative conservation programme which will see beaver reintroduced to a whole river system in Wales. This ground breaking conservation project is designed to protect and restore 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 and in this latest project Wildwood will be working with the Welsh Wildlife Trusts on the biggest scheme yet to return this once native species to Britain.

 

The baby beaver's parents were given to Wildwood Trust as gift by the German Government and they became famous across the UK as their journey to Wildwood was documented in a special two-part programme shown on BBC Countryfile.

 

Visitors to Wildwood can get the chance to see the new beaver for themselves along with the rest of our beaver family in our specially designed walk-in beaver lodge. Beaver are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Wildlife Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 01227 712111.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

 

************************Ends*****************************

Attached photos show Wildwood's CEO, Peter Smith, examining our new baby beaver. (Photo Credit: Dave Butcher/Wildwood Trust)

e-mail:  peter@wildwoodtrust.org

Tel:  01227 712111  Mobile: 07986828229

www.wildwoodtrust.org

 

Wildwood Trust is a charity dedicated to the public education and restoration of natural wildlife and wild areas to Britain. The Wildwood Trust runs the unique Wildwood wildlife park and attracts the support of over 55,000 members and has 100,000 visitors every year.

 

Details of The Welsh Beaver Initiative:

www.welshbeaverproject.org

Adrian Lloyd Jones

Welsh Beaver Project
376 High Street
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 1YE

Tel: 01248 351541

Email: beaver.afanc@wildlifetrustswales.org

 

**************Background Information************************

 

WHY ARE BEAVER SO IMPORTANT TO US

As busy as a Beaver is not an idol term, beaver are a "keystone species" which means beaver act as a natural nature reserve wardens, managing and protecting their surrounding habitat. Their skills as foresters and engineers can create and sustain standing water and wetlands that increase biodiversity, purify water and prevent large-scale flooding.

 

Scientist estimate that in America restoring only 3% of the original, beaver created, wetlands might suffice to prevent catastrophic floods; the same could be true for the UK and beaver could prove to be the best solution to the threat of large scale flooding due to climate change.

Beavers can also save the taxpayer money; a study published in 2007 by the WildCRU consultancy at Oxford University has concluded that the benefit of beaver reintroduction would substantially outweigh likely costs. Sponsored by the Wild Britain initiative, this report examined evidence from several countries across Europe where beaver have recolonised their former territories over the last 60 years.

Substantial benefits could accrue to the tourism industry, particularly for local communities, with further less quantifiable gains from effects on flood mitigation and water retention – both likely to be key features of future land use policy as climate change gathers momentum.

 

After learning from the many European successes in reintroducing beavers, Kent Wildlife Trust & the Wildwood Trust decided that European Beaver were the best hope to restore the fragile wetland habitat of Ham Fen in Kent. Now Wildwood hopes to recreate the success of this project on a much larger scale by reintroducing beavers to a river system in Wales as part of The Welsh Beaver Project.

 

This ambitious project is only possible thanks to Government own advisers who have come down on the side of beaver and have recommended that they should be reintroduced to the UK, Scottish Natural History's director of science, Colin Galbraith, 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 interests.

"Beaver dams would improve water quality, produce new habitats for fish and help reduce flooding downstream."

 

For more information on The Welsh Beaver project, visit www.welshbeaverproject.org

 

 

BEAVER HISTORY:

European Beaver, not to be confused with its American cousin, was native throughout Britain until man hunted them to extinction in the 17th Century.

Since that time the beaver was wiped out across mainland Europe. But thanks to the unstinting efforts of conservationists throughout Europe beaver have slowly been reintroduced. Now Britain stands as the last European country to be without the benefits of having this wonderful creature restoring and managing its natural inland waterways.

 

KEY BENEFITS OF BEAVER

1. Help save otters, water voles, fish & a huge range of threatened wildlife

2. Protect our land and towns from catastrophic flooding

3. Create diverse wildlife rich wetlands

4. Improves water quality

 

KEY BEAVER FACTS

1. Beaver eat only plants NOT fish

2. European beaver are completely harmless to man

3. European Beaver have NO significant impact on agriculture

4. Beavers live side by side with man all over the European mainland

 

Distribution: Throughout Europe and Asia Recently reintroduced across Europe. The European Beaver cousin the North American Beaver exists throughout Canada, USA and Mexico Main threats: Habitat loss and hunting for the fur trade.

Preferred habitat: rivers, lakes and swamps Favourite food: aspen and willow bark, freshwater plants and herbs

Size (including tail): 105-130 cm

Weight:18-38 kg

Life span: 7-8 years Breeding:

 

Beavers mate for life and kits are born in April or June. Newborn kits are fully furred, and have their eyes open at birth. Average no. young: 3-6 per litter.

Performance: Beavers are mainly nocturnal and spend half of their lives on water and half on land. They are prolific builders of lodges and dams, hence the phrase "as busy as a beaver".and can cut down a tree up to 1.5 metres in diameter, although they rarely do this. They can hold breath underwater for up to 15 mins.

 

Peter Smith

Chief Executive

Wildwood Trust

 

e-mail:  peter@wildwoodtrust.org

Tel:  01227 712111  Mobile: 07986828229

 

Registered Charity No 1093702

 

Wildwood Trust is Kent's unique 'Woodland Discovery Park', a visitor attraction with a difference.

 

Wildwood is not only the best place to bring the family for a day out, but it is also a bold and innovative new charity, backed by the UK's leading wildlife conservationists. As a new charity Wildwood needs everyone's support in its mission to save our native and once native wildlife from extinction.

 

Wildwood Trust's vision is to bring back our true 'wildwood', a unique new way of restoring Britain's land to its natural state. This involves releasing large wild herbivores and developing conservation grazing systems to restore natural ecological processes to help Britain team with wildlife again.

 

The Wildwood 'Woodland Discovery Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here.

 

Set in a sublime 38 acres of Ancient Woodland, Wildwood offers visitors a truly unique experience. Come Nose to Nose with our secretive badgers, experience what it is like to be hunted by a real live pack of wolves, watch a charging wild boar or track down a beaver in his lodge.

 

Wildwood Trust runs a highly successful programme of Conservation Projects - we are the UK's leading experts in rescuing and re-establishing colonies of Britain's most threatened mammal, the water vole. Wildwood Trust has pioneered the use of ancient wild horses to restore nature reserve. Wildwood Trust has been at the forefront of efforts to re-establish the European Beaver back in Britain where they belong. European Beaver have been proven to help manage water ways to bring back a huge range of plants, insects and animals.

 

 

 

 

Stop wildlife education being banned from our schools

   

Are you prepared to let wildlife education be banned from our schools?

In new proposals from Education Secretary Michael Gove references that caring for the environment and wildlife will be dropped from the national curriculum.

Wildwood Trust's Chief Executive, Peter Smith has joined other leading conservationists in making public statements condemning these short sighted proposals and we are asking all of our members to petition the Government to put wildlife back into the proposed National Curriculum.

As the leading provider of Wildlife Education in the South East we are horrified that the proposed new National Curriculum dropped its previous commitment teach children 'to care for the environment' and discover 'ways in which living things and the environment need protection'.

Wildwood's chief executive, Peter Smith, says:

"We have robbed our children of a prosperous future and now our short sighted leaders want to rob them of the knowledge to protect the natural world"

"The UK has spent the last 30 years robbing from the future, both in our economy and environment, This must stop,  It is our job to give our children the knowledge to make this world a better place and protect it for future generations. "

"Our children need the tools to understand how to care for nature. I have long been an advocate that our economic and wildlife problems stem from a form of selfish cheating, robbing wealth from future generations. We need a government that is committed to giving knowledge to our children that will stop this theft. Our schools must teach our children how to think for themselves and have the wisdom to understand that if we destroy nature we are robbing from our future selves"

Wildwood is calling on our supporters to make a public demonstration of their concern by signing one of the following online petitions calling on Michael Gove to think again.

Petitions:

Change.org - Michael Gove: Keep Climate Change in the Curriculum

Change.org - Hey Gove, why can't we talk about the environment?

38 Degrees - Michael Gove: Don't stop climate change education

Please sign one, two or all of the above petitions to ensure our future generations can learn to care for our environment and wildlife.

Wildwood Trust

Herne Common

Herne Bay

Kent

CT6 7LQ

Tel: 01227 712 111

Registered Charity No 1093702

Wildwood against government plans to ban wildlife education in schools

  

Wildwood against government plans to ban wildlife education in schools

In new proposals from Education Secretary Michael Gove references that caring for the environment and wildlife will be dropped from the national curriculum.

Wildwood Trust's Chief Executive, Peter Smith has joined other leading conservationists in making public statements condemning these short sighted proposals.

Wildwood Trust will be calling on its 52,000 members to petition the Government to put wildlife back into the proposed National Curriculum.

Wildwood Trust is the leading provider of Wildlife Education in the South East and where horrified that the proposed new National Curriculum dropped its previous commitment to teach children 'to care for the environment' and discover 'ways in which living things and the environment need protection'.

Peter Smith, Chief Executive of the Canterbury based Wildlife Charity said:

"We have robbed our children of a prosperous future and now our short sighted leaders want to rob them of the knowledge to protect the natural world"

"The UK has spent the last 30 years robbing from the future, both in our economy and environment, this must stop. It is our job to give our children the knowledge to make this world a better place and protect it for future generations. "

"Our children need the tools to understand how to care for nature. I have long been an advocate that our economic and wildlife problems stem from a form of selfish cheating, robbing wealth from future generations. We need a government that is committed to giving knowledge to our children that will stop this theft. Our schools must teach our children how to think for themselves and have the wisdom to understand that if we destroy nature we are robbing from our future selves"

Wildwood is calling on our supporters to make a public demonstration of their concern by signing one of the online petitions calling to get Michael Gove to think again.

Petitions:

· Change.org - Michael Gove: Keep Climate Change in the Curriculum

· Change.org - Hey Gove, why can't we talk about the environment?

· 38 Degrees - Michael Gove: Don't stop climate change education

Notes to Editors

Peter Smith is available for interview contact Tel: 01227 712111 

Wildwood Trust is an award winning charity dedicated to wildlife education, we run a range of exiting education courses aimed at inspiring you minds to learn about their natural heritage.  Educating around 11,000 children and students each year.  For further information: http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/education.html

Changes to the National Curriculum
The new curriculum is shorter than the existing one, and is less detailed.  However the current consultation document has dropped many references to changes in the environment caused by humans, and references to caring for and managing the environment have also been removed.

The Reform of the National Curriculum in England 
The Government launched a review of the National Curriculum in January 2011 with the aim of "ensuring that the aspirations we set for our children match those in the highest-performing education jurisdictions, and giving teachers greater freedom over how to teach".  This consultation under section 96 of the Education Act 2002 is ongoing.

Follow us on Twitter                    Find us on Facebook                 See our latest pictures on Flickr

Tel:  01227 712111www.wildwoodtrust.org

 If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter then sign up on http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/news.htm#events

Wildwood Trust

Herne Common

Herne Bay

Kent

CT6 7LQ

 Registered Charity No 1093702

 

 

Wildwood's sleepy dormice get ready for release to the wild

 

Wildwood's dormice prepare to head out to the wild in Wildwood's latest release programme

Whilst people in the UK are hiding under their duvets to escape the wintry weather, the sleepy dormice at the Wildwood Trust are being woken from their slumber for an important mission to help save their species from extinction.

The tiny creatures, all bred at Wildwood, are part of the Trust's captive breeding programme designed to repopulate areas of the UK where dormice have become extinct.

Once woken and checked by the Wildwood Conservation team, the group of 11 young dormice will leave their Kent home and go to either Paignton Zoo or London Zoo (members of the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group) for full health checks and be paired up with specially selected partners who will accompany them out to the wild.

The release, to be carried out at a secret location, is a joint venture between the Wildwood Trust, The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), Paignton Zoo, The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural England. As the studbook holder (record keeper) for hazel dormice in the UK, Wildwood has a vital role in this project not only by breeding dormice for the release but also in allocating suitable partners for the dormice from other zoos.

Hazel Ryan, Wildwood's chief conservation officer said, "We are very excited to be part of this project to reintroduce the Hazel Dormouse back to areas where they have become extinct. Wildwood is not only one of the leading dormouse breeders in the UK  but is also an important centre for research into the behaviour and captive husbandry of the species."

"The hazel dormouse is now classed as extremely vulnerable to extinction but through projects such as this, Wildwood hopes to tip the balance back in favour of the dormouse."

*********************** End **************************

Images attached

Information on the Hazel Dormouse

The hazel or common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is the only native species of dormouse found in Britain. Dormice are a predominantly woodland species, particularly associated with broad-leaved coppice. Dormice are a 'flagship species'; by managing habitat for dormice, a range of other species will benefit. They are also important as 'bio-indicators' as they are particularly sensitive to habitat and population fragmentation. Their presence should indicate that the area can sustain populations of other sensitive species.

Over the last 100 years the hazel dormouse has declined in both numbers and distribution and is thought to have become extinct in about half its former distributional range. Once widespread over most of England and Wales, dormice have disappeared from many northern areas and are now mainly found in the southern counties, especially Kent, Sussex, Devon and Somerset. The total adult population is now thought to number about 45,000, distributed among a variety of widely fragmented sites. Even in optimal habitats, population densities are less than 10 adults per hectare. Although dormice are widely distributed in Wales, individual populations are small, scattered and isolated from each other.

Hazel dormice have often been lost in the past as a result of inappropriate woodland management. They are an arboreal species and rarely descend to ground level apart from during hibernation. Factors associated with their decline include:

• Loss and fragmentation of ancient woodland, leaving isolated, non-viable populations, where even short distances form barriers to dispersal.
• Clearance of hedgerows, especially after the Second World War, dramatically reduced the number of habitat corridors that were used by dormice to travel between adjacent areas.
• A decline in traditional woodland management has led to a lack of coppicing areas or inappropriate coppice which can greatly reduce species numbers. Coppiced areas should create a patchwork mosaic of different ages throughout the wood, with an adequate diversity of woody plant species, predominantly hazel coppice. Coppice in irregular patches is essential, to allow some shrubs to be flowering or fruiting whilst others are maturing. This is essential between April and November, when dormice are awake after hibernation.
• Damage to the scrub layer and coppice re-growth by large mammals such as deer and livestock, reduces the supply of particular foods necessary to dormice, as well suppressing natural regeneration.
• Climate change has had numerous effects on dormice, due to their specialised feeding requirements. During warm winters dormice awake from hibernation more often, wasting energy as their body temperature warms, causing an increase in metabolic rate. It is also thought that warmer autumns lead to fruit ripening at an earlier stage, sending dormice into hibernation earlier as their food reserves dwindle. Wetter summers prevent dormice from foraging.
• Grey squirrels, an introduced species, consume autumn nuts at an earlier stage, leaving none for the dormice.

Fiona Paterson
Wildwood Trust
Tel 01227 712 111
www.wildwoodtrust.org

Easter events at Wildwood

 
www.wildwoodtrust.org

Easter events at Wildwood

We have lots of amazing events this Easter at Wildwood, from CSI:Wildwood (who killed Mr Bunny) to Skeletons, Bones and Teeth - there is something for every inquisitive mind!

Book early to avoid disapointment!

 

To book Easter activities - please call 01227 712 111

To book conservation courses - please call 01227 711 471 or email tara@wildwoodtrust.org

Tuesday 2^nd April - Super Sleuths!
Join our fun team competition to find the best wildlife detectives, using animal skulls, skins and antlers.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Min age 5yrs

Wednesday 3^rd April - CSI: Wildwood - Who killed Mr Bunny?
Crack the case and solve the woodland murder mystery using authentic forensic tecniques, just like the real CSI.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Min age 7yrs

Thursday 4^th April - Brilliant Bird Beaks
Why are bird's beaks all so different? Find out how different beaks work using chopsticks and custard in our fun, hands-on workshop.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book.

Friday 5^th April - Fantastic Flyers!
Spinners, parachutes and gliders - find out how animals and plants use flight to get around and take part in our paper aeroplane challenge.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book.

Saturday 6^th April - Management of Ponds for Wildlife
Course tutor: John Hammond
A course for those wishing to improve their pond for wildlife. We will focus on existing ponds but will also explore the construction of ponds for wildlife, how to avoid management mistakes and the identification of pond species in the field.
10am - 4pm  £30 per person  Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email tara@wildwoodtrust.org

Monday 8^th April - Springtime Rabbits and Chicks
Make springtime crafts and (hopefully) meet some of our new spring arrivals.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book.

Tuesday 9^th April - Teeth, Bones and Skeletons
Find out why animals have different teeth and bones depending on what they eat and where they live. Hand-on session with real bones.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Min age 5yrs

Wednesday 10^th April - Food, digestion and poo!
Find out what happens to the food animals eat with a real animal stomach and intestines, become a poo detective and make chocolate raisin poo!
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Min age 5yrs

Thursday 11^th April - Death and Decay Workshop
An amazing group of recylclers set to work when a wild animal dies. Find out who arrives first, what they do and how they clear up the bodies.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Min age 7yrs

Friday 12^th April - Animal Senses
Test your animal senses in our fun, sensory workshop.
2pm - 3.30pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book

Saturday 13^th April - Spring Bushcraft Experience
Learn essential bushcraft, including tracking, field signs and animal preparation.
10am - 4pm. £35 per person. Must book. Min age 12yrs, under 16yrs must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Saturday 13^th April - Introduction to Kent's Amphibians & Reptiles
Course tutor: Mike Phillips
A whistle-stop tour of Kent's native frogs, toads, lizards and snakes, covering their identification and basic ecology. Includes a visit to some local amphibian and reptile sites.
10am - 4pm  £30 per person  
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email tara@wildwoodtrust.org

Sunday 14^th April - Spring Woodland Discovery Walk
A spring woodland walk to discover the plants, leaves and minibeasts that are waking up for the new year.
2pm - 4pm. £3 per person, one adult free per group. Must book. Not suitable for toddlers/pushchairs.

To book Easter activities - please call 01227 712 111

To book conservation courses - please call 01227 711 471 or email tara@wildwoodtrust.org

The Wildwood Team