LEADING wildlife experts descended on Warrington’s Paddington Meadows to lead the most in-depth survey of every species they could find living on the meadows and nearby New Cut Trail.
They found an incredible range of creatures who have made their home in this unique environment.
Inspired by TV`s Chris Packham, the event was part of the national “BioBlitz” programme and it got off to a great start with two bank voles, an increasingly rare species being trapped and released.
The day progressed well starting at the bottom of the food chain with 39 different species of insects, moths, butterflies and dragon flies being identified and then a total of 43 differing species of birds sighted.
Volunteers from the New Cut Trail team served bacon and sausage sandwiches to the experts who then pressed on with a plant survey which yielded 102 differing species – an increase of 49 over the same day last year.
The day was rounded off with an evening bat survey when there were 34 sightings of three different species.
New Cut Trail spokeswoman Anne Price said: “To attract experts from Manchester, Chester, Lancashire and across Merseyside all on the same day for this event demonstrates how important these meadows are to wildlife and to record how nature has re-colonised the former industrialised areas of the New Cut it was a great result for all the team’s efforts”.
The rare and tiny Bank Vole
Wildlife experts find incredible range of creatures on Paddington Meadows
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