North Lancashire Wildlife Group

On the tree walk on the 11th September we came across this attached to a leaf. They are lacewing eggs, each on a stalk. Usually the eggs are separate but these are eggs of a lacewing belonging to the genus Nineta (probably flava or vittata), which bind the 'stems' together like this.

Words and Photograph Steve Garland

Meetings, field outings and workshops are listed below in date order. We also organise recording.

If you would like to receive email notifications of our events (including alterations, cancellations and extra events) and get priority on our occasional booked events, then become a member

Winter Programme

All indoor meetings are held on the second Friday of the month from September until March, from 7:30pm at the Church of the Ascension, Michaelson Avenue, Torrisholme, LA4 6RH. (the Hall is in Michaelson Avenue, first left off Lancaster Road between The Shrimp Roundabout and Torrisholme) There is a charge of £3 including light refreshments. There is no need to book for these talks. For more information, contact the Programme Secretary on 07361 380255.

February 14 Friday– Lancashire’s Neglected Flora

It\'s not all about flowers. There is more to botany than orchids, aliens and exotics! After his entertaining and informative talk for us last year, Mike Gosling, geologist and lichenologist, is back to tell us about mosses, lichens and ferns in order to explore the county’s rich flora of plants without flowers!

March 14 Friday– Incredible Swifts

Swifts delight us in summer with their swooping exhilarating flight, migrating thousands of miles to breed here. Hear about the incredible lifestyle of these iconic birds illustrated with video clips of their behaviour from their nests sites. Learn about their life on the wing, the threats they face, and why they are in such serious decline. But Tanya and Edmund Hoare of Sedbergh Community Swifts explain why swifts are birds that we CAN help! They will be bringing lots of exhibits to show.

Summer Programme

No knowledge or experience necessary. Everyone very welcome. Great photography opportunities. Binoculars can sometimes be useful. In case of doubtful weather do ring, to check in case of cancellation or postponement. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are not allowed. Suitable outdcoor clothing and footwear are strongly recommended. Most are easy walks but one or two may be more demanding — please enquire if you have any questions. Bring water, and a packed lunch for the all-day events, There is no charge but donations are always welcome.

Please check our website for any late details. For more information or in the case of doubtful weather do contact us (robszsz@yahoo.co.uk). Meeting place given by GR - Grid Reference; PC - Postcode (nearby); w3w - what3words.

April 26 Saturday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Lune Valley Walk to Lawson's Meadow & Aughton Wood

Meet at Bull Beck car park on the A683 near Brookhouse. GR: SD542649; w3w: classed.rephrase.aviators
A general out-and-back walk of around 5km where we will be walking to the waterworks footbridge and after crossing it passing through Lawson’s Meadow to reach Lawson’s Wood and Aughton Wood. We will explore the riverbanks, woodland and meadows and we should see spring flowers, insects and birds.
Paths are uneven and muddy in places with a few steep and uneven paths.

May 5 Monday 1:00 PM–4:30 PM Ladybird and Shieldbug Hunt

Meet at Middleton Nature Reserve car park on Main Ave., off Middleton Road. GR: SD418590; w3w: surveyed.among.buckling
Ladybirds and Shieldbugs are a great introduction to insects. They are attractive insects that tend not to run or fly off when you find them and so are easy to photograph and to try to identify. Middleton NR has varied habitats for us to explore and participants will be given handouts on these two groups of insects and our very informal walk will look for as many of them as we can find. With many pairs of eyes looking, we hope to find a good number of species as well as any other insects we come across.

May 8 Thursday 10:30 AM–4:00 PM Walk through Brock Valley

Meet at Brock Valley car park, off Brock Mill Lane. GR: SD548430; w3w: recover.frail.tent
A lovely walk following the River Brock where there should be plenty of wildlife to see at this time of year including plant and insect species and hopefully sightings of Dippers and Grey Wagtails. We will be walking through woodland, scrub and meadowland as we make our way down the river and dipping in the river near the car park, so wellies would be useful if you wish to participate in the water.

May 16 Friday 10:30 AM–4:00 PM Visit to Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve

Meet in the small car park on the reserve - you can make a contribution to Natural England by using the RingGo phone app. Extra parking on the road nearby. GR: SD478775; w3w: crafts.pictured.momentou
Gait Barrows is one of Britain’s most important limestone landscapes and contains an intricate mosaic of habitats. Our full day on this special Natural England site will allow us a thorough exploration of the limestone pavement, woodlands and surrounding grassland with its rare and unusual varieties of flora and invertebrates that are hard to find elsewhere in the district including the possibility of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.

May 25 Sunday 10:30 AM–12:30 PM Pond Dipping at Fairfield Nature Reserve

Parking on Aldcliffe Lane. Meet at the canalside entrance to Flora Fields. GR: SD470606; PC: LA1 5BE; w3w: housework.play.downfield
Looking at the pond life in the Flora Ponds of the nature reserve (or other ponds depending on water conditions at the time). We should see dragonflies, damselflies and mayflies as well as water beetles and water bugs of various kinds. We will also see early nymphal stages of dragonflies, mayflies, and much more in the water.
Children accompanied by an adult are very welcome. Nets and other equipment will be provided. Strong footwear or wellingtons recommended.

June 4 Wednesday 1:00 PM–4:30 PM Amble up to The Helm

Meet in layby on A65 before Oxenholme. Extra parking on other side of the road in Castlestead Close. GR: SD527889; PC: w3w: moth.hills.scout
We will be taking a very slow amble up the lane to the higher ground of The Helm. A return trip walk of about 3 miles that we’ll take at a very easy pace, stopping to look as we go. We’ll pass through a mixture of habitats from hedgerows to open grassland. We’ll see interesting wildflowers and invertebrates such as dragonflies, butterflies and more as well as birds. We will have a break near the top and we should have some stunning views across Lakeland and elsewhere.

June 28 Saturday 1:00 PM–4:30 PM A Walk along the Lancaster - Morecambe Greenway

Meet at SW corner of Ryelands Park car park, off Torrisholme Road. GR: SD474627; w3w: keeps.solar.edgy
The Greenway is the Lancaster to Morecambe railway track that has been converted into a foot and cycle path. Since the railway closed the line has been colonised by an interesting variety of plants. We will walk from our meeting point in Ryelands Park to join the Greenway by the Carlisle Bridge. From there we will walk along the Greenway exploring the diversity of flowers that can be found as well as the wide range of insects that should be seen. We will return along the same route.

July 4 Friday 10:30 AM–4:00 PM Exploring Lytham St Annes Nature Reserve and Dunes

July 4, Fri. 10.30-16.00 Meet at the North Beach car park, St Annes, which is pay and display (£2.30 at time of writing). GR: SD312298; PC: w3w: mixer.ears.wizard
Over the course of a full day we will explore the varied stretches of this fascinating site, including the Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve, the beach-side dunes and strand and the rockpools. A variety of orchids including dune and green-flowered helleborine, pyramidal and bee should be at their peak at the time of our visit whilst we have a chance of Grayling butterfly, a coastal specialist. Binoculars could be useful for breeding birds found here such as Stonechat, Skylark, Linnet and Reed Bunting.

July 21 Monday 10:30 AM–4:00 PM A River Kent Circuit near Sedgwick

Meet by the bridge over the R. Kent where Nannypie Lane meets Force Lane just off the Brettargh Holt roundabout near Sedgwick. GR: SD507868; w3w: agreeing.swerving.sweetened
A three mile circular walk along the disused part of the Kendal canal, through fields, woodland, lanes and, in part, following the River Kent. As well as finding interesting flowers and insects in the various habitats that we pass through, we will spend time investigating the river where there is easy access to the water and see what life we can find in and beside it.

July 29 Tuesday 1:00 PM–4:30 PM Visit to the Coldwell Horseshoe

Meet, with limited car parking (car share if possible), at Coldwell Bank about 200m along Coldwell Lane from the junction with Brackenthwaite Road. GR: SD479779; w3w: daydreams.subplot.toddler
This is a relatively small area with lots to see. Consisting of Coldwell Parrock, Coldwell Meadow and Coldwell Bank, and known as the Coldwell Horseshoe, Gary Marsh of the Landscape Trust will lead us around the reserves and talk about their history, how it is being managed and the wildlife that we might find there. The site is mixed woodland and meadow and is noted for wildflowers, butterflies and more.

August 8 Friday 10:30 AM–2:00 PM Claver Hill Growing Project and Nature Trails

Parking on Crag Road, either near the school or near Lyth Road, then walk short distance down Ridge Lane and meet at Claver Hill entrance. GR: SD491624; PC: LA1 3JY; w3w: poem.choppers.raven
Join us to explore this interesting site on the edge of Lancaster. After a brief introduction to the project we will be led around Claver Hill by Kathy Barton taking in grassland, ponds and reedbeds, wooded areas, the lake and the growing areas. As well as the wildlife that we will find, we will hear more about the amazing development of the site from what was just a field only 12 years ago.

August 19 Tuesday 1:00 PM–4:30 PM Walk across Warton Slag Tips

Meet in the layby across from Cotestones Farm on Sands Lane. GR: SD487714; w3w: icon.spouse.wolves
Walking alongside the Keer estuary where the slag tips from the Carnforth Ironworks that closed nearly 100 years ago are now host to a fascinating range of plants and animals. The slag tips and the nearby saltmarsh contain a rich variety of wildflowers and other plants, some of them uncommon, and are also home to butterflies and many other insects. The area will also have plenty of avian interest with sea birds and others. Binoculars might be useful.

August 29 Friday 8:00 PM–11:00 PM Moth Trapping & Bat Detection Evening

Meet in Warton Crag Local Nature Reserve quarry car park on Crag Road. GR: SD491723; w3w: losing.infinite.scouts
Warton Crag nature reserves are an important site for many rare and unusual moths. We will search for moths by dusking and attracting them to lights and sugar. We will also observe bats at dusk and after dark using bat detectors. We’ll mainly be in the area around the car park so there will be little walking. Bring warm clothes and torches. If it is a good night we may stay much later, but being near the car park throughout, people may leave at any time.

Other Events

Any wildlife- or conservation-related event can go here. Contact the webmaster at webmaster@nlwg.org.uk