The warm weather is quickly bringing out all kinds of wildlife in the woods, from bats to butterflies. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the space, whether you’ve been there before or if it's your first time in this quiet part of Ramsgate.
It’s a busy time for the volunteers, with Sue Smith (Secretary of the Friends of Montefiore Woodland, who looks after the group) guiding the various wildlife surveys with expertise and enthusiasm. Surveys include the British Trust of Ornithology’s (BTO) Nest Record Scheme, and a weekly butterfly transect for six months of the year. These surveys are a great jumping on point for anyone keen to contribute to conservation in a relaxed and friendly way.
Eager-eyed visitors may be able to see the newly planted hedge, the Coronation Hornbeam or a member’s oak sapling bursting into life.
The woodland is important to Ramsgate, with a steadily increasing number of butterflies. This comes at a time when, nationally, numbers are so low that a butterfly emergency was announced by Butterfly Conservation last year. If butterflies are your thing, keep an eye out for Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Green-veined, Small White, Red Admiral, Orange-tip and Brimstone. Brimstone is one to look out for because the origin of the word ‘butterfly’ came from its yellow colour.
There are also a host of birds, including Blackcaps, Stock doves, and even Firecrests (the UK’s smallest bird). Recently, replacement bird boxes have been built and donated by Phil, a member, as part of our BTO Nest Record Survey. A larger bird box was also donated by Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory in the hope that it will attract birds of prey in the future. With large, mature trees in the area, a nestbox may well do the trick!
You can simply visit and enjoy the woodland or join in and get stuck into some gardening. All those who are keen to help the woods are welcome, with tasks including more physical jobs like removing invasive plants and watering, as well as the surveying mentioned above. Recently, the wildflower area was compared to guidance in the Urban Butterflies booklet (from Butterfly Conservation) and the volunteers were pleased to find that it was being managed in line with best practice. It is hoped that the area will help to establish breeding colonies of butterflies, which will help link local community gardens and spaces, creating butterfly corridors. The Friends would like to mention and thank the Ramsgate Town Shed who have created six replacement bat boxes, and that Dave Welch, the Friend’s unsung hero, is commended for his continuing work on the area. Volunteers have a positive impact on the area and volunteering is a way that people can give back to this special green space.
Another notable activity, which has been rather popular, are the Community Evening Bat Strolls on the last Friday of the month. If you’re curious about bats or just want to have a go on a bat detector, the walks are for you! Walks take place throughout the summer, according to sunset times. Times are as follows:
July 25 at 8:45pm (sunset 8:52pm), August 29 at 7:30pm (sunset 7:46pm), September 26 at 6:30pm (sunset 6:42pm).
Volunteers meet on the first Saturday of each month.
July 5, August 2 is also the Big Butterfly Count.
More information about the area and how to get involved can be found here:
www.montefiorewoodland.org.uk/activities.