Nature in Your Neighbourhood is halfway through its second year, and MCA members were once again heavily involved in the next phases of the National Lottery-funded project.
Baseline surveys for most of the sites were completed earlier in the year and now the focus has moved on to one or more seasonal surveys. Once again members were on hand with their quadrats, field guides and general enthusiasm to observe and record what the sites had to offer during the late summer and early autumn period.
Completed in partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Keele University and members of the local groups affiliated to the sites, these surveys form a key part of understanding how each site changes as the year moves through its seasonal cycle. Members were keen to build on their surveying skills and knowledge, whilst enjoying the vagaries of the British Summer!
But as always, the sun shone on Haregate when Swifts of Leek members did their surveys on the junction site near the bottom end of Carlton Terrace. Because this site is on land managed by the county council and is highly visible to residents, it brings its own issues. But local people have been enthusiastic about what we aim to do - even lending a hand with the surveys - and it was always a priority to have at least one of the project sites in an urban setting.
With the seasonal surveys completed, the focus in coming months will move on to developing the management plans for each of the sites. The aim is to create a vision of how they will be improved over the next three years or so to deliver improved biodiversity, places for local communities to enjoy and reconnect with nature. The surveys will also provide data to produce a wider toolkit for use by other organisations and groups.
As well as participating in the surveys, MCA continued to promote awareness of the project to encourage more community involvement. Members were present at Leek and District Agricultural Show in July where, as well as engaging with members of the public at the MCA stall, a short talk was given in the marquee explaining the purpose of the project and ways in which people could get more information. MCA members also worked alongside SWT staff at Cheadle’s Party in the Park event in early August, with particular focus on the local sites of Cecilly Brook and Tean’s Jubilee Park. MCA were also invited to attend three local PCN events in Leek and Cheadle where NIYN formed a key part of our displays and engagement.
As the year draws to a close, MCA members are looking forward to the New Year when the NIYN plans will be finalised, implementation begins and the survey cycle brings new and exciting finds to be discovered.