Nature & Wildlife:

	Alison Hunt, Environment Officer	Katie & Alison checking for bats prior to the work for the Metro
	Recently there were 10 herons at Fielden Park near the college and Hollies (photos below). We are currently proposing this area as a Biodiversity Hotspot. The Council Biodiversity Officer visits proposed sites and assesses them on the following criteria: 1) naturalness 2) diversity 3) community involvement 4) sustainability Please can you jot down all wildlife seen in this area including any butterflies/dragonflies/ moths/ amphibians/ wild flowers etc. Are the herons actually nesting in the area? Does anyone know what they are feeding on in the fields? Please let me have any comments which may help our application. I think community involvement can consist of study, learning and enjoyment of surroundings. The herons are extremely shy and limited public access to the waterlogged fields is an important reason why they have settled here. Fielden Park may even be eligible for nature reserve status if the herons settle permanently.
	At 13.45 Thurs Dec 7, this Sparrowhawk was eating a small bird (greenfinch probably) in the croft directly behind Stratford Ave M20. Jonathan managed to get these great photos without a tripod looking through the glass of our windows. I have seen a Sparrow Hawk several times over the Albermarle allotments. It has been seen from Meltham ave M20 next to the disused and wooded railway line; it has also been seen in the garden of 19 Darley Ave which lies near the Mersey. It is wonderful to see such a splendid bird in West Didsbury - this timely sighting emphasises the great importance of conserving our remaining natural urban habitats which include railway embankments, river valley greenbelt, gardens and green open spaces such as playing fields and allotments.
	Our Policy: West Didsbury Residents Association believes that a green environment which supports our native wildlife a is an essential factor in of our quality of life. We aim to raise awareness and appreciation of our our local trees, wildlife and biodiversity. We work to try and conserve wildlife and improve landscaping schemes on development sites in our area by negotiating with planners, developers and our local councillors. We try to promote wildlife-friendly gardening and to retain and protect habitat in green corridors such as railway embankments and hedgerows which form important links enabling wildlife to move through the urban landscape. We are keen to promote responsible pet ownership and ask all cat owners to fit their cat with a collar and bell or one of the new ultrasound devices available in order to minimise bird kill. As wildlife co-ordinator, I collect data and sightings of wildlife in this area in order to try and protect key areas of habitat, roosts or nest sites. Please let me know of any sightings of bats you have made giving date, time, location and weather conditions. Please also let my know of any other interesting wildlife sightings. All information given to the Wildlife Project will be kept confidential and used only to help conserve and safeguard wildlife. I liaise with MCC's Biodiversity Officer, planners, the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit and when necessary our local Police Wildlife Officer. Our association upholds national legislation which is designed to protect wildlife and trees. Members of WDRA also take part in the RSPB / BTO Garden Bird Watch count - this means that local data on bird populations becomes part of the wider picture of national bird population trends. This year I have been monitoring Tawny owl activity in West Didsbury as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's national Tawny Owl survey. I am also monitoring survey areas along the river Mersey as part of the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Monitoring Scheme.
	Council Action:   All local councils in Britain are now required under international accords to formulate a Biodiversity Action Plan to ensure that our rarer wildlife and habitats are conserved for the future. Many of the threatened species featured on Greater Manchester's Biodiversity Action Plan have been seen or are resident in West Didsbury - these species include pipistrelle bat, hedge sparrow, song thrush, bullfinch and tawny owl. Please click on www.wildaboutmanchester.info
	Wildlife Law and Planning Legislation: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to deliberately disturb or destroy the nest of any British bird while it is in use. It is an offence to recklessly destroy any bat roost or to kill any bat.  Other highly protected species include badger and Great Crested Newt. Protection of Wild Mammals Act 1990. It is an offence to crush, impale or asphyxiate any wild mammal or to hunt it with dogs. The Town and Country Amenities Act - gives legal protection to any tree in a Conservation Area. The Town and Country planning Act 1990 - allows for any trees and tree groups which enhance your local environment , whether private or public land  to be protected by Tree Preservation Order. Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act also states that "it shall be the duty of the local authority to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for any development adequate provision is made by the imposition of conditions for the preservation or planting of trees." A felling License quota is required under the Forestry Act 1967 before any significant area of trees is felled. Planning Policy note 9  and the European Habitats Directive - protects any features in the landscape which act as stepping stones for wildlife dispersal through the landscape; these include ponds, small woodlands and hedgerows.
	WDRA and the Environment: It is an uphill struggle conserving wildlife and our conservation projects are not always successful. Here are some recent examples of our work: • Raising awareness with planners about an important colony of House Martins nesting under the wide eaves some of the few remaining hospital buildings. House Martins are Amber Listed by the British Trust for Ornithology as a species in decline. WDRA is pressing for these buildings to be retained and for provision of suitable eaves on adjoining new buildings. • Working with MCC planning department to enforce protection of Mersey Valley green belt woodland from an unauthorised car parking development. We are awaiting enforcement action. • Trying to upholding Tree Preservation Orders, wildlife protection, correct tree protection distances and adequate replacement tree planting and tree aftercare on a number of development sites. • Calling in the authorities to enforce the Wildlife and Countryside Act at Withington Hospital / Didsbury Point when birds' nests were being destroyed at the wrong time of year during site clearance. • Calling police to caution a gang of suspected Fox diggers operating in the West Didsbury area. We ask residents to be alert to this problem and to phone our local wildlife officer if they see suspicious activity. (see contact list below) • Helped to raise awareness of Network Rail's illegal destruction of birds nests during embankment clearance during the bird nesting season. • Raising awareness of the presence of bats on several development sites and ensuring full survey work and mitigation was carried out. • Negotiating as a member of the Greater Manchester Bat Group for replacement tree planting and provision of bat boxes with the Environment agency following flood bank work and tree felling along the West Didsbury section of the river Mersey. • We have attended meetings and had input into Greater Manchester's new Tree strategy. • We will attempt to ensure full habitat mitigation and wildlife / tree protection during any possible future development of metro link, We are keen to avoid blanket clear felling as was carried out so destructively by Network Rail.
	Contact Details for Conservation/ Protection/ Rescue/ Recording of Wildlife: • Wildlife Officer, Didsbury Police Station, 742-744 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury M20 2DW Tel: 0161 856 4973/ 6183 • Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, Council Offices, Wellington Rd, Ashton U Lyne Tameside OL6 6DL Tel: 0161 342 3596 • Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Tel: 01204361847 or 01772324129 • Bats: Angela Graham, Greater Manchester Bat Group, 27 Lakeland Crescent, Bury BL9 9SF Tel: 0161 797 4745, e-mail: gm.batgroup@ntlworld.com • Bat Conservation Trust Helpline, Tel: 0845 1300228, e-mail: enquiries@bats.org.uk, www.bats.org.uk • Cheshire Bat Group, Mike Freeman, Tel: 0160 641 581 • South Lancs Bat Group, Steve Parker, 0161 764 8850 • Rescue: Lower Moss Animal Sanctuary, Ray Jackson, Tel: 0156 5755082 • Foxes: National Fox Project, tel: 0173 236 7397 • Fox Expert, John Bryant, Tel: 0208 316 7852 or 077707 88566 • Mammals Trust Uk, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Rd, London SW8 5BG, Tel: 020 7498 5262, e-mail: lwm@mtuk.org (for advice and recoding mammals) • Fox Mange medicine, Tel: 0193341 1996, 33 Stowe Walk, Nottingham WN3 6EE • Hedgehogs: British Hedgehog Preservation Society expert carer, Barbara Roberts, 91 Parsonage Rd, Withington, M20 4NU, Tel: 0161 445 5917 • Birds: British Trust for Ornithology, Judith Smith, Tel: 01942 712615, e-mail: judith@gmbirds.freeserve.co.uk • Steve Suttill, Tel: 01457 836360, e-mail: steve@marktheprinters.org • Specialist Bird Rescue/Care: 3 Owls Bird Sanctuary, Wolstonholme Fold, Norden, Rochdale OI11 5 UD, Tel: 01706 642162, 24-hour helpline: 07973 819389, www.threeowls.co.uk, e-mail: info@threeowls.co.uk • Amphibians: Froglife, Tel: 019868 73733, e-mail: froglife@froglife.org • Dave Bentley: Tel: 07944 122292 • National Tree Advice Line: Tel: 09065 161147 • Albemarle Allotments: Tel: 445 4353