Wildlife

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  • Wildlife Student Membership£3.00
  • Wildlife Associate Membership£3.00

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Keele Wildlife Society is open to anyone who is interested in wildlife. If you would like to meet-up, make friends and share knowledge then this is a society for you!

What to expect?

The society aims to provide a place for people with a love and interest of wildlife to meet. For events and socials, we will go on walks around the Keele campus and further afield to allow time for wildlife spotting and adventures! We also aim to provide inspiring speakers and lectures on a variety of wildlife topics which may inspire and encourage a stronger passion for wildlife.

In our first year (2018/2019), we were shortlisted for Best New Society in the 2019 KeeleSU Society Awards, and won!
A few years later, in the 2023/2024 awards, we also won the Society of the Year Award for Best Activity-based Society!

This year, we will be holding sessions every other week dedicated to learning more about our wonderful wildlife. In these sessions we will further our knowledge by reseaching, holding discussions, and watching relevant films/documentaries in a friendly and relaxed environment. We will be learning about different species behaviour and relation to the natural world, as well as thinking about their threats and potential needs for conservation. As well as this we will be organising walks/trips on campus and in the Staffordshire area to help put into context what we have learnt. Other, even more exciting plans are in the works, so stay tuned! Keele Wildlife society is open to all, and is a great way to get to meet new people, we're looking forward to meeting you all! 

 

Bi-weekly wildlife session: Held on Mondays 5pm until 7pm in Chancellors - Room 0.007 (CBA0.007)

 

Our additional social events (walks, day trips and pub meets) will be organised and advertised through our society email, Whatsapp group and social media accounts. 

Join the Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group here - http://www.greenimpact.org.uk/hedgehogfriendlycampus/register?team.id=9100 - Staff and students all welcome!! It is a great opportunity to get involved with biodiversity on campus. This is completely free to sign up to.

https://www.facebook.com/HedgehogFriendlyCampusKeele/ - Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeeleHedgehogFriendlyCampus/ - Facebook Group

Connect with us!

Email: soc.wildlife@keele.ac.uk

Our brand new Discord server!: https://discord.gg/aHQ5NcWktN

Also follow us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Feel free to join our Facebook Group which you are welcome to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeeleWildlifeSociety/

There are currently no upcoming events.
    There are no current meetings
    Hedgehog Friendly Campus & Preparations for the Spring
    Hedgehog

    With the next Hedgehog Friendly Campus meeting nearly upon us we wanted to take a minute to share with you what you can do in your gardens for hedgehogs.

    Please join us for our re-launch of Keele's Hedgehog Friendly Campus and review of 2020, as well as a chance to catch up and discuss any criteria for a Hedgehog Friendly Campus which Keele University have not yet met. 3pm, Thursday, 7th January 2021 ???? All are welcome and even if you are unable to attend the meeting you are welcome to contribute to the campaign and join the team! See the Teams channel for details. 

    Hedgehogs are currently hibernating... so it is a great time to leave the garden be so you don't disturb their slumber. Instead, why not...

    • Take a look at Hedgehog Street at all the resources and ideas?
    • Create a hedgehog house during lockdown
    • Ensure hedgehogs can move freely by creating a hedgehog highway - https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/
    • Learn more about hedgehogs and their prickly ways
    • Sign this petition to increase the legal protection of hedgehogs >> https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/550379
    • Read about the Hedgehog conservation strategy and the population trends - https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/about-our-hedgehog-street-campaign/stateof/
    • Write to your MP - https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/environment-bill-amendment/

    During cold or dry periods, these creepy-crawlies become much scarcer in gardens, so hedgehogs will benefit hugely from a shallow dish of water and supplementary feeding at these times. (Find out more; https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/feed-hedgehogs/)

    Remember to contact BHPS on 01584 890 801 if you’re worried about a small or sick hedgehog.

     
    Wildlife Society By-Elections now Open!

    So, the time has come for the Keele Wildlife Society By-Elections!

    Roles the society committee is looking to fill are the Secretary, Treasurer and the Speakers Officer. If you are interested in any of these roles the details are below.

    Please go to the SU website, log into your account and go to the Wildlife Society page to enter the election. Official deadline for nominations is the Monday 16th July 2018. The polls open at 17:00 on Monday 16 July 2018.

    We are a new society, and anyone is welcome to join!

    If you do not want to be on committee but are generally interested in the society feel free to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! Links on the website!

     
    HogBlog 2: Bronze is Submitted!

    Submission for Hedgehog Friendly Campus Bronze

    We have now submitted our first accreditation towards the Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus Bronze Award!!

    What the Keele Hedgehog Team have done so far...

    • 7th November 2019 - Launch Working Group
    • Welcoming staff and students from all faculties and backgrounds!
    • We have formed social medias' including Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HedgehogFriendlyCampusKeele/ ) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/KeeleWildlife )  
    • We have reminded the grounds team on what to do if they find a sick, injured or orphaned hedgehog.
    • We've added stickers to the strimmers and some leaf blowers to remind users to check the area for hedgehogs before trimming the grass.
    • Plans are in place to perform hedgehog surveys around campus in early Spring.
    • We have done regular student litter picks too - if any staff have done litter picks we would love to know (soc.wildlife@keele.ac.uk).
    • We will frequently write HogBlogs which can be found on the News section here - https://keelesu.com/activities/society/keelewildlifesociety/

    Please join us and get involved for the next accreditations of silver and gold!! Learn more about how you can save and protect these lovely creatures.

    Join the Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group here - http://www.greenimpact.org.uk/hedgehogfriendlycampus/register?team.id=9100 - Staff and students all welcome!! It is a great opportunity to get involved with biodiversity on campus. This is completely free to sign up to.

     

    Social Media for Hedgehog Friendly Campus

    https://www.facebook.com/HedgehogFriendlyCampusKeele/ - Facebook Page

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeeleHedgehogFriendlyCampus/ - Facebook Group

    https://twitter.com/KeeleWildlife - Twitter

    Please, follow the social media and help spread the word!

    What would it involve for me?

    Getting involved in the Hedgehog Friendly Campus will give you the opportunity to be part of the working group in helping to match the criteria of Bronze, Silver and Gold. That can be found here; http://www.greenimpact.org.uk/hedgehogfriendlycampus/

     

     
    Upcoming Wildlife Events - February

    Upcoming events... 

    Arboretum Lunchtime Walk

    Join us on Friday, 1pm, 31st January 2020 as part of the Health and Wellbeing Week for an Arboretum Lunchtime Walk with Dr David Emley and Dr Peter Thomas. Meeting at the Forest of Light.

    Please note, this is not a wildlife society run event but all members are extremely welcome and we really do recommend that you go - Dr Emley & Thomas are very knowledgable about the Keele campus and it's wildlife!

    Facebook event - https://www.facebook.com/events/2487454028174113/

    Wild Staffordshire Talk

    Join us for a fantastic and inspiring talk by Scott Latham, who created 'Wild Staffordshire' a purpose-driven not-for-profit organisation committed to a greener planet earth by starting locally with Staffordshire.

    Taking place on Tuesday, 4th February 2020 from 5pm. All welcome to attend. Walter Moberly, Room 0.01.

    Facebook event - https://www.facebook.com/events/997475493985740/

    Volunteering Week

    Volunteering Opportunity - Litter Pick on Campus

    We will be meeting at the SU at 10am and will collect litter at multiple areas on campus. Around we will bring everything back with help from estates and weigh and sort it to figure out how much we picked up. Anyone and everyone welcome! Taking place on Wednesday, 12th February from 10am at the Forest of Light.

    This also ties in nicely with Hedgehog Friendly Campus!

    Facebook event - https://www.facebook.com/events/2568891740047782/

    Volunteering Opportunity - Tree Label Clean Up

    Meeting at the Memorial Garden (near Clockhouse!) we have been asked to clean the labels and signs in the memorial garden of algae. Dr David Emley may also join us to talk about the cherries and the various other trees in the garden too.

    Thursday, 13th February 2020, this will take place between 11am - approximately 2pm but you don't need to be there for it all!

     

    Hope you can make it!!

    Best wishes,

    Alana Wheat

    Keele Wildlife Society President

     
    What is happening to wildlife during COVID-19?

     

    What is happening to wildlife during COVID-19?

    As we all know, staying indoors at the moment can be dull and make us desperate to once again be reunited with wildlife and the outdoors. Many of us are still doing what we can to continue enjoying nature by looking outside of our windows, spending time in our gardens or during our daily exercise. Keele Wildlife Society Treasurer, Sophie Tankard, has shared some photos of the wildlife which she has encountered during her lockdown experience including wild deer and butterflies!

                                                    Butterfly by Sophie Tankard                                         Deer by Sophie Tankard

    (Photos: Sophie Tankard)

    Have you had any wildlife encounters which you would like to share with the society? If so, let us know via email or social media!

    It is wonderful to see nature flourishing and behaving in unusual and often unseen ways due to the lack of human presence. For example, wild flowers are growing on the roadsides. Due to the current situation, councils have stopped the cutting of these areas as a result of the redirection of finances and staff shortages. Charities such as Plantlife, who have campaigned for the reduced mowing and cutting of roadside plants for many years, hope that councils will change their previous methods due to the flourishing and benefits for nature. In addition, reduced vehicle usage has seen pollution levels decrease. This is benefitting traditional plants and allowing increased diversity as these plants previously faced competition from nitrogen-loving plants such as nettles. 

    Over the past few weeks, wildlife has been seen to be discovering what are now human free spaces with multiple species being found in urban centres. For example, wild boars in central Barcelona and goats in Llandudno, Wales. 

    Read this article regarding the goats in Llandudno:

    https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/goats-llandudno-wales-town-coronavirus-uk-lockdown-wildlife-2523916

    Here is a video regarding wild boar in Barcelona:

    https://www.elnacional.cat/es/sociedad/coronavirus-video-jabalies-centro-barcelona-confinamiento_482691_102.html 

    Other wildlife stories:

    • Increased sightings of Moles above ground

    • Oyster Catchers are nesting on deserted beaches

    • Hedgehogs have a lower threat of being killed on the road

    • Less disturbance (e.g. by dog walkers) for breeding birds which are nesting in new areas 

    But not all animals are benefiting with many needing to find new sources of food due to the lack of human presence providing them with easily and readily available food source options. Look out for our next newsletter which will highlight multiple ways in which you can help wildlife from your home this spring! 

    Happy Easter,

    Stay Safe

    Keele Wildlife Society 2020

     
     

     

     

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    Committee By-Elections February 2026

    Election to fill vacant committee positions for clubs and societies at Keele Students' Union.

    64 posts are up for election.

    Nominations close at 10:00 on Wednesday 4 February 2026 (in 3 weeks and 6 days)

    The polls open at 10:00 on Monday 9 February 2026 (in 4 weeks and 4 days)

    Please log in to see more details.