Monthly Archives: June 2018

Become a Dragon Hunter!

Post published:27 June 2018
Post category:Information

Dragon hunters will have 1 month to explore their local wetlands, rivers and ponds, and try and find as many species as possible. By signing up to the Challenge you’ll take part in a journey of discovery, delving into the fascinating world of Dragonflies! Not only will you master identifying some of the most ferocious and beautiful insects in the UK, you’ll learn all about their enchanting life cycle and behavior, and how to help protect them. This is a great summer activity for all ages!

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Rob Duffy: Sidewalk Botanist-June Notes

Post published:23 June 2018
Post category:Nature Notes

The “scrapes” in Court Hey Park are as dry as a bone and can be traversed to inspect the wetland flora-the flora of the pavement cracks too has altered completely under the unrelenting Sun but, with the disappearance of the widespread Thale Cress, many species, particularly Willowherbs, are surviving. Perhaps this is the time to get to grips with this common garden weed? Identification is not too difficult, depending on the shape of the stigma, whether there are ridges on the stem, the length of the petiole, or the length of the leaves and pods, to name but a few features. But, beware of hybridisation!

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Twilight Sessions

Post published:22 June 2018
Post category:Information

So far the sessions have looked at everything from Carrion Beetles to Bryophytes! (not to mention the awesome wonder that are the Springtails) with even a few outdoor intros to eDNA (Amanda) and vacuum sampling (Steve). It is this type of mentoring that the group was really founded to try and encourage. You are the enthusiasts and by sharing your knowledge with and supporting each other we can create a strong network of naturalists that can last well beyond the lifetime of any one project or even organisation.

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Species Action: Agapanthia villosoviridescens

Post published:20 June 2018
Post category:Nature Notes North Merseyside BAP

Only recorded a handful of times in St Helens in 2013 and 2014 this beetle is very much to the North of it’s range. It may well be moving Northwards in response to climate pressures but also requires sensitive management of grasslands. In particular Hogweeds and Cow Parsely. This is certainly one to look out for with it’s flight period given as May to June (though possibly, year round).

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