FREE WINTER EVENTS AT LEVERHULME & HASLAM PARK

You can also find out what else is happening hosted by the

Lancashire Wildlife Trust having a look at:  http://www.lancswt.org.uk/index.php/what-s-on.php

GET INVOLVED!

Lancashire Wildlife Trust have now developed their October to March 2010/11 volunteering programme for Haslam Park.

They are inviting local residents and community organisations to get involved in various projects being run in the park.  These projects will be run on the First Tuesday of every month and will include: Guided Walk, Acid Grassland Management, New Year Tidy-up and Fen Cutting, Woodland Path Tidy-up and Site Maintenance Work, Woodland Management, River Clean-up and River Dipping.

All necessary equipment and protective clothing will be provided.

Are you interested?  For more information or to enroll on the volunteering programme.

Contact: Joanne Moore on 01204 663754 / 07738545438   jmoore@lancswt.org.uk

CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRES >> ITS NOT TOO LATE

We have received an excellent response to the leaflet drop and also obtained feedback from local events, schools, meetings etc and are in the process of analysing all the responses.

Its not too late to click onto our on-line questionnaire and submit your views and comments >>> click on the link now  http://survey.groundworknw.org.uk/Survey.aspx?surveyid=2511

VISIT OUR ON-LINE QUESTIONNAIRE (click on the link below)

Please take five minutes to click on the link below and take part in our on-line questionnaire.

Please click here >>>  http://survey.groundworknw.org.uk/Survey.aspx?surveyid=2511

Thank you for your particpation.

 

HAVE YOUR SAY, YOUR COMMENTS COUNT!

DON'T BE KEPT IN THE DARK (like a mushroom) - HAVE YOUR SAY !

Many people are interested in fungi because they are edible. But everyone also knows that wild fungi/mushrooms/toadstools can be both delicious and deadly poisonous. Unfortunately, there is no simple way of saying what is edible and what is poisonous. So if in doubt leave it out!

Groundwork, Lancashire Wildlife Trust & Bolton Council are all working to ensure that local residents are not kept in the dark by opening the channels of communication and giving you the opportunity to have your say, keep your eyes peeled for the questionnaires coming through your doors or do our on-line questionnaire coming soon.

Have your say, Your comments count

Here is a selection of photo’s taken at Leverhulme Park of the different types of Fungi growing, can anyone identify them? post your answers below >>

Photography kindly donated by David Gaskell, Sleepy G Photography

All enquiries to : dgaskell@ymail.com

WHAT IS A CONSULTATION AND WHY?

The aim of the “Gateway to Urban Nature” consultation with the local people of Bolton, specifically those nearest Leverhulme Park and Haslam Park is to obtain comments and views about how the park is currently used, if not why not and what people would like to see in the parks in the future.

Although we are focusing on turning certain areas into a more natural habitat, it is also as important for people to feel they can access and use their local parks and to do this we are asking what activities and events you would like to see.

In both Leverhulme Park and Haslam Park areas, a team of staff and volunteers are distributing leaflets/questionnaires, it only takes a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire and as we keep saying YOUR COMMENTS COUNT !

Local schools and groups are also being asked to partake in the consultation; recently we visited a local community group, Asian Elders Resource Centre (AERC) in Bolton to ask their views and comments.

The session was well attended and with thanks to the staff at the centre we were able to ask the group questions about the parks and explain what a LNR (Local Nature Reserve) was. It was a very positive session and we came away with lots of good ideas and also information about Leverhulme, Haslam and a few of the other parks in Bolton.

If you would like more information on AERC please visit http://www.aercbolton.co.uk

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THE INSECTS AND CREATURES ON THE PARK?

If you look a little closer whilst you are visiting the park, you will be amazed at what you will find; here is a small selection of what has been spotted on Leverhulme Park, hopefully we have managed to identify them for you, feel free to post your comments.

(Above) Comb footed Spider (also known as "Mothercare Spider")

The Comb Footed Spider, Latin name: Enoplognatha ovata

Size: Approximately 6mm from front of head to back of abdomen

Distribution: Found throughout the UK Months seen: May to October

Habitat: Hedgerows, grassland, gardens and rides Food: Small insects.

Special features: The comb-footed spider produces a scrappy web consisting of a loose network of criss-cross threads.

As their adopted name indicates; "mothercare spiders" are one of the few spiders that look after their young after they hatch. You can see the female sitting on her egg sack. They vary from black and white to pale brown and white and they inhabit bushes and low vegetation. This species is also available in a pale creamy-green colour. There's another variation where the two red stripes are replaced by a single thick red stripe along the abdomen. The black spots on both sides of the abdomen are present in all three forms.

The female produces a bluish egg sac which is sometimes concealed in a rolled up leaf. Be warned though; despite their small size, they are capable of killing bees and wasps - amazing!

(above) possibly a "Field Cuckoo Bumblebee"

Latin name: Bombus campestris

Attacks the nests of comon carder bees; Males are sometimes entirely black.

Cuckoo bumblebees

There are 6 species of cuckoo bumblebees in the UK. They used to be like other bumblebees, but they have switched from collecting pollen to parasites. The female cuckoo bumblebees will kill or evict the a "true" bumblebee queen and take over her workers as her own, using them to rear her own brood.

(above) Common Wasp, collecting pollen

Latin name: Vespula vulgaris

The common/social wasp is a yellow jacket wasp; Social wasps are the famous stingers of the insect world. Generally you are unlikely to be stung by a wasp until Autumn, unless you accidentally put your hand on one and they are defending themselves, or unless you are unlucky enough to disturb a wasps nest.

Up until late July and early August they are busy raising their young, chasing other insects, and foraging for food and maintenance materials for the nest. After the have raised their young, their job is mainly complete and they begin to gorge themselves on the food they collect, especially on ripe and fermenting fruit; they become more and more dependent on sweet foodstuffs (which is why we get pestered by them in parks etc) they will aggressively seek it out. During this time they are more likely to deliver a wasp sting.

Wasps are a group of insects that includes social wasps, potter wasps, mason wasps, digger wasps, parasitic wasps and sawflies.Wasps, along with bees and ants, form the group called Hymenoptera (which means "membranous wings").

Some sting and immobilise other invertebrates to feed to their larvae. Others, such as the parasitoid wasps, lay eggs directly into the bodies of their hosts.

Although most people think of wasps as pests, they benefit mankind and the environment in many ways. They help control arthropod pests (flies, caterpillars, bugs, spiders, etc.) by preying on them. This really does help to cut down on the use of harmful pesticides. This is healthier for our environment in the long run.

Photos kindly donated by: David Gaskell - "Sleepy G Photography" - all enquiries to > dgaskell@ymail.com

CONSULTATIONS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Groundwork are conducting consultations with the surrounding local communities of both Leverhulme Park and Haslam Park to find out what people feel about the proposed LNR's and what they would like to see in their parks in the future.

On Friday 20th August two representatives of Groundwork Bury & Bolton went along to a family event hosted by Bolton Council at Willows Park. The children who went along to the event where asked to give their views and comments about what they currently use the park for and what they would like to see in the future. To do this, the children where asked to complete a multiple choice style questionnaire; with a picture version designed for the younger children.

Together with the questionnaires that will be collected from local schools and communities the views and comments will be used to shape the future events and activities that will be provided in the park alongside the Local Nature Reserve.

COMING SOON > the online version of the questionnaire - YOUR chance to submit your views and comments to us.

HAVE YOUR SAY, YOUR COMMENTS COUNT !

What is a Local Nature Reserve (LNR)?

LNR’s are areas of land which are designed by Local Authorities as being important as local natural heritage resource and/or for delivering environmental education opportunities, community enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside.

(above) Leverhulme Park, Bolton "down by the river"

Plans are in place for part of Leverhulme Park & Haslam Park to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

(Above) Leverhulme Park, Bolton "Hoverfly resting on leaf"

Welcome to Gateway to Urban Nature (Bolton)