\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Hedgezoom-1024x571.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFabulous Hedgerows! <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe had an inspiring zoom meeting with ecologist, farm advisor and WW Elliot Fairs, alongside the super enthusiastic Megan Gimber, hedge specialist at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With nearly fifty people joining us for the talk it proved to be a really successful event. Megan talked through all the benefits of hedges, the structure of a good hedge, how to establish and manage hedgerows, and finally introduced us to the PTES Healthy Hedge survey and app. Elliot then updated us on the new Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFIs) which farmers and landowners can apply for; encouraging better hedgerow management for biodiversity and carbon storage. To catch up with this Zoom click here.<\/a> It is well worth a watch! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Hedgesurvey-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Hedgesurvey1-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollowing the talk we ran two practical hedge surveying sessions at Deer Park Farm, with 21 wardens attending to learn more about surveying using the PTES app. We hope that these wardens will now feel confident to approach local landowners & farmers to discuss hedgerow SFIs and demonstrate how to survey or conduct the surveys themselves. We feel this could be a great way for wardens to make a very positive impact within their parishes for wildlife whilst also supporting farmers. Thank you so much to all those who came along; we look forward to hearing about how you get on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Primrose-e1710652811425-878x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Swallow.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWildlife Warden Spring Celebration!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe are really excited to announce that we will be having a big event on Sunday 28th April<\/strong>, at St Mary’s Church Hall, Dawlish Warren<\/strong>. We’d love to have as many wildlife wardens as possible join us, and feel free to bring along your partner or best friends too! It will be a fun and uplifting day for us all; celebrating our wonderful group and all it has achieved. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe have several fantastic speakers lined up for the day, including Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall, whose book “Black Ops and Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals” has had fabulous reviews. They are hilarious speakers, with a unique ability to deliver a serious message in a truly funny and engaging way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day will include homemade soup and cakes, a walk in the nature reserve and lots of opportunities to chat and idea share with other wildlife wardens. Please let me know<\/a> whether you will be able to come along. Lift sharing will be arranged for the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe hope to see you there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trunk-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/CWS-wood2-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/CWS-wood-e1710667078921.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet Involved with County Wildlife Sites<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCounty Wildlife Sites<\/a> are fantastic!<\/strong> We have a trusty band of wildlife wardens, who have been trained by Devon Biodiversity Record Centre (DBRC), and are able to carry out botanical surveying at new sites but we would love for more wardens to be involved<\/strong>! Last year, groups and individual wardens surveyed 10 sites, of which 6 were designated as CWSs. DBRC had a total of 27 sites designated this year and so for us to have been involved in 6 of these is a really wonderful achievement for the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy would you want to be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- You get to see some beautiful places that you wouldn\u2019t normally have access to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You are an important part of the process in getting these special sites recognised, which is especially significant for planning and development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You learn so much about species ID when you are out with a group \u2013 I know I have!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It’s lots fun!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How can you be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Come to the Woodland Survey Training<\/strong> with Jack Rivers from DBRC on Thursday 18th<\/sup> April at Ausewell Wood<\/strong>. You will learn how the surveys are conducted, the CWS criteria and about report writing. Please don\u2019t feel like you won\u2019t have the knowledge or experience for the session \u2013 we all learn together and will often go out in groups to survey sites, so there is always support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Come along to unconfirmed sites to survey with a group of wardens:<\/strong> You don’t have to have survey experience to come but you will learn as we go. Let me know<\/a> if you would like to be on the email list. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Finding and speaking to local landowners:<\/strong> If you are not keen on surveys then another way you could be extremely helpful is by contacting local landowners of unconfirmed sites so that we can get permission to survey. Wardens with local knowledge and connections can be so useful for this. Please get in touch<\/a> if you would be interested in getting involved in this aspect. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Robin-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCall to Action<\/strong> – Parish Councils Duty to Biodiversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs many of you are aware, public authorities, including town and parish councils, have a legal duty under the Environment Act 2021 to agree on actions to conserve <\/strong>and enhance <\/strong>biodiversity. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe government guidance<\/a>, issued in May last year, gave a deadline of 1st January 2024, for councils to look at what action they could take and decide policies and objectives soon after that. (It should be noted that Town and Parish councils are not obliged to publish a report on their actions unlike other public authorities). <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe know that lots of wardens have already reached out to their local parish and town councils to help them create their Biodiversity Policy, <\/em>but there are still many councils that need to put this on their agenda. We would really like to help support wardens in approaching their councils to get this conversation started. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to create a template letter, that you can forward to your parish or town councillors. We will try and make it as upbeat and positive as we can with the aim to promote action but in a supportive and friendly way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will also create a set of template documents, which you could take along to a council meeting and show case studies of actions other wardens have been taking in their parishes that could be applied to yours. This is where the ask for help comes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are looking for wardens to help us create these documents using your experiences in your parish. Please look out for my email in which I will include further details and a template to fill in. This should not take you too long and doesn’t have to be word-perfect; as long as we have the information and some pictures, we can do the rest! It would be fantastic to get a great resource together for us all to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/DEVON_LOGO_PRIMARY_COLOUR-1024x459.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDevon Wildlife Trust Equipment List<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Devon Wilder Communities team has a variety of equipment that they are happy for community groups and wardens to access in order to run events and surveys. The equipment would need to be collected and returned to their offices at Cricklepit Mill, Exeter. This is a great free resource, but make sure you book anything you want ASAP! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples of what they have on offer are mammal footprint tubes, insect pots, sweep nets, bat detectors, trail cameras …….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please email me<\/a> if you would like the full list of equipment and booking form sent to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDates for your Diary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollowing the talk we ran two practical hedge surveying sessions at Deer Park Farm, with 21 wardens attending to learn more about surveying using the PTES app. We hope that these wardens will now feel confident to approach local landowners & farmers to discuss hedgerow SFIs and demonstrate how to survey or conduct the surveys themselves. We feel this could be a great way for wardens to make a very positive impact within their parishes for wildlife whilst also supporting farmers. Thank you so much to all those who came along; we look forward to hearing about how you get on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWildlife Warden Spring Celebration!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe are really excited to announce that we will be having a big event on Sunday 28th April<\/strong>, at St Mary’s Church Hall, Dawlish Warren<\/strong>. We’d love to have as many wildlife wardens as possible join us, and feel free to bring along your partner or best friends too! It will be a fun and uplifting day for us all; celebrating our wonderful group and all it has achieved. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe have several fantastic speakers lined up for the day, including Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall, whose book “Black Ops and Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals” has had fabulous reviews. They are hilarious speakers, with a unique ability to deliver a serious message in a truly funny and engaging way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day will include homemade soup and cakes, a walk in the nature reserve and lots of opportunities to chat and idea share with other wildlife wardens. Please let me know<\/a> whether you will be able to come along. Lift sharing will be arranged for the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe hope to see you there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet Involved with County Wildlife Sites<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCounty Wildlife Sites<\/a> are fantastic!<\/strong> We have a trusty band of wildlife wardens, who have been trained by Devon Biodiversity Record Centre (DBRC), and are able to carry out botanical surveying at new sites but we would love for more wardens to be involved<\/strong>! Last year, groups and individual wardens surveyed 10 sites, of which 6 were designated as CWSs. DBRC had a total of 27 sites designated this year and so for us to have been involved in 6 of these is a really wonderful achievement for the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy would you want to be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- You get to see some beautiful places that you wouldn\u2019t normally have access to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You are an important part of the process in getting these special sites recognised, which is especially significant for planning and development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You learn so much about species ID when you are out with a group \u2013 I know I have!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It’s lots fun!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How can you be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Come to the Woodland Survey Training<\/strong> with Jack Rivers from DBRC on Thursday 18th<\/sup> April at Ausewell Wood<\/strong>. You will learn how the surveys are conducted, the CWS criteria and about report writing. Please don\u2019t feel like you won\u2019t have the knowledge or experience for the session \u2013 we all learn together and will often go out in groups to survey sites, so there is always support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Come along to unconfirmed sites to survey with a group of wardens:<\/strong> You don’t have to have survey experience to come but you will learn as we go. Let me know<\/a> if you would like to be on the email list. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Finding and speaking to local landowners:<\/strong> If you are not keen on surveys then another way you could be extremely helpful is by contacting local landowners of unconfirmed sites so that we can get permission to survey. Wardens with local knowledge and connections can be so useful for this. Please get in touch<\/a> if you would be interested in getting involved in this aspect. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCall to Action<\/strong> – Parish Councils Duty to Biodiversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs many of you are aware, public authorities, including town and parish councils, have a legal duty under the Environment Act 2021 to agree on actions to conserve <\/strong>and enhance <\/strong>biodiversity. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe government guidance<\/a>, issued in May last year, gave a deadline of 1st January 2024, for councils to look at what action they could take and decide policies and objectives soon after that. (It should be noted that Town and Parish councils are not obliged to publish a report on their actions unlike other public authorities). <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe know that lots of wardens have already reached out to their local parish and town councils to help them create their Biodiversity Policy, <\/em>but there are still many councils that need to put this on their agenda. We would really like to help support wardens in approaching their councils to get this conversation started. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to create a template letter, that you can forward to your parish or town councillors. We will try and make it as upbeat and positive as we can with the aim to promote action but in a supportive and friendly way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will also create a set of template documents, which you could take along to a council meeting and show case studies of actions other wardens have been taking in their parishes that could be applied to yours. This is where the ask for help comes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are looking for wardens to help us create these documents using your experiences in your parish. Please look out for my email in which I will include further details and a template to fill in. This should not take you too long and doesn’t have to be word-perfect; as long as we have the information and some pictures, we can do the rest! It would be fantastic to get a great resource together for us all to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDevon Wildlife Trust Equipment List<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Devon Wilder Communities team has a variety of equipment that they are happy for community groups and wardens to access in order to run events and surveys. The equipment would need to be collected and returned to their offices at Cricklepit Mill, Exeter. This is a great free resource, but make sure you book anything you want ASAP! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples of what they have on offer are mammal footprint tubes, insect pots, sweep nets, bat detectors, trail cameras …….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please email me<\/a> if you would like the full list of equipment and booking form sent to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDates for your Diary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We have several fantastic speakers lined up for the day, including Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall, whose book “Black Ops and Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals” has had fabulous reviews. They are hilarious speakers, with a unique ability to deliver a serious message in a truly funny and engaging way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day will include homemade soup and cakes, a walk in the nature reserve and lots of opportunities to chat and idea share with other wildlife wardens. Please let me know<\/a> whether you will be able to come along. Lift sharing will be arranged for the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope to see you there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n County Wildlife Sites<\/a> are fantastic!<\/strong> We have a trusty band of wildlife wardens, who have been trained by Devon Biodiversity Record Centre (DBRC), and are able to carry out botanical surveying at new sites but we would love for more wardens to be involved<\/strong>! Last year, groups and individual wardens surveyed 10 sites, of which 6 were designated as CWSs. DBRC had a total of 27 sites designated this year and so for us to have been involved in 6 of these is a really wonderful achievement for the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why would you want to be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How can you be involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As many of you are aware, public authorities, including town and parish councils, have a legal duty under the Environment Act 2021 to agree on actions to conserve <\/strong>and enhance <\/strong>biodiversity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The government guidance<\/a>, issued in May last year, gave a deadline of 1st January 2024, for councils to look at what action they could take and decide policies and objectives soon after that. (It should be noted that Town and Parish councils are not obliged to publish a report on their actions unlike other public authorities). <\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that lots of wardens have already reached out to their local parish and town councils to help them create their Biodiversity Policy, <\/em>but there are still many councils that need to put this on their agenda. We would really like to help support wardens in approaching their councils to get this conversation started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our plan is to create a template letter, that you can forward to your parish or town councillors. We will try and make it as upbeat and positive as we can with the aim to promote action but in a supportive and friendly way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We will also create a set of template documents, which you could take along to a council meeting and show case studies of actions other wardens have been taking in their parishes that could be applied to yours. This is where the ask for help comes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are looking for wardens to help us create these documents using your experiences in your parish. Please look out for my email in which I will include further details and a template to fill in. This should not take you too long and doesn’t have to be word-perfect; as long as we have the information and some pictures, we can do the rest! It would be fantastic to get a great resource together for us all to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Devon Wilder Communities team has a variety of equipment that they are happy for community groups and wardens to access in order to run events and surveys. The equipment would need to be collected and returned to their offices at Cricklepit Mill, Exeter. This is a great free resource, but make sure you book anything you want ASAP! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of what they have on offer are mammal footprint tubes, insect pots, sweep nets, bat detectors, trail cameras …….<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please email me<\/a> if you would like the full list of equipment and booking form sent to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet Involved with County Wildlife Sites<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCall to Action<\/strong> – Parish Councils Duty to Biodiversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDevon Wildlife Trust Equipment List<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDates for your Diary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Backthorn-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rainbow-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Boxes-in-position-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Ready-to-install-March-24-1024x575.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/moss2-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ACT-Poster-1-new.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/backup.act.stringerhj.co.uk\/WW\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Dawlish1-724x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n