FRIENDS OF ANDERTON AND MARBURY (FOAM) - THE FRIENDS OF ANDERTON ...
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Friends of Anderton and Marbury
(FoAM)
Keep Safe, Keep Distance When You Visit The Woodlands
Enjoy the Winter Silhouettes; Look Forward to Spring
From the Chair
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death Just over a year ago, we planted 20 Ulmus New
of Liz Bentham on 3rd January 2021. Liz was a Horizon elm trees in two lines adjacent to Marbury
volunteer in the Northwich Woodlands for around 19 Lane, to mark the first 20 years of FoAM’s existence.
years and was an early member of FoAM. She will be
missed by all the volunteers, FoAM members, dog Many elm trees are being lost to Dutch Elm disease
walkers and those who knew her from her work at and the Ulmus New Horizon variety of elm were
FoAM’s Moth events. chosen as they are resistant to the disease. These
disease resistant trees will provide an important
Together with Liz’s husband Howard, we look forward habitat to enable white-letter hairstreak butterflies to
to being able to hold a fitting celebration of her life thrive in the Woodlands
once conditions allow at Marbury.
The trees have taken well and the area round them
On a more positive note, I am delighted to be able to has been cleared and fencing removed. We are
report that Adrian Gibson has once again agreed to looking forward to this elm avenue maturing and
make a generous donation of bird food to keep the becoming another attractive feature of the Woodlands.
feeders at the Mere and Woodland Hides topped up
with seed and peanuts. The pandemic has prevented FoAM from holding any
events apart from our Photographic Competition. Well
You can purchase bird food for your own garden and done to Jim Jeeves for managing to continue with the
your other pet supplies from W & T Gibson Ltd and Competition by arranging for entries to be submitted
The Mill House Café, at Mill Lane, Kingsley. electronically.
I am also pleased to let you know that the Marbury Thank you also to Andy Harmer, Nick Jones and
Ward Councillors agreed our request to fund the Simon Davies, for giving up their time to carry out the
purchase of two rechargeable hedge trimmers, which judging. We now await the results of their
volunteers can use to trim back along the edges of deliberations!
paths to keep them clear.
The Woodlands are under tremendous pressure both
Our thanks to our Ward Councillors Norman Wright, from the weather and from an unprecedented number
Lynn Gibbon and Phil Marshall for their continued of visitors, particularly at weekends. Please do your
support and for making this grant from their Members’ bit to help by parking responsibly, keeping to
Budgets. footpaths, not leaving litter and clearing up your dogs’
mess. In this way, you can help make visiting the
When conditions allow, volunteers are looking forward Woodlands an enjoyable experience for everyone.
to meeting with our Ward Councillors to thank them.
Finally, please keep yourself and others safe by
Many thanks also to David Hewitt of Thor Specialities following the social distancing guidelines.
(UK) Ltd in Wincham, who kindly donated a supply of
hand sanitiser for use by volunteers at Marbury. Alan Redley
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
Winter Wildlife in the Woodlands
It is this time of year, to coincide with the RSPB’s Big was the great attraction on Ashton’s Flash. Also
Garden Bird Watch, that FoAM would normally be recorded were dipper, spoonbill, cattle egret and
running the winter Bird Walk in the Woodlands. Sadly, firecrest – the latter still seen in December.
it is an early event in the year that is not possible
because of Covid-19. We know that because of the David Bedford was also able to report the sighting of
restrictions of the lockdown more people than usual an otter on the Mere – a first for Marbury. Our fungi
have been visiting the Woodlands, particularly afficionados will have had a field day over the last few
Marbury and the Flashes, and will have been making months with the weather favouring the appearance of
their own walks and observing the winter wildlife. a huge variety, including the very pretty elf cap – also
reported in the BBC Winterwatch. It is a fact that in
Our regular wildlife enthusiasts report that 150 species the Northwich Woodlands, with its wide ranging,
were recorded in 2020 including some very interesting different habitats, we could see much of the wildlife
sightings. Early in the year the Siberian Stone Chat featuring in Winterwatch. Though not beavers – as yet!
RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch
Everybody is invited to take part in The Big Garden You can submit your results online, at
Bird Watch, by choosing to watch for one hour at any rspb.org.uk/birdwatch from 29 January until 19
time between the dates 29th – 31st January. The idea February. Or if you’d rather send your results by post,
is to count the birds you see in your garden, but you can download a submission form from the RSPB
ignoring any birds that are still in flight. To avoid website, and post them before the 15 February.
double counting you just record the highest number of
each bird species you see at any one time – not a Every count is important, so if you don’t see anything,
running total. the RSPB would still like you to submit your result.
Finding out which birds don’t visit your area is as
The RSPB are advising taking part in the safety of your important as understanding those which do!
own home and it could include a birdwatch from your
window if you overlook a green space or a courtyard. In the resources section on the website is a selection
of printable posters and a bird identification chart to
help you.
This is the chart that you can download from the
website on A4.
One of FoAM’s regular events at this time of year
would have been Home for Wildlife with the
opportunity to make and take away a nest box or a bug
home. As this is not possible, here is a plan with
measurements for a nest box.
Your Newsletter
We welcome comments, ideas, photos and articles for inclusion in future issues of the Newsletter. Email items to
Joanne Redley at jarhillcliffe223@aol.com or hand them in at the Rangers’ Cabin marked for the attention of Joanne.
Items deadline for the Spring Issue: Friday 9th April.
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
Ranger News
A tragic start to the year losing Liz Bentham. Liz was don’t grow back. We will keep the large mature Willow
a regular volunteer, and we had been working together as they are a very attractive landscape feature.
for I think 19 years. Her love of the natural world
spilled over into all her hobbies, including painting, for Scrub bashing is on Ashton’s and at Carey Park so no
which she won WI firsts at the Cheshire Show; real change there then. Both habitats benefit from
photography - again a prize winner with FoAM; fab at having the trees removed, as they cast too much
identifying wildflowers, and of course the key person shade to the detriment of other species including the
for running the trap and identifying the moths caught moths, butterflies, and of course the various flowers.
at Marbury for over 17 years. A lovely lady who will be In the case of the reed beds, we want them to be
greatly missed by all who knew her. dominated by reed.
We do have a problem with the blocked field drains at
Marbury; this is certainly something I need to sort out
before Spring. Again, this is something a contractor
will have to help with as it will mean digging up
footpaths and laying new pipes through Big Wood.
The raised water levels are beginning to have an effect
on the health of some of the trees so it’s a bit of a
priority.
I’m very aware this year that our visitor numbers are
way above normal. Up until tier four lockdown the park
was incredibly busy, especially at weekends. I am well
aware, as are those above me in the Department, that
the car park at Marbury and the driveway are in a state
of very poor repair. The car park surfacing is, I believe,
Covid has stopped all volunteering for the foreseeable well below what’s needed for such a popular park. I
future and I’m really not sure when people will be able know those above are busy fighting for additional
to return. The only advantage is that most of the resources to help with this situation, so fingers crossed
volunteers will be in the queue for the vaccine before we are able to do something in 2021.
me! So, hopefully, somewhere near normal by … ?
Insert your own date please! The winter weather and the demand for spaces has
encouraged people to park alongside the driveway
This lack of volunteers at this time of the year means I along Marbury Lane and anywhere they could park a
am unable to reach the scrub bashing or reed cutting car. This has left the verges in a mess. They will
targets. Think of all those nice cold days cutting, recover, but unfortunately will look unsightly until we
strimming, dragging, burning. As a result, I have get into Spring.
asked for quotes from a couple of contractors, which I
know will be expensive. The area I am targeting for Cheers for now
the reed cutting will be the stretch alongside Witton
Brook, which has become slightly infested with Willow. Dave J
This will be removed and treated so, in theory, they
The Elm Tree Avenue We’re Missing You Dave!
Observing the elm trees on a recent walk it was Volunteers are looking forward to the time when they
noticeable how they were standing out after the will be able to come back to work!
clearance of scrub and hedging around them.
Scrub clearance in January 2020 before lockdown
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
Liz Bentham
We were all shocked and saddened to hear that FoAM member and volunteer Liz Bentham had passed away on 3rd
January.
Many regular visitors to Marbury will have known Liz, if not by name, but by seeing her walking with her dog, through
her involvement in and invaluable contribution to FoAM events, most memorably as ‘the moth lady’ who ran the moth
trap at Marbury, and for her fantastic knowledge and meticulous recording of moths.
FoAM’s annual Breakfast With Moths Event provided an opportunity for Liz to open the trap for interested members
of the public to see the variety and beauty of moths captured on just one night in the park. This event regularly
attracted families and gave their children the opportunity of seeing moths at close quarters for the first time.
Liz with Dave James and David Bedford Liz with volunteers building the bird hide Liz loading charcoal bags
Following Rupert Adams’ post on the Moth Forum, he received a message from Steve Hind, one of the country’s
leading moth experts, which we quote below.
“I was sorry to hear about the death of Liz Bentham, although she was probably one of the few county moth-ers I
never got the opportunity to meet. She produced a significant amount of moth data over the past 17 years, almost
50,000 records, an incredible and unique set of data from Marbury which has added greatly to our knowledge of
the status of moths in that area. I hope she got to see the results of her labours with publications of her records in
the recent national moth atlas and county tetrad atlas, as well as mention of some of her important discoveries in
our annual reports.”
Here are some of Liz’s beautiful photos which she entered in FoAM’s Photo Competitions.
lime hawk moth angle shade moth large emerald moth fungus
It would be remiss not to mention that opening the trap on the 10 th August
2020 must have been a very exciting day for Liz as it contained a totally
unexpected moth, which she identified as a Beautiful Marbled moth.
This very attractive species occurs in mainland Europe and was first noted
in Britain when an individual was trapped at Portland in Dorset, in August
2004. Subsequent investigation revealed that a number had appeared
along the south coast around this time, some predating the initial record,
and in fact a hitherto misidentified specimen was unearthed from 2001.
This species has never been found north of the South Coast before and is beautiful marbled moth
a remarkable record for Liz and for Cheshire.
As members of FoAM, and volunteers, we will greatly miss seeing Liz at Marbury for her knowledge and her quiet,
unassuming and friendly manner. Volunteers will always remember her legendary crispy cake. This was much
looked forward to and enjoyed when we returned to the cabin after a morning’s work. Liz generously made this crispy
cake every week for us to enjoy. How many thousands of pieces would that have been over the years?
Alan and Joanne Redley
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
Weather
Water, Water Everywhere
Northwich did not escape the fury of Storm Christoph and the town centre saw major flooding. Many areas in the
Woodlands also suffered from the heavy deluge and the overflowing Rivers Weaver and Dane.
Snow – A Winter Wonderland?
Not satisfied with deluging us with continuous rain, just a few days later the North West had an intense morning of
snow sufficient to cover trees, roofs and ground, still lingering to provide more photo opportunities for those willing
to venture out.
With many thanks to Graham Walker and Chris Reiki for letting us include these great photos.
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
Starling Murmurations
Starling murmurations are still one of the most Sometimes, when the reeds on the Mere are flattened,
wondrous sights of late autumn and early winter and the murmuration moves to Neumann’s Flash. There
feature in many wildlife programmes. We are were some spectacular displays in late November,
extremely fortunate to have our own murmurations in and early December, late afternoon just before dusk.
the Northwich Woodlands, which can be viewed over
Budworth Mere from the Mere bird hide or path Keen watchers out early in the morning also caught
nearby, when the birds fly in to roost in the Coward the birds flying out of their roost in the reed beds.
Reed Bed.
Other Wildlife Discoveries
As Dave has reported, the Woodlands have continued capture on smart phones, there are some beautiful
to provide the open spaces that people have sought species at ground level which lend themselves to
out during the restrictions of the lockdown. In close observation and photography.
particular Marbury and Witton Mill Car Parks have
been filled to breaking point. The recent weather conditions have led to an
abundance of differing fungi. Here are some to be
There will be many visitors new to the different spotted on a general walk, looking carefully. Again, a
habitats. Whilst moving wildlife may not be easy to thank you to Chris Reiki for these photos.
.
Yellow brain fungus washed from Pigskin puff ball White saddle at Ashon’s Flash
trees at Hopyards
Scarlet elf caps fruiting on the woodland floor
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
FoAM Photographic Competitions
FoAM’s first Photo Competition was in 2006 and we We are now attracting a wider spectrum of people
have been running the competition biennially since entering, using smart phones as well as sophisticated
then. There has been only a slight variation in the equipment. Composition skill is now as important as
original categories; we now judge Wildlife Fauna and technical skill.
Wildlife Flora as two separate categories.
Following the judging of entries, we have held
Looking at photos from all the competitions, it is exhibitions at Comberbach Memorial Hall, open to the
interesting to see how well the older ones have aged public, of all the photos entered. We are not entirely
and the standard was as good then as it is now. Many ruling out this possibility, perhaps later in the year, for
were then done on film and developed later rather than the 2020 photos.
instantly as with the digital cameras today.
Here is a selection of photos from previous
competitions
Photographic Competition 2020
The last date for entering the Photographic Competition has now passed.
We were a little dubious about continuing with the event, but the response has been overwhelming. 58 photographers
entered with 176 actual entries. Numbers are well up from previous years. Comments seem to show that people
enjoyed having an incentive to enjoy different aspects of the park, and they also found it a way of showing their
appreciation of the work done by Dave and the volunteers in keeping it functioning.
We now have to move to the judging of the photographs, which will have to be done using an electronic computer
system. We are lucky to have judges with experience of using online services as well as being knowledgeable about
the categories covered by the competition. It is tremendous that they have offered once again to be involved. I think
they have a hard task ahead of them; the standard looks very high to my inexperienced eyes.
It seems most likely that exhibiting of the entries will have to be done online. Graham Walker is kindly developing a
method to facilitate this so that it is available via the internet.
In a difficult year, to say the least, it is heartening to feel that the photo competition has salvaged something
worthwhile from the 2020 programme of events during the COVID-19 crisis.
Jim Jeeves
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
The Well Heeled Dog Club:
Q&As about dog training
Fun things to do with your dog during lockdown
We’re all feeling frustrated now that we’re back in lockdown but at least we understand why we can’t do the things
we’d like to…Unfortunately though, we can’t explain that to our dogs. Unless we keep them stimulated and happy,
they will start to feel confused and depressed, so now’s the time to teach them some new (or old) tricks.
5 TRICKS TO WORK ON WITH YOUR DOG IN 2021
Get the new year off to a positive start and take time Progress by encouraging the dog to lie down. Ask
to teach your dog a trick. It’s is a great way to have them to ‘Wait”, place a treat on the back of each paw,
fun, build a strong bond, stimulate their mind and also and encourage them to wait until you release them to
tire them out. What’s more, engaging in tricks with eat by using the release word “Ok”.
your dog is a great step in helping them to become
more obedient and responsive to your commands. 3. “On your bed.” This is both a verbal and visual
game. Use the words “On your bed” and point to the
Start off simple, work your way up to more complex desired location. If they need a little encouragement,
skills and be persistent. There’s certainly no such thing small treats will work well to get them in the flow of
as you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Here are five following the right directions.
fun things to work on.
Once they get the idea of going to bed when
1. Give the words “Find it” a meaning. This could instructed, then tell them to do so when you’re about
be attributed to the dog’s favourite ball or toy, or any to eat your meal. The promise to the dog is, that if they
object you choose – even your car keys! sit and wait on their bed until you’ve finished eating,
then you will save them a bit of leftovers when you’ve
Start by getting the dog to sit and watch, while you put finished your meal. Imagine how impressed your
a treat out of range and just out of sight. Stand by the dinner guests will be when you invite them round for
dog, let him smell your hand, wave your hand towards dinner when lockdown is lifted.
the treat, release and say “Find it”. Be patient and
allow the dog time to search for the treat. When they 4. “Paw or High Five.” This trick is a nice way to
find it praise enthusiastically and repeat. Increase reward your dog for being calm and focussing on you.
distance and difficulty gradually. Start off by encouraging the dog to sit, hold a treat in
one hand and signal their paw with the other. Once
they understand that holding out a hand for their paw
means ‘touch’ or ‘high-five’, treat them. Add the verbal
cue “Paw” once they know what’s required.
Once your dog understands that they have to go and
find whatever they can smell on your hands then you
can swap a treat for a ball, your car keys or anything
else you choose to hide.
2. Wait for food, until they hear “Ok.” When you 5. “The roundabout game.” The aim of this trick is for
rustle up their dinner, place the bowl on the floor and your dog to successfully circle you. Start off with a treat
ask them to “Wait”. Maintain the stay for varying in one hand and your dog by your side. Encourage
amounts of time and if they break, then try again. If them to follow the treat in the direction around your
necessary put them on lead so that you can physically body until they are back to where they started. Praise,
control them. This is a fun game that can be treat and repeat.
incorporated into mealtimes.
Build this up so they circle you while you’re walking
forward, then progress so that you’re luring them to do
figures of eight around your legs…Impressive!!
For more tips and tricks then check out the short
training videos on my Instagram@whdogclub.
If you’ve got a question you’d like me to cover, please
email: mike@thedogclub.co.uk
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www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: foam@merseyforest.org.uk
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