Events

2015

Saturday 24th October. Birch Bash with the University Conservation Volunteers! Three trustees were joined by 13 volunteers including 9 University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers on a very unpromising morning. By the time we reached  the Southern Enclosure it was raining hard enough to ensure that the heather and bracken would be soaked, meaning that we would be too. Not at all put off, everyone set to work with loppers on the birch saplings that the livestock had failed to clear. A good 2 hours' work was done before lunch, after which some were starting to get cold as well as wet, so we downed tools and went for a walk around the reserve. The students were particularly interested in the use of livestock to control tree regrowth and the way they are helping to conserve the heath and create wood pasture. A big thank you to all those hardy souls who turned up, and hopefully enjoyed themselves despite the inclement weather!

Sunday 13th September. Birch Bash!

Three trustees and two volunteers attacked the birch regrowth on the South enclosure with loppers on a beautiful September day. There is still some left to do, but a great deal was achieved in a very aerobic and enjoyable way. Small Copper, Painted Lady, a late singing Chiff Chaff, a Green Woodpecker and a Brown Hare were seen or heard even at this slow time of the year.

Sunday 26th July. Bracken Bash!

The day dawned with a doubtful forecast, but four hardy volunteers turned up for a bracken bash in the South enclosure.  The aim was to continue the earlier clearance in the area close to the main entrance gate, on the left of the path leading to the crag top. The quartet set about expanding the area opened up by previous bashes, which, combined with trampling by the stock, have resulted in encouraging signs of new heather growth.  With raindrops cooling the coffee at lunchtime there was some excuse for a short afternoon shift, but every little helps.

Friday 24th July. Batty about Newts!

Five trustees were joined by 15 local residents for this annual event. We were very lucky with the weather as rain had been falling until the start of the event, but we ended up with a lovely still mild evening, perfect for flying insects, mammals and crepuscular birds. We walked up on to the heath and enjoyed the view while waiting to hear the churring of the ghostly Nightjar. We were not disappointed, as churring started about 21.40 and continued for quite a while, along with some wing-clapping displays by the male bird. A female bird was also seen by some of the participants. We then made our way back to the pond, in almost complete darkness. Torches were turned on, and large numbers of Palmate Newts and their larvae were caught and examined. Unfortunately the goldfish in the pond appear to have greatly reduced the number of dragonfly larvae, though a few large specimens were found. Bat detectors revealed the presence of at least three species of bat over the pond and in the surrounding woodland - Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Daubenton's. All-in-all a very enjoyable and productive evening. Many thanks to all those involved.

Sunday 19th July. Bracken Bash!

We are attempting to reduce bracken cover and replace it with a grassy heathery sward wherever possible. To this end 4 trustees were joined by 4 volunteers for a day of bracken cutting and raking, after we had satisfied ourselves that there were no bracken spores or nesting birds in the area we wished to work, in the western enclosure below Wharncliffe Crags. Four small connected sunny glades were cleared, and hay from a local flower-rich meadow was thinly scattered over the glades. We hope to now attract cattle into the area with the use of salt licks. Their trampling will damage the bracken rhizomes and allow the new vegetation to get established. This is a slow process, but on a site where mechanical machinery cannot work, and where we wish to reduce the use of herbicide to an absolute minimum, cattle and patience are our best weapons! Thanks to all those who participated and enjoyed a day of free aerobic exercise.

Sunday 10th May. What's happening at Wharncliffe?

On a pretty reasonable early May afternoon 3 trustees were joined by 3 members of the public for a leisurely stroll around Wharncliffe Heath to discuss management practices and to examine the results of management. The first point of call was the Southern Enclosure to meet our main management tools - livestock. Over the last few years we have been trying to reduce the vigour of bracken growing at the base of the dip slope. The livestock have been encouraged to congregate in this area by hay and salt licks. Cattle in particular should damage the bracken rhizomes by their trampling. In addition we have cut the dead bracken and cleared it from various areas to allow seeds in the seed bank and originating from the hay to germinate and flourish. It's early days but the green haze over the land was a clear sign of seed germination, and closer inspection revealed several species of grass. Heather plants were in short supply, but time will tell whether this area develops into wood-pasture or heather-dominated heath. A stroll over the rest of the heath revealed signs of grazing of birch and oak. We visited the wooded bog in the Western enclosure, which is intersected by the fence line. Here the effect of grazing was immediately apparent, with sphagnum dominating the grazed part of the bog, thistles and brambles populating the ungrazed area. We also discussed the links with past industrial times, from Bronze age quern stones to signs of charcoal manufacture such as multi-stemmed (previously coppiced) trees and charcoal-making platforms. During the short visit we were entertained by the song of Willow Warblers and Tree Pipits, and by the antics of numerous Green Tiger Beetles. Thanks to all those present for a very enjoyable and instructive afternoon.

Sunday 22nd March. Raze the Rhododendron!

Seven, including 3 volunteers, tackled a Rhododendron ponticum thicket in the western enclosure below Wharncliffe Crags. It was considered too risky to burn the cut material on such a warm day (honestly!!) in an area full of dry dead bracken fronds. Fortunately the fence line was quite near so the offending material was placed over the fence, safely away from any grazing livestock. Apart from the lively conversation the day was improved by a view of a Peregrine briefly overhead. Thanks to all those who took part. Joint event with Steel Valley Project.

Sunday 8th March. Bash the Birch at Wharncliffe Heath.

Four trustees were joined by the same number of volunteers for a day of cutting birch scrub on the heath. Even over very rough terrain on the boundary between the northern and southern enclosures, we managed to cover about 2 ha. The Shetland cattle and sheep were very inquisitive but well-behaved, especially at lunch time! Perhaps the wildlife highlight of the day was 5 Common Buzzards overhead at the same time, using the updrafts created by Wharncliffe Crags. Thanks to all who took part and I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did.

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2014

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Saturday 13th December. Bracken Bash. An 8-strong band worked in the Southern enclosure, between the path and the pond, to clear dead bracken and brash. Then Shetland cattle were introduced to the site. The purpose of this activity is to allow cattle access to areas where the seed bank is exposed, to trample the bracken rhizomes and to distribute seed from flower-rich hay around the area. We know from prior experience that this helps to break up the thick sward of bracken into a mosaic where bracken beds are interspersed with areas of regenerating heather and grass heath. This type of habitat is great for invertebrates and insect-eating animals such as viviparous lizard and many bird species. Thanks to everyone for the hard work on a beautiful crisp December day, further helped by the call of a Raven and the sighting of Redwing feeding on Holly berries.

Sunday 19th October.  Fungus hunt with Ziggy Senkans. 15 members of the public joined Ziggy and 4 Trustees on this largely sunny but blustery morning. There was some concern that the fungal "bloom" that had occurred in September may lead to short rations for us, but in the end we matched last year's total of about 40 species I hope everyone enjoyed the day.

Friday 25th July. Batty about Newts!  14 Attendees walked up on to the heath in the evening, where everyone was treated to the sound of a male churring Nightjar, and some saw the bird churring from the top of a small tree. We then retraced our steps to the dam pond. First the bat detectors came out and revealed the presence of Common and Soprano Pipistrelles. Last of all, the pond dipping gear and torches were used to find and net some "demons of the deep". Large numbers of Palmate Newts were located, and a few netted, in order to demonstrate the webbed rear feet and thread-like end to the tail of the males. Unfortunately it seems that the introduced Goldfish have seriously reduced the number of dragonfly larvae in the pond. Thanks to all those who participated, particularly the younger and very enthusiastic members of the party!

Thursday 5th June. Nightjar churring 10pm. Single male churring and calling in the N and S enclosures of Wharncliffe Heath, above the crags.

Sunday 25th May. Dawn Chorus walk. 7 of us joined Andrew Hill on a morning that did not look too hopeful. Fortunately the torrential rain eased sufficiently to allow bird song to be heard, and it turned into a very worthwhile morning. Amazingly 4 Spotted Flycatchers were heard on the way from Deepcar to the reserve boundary, with another inside the boundary. Andrew had ample opportunity to point out distinctive features of the songs of many common woodland species. On the edge to the heath a Redstart was heard, with Tree Pipits and Linnets showing well on the heath itself. Throughout, we were accompanied by the sound of one, then two, Cuckoos calling. Andrew, alert as ever, discovered a Nuthatch nesting hole in a birch tree, with fledged young just leaving home! As we were about to complete the walk a Hobby flew over. Thanks to all those who participated on a morning when many would have stayed in bed, and a particular Thank You to Andrew for his time, enthusiasm and knowledge.

Sunday 18th May. What's happening at Wharncliffe? Three trustees and 6 members of the public took a gentle stroll around Wharncliffe Heath, assessing the effects of management on the site and enjoying the wildlife. The very positive effect of cattle grazing and trampling was seen and discussed. Where a thick and uninterrupted bed of bracken used to be, the bracken is now much reduced and has been replaced by a green haze as grass and herb seeds from cattle droppings and hay have begun to germinate. Management of livestock also involves the provision of water, and the positive impact of the pond in the southern enclosure on diversity was also noted. On a very warm day the invertebrates of the heath were active. Day-flying moths, tiger beetles, shield bugs etc were all observed and photographed. The frequent calling of a Cuckoo completed the heathland experience, just a few miles from the centre of Sheffield. Thanks to all who participated for interesting discussions and lots of enthusiasm!

Sunday 14th April. Bat box survey. Members of Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust and the South Yorkshire Bat Group (SYBG) inspected around 50 bat boxes in the woods around Wharncliffe Heath. One of the wood boxes contained five Brown Long-eared bats. Our records over the years have been highly variable. Last year just one Noctule bat was found  and in 2012 at least six Natterer’s bats were found in one box, at least 21 Natterer’s bats in another, and a third box contained at least 13 Brown Long-eared bats. Common and Soprano Pipistrelles have also been recoded in the past using these boxes. It is likely that, despite only temporary occupation, the boxes are extremely valuable to a number of different species of bat and will help to maintain their local populations.

Sunday 30th  March. Rhodo Cut'n Burn. Last weekend we were working through hail showers. This time 7 participants completed the job in hazy warm sunshine, with a singing Chiffchaff for company. We all went home a bit sweaty and smelling of kippers, but with the knowledge that it was a good job done.  Thanks to all those involved.

Sunday 23rd March. Rhodo Cut'n Burn. 11 trustees and other volunteers tackled a large Rhododendron ponticum below Wharncliffe Crags. Due to the soggy nature of just about everything, aided and abetted by hail showers, the job did not get finished but we hope to do this next weekend. Thanks to everyone who turned up, particularly those who finally managed to get the fire going!

Sunday 2nd March. Wood-pasture recreation. 14 members of the Sheffield University Conservation Volunteers made the total number up to a very good 18, who cut and raked bracken to reclaim wood-pasture habitats below Wharncliffe Crags. A good 2-hours' work was done before the weather turned for the worse, at which point we all took a walk around the reserve. Many thanks to all those who took part. We hope the livestock will now take over the continuing wood-pasture management on this piece of land.

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2013

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Sunday 3rd November. Birch Bash. On a day of sun and blustery showers, 13 of us, including 8 from the University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers, tackled the birch regrowth on a particularly rocky and awkward part of the Western enclosure. A great job was done with a large area (3-4 Ha?) being cleared. Thanks to all who participated. We look forward to the UoS volunteers (and Mark) joining us again the the future.

Sunday 27th October. Fungus Hunt led by Ziggy Senkans. 17 members of the public joined Ziggy and 4 trustees on a mild but very windy day. We spent time looking for fungi in the woods surrounding Wharncliffe Heath as well as combing the heath itself. Some very beautiful fungi were found, as well as some unusual ones. The complete list is attached below. Also noted was the profusion of lichens on the heath, demonstrating recovery from the days of smoke stacks and acid rain. Many thanks to all those who came along and participated.

Sunday 29th September. Bat box inspection. A total of six people attended this event led by members of Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust and the South Yorkshire Bat Group.  Some fifty boxes were inspected but in contrast to the fantastic results obtained from the inspection last October only one bat was found. This was thought to be a young female noctule bat (see Images), a species that has not been recorded from the boxes on the reserve for some years.  About a dozen other boxes contained evidence of use by bats, from the presence of droppings, although some of these were quite old.  At least one contained several hundred droppings and was discovered to be one of the boxes that contained a roost of Natterer’s bat during the inspection of October 2012.

Sunday 22nd September 11am. Habitat regeneration event. Nine trustees and volunteers cleared bracken helping to create new heath and wood-pasture habitat under Wharncliffe Crags. Standing deadwood habitats were also created by ring-barking a few of the birch trees. A joint event between Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust and the Steel Valley Project. A very enjoyable day in good company with good weather, doing something useful for the environment. Thanks to all who contributed!

Wednesday 24th July. Batty about Newts! Two trustees were joined by 7 members of the public for this crepuscular event on a lovely warm and windless evening. A short walk on to Wharncliffe Heath was rewarded with the churring of a male Nightjar at 21.40 for at least 15 minutes. We then headed down into the darkness of the wood to the dam pond. Bat detectors revealed a good number of bats over the pond and in the surrounding woodland. The bats seemed to know about "broadband" as they could be picked up from 30 to 50kHz. Most seemed to be Common Pipistrelle but there may have been a few Daubenton's over the water. Then on went the torches to reveal literally hundreds of Palmate Newt adults and larvae in the pond. The walk back down to Deepcar was highlighted with great views of a Common Pipistrelle hanging from the roof of the tunnel, apparently totally unworried by the torch light and interest it generated. Thanks to everyone for a very entertaining and enjoyable evening.

Thursday 6th June. Moth trapping and identification. A moth trap was set up the previous evening by Richard Harris and Julie Westfold from Sheffield City Council’s Ecology Unit, and this morning four of us went back to see what it had attracted. We found 26 specimens of Brown Silver Line, and were very pleased to see such large numbers of this moth whose larvae feed on bracken. In addition there were 5 Lesser Swallow Prominent, 2 Pebble Prominent and a single specimen of  Water Carpet. In the process we were treated to a "flyover" by a calling male Cuckoo, and a female Greater Spotted Woodpecker collecting and flying off with food. All-in-all a satisfying morning in delightful weather. Thanks especially to Richard for his time and ID skills.

Sunday 26th May. Hear the Dawn Chorus! Five people joined Andrew Hill for an early walk around Wharncliffe Heath and surrounding woodland. Once again we were very lucky with the weather, being greeted by a stunning dawn and just a gentle breeze. Highlights of the day were great views of Tree Pipit, Redstart and Crossbill, fleeting glimpses of Spotted Flycatcher and the distant calling of a male Cuckoo. Most of the "usual suspects" were also present, allowing Andrew to point out distinguishing features of many calls and songs. In all, 36 species were identified during a very pleasant stroll which came to an end just in time for breakfast.

Saturday 25th May. Nightjar heard churring on Wharncliffe Heath between 9.30 and 9.40pm. It is always nice to know they are back and hopefully will be with us for a few months.

Saturday 11th May 10am. What's Happening at Wharncliffe? 5 trustees and 5 members of the public met for a walk through Wharncliffe Heath Nature Reserve, to assess the "state of play" regarding the management of the reserve. Most of the time was spent in the large Western enclosure, where glade creation had taken place in 2010. These areas had been created around some splendid old coppiced oaks, to let in more light, partly so that a wood-pasture or heathland ground flora could develop. The first positive signs of this happening were seen. In areas not covered by bracken litter young heather, wavy hair-grass and heath bedstraw were found. We hope these glades will become important for many unusual insects as well as birds such as Pied Flycatcher and Redstart. On moving up to the current heath above the crags, management to maintain this type of habitat was discussed,. A group of  9 Crossbills were a delight as they sat in a nearby birch tree for a conveniently long time. Thanks to all those who turned up and contributed to discussions that will guide future management.

Sunday 7th April  11am. Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. On a very pleasant day 5 trustees and 2 volunteers completed clearing the remaining birch scrub from the Southern enclosure, which brings the Winter management programme to a close (see Images). Now we await the arrival of the migrant birds and increased activity from all aspects of the natural world. One migrant, a Chiff-Chaff, was seen and heard singing. In addition the obligatory 2 Woodcock were flushed from the heath where the Linnets had returned and were singing. There were also "flyovers" by Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Siskins and 3 Crossbills. A big Thank you! to all the volunteers who helped us complete the Winter management programme.

Sunday 17th March  11am. Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. 4 trustees and 1 other volunteer did a sterling job knocking back the birch regrowth in the Southern enclosure. A flushed Woodcock and a flock of 22 Waxwings added extra interest on a cold but dry day. Thanks to all those who turned out.

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2012

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Sunday 25th November. Management Event at Wharncliffe Heath. Bash the Birch!  Following a night of continuous heavy rain, 5 trustees slipped, splashed and waded up the path from Deepcar to the heath. Fortunately the clouds were soon blown away and then the wind dropped to produce another lovely autumn day. The whole of the southern enclosure to the North of the dissecting path was cleared of scrub. A Woodcock was flushed, and a single Crossbill was heard overhead. A few sheep kept a wary eye on our activities.

Sunday 18th November. Management Event with University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers. 7 UoS volunteers joined some of the trustees on a glorious sunny morning, to tackle the birch scrub developing in the Northern enclosure. After much pleasant but aerobic work the job was finished and everyone gingerly found their way back to the path over the slippery boulders. Some of the sheep came to keep us company and to feed on the newly cut birch, and a Woodcock was flushed from the heather. A hearty Thank you! to all the students who turned up. Now that you know where the reserve is, we hope you will revisit in the future.

Saturday 13th October.  Inspection of bat boxes in woodland on the reserve.  Members of the public joined with members of South Yorks Bat Group and WHT to inspect a total of 53 bat boxes located in the woodland of the Wharnciffe Heath Local Nature Reserve.  On the way up to the reserve a single Daubenton’s bat was found in a crack of an old railway bridge.  In the woodland three boxes were found to contain two species of bats. One wooden box contained at least six Natterer’s bats.  A second box located nearby contained at least 21 Natterer’s bats.  A third box contained at least 13 Brown Long-eared bats. Representative bats were moved temporarily for inspection and data collection (see Images).

In the evening 9 people reconvened for a walk at dusk to record bat activity. The weather was quite cool, but Natterer's were heard leaving the boxes, with a couple of bat sorties detected over the nearby pond. Thanks to all those participating, especially Jim Flanagan and Anna McGrath, with Rob Bell and Jonathan Moore from SYBG. Probably the most successful bat day we have had!

Sunday 9th September. Bash the Birch! On a glorious late Summer's day, 7 volunteers and trustees tackled the birch regrowth in the Northern enclosure. With loppers and bow saws hard at work, a sizeable area was cleared on a part of the heath not normally visited by any other than our livestock. They had been busy, with many saplings showing signs of extensive grazing. The mixture of green bracken and purple heather was a pleasure to behold, with the odd lizard seen darting for cover. I hope everyone had a great time. There is no doubt that a combination of the hot weather, rough terrain and hard work was quite tiring, so a big thank you to all participants.

Tuesday 24th July. Batty about Newts. An amazing 39 people turned up in the evening for this event. We were all extremely  lucky with the weather, it being one of very few warm and balmy evenings this Summer. And the wildlife obliged, too! Nightjar, newts, bats (Daubenton's and Common Pipistrelle at least), dragonfly larvae and even young Tawny Owls all made an appearance and were either seen or heard by the assembled throng. All-in-all a very successful evening, so a big thank you to all those who turned out and helped to make it so memorable.

Tuesday 29th May. Nightjar back at Wharncliffe Heath. Male Nightjar churring, wing-clapping with the odd (very odd!) frog call from 21.50. Still going strong at 22.20. Woodcock continuously roding over the heath, too.

Sunday 27th May. Dawn Chorus Walk. Nine people gathered on Station Road Deepcar at the unearthly hour of 4.30am. But what a perfect morning! Clear skies and only a slight breeze left everyone feeling optimistic. And eyes were shortly opened by the sight of a Tawny Owl, followed by Blue Tits feeding chicks in a hole in a nearby tree. But after that the ears became much more important as the leafy canopy prevented most good views. It was soon apparent that it is a very good year for Blackcap in the woods and Willow Warbler on the heath. Most of the expected woodland and heathland birds were heard in the woods and seen and heard on the heath, most notably Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Linnet, Curlew and even a distant Cuckoo. Many thanks go to Andrew Hill for his expert leadership, bird id skills and descriptions of the birds and their natural history. It was all well worth the early start!

Saturday 12th May. What's Happening at Wharncliffe? 8 participants took the opportunity for a stroll around Wharncliffe Heath nature reserve and a discussion on how the reserve is being managed and the plans for the future. This included visiting the heathland, the surrounding woodland, and new areas of birch felling and grazing aimed at increasing habitat for scarce birds such as Nightjar, Tree Pipit, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher as well as reptiles and many other species. The reasons why Wharncliffe Crags is a geological SSSI and for the designation as a Schedule 1 Ancient Monument were also discussed. I think everyone agreed that we are very lucky to have an area of such rich environmental and historical diversity.

Sunday 8th April. Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. Continuing last weekend's good work, cutting back some of the birch saplings on the heath to allow the smaller plants such as heather to flourish and provide habitat for all those heath-loving insects, reptiles and birds. 5 participants helped to cut back the birch regrowth on the heath, ready for the birds and the livestock to return. We have left some to do in the autumn but the site is looking good and we await the return of Tree Pipits, Linnets and Nightjar. Willow Warblers had just returned and could be heard singing on the heathland fringe. Many thanks to all those who have participated in the work events over the past winter season. Sunday 1st April. Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. Although our livestock do a great job at munching through young trees, occasionally they need a bit of help. 4 participants cut birch regrowth while one of the trustees increased the width of the fire breaks with a strimmer. We were treated to great views of raptors displaying on the up-currents generated by the spring sunshine.

Sunday 25th March. Raze the Rhodo at Wharncliffe Heath. A second chance to help control Rhododendron ponticum which is spreading on the reserve to the detriment of native species. Once again we were very lucky with the weather, and 6 participants worked up a sweat lopping and sawing to the sound of Chiffchaffs singing in the wood and a visit from the first lamb of the year. Thanks to everyone involved.

Sunday 11th March. Raze the Rhodo at Wharncliffe Heath. An absolutely gorgeous day more like June than March, enjoyed by 10 participants who cut and hacked their way through some tough bushes. The cut material was burnt so as not to be hazardous to the sheep, which provided an opportunity to bake and consume some spuds at the end of the day. 6 soaring Common Buzzards and a Peregrine fly-past added to the day. A very big "thank-you" to all those involved. 

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2011

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Sunday 13th November. Action at Agden Bog. Agden Bog is a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve which needs grazing by livestock to enhance its value as a home to small and sensitive bog plants such as Round-leaved Sundew and Heath Spotted Orchid. We have previously agreed with YWT to help them with the management of this site. The day was foggy and damp, as 9 people in total started to clear the proposed fence line of tree and scrub cover. The work was virtually completed by the end of the day, thanks to a great deal of hard but satisfying work, and the presence of a chain-saw. A couple of breaks from the sawing and lopping allowed us to see Common Buzzard and a flock of Siskin, and hear Crossbills through the fog. Some lucky individuals also flushed a Woodcock and watched as it pretended to have a broken leg and wing before proving that this was not the case by flying off. Thanks to all those who took part, and particularly to the staff of YWT for overseeing the event and operating the chain-saw.

Sunday 23rd October. Fungal Foray at Wharncliffe Heath. On a beautiful autumnal Sunday morning, 17 people turned up at Wharncliffe Woods to meet local mycologist Ziggy Senkans. We barely got into the woods before the first fungus was spotted growing on birch, Piptoporus betulinus, Birch Polypore or Razor Strap. This is one of the most common polypores. It is not edible but “Ötzi” the 5,300 year old ice-man mummy was found to be carrying this species which he may have valued for its antibiotic properties, but as its name suggests, may have been used for sharpening blades. The biggest fruiting body found was that of the Penny Bun (Boletus edulis) which is very good to eat. The smallest found was that of the Lemon Disco (Bisporella citrina). The fruiting bodies are just 0.5 – 3mm across and bright yellow, but not edible. A good time was had by all. A full list of species from the morning will be on the website in due course. Joint event with Sorby Natural History Society.

Sunday 16th October. Raze the Rhodo! Rhododendron ponticum may have pretty pink flowers but it is a beast and an alien. It smothers other plants and prevents regeneration for a while even after it has been removed. A group of 9 met on a beautiful warm and sunny autumn day. A large patch of Rhodo under the crags was tackled with loppers and saws, and the cut material was burnt on site, as it is toxic to livestock. A lot of hard work resulted in major clearance, but there is still much more for us to tackle in the future. The regrowth from the cut stumps will be sprayed with herbicide next year. 3 soaring Buzzards were over the crags as we walked back down at the end of the day. Thanks to all who came along and worked so hard. Joint event with The Steel Valley Project.

Wednesday 12th October. Small Mammal Survey at Wharncliffe Heath. Local mammal expert Derek Whiteley helped us set 23 humane Longworth and Sherman traps the previous evening, all stocked with bedding and food. The following morning 8 participants including Derek convened to see what had been caught overnight. The result was just one male Wood Mouse, caught in the Barnsley corner of surrounding woodland. Derek showed us how to safely retrieve the animal from the trap, and how to sex and weigh it before returning it to the wild. Joint event with Sorby Natural History Society.

Sunday 2nd October.  Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. This event was planned as a Rhododendron bash but that requires that we burn the cuttings. Due to the unusally dry and warm spell we decided it would be safer to cut some more birch instead. Seven participants continued the good start made on 18th September. Much hard work and good companionship ensued, highlighted by views of Goshawk, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard cavorting over the nearby Height. Thanks to all those who took part on a very warm and humid day.

Sunday 18th September.  Bash the Birch on Wharncliffe Heath. Four volunteers worked hard to clear almost a hectare of birch scrub in the southern enclosure. Our livestock do a great job of keeping the heath open but do need a bit of help from time to time. Other than the fresh air and exercise the high spot was 4 Common Buzzards circling and wheeling overhead. This was a joint event with The Steel Valley Project.

Friday 15th July. Batty about Newts. 7 participants braved the drizzle and were rewarded by the sound of a male Nightjar on the heath, churring and flight-calling. A female Nightjar was also briefly seen. Back at the pond in the fading light a small grass snake was swimming, on the lookout for newts and hopefully goldfish. A loud splash alerted us to a large toad, disturbed by us and heading back into the pond for safety. Once the dusk had almost faded the torches came out and the bat detectors were turned on. Many Palmate Newts and their larvae were seen beneath the surface. In particular the number of "newtpoles" was outstanding and suggested that it had been a good breeding year. On the down side, very few large dragonfly larvae were spotted. This could be the result of many dragonflies emerging early this year, or might suggest predation by the now resident population of goldfish. Common Pipistrelles were the only species of bat to be identified, flying in the tree canopy above the pond. The trustees present certainly enjoyed the evening, and hope that members of the public did too.

Saturday 18th June. What's happening at Wharncliffe? This evening visit entailed a walk around areas of the nature reserve that have recently seen changes, with both trustees and members of the public forming a group of 10 people. The new glades below the crags were visited, which were created to allow the old pollarded oaks more space and light and to provide new habitat for birds and insects. One of the trustees located a nearby charcoal-burning platform, thereby creating a link between the old coppiced oaks and the traditional smelting industries of the region. The group then moved on to the top of Wharncliffe Crags to see the effect of grazing in the area, where a mosaic of open areas and heather-dominated vegetation is creating the type of habitat required for many insects as well as birds and reptiles. Some of the group then stayed on until dusk and were finally rewarded by the sounds of a churring Nightjar among the many Woodcock flyovers. A big thank you to all those who took part. 

Monday 30th May. Good views of a male Nightjar on Wharncliffe Heath 21.25-22.00. Churring, wing-clapping and flight calls were seen and heard. At one point the bird was hassled by a Tawny Owl. Was the Nightjar nearly on the menu? At least 3 roding Woodcock were also seen overhead (AH, DJB).

Saturday 28th May. Dawn Chorus walk in Wharncliffe Heath LNR. Nine early risers saw a breezy and cloudy dawn. It was well worth the effort, with 27 bird species being seen or heard. These included 5 red-listed species of conservation concern (Song Thrush, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Linnet and Spotted Flycatcher), and 3 on the amber list (Willow Warbler, Curlew and Redstart). Together with the red-listed Nightjar and amber-listed Woodcock, which are known from survey work to breed on the reserve, this illustrates how important a local nature reserve can be at helping to preserve bird populations. Andrew Hill did a great job explaining the differences between songs and calls of difficult species, and explaining aspects of their behaviour and habitat requirements. A big Thank you! to all those who came along, including the 2 hardy and patient junior participants.

Saturday 26th March. A second day of working with the Don District Explorer Scouts, with help from the Steel Valley Project joined by trustees and members of the public. We were once again lucky with the weather, which made the tasks of cutting back Rhododendron ponticum and birch much more pleasant.  A big thank you to those involved, especially the younger members of the group who demonstrated great enthusiasm.

Saturday 12th March. Conservation Event with the Don District Explorer Scouts. We were lucky with the weather when members of the public joined the Explorers and some trustees for a little constructive destruction, with support from the Steel Valley Project. The day was a success, with the entire southern enclosure being cleared of birch scrub. The weather was kind, and overflying Curlew and Lapwing reminded us that spring was just round the corner. A very big thank you to those involved, especially the Explorers who worked really hard and appeared to be having a good time.