The wildlife Black Hole of middle England

problems and  opportunities

Michael Jeeves

Leics and Rutland Wildlife Trust -

Glen Affric

Recognisably wild

Nature is in charge

Sherwood Forest

There are some good places in Middle England

Dead wood habitat/risk of falling trees/Robin Hood

Black Hole of Middle England

What do you see?

A land that has been tamed - neat and ordered.

Beetle banks, buffer strips etc would increase the amount of wildlife- but the land would still be tame.

WolfWe used to have these long ago and much more;Pine Martens & Polecats here until the 19th C, and the latter are on their way back with Raven & Buzzard. Red Kite & Osprey have been re-introduced.

Some ecologists argue that ecosystems cannot function properly without the presence of predators like these.

I like them because they are exciting and wild

Charnwood LodgeThe wildest place in Charnwood Forest now.

But as an SSSI its wildness is being tamed – limits on bracken, heather – non-negotiable.

Not much room for the dynamism of nature.

May have to develop new wild places outside of SSSIs.

Willow Woodland

Woodlands are wilder, even SSSIs.

Natural regeneration being used.

Is neglect bad?

Roe Deer

The threat from deer

But don’t we want large herbivores? Or just tame ones?

And aren’t they exciting too?

Watermead Hide

Do hides detract from wildness?       They are excellent for providing close views of wildlife.

Do we have to have them on every large wetland reserve?

Will large nature reserves be wild?

Wanlip Meadows 2001

Quarries have great potential for rewilding.

This one is a badly restored gravel pit, in 2001.

A mile away from the City boundary.

Wanlip Meadows 2005

5 years later.

Naturally regenerated, species-rich wetland.

Pressure for water level control.

Longhorn cattle

Being used to graze Wanlip & Clodge.

Well suited - look like wildlife but are not.

What scope is there for wilder large herbivores?

Barber’s Rough

Shooting is the only current use.

Looks wild now – owls etc. In fact it’s wilder than the 200 acre nature reserve it adjoins.

Even some conservationists think it needs management.

What we need is more of this.

Child

Do you see danger or excitement here – perhaps both?

Gary Snyder – wild and tame sides to human mind