The Natural History of Sussex podcast, Episode 7: We grab our bucket and spade and head to Rye Harbour where we meet Barry Yates and Chris Bentley who take us on a tour of this fantastic nature reserve. We find Mediterranean Gulls, Little Terns, Sea Pea, Pale Grass Eggar, Bombadier Beetle and fall in love with a spider.
Spikey Critters Hedgehog Care asked us to share this important message:
“I am currently caring for a very sick hedgehog that is suffering from poisoning. The cause has been investigated and it appears the wood used for his Hedgehog Box was pre-treated (Tanalised) wood, which apparently contains Arsenic.
I’m also advised “if the timber is pre-treated, tanalised, protim treated or contains the acronym C.C.A (Copper/Chrome/Arsenic) in the product name, it is poisonous …to most animals and it shouldn’t be used for bird-boxes either”.
Can you all please share this poster to help raise awareness of the dangers of using treated wood and if you would like to make a Hedgehog Box for your prickly friends please only use raw, untreated wood and once finished don’t treat it with anything at all. I know the wood won’t last as long without being weatherproofed/preserved but it will be so much safer for our spikey little friends. The same thing also applies and bird boxes too”
Woods Mill bird survey: 22 May
Author Graeme Lyons
A female cuckoo was skulking in the willows around the reedbed, no doubt looking for a place to lay an egg. We have three reed bunting territories, one nest seems to be in the middle of the reedbed. Strangely we have perhaps double the usual number of reed warbler territories with six compared to the usual three.
Most exciting though is a pair of linnets that were building in scrub on the valley field. A singing male and a female with nesting material are two of the best signs of breeding during a survey!
linnet / Amy Lewis
Springwatch in Sussex
Help revive weary bees
During the recent poor weather we have been getting reports of dying bumblebees. One of our Facebook friends suggested putting out a sugar solution to help revive weary bees.
Make a weak sugar solution 70% water / 30% sugar and pour in old jam jar lid and place outside. The bees will cling to the edge of the lid and sip the solution.
Please only use sugar NOT honey. Most of our honey is imported and even local honey is not suitable for bumblebees.
Finally putting out sugar water is not a substitute for providing bees with the flowers they need to forage from. It would make a bigger, longterm difference if everyone in Sussex planted some suitable native cottage garden plants, even if it was just one hanging basket full.
Sheepcote Valley Wildlife Pond
Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Access to Nature project and Brighton & Hove City Council are asking for volunteers this Saturday (May 19th) to help plant wild flowers at the newly restored Sheepcote Valley pond in Brighton.
A wide variety of plants will be put into the pond and around the edges to help encourage wildlife such butterflies, dragonflies and bees.
If you would like to help, please meet at the entrance to the Stanley Deason Centre, Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk at 10.30am on Saturday 19th May. Tea and coffee provided – event ends at 1pm. Don’t forget to wear your wellies!
For further details please ring Huw Morgan 07771 375273.
Access to Nature is run by Natural England and is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments.
