Macclesfield and Congleton Group

Winter 2007/2008

Trentabank
Following a successful bid to Awards For All, a CCTV camera system has been installed at Trentabank heronry, it relayed live pictures of the nesting herons for the whole of the breeding season to a monitor in the window of the rangers’ centre whenever the centre was manned all day Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. The work of the Trust was publicised, with two press releases being sent to the local papers and a television interview on BBC North West.

April saw an opening event at the Trentabank Wildlife Day which was supported by our MP Sir Nicholas Winterton and the mayor of Macclesfield, with further press coverage. Sir Nicholas showed a keen interest and in-depth understanding of conservation issues. He also built a bird box which will be put up at Danes Moss this winter. In all, over 1000 members of the general public have been able to see the live pictures of the herons as they mated, hatched eggs and the chicks grew to maturity. Five eggs were laid and we believe that three chicks fledged. There is always some loss of eggs and young chicks.

The system was also connected to another camera in a nesting box close to the centre. We were able to watch nuthatches going in and out of the box directly and then see what was happening inside, They also successfully raised a brood.

Trentabank is a good place to watch both nuthatches and jays close at hand, as John who runs the tea van at weekends feeds them on nuts and scraps. You can get really good close-up views (while eating cake and drinking tea).

Extension for Danes Moss
The Trust is to purchase the area of conifer plantation adjacent to Danes Moss Nature Reserve from Cheshire County Council. The trees, which are in a dangerous condition and of little wildlife value, will be felled and the area returned to lowland heath and scrub. Lowland heath is a scarce habitat and will benefit species such as the green hairstreak butterfly and common lizard which can already be found on the public footpath.

A board walk will be built around the reserve to give better access and viewing facilities. Funding has been secured through a number of grant applications.

Further grant aid for Trentabank
TheTrust has made a successful application to United Utilities, owners of Trentabank Reserve, to develop the Trentabank Heronry camera project. This additional funding will be used to edit the footage from the heronry and produce a short film of the nesting birds throughout the breeding season.

The funds will also cover the cost of a new notice board at the entrance to the reserve and work on this has already begun. The Trust hopes to beam back live pictures next breeding season which starts in early February.

One fine day
The buzzing of insects in the steamy heat, tall flowers towering overhead, the trickling of water close by: this is Swettenham Meadows on a hot, sultry day after rain in a marshy clearing in the wood

We come this way following a butterfly transect through the woodland and fields, counting the butterflies within 2.5m of our path and keeping a tally of numbers and types, sunshine and temperature as we go.

It hasn't been a good year - too much rain or cool weather at critical periods - but all records are valuable. Collected and collated by Butterfly Conservation, they give an overall picture of the frequency of different species throughout the warmer months across the region and nationally.

It takes about an hour, binoculars, ID book or sweep net ready. If anyone is curious or keen to join in, please ring 01477 571442.
Bridget Self

Stop press:
The old conifer plantation at Danes Moss has now been felled.