Welcome Supporters to our July newsletter.
We’re keeping our news brief this month and focusing on our engagement events. Hopefully we will catch up with many of you in person at one of our events over the summer. We will be spending some time planning our next steps in light of recent council decisions and the options review for Danes Moss North. We will be back in September with more news.
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill
- FREE Family Event: Discover the Wildlife of Danes Moss North (3 August)
- Species of the month: Essex Skipper Butterfly
- Engagement roundup
- Upcoming events & activities
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Thank-you to all of you who made contact with your MP or the House of Lords regarding the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Politicians need to understand the depth of public support for our natural environment, and we deeply appreciate your efforts. Part 3 of this bill will weaken or remove many protections for wildlife, and will give developers an option to pay a levy that will exempt them from most environmental regulations and legislation.
The bill has had its second reading in the House of Lords and peers have recommended numerous amendments – especially to Part 3. At the moment we don’t know how many of these will be accepted by the government, but it is clear that protections for wildlife and habitats will be weaker than the current situation.
When it comes into force, this bill could have a deeply negative effect on landscapes and habitats around Macclesfield, and we continue to monitor its progress through the parliamentary process.
FREE Family Event: Discover the Wildlife of Danes Moss North, Sunday 3 August, 10.30-13.00
Booking required at this link here.
Join us to learn simple sweep netting and tree beating techniques to collect and record wildlife on the Moss. Equipment and instruction provided, there will be an ID station with experienced volunteers to help you identify and record all finds and share ideas for wildlife apps and resources that can help grow your knowledge.
Recording the flora and fauna of Danes Moss is a great way to support Danes Moss by contributing to our growing knowledge about the site and help us understand how to support its biodiversity to thrive.
This event is suitable for anyone with an interest in wildlife. Children over 4 years old and all under 18-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. Please book in advance at the link above as places are limited.
Engagement roundup
Our regular engagement events are an incredibly important part of what we do. They provide us with the opportunity to update you about our activities and what action you can take, to hear from people about why they care about Danes Moss North and tell new people all about the importance of the site and our campaign. And we have fun while we are doing it, providing nature related kids activities and the ever popular (biodegradable) glitter tattoos for children and adults!
We are very grateful to be invited to take part in so many local events. It wouldn’t be possible without our many dedicated volunteers who bring their time, energy and knowledge to the events – a massive thank-you to all of you for your support!
In July, alongside our regular Treacle Market we joined the march at Macclesfield Pride on 5 July and offered free kids activities and glitter tattoos on the stall. All the volunteers in the march and on the stall had a great day. It was brilliant to speak to so many supporters, including the BAFTA winning actress Jessica Gunning who was happy to signal her support for the campaign! We rounded off the weekend with Sunday at Langley Fete, yet another opportunity to tell children and adults all about the wildlife on Danes Moss.
Species of the month: Essex Skipper Butterfly
This month we are highlighting Essex Skipper, the picture above was taken on Danes Moss North earlier in July this year. It is a special sighting at it is now the 25th butterfly species we have recorded on the whole of Danes Moss and nearly all of them have been found on Danes Moss North. There are only approximately 28 butterfly species found in the whole of Cheshire and so this further highlights how Danes Moss is a jewel in the biodiversity of Cheshire.
It is a tricky one to ID as it is very similar to the Small Skipper. The easiest way to tell the difference is to get a good view of the antenna tips like in the photo above, all black tips are found on Essex Skipper whereas the Small Skipper has orange tips!
While not a rare species in the UK it has started spreading from the south west in recent decades due to climate change. It is a species that is now starting to be recorded in Cheshire although it still appears to be fairly uncommon in Cheshire East.
Insects are much more sensitive to climate change and we have recorded a number of recent colonists on the moss. here is an interesting article on garden wildlife and the climate crisis.
Events & activities coming up in July, August and September
Plenty still going on in July and August, including our family event on Danes Moss!
- Sunday 27 July & Sunday 31 August, 10-15.30 our monthly stall at Treacle Market in St Michael’s Churchyard. Come join us for a chat, free children’s activities and glitter tattoos.
- Sunday 3 August, 10.30-13.00: Discover the Wildlife of Danes Moss North – free family event. Booking here.
- Saturday 23 August, 1261 Festival & Parade Day, more information on the event here.
