1. Environmental Projects 2012
2012 was a varied year with projects for small mammals, birds and a lot more employee involvement and awareness
through site biodiversity tours and RPL Springwatch. This employee engagement was vital
in
advertising projects to new employees who didn’t know much about what happens behind
the scenes regarding conservation and biodiversity.
The year kicked off with National nest box week on 14th-21st February and Ricoh
volunteers gave up their time to install more nest boxes around site along with numerous
bird feeders. Six volunteers gave up their time on 17th February in order to install the nest
boxes for Robins and Blue Tits around site.
There were numerous projects on and off site involving small mammals in
2012; the first of which was on 27th April. Four volunteers gave up their Friday
in order to venture out to the Wrekin and Ercall forests and survey the
mammal traps which they had laid the previous year.
After this, in June, volunteers gave up their time to join the Lightmoor
community in surveying their small mammals. This was hosted by the
Shropshire Wildlife trust and involved many of Lightmoor’s residents and
students joining them for talks and tours of the beautiful natural area around
th
them. In the evening on the 9 seven volunteers ventured out in the dark to
check the mammal traps for any evidence of habitation. This was repeated
first thing in the morning on 10th as many of the small mammals are
nocturnal.
2012 hosted an array of on-site opportunities for employees to learn more
about what animals have made their home here at RPL. In May, 6 volunteers
took part in a site tour in order to check the small mammal boxes that were
placed last year. This provided surprising results as we found many species
of voles, mice and shrews including the endangered pygmy shrew.
In June we also hosted three “RPL Springwatch” tours of site to show
employees what is around and what we have been doing over the past few
years in regards to wildlife and conservation. There was a great turn up for
this with three tours hosting around 35 employees overall.
As recognition for all our hard work, Environment officer,
Andy Whyle, was invited to celebrate the 100th Centenary of
the Wildlife Trust alongside the Shropshire Wildlife trust in
London. The event was hosted at the Museum of Natural
History and there were guest appearances from legends such
as Bill Oddie, David Attenborough and Aubrey Manning.