Wildlife Summer 2025

e member magazine for Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust Issue 158, Summer 2025

Wild life

On the hunt for the jewels of the underbrush

CHALK IT UP DISCOVER THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CHALK STREAMS

MARVELLOUS MOTHS DISCOVER THE WORLD OF MOTHS AND THEIR CATERPILLARS

Welcome

A note from our Chief Executive

Welcome to the summer edition of your member magazine. Alongside this edition, you’ll find details of our 2025 Annual General Meeting, being held online this October, and I do hope that you’ll be able to join us on the day. Within the magazine, I’m delighted that you’ll be able to read an introduction to Championing Nature, our new 6-year community engagement and education project which will significantly increase our capacity to engage young people with the natural world around them, at a time when they have never needed it more. Within the local news section, you’ll also see that we have announced new funding from the National Lo ery Heritage Fund which will allow us to undertake an ambitious programme of organisational development over the course of two years. I’ll look forward to sharing further updates with you in due course!

A er a terrible year for bu erflies in 2024, with numbers falling across the UK, I have been pleased to see what seems to be a greater number across our meadows and green spaces so far this year. As always, please do keep sharing all your wildlife records with us as it helps us to monitor the state of species across the region. If you’re able to

photograph the wildlife you spot, do send your pictures to us for a chance to win some prizes - check the Member Pages at the back of this magazine for details!

As I write, we have this week received the piece of good news that the government has announced significant new restrictions on lead ammunition. is is a decision long in the making, but with one stroke it will begin to end the needless poisoning of our environment and wild animals across Great Britain. It’s an example that people power and continued pressure will eventually pay o , so we must all continue to speak up for the natural world in an e ort to see positive change. In particular, across Birmingham and the Black Country, we want to see nature at the heart of our communities, our rivers protected and cleaned, and to reverse the decline in wildlife.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer, and I look forward to seeing you at our Annual General Meeting.

Chief Executive

Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

Wildlife is the membership magazine for Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

Email comms@bbcwildlife.org.uk

Telephone 0121 523 0094

Address Centre of the Earth, 42 Norman Street, Birmingham, B18 7EP

Registered charity number 513615

Website bbcwildlife.org.uk

Facebook.com/WTBBC

Twitter.com/WTBBC

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Instagram.com/bbcwildlifetrust

Editor James Benwell

Additional Editor Joanna Foat

Designer Ben Cook

Additional contributions by: Dan Brown, Rachele Poli, David Green, Emmy Young

Front cover Image: Thick-legged flower beetle © Bernard Castelein, naturepl.com

Wherever you are in the UK, your Wildlife Trust is standing up for wildlife and wild places in your area and bringing people closer to nature.

This Magazine is printed on FSC®-certified material and is fully recyclable.

3 Local News

Updates on our wild work across the region and more

5 Beetlemania

On the hunt for the jewels of the underbrush

9 Chalk it Up

Discover the importance of our chalk streams

13 Marvellous Moths

Shining a spotlight on moths and their caterpillars

17 Introducing Championing Nature

Discover our new 6-year education and community engagement project

19 UK News

Wild updates from across the United Kingdom

21 6 Places to See Ocean Giants

Our top spots to see marine megafauna

23 e Art of Nature Part 2

We meet people whose art is inspired by nature

25 Members Pages

Highlights and updates from and for our members

Top weekly prizes of up to £25,000 and for every £1 you spend, at least 50p comes directly to us.

bbcwildlife.org.uk/lo ery

LOCAL NEWS

An Open Day at Moseley Bog

On Saturday 5th July we were delighted to welcome 257 people to our Open Day at Moseley Bog & Joy’s Wood Local Nature Reserve, the first event as part of our new Championing Nature project (find out all about Championing Nature on pages 17-18 of this magazine)! roughout the course of the day visitors enjoyed wildflower and birdwatching walks, Tolkien tours, bug hunts, green woodworking and print making workshops, as well as a range of family activities. We were thrilled to showcase this magical nature reserve to so many of you, a er all, it was the campaign to Save the Bog in 1980 which led to the formation of the Urban Wildlife Group, which went on to become the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust itself! e reserve remains a haven for wildlife and a sanctuary for people, and we’re proud to manage it alongside the Friends of Moseley Bog and our team of dedicated volunteers. We look forward to connecting many more people with the wild world on their doorstep at Championing Nature events over the course of the next 6 years.

Announcing

our ambitious programme of organisational

development

We are delighted to have been awarded £243,000 of funding from the National Lo ery Heritage Fund for an ambitious programme of organisational development, lasting 24 months (May 2025 to April 2027).

is funding will make a really positive di erence to the Trust, and we will use it to:

1. Develop a long-term plan assessing the best choice/s for the physical location of our operational functions. is will include suggestions for the site

of our head o ce, storage facilities, fleet parking, requirements for o ce space, etc. We will also use these funds to plan the redevelopment of our Centre of the Earth building and a ached nature reserve.

2. We will explore opportunities to increase the number of nature reserves we either manage, lease or own outright. is will consist of a consultancy review of current site opportunities, and their costs and benefits both locally and strategically. We will consider locations’ potential for publicly accessible infrastructure such as new visitor centres, and also strategic contribution to nature recovery. is will hopefully

result in the establishment of new nature reserves in Birmingham and the Black Country.

3. We will develop a timeline for the initial implementation stages of both of the above plans. is will ensure our plans for organisational development are realistic, concrete and achievable, and will be well underway by the time this National Lo ery Heritage Fund project is complete.

is is an exciting and impactful programme that should substantially strengthen our business model, and give us the ability to grow and deliver more nature recovery work in years to come.

ank You and Goodbye to a Volunteering Legend

A er 15 years volunteering as a membership administrator with the Trust, John Tidmarsh (pictured, second from right) has decided that it’s time to hang up his mouse and spend his time birdwatching. Recipient of a Community Inspiration Award in 2018, John's work throughout his time with the Trust has been vital and valued. Volunteers such as John play a huge role in our work for nature’s recovery across Birmingham and the Black Country, and we’re so glad to have them on board. ank you so much for your help over the years, John, and we hope you enjoy your retirement!

Like so many wild encounters, it came down to timing, research and a li le bit of luck. I knew I was in the right place – patrolling a patch of grass, shrubs and saplings beneath towering birch trees. I knew it was the right season, with the late spring sun warming the morning.

But I’d been here before and le disappointed. How could I hope to spot one li le beetle in a forest of foliage?

But there she was, a splash of red amongst the green. Hunkered on a leaf, soaking in the sunlight, warming up for her maiden flight. A female hazel pot beetle. She was almost cartoonishly oblong, a caricature of a beetle with her black head tucked beneath her bright red body. I’m not sure if it was her shape, her colour or her rarity that enchanted me, but that encounter will live long in my memory. I’ve enjoyed similarly magical moments with many more beetles, from dazzling jewel beetles to cliff tiger beetles racing across rocks. The sheer number and variety of beetles in the UK is staggering – there are more than 4,000 of them. Wherever you look, however long you search, there will always be a new beetle to discover. They’re even more diverse than The Beatles’ back catalogue and, I think, should be just as celebrated. It’s time for a new Beetlemania!

is a naturalist and content officer for The Wildlife Trusts. He’s

Ladybird Madonna

If the nation had a favourite beetle, it would probably be a ladybird. They’re familiar, brightly coloured and considered the gardener’s friend, thanks to their appetite for aphids. When you picture a ladybird, it’s likely the 7-spot, with seven black dots decorating its bright red back. But did you know there are almost 50 species to discover in the UK?

Many of them share a similar style, pairing red and black. Others can be orange or yellow. These bright colours are a warning. They let potential predators know that this meal would leave a bad taste in the mouth. This is known as aposematic colouration. Studies have shown that brighter ladybirds tend to be more toxic, with birds less likely to a ack the brighter species as a result.

The largest ladybird is the eyed ladybird, reaching a (relatively) impressive length of 8.5 mm. It’s a conifer specialist, best looked for on the branches of Scots pine. Whilst many ladybirds are found in trees, there are plenty to be discovered closer to the ground. The 14-spot ladybird stalks aphids across ne les and other low-growing plants. It’s a beautiful, bright yellow beetle, with rectangular black spots that o en fuse together.

Not all ladybirds are large and brightly coloured. Almost half of our resident species are considered inconspicuous ladybirds. They’re small, subtly marked and much more difficult to find. The aptly named dot ladybird can be as li le as 1.3 mm. It’s a black speck o en found on fruit trees, where it hunts spider mites – helping to control their numbers.

Clockwise from bottom left: bloody nose beetle, 7-spot ladybird, red-headed cardinal beetle, soldier beetle, dock leaf beetle, oak jewel beetle, rosemary beetle, devil’s coach-horse, stag beetle, thick-legged ower beetle, black oil beetle.

Insect enthusiast

Tom Hibbert delves into the best of the beetles.

Let it bee

Imitation is the greatest form of fla ery, but it can also be an excellent survival strategy. Lots of defenceless insects have evolved to look like bees and wasps to fool predators. This is known as Batesian mimicry and there are some brilliant beetles ge ing in on the act.

One of my favourites is the bee beetle. It has black bands across its yellow wing cases, bringing to mind a bee’s bum. The effect is enhanced by a fuzzy ginger back and a habit of trundling across flowers. But as any good cover band knows, it’s not enough to look like your idol, you have to sound like them too. Bee beetles buzz as they fly from flower to flower. Sadly, you’re unlikely to see one away from Wales or the Highlands of Scotland.

The sheer number and variety of beetles in the UK is staggering – there are more than 4,000 of them.

Luckily, there’s another mimic found a lot more widely. The wasp beetle lives in woodlands across most of Britain. Yellow bands across its black body give the impression of a wasp. The beetle adds to this effect by moving in a jerky, wasp-like manner. You can o en find wasp beetles resting openly on leaves or fences, trusting their colours to keep them safe.

Beetles bene t from wilder gardens! Download our free guide to bring the best beetles to your patch

wtru.st/Beetles

7-spot ladybirds are a familiar sight in parks and gardens

Hey jewel

How do you take a beetle and make it be er? You make it shiny! From shining stripes to metallic sheens, there are some gloriously glossy beetles in the UK.

Jewel beetles live up to their name, with some species shimmering emerald or bronze. But, like true precious gems, they’re hard to come by. Their larvae leave characteristic D-shaped holes in the trunks of trees, but it takes a lot of luck to spot an adult. Fortunately, there are plenty of shining beetles that are far more easily found.

For example, rose chafers. These big beetles are hard to miss, visiting flowers on a sunny day. They’re a gorgeous, metallic golden-green, their colours shi ing as the sun catches them. Like many beetles, they are pollinators, fulfilling the same important role as bees and bu erflies. Rose chafers are found throughout southern Britain, sometimes visiting gardens.

Another gli ering garden visitor is the rosemary beetle. Its metallic green back is embellished with striking purple stripes. It’s a recent arrival to the UK but has quickly spread. These beetles are easily found on rosemary and other aromatic plants. They are leaf beetles and share the genus Chrysolina with many equally a ractive species, including the mint leaf beetle and dead-ne le leaf beetle.

Twist

and snout

Let’s shake it up from the bright and bold and explore some of our more bizarre beetles. When it comes to looks, weevils have the best nose in the business – though technically it’s a rostrum with their mouthparts at the end. This long ‘snout’ gives them a comical appearance, which is only enhanced by their large and o en prominent eyes.

One of the longest snouts belongs to the acorn weevil. Females use theirs to bore into an acorn, allowing them to lay an egg inside. The young weevil grows inside the acorn, eventually burrowing out to pupate in the soil. Not all weevils have such a long snout. The scarce fungus weevil’s rostrum is broad and fla ened. If feeds on the fungi known as King Alfred’s cakes, its mo led pa ern providing the perfect camouflage.

Whether they’re strangely shaped, shiny, brightly coloured or masterful mimics, beetles are brilliant. They are pollinators, predators and recyclers, carrying out the vital tasks that help keep wild places balanced. Let’s come together and celebrate these incredible insects.

Chalk Rivers and the UK’s Growing Water Crisis

Crossing the

Ali Morse is Water Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, working across the Trust federation, and in partnership with other organisations, to call for be er protections for the water environment.

Crystal clear waters flow over colourful gravels, green fronds sway. Above, damselflies flit, wings glinting in the sunshine. I dip my fingers into the cool stream, sca ering minnows. This tranquil, quintessentially English scene I hold in my mind, because the chance to see it in reality is shrinking.

Found across southern and eastern England, chalk streams are a global rarity occurring almost nowhere else. Whilst many UK rivers are rainfed, chalk streams flow from vast underground aquifers of porous chalk rock. A sunshade, filter and giant reservoir, cool, clean, consistent river flows result. The water requires comparatively li le treatment to make it drinkable, making these rivers incredibly useful to society.

But whilst abstraction – extracting water for human use – won’t generally drain the river dry, not having enough water can be fatal for a river and its wildlife. Insufficient water means less physical space for plants, insects and fish, more concentrated pollution, and slower, oxygenpoor flows that warm faster in the sun (high temperatures are harmful to fish like salmon through damage to eggs, juveniles and adults).

in Scotland, regulators have produced a ‘water scarcity plan’ because dry periods and droughts are becoming more frequent whilst water demand in homes, farming and industry is growing. In England, the Environment Agency is updating the ‘Water Resources National Framework’, a long-term view of water needs that will show if we don’t take action, by 2050 we will fall short of the water needed for society and for rivers by 5,000 Megalitres – or 5,000,000,000 litres – per day. The greatest shortfall will be in south-east England, where chalk streams are located, but all of England faces water supply challenges.

Water supply is a key reason planning permission is refused, placing UK Government housing targets at risk. However, solutions can be found. The Environment Agency recently withdrew objections to development in Cambridgeshire a er a programme of water efficiency to offset new demand and new reservoirs to ease supply issues were agreed.

Environmental groups have long raised concerns over excess abstraction from chalk streams or their aquifers. Extracting just 10% can potentially damage the complex local hydrology and harm particular species. And yet, for a group of rivers mostly around London – the Cam, upper Hiz, Cray, Darent and Upper Lea – more than 50% is taken. Drinking water supplies from these rivers simply aren’t sustainable.

Supply concerns aren’t restricted to chalk streams. The water company serving most of Wales said that without action, it won’t have sufficient volumes across zones that serve 70% of its customers, so it needs to invest in new supplies and in reducing demand to ensure it has enough headroom to weather any droughts. Even

Habitat enhancement projects are crucial to ensure chalk streams can endure in the meantime. Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is creating a more resilient River Lea with 1.5km of woody features, bankside tree management, regrading banks and adding wetland features. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire removed redundant weirs on the River Granta, improving flows and opening up new areas of habitat to migratory fish in Cambridge.

We must all take action. Ask your MP for tighter water use requirements for new homes and to introduce a water use labelling scheme for white goods and bathroom fixtures, add a water bu in the garden, and take the 3-minute shower challenge.

Help us call upon Government to take action to protect chalk streams. Sign the petition at wtru.st/chalk-streams-petition

of MossThe Magical Kingdom

Temperate rainforests, which once covered a fi h of the UK but now cover less than one per cent, contain one of the oldest plants in the kingdom – moss. These prehistoric plants have been around since before the dinosaurs. They are phenomenal and need their moment to shine. So why not give your garden the temperate woodland makeover with moss, ferns and lichens.

You may already have moss in your garden in the damp, shady environments. These mossy habitats are sacred and need time to be le alone to grow. Sadly, o en people don't see moss as a plant in the garden, they see it as a problem that needs to be scraped off. We absolutely have to stand up for these ancient mossy places or they will be lost.

Moss is an essential part of any garden ecosystem where fungi grows and a host of small creatures find shelter and food. Beetles, slugs and snails to tiny springtails and microscopic creatures a ract birds and other animals higher up the food chain.

Zoe Claymore, the award-winning garden designer behind The Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforest Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, connects us to moisture loving plants in our gardens from our Celtic past.

I spent my childhood playing on mossy boulders over the River Lyd, in a temperate woodland in Lydford Gorge out the back of my grandparents’ house. I firmly believe moss is a great addition to any garden: when I feel the so , velvety cushion under foot or in my hands, I still have that childlike sense of wonder.

In my British Rainforest Garden, I use a leaning silver birch tree and hazel tree to create a British rainforest vibe, whilst water trickles over natural stone boulders to evoke the sounds of the forest. Garden-friendly adaptations include an accessible wooden walkway through the wonderland, and a living wall covered in ivy, ferns, woodland flowers –and moss, of course!

Zoe Claymore is an award-winning landscape and garden designer based in southwest London. In 2023 she won RHS Gold, People’s Choice, and Best ‘Get Started’ Garden at Hampton Court for her design of The Wildlife Trusts': Renters’ Retreat

GARDENING FOR

Foxglove

The charismatic, tall pink foxglove flowers are a reminder of the hazy days of summer buzzing with bumblebees and moths.

Ferns

Have fun with ferns and throw them some shade in the garden so those lush, curly fronds can thrive. This is the purple royal fern.

Hazel

Hazel trees are good in the city for smaller gardens, great for wildlife and can be coppiced to use as stakes in the garden.

Hypnum cupressiforme moss

This is great moss for lawns and very ecologically adaptable.

The British Rainforest Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show was made possible with generous sponsorship from Project Giving Back and our British Rainforest partner Aviva. The garden will be relocated to Bristol Zoo after the show.

Black spot lichen

Lichens are epiphytes or “air plants” that survive on nutrients and moisture in the air. They are made of fungus and algae, ‘rock up’ on trees and take time to grow.

Dicranum scoparium moss

This gorgeous moss is great for adding patches to the lawn. It's amazing under foot, so so and spongy and easy to maintain.

Silver birch

Silver birch trees o en don't grow straight in these habitats, so to celebrate nature’s resilience, I’ve included a leaning tree. Embrace the imperfect, don't get rid of it.

Oak moss lichen

Lichen takes time to grow on the bark of a tree, thriving on sunlight and moisture. There are many different types of lichen that spread slowly with wonderful names from oak moss to shaggy strap and handwriting lichen.

The World of Marvellous Moths and Their Caterpillars

Ugly, erratic, unnecessary and annoying – these are some words that people use to describe moths.

Staggeringly, a study done by Bu erfly Conservation found that around three quarters of the UK population (74%) have some negative opinion of moths! If you find yourself within that unenviable percentage, we’re here to change your mind. Moths are massively misunderstood – not only are they o en strikingly beautiful, they also act as hugely important pollinators within ecosystems, and are a vital food source for many other animals, including amphibians, small mammals, bats and many bird species.

ere are around 2500 species of moth in the UK (compared to around 60 bu erfly species). Whilst mostly nocturnal, there are 103 species of moth which fly in the

by Rachele Poli Biodiversity Data and Evidence O cer

daytime across Britain and Ireland, and, despite misconceptions, only around seven species which cause damage to fabric. Like many other animals though, moths are sadly on the decline. Studies show that the overall number of moths in the UK has decreased by almost a third since 1968, with a shocking 40% decline in species across Southern Britain.

Here we highlight just seven species of moth that you can find across Birmingham and the Black Country. Amongst them are some of the most stunning insects you could hope to spot, combined with web-spinning caterpillars, masterful mimics and even a moth which provided a crucial early example to support Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection! We hope they provide you with a fi ing introduction to the world of marvellous moths.

LUNAR HORNET MOTH (Sesia apiformis)

is moth belongs to a large family of diurnal (day-flying) moths known as the Clearwings (Sesiidae), with its members known for their Batesian mimicry – a form of mimicry in which a harmless species evolves to resemble a harmful or unpalatable one. e aptly named Lunar Hornet moth's yellow and black colouration – and behaviour – mimics that of a hornet, helping to deter predators that might fear being stung or find hornets unappetising. Other species in the Clearwing family mimic bees, wasps and flies, although most species occur in the tropics. In the UK there are around 15 species, all of which are quite elusive. Indeed, it was only with the development and widespread use of chemical pheromone lures that Clearwing sightings became more common.

While its not impossible to find the Lunar Hornet moth without a lure, it certainly makes things much easier! Look in and around fens, riverbanks, open wet woodland, and hedgerows. e best time to spot them is early in the day in July, especially low down on the trunk of willows or sallows – particularly those in damp environments. e female Lunar Hornet moth lays its eggs on these trees and, once hatched, the caterpillars will burrow into the tree, feeding on the wood within. It can then take two or even three years before the caterpillars become fully formed and emerge. e distinctive boreholes that are le behind by the caterpillars are a telltale sign there may be adult Lunar Hornet moths nearby.

SMALL ERMINE MOTHS

(Yponomeuta spp.)

Every year around late spring there are reported sightings of trees and hedgerows stripped from their foliage and draped in a wispy material resembling cobwebs. Despite what is o en thought, these eerie creations don’t belong to any particularly ambitious spiders. e o en remarkably vast webbing is produced by the caterpillars of a few species of Small Ermine moth – Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella), Spindle Ermine (Y. cagnagella) and Bird-cherry Ermine (Y. evonymella) which each make their homes on di erent trees. Concealed within the silk webbing can be found

hundreds, if not thousands, of larvae that live and feed communally within the webs as a protection from predators. Most Small Ermine moths emerge as adults in July or August. As their name suggests, they are micro-moths, and their distinctive white wings with black spots are thought to resemble ermine fur - historically used in the robes of nobility and made from the winter coats of stoats. Moths within the Small Ermine group can be di cult to di erentiate as they share a highly similar wing pa ern. Association with a specific larval foodplant may be the easiest way to identify species.

ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH

(Deilephila elpenor)

One of our most colourful moths, this flamboyant pink and green species never fails to impress. Although predominantly nocturnal, the elephant hawk moth can sometimes be spo ed sunbathing during the day in a number of habitats ranging from rough grassland, waste ground, heathland, woodland and gardens. e best way to a ract this species is using a light trap. Adults fly from May to July and lay their eggs on their caterpillars' favourite foodplants: rosebay willowherb, fuchsias and occasionally balsams and bedstraws. ough not as visually striking as the adults, the larvae of the elephant hawk moth are impressive in their own right. e caterpillars are particularly large, typically brown with darker spots (giving a wrinkled appearance) and are thought to resemble an elephant’s trunk, hence the name. ey also feature bold eyespots, a horned tail, and - perhaps most impressively - when threatened, the larvae can partially retract their head into their body, inflating and rearing it up to create a striking, snakelike appearance that deters predators!

CINNABAR MOTH

(Tyria jacobaeae)

Named a er the mineral cinnabar (a form of mercury sulfide) with which it shares a deep red colour, this vibrant dayflying moth is easy to spot and o en mistaken for a bu erfly. Cinnabar moth adults can be seen from May to June on sunny days – despite being primarily nocturnal – when they are easily disturbed from their resting places in open grassy habitats like waste ground, railway banks, gardens, woodland rides, heathland, and grazed grassland. An alternative colour form (known as flavescens) is occasionally found, featuring yellow stripes in place of the typical red markings. While the adult cinnabar is common and unmistakable, you may be more likely to come across the equally bold yellow and black striped

caterpillars that feed on ragwort in their hundreds. Although ragwort is bi er and toxic – and thus avoided by most animals – the cinnabar’s larvae feed almost exclusively on the plant. In fact, they actually benefit from this diet by accumulating the plant’s toxins themselves. Paired with their bold warning colours, this chemical defence signals to predators that the caterpillars are unpalatable and poisonous, so they are not to be eaten! is strategy in nature is known as aposematism. As their toxicity builds (and their colours become bolder), cinnabar larvae grow in confidence, roaming more widely. In large numbers, they can rapidly strip ragwort patches bare - occasionally even resorting to cannibalism when food becomes scarce!

HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH

(Macroglossum stellatarum)

Another master of mimicry, the hummingbird hawk moth has evolved to closely resemble and behave like (you guessed it!) a hummingbird. Beating its wings up to 80 times per second, it hovers in place, producing a distinctive humming sound as it does so. It dashes quickly from plant to plant with its long proboscis darting out to feed on the tubular flowers of plants such as viper’s bugloss, red valerian, jasmine, petunia and buddleia. Spot one and you will understand how people are so o en bamboozled into thinking they have spo ed a hummingbird! e species immigrates from Southern Europe and North Africa, flying between May and September (although you are most likely to spot it in July and August), and varying in number from year to year. ey have been recorded in a wide range of habitats in the UK, from woodland rides to grasslands and even urban areas and gardens. You can try to encourage this species to visit your garden by planting nectar-rich borders for them to feed along, or by providing plenty of its preferred larval foodplants: lady’s bedstraw, hedge bedstraw and wild madder. Some people consider the hummingbird hawk moth to be a good omen, signifying good luck – so keep your eyes peeled!

PEPPERED MOTH

(Biston betularia)

Lacking bold colours or elaborate wing pa erns, this frequent garden visitor may not initially appear to be an exciting find. But despite its modest appearance, the peppered moth is a significant and well-studied species, famous for its extraordinary story of adaptation. At the start of the Industrial Revolution,

peppered moths were predominantly light in colour – a trait which allowed e ective camouflage while resting against pale trees and lichen-covered surfaces. But in and around cities like Birmingham, the extensive pollution of the period caused the lichen to die o and tree trunks to became covered

in black soot. Over time, the light peppered moths became conspicuous on the same resting places which once o ered them protection, making them easy targets for predation. Simultaneously, a rarer, black form of peppered moth (known as the melanic form) began to thrive. e darker colouration, which came about as a genetic mutation, now o ered an advantage over the previously dominant paler form and, by the end of the Industrial Revolution, the melanic form surpassed the light form in number. e tale beautifully illustrates natural selection in action and is o en cited as a relatively simplistic example to support and explain the theory.

But the adult peppered moth isn’t the only expert of disguise! Perhaps even more astonishing is the species’ larvae and its unique ability to blend into its surroundings. Peppered moth caterpillars mimic not only the shape but also the colour of twigs, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Recent research suggests they do this by detecting the colour of their environment through their skin and adjusting their body colour accordingly to avoid predators!

GARDEN TIGER MOTH

(Arctia caja)

e garden tiger moth is a striking species with considerable variation – it is typically brown with white crosslines (although sometimes they are absent), and features vivid red (or occasionally yellow) hindwings marked by variable large black spots with deep blue centres.

It is undoubtedly a very a ractive moth – but good looks can be deceiving, this is not a moth to mess around with! When threatened, it can spray an acidic substance that causes skin irritation. Combined with its vivid coloration, dramatic defensive display (flashing its bright red hindwings), and the rasping warning sounds it emits (produced by rubbing its wings together), it makes every e ort to deter predators! But it’s best not to be fooled by its larvae either. Deceivingly cute, the garden tiger larva is dressed in a dense coat of long hairs, chestnut brown on the sides and white along the back. Its appearance has earned it the endearing nickname 'woolly bear caterpillar,' a name it shares with several other similarly fuzzy moth larvae. e hairs - known

as setae - are urticating (from the Latin urtica, meaning 'ne le'), and can cause irritation or a stinging sensation when touched. While many flu y-looking moth caterpillars possess these irritating hairs, it's a common misconception that all hairy caterpillars are urticating.

Unfortunately, over the last half century, the Garden Tiger moth has experienced large declines, linked to the loss of its habitat and climate change. While there has not been a reported sighting of this beautiful species in our area for almost a decade, it has been recorded in surrounding areas. Your best bet: open habitats, including gardens, damp meadows, fens, riverbanks and open woodland, especially towards the end of the summer.

Introducing Championing Nature

Our new community engagement and education project

By Dan Brown

Spending time in nature positively impacts both our mental wellbeing and physical health, and connecting with nature encourages pro-environmental behaviour and conservation e orts.

ough there is a wealth of wildlife across Birmingham, around 43% of our population lives in areas that are ranked in the lowest 10% nationally for available green infrastructure. We know that across our urban landscape, access to high quality, nature-rich space is unequal and that because of this, many people are disconnected from the natural world.

is issue is particularly impacting the young people in our society. Research conducted on behalf of the Wildlife Trusts indicate that roughly one out of eight children from low socio-economic backgrounds aged under 12 has never experienced nature. Lack of green space facilities nearby (21%) and the cost of transport (17%) to get to the nearest green space facilities were identified by parents as two of the key barriers to their children spending more time in nature. Parents identified improved mood (48%), overall happiness (48%), more active (42%) and be er physical health (35%) as the top positive changes within their children a er they had spent time in nature.

At Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, we believe every community should have nature at their heart, and are commi ed to ensuring that our children have a real relationship with the natural world. And we are delighted to announce a major new project that will help us do just this…

Championing Nature is a 6-year programme made possible thanks to a partnership with the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates. e beneficiaries of this partnership will be ourselves, and our colleagues at London Wildlife Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, and the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Each partner Wildlife Trust will receive significant funding over the next 6 years, provided by Emirates, to undertake nature connection work.

"By fostering a shared sense of responsibility for green spaces, the initiative seeks to create lasting benefits for both people and wildlife."

Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust will use Championing Nature to significantly expand our environmental education and community engagement programmes. roughout the course of the project, our education team will work with local schools to bring nature to life in the national curriculum, and to provide children with enjoyable and memorable wild experiences. Our engagement team will host monthly events such as open days, walks, and talks, providing safe spaces for young people, their families and the wider community to engage with and learn about the natural world.

is project will add to the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates’ sustainability goals, and Birmingham

PROGRAMME AMBASSADOR

STEVE BACKSHALL MBE

and Black Country Wildlife Trust will ensure the project delivers a wide range of education and engagement benefits. By fostering a shared sense of responsibility for green spaces, the initiative seeks to create lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.

Championing Nature was o cially launched at the AELTC’s Community Tennis Centre at Raynes Park, with representatives of the four Wildlife Trusts, All England Club and Emirates, joined by programme ambassador Steve Backshall MBE, to mark a collective commitment to creating lasting change through positive community engagement and increased connection

to nature. Our first Championing Nature event, an Open Day at Moseley Bog, demonstrates the type of activity we will be delivering over the course of the next six years. Watch this space for lots of opportunities to engage with this work, as our programme of activity develops over the next few years.

rough Championing Nature, we will work to instil in young people a love of nature which will last a lifetime. We will inspire and empower the nature champions of tomorrow. Together, we will create a wilder future for Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond.

"We will inspire and empower the nature champions of tomorrow."

New report shows nature’s value for money in flood management

Anew report commissioned by RSA Insurance, an Intact company, and The Wildlife Trusts shows that every £1 invested in Natural Flood Management (NFM) is expected to deliver £10 of benefits over 30 years. Nature is one of the best defences against flooding in a changing climate, but the partners behind the report believe that more investment, data and support is needed to increase its long-term positive effects. Natural Flood Management means investing in beaver wetlands, creating ponds, restoring bogs, rewilding rivers and de-paving so that these areas can soak up water and hold it back in times of high rainfall. Evidence collated by the Environment Agency shows that natural flood management is effective at reducing the overall damage from flood risk; the new report has gone further to focus on wider benefits including be er habitats for wildlife, carbon storage and improvements to health and well-being. Alongside the devastating impacts that flooding can have on people, it is the UK’s most expensive natural hazard, costing approximately £2.2 billion annually. This is projected to rise by a range of 19-49% by the 2050s according to the UK’s latest Climate Change Risk Assessment.

The new research looked at 10 Natural Flood Management schemes created by individual Wildlife Trusts. Collectively, they had an average total cost-benefit ratio of 4:1 over 10 years rising to 10:1 over 30 years.

Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “One in six houses across the UK is currently at risk of flooding and climate change is leading to more frequent and heavier rainfall – and we know that this will become more severe in the future. The good news is our research proves that restoring natural habitats can help us tackle the effects of climate change – and in doing so, help reverse nature declines.

“The economic benefits of investing in Natural Flood Management are clear but just 1% of the public funding for managing flood risk in England goes to Natural Flood Management. Natural approaches to water management should be the UK Government’s first port of call wherever appropriate – and we need to see such benefits regularly accounted for, measured and valued by both the Government and private sector in future.”

To read the full report and find out more about Natural Flood Management, visit wtru.st/Natural-Flood-Management

Natural Flood Management Schemes

• Upper Sherbourne, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust: leaky dams and retention pools installed to help stop properties and roads flooding in a suburb of Coventry.

• Limb Brook, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust: wetland expansion, 20 a enuation ponds created, 50+ leaky dams installed, de-culverted streams and hedge planting.

• River O er, Devon Wildlife Trust: wetlands restored by beaver dams, which can reduce flood flows by an average of 30%, even during wet (high flow) conditions.

• Gloucester & Cheltenham Waterscapes, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust: 50 homes will benefit from decreased risk of flooding due to the creation of rain gardens, de-paving driveways, green verges, a enuation ponds and scrapes, which were delivered through RSA funding.

UK UPDATE

Beavers are coming home!

Earlier this year, The Wildlife Trusts celebrated the UK Government’s decision to licence reintroductions of beavers into the wild in England and acknowledge free-living populations for the first time in 400 years.

The Government’s decision to accept applications to return beavers into river catchments in England enables this native species to roam wild in our rivers and lakes once more.

In Wales, The Welsh Beaver Project, led by Wildlife Trusts in Wales, is currently waiting for Welsh Government’s decision on the protected status of beavers following a consultation.

Currently, only 14 per cent of rivers in the UK are considered to be in good ecological condition. Beavers are natural ecosystem engineers – experts at creating healthy wetlands. Their dams retain, release and filter water, restoring natural wetlands, rivers processes and wildlife too.

The Government recently commi ed to spending billions of pounds on hard infrastructure to combat flooding as well as compensating farmers for lost crops due to changing weather pa erns. Releasing beavers represents a naturebased solution to many problems our rivers face and is shown to significantly reduce flood peaks; as acknowledged by our report into natural flood management.

The return of beavers has been carefully planned over a long period of time. Natural England has developed a detailed licencing regime and application process so stakeholders are engaged, landowners supported and wetlands are created to improve wildlife and the health of rivers.

To find out more information about wild beavers near you, visit wildlifetrusts.org/beavers

UK HIGHLIGHTS

Discover how The Wildlife Trusts are helping wildlife across the UK

show that new housing developments and nature can exist in harmony

Nature is missing from Government’s planning reform

The Wildlife Trusts are disappointed to see measures to boost nature’s recovery largely absent from the most recent UK Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Although the Bill shows some safeguards to the Nature Restoration Fund, including an ‘overall improvement test’, these need to be stronger.

Becky Pullinger, head of land use planning at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “If the UK Government is serious about recovering nature alongside meeting

housebuilding and other development targets, it should introduce Wildbelt designation in the bill – protection for areas of land which could be earmarked for future nature recovery – as well as a promise to protect Local Wildlife Sites.

“We have just ve years to meet legal targets to halt the decline in biodiversity. So, we need to ensure public, private and charity investment in habitat restoration on key sites is protected for the longer term.”

The art of Manx

Manx Wildlife Trust in collaboration with Visit Isle of Man announced the inaugural Biosphere Photographers in Residence for 2025. Ciara Hardisty and Adam Morgan’s work will contribute to a lasting artistic legacy that highlights the Isle of Man’s distinctive status as the world’s only whole nation UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Blistering record

The only native British species in the World’s 100 Most Threatened Species list was discovered by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at Rutland Water. The willow blister fungus (Cryptomyces maximus), recorded in England for only the second time since 1876, was previously only known in a few places in Pembrokeshire.

Rare bu erfly refuge

A recent egg count of the rare brown hairstreak butter y on the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust Asham Meads nature reserve in Oxfordshire revealed 43 eggs and a 33% increase on 2022. Despite increasing threats from climate change and habitat loss, stable numbers were recorded here.

wtru.st/brown-hairstreak

6 places to see ocean giants

One of the greatest joys of living on an island is the chance to see some of the world’s most magni cent marine megafauna. From orcas and basking sharks to bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises, seeing these animals provides some of the most exciting wildlife spectacles.

Many of these species are sociable animals, often gathering together in groups or pods to feed when food is abundant. The opportunity to witness these animals increases between April and November, making summer the prime season to spot some of the 28 di erent species of whales and dolphins found around the UK coastline.

When you’re out on the water or watching from the coast look out for activity at the surface. Seabirds feeding, ripples on the surface or rogue waves, a glimpse of a dorsal n or a full leap out of the water.

While encounters are unforgettable, please respect these precious ocean giants and other marine wildlife. Give them space, stay at least 100 metres (330 feet) away to minimise disturbance and use binoculars or a camera with a zoom to watch wildlife from a safe distance.

1 Isle of Eigg, Sco ish Wildlife Trust

The only UK resident orcas live in the Hebrides. Other regular sightings in the Hebrides include minke whales, basking sharks and common dolphins. Visit the Isle of Eigg for guided walks throughout the summer and discover more through the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Snorkel Trails.

Where: Isle of Eigg, The Hebrides

2 Runkerry Head, Ulster Wildlife

Some 25 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise have been recorded in Irish waters. The most frequently recorded in Northern Irish waters are minke whale, bottlenose and common dolphins, harbour porpoise and basking shark.

Where: Runkerry Head, Northern Ireland

3 Marine Drive, Manx Wildlife Trust

You can see basking sharks, minke whales and bottlenose, common and Risso’s dolphins from the Isle of Man. Grey and common seals, plus harbour porpoises can be seen year-round. For late summer minke whale sightings go to Marine Drive on Douglas Head, when the whales follow herring to their spawning grounds.

Where: Marine Drive, Douglas Head

4 Marine Drive, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

With over 350 sightings recorded in 2024, Marine Drive in Scarborough is one of the best places on the English coast to see bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Minke whales visit frequently and humpback whales have been sighted several times during the summer.

Where: Marine Drive, Scarborough

5

Cardigan Bay, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Cardigan Bay is a hotspot for marine wildlife sightings of bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and grey seals. There are occasional sightings of common dolphins, basking sharks, minke whales, sun sh and leatherback turtles during the summer months.

Where: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay

6 Land’s End, Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Cornwall boasts an incredible range of megafauna sightings around its coast, from common, Risso’s, bottlenosed or white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoise, to grey and harbour seal, basking shark, blue- n tuna, humpback, n, minke and even the occasional orca.

Where: Land's End, Cornwall

Did you spot any megafauna?

We’d love to know how your search went. Please share your best photos with us! See

@thewildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts

The Art of Nature

Part Two

In Part 2 of our Art of Nature series, we introduce Emmy Young, a North Warwickshire-based nature diarist, whose drawings capture her connection to the natural world and the magic it conjures for her. Whatever your skillset, drawing can be a fantastic way to engage with the natural world, helping you to take note of its intricacies and spend time admiring every detail. So why not take inspiration in Emmy’s words and her work, and next time you head out into nature, take a pen and some paper with you!

EMMY YOUNG

“To me spending time in nature is escapism and ge ing lost in my imagination (made even more fun with my six year old son)! We spend a lot of time connecting with the natural world through stories and play, developing relationships with our local wild places and the creatures that inhabit them. We give them new names. We have secret swamps, a hidden valley of earth bears (badgers) and fallen trees that become the bones of dragons from a time long ago. I like to think of stories for them, make up mythology and fantasy creatures based on the flora and fauna I see. Watch out for those Bramble fairies, they are very cheeky and will trip you up if you do not pay a ention to where you walk! e time spent outside with my son are some of my fondest memories, and seeing nature again through a child’s eye is truly enchanting.

I feel a deep connection with where I live in north Warwickshire. To the wider world it’s nothing special, not a national park or area of outstanding natural beauty, but over 3 decades I have built up a bond with the wild places near where I live. And seeing so much of it destroyed in recent years, whether that be because of HS2, housing development, agricultural practices, or even something as small as the felling of one tree and what to me seems like unnecessary “tidying” of the neighbourhood, causes me genuine grief and confusion. I am afraid the last green spaces will become

islands in a sea of grey isolated from each other. And what wild areas are le become brought, fenced o and o limits to people.

I have had my heart broken when I discovered a huge biodiverse meadow full with hundreds of di erent species and orchids (which I have never seen before near my home) obliterated overnight by plough and saw.

I have been told to get out of woodlands for trespassing, told to get out of fields for the terrible crime of looking at flowers, and I cannot understand why? I believe in the right to roam and how access to nature should be free to everyone.

"I am not the most skilled artist (please don’t make me draw hands!), but illustrating my thoughts and feelings can be very helpful and therapeutic"

I am a very shy person and communication does not come easy to me. I will have days where I can barely speak at all. And explaining how I feel or any ideas I have in the spoken word is a

skill I do not possess. I find expressing my thoughts and feelings easier through my artwork, writing in diaries and photography. I wouldn’t say I am your typical nature diarist or recorder, and my work is not as quaint as Edith Holden’s charming illustrations, or as detailed as Gilbert White’s. It can be a bit chaotic, messy and a bit weird. I am not the most skilled artist (please don’t make me draw hands!), but illustrating my thoughts and feelings can be very helpful and therapeutic.

I would love it if others out there who like me are a bit “weird” and possibly a li le neurodivergent will set out on a quest with their pencils and paper and have a go at recording the wonders and magic of the natural world. Maybe you

will find a secret realm at the bo om of your garden, discover something you didn’t know was there and rekindle an enchanting relationship with nature.”

To see more of Emmy’s work and the wonderful photographs she also takes, you can follow her on Instagram under the username EmmytheWild ing.

Members Pages Reader

Photos

is time around, we feature two photos sent in by members.

Early in the spring, Gail set the o ce buzzing with this amazing photograph of a bumblebee. e Oxford English Dictionary dates the word ‘bumblebee’ to having first been used in 1530 by John Palsgrave (although it was originally spelled as ‘bombyll bee’) but the name ‘humble bee’ predates this by 80 years. Since the end of World War II, however, this has mostly fallen out of usage.

Unlike the honeybee, a bumblebee's stinger lacks barbs, which cause injury to the bee when used. is means that the bumblebee can sting repeatedly without leaving the sting in the wound, although they are mostly non-aggressive and only a ack if they feel in danger.

Graeme, who is also a volunteer for the trust, sent in this stunning photo (which he calls a quick snap!) of a Cinnabar moth, taken at EcoPark. e distinctive red patches on the black wings are the reason for the name; being akin to the red mineral Cinnabar, which was used historically for the brilliant red pigment known as vermillion.

e Cinnabar moth developed a wide distribution naturally, but has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and the Americas in order to control ragwort, on which the larvae feed. Cinnabar moths are about 20mm (0.79”) long and have a wingspan of 32–42mm (1.3–1.7”).

Both Gail and Graeme are the lucky recipients of a Beevive kit, which means they can help bees when they are in distress and can’t reach a food source on their own. If you want to buy a Beevive kit, which includes a vial of syrup to help hungry bees, you can visit our online shop at bbcwildlife.org.uk/shop, where you can also find a host of other goodies to buy, each of which will support our work.

Send in your photographs and save bees!

If you would like to be featured on this page in the future, please send your photos to: membership@bbcwildlife.org.uk and we will consider them for future issues.

Please don’t send us any photos that have been used as competition entries for other publications, as this may cause copyright issues. Photos from anyone under 18 should be sent by a parent or guardian to confirm that we may publish the photos and any that are used in the next issue will also receive a Beevive kit.

Making the Most of your Membership Donation

Are we currently claiming Gi Aid on your membership?

Gi Aid is a government scheme that allows us to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate for your membership at no additional cost to yourself. As long as you pay enough income or Capital Gains tax in a given year, your membership subscription is an eligible donation.

You can update the permission that we hold in respect of Gi Aid online at www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/form/gi -aid or by calling us on 0121 523 0094 .

Volunteering

Volunteering is a crucial part of what makes Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust continue to function, working to restore natural habitats across the region for generations to come.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit the website at www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/volunteering or call Natalie, our volunteer coordinator, on 0121 523 0094

Our Memory Wall

It’s never easy when we lose someone. Whether they were a beloved family member, that one dependable friend, that inspirational colleague who always went above and beyond, or a cherished family pet, we always want their memory to live on even though we will never get to see them again.

At Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, we are always deeply touched by the generosity of those who choose to donate in memory of a loved one. ese special gi s not only support our ongoing work—they also carry with them stories of love, loss, and legacy.

To help preserve these memories, we’ve created a digitalmemory wall, a dedicated space on our website where supporters can leave a personal message, tribute, or dedication. It’s a place of reflection and remembrance, where every name and every message becomes part of a shared story of compassion and connection.

You don’t have to donate to leave a dedication: simply complete the dedication form and we’ll pop the dedication on the website within a few days. If you choose to donate at the same time, we will also personally write and thank you for your support. Whether it’s a few words, a cherished photograph or a special memory, we invite you to leave a dedication at www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/ memory-wall - we hope you will choose to do so. If you run into any di culties, please call us on 0121 523 0094, and we’ll be delighted to help you.