Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists (March 2011)
Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists (MBAN), has been set up in response to our changing structure and a need a call to be able to provide something for our volunteers.
MBAN will will provide structure, support and guidance for budding and established naturalists and biological recorders through the use of MBB resources and member experience.
The first meeting was very well attended, with active discussion and an overview of the aims of the group and the content of the ‘Foundations of Biological Recording’ course that is being provided freely as part of the membership along with site visits.
If you are interested in joining the group or want to know more, then please take a look over our web-page and further Information resources
Volunteer Event (March 2011)
With the end of MBBs Heritage Lottery Funding and all the recent changes, we felt like we are entering into a new age, and that the completion of the project, the trials and tribulations and the hard work by our volunteers over the last few years should be recognised.
As such on the 24th March we held an evening of presentations covering some of the major projects volunteers have been involved in, as well as a brilliant talk from one of our past volunteers about their time here, the night was rounded off with a talk on Merseyside BioBank and what we can offer volunteers into the future.
Film and photos comming soon!
Irish Sea Conservation Zone progress (March 2011)
Marine Conservation is rapidly comming to the forefront of people minds, with the deadline for the designation of Marine Conservation Zones rapidly approaching.
Once in place these zone will help to conserve our marine life, giving additional protection from various human activities and allowing sensitive species areas in which there populations can recover and be sustained in addition to preserving areas of Marine habitat that might be Nationally or Locally scarce.
There is still time for people to be involved and have their say in the outcome of the Project, with further information and contact details below. I also hope that in the future people might turn their interest in the Marine environment to helping us generate more records, and to further future conservation efforts.
For general Information on the UK wide Marine Conservation: Natural England – Marine
For Local Information on Irish Sea Conservation: Irish Sea Conservation Zones Project
The North-West Wildlife Trust ‘Living Seas’ project: Cheryl Nicholson
Survey opportunities (March 2011)
With the beginning of Spring and seemingly all of the Natural world waking up, now is the best time of year to see a lot of local species, such as Amphibians, Brown Hares and Earl Bees, and an ideal time of year to get back into the swing of Biological Recording!
As always records from volunteer recorders are essential in keeping our database up-to-date and help to keep an eye on our local species (both rare and common).
If you would like to know more about up-comming survey opportunities, please contact us on info@MerseysideBioBank.org.uk; or feel free to explore our website, which contains information on current activities such as this years Brown Hare surveys and Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists, and will be updated throughout the year with further events.
A Great Song & Dance (March 2011)
I’m sure many of you have been out and about over the past few weeks with our brief spell of gorgeous sunshine, and It’s hard not to notice that we’re not the only ones out enjoying the arrival of Spring!!
This time of the year is a ‘buzz’ of activity (literally!), with insects eagerlly visiting the first bursting tree blossoms and spring flowers, birds beginning to arrive from all around the world, hibernating animals waking dazed from their winter hibernation to feel that first warm spring-time ray of light and soon after beginning some of natures most fantastic displays of dance and song as the compete for territory and mates.
No time of the year is more colourful, active, vibrant and down-right full of life than now, so keep your eyes open while you’re out, enjoy this great event and let us know what you see.
Restructure of MBB (March 2011)
As i am sure you are all aware, there are currently cuts being made across all Local Authorities. This is obviously having an effect on any organisations that are linked or related to Government or a LA.
In addition to the general cuts, MBB has also recently come to the end of its project funding, this combination has meant that there are going to be some unavoidable changes to the set-up of Merseyside BioBank, the most significant impact being with staffing levels. As many of you know we lost out Project Manager Gareth Wyn Davies at Christmas, a few months later out Community outreach officer Gig Hardy, and most recently our Education outreach Diane Miller.
This has obviously had a significant impact on our ability to deliver external engagement activities, however we will continue to provide the fantastic Community and Education resources and packs developed by Gig and Diane, and hope to continue support the projects, activities and groups they have been engaged with in the past.
For any queries on what we might be able to offer, please contact us at info@MerseysideBioBank.org.uk
An Orange Invasion in Liverpool (07/02/2011)
A recent workshop at Liverpool’s World Museum on Ladybird identification proved to be incredibly useful when one of the attendees spotted some Orange ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata) on the way home, Ben Miles and his Dad Chris then did an initial count of several hundred.
Chris also contacted Jeff Clarke who had run the workshop for the Museum (facilitated by MBB). Jeff is an experienced tutor and the Ladybird Recorder for Cheshire. He then decided to check out the find and made a count of 469! Though the count is likely higher it is by far the largest record now in our database.
Many Ladybird species including the Orange ladybird are severely under-recorded in our area, if you have seen any then please let us know. Remember even if you don’t know what it is but can send a picture we can identify it for you.
Click here to see details of the next workshop.
Brown Hares Make the News! (07/02/2011)
The North West Brown Hare Project is a newly funded project from 1st December 2010 and covers all of North West England (North Merseyside, Greater Manchester and South Lancashire) with the aim of determining the range and numbers of Brown Hares in that area.
The Project has its own dedicated Officer Sam Bolton, who is based at the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) and will coordinate the surveys and volunteers across the region.
Sam has already started raising the profile of the project by conducting a radio interview, appearing on Newsround and could soon be appearing on a popular BBC programme, we look forward to his rise to stardom and eagerly await his next instalment!
If you would like to be involved in the Brown Hare Project this year then please get in touch we need the help of volunteers all across the North West. If you would like more information then please visit the North-West Brown Hare Project website, or if you would like to submit a record then please do so here.
Future training, information and contacts can be found at the above website
Release of the NE White Paper Reponses (07/02/2011)
Some of you may have taken part in the consultation over the new Natural England White Paper which will help to define and underpin the Governments future direction in regards to the environment and environmental policy, it will also provide a structure by which the Government and government agencies can apply “practical action to deliver that ambition”.
The recent consultation was the chance for interested individuals and organisations alike to have their say on what should go into the new White Paper, and what direction we should take into the future. Consulations were accepted by letter including emails, and through a short online questionnaire (4 questions).
Summaries of the responses have now been drawn up and can be viewed or downloaded here.
The White Paper itself is due out some time this Spring.
Fin Whales in the Irish Sea (31/01/2011)
With the current work to set up the new Marine Conservation Zones in the Irish Sea and the interest in Marine life it is generating, it seems apt that it should be now that something unusual turns up, as if to prove the point that our offshore wildlife is just as vital and magnificent as anything on Earth.
Just two weeks ago observers for the Sea Trust sighted Fin Whales in the Irish Sea. The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the planet’s second largest animal growing to around 20m and is second only to the Blue Whale.
Fin Whales are considered quite rare, most often encountered off the North and West coasts of Scotland as well as West of Norway, though very occasionally known to use the Irish Sea this has been almost exclusively during the summer months to early winter so a sighting during mid January is especially rare. In fact, our database only holds records of two occurences, both of these are for dead individuals.
If you have seen or think you may have seen a Whale or Dolphin then please get in touch and let us know, also please send us your other marine records, either by contacting us directly or through submitting a record spreadsheet.
For the original story please go here, or for more information on the Fin Whale and other Marine mammals you may see click here.
Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists (06/01/2011)
As part of our commitment to training up new Naturalists for the first time this year MBB will be providing a focused training programme on biological recording through the formation of a new group called the Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists.
This programme will replace the previous years ‘Twilight sessions’ and will provide a more structured approach to training that will lead to lasting benefits for trainees and hopefully greater involvement with volunteers and the recording community.
For more information on MBAN and to register your interest please visit our dedicated web-page here
