As the days get longer we can start to make the most of the lighter mornings and early evenings and feel the warmth of the sun on our skin. Wildlife is also responding to this increase in natural daylight and warming temperatures, encouraging animals to pair up and prepare a safe space to raise their young. Read more
Madeleine is a Site Guardian at College and Argal Lakes, and is also completing a work experience placement with both South West Lakes and Cornwall Reptile and Amphibian Group (CRAG). Read an account of her experiences. Read more
Our ecologist discusses some successful harvest mice discoveries around the south west over the winter of 2020 - 21. Read more
Since my last blog on dormice in 2019, we have confirmed another site to have dormice present – this time at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor. This new site comes with a lovely story. Read more
Arriving at Wimbleball Lake’s breathtaking shores by way of the stormy cliffs of Lundy Island, my name is Nick Herbert and I love what I do. Leading a team who share my passion for conservation, I look after the Exmoor reservoirs of Wimbleball and Wistlandpound with an ever changing array of long and short term projects. Read more
When you’re lucky enough to volunteer for SWLT, you have enviable access to some free training opportunities, one being the harvest mouse survey training in late February. On a cold and wet day, a room of volunteers from different sites across the Trust enjoyed the view over Roadford Lake while being taught by Sarah, from Devon Mammal Trust. Read more
Much of my role as Invasive Species Officer at South West Lakes Trust involves engaging with visitors to our lakes, volunteers, colleagues and fellow scientists, and finding ways to help control the spread and minimise the impacts of invasive species. Read more
We have held two dormouse surveys this year at Roadford: one in May and another in September. We have been doing this since 2005 and each year it becomes more fascinating. Read more
For me, early autumn mornings are best. It’s a chance to feel the colder air, breathe in the damp mists, see the dew on spiders’ webs and witness seeds and fruits, full of harvested summer sun, slowly turn sweet and ripen, while above, house martins and swallows circle, gorging the last insects, before heading off to Africa. Read more