CradleyWild 2026

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Programme

7 November 11-4pm Colwall Greener ECO festival food, farming and nature, Colwall Village Hall, Mill Lane, WR13 6EQ.

All events held in Cradley Village Hall unless otherwise specified:

12 NOVEMBER 7pm Cradley Village Hall: Makers’ evening. Come and help us create baubles, wreaths, garlands and bat boxes to sell at Cradley Christmas Fair.

Saturday 5th DECEMBER Cradley Christmas Fair. Cradley Wild will have a stall selling gifts we have made.

2027

Thursday 14 January, 7pm: Nature Quiz with Paul Moorhouse.

Thursday 11 February, 7pm: Pine martens, a talk by mammal expert and author Johnny Birks.

Thursday 11 March, 7pm: Building Resilience in a Time of Change, a community discussion.

Thursday 8 April, 7pm:  Birds in Herefordshire, a talk by Mike Wheeler, County Bird Recorder, Herefordshire Ornithological Club.

Sunday 23 May:  A guided nature walk on Castlemorton Common with wildlife expert William Lambourne.

Saturday 12 June: creating wildlife habitats in a Cradley garden with Amanda Lambourne, wildlife gardening expert. 

Thursday 8 July: Herefordshire Butterflies, a Beginner’s Guide by Bob Hall, County Butterfly Recorder.

Thursday 9 September, 7pm:  AGM and a talk on drains and ditches in the Cradley area by Councillor Rebecca Tully.

As ever, events are free to members, £3 to guests. If you haven't subscribed to membership yet, it's a mere £8 and you can join at a meeting or pay via BACS.

Please eMail CradleyWild@cradley.org.uk if you would like to join our group.

There is a members WhatsApp group

We are now on Facebook Cradley Wild

Feeding the birds, eMail of October:

You may have read the RSPB's guidance recently about bird feeding, particularly with regard to its potential to spread disease and to crowd out less dominant species. 

One of our members, William Lambourne (who you may have met when he took us around Old Country Farm) has written a report about the perils of bird feeding and it makes worthwhile reading.

CMS NEWSLETTER OCTOBER - SPIDERS, NATURE’S INVENTIVE SURVIVORS

Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias and may have its roots in an ancient instinct to avoid dangerous creatures. In fact, fewer than 30 spider species have venom that is potentially deadly to humans – less than 1% of all known species. Look closer, and the creature you once recoiled from begins to look less like a monster and more like a marvel.

Spiders belong to the arthropods; the vast animal group whose members have jointed limbs. Their design is instantly recognisable: eight legs, a firm cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) at the front, a softer abdomen behind, and usually eight simple eyes arranged in patterns – these help identify different species. They have no antennae, but a pair of pedipalps (short, arm-like structure) helps them explore. In males, these pedipalps also play a crucial role in courtship and mating.

All spiders are predators, but they are far from uniform in their methods. Some weave the classic orb-web, a design so precise it looks engineered. Others build funnels, hammocks, tangled traps, lace webs or radial snares. To watch an orb-web spider at work is to see instinct become architecture: strand by strand, a near-invisible framework becomes a beautifully efficient trap.

Spider silk is one of nature’s most remarkable materials. Produced in specialised glands and drawn through spinnerets at the rear of the body, it combines strength with lightness and elasticity. Its tensile strength is comparable with high-grade steel, yet its strength-to-weight ratio is far higher, and it is tougher than many synthetic fibres. Spiders use their silk for catching food, wrapping prey, protecting eggs and creating shelters. Not every spider relies on a snare. Some stalk their prey, while others wait in ambush and pounce. Their chelicerae (poisoned fangs hinged at the front) paralyse victims. Because spiders can digest only liquid food, they pump digestive juices into their prey to liquefy the tissues.

Courtship is a complex business. Males must announce themselves carefully, so they are recognised as suitors rather than prey. Web-building spiders are often poor-sighted and depend on vibrations and chemical signals. Jumping and wolf spiders have sharper eyesight and use visual displays. Fertilisation is indirect: the male transfers sperm with his pedipalps, and the female may store it for several broods. Contrary to popular belief, males are seldom eaten afterwards.

All spider species wrap their eggs in silk, but the resulting egg sacs vary enormously. Some are guarded, some are carried, and all protect the developing eggs from predators, parasites, drying out and temperature extremes. The young hatch inside the sac, moult once  (shedding the old exoskeleton so a larger one can form) and emerge as spiderlings: miniature versions of the adults, not yet mature but equipped for survival.

The young spiders need to disperse to reduce competition for food and inbreeding. Spiderlings disperse using silk. In ballooning, a youngster climbs high, raises its abdomen and lets the breeze draw out a strand that can carry it astonishing distances – sometimes hundreds or even thousands of kilometres. Rappelling (dropping through the air on a thread of silk) moves a spider only a few metres, but the idea is the same: silk becomes transport.

Spiders grow by moulting. Before moulting, spiders withdraw, stop feeding and wait in seclusion. The process can fail, and until the new exoskeleton hardens, they are particularly vulnerable. Larger spiders tend to live longer and moult  more often in their life cycle. Many British species are annual, overwintering only once.

Spiders thrive almost everywhere: in caves and culverts, meadows and trees, houses and gardens, stone walls and even water. We meet them as house spiders, daddy-long-legs spiders, orb-web builders and crab spiders crouched among flowers. My own encounters  from a Californian tarantula crossing a quiet road to a nest of black widows—have only deepened my respect.

Spiders are extraordinary engineers, hunters, travellers and survivors. Give them a second look, and fear may just give way to fascination.

BillvM

APPLES, PART TWO

In the May issue of the Newsletter, I talked about apple blossom and varieties. Now, in October, we have the actual fruit. I am already buying new season Discovery apples from Handley Organics in Ledbury, and many more English varieties are available from local farm shops. Why not try them?

Hellens Manor in Much Marcle (hellensmanor.com) has a two-day apple event on the 10, 11 October, and on 17 October the Colwall Orchard Group (colwallorchardgroup.org) holds its annual Apple Day where you can sample the many varieties of apple grown on site.

Patrick F

CRADLEY WILD EVENTS

People’s Emergency Briefing. A big thank you to all of those who came to our AGM and screening of this film in September. It was well attended and prompted a lively discussion afterwards. We shall follow up the points raised by the film at a meeting in March next year, where we will shall consider how to build resilience in the community in this time of change.

IS YOUR GARDEN WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY?

Are you keen to attract more wildlife to your garden but don’t know how to go about it? One of our members, Amanda Lambourne, is a local wildlife-gardening expert with an ecological background and will come to your garden to advise on habitats, planting and gardening with nature in mind. Email her at amandalambourne@hotmail.com for fees and availability. Next year, Amanda will also be taking Cradley Wild members around a local garden to explain how to introduce nature-friendly habitats in their own patch.

September 26: THE HARVEST MOUSE Britain’s smallest rodent

My first encounter with harvest mice was at Slimbridge Wetland Centre where they were kept in a large glass enclosure. Usually, I don’t like seeing wild animals in captivity, but these mice had been provided with everything they could possibly need – a variety of micro-habitats, places to hide, nest and explore plus ample food and water.

Studying the harvest mouse at close quarters, made me appreciate its tiny size. Its scientific name Micromys minutus is apt as it really is minute – 11.5 cm long, half of which is its long, prehensile tail. By comparison, the UK’s other mice species are about 20cm long. The harvest mouse’s tail and broad feet make it highly adapted for climbing. It weighs 4-6g (a 50p piece weighs 8g); has a reddish coat (our most rufous mouse) and a white underside with small, hairy ears.

In the past, harvest mice were commonest south of the Trent, rare in Wales and the north and absent from Ireland. They are near threatened in England but vulnerable in Wales and critical in Scotland. This means they face a high risk of extinction in the medium term in Wales and Scotland.

Many people think harvest mice only inhabit cereal crops such as wheat and barley, but they have a wide range of habitats including hedgerows, reedbeds, grassland and wetlands. They particularly like tall grass and vegetation where they build their spherical breeding nests well above ground woven into the stems. Nests for sleeping/resting are lower (even on the ground) and are not as densely woven.

Breeding occurs from May to October during which time multiple litters can be produced. The average litter size is 5-8 but can be up to 10. The newborns are extremely small (think baked bean!) weighing 0.5-1g and measuring 2-3cm in length (excluding the tail). They are hairless and blind but grow rapidly and are weaned quickly at about 10-14 days. Harvest mice diet is omnivorous but mainly vegetarian consisting of seeds, fruits, berries, grains, grass, roots, fungi and occasional insects.

Inspired by an enthusiastic youngster on BBC’s Springwatch, Cradley Wild is keen to begin a project which would involve keeping harvest mice in a large cage, which will allow them to enter and leave but exclude predators. The cage would be sited in an area (with landowner’s permission) where there are no known populations to see if the mice would colonise the area (confirmed by nest building). If you are interested in the project or have a patch of land that may be suitable let us know at cradleywild@cradley.org.uk

Bill vM

TREE OF THE MONTH: BIRD Cherry Prunus padus

September is the time to look out for cherry trees and shrubs in hedges and woodland as their leaves turn from green to red and gold. In spring, Bird Cherry is covered in a very fine white blossom with an almond scent, and these flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for insects. The flowers turn to small dark red cherries during the summer, providing food for small mammals and birds, in particular blackbirds and thrushes. The Bird Cherry is smaller than the Wild Cherry, growing to a maximum height of 25m and has a bushier, attractive appearance.

The bark of the Bird Cherry is smooth and grey/brown and gives off a strong acrid odour. In the past, it was believed to have magical properties – its bark was pinned to front doors to ward off the plague. Before the invention of modern chemicals, the bark was ground up and used as a pesticide. It was also used as a component of cough medicine, and to treat conjunctivitis and bronchitis, among many other ailments.

The Bird Cherry grows in many habitats across most of Britain except for the south-east; however it thrives in wet woodlands and along streams in upland areas. With the extended periods of dry weather we are experiencing in summer, these are becoming increasingly rare in most parts of the British Isles. If you are thinking of planting Bird Cherry, consider planting it in an area that already has trees which will help to moderate the climate and provide a suitable backdrop for this delightful tree.

Patrick F

AUGUST 26: CRADLEY WILD IS THREE!

Three years ago, a group of nature-lovers gathered in Linda B’s kitchen to discuss the possibility of starting a wildlife group in Cradley. Linda had been inspired by reading ‘Orchard, a year in England’s Eden’ by Benedict Macdonald and Nicolas Gates to do what she could to help nature locally. The group quickly built momentum, kickstarted by a talk by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust in which villagers talked about what they were doing on their own patches of land. Regular talks have taken place since covering topics including bumblebees, adders, wildflower verges, bats and growing bee-friendly plants.

With the financial support of CMS Parish Council and National Landscapes behind us, we also collaborated with the WI on last year’s 110 Planters for Pollinators campaign, managed the molehills ‘naturally’ in Chapel Lane playground, erected several swift boxes and, guided by Di Hefferan, installed numerous mason bee houses around the village. Our aim this year has been to make Cradley a bee-friendly village; next year our focus will be on hedgehogs. Nature walks, farm visits and litter picks are also core activities.

We couldn’t do any of this without the engagement of local people and we are grateful to all of those who have become members of Cradley Wild or have attended our events. If you would like to join our friendly, nature-focussed group, email cradleywild@cradley.org.uk or come along to one our meetings. We would love to see you! Our next meeting is the AGM on 10 September at 2pm, when we shall show the film People’s Emergency Briefing, followed on 8 October at 4pm by a talk on raptors by Nicola Benhamada, both will take place in Cradley village hall.

TREE OF THE MONTH: Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

Ash is one of the most treasured trees in Britain. It has always had a mystical significance in British mythology, where it was burned to ward off evil spirits, and in the Norse creation myth where Yggdrasil, a giant ash tree, holds the universe together.

In the UK, ash makes up 11% of broadleaf woodland and covers a total area more or less equal to Greater London. It can grow up to 35m and so it shapes the landscape in many parts of Britain.

Ash can grow to an age of around 200 years and is an important host for many species of flora and fauna. Its leaves are long and divided into leaflets which gives the tree an airy appearance and allows light to penetrate allowing hazel and small shrubs to grow underneath it. Consequently, it is of high ecological value both individually and in more dense woodland. It also sequesters carbon more quickly than most other trees, as it is fast growing with a dense hard wood. This helps to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. It can also be identified by its deeply furrowed bark, winged seed pods called ‘keys’ and, in the winter, large, velvety jet-black buds.

Ash wood is flexible and able to resist shock without breaking so it has traditionally been used for the handles and shafts of tools and weapons. It was also used for frames in coach and carriage building and is still used by Morgan Motor Company in the bodywork of their cars. It has a reputation as the best tree for making firewood – sadly, with increased felling due to disease, this has become a common use of the wood.

In the last 30 years, ash has been ravaged by a disease called Chalara, or ‘Ash dieback’. As a result, its abundance is decreasing. This disease was imported to the country on young saplings that were planted in large areas of mono-culture woodlands. These plantations gave the perfect conditions for this fungal disease to spread by wind-borne spores.  It is estimated that around 80% of Ash trees currently standing will succumb to the disease. There is some hope however, research is ongoing into trees that are resisting the disease.

If you would like help identifying affected Ash trees, email cradleywild@cradley.org.uk.

Patrick F

July 26: The Year of the Hedgehog

Following on from our recent (and ongoing) Bee Village and swift box projects, Cradley Wild’s next priority will be hedgehogs. This spiky mammal was once a frequent, familiar, and much-loved sight in the UK, but now the population of hedgehogs is in serious decline – there has been a 50 percent drop in their population in rural areas such as ours. This is mainly due to loss and fragmentation of habitat, but also because of pesticides use, which kill insects, snails and slugs, leaving hedgehogs with insufficient food to survive and successfully raise their young.

But all is not lost! You can help boost hedgehog numbers in and around Cradley Our starting point will be to understand how many currently roam around the village. If you have spotted a hedgehog in your garden, please email us at cradleywild@cradley.org.uk. Once we have sufficient sitings, we will create a map of areas of hedgehog activity in Cradley. This will help us understand where they may travel and how we can work together as a village to keep their pathways open.

One way to do this is to create hedgehog corridors. Hedgehogs can travel 2-3 km a night, if no obstructions get in their way. To help them, it is essential to remove or create holes in hard boundaries such as fences. Otherwise, hedgehog populations can become isolated, which has a genetic impact and eventually the isolated populations may become unviable and subsequently extinct. Once we have recorded local hedgehog activity, will then upload the data on to Hedgehog Street’s map at hedgehogstreet.org (they are campaigning to protect UK hedgehogs) and join their band of Hedgehog Champions. When we have established where the hedgehog populations are, we can work on improving habitats and safety with a view to increasing our Cradley hedgehog population.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t stopped using pesticides, this is the most important thing you can do. Please make this commitment and use the alternatives recommended in the April CMS Newsletter, and which you can find at cradleyorg.uk/cradleywild. Another hazard is robot lawn mowers, if you have one, please don’t let it operate overnight – hedgehogs are known to have been killed by them. Similarly, if you are thinking of lighting a bonfire, check that no hedgehogs have made their home in your pile of wood first.

Thank you for helping us improve wildlife in our villages.

Jessie M

TREE OF THE MONTH: the Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis)

The Wild Service tree is a broadleaf native to the UK and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia which can grow to about 25 metres high in the right conditions. It is one of Britain’s rarest trees because it struggles to germinate in the wild and cannot compete with fast-growing modern trees. Finding one growing naturally usually means the woodland has existed for centuries. You can identify the Wild Service by its distinctive brown bark which is patterned with cracked square plates. Its leaves are like the maple but have three or four irregular lobes. In autumn, the leaves provide a great show, turning a red-bronze colour.

The tree forms clusters of small creamy-white flowers in May and June which, once pollinated, turn into distinctive oval brown fruit, about 1 to 1.5 cm diameter with white dots. These are called ‘chequers’ and before the advent of the use of hops, were used to flavour beer. The ‘Service’ part of the name is thought to be a corruption of ‘cervisia’, Latin for beer. It is possible that this was the reason that so many pubs were called The Chequers, although there is an alternative theory that it is due to the distinctive patchwork bark that would have been used as a sign board. The fruit require 'bletting' (ie decomposition) through freezing to make them edible. They are said to taste like dates and were given to children as sweets until about 100 years ago.

Historically, in Europe, Wild Service timber was highly valued as one of the hardest native woods and was used to make wine-press screws, billiard cues, and musical instruments. In England the wood was used to make charcoal; there are traces of its use in pre-Roman times. Maybe this is why it so rare. There are a couple in Cradley, however. See if you can find one and let us know!

Patrick F

JUNE 26: KNOW YOUR BEES: THE BUMBLEBEE

The bumblebee is probably the easiest bee to recognise. Larger than the other bees, you will have spotted it ‘bumbling’ about your borders, buzzing loudly as it goes in search of nectar. Like most other bees, its numbers are dropping drastically due to changes in our landscape – the lack of nesting places and flowers mean they are hungry and homeless and need our help to survive. They in turn will pollinate our wildflowers, fruit and vegetables.

There are 24 species of bumblebee, grouped by their tail colour: white/ buff, red /orange and ginger/yellow. They are social creatures who live in nests – many of which are simple holes in the ground – created by the queen in spring. The queen’s smaller, worker daughter bees help raise her offspring. Once the queen has created the nest, and started to fill it with nectar and pollen, she remains inside laying eggs. More pollen and nectar is brought to the nest by her workers. A well-established nest can be the size of a small football and contain up to 200 bees. By comparison a honeybee nest can contain 50,000 bees. At the end of the year, all the bees die except a new queen who hibernates until the lifecycle begins again. 

Six of the 24 bumblebee species are cuckoo bumblebees. These lay their eggs in other bumblebee nests, kill the queen and take over the nest. They don't have their own worker bees – original workers do the job for them they simply lay male and female eggs. Cuckoo bumblebees aren’t all bad though: they are good pollinators and don’t devastate the population of other bumblebees.

We can help the diminishing number of bumblebees by planting flowering plants and herbs to ensure a successional nectar-source from early spring into winter. Different flower shapes suit the varying tongues of different species of bumblebees. Avoid pesticides as they can kill bees and plant in blocks to enable them to move freely from flower to flower without wasting too much energy.

Ten native summer plants loved by bumblebees

Brassicas (if left to flower), Foxgloves, Snapdragon, Lupins, Raspberries and blackberries, Borage, Comfrey, Myrtle, Oregano, Lavender.

Learn more about bumblebees on 11 June at 7pm when Richard Comont, science manager of the Bumblebee Conservation Society (bumblebeeconservation.org) will tell us all about these fascinating creatures and how we can help reverse their decline. 7pm, Cradley Village Hall. Cradley Wild members, no charge; guests, £3.

Linda B

SWIFT BOXES UPDATE

We now have four swift boxes installed in the village. Each has a ‘sounder’ which mimics the call of the swift to encourage them to nest in the box. These beautiful birds have now arrive – young adults will have returned to look for new homes – so we hope they will nest in Cradley if not this year, then next. Cradley Wild would like to thank those villagers who now have a swift box and Dave King, Patrick Fleming and Bill van Marle who built and installed them.

MASON BEES: thanks to the combined efforts of the WI and Cradley Wild, there are now around 40 mason bee houses in the village. If you have one, you will know the great satisfaction of watching the bees emerge, search for forage, then fill the tubes with larvae, nectar and mud. Hopefully this is just the start and the Cradley population of these industrious pollinators will continue to rise with every year.

TREE OF THE MONTH: BLACK POPLAR (Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia)

Once a common sight in the English countryside this imposing tree (when mature) is now, sadly, rare. According to the Forestry Commission, the Black Poplar is the most endangered tree species in the UK – there are fewer than 7,000 in Britain, 10% of which are females. This lack of females is historically attributed to garden and park designers who did not favour their woolly fluff, produced to help distribute their wind-borne seeds. These seeds germinate on damp and waterlogged soil, which is also increasingly rare as soil dries out due to climate change and to building on flood plains.

Unfortunately, the situation is unlikely to get better because nurseries produce small trees to sell by taking cuttings from existing trees that are predominantly male. If you are interested in preserving these trees, get your plants from a nursery that guarantees the sex of the plants and buy a selection of male and female plants. Black Poplar is related to Willow and is most happy living close to streams and rivers and on low-lying land that is subject to flooding in winter.

How to identify it: Black Poplar’s bark looks like an Oak’s, but is darker (sometimes almost black, hence its name) and more deeply fissured. The leaves are heart shaped with a pointed end. In spring, male trees have dark-red catkins and female trees have green-yellow catkins. These provide an early source of pollen and nectar for insects, and the seeds provide food for birds. There are numerous moth caterpillars that feed on the Black Poplar, including the Poplar Hawk and Wood Leopard.

Beware however, these are one of our fastest-growing trees, growing at between one and two metres a year when mature. They will become very large, up to 30 metres (100ft) high and with a girth of up to six metres, so are not appropriate for your average garden! But if you have a good-sized patch of land near a stream and want to help save this magnificent tree, Tony N, a retired Herefordshire farmer is the man to contact tony@theleen.co.uk). He will supply male and female ‘truncheons’ (saplings) and advise on their planting.

Patrick F

Churchyard Bat Survey 3-7 June 2026

Back on 12th February, Denise Plume and David Lee of the Herefordshire  Bat Research Group presented "Ten Years of Monitoring Bat Boxes". Dave and Denise (facebook) told us all about bats, including how to make a box of our own. See also www.bats.org.uk.

On Sunday 7th June Denise wrote:

" I had a very quick look at your bat calls which we collected today, but I will look at them more closely later on.  I need to go through all the “noise” files which will contains bat calls.

The detectors in the middle of the churchyard and on the church building did not record many files, which may be due to the windy weather.  The two we deployed on the northern boundary overlooking the long grass, which is more sheltered, recorded the most sound files.   

Here is a list of species over 4 days but you will be getting a more detailed report later:

1. Common and Soprano pipistrelle - both pips were mostly recorded which is what we expected.  They were social calling as well so there may be a nearby roost (they prefer buildings)

2. Noctule – some activity

3. Longeared bat – a lot of calls suggesting a nearby roost which may be the church – we have seen them in the tower.

4. Barbastelle – Britain’s rarest bat was around each night but in low numbers so probably commuting or foraging  (they prefer ancient woodland and they like to roost in tree crevices, particularly behind exfoliating bark.

5. Unidentified Myotis bat – a few calls, not many but we know the Bechstein’s are not that far away.

All the bats followed the same pattern each night so local to you – you have 6 species which is pretty good considering the weather!

I will provide you with a report but it may not be for a while.  It will contain timings for each day and some photos and information about your common bats. 

It would appear that your unmown churchyard is creating insect prey for the bats otherwise they would not be there so it is all positive news."

Denise also put boxes up in Linda's garden where they recorded similar bat species, with greater numbers of Barbastelle and Noctule bats and also one Lesser Horseshore bat.

Let it Bee Links & Resources:

In case you missed it, My Garden of a Thousand Bees, a BBC programme on iPlayer, filmed by a wildlife photographer during lockdown, is well worth a watch. It has amazing photography and is a real insight into the behaviour of many different bee species. His Bee City is also a construction worth copying.

From Herefordshire Meadows after the meeting of 12th March 2026:-

ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Show Your Stripes Day at the University of Reading

ON THE EFFECT OF GLYPHOSATE ON POLLINATORS Glyphosate based herbicides and their impact on bees' health.pdf

JNNC STATE OF POLLINATING INSECTS Pollinating insects | Advisor to Government on Nature Conservation

ON BENEFITS of MEADOWS  The-Good-meadow-guide-Plantlife.pdf

ON NATURE FRIENDLY GARDENS Wilding Gardens

ON BENEFITS of WEEDS Research demonstrates high value 'injurious weeds' can bring to pollinators

DATABASE OF POLLINATOR INTERACTIONS DoPI: The Database of Pollinator Interactions

ON RAGWORT  Ragwort.pdf

PLANTS FOR SPECIALIST BEES  Top 10 garden plants for specialist bees / RHS Gardening

RECOMMENDED PLANT SUPPLIERS     Rosybee - plants for bees                                       Bee Happy Plants

Wildflower Plugs Gloucestershire | Herefordshire | Ecohab Wildflowers

ON OPEN POLLINATED SEEDS Welcome - Open Pollinated Seeds                                      Real Seeds.

HEREFORDSHIRE MEDOWS  Action for Red List species – Big Give

NO MOW MAY Plantlife's No Mow May Movement

Contact us on: info@herefordshiremeadows.org.uk 

March 2026 - CRADLEY BEE VILLAGE

WHY BEES LOVES HEDGES

We are coming to the time of year when hedges start to bloom. This is most important for our pollinators as there are relatively few other sources of nectar and pollen in early spring. The Prunus species are the earliest to flower. They typically have Fine five petalled white flowers, which appear on the branches before the leaves appear. Keep a look out this spring to see which trees flower first and see if you can spot the insects feeding on them.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) typically flowers in early spring. While peak flowering is between March and April, it is sometimes as early as February in milder conditions. The flowers serve as a vital early nectar source for bees. They sometimes last as long as May. Blackthorn is easily identified by its long (3cm) thorns that give it the Latin name spinosa.

Wild damson (Prunus domestica subspecies insititia) has traditionally been a very popular hedge plant in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. It typically flowers in early to mid-spring, primarily during April. 

Wild plum (Prunus domestica) typically flowers in early to mid-spring, with blooms appearing between March and May, usually peaking in April.  The white or white-to-pink blossoms emerge around the same time as the leaves, often appearing before many other trees in the hedgerows. 

Hawthorn (Crataegus), known as ‘May-tree’, typically flower in May, often lasting into early June. They produce clusters of fragrant, creamy-white (sometimes pink-red) blossoms after their leaves have emerged. The exact timing can vary, with flowering sometimes beginning in April or extending to mid-June depending on spring temperatures. The flowers have a distinct, slightly sweet, or almond smell.

If you are thinking of creating a boundary in your garden, rather than erect a fence, consider planting a native hedge. Not only will it support pollinators, but it will create shelter for small mammals, nesting sites for birds, enable hedgehogs to move freely, create a barrier against the wind, and look lovely! A good place to source hedging plants is The Woodland Trust which sells hedge mixes at subsidised rates on its website shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/hedge-mixes

Patrick F

HOMES FOR WILDLIFE

MASON BEES Cradley Wild is working with Di H to encourage mason bees into our gardens and public spaces. As part of this, we are making and distributing mason bee houses. If you would like one (cost £20) and to find out more about the project, email cradleywild@cradley.org.uk (but as at early March 2026 most bees have already flown)

SWIFTS We are also aiming to attract more swifts to the village by erecting swift boxes in suitable places. If you have a tall building that could accommodate one (the cost should be around £25) and are happy to give these amazing birds a home, drop us a line at cradleywild@cradley.org.uk

February 2026 - LET’S MAKE CRADLEY A BEE VILLAGE!

Continuing our campaign to encourage pollinators in Cradley, we look at one simple way to help our buzzing friends.

PLANT A TREE

It’s not just patches of wildflowers and brimming borders that attract pollinators, trees do, too. As bee ecologist Professor Dave Goulson points out: ‘We tend to think the best habitats are flowering meadows. But the area of meadow that would fit under a lime tree in blossom would support far, far fewer bees.’ With that in mind, here are five suggestions for trees that are the perfect size for gardens and will attract bees and other pollinators. Now is a good time to plant one when trees are dormant.

1. Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo): flowers from September to November so is an important source of nectar for bumblebees before they hibernate. Height: 4-8m.

2. Pear (Pyris communis): pretty spring blossom attracts a range of insects including honeybees, solitary bees and bumblebees. Height: 12m.

3. Small leaved lime (Tilia cordata): produces a lot of nectar when it flowers mid-June to July, which coincides with the peak activity honeybees and bumblebees. Height: 25m but can be kept compact with pruning.

4. Goat (pussy) willow (Salix caprea): flowers in March and is visited by many bees. The flowers) are a lovely sight at the end of winter – the male flowers develop into catkins. Height: 9m.

5. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): an early flowerer and a refuelling stop for honeybees, solitary bees and bumblebees. Height: 10m.

Have you already planted a bee-friendly tree? Let us know at cradleybeevillage@gmail.com.

This is an edited extract from The Garden, the magazine of the RHS.

SWIFTS, A SUMMER WONDER

Swifts are amazing birds. They live almost their entire life in the air, drinking, sleeping, mating and gathering nesting materials on the wing. Once fledged, they remain airborne for up to four years before touching land for the first time to nest and breed. In a single lifetime, one swift can cover 12,6000 miles flying between Africa and the UK to breed in the same place every year. Which is where we come in…

In Cradley we are lucky that a few swifts do return every year to nest, but we are keen to encourage more. Swifts are in real danger as modern homes no longer have the cracks gaps and crevices which offer nesting spaces. Older buildings are repaired without thought of the birds or are demolished. All of which means that their numbers have declined by two thirds in less than 30 years.

Inspired by the TV programme Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles (watch it on BBC iplayer, summer episode, 43mins 55 secs) where one street in Leeds increased the number of Swifts from three in 2012 to over 40 by 2025, we want to do something similar in Cradley. The Leeds residents put up swift boxes which included a swift caller in some to attract their first residents. Swifts are sociable birds and like to nest close to each other, so one box attracted several.

Are you willing to help Cradley Wild return more swifts to our skies? It would mean installing a swift box under the eaves of your house and making a small contribution towards the cost of the box, caller and installation. The caller would play for a couple of hours a day, morning and evening, from May to July. Once the box has been adopted, the bird will return every year and the caller no longer needed. Your reward will be helping these fascinating and mysterious to maintain their extraordinary aerial existence and continue to sweep above us every summer.

If you would like to help swifts, email Cradley Wild at Cradleywild@cradley.org.uk

Linda B

TREE OF THE MONTH: Hornbeam

Many people know Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) as a hedge plant. It is similar but not as tenacious as Beech in holding its leaves in winter, but more tolerant of moist (wet) ground. This is a useful quality with our Herefordshire clays and the increase in the intensity of rain due to climate change.

HOW TO IDENTIFIY IT: Hornbeam can grow up to 30m and live for more than 300 years. It is identified by its oval leaves (similar shape to Beech,) with serrated edges and deep veins. Left to grow as a tree (rather than a hedge,) it has a fluted and twisted trunk with a pale grey bark. Its green winged fruits ‘samaras’ grow in clusters from the female catkins once they have been wind pollinated. Hornbeam also grows well as an understory tree particularly in Oak woods.

GOOD FOR WILDLIFE? As Hornbeam keeps its leaves all year round, it is as an important habitat for birds providing food and shelter for blackbirds and hawfinches. Squirrels, mice and voles feed on the nuts and insects including the hornbeam leaf-curling aphid, depend on it and in turn provide food for birds.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS? Hornbeam is the hardest European hardwood tree and gets its name from ‘horn’ for strength and the early English word ‘beam’ (or ‘baum’) for tree. It was disliked by carpenters because it rapidly blunted their tools. In the US, it is also called Ironwood because of this. Until the 19th century, it was used instead of iron to make screws, nails and dowels.

In folklore, the hornbeam is a symbol of strength. A tonic made from hornbeam was said to relieve tiredness and its leaves were used to stop bleeding and heal wounds.

Patrick F

A WORD ABOUT MOLEHILLS

For the last year or so, members of Cradley Wild have been raking the molehills in Chapel Lane playground as a natural alternative to the Parish Council employing a mole catcher. More volunteers to help with this satisfying and not that onerous task would be very welcome and help spread the workload. If interested, please email cradleywild@cradley.org.uk

JANUARY CMS NEWSLETTER: LET’S MAKE CRADLEY A BEE VILLAGE

Imagine if Cradley was known as the village that cared for nature… Where pollinators thrived and gardens bloomed with flowers and buzzed with bees! We have already made a great start with last year’s Planters for Pollinators campaign, which Cradley Wild ran with Cradley WI, and which saw 110 pollinator-friendly containers planted up around the village. Now we want to continue that momentum and make Cradley a Bee Village. This will be a proper community campaign, so we are calling on residents to pitch in and take part.

The Big Idea

You are probably aware that bee population numbers are in serious decline. As bees and other pollinators pollinate around 90% of wild plants and 75% of food crops, this is a calamity that affects all of us. For 2026, our aim is to work with Cradley residents and community groups on various bee-friendly initiatives to boost bee numbers. We hope to record this to see what difference we have made.

How you can help

If turning Cradley into a Bee Village is something you would like to be involved in, let us know by signing up to be a Bee Villager at cradleybeevillage@gmail.com. This is to express your interest and to say that you are open to planting bee-friendly plants and not using pesticides, so not onerous! See various other ideas for involvement, below. Our plans are still at an early stage, and we would welcome input from any individuals or groups.

Ideas so far include:

* Creating ‘mini meadows’ and drifts of bee-friendly plants throughout the village. These would include the pots and containers from last year’s Planters for Pollinators campaign, as well as patches of wildflower planting in gardens.

* Swapping wildflower seeds. Any residents who have species-rich meadows to harvest small amounts of seed to give to people creating their own mini meadow.

* Turning a verge into a wildflower area.

* Making and erecting more solitary bee set-ups throughout the village.

* Asking people to commit to no pesticides in their garden.

* Holding busy bee craft events with children to raise awareness of bees and pollinators.

KNOW YOUR BEES

To kickstart the campaign, here is quick guide to our pollinating friends. There are approximately 255 different species of bee in the UK: 1 honey bee, 24 bumble bees (including the Common carder bumblebee) and over 230 solitary bees.

Honey Bees

In the UK we have just one type of honey bee (Apis mellifera).  It’s a domesticated species introduced by beekeepers.  They are commonly found feeding on open flowers that they can easily reach with their short tongues.

Bumble Bees

There are 24 types of bumble bee in the UK. They are a social species and live in colonies of around 200 bees. They like gardens, parks and open woodland and favour comfrey, bramble, fruit trees and fuchsia. Tree bumble bees are one of our most common species and are the ones most likely to colonise old nest boxes. Each type of bumble bee will have different preferences but thistles, birds-foot trefoil, black thorn, gorse, dead nettle, bluebells, clover, knapweed, scabious, dandelion and buddleia will attract one variety or another.

To find out more about bumble bees, come to a talk by Dr Richard Cormont from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust at the Village Hall on 11 June at 7pm.

Solitary Bees

Around 90% of our bee population are solitary bees – a huge group including mason bees, mining bees and leaf cutter bees. These short-lived bees forage for nectar and pollen on apple and pear blossom (they are crucial pollinators), dandelions and flowers such as scabious and daisies, among others.  If you already have a solitary bee set-up (as introduced to the village by Di H), the most likely residents will be the red mason bee (Osmia bicornis).

JESSIE M AND CLARE G

TREE OF THE MONTH: WILD CHERRY

Wild cherry (Prunus Avium,) also known as 'gean', is one of the fastest growing hardwood trees in Britain. While it has a relatively short life of about 60 years, in that time it can grow to 30m tall with a diameter at breast height of up to 1.5m. Like Silver Birch and Pussy Willow it is a ‘pioneer' species that needs light to grow. This means that it will colonise land that has previously been cleared or cultivated, and, being a fast-growing tree ,it is excellent for combating climate change.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IT: The flowers of Wild Cherry are fine, either white or slightly coloured and generally in small clusters of two to six. They have a faintly almond aroma. In mid-spring it is easy to spot Wild Cherry trees in established woodland, as they often set flowers at, or before the time they set leaves, and so stand out as patches of brilliant white in an otherwise grey/green scene. The bark can be easily identified by its slightly reddish polish and the distinctive horizontal bands of lenticels (raised pores) around the trunk. These are characteristic of Wild Cherry as well as garden and fruit growing cultivars. The leaves are seven to 15cm long, oval and pointed, with fine serration on the edges. In autumn, the leaves turn orange, pink or red.

GOOD FOR WILDLIFE? Wild Cherries are a favourite of birds and small mammals and are devoured when ripe. In this way, the seeds are distributed and fertilised. Spring flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees and the cherries are eaten by birds and mammals, such as badgers and mice. The foliage is the main food plant for caterpillars of many species of moth.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS?  Like a lot of the Prunus species, the Wild Cherry will self-propagate by putting up suckers from its roots. Look out for these in woodland, particularly as they trees get towards the end of their life.

Apart from the climate and wildlife benefits of the Wild Cherry, the pinkish brown wood is used for making furniture as solid wood and as veneer. The wood also burns well with a faint wildflower aroma.

The future of Wild Cherry is uncertain, as although it favours a warming climate, it can suffer in drought. It will however continue to be an important tree in mixed woodlands, for its value for wildlife.

PATRICK F