In a flutter over fritillaries. Ulster Wildlife s Membership Magazine. How to be wildlife aware this summer. Discover Ballynahone s brilliant bog life

Transcription

1 ISSN X Issue Summer 2016 Ulster Wildlife s Membership Magazine In a flutter over fritillaries How to be wildlife aware this summer Discover Ballynahone s brilliant bog life

2 News in Brief Welcome Boost for Red Squirrels We are delighted to have secured the final phase of funding from Heritage Lottery Fund to take forward an exciting three year project to secure the future of red squirrels across Northern Ireland. Over the next few months, staff will be recruited to engage with local communities in red squirrel hotspots and to help manage the spread of non-native, invasive grey squirrels in key woodlands - one of the biggest threats to the reds survival. Find out more about our Red Squirrels United Project and how you can help - ulsterwildlife.org/redsquirrels Tony Juniper E Church Annual General Meeting We are delighted to announce that Tony Juniper - campaigner, writer and environmentalist - will be our guest speaker at this year s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, October 5 at 7pm in Belfast Castle. Red Squirrel J Hawkins Recently appointed as President of the Wildlife Trusts, Tony was a former Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He was also Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International from 2000 to 2008 and in 2009, was the first recipient of the Wildlife Trusts prestigious Charles Rothschild and Miriam Rothschild Medal. His recent books include What Nature Does For Britain (2015) and What s Really Happening to Our Planet? (2016). Tony will deliver a thought provoking talk on natural capital and the importance of nature for our health, wealth and security. The AGM will follow, which offers members the opportunity to meet staff, shape the future of the organisation and Around the Reserves... comment on what has happened over the last year. Light refreshments will be provided. A full agenda, together with the annual report and accounts will be available on our website ulsterwildlife.org/agm2016 from September - please use password AGM2016 when prompted. Details of members who have been nominated to join the Board of Directors of Ulster Wildlife will also be provided on the website, together with proxy voting forms for anyone not able to make the AGM. To obtain a hard copy of any of the documents or to notify us of any other business, please contact Trish Fox on or trish.fox@ ulsterwildlife.org World Oceans Day at Titanic To celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8, we teamed up with Titanic Belfast to help inspire schoolchildren about the fascinating marine life around our shores. Pupils from St. Teresa s, Knocknagoney, and St. Gerard s Primary Schools heard about the weird and wonderful creatures in our seas, from beadlet anemones to basking sharks, and took part in a range of fun learning activities. The children also enjoyed marine arts and crafts where they made fish, killer whales and sea turtles. Finally, the children got to explore the Titanic exhibition and themed shipyard. Slievenacloy Summer is here and our sites are alive with birdsong. At Slievenacloy, in the Belfast Hills, listen out for skylark and grasshopper warbler as well as the truly weird drumming sound of displaying snipe. Grasshopper warbler A Lewis Feystown Wood cranesbill is coming into full flower at Feystown - this is one of the rarest plants in Northern Ireland. Part of our work is to find new sites in the Glens of Antrim to extend the range of this species. Wood cranesbill Milford Cutting Cryptic wood whites are on the wing now and can be seen at several of our nature reserves such as Milford Cutting. This butterfly is only found in the north of Ireland and is completely different to the wood white found in GB. 2 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016

3 News in Brief Win a cookery experience with Jenny Bristow The outcome of the EU Referendum has sent shock waves across NI and the UK. We are now in unchartered territory, sailing through choppy waters towards an unknown destination. We re offering you the chance to win a unique Jenny Bristow cookery school experience for two people, as a thank you for completing our 2016 Membership Survey enclosed. The implications of Brexit are vast and complex and we are understandably worried about the future for environmental protection. EU legislation governs so many aspects of our everyday lives, ensuring we have clean air to breathe, safe water to drink and safe food to eat. The Nature Directives also offer protection for our wildlife. Many environmental problems are also international in nature and collaborative action is required to address issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The lucky prize winners will join Jenny, an Ulster Wildlife ambassador, in her own home in rural County Antrim for a welcoming reception, followed by a cookery demonstration in her renowned cookery TV series kitchen. Jenny will showcase inspirational ideas on entertaining, baking and cooking. Following the demonstration, you will enjoy delicious food and enjoy Jenny s hospitality. To find out more visit jennybristow.com/cookeryschool Deadline for inclusion in the prize draw is 31 August See enclosed survey for further details. We very quickly need to turn our attention to the type of environmental governance we would now like to see here and in the UK, and think about the legacy we want to leave our children and grandchildren. The environment is one of our most important assets, underpinning our health and wellbeing, and our economic prosperity. Jenny Bristow, Ulster Wildlife Ambassador Call for Nature Skills Trainees Have you always wanted to pursue a career in nature conservation, but lack the necessary skills and experience? With economic considerations likely to be at the fore, it is important to ensure that the environment isn t the first and worst casualty of the UK s new found freedom. An outline of the environmental implications of Brexit can be found on page 5. As divorce proceedings are initiated in the autumn between the UK and EU, we will provide further information on the environmental challenges ahead in the next issue. Your support is more important now than ever. If you have specialist knowledge in any aspect of environmental legislation that will be affected by Brexit, please let us know. We want to ensure the best possible practical outcomes for our environment, and your expertise could help make a difference. Our one year paid Nature Skills Traineeships are now open for applications which will start this November. This unique training programme, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, offers six passionate trainees the chance to gain the skills and confidence required for a future career protecting our natural heritage, either on land or at sea. Deadline for applications is 5 August Contact us Find out more and apply online ulsterwildlife.org/nature-skills Ulster Wildlife is a local charity that champions native wildlife. We work with local people to secure space for nature in our countryside, towns, coastlines and seas. Nature Skills Trainee, John, at Ballynahone Bog Glenarm National Moth Night was held in June at Glenarm the theme for this year s event was hawk-moths. Over 200 species of moths have so far been recorded here including elephant and popular hawk-moths with many more, no doubt, awaiting discovery. Welcome oth Garnant Poplar hawk-m Bog Meadows The constant effort bird ringing scheme is underway for another season. Volunteer bird ringers erect mist nets during 12 morning visits to monitor changes in breeding bird populations. Interesting finds so far include a female sparrowhawk and a spotted flycatcher. Address: Ulster Wildlife, McClelland House, 10 Heron Road, Belfast, BT3 9LE. T: E: info@ulsterwildlife.org W: t ulsterwildlife Ulster Wildlife is the operating name of Ulster Wildlife Trust, a charity recognised in Northern Ireland NIC A company incorporated in Northern Ireland limited by guarantee NI Cover Images: Dark green fritillary G Campbell, Common dolphin and calf J O Brien, Ballynahone Bog Nature Reserve Printed on paper made from 100% post consumer waste. Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer

4 Species Spotlight Dark green fritillary G Campbell Fritillary Butterflies I m a self-confessed moth obsessive, but even I have to put my hands up and admit that fritillary butterflies are amongst the prettiest insects in Northern Ireland. Andrew Crory Nature Reserves Manager The name fritillary derives from Fritillaria, which translates from Latin as dicebox, a reference to the patterns on the butterflies wings (a term also applied to fritillary plants). In Northern Ireland we have three species of fritillary butterflies: marsh, silver-washed and dark-green. Marsh fritillary A Lewis In conservation terms the most important of these is the marsh fritillary, an Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive - as a consequence this is one of the most studied and protected butterflies in the UK and Ireland. The caterpillars feed on devil s-bit scabious and live together in colonies made of out silken webs for protection through the autumn and winter. Out of the three species found in Northern Ireland, the adult marsh fritillary is the easiest to identify - the small size, compared to the others, and chequerboard pattern is unmistakable. Adult marsh fritillaries fly from late-may to early-july. Much as I love moths, I still stand open-mouthed every time I see my first marsh frit of the year - there s nothing quite like it! The dark-green fritillary is on the wing from June to August and is found locally on coastal grasslands and sand-dunes, although it does occur at some inland locations. The caterpillars feed on a range of violet species. This is a large and fast moving butterfly that can be hard to pursue unless it decides to pause for a refreshing nectar pit-stop! Contrary to the popular image of a delicate butterfly, dark green fritillary defies expectations with a sheer commitment to defending its aerial territory with acrobatics to rival the Red Baron! As you can probably tell, this is one of my favourite butterflies - maybe even more so than the marsh fritillary. The silver-washed fritillary is the largest resident butterfly in Northern Ireland - similar to dark-green fritillary but with hindwings marked by silver patches rather than spots. It flies later in the season (July to September) and is found mostly in woodlands - females lay their eggs in crevices in tree trunks and the caterpillars feed on various species of woodland violets. The best time to see silver-washed fritillaries is when they descend from the tree canopy to feed on nectar from late-flowering plants such as knapweeds and thistles, supping on what s left of the summer. This isn t a common species, so catching up with them is always special. Long-term datasets compiled by Butterfly Conservation show that a large number of butterfly species in the UK are declining. Maybe this is an effect of climate, changes in agricultural practices and land management or habitat loss - the reasons are still unclear. Silver washed fritillary M Holland Ulster Wildlife is actively working with government and other conservation NGOs to conserve butterfly populations and manage habitat for all three fritillary butterflies, and many more besides. Good examples of this are at our Umbra, Inishargy and Glenarm Nature Reserves, as well as through the Saving our Magnificent Meadows project taking place across Co. Fermanagh and Tyrone. For more information on nature reserves to see fritillary butterflies, please contact andy.crory@ulsterwildlife.org or visit ulsterwildlife.org/reserves 4 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016

5 Defending Nature Strangford Lough M Hartwell Brexit: What next for our environment? The UK s historic decision to leave the EU has resulted in uncertainty and confusion. By necessity, the primary focus is on the economic impacts. But how can we ensure that our environment doesn t become one of the first and worst casualties? Jennifer Fulton Chief Executive The EU s record on environmental issues is arguably one of its greatest achievements. It has developed world-leading legislation on a range of issues, which has helped tackle water and air pollution, protect endangered species and habitats, and provide safeguards on the use of genetically modified crops and potentially hazardous chemicals. Whilst some policy areas have remained controversial e.g. Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy, the net benefit has been clear. Otters E Neep Much of our current environmental legislation comes from European Law. This is in recognition that many environmental issues and concerns have cross border implications and can only be addressed through international cooperation. Since the 1970 s, the EU has agreed over 200 pieces of legislation to protect the environment. This means that EU law underpins a significant proportion of current environmental legislation in NI and the rest of the UK. EU legislation includes: Nature and Biodiversity including the Habitats Directive, Birds Directive and Invasive Alien Species Directive. Waste and recycling including the Waste Framework Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive, the Shipment of Waste Directive and Landfill Directive. Water including the Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Drinking Water Directive, Bathing Water Directive, Floods Directive, Urban Waste Water Directive and Nitrates Directive. Planning and development including the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive and Environmental Impact Directive. Air and Noise legislation including the Air Quality Directive and the Environmental Noise Directive. Chemical safety and assessment under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Directive. What happens next? Leaving the EU puts around 70% of our environmental safeguards at risk. It is therefore imperative that both NI and UK governments commit to retaining the environmental standards set by EU legislation to maintain our place in the global market, providing ethical, sustainable goods and services. The environmental challenges we face such as loss of biodiversity, climate change, and the health and well-being issues associated with air and water quality do not stop at borders. They need to be tackled urgently, whether as a member of the EU or independently. Will EU rules apply after Brexit? The situation will depend on whether the UK leaves the EU but retains access to the internal market by staying a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), adopting a similar status to Norway and Iceland. Remaining in the EEA would mean that most current and future environmental laws would still apply, though the UK would not be part of the decision-making process for any new legislation. However, key elements of EU law such as the Nature Directives and Bathing Water Directive would not be compulsory, although other members of the EEA adopt these voluntarily. The UK will also remain obligated to global environmental agreements. Looking to the future Irrespective of which side of the Brexit debate you are on, it is important that the environment isn t forgotten. The debates on the economy and issues like immigration will continue for many years, however, the environment which underpins our health and our wealth needs to be valued and protected. Your support for wildlife and wild places is more important now than ever, as we move forward. Together, we need to show our politicians that our environment matters and is part of the solution. Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer

6 Living Landscapes Ballynahone Bog Nature Reserve Amongst the 18 nature reserves that we manage for wildlife, Ballynahone Bog is, without a doubt, one of the most important. At 244 hectares, not only is it the second largest lowland raised bog in Northern Ireland, it s also the largest Ulster Wildlife nature reserve. Andrew Crory Nature Reserves Manager Ballynahone is filled full of rare and interesting species of native plants and animals, as well as being an important site for wider environmental functions such as flood regulation and carbon storage. Typical bogland plants found here include heathers, cotton-grasses, sundews, liverworts, bog asphodel, cranberry and a wide range of sphagnum mosses. Sphagnum mosses are the building blocks of the bog; as they grow and die they form peat, and some of the species found here are uncommon in Ireland such as Sphagnum pulchrum What to look out for... and Sphagnum fuscum. The colony of bog rosemary plants found at Ballynahone is one of only six sites in Northern Ireland. Birds that have become scarce in the wider countryside still thrive here - skylarks and meadow pipits are still quite common here and where you get meadow pipits, you get cuckoos. Reed buntings breed around the scrubby edges of the bog, there is no shortage of willow warblers, and raptors such as kestrel, buzzard and sparrowhawk are often seen displaying or hunting over the site. In winter, Ballynahone is an important site for Bog rosemary I Worsley Common heath Not one of the most exciting moths, but one you will see on almost all bog sites, so you really do need to know what it looks like. It s common and you find it on heathlands, so the name is quite appropriate. Common heath A Lewis Jack snipe A winter visitor - this is the smaller, shorter-billed cousin of the common snipe. Hard to see - they sit tight, until nearly stood upon, before quickly flying away low and straight, whereas common snipe tends to zig-zag and fly high. Jack snipe D Sutherland Round-leaved sundew Sundews are carnivorous plants that attract insects to get caught on their sticky, sugary leaves, so they can be slowly digested. This meateating strategy evolved to overcome living in nutrient poor, acidic bog habitats. 6 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016

7 Living Landscapes Ballynahone Bog Nature Reserve Reserve Information Location Ballynahone Road Maghera Derry BT46 5DL Map reference NV wintering wading birds such as snipe, jack snipe and woodcock. Insects figure highly amongst the wildlife of the bog - the place is a goldmine for butterflies, moths and dragonflies. Large heath, small heath and green hairstreak butterflies are found here as well as common species like orange-tip, green-veined white and speckled wood. Common heath, emperor, northern eggar and fox moths can be seen flying on warm, sunny days but surprisingly little moth-trapping has been done here. However, one species of micro-moth is currently found nowhere else in Ireland - the, nearly unpronounceable, Semioscopsis steinkellneriana! You sometimes need to watch your head as common hawker dragonflies go past but perhaps more interesting are the black darters. Damselflies Black darter dragonfly P Precey like common blue, blue-tailed and large red are common. Other rare invertebrates include the heather shieldbug, the heather ladybird and green tiger beetle. At one stage this nationally important site was ear-marked for destruction but, thanks to the formation of the Friends of Ballynahone Bog and a high-profile public campaign, the site was saved from commercial peat extraction and bought by the government in In recent years the amount of study and Size 224 hectares Status Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Special Protection Area (SPA) Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) National Nature Reserve Opening Times Access to Ulster Wildlife members by permission only; contact Ulster Wildlife. Walking information No paths, wet, rough terrain, frequent draining ditches and ponds. Caution required. Dogs No dogs allowed. Further Information: Andy Crory Nature Reserves Manager T: E: naturereserves@ulsterwildlife.org W: effort put into the bog has increased - a hydrological study was commissioned, water level monitors and a weather station have been installed, and specialist vegetation monitoring has taken place. This has informed works such as the installation of 330 dams across damaged parts of the site to stop water loss as well as an intensive programme of practical works that includes scrub control and non-native species removal. Round-leaved sundew Lorem ipsum dolor Green sit amet, tiger consectetuer beetle elit, sed diam nonummy nibh tincidunt One of ut my laoreet favourite dolore magna erat volutpat. beetles - it s easy to Ut wisi enim ad minim identify veniam, and quis there s nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit nothing lobortis nisl else ut quite aliquip like ex it. ea commodo consequat. Duis autem Sometimes vel eum iriure it s tricky dolor in to hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat. spot as it moves Vel illum quite dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros quickly. et accumsan It may et look iusto nice, odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril but delenit it s a voracious augue duis predator dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor - be glad cum it soluta isn t nobis the size eleifend of option congue nihilimperdiet doming a small id quod dog! mazim placerat facer possim assum. Green tiger beetle N Jones Lorem ipsum Rhododendron dolor sit amet, consectetuer elit, sed diam nonummy nibh Not tincidunt something ut you laoreet dolore magna erat volutpat. want to see on Ut wisi enim an ad Irish minim bog veniam, at all. quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper Rhododendron suscipit lobortis nisl ponticum ut aliquip ex ea commodo velit esse molestie is consequat, an introduced vel illum species dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et which accumsan loves et iusto the peaty, odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril acidic delenit environment augue duis dolore of te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor bogs cum soluta - this nobis one eleifend of the option congue nihilimperdiet doming id quod species mazim at placerat the top facer of possim assum. our non-native species hit-list! Rhododendron C Brady Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer

8 People & Nature Common dolphin and calf J O Brien Be Wildlife Aware this Summer Summer is here and there s no better time to discover and enjoy the fascinating array of wildlife and wild places on your doorstep. Sadly, many of the species and habitats we love are vulnerable to disturbance. You can help by making yourself aware of the law and watching wildlife safely. In the countryside Wildflowers Wildflowers should not be normally picked as it prevents them from setting seeds and surviving into the Conor McKinney Living Landscape future. It is also an s Manager offence to uproot any wildflowers without permission from the landowner or to pick any of the 70 species of plant that have special protection (Schedule 8 of Wildlife (NI) Order 1985). This includes bluebell, primrose, bee orchid and blue-eyed grass. protected all year round. These include barn owls, buzzards, red kites, ospreys, golden eagles and white-tailed eagles. Birds and their nests Licences are available however to allow management of some species - this includes pigeons, rooks and other species. All birds are by default protected by law; this includes the adult bird, the chicks and even its nest. In general it is an offence to: intentionally or recklessly kill or injure a wild bird; intentionally or recklessly destroy, damage or take the nest of any wild bird while it is being used; and intentionally or recklessly disturb a wild bird that is using a nest, or to disturb a nest in which there are chicks or eggs. This means if you are cutting hedges or trees and you kill, injure or disturb a bird s nest, regardless if it s nesting season or not, you have committed an offence. Also if you intend to photography any birds or their young near the nest, a licence from NI Environment Agency (NIEA) is necessary. Bee orchid G Knight 8 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016 Six species are very faithful to their nest sites and as a result their nests are House martin M Holland Badgers, bats and butterflies There are over 25 species of animals protected under legislation, such as the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, as a result of vulnerability to persecution or as a result of

9 People & Nature danger of extinction. This includes otters, badgers, pine martens, red squirrels, bats, newts, lizards and some species of butterfly such as marsh fritillary and holly blue. Much like the law relating to birds, the legislation means that it is a crime to kill, injure, capture or disturb them or their young or when they re in their resting place. Badger E Neep For instance, if you find bats in your loft or shed, you must leave their roosting place in peace. If you are planning to do any work that may affect bats, you should contact NIEA to find out whether you can proceed. Introducing animals and plants into the wild Our environment is full of species that have evolved together and live in coexistence. Introducing foreign species that are not normally resident here can therefore upset this balance and damage native wildlife by introducing disease, and competition for food and resources. For example, the decline of our native red squirrel has been caused almost entirely by the introduction of the North American grey squirrel in Greys carry squirrel pox - a disease that is fatal to reds - and are larger and more robust, out-competing reds for food and habitat. It is therefore a crime to release any animal or bird that is not resident in Northern Ireland and to release any foreign species which have become established here. In addition to grey squirrels, this list (Schedule 9 of Wildlife (NI) Order 1985) includes brown hare, mink, Canada goose, and muntjack deer. The law also extends to the release of wild plants such as Spanish bluebell, Himalayan balsam and parrot s feather. Grey squirrel G Day At the coast Basking sharks, dolphins, harbour porpoises, seals and even the occasional killer whale can all be seen from our coasts and are afforded protected from disturbance at any time. Rebecca Hunter NI Marine Taskforce Officer If you re in a boat you might be lucky enough to come across dolphins or porpoises. Although more common, the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is quite a shy animal, whereas dolphins tend to be more curious and often approach boats on the water. If this happens, maintain your speed and enjoy the experience! If you need to leave, very gently slow down and eventually come to a stop. They will usually become bored and depart, in which case let them go and do not follow them. Basking shark JP Trenque Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) often haul out onto the shore in large groups and can be disturbed by walkers and dogs causing them to stampede into the water. This is particularly a problem during the pupping season (August to December) as the young pups can be crushed or separated from their mothers. Repeated disturbance can cause seals to lose body condition which may in turn affect their overall health. Keep your dog on a lead if you are near a group of seals and don t get too close - using binoculars will allow you a great view without disturbing them. Harbour porpoise N Clear The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish in the world and frequently seen around the north coast during the summer. Unlike other sharks they have no teeth and feed by filtering tiny organisms, known as plankton, from the water. Basking sharks sometimes leap out of the water - an activity known as breaching. If you see this, move out of the way quickly - basking sharks won t stop to look for boats around them! Grey seal J Rodgerson What you can do Report wildlife crime if you suspect a crime against any wild animal or plant which contravenes legislation. Contact the PSNI on 101 or visit for advice. Download Wildlife Law and You booklet produced by NIEA which contains full list of schedules and legislation Get advice - visit to find out more about watching marine wildlife safely or contact our Living Seas Team to arrange a talk to your school or group - livingseas@ulsterwildlife.org Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer

10 Gardening with Wildlife Elephant hawk-moth T Marshall Who s who? Common carder bee R Scopes Late Summer Bounty for Pollinators Barbara Pilcher BBC Gardeners Corner Garden tiger moth D Jackson It s vital for our pollinating insects that gardeners keep the flower-power continuing through summer into autumn. We asked Barbara Pilcher to share planting tips to turn your space into a late summer pollinator paradise. Hummingbird hawk-moth D Moore Our wildlife is constantly under threat and we can do much to counteract deleterious effects of intensive land-use by gardening for nature and in our choice of planting. We love spring flowers, and so do insects - they are key providers of protein and fat-rich pollen that bees need to raise their broods. And the caterpillar stage of our butterflies and moths need specific plants to feed on - nettles, sorrels, lady s smock and garlic mustard for starters. Our valued pollinators ensure the success of crops both in farmers fields and in our gardens and allotments. This is a two-way deal. Nectar-rich flowers feed emerging adult pollinators - here the insect requirements are less specific, many species are suitable. Flat open flowers suit bees - at this time of year think sedums, echinaceas, rudbeckias, heleniums, sunflowers and michaelmas daisies. Some of these can even be cut back in May to allow them to flower later than normal - the so-called Chelsea Chop. This makes them shorter with more flowers. Include single-flowered roses: Rosa moyesii, sweetbriar, and single Dahlias rather than the full-petalled ones. Butterflies (and bumblebees) have mouthparts adapted to tubular flowers, so grow late-flowering honeysuckles and fuchsias, and leave some fruit to rot for them to suck. Don t forget the moths: pale flowers with night scent include Nicotiana and evening primrose. Red, white and pink valerian (Centranthus), along with Gaura, is a favourite of the hummingbird hawk-moth. Plants will flower better and attract more insect life if they are in full sun and sheltered from strong winds. Large patches are better than a spotty effect. Dead-heading will encourage new flowerbuds to keep forming. Pesticides don t have a place in the wildlife garden; even organic preparations should not be used on blossom that is open. We can make or buy nesting homes for solitary bees, lacewings (bug hotels) and leave areas such as hedge bottoms undisturbed, and some grass uncut as habitat for bumblebees which don t seem to use artificial nest kits. With the garden planted up and kitted out for all seasons it s time to get the ID books out or consult the many helpful sites online, so you can find out more about what creatures visit your garden and how to make the most of them. For more gardening tips, visit ulsterwildlife.org/wildlife-gardening Leafcutter bee G Day Painted lady butterfly J Hingham Red mason bee P Frith 10 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016

11 Get Involved Savour our shores during National Marine Week Summer is not complete without a visit to the seaside. During National Marine Week from 23 July 7 August 2016, we ve got endless opportunities to help you savour our shoreline. Delve into rockpools, watch whales along the coast, enjoy a snorkel safari, forage for wild food, or go eco-coasteering there s a shoal of events lined-up to help you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the sea and learn more about its riches. Here s a few of our favourites: Snorkel Safari in Red Bay 28 July, 11am - 2pm Coastal Foraging in Dundrum Bay 31 July, 3pm - 5pm Coasteering on the Causeway Coast 1 August, 1.30pm pm Rockpool Ramble at Whitehead 1 August, 3pm pm Cranfield Snorkel Safari 9 August, 3.30pm - 6pm To find out more about these and all our other events visit ulsterwildlife.org/whats-on Wildlife Calendar 2017 Thanks to support from Bombardier - one of our longstanding corporate members - we are delighted to be able to produce another charity calendar this year. The 2017 calendar will once again feature stunning local wildlife images donated by photographers from across Northern Ireland, with all proceeds providing vital support for our work for nature. The calendar will be available to buy from early autumn from our online shop ulsterwildlife.org/shop Calling all schools and community groups! The search is on to find Northern Ireland s top community meadow. As part of our Save our Magnificent Meadows Project, we want to celebrate the unsung heroes who are helping to protect and restore our remaining wildflower meadows, whether it be on a small parish meadow, road verge, school grounds, or even a park or playing field. Boy rockpooling M Roberts Search for the top community meadow Making a hay ruck at Garrison Meadows in Enniskillen Entries for the Meadow Makers Awards are welcome until 31 July - magnificentmeadows.org.uk Hazel s gift to local wildlife Hazel Stock s lifelong interest in wildlife was reflected in her family s decision to make a donation to Ulster Wildlife in her memory, following her sad passing two years ago. Hazel was a member of Ulster Wildlife since 2003 and was passionate about animals and nature. Speaking about Hazel, her cousins Jane and Mary said, Hazel cared deeply about native wildlife, particularly urban foxes, and was committed to protecting threatened species. Although we miss her greatly, we are cheered by knowing that Ulster Wildlife will continue to carry on the work to which Hazel was so deeply committed. We can imagine her delight at knowing underdogs like the red squirrel, barn owl and Irish hare will have a chance to thrive. Hazel Stock By making an in memory tribute or donating in lieu of flowers, you can remember a loved one whilst also helping to protect Northern Ireland s wildlife for the future. To find out more call Vickie on or visit ulsterwildlife.org/how-you-can-help Meadows photo competition Get snapping meadows near you this summer and enter the National Meadows Photography Competition. You can focus on an individual species of wildflower, butterflies or bees, or capture a whole landscape. Be creative and show off Northern Ireland s amazing meadows and grasslands. This year s categories include: meadows in miniature, meadows in landscape, and age 14 and under. Prizes include vouchers for Cotswold and RSPB s online shop. Closes 31 August. For further details and to enter visit magnificentmeadows.org.uk Six-spot burnet moth on self-heal J Amies-Green Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer

12 Partners & Supporters David Knott receives Belfast Harbour s membership certificate from Dawn Miskelly, Operations Director at Ulster Wildlife Partnership for Pollinators We are delighted to have teamed up with Firstsource Solutions UK Ltd to provide packs of native wildflower seeds for their employees, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility scheme. The seeds will be distributed to the company s 2000 staff, based in their Belfast and Derry/Londonderry call centres, and are designed to help pollinators such as butterflies and bees flourish. Firstsource Solutions UK Ltd is also standing up for nature in Northern Ireland by joining us as a corporate member. Belfast Harbour provides wave of support Belfast Harbour is the latest in a growing number of local businesses providing a wave of support to Ulster s wildlife through our Corporate Membership scheme. David Knott, Compliance Manager for Belfast Harbour said, We are delighted to be renewing our commitment, once again, to help protect Ulster s wildlife. Belfast Harbour is dedicated to developing a positive relationship with the harbour community and we look forward to working with Ulster Wildlife to develop plans for a wildflower meadow on the estate to help bees, butterflies and birds thrive, and provide a colourful space for everyone who works here. Presenting Belfast Harbour with their corporate membership certificate, Dawn Miskelly, Operations Director at Ulster Wildlife said, We are delighted to welcome back on board Belfast Harbour and look forward to working together to help improve space for nature within the estate and beyond. To find out more visit ulsterwildlife.org/corporatesupport AES Scoops Biodiversity Award ou ey r M EO IT VE SO RE AD W IT H Platinum AES UK & Ireland Gold Bombardier Aerospace Silver CES Quarry Products Ltd, CTS Projects Ltd, NIE Networks, Titanic Belfast Bronze Belfast Harbour, Denman International Ltd, Hutchinson Aerotech, Lafarge Cement Standard City Hotel, Colliers International, Firstsource Solutions UK Ltd, Henderson Group Ltd, Michelin Tyre PLC., Peninsula Print & Design Ltd 12 Ulster Wildlife - The Irish Hare Summer 2016 Thanks to support from the Bombardier (NI) Foundation, we ve been helping to spread the message about why nature matters to hundreds of primary schoolchildren across the greater Belfast area. re ha shar AES UK & Ireland Corporate Members Nature Matters to Bombardier Throughout the academic year, children took part in a series of workshops exploring how nature matters to their daily lives, from the air they breathe to the food they eat. They also enjoyed a range of outdoor activities designed to help nature at school or at home, such as planting wildflowers, creating a bug hotel, and making bird feeders. To encourage follow up learning and independent activities, a Why Nature Matters activity pack was created for teachers, and can be downloaded from our website. Congratulations to AES UK & Ireland for winning the Business and Biodiversity Award at this year s Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to work in partnership with AES by managing its Biodiversity Internship Scheme and through an ongoing schools education programme. Firstsource receiving their wildflower seed packs from Vickie Chambers, Supporter Relationship Manager. NE ELS E O N C E YO U HA Pupils from St Brides PS enjoying a Nature Matters education session