Members of the group have been busy engaging with communities and volunteering throughout the Staffordshire Moorlands this summer. One key project has been the ManifoldCAN pop-up event at Upper Hulme, where visitors could see the numerous small beasts that live in the Manifold River, and discover how their presence can be used to indicate water quality. An added entomological bonus was seeing a selection of beautiful moths found overnight in a local member’s garden.
Summer pruning took place in the community orchards that MCA is now managing. Although their fruit yield had increased significantly, several of the trees are suffering because of the high temperatures and lack of rain, a particular problem with relatively young trees. Members of the local community are now being encouraged to water the fruit trees in their neighbourhood and we’re very grateful to all those who have helped out.
Swifts of Leek reported that several new nest boxes had been occupied this year, which is very encouraging, and many swift lovers among us have been thrilling to the sound of screaming parties and admiring their low-level aerobatics. They’ve virtually all gone by now but we look forward to seeing them coming back next May.
Another very positive experience was the evening visit to Bernard’s Farm near Longnor to witness regenerative farming in action. Key highlights were the enthusiasm of the farmers alongside wildflower meadows and contented cattle. The farm is one of about 20 land holdings participating in the Morridge Hill Landscape Recovery Project, which aims to show that productive upland farming can go hand in hand with nature recovery, flood mitigation and carbon capture.
Volunteering continues at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust sites, Swineholes and Rod Wood, to remove brambles and holly, whilst a Dane Valley Climate Action session removed plastic guards from saplings planted several years ago at Peak Wildlife Park.
Finally, we were thrilled to capture a photograph of a Wall Brown butterfly, which has been declining recently in parts of central England including Staffordshire.