NEWS REGIONAL


Dynamic Dunescapes receives £4m National Lotery funding


Sand dunes are listed as the habitat most at risk in Europe. They are the backdrop of many summer holidays and are being smothered by invasive plants, which are destroying the habitats of some of our most endangered species. Dynamic Dunescapes is a new national


project to help our most important sand dunes get moving and thriving again. The project will start later in 2019 and, in Cumbria, will be led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Natural England. The project will restore Cumbria’s dunes, creating dune slacks and removing invasive


species. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved through events, skills training, citizen science, education resources and improved access to our dune sites. A huge thank you to all lotery players


and the support of the National Lotery Heritage Fund and EU-LIFE funding.


NEWS IN BRIEF


GeoWeek 2019 GeoWeek introduces local geology to the public. GeoWeek in Cumbria (4 – 12 May) saw a range of activities – guided walks, museum exhibitions and an introduction to geocaching. Next May there will be even more on offer. www.geoweek.org.uk


Get Cumbria buzzing


A new project will see sand dunes restored across the UK


Our new conservation project to boost bees and other pollinating insects in north-west Cumbria is well under way. In partnership with Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, we’ve created the first ever Pollinator Atlas for Cumbria for recording sightings – we’re hoping to double the 25,000 records to date! Staff have also been out surveying, starting habitat restoration along the A66, and running events from training sessions to pollinator-themed family days.


In memory: Bety Green REGIONAL Partnering up for litle terns


The EU-LIFE Litle Tern project came to an end in March. This project, led by the RSPB, saw 10 partner organisations come together across 26 sites in England and Wales to enhance management of litle tern colonies, and to restore and create new habitat for the birds. The Trust was involved in work carried out on Foulney Island Nature Reserve to restore some of the shingle-nesting habitat for the terns, and anti-predator fences and tern raſts were built on South Walney Nature Reserve to try and encourage terns to nest in these historic colonies.


The project enabled us to work closely with the RSPB at Hodbarrow, resulting in increased breeding successes at all three sites. Most notably, in 2018 the first litle terns fledged from South Walney in 31 years.


Little terns perform remarkable aerial courtship displays during the breeding season


Betty Green died in April 2019. A life member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, she pursued an interest in marine conservation and diving, helping to fill some of the data gaps needed for policy development. Her drive and enthusiasm played a pivotal role in establishing the Trust’s marine work. Betty was a Badger’s Paw Award winner and in 2015 was awarded the Marsh Christian Trust Award for her outstanding contribution to marine conservation. Betty will be missed by all at the Trust and our condolences are with her family.


Cumbrian Wildlife | September 2019


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ADAM JONES


JOHN MORRISON


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