UU Planning Application for Crummock Water
Melbreak Wildlife Group has provided comments on the Crummock planning application to United Utilities, Natural England and the National Trust, which can be read here.
Melbreak Wildlife Group held an open meeting on May 18th in YTH to review the projects which the group is currently pursuing, and to gather ideas for future initiatives. There was an excellent attendance (25+ people), with much positive discussion about the numerous ideas suggested.
The existing projects described were:
- Swift boxes have been installed in a number of locations, including the tower of Lorton church, with associated swift callers in some places
- A hedgehog release scheme has been established, in conjunction with Millcroft Vets
- Wildlife mapping. Work is underway to map wildlife sitings across the Melbreak Communities area, using the iNaturalist application and other recording methods
- Open spaces management. Wild flowers have been planted in roadside verges in Lorton, and in Lorton churchyard, and mowing of these areas is now managed to benefit wildlife
- WhatsApp Group. A WhatsApp Group has been established to share wildlife news and information
The following new ideas were discussed:
- Species’ Study Groups. Groups to support barn owls, curlews and hares were mentioned. Following the recent talk from the Barn Owl Trust, a Barn Owl Group is being started to gather information about barn owl breeding in the Melbreak area, and to see what steps can be taken to promote barn owl welfare. Leader for barn owls – Harriet Davies
- Wildlife talks. It is planned to arrange a series of talks through the autumn and winter, starting on Tuesday October 17th in Loweswater Village Hall
- Identifying opportunities to volunteer for wildlife-related activities in the local area.
- Visits to local areas being developed for wildlife. Many local people have been developing and enhancing the land they own for the benefit of wildlife, and visits would provide a background understanding of what is being done, and why
- Engaging people with wildlife. Ideas included wildlife-mapping of local walks (perhaps linked with planned parish noticeboards in Lorton), and guided wildlife walks (a dawn-chorus walk?)
- Simultaneous wildlife recording. Recording wildlife sitings in multiple locations across the Melbreak Communities area at the same time, and collating results
- Regular wildlife articles for The Link magazine. Identifying a number of contributors to each provide occasional articles under the title ‘Nature Notes’.
A contact list for information and updates about Melbreak Wildlife Group activities has been established. Please let David Gardiner (davidj.gardiner@btinternet.com) know if you would like to be added to the contact list to receive email updates.
Would you like to be involved?
The aim of the group is to provide an opportunity for anyone who is interested in wildlife and nature to get together – to share ideas and observations, learn more, and take part in activities large or small that benefit wildlife within the Melbreak communities, and further afield!
The idea for the Melbreak Wildlife Group has been brought about in response to the growing interest in local wildlife, which has been evident in recent hedgehog and swifts talks, and projects and activities around wildlife, nature and conservation that many people have been getting involved in locally.
By working closely with Parish Councils and established community groups such as St. Cuthberts Eco-Church, there is also an opportunity to help existing nature focused projects, and work together to support our local wildlife, in a joined up approach.
We will be using this webpage to share news and activities. Information will also be posted on The Melbreak Communities Facebook page. We have set up a WhatsApp group, for people to share their wildlife news! Get in touch if you would like to join by emailing David Gardiner davidj.gardiner@btinternet.com – you will need to include your mobile phone number and name.
Want to get started?
Why not help record wildlife across the Melbreak Communities?
Wildlife Recording
Either download a recording sheet here or join the ‘Melbreak Wildlife (Group)’ group on iNaturalist, see details below:
You can use the browser version of iNaturalist on your computer or download the app for your smartphone or tablet (available via Google Play or App Store) or sign up at http://www.inaturalist.org
Then, all you need to do is:
- Create an account
- Go to Projects, and find ‘Melbreak Wildlife (Group)’
- Join ‘Melbreak Wildlife (Group)’ project
- Check out the help videos and information
- Start taking photos on your phone or camera and upload them onto to iNaturalist.
- The website will try to identify the images once uploaded.
By adding your records here you will help to provide data of local wildlife species across the area, enabling us to build a map of species that have been found here. All species recorded on the Melbreak Wildlife (Group) webpage will also go to Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, who collate data for both county and national records of all flora and fauna species. There is also a Lorton ‘Fauna and Flora’ iNaturalist page which you can also join. Records of species recorded within Lorton ‘Fauna and Flora’ group will also be visible on the Melbreak Wildlife Group project map too.
You can also submit incidental records or/and the downloaded form to Christine Walmsley waltin@btinternet.com
Please include the following information
- Date (All forms acceptable but recommend full dates [DD/MM/YYYY] if possible)
- Site (Site name where appropriate e.g. Finglandrigg NNR)
- Location (Additional location information e.g. Carpark)
- Grid Ref (At relevant resolution e.g. NY 397560)
- Species (Scientific) (The scientific name is preferred)
- Species (Common) (Please make sure this is as clear as possible e.g. “Peacock” – Butterfly? Bird? Moth?)
- Abundance (No. of individuals, e.g. 6 or many ‘If no count given, 1 is assumed’)
- Type of Abundance (Juveniles, adults, males, females)
- Comments (Any extra details, e.g. feeding on nettles)
- Recorder Name (Your Name)
- Telephone/Mobile (We may need to contact you with questions about your record.)
- Plus any photos
Based on the sightings that everyone submits the Group can look at ways to help preserve and protect the habitats of these special species for the benefit of all. I will now share the iNaturalist page with the WhatsApp group.
Visit our Wildlife Facebook page here
The Melbreak Communities 