Excellent Guardian article - Confusing year of weather for Britain's wildlife

We thought our readers would be interested in this review of the year from  a wildlife perspective. Apparently it's been a boom year for the grey seal, large blue butterfly and mining bee but bad news for frogs, toads and newts.

We know we've seen butterflies still active locally within the last month, but unlike the Guardian report, fungi at Wapley are doing well.

Season's greetings to all our readers

Best wishes to all our readers from everyone in the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group.

Thank you for all your help this year that keeps the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve thriving and such an asset for local wildlife.

Report from Wapley Work Morning 19 November

Our November workday allowed us to tackle a range of planting. 14 volunteers took part, and we The group planted over 60 climbing plants of two types, ivy and wild clematis, on the reserve boundary. These plants will provide food, shelter and nesting material for birds when the climbers settle in and grow larger.

The group also planted 4 species of wildflowers on the woodland floor in the Western Wood including 50 native bluebell plug plants, 30 wild garlic bulbs, 30 wood anemone bulbs and 40 wild snowdrop bulbs. In addition to providing a spectacular display of flowers in the late winter and spring, these plants will also provide an early source of nectar and pollen for native insect species.