Crisis + Christmas + Countryfile + Craven!

This month saw the final Crisis 'Creative Conservation' course trip of the year. Creative Conservation is attended by Community Science volunteers who are members of Crisis South Yorkshire's Skylight training programme.  Each month we take a trip somewhere in the Peak District, and undertake a Community Science activity such as surveying Bumblebees, Sphagnum moss or brushing up on our navigation skills.

This time it was a festive celebration taking a ramble around Blacka Moor on the outskirts of Sheffield, stopping for mince pies, before ending up at the Moorland Discovery Centre on the National Trust's Longshaw Estate.

We timed it just right - and arrived back as John Craven and the BBC Countryfile crew were filming a piece about Christmas Trees for this year's Christmas show - to be aired on Christmas Eve.

If you watch it, look out for us as we may be 'extras' in the background of John's piece to camera. He was kind enough to join our team photo afterwards!

Wildlife photos from Crisis event - part 2

Last Friday was the second 'Creative Conservation' Community Science event with Crisis members from Sheffield. Member Steve Smith has shared this set of cracking wildlife shots he took on the day:

One of the highlights of the day was a close encounter with this roe buck near Longshaw estate

Another shot, as the roe deer makes a hasty exit...

A beautiful reed bunting seen singing in a patch of soft rush

Just one of the hundreds of millipedes all making their way along the path in Burbage Valley



A stunning meadow pipit; in a classic pose!


 

Wildlife photos from Community Science walk with Crisis members

Last Friday was the inaugural 'Creative Conservation' Community Science event with Crisis members from Sheffield -  consisting of a guided wildlife walk around the Millstone Edge and Padley Gorge area led by the Community Science team and Tom from the National Park Ranger Service, followed by an introduction to Community Science (and lunch stop) at Brunt's Barn near Grindleford.

Peacock butterfly (c) Steve Smith

Crisis member and photographer Steve took some pictures of some of the wildlife which was spotted, including the Community Science target species the Peacock Butterfly (above) - seen and recorded just below Millstone Edge.

A northern hairy wood ant nest (c) Steve Smith

Some of the other species also seen/heard and talked about were: orange-tip butterfly; early, white-tailed and tree bumblebees; willow warbler, chiffchaff, redstart, pied flycatcher, meadow and tree pipits, stonechat, buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, northern hairy wood ants, bluebells, lesser celandine, wood sorrel and birch polypore fungus (also known as razor strop) and red kite.

Female pied flycatcher (c) Steve Smith

Red kite (c) Steve Smith

Thanks to Steve for sending in these great photos, and also to everyone else involved for making it a very enjoyable day.