WildPlaces does practical work too!

Thanks to everyone who voted for WildPlaces. Unfortunately we didn't make it through to the next round but I think it was a great effort by all. To come in the top ten for such a relatively small project was fantastic and who knows, there might be a next time!

So what has been going on in the last month? I wonder. There's been a little bit of hedgehog action, a lot of fox cub frolicking and who knows, maybe a stealthy otter has been in on the act.



The big boy cameras are finally up and running along the Ouseburn River. Whoop. Whoop.
A few weeks ago, I spent a very uneventful (but miraculously sunny) day setting them up. I say uneventful because I couldn't get the ridiculous things to work!! Vision loss. Vision loss. Vision loss. Who ever heard of a camera having vision loss? Isn't it their jobs to see?! But all they needed was the magic touch (and technical brain) of Mark the camera technician and bham! otter- catching cameras away! Sadly Paul A hasn't had time to check them yet so who knows, there might just be a dancing otter waiting to be discovered.



As Paul has taken over much of the camera work for the moment, I think its high time that the wonderful WildPlaces volunteers get a mention. They have been working hard at making the north east a better place for creatures great and small and have done me proud. Its always excellent when the time for practical habitat management comes around but willing, able and fantastic volunteers make my job that much better.

First up, the kids at Byker Primary have been amazing - you guys rock (and no, no slave labour was involved here)! We have been creating a wildlife garden at the school and now have a smashing bug hotel, wildlife hedge and sensory bee garden to boast about. We've still got our pond to make and new fence to go in over the summer but check out this amazing bench I got commissioned from Chainsaw Creations.

Yes, the gardeners look chuffed with it (less excited than me and the head teacher though I think) but the highlight of the time we've spent working hard (for all involved!) will almost definitely be our end of project party in a couple of weeks. Chocolate cake, crisps, fizzy drinks. I think I'm going to have some hyper kids on my hands next Monday!

And from hard working children to business-suited adults (still hard working I hasten to add!). Over the past 6 weeks, the Quorom Business Park in North Tyneside has had one heck of a wildlife project going on. We've been clearing out the letch that runs through the grounds of the business park, turning it into a wildlife haven. Who would've thought that pulling out a few reeds would be such hard work? A jolly it is not. Through rain (seriously icy, pelting-down rain) and shine we have worked tirelessly to turn the letch into something resembling a river. Rather than the overgrown, impenetrable jungle that it started out as. It looks good. There have been a few incidences of ferocious mud monsters trying to suck us under and more than a few 'relics' pulled from the river but overall the hard work has paid off. Once the arduous job of river clearing is done, the volunteers will be rewarded with the relatively easy task of planting some wildflowers and possibly even a wildlife hedge in the winter. Fun times. How I love practical work. Really I do.

As an aside, thank-you to everyone who reads my blog and leaves comments. Its always great to read them :) BUT, I have recently discovered that there have been inappropriate comments (in chinese no less) left on my blog so I have decided to remove the comments feature all together. Please email me at kara.jackson@northwt.org.uk if you have something to say or videos to share. Thanks!