http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/ en BCahn@nottswt.co.uk Copyright 2010 2010-07-14T13:50:19+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/new-job-vacancy/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/new-job-vacancy/#When:12:50:19Z Nottinghamshire WIildlife Trust is pleased to announce 5 new job vacancies. Can you help us make Nottinghamshire a better place for wildlife and people? Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is a dynamic conservation charity, with over 11,000 members, working to secure a better future for wildlife and people.  Managing 70 nature reserves, working with local communities and campaigning for the natural world, the Wildlife Trust is the County’s leading wildlife organisation. 1. Part-time Eco Minds Project Officer. (18 hours per week) Salary circa £18k pro rata plus pension and other benefits Based Retford An enthusiastic Project Officer is now required to help deliver our new Eco Minds green classroom project at the Idle Valley Nature Reserve. The postholder will work closely with Mental Health groups and individuals, running practical tasks, training and events to engage people in growing, gardening and wildlife issues. This role would suit someone with a positive outlook who can enthuse and motivate others through practical work. With experience of working with people with mental health issues, you will be a motivated individual with excellent communication and organisational skills. Some weekend, Bank Holiday and evening working will be required. The post involves working directly with vulnerable adults and will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. This post is a fixed term contract for 2 years supported by the Big Lottery Fund. CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: 9am, August 2 2010 Interviews: Wednesday 11 August 2010 Please click below to download the Eco Minds Project Officer application pack. Job Description Notes for candidates Application form Staff structure———————————————————————————————————————————————————————2. Wildlife in the City Project Officer Salary circa £19k plus pension and other benefits Based Nottingham Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is looking for a creative and enthusiastic person to deliver an exciting new project for the City of Nottingham. The successful applicant will work with individuals, groups and partners to engage people in their local natural greenspaces. You should have experience of working with community groups and volunteers and a background in practical conservation. Regular weekend, Bank Holiday and evening working will be required. The post involves working directly with children and vulnerable adults and will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. This post is a fixed term contract for 3 years. CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: 9am, Monday 2 August 2010 Interviews: Tuesday 10 August 2010 Job Description Notes for candidates Application form Staff structure——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 3. Part-time Wildlife in the City Young Persons Worker Salary circa £17.5k pro rata (1/2 time post) plus pension and other benefits Based Nottingham Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is looking for a creative and enthusiastic person to deliver an exciting new project for the City of Nottingham. The successful applicant will work with individuals, groups and partners, with a particular focus on young people, to engage them in their local natural greenspaces. You should have experience of working with young people and a commitment to nature conservation. Regular weekend, Bank Holiday and evening working will be required. The post involves working directly with children and vulnerable adults and will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. This post is a fixed term contract for 3 years. CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: 9am, Monday 9 August 2010 Interviews: Tuesday 17 August 2010 Job Description Notes for candidates Application form Staff structure——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 4. Weekend Rangers (Recruitment) Circa £7.00 per hour Based Attenborough Nature Centre We are seeking to recruit Weekend Rangers to help deliver our membership recruitment targets at our flagship Attenborough Nature Reserve and Nature Centre. The Rangers will liaise with visitors, groups and organisations to recruit members, inform people about our work and raise the profile of the Wildlife Trust. This role would suit candidates with a positive outlook, an understanding of wildlife issues and who enjoy engaging with people of all ages. With experience of membership recruitment or sales, candidates will be motivated individuals with excellent communication skills. Hours worked will be focused on weekends and Bank Holidays, with occasional weekdays as required. This can be flexible depending on candidates, but we are looking to secure Ranger cover for every weekend. The post involves working directly with children and vulnerable adults and will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. Weekend Rangers will be appointed for a trial period of six months with a view to this becoming a permanent position.  CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: 9am, Monday 9 August 2010 Interviews: Friday 13 August 2010 Job Description Notes for candidates Application form Staff structure——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5. Membership Recruiters Circa £6.50 per hour plus 20% commission We are seeking to appoint Membership Recruiters to help deliver our membership recruitment targets at venues and events around the county. The Recruiters will liaise with the general public, visitors, groups and organisations to recruit members, inform people about our work and raise the profile of the Wildlife Trust. This would suit candidates with a positive outlook, a commitment to wildlife issues and who enjoy engaging with people of all ages. With experience of membership recruitment or sales, candidates will be motivated individuals with excellent communication skills. Hours worked will be focused on weekends and Bank Holidays, with occasional weekdays as required.  This can be flexible depending on candidates, but we are looking to secure Recruiter cover for every weekend.  Membership Recruiters will be appointed for a trial period of six months with a view to this becoming a permanent position. CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: 9am, Monday 9 August 2010 Interviews: Monday 16 August 2010 Job Description Notes for candidates Application form Staff structure Any further queries, please email: vacancies@nottswt.co.uk 2010-07-14T12:50:19+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/join-in-bioblitz-this-weekend/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/join-in-bioblitz-this-weekend/#When:08:05:08Z Join in this year’s 24 hour wildlife spectacular! Following its successful staging of Britain’s first ever BioBlitz in the UK back in 2006, the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action group is planning the third and even bigger wildlife spectacular at Rushcliffe Country Park this weekend. The aim of BioBlitz is to count as many species of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms as possible at one site over a 24 hours period and once again local scientists, naturalists and volunteers will be counting everything from bugs and beetles to bats on the 17th and 18th of July. As well as counting species to assess the wildlife value of this popular site, Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group will be organising a series of events and activities designed to help people learn more about wildlife recording and the work of specialist wildlife groups. The event will get off to a flying start with a Bat Walk on Saturday evening and on Sunday, activities and demonstrations will include bird watching, bird ringing, pond dipping, mini beast hunts and mammal surveying and there will also be talks and exhibitions about the work of local groups dedicated to conserving the county’s wildlife. Bioblitz has been enormously successful around the world and Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group, the first organisation to attempt a Bioblitz in Britain, hopes that this year’s event will help encourage more people to get involved in monitoring and recording wildlife across the county. Speaking on behalf of the Partnership Chris Jackson commented: The starting point for all wildlife conservation is accurate records – without information about which species live where it is hard to plan effective site management or to ensure species survival. Through BioBlitz we hope to remove some of the myth and mystery about wildlife recording and hope to enthuse a whole new generation of Attenboroughs and Bellamys into the bargain.” Mr Jackson continued: “Bioblitz is also a great way to remind people of the tremendous variety of life, or biodiversity that exists here in the UK. Wildlife can be found all around us, whether in our towns and cities, parks gardens or in the wider countryside and we hope to get this message across through the Bioblitz event in July.” To book a place on the bat walk call 0115 977 4213. For further details of activities on Sunday visit http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bioblitz The official 24-hour period starts at 17.00 on Saturday 17th July and the final announcement of the number of species found on the site will be at 17.00 on Sunday 18th July.  For more information please ring 0115 977 4213 2010-07-12T08:05:08+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/calling-all-robin-hood-half-marathon-runners/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/calling-all-robin-hood-half-marathon-runners/#When:13:49:49Z Are you, or is anyone you know, planning on participating in the Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham this September?... If so, we are calling on you to ‘RUN WILD’ and help us raise vital funds for our Trent Vale Habitats Appeal by running the race in aid of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. For every £1 raised in sponsorship, we will be able to unlock £10 of additional funding, so your efforts really will make a difference to local wildlife! The Half-Marathon takes place on Sunday 12th September, and a small team of Wildlife Trust runners are already signed up to join in the fun, with support from specialist equipment store Up and Running in Nottingham. If you are planning on running and would like to join them, or simply help us by being sponsored to complete the race, please contact our Development Team on 0115 958 8242 or . All runners will receive a free fundraising pack including a Wildlife Trust t-shirt, a sponsorship form and a discount voucher from Up and Running. Alternatively, if you would prefer to sponsor our Wildlife Trust runners, please visit the RUNNING WILD sponsorship page (hosted by Virgin Moneygiving). Thank you 2010-07-02T13:49:49+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/new-mini-meadows-campaign/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/new-mini-meadows-campaign/#When:14:47:26Z Join in our Mini Meadows campaign, giving YOU the chance to grow your own Mini Meadow! Over the last 50 years Britain has lost around 98% of its wildflower meadows but with your help we can help create new spaces for the wonderful mammals, birds and insects that rely on this threatened habitat for their survival. NEW! Check out our brand new Mini Meadows area - the place to be for all the latest info about the campaign, including a map plotting all our Mini Meadows, photos, videos, factsheets and much more! How to get involved Sign up to the Mini Meadow newsletter Name:Email: We are giving away FREE Mini Meadow seed packs which will provide all you need to share your garden with nature. There are 15,000 special packs up for grabs, each one containing enough seed to create a 1m2 Mini Meadow, wherever you have space. You could sprinkle it on a bare patch of soil or use to transform an area of your lawn. You could even create a Mini Meadow in a window box or any sort of container. The seeds are absolutely free – all we ask is that you keep us up to date with the success of your Mini Meadow and maybe even send us a picture or two. We will be giving away Mini Meadow seeds at various places and events across the county. Contact us to find out where to get hold of one, or visit our Events section for details. Or alternatively, simply and we’ll post one out to you. Keep up to date with Mini Meadows Sign up in the box at the top of this page to receive our Mini Meadows e-newsletter for regular updates, news and information about the campaign. Mini-Meadows 2010-06-14T14:47:26+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/mini-meadow-big-garden-party-register-now/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/mini-meadow-big-garden-party-register-now/#When:11:45:50Z On Sunday 12th September, we’re asking you to join us in creating Nottinghamshire’s BIGGEST Garden Party! A chance to hold your own Garden Party for all your friends and family, whilst raising vital funds for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. You’ve sown and grown your Mini Meadow, now get your friends and family around to admire its progress and help raise vital funds for wildlife in your county. No Mini Meadow yet? That doesn’t stop you from joining in the fun! We’ll gladly send out Mini Meadow wildflower seed packs for you and your guests to sow and enjoy! Your Garden Party can be as unique as you are…You could choose to have a picnic with your mates, a barbeque with your family, or invite the neighbours round for some good old-fashioned games. Every penny you raise will help fund our vital work. Your Party will hopefully be one of many taking place all around the county on the same day…truly Nottinghamshire’s BIGGEST Garden Party! How to get involved… Simply click below to download the BIG Garden Party Fundraising Pack, full of ideas to help make your party as fun as possible, including tips to help raise money as well as smiles! Complete and return the Registration Form, and you’re off! If you’d prefer a posted copy, please email us at: support@nottswt.co.uk BIG Garden Party Fundraising Pack: ‘How To’ Guide Registration Form Party Invites Donations Poster Gift Aid Forms Mini-Meadows 2010-06-12T11:45:50+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/wanted-conservation-volunteers/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/wanted-conservation-volunteers/#When:12:12:37Z Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust manages over 60 nature reserves throughout the county. We are always on the look out for volunteers to assist us with practical conservation tasks on our sites. We are currently in need of many more volunteers to help out on our reserves in the North of Nottinghamshire. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday we are offering the chance to join our Northern reserves team for our Conservation Work days. With no previous experience necessary and no long-term commitment required, these days are a great opportunity to get out and about in the countryside, meet new people and gain new skills as you try your hand at a wide variety of fun conservation tasks such as hedge-laying, planting trees, scrub removal, reed planting and much more. The Conservation Work days take place at different nature reserves throughout North Nottinghamshire. You could be volunteering your time by spending the day in one of our majestic woodlands such as Treswell or Duke’s Wood. Or you could be helping us manage one of our beautiful wildflower meadows such as Eakring or Ashtons Meadows. Why not come along and help us make a difference to Nottinghamshire’s wildlife? Booking is essential, so please contact Rob Atkinson on 01777 713 940 or James Simpson on 01777 713 944 if you would like to join one of our Northern Conservation Work days. If you would like to volunteer to help out our conservation teams in other areas of the county, click here for more information. 2010-06-02T12:12:37+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/wildlife-trust-tv-film-premiere/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/wildlife-trust-tv-film-premiere/#When:13:02:08Z A short film made about Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which was aired on television recently, is now available to watch online. The film was shown as part of the Community Channel’s ‘Untold Stories’ series, introduced by Sir Trevor McDonald. It was produced by a professional filmmaker and features footage from the Wildlife Trust’s sites including popular local visitor attraction Attenborough Nature Reserve. The ‘Untold Stories’ series is part of Volunteer Films, a scheme in which small charities are given the opportunity to work with volunteers in the TV and Video production industry to produce a short film about their work at an affordable price. Now in its fifth year, the project has supported over 100 small not-for-profit organisations and has seen the equivalent of £1m donated in time and resources from the media industry. Communications and Marketing Manager Erin McDaid said: “We are extremely pleased with the film, which we hope will help to raise awareness and support for our vital work for wildlife across the county. Being involved in this scheme has given us the chance to get our message across to potential supporters in a new and effective way.” The film, produced by local filmmaker Ali McElhoney of ASBO Productions, was broadcast on the Community Channel which can be viewed on Sky 539, Virgin 233 and Freeview 87, and is now available to watch on the Community Channel website. 2010-03-01T13:02:08+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/balfour-beatty-donates-60-new-trees-for-nature-reserves/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/balfour-beatty-donates-60-new-trees-for-nature-reserves/#When:14:36:15Z As part of their work on the A46 project, civil engineering firm Balfour Beatty recently contacted Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with an offer of 60 trees and saplings that had become available as part of the land acquisition process. This generous gift has already made a difference, with Wildlife Trust volunteers recently planting some of these trees at Beacon Hill Conservation Park near Newark, owned and managed by the charity. Rob Fitzsimons, Development Manager for the Wildlife Trust commented: “It was great to have this offer of the trees from Balfour Beatty and we wasted no time in getting them in the ground to help us improve local reserves. We are hoping to explore other opportunities to work together on local environmental improvement projects whilst the A46 project is being delivered.” Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is one of a number of voluntary organisations and parishes to benefit from Balfour Beatty’s tree donations. 2010-02-23T14:36:15+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/bitterns-got-talent/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/bitterns-got-talent/#When:08:48:29Z Local wildlife haven Attenborough Nature Reserve is calling upon budding photographers and local nature lovers to enter a unique wildlife photography competition. With the recent big freeze bringing the reserve into the spotlight following the sighting of at least 5 rare bitterns, Attenborough is now launching a contest to find the best photo depicting local nature. Winning entrants will see their shots published in a special 2011 calendar celebrating the reserve’s work for wildlife. The photography competition follows on from the unprecedented success of Attenborough’s 2010 calendar featuring dramatic images of skyscapes over the reserve, from thunderstorms to snow storms. Selling out within a fortnight, this was the brainchild of Andrew Shaw, Visitor & Education Assistant at the Reserve, who wanted to combine his interests of meteorology and photography to raise funds for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Speaking about the newly launched photography competition, Mr Shaw said: “Attenborough is a very special place for wildlife and as a celebration of this we are calling for nature lovers to send us their best pictures of local nature. We hope that next year’s calendar featuring the winning entries will be very popular, raising vital funds for the Trust’s work across Nottinghamshire.” The winning entries will also see their photograph published as part of a range of special Christmas cards. The winners will be selected by a panel of local wildlife enthusiasts and a prize will be awarded for the best photograph. The closing date for entries is June 7th 2010. If you have captured Nottinghamshire’s nature in a photograph, email your entry to enquiries@attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk. Please make the subject of your email “Calendar Competition 2010”. Submission of a photograph assumes your approval for it to be used in Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust publications. The judges’ decision is final. Attenborough 2010-01-26T08:48:29+00:00 http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/item/cold-brings-rare-birds-to-attenborough/ http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/site/cold-brings-rare-birds-to-attenborough/#When:12:04:48Z Visitors to our Attenborough Nature Reserve have enjoyed a treat in recent days following the sighting of an unusually high number of rare bitterns. Whilst staff and volunteers would normally hope to see two or three birds each winter, the arrival of five birds has caused a real stir. It is believed that the birds have been forced to seek new feeding grounds as a result of the prolonged cold spell and that they may have arrived from the continent. Click here to view a YouTube clip of one of the bitterns at Attenborough. The growth of the bittern population over the last decade is regarded as one of the UK’s biggest conservation success stories with the population growing by around 250% following efforts to create new areas of reedbed habitat for the birds. Whilst the reedbeds at Attenborough Nature Reserve are not large enough to support breeding bitterns, they have regularly attracted overwintering birds – but never as many this year.  Speaking about the bitterns’ arrival, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer Mark Speck said: “Each year we hope to welcome one or two bitterns but when we realized we had at least five individual birds on site we were amazed. This must be one of the largest over-wintering populations in the UK and we hope that one day the Trent Valley will resound with the evocative booming mating call of the bittern.” In recent years the Trent Valley has become increasingly important for over-wintering bitterns with birds regularly visiting sites such as Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Willington Nature reserve Reserve. In recent days there have also been reports of bitterns at Netherfield Lagoons and Holme Pierrepont. Mr Speck continued: “We believe that the increased number of visiting bitterns is partly due to the severity of the weather. The fact that some areas of the reserve are frozen has also forced the birds into different parts of the reserve making them easier to spot than normal. However, whilst this presents a great opportunity for people to see a bird that they may never have seen before, we would ask people to take extra care not to cause disturbance. During severe weather birds not only need to expend more energy to maintain their body temperature, but food becomes much more difficult for them to obtain, making them particularly vulnerable to disturbance by people.” Details of the latest bird sightings on the reserve can be accessed via the Attenborough Nature Centre website. Attenborough 2010-01-12T12:04:48+00:00