Despite the Beavers stealing all the limelight (and being an incredible community effort and career highlight), the hospital Peregrines were the highlight for me. From everyone cheering them on to succeed on our wonderful new webcam to the summer evenings on Fledgewatch with crowds of excited members gathering on the grass below the nest, a real sense of care, fun and camaraderie!
Sean McCormack, EWG Chair
As project leader for EWG’s Hedgehog Highways project, my highlight for 2023 was hearing first-hand at a residents association meeting about sightings of Hedgehog hoglets in Hanwell gardens. This followed the exciting news that baby Hedgehogs had been born at Framfield Allotments where we recently released some rescued Hedgehogs. These stories really bring home the value of connecting up our gardens and making them more hedgehog and wildlife-friendly.
Gemma Holmes, EWG Projects Coordinator and Hedgehog Highways Project Lead
Starting the biodiversity surveys in Paradise Fields was my highlight for 2023 in finding many species that were new to me. This Large Spearhorn Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) was a lovely find; on checking the Hoverfly Recording Scheme (HRS) records that date back to the 19th century, this was the first time it had ever been recorded in this hectad (the UK is divided up into 10x10km blocks called hectads). This shows how we can all contribute to mapping our wildlife; this record will now be shared with the HRS, National Biodiversity Network and Greenspace Information for Greater London.
Alex Worsey, EWG Biodiversity and Records Management Officer
My highlight for 2023 was the huge amount of conservation effort put in by our amazing volunteers. We were never short of people to help, even as the requests for help have increased across all our projects, particularly the Beavers, where we have amazing people helping virtually every day. The Costons Lane Nature Reserve team have come together too, and are keeping our little reserve going with tireless efforts from Ilyan, Elaine and Martin in particular have been super helpful. Thank you, volunteers!
Fiona McIntyre, EWG Volunteers Officer and Swift Project Leader
The Big Butterfly Count at Paradise Fields with Alex Worsey and Janet Cree in July. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the three of us joined forces to complete two counts in two different locations. It was a gorgeous, peaceful afternoon and we counted at least 10 different butterflies including this beautiful Marbled White. I love the citizen contribution to nature such as the RSPB garden bird count. It’s so easy and flexible and a great way to spend time with friends. The next one is 26-28 January 2024 – I’d encourage you to sign up now! See the events section for how to sign up or join the bird walk and survey in Boston Manor Park.
Sandra Adar, EWG Fundraising Officer
The Beavers stole my heart this year. I started 2023 with being welcomed onto the Leadership Team as the EWG Ecologist and within a month Natural England granted the Beaver license for Paradise Fields, which was at my doorstep! Big thanks to Sean and the rest of the project partners that made the project possible and for welcoming me into the team as a Beaver Coordinator. It was a year-long frenzy of preparing the site, leading volunteer events, conducting baseline ecological surveys, releasing our Beaver family, guiding tours, and monitoring how the Beavers have transformed the landscape since October. This year blurs into happy memories surrounded by a wonderful community of nature enthusiasts that inspire me every day from the big names that supported the project to the dedicated neighbourhood volunteers. I still have to pinch myself that I released baby Beavers with the Mayor of London. This is the year I became a Beaver believer!
Nadya Mirochnitchenko, EWG Ecologist
My wildlife highlight for 2023? I don’t have one! That was until one extremely cold Thursday afternoon in December. Some might say, “That’s not wildlife-related”, but for me, it was 100% EWG-related. In 2023, I began to engage with the EWG community, commenting on Facebook, joining events and applying to be Secretary. Only by getting off the sidelines to get involved in the game through volunteering did I achieve a lifelong ambition; I met The King!
Emma Chard-Cumming, Past EWG Secretary
