The summer months are a time for us to keep conservation work to a minimum and allow nature just to get on and do its thing and we can enjoy seeing our efforts over the winter months come to life as wildflowers bloom, insects buzz and all the trees we have planted flower and fruit.
Summer on the Woodlands and Coachwood Green is a time of colour and activity, both by day and night. Dragonflies and damselflies can be seen darting across the wetlands on the Wildlife Discovery Area, while butterflies’ flit between the flowers on the Coronation Meadow. And as darkness falls bats swoop through the air and moths start the pollinator night shift
Buzzards regularly hunt for their prey over Woodlands together with Sparrow hawks and Kestrels. A Red Kite, rare for this area, has been seen. You may even spot the shy Muntjac deer at only 13kg believed to be the smallest deer in the UK, feeding on grasses, seeds, herbs and even birds’ eggs although more common sight though would be the rabbits or foxes.
If you are interested in wildlife and have a general love of nature, you may want to do something to help conserve it. And we’re inviting you to take part in a really important activity to record and share details of the wildlife you see on the Woodlands and Coachwood Green. You’d be joining thousands of volunteers across the UK, who are gathering essential information to help protect and restore nature.
Every decision that’s made about the environment – whether it’s where to create a new nature reserve, or where to build a new supermarket or housing development – depends on accessible wildlife information. By taking part in wildlife recording, you can help ensure that these important decisions are based on the best and most up-to-date information.
On Saturday 8th June as part of the Big Help Out weekend we will be partnering with the National Trust to hold a nature identification day on the Woodlands and Coachwood Green, so you can be actively involved in recording wildlife.
If you are new to recording, you may not be very confident about identifying different species, but don’t let that put you off – enthusiasm for finding out more is a great way to start. There’s a huge and welcoming community of experienced wildlife enthusiasts out there and many digital apps and resources so help is readily available. Before you know it, you’ll be hooked on recording wildlife, and knowledgeable enough to help others who are just starting out!
This is something you can then continue doing regularly on your visits to the Woodlands and Coachwood Green or do as a school visit or community group visit.
Building up this database of species are on the Woodlands and Coachwood Green will help us as a community to protect this open space for everyone to enjoy.
We look forward to everyone sharing their sightings and seeing if we have anything rare and protected on our local doorstep.
For those who are new to the village and may not know who we are or how you can get involved.
We are a group of volunteers, formed in November 2011, who support Nottinghamshire County Council in managing the Woodlands and Coachwood Green as a local green space, the former Shireoaks Colliery site. Anyone is welcome to join the Friends group and there are a variety of ways in which you can get involved.
Many members of the Friends group often attend our regular monthly workdays on the site. If you'd like to get involved in helping, then we would love to hear from you – everyone is welcome.
6th June 2024 - 80th Anniversary D-Day Beacon Lighting
8th June 2024 - Big Help Out Nature Identification Day with the National Trust
18th July 2024 - Annual General Meeting
Email: Infowoodlandsandandcoachwoodgreen@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook @friendsofwoodlandsandcoachwoodgreen