Lindsey Wakefield local naturalist and BCA trustee writes about the blue tit

As I write, I'm scanning the garden through binoculars, and surprised to find several Blue Tits not wearing the small metal leg bands fitted under the British Trust for Ornithology Ringing Scheme. You may wonder why this is surprising since the majority of Buxton's Blue Tits are metal free, but given we have ringed over 50 Blue Tits in our garden since my eldest son received his Ringing License in October, isn't it amazing that new ones still flood in?

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The blue tit

How to take part and why it is important.

Big Garden Birdwatch Buxton
27-29 January 2023

700,000 people took part in RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, counting over 11 million birds, and adding to four decades of data that give a unique insight into changes in our garden bird species.

Whilst this data is an invaluable record of national and regional trends, we hope to build a picture of Buxton's birds by gathering your local counts.

Enjoy watching and counting garden birds for just one hour this weekend and become part of the world's biggest wildlife survey.

Help us build a better picture of Buxton's birds by adding results to a simple online form:

tinyurl.com/garden-birdwatch-buxton (see link below)

It's really important to also send your results to the RSPB by signing up via their website:

rspb.org.uk/birdwatch (see link below)

How to take part

The count takes place during an hour of your choosing from 27 to 29 January 2022. Note down the maximum of each species seen at any one time in your garden during the hour.

Increase your chances of seeing birds by hanging feeders in your garden, and offering favoured food such as sunflower hearts, suet and peanuts.

Why take part?

Many birds have severely declined in recent years, including common species such as House Sparrow and Starling. By keeping local records of bird numbers over time, we can target action to help struggling species by creating better habitats and providing nest sites.

Record your observations by clicking on this link

Sign up and send your results to the RPSB website

The Buxtonian is the house journal of Buxton Civic Association and will be published twice a year. The autumn/winter issue will focus on the natural environment of Buxton, while the spring/summer issue will concentrate on the built environment of Buxton.

We hope you enjoy the first issue.

The Buxtonian Vol1 No 1 2023 The Natural Environment

To download a PDF of the Buxtonian click on the link below

Letter to Robert Largan MP from BCA Trustees

Dear BCA Members

I am sending you a copy of an urgent letter that I have sent to our MP Robert Largan on behalf of BCA Trustees.

With all that has happened as a result of the mini budget last week, you might not be aware that the UK Government announced a number of measures that, if implemented, will have an extremely detrimental impact on our ability to protect and enhance wildlife in England. The measures include:
The creation of large "Investment Zones" in which planning and conservation regulations will be largely pushed aside to favour development (Derbyshire County Council has been named as one of 38 local authorities around the country where an Investment Zone could be established).
Using the Retained EU Law Bill to abolish the Habitats Regulations 1994 - the strongest wildlife legislation in the UK that protects the very best wildlife sites and habitats and the most threatened species
Putting on hold of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) and potentially replacing it with old style area-based payments which have been proved to be highly ineffective - the government had been working on this new agri-envorionment incentive scheme with farmers, landowners and conservation bodies for many months and it was being held up as a world leading scheme.

These proposals have prompted an unprecedented level of objection from almost all of the national charities involved in nature conservation including The National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, World Wide Fund for Nature, The Rivers Trust, Plantlife and The Woodland Trust, all of whom are urgently campaigning against these changes.

These proposed changes would make it much harder for BCA to object to or influence proposed developments that might threaten important wildlife sites or species in our area.

As a non-political organisation, we are not seeking to make any party political point here; rather we are standing up for the interests of the natural environment and its wildlife, which otherwise do not have a voice in these matters.

You may already have written to Robert Largan about this issue, but if you have not, Trustees would encourage you to consider doing so.
Please feel free to draw on our letter if that would be helpful.

You might like to see the press release from the CEO of the National Trust - see link below

Further detailed information can be obtained from the RSPB and WILDLIFE TRUSTS - see link below

Yours sincerely


Peter

National Trust Statement

RSPB

WILDLIFE TRUSTS

BCA Letter to Robert Largan

This is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious local charity to manage and preserve Buxton’s community woodlands for nature and for people.

Role details

Job title: Woodland and Country Park Manager
Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
Salary: £27,000 – £33,000 p.a. salary will depend on experience of appointee.
Contract type: Full-time, permanent role
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 5th October 2022

About us

Buxton Civic Association (BCA) is a registered charity established in 1967 to conserve the human and natural environment of Buxton.

We currently manage nine woodlands around Buxton (77ha), including the 40ha Grinlow wood. This SSSI with high quality limestone flora in the glades and industrial archaeology was designated Buxton Country Park in 1970.

All the woods are managed for wildlife conservation, recreation and landscape. They are permanently open to the public.

BCA also own and manage Poole’s Cavern show cave visitor and educational attraction and host Buxton’s Go Ape high wire adventure course at Buxton Country Park.

About the role

As Woodland and Country Park Manager, you will be responsible for managing all our woodlands including Buxton Country Park to benefit wildlife, landscape, and visitors.

The Woodland and Country Park Manager will;

• Review and update management plans for all of our woods
• Produce a work plan and regular reports
• Undertake ecological and woodland survey work with other staff, volunteers and contractors
• Implement the management plans and undertake or supervise practical work to improve the woodland habitat and manage any health and safety issues
• Ensure woodland infrastructure such as paths, steps, walls and gates are maintained
• Liaise with external bodies such as Natural England and the Forestry Commission to gain appropriate permissions for works
• Manage the woodlands budget, including appointing and supervising contractors
• Work with the Stronger Roots Community Engagement Officer to develop the educational and community uses of the woods
• Manage the Conservation Volunteers Group and further develop volunteering opportunities
• Provide a wardening presence in the woods and help resolve issues with different users of the woods
• Be responsible for health and safety across all woodland works, tools and vehicles
• Manage the Woodlands Assistant to achieve the above
• Work closely with and prepare reports for the BCA Woodlands Committee and Woodland Management team
• Be part of BCA’s Senior Management Team

How to apply

Before applying, please read the documents attached to this page;

– Job description (which includes the person specification)
– Background to the BCA woods
– Application form

To apply, please download and complete the application form, and then email it together with your CV to Will.Ward@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk by the deadline of end of the day on Wednesday 5th October 2022.

We anticipate holding interview for the role w/c 17th October.

If you have any questions related to the application process, please email Will.Ward@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

Email Will Ward

Woodland and Country Park Manager job description and person specification

Background to BCA Woods

Application Form (Word Document)

Recruitment prospectus for CEO for BCA

Simon Fussell talks to Alan Walker about his remarkable 35 years at BCA.

After working for BCA for a remarkable 35 years, Alan Walker has retired from his post as Manager of Poole’s Cavern. Interestingly, Alan was just the fifth manager of the Cavern since 1853. He first worked at Poole’s Cavern in 1976 as a schoolboy when he became one of the first cavern tour guides.

In this interview with Simon Fussell, our Communications Manager, Alan reflects upon his time at Poole's Cavern and amongst the BCA woodlands across the past three and a half decades.

The BCA would like to extend their best wishes to Alan for his retirement and future adventures.

Re-establishing ground flora in Woodlands with Dr Eleanor Cohn

Alyson and Steve Phillips tell the story of the Influence of Chatsworth on Grinlow

BCA is looking to recruit a trustee to takeover the role of Treasurer.

BCA Trustee Treasurer description and details

BCA is looking to recruit a trustee with HR experience

BCA HR Trustee description and details