Many species have thrived during lockdown – and there’s great news from the National Trust about one of them!

Peregrine falcons have thrived during lockdown.

Peregrine falcons at Corfe Castle in Dorset have thrived during lockdown!

The National Trust reports that peregrine falcon chicks have hatched in the ruins of a 12^th century castle in Dorset in the south of England AND across the rugged moors of the Peak District!

The National Trust think the success of these birds is most probably down to the peaceful environment lockdown created.   There are 11 peregrine falcon chicks ready to fledge across four acres of land that the Trust cares for.   Three of these were at Corfe Castle in Dorset and the other eight were found at three different sites in the Peak District’s High Peak Moors!

The breeding peregrines in Dorset had built a nest 70 feet up on the castle’s keep walls – the first time a pair of the raptors had nested there since the 1980s.  The castle was quiet, thanks to lockdown, so the birds had the peace and quiet they needed to make a nest and lay their eggs.  By opening time, the eggs had hatched – so the parents were not likely to abandon their nest. The parents encourage their offspring into the big wide world, by offering them food!

When this little chick grows up, it will be able to fly at about 200 miles an hour...
Find out more

And there are six successful breeding pairs in the National Park moors this year – double the average since the Bird of Prey Initiative started to report in 2012.  The goal is to encourage at least 17 breeding pairs and that will hopefully mean lots of young peregrine falcons!

When these peregrine falcons grow up, they will be the fastest animals in the world.  Stooping adults hunting prey can reach incredible speeds of 200 miles an hour.  Their wingspan reaches 1.2 metres.  That’s impressive.

The National Trust is working in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, Natural England and volunteers from the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group.  Many of the birds in the Peak District have been ringed so that it’s possible to monitor their progress.

It is really important that visitors keep their distance because if the chick’s parents are disturbed, the adult birds may not come back to feed their offspring who will die.

The ultimate vision is for the moors to be full of wildlife and the Trust is working with tenants and partners to make this happen.

Fly away to the National Trust here to find out more - and to see some absolutely stunning photos of the peregrine falcons!.

Give a gift membership and help the National Trust protect wildlife such as the peregrine falcon, the puffin, beavers, otters, and more!

Members enjoy 

• Free entry (on pre-booking) to some of the National Trust's gardens and parklands as they reopen
• Free parking at most of their coast and countryside car parks (pre-booking required for a small number of car parks) as they reopen
• Members' Handbook, full of information about their places
• National Trust Magazine three times a year, packed with inspiration, interviews and news

Plus, when all of their places and car parks reopen:

• Free entry to over 500 special places, including their houses
• Free parking at most National Trust car parks

You will have the knowledge that your gift is helping the National Trust to protect some amazing wildlife and places for future generations!

Calling all cat lovers!

Did you know that national cat charity Cats Protection have a membership scheme?  Well, they do, and you can give a membership to someone who loves cats and help the charity care for all the cats in their care, and reach out to educate the public in all matters cat!

Members receive The Cat magazine four times a year. 
I love receiving mine through the post!

Image © Cats Protection

Amongst other benefits, members receive the excellent magazine The Cat four times a year.  I'm a member of Cats Protection (having been a volunteer for them before they moved) and my husband was always wondering if I was going to bring home a lot of friends for our cat, Trouble.  To do such a think wouldn't have gone down well with husband or cat, so I had to content myself with lots of cuddles there!  Ours was not into cuddles, really - he loved being stroked but not cuddled.  

I did grow cat nip in the garden, not just because  our cat Trouble liked it but because I would take some to the cats who were at the re-homing centre.  They loved it - cats do adore cat nip, they love the smell.

The Cat magazine is great;  it's full of news, information, advice and tips and - of course - stunning photos of cats of all ages.   It's also good to know that there are lots of fellow cat lovers doing what they can to help cats up and down the country.

Make a Difference to cats and give a cat lover a membership!
Image © Cats Protection

By the way, Cats Protection have launched an online course which is free to help you discover more about cats.   On Feline Focus, (you need to scroll down the page), there's an Understanding Cats Needs online course for people of all ages, 11+.  There's also careers information for anyone wanting to work with cats.

Visit Cats Protection website here.

Miaow for now!

I wanted to tell you about the John Muir Trust, as they have a gift membership scheme. 

The conservation charity is dedicated to the experience, protection and repair of wild places.

It owns and cares for some of the finest wild places in Scotland including the summit of Ben Nevis, part of the Cuillin on Skye, and it recently took on the land management of Glenridding Common in the Lake District in England.

Equally, you may prefer to adopt an acre and protect wild mountain landscapes by adopting an acre on four iconic mountains – Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Blà Bheinn on Sky or Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart.

The John Muir Trusts works to:

1. To protect wild land, speaking out when it comes under threat and working to influence the policies which affect it.  In 2014, its campaigning work meant the Scottish Government introduced better wild land protection measures – and that meant adopting Wild Land Areas into planning policy
   
   
2. To manage land, rewilding habitats, managing deer and monitoring biodiversity.  It has to manage deer so that nature can support deer populations.  In 25 years, the Trust has achieved a ten fold increase in native tree cover on its land on Knoydart – and that will encourage wildlife to come back and improve biodiversity
   
   
3. To connect people and nature – it helps thousands of people get out into nature every year through the John Muir Award – and many of them wouldn’t have the chance, otherwise

One way to support this work is by becoming a member and joining 11,000 like-minded people who also care about the natural world.  Or give a gift membership! 

A gift membership gives the recipient

• A welcome pack with recent publications, a car sticker and bookmark
• Regular mailings during the year, with 2 copies of the Journal and of Members’ News and an Annual Report, PLUS invites to work parties and events!
• Exclusive discounts

• Individual
• Joint/Family
• Individual Concession (that’s for full-time students, senior citizens, and unwaged)
• Joint/Family Concession (for full-time students, senior citizens and unwaged)
• Group

 You can pay by direct debit monthly or a one off, and there’s a lifetime membership as well. 

 Find out more and help the John Muir Trust protect wild places today!

It’s World Wetlands Day!

Wetlands are a really important part of our planet, although they cover very little of its surface.   They are, effectively, where land meets water, and as such they cover areas such as shores, estuaries, mudflats, floodplains, coastal marshes, local ponds, the bog and pond in your garden, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, and rivers.  

Why wetlands matter

They provide us with drinking water, they store a third of the world’s carbon emissions and they buffer us from floods and droughts.

They are important to wildlife because 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed here.  They are vital breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds – stopover points, if you like.  They give wildlife a chance to rest, shelter and winter.   

The theme in 2020 is Wetlands and Biodiversity.  You can find out about it here.

Wetlands are facing increasing threats from pollution, climate change, dams and over-exploitation. 

In the UK, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust works hard to combat these threats. 

Why not give a membership and support their work?  They offer Family, Joint and Individual memberships and there’s a Life Membership as well.

Membership benefits:

• Unlimited entry to WWT’s nine wetland centres
• A Welcome Pack full of information about the charity’s conservation work and visitor centres
• Quarterly copies of WWT’s award-winning ‘Waterlife’ magazine
• Entry vouchers for friends and family
• Keep up to date via regular newsletters sent straight to your inbox
• Free welcome gift if you pay by Direct Debit

The WWT’s vision is “A world where healthy wetland nature thrives and enriches lives”. 

Memberships help the WWT:

• Restore, connect and enhance wetland habitats
• Recover endangered species in the UK and further afield, such as the spoon-billed sandpipers
• Help people to manage, protect and appreciate their wetlands
  
  

Help the WWT fulfil its vision and in doing so help people and wildlife around the world.

Give a Gift Membership to the WWT today