Geological discoveries Tufa and speleothems in Cornwall Seashore ...

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Nature newsNowodhow naturWhat a huge range of activities and interests our specialist groups cover, from monitoringmarine mammals to reviving imperilled bats, and from going on dives to taking glorious wildlifephotographs. Read on to see what being a Cornwall Wildlife Trust volunteer means to some ofour most active members. To get involved, see the contacts list on page 2.SeasearchLast summer we involved dozens of local divers insurveying and recording the marine life around our coast,especially Cornwall’s Voluntary Marine ConservationAreas (VMCAs). After attending the one-day Observertraining course, divers were able to take part in Seasearchdives as well as taking useful records whenever they wereout diving with their club or friends.This year, as well as training more divers, we aimto increase our recording skills. Seasearch hasjust produced a Seaweed ID book (available atwww.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/shop), and we planto really focus on Cornwall’s diverse seaweeds – thesesimple marine plants provide shelter for many species andare the basis of many marine food chains. Though theycan look drab on the shore, underwater their delicatebeauty is apparent.In May we are planning to survey the north coast,especially potential new Marine Conservation Zones.This will provide information to help manage these zonesand is vital in this area, where there has been little surveySpiny spider crab in a mussel bed. Photo by Angie Gallwork in the past. With the help of experts, Seasearchsurveyors will record habitats such as mussel beds,gardens of red seaweeds and areas of delicate spongesand corals.Throughout the summer we will continue to concentrateon VMCAs, where the data we collect will be sharedwith local volunteer groups and the wider public. Thesecoastal areas can be dived by simply stepping off theshore, giving us a wonderful opportunity to explore themargins of our seas.If you are a diver in Cornwall and would like to use yourskills to help conserve our marine environment, pleasecontact me: angie.gall@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk orcall (01872) 273939 ext 265.Angie Gall, Marine Conservation OfficerSeasearch divers collecting seaweeds for identification.Photo by Rob SprayTopknots are unusual among flatfish because they live onrocky habitats rather than sandy seabeds. Photo by Angie GallPage 12 Issue 114 Spring 2011
Living ChurchyardsThere are links between many of our Cornishchurchyards and the sea and coastline. The sandy soilsof Gunwalloe, Lelant and others have many salt-tolerantplant species of interest; invertebrates adapted to theseconditions also abound. The sad memories of lives lostin storm and shipwreck can be seen around many coastalchurches.The history and heritage topic creates much interest tovisitors and it is an aspect that should not be forgottenwhen developing a churchyard project. It is a subjectof much interest for schools and the surroundingcommunity, and therefore useful to attract local funding.There is a national Memorials at Risk Register, so if youknow of a worthy churchyard memorial in need of repair,it is a way of attracting the attention of the EnglishHeritage for support, so let me have the details.Due to our funding support received from the TannerTrust, we have circulated another newsletter and produceda Starter Pack forChurchyards Projects(grateful thanks forboth of these to TamaraWeeks from CornwallWildlife Trust’s office).If you would like copiesof either, please ring(01872) 273939.Robert Moor,VolunteerDock and field scabious atSt Uny, Lelant.Photo by Robert MoorCornwall Mammal GroupSpring is definitely in the air and with this delightfultime of year comes a flurry of furry activity. It pays towalk quietly, keep your eyes open when driving, or sitpatiently looking out of your windows into the garden –and you may see some wonderful mammals preoccupiedwith hunting or courting. Cornwall Mammal Groupis really keen for your records, so please let us knowwhat you see. We plan to assess these records and willthen attempt to determine the status of each mammalspecies around the county. Results will be presentedas a mammal atlas. As ever, we are holding a rangeof events to help people spot or track mammals andtheir signs. To keep up to date, check out our website:www.cornwallmammalgroup.co.uk. Our membershipyear starts during national mammal week, in the firstweek of July. We traditionally hold a special and wellattended,fun event then. Look out for details and comeand join us. In the meantime keep your senses alert andlet us know if you are lucky enough to see a boxing hare,to hear a deer bark or even to smell a fox!Kate Stokes, VolunteerFox in a garden hedge. Photo by Treve OpieCornwall Bat GroupAs the principal providers of bat care for CornwallBat Group, we have taken in 154 bats this year.Most were pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellusand Pipistrellus pygmaeus), but we have also had24 brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus), 15whiskered bats (Myotis mystacinus), one noctule(Nyctalus noctula) and one lesser horseshoe bat(Rhinolophus hipposideros). Cats had attacked 62bats, but we also had 28 lost babies, 26 groundedbats and 15 trapped in buildings. Bat care has takenover large parts of our house, with the bats living inone of our bedrooms. Outside, in our garden, we havea flying cage, which is essential for the rehabilitationof lost baby bats.Among our more demanding cases are bats caught onflypaper. The adhesive leaves the bat in a terrible mess. Ithas to be removed with vegetable oil, applied very gentlywith a cotton wool bud. This has to be removed with amild detergent solution and then the bat is rinsed withtepid water. It takes the bat six to eight weeks to recover,before it can be released.Chris and Sue Harlow, VolunteersA grounded bat with no serious injuries can generallybe saved by a week or two of intensive feeding.Injured bats are more difficult and in severe casesthere is little we can do. As an added complication,bats attacked by cats are usually infected withPasteurella bacteria from the cat’s teeth and treatmentwith antibiotics is needed.A brown long-eared batshortly after releasefrom fly paper.The same bat threeweeks later.Photos by Chris and Sue HarlowIssue 114 Spring 2011 Page 13
Page 3 and 4: Any material intended forpublicatio
Page 6 and 7: Tufa at Stackhouse Cove. Photo by F
Page 10 and 11: Nooks and crannies in the stonework
Page 14 and 15: Seaquest NetsafeThe Seaquest Netsaf
Page 19 and 20: Fox Club joins Cornwall Children’
Page 21 and 22: TamarOur winter programme of talks
Page 23 and 24: From our Chairman1962 - 2012! … 2
Page 25 and 26: Existing BusinessSupporter updateHa
Page 27 and 28: Cornwall Wildlife TrustPull-outDiar
Page 29 and 30: First of 3 morning meetings to make
Page 31 and 32: 11.00am to 1.30pmSpy creatures in t
Page 33 and 34: Issue 114 Spring 2011 Page 33
Page 35 and 36: The Isles of Scilly MarineBiodivers
Page 37: Volunteer profile:Jeremy (‘Jez’
Page 40: In partnership withWildlifeCelebrat

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