Happy December!!!

It is the time of year when many will begin to reflect on the past year and make their 2020 to do lists! As a society we also will reflect on the events and progress we have made in 2019 with many more exciting plans being prepared for 2020. This month's newsletter focuses on just a few of the many opportunities open to you with the Wildlife Society for 2020.

Volunteer with Love The Oceans 

Love the Oceans was founded in 2014 and seeks to protect vulnerable marine animals in Mozambique through a bottom-up, community-led approach. They offer a volunteering programme lasting between two and five weeks for those who are interested in this area. The non-profit organisation runs multiple initiatives including; teaching local children to swim, beach litter picks to remove plastics and an initiative to be able to reuse rubbish by producing ‘eco bricks’ for building within the local community. These are just a few examples of the work you are able to take part in when you join the volunteering programme next summer!! While volunteering you will be able to take part in a range of tasks, each providing memorable experiences, valuable skills and a chance to build key links within the marine industry, with other volunteers who will become friends for life!! For more information on this opportunity visit the website: https://lovetheoceans.org/ 

Hedgehog Friendly Campus

Another exciting opportunity for 2020 is the Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus which has been introduced by the Wildlife Society. As a society, we need to fulfill certain criteria at different levels; by December 20th 2019, we hope to achieve the Bronze level. These are just a few things we need to complete which you can become involved with: write a Hog-Blog about any issue facing hedgehogs, distribute leaflets and create a press release for the Keele University official website. To be involved with this please join the Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group here: http://www.greenimpact.org.uk/hedgehogfriendlycampus/register?team.id=9100 . The group is open to staff and students! It is a great opportunity to get involved with biodiversity on campus and is completely free to sign up to. 

Tree Planting 

This semester as a society and with the help of staff and students, we successfully planted 300 trees on campus. Across two days, over 30 people volunteered their time to help with this fantastic event. Thank you to each and everyone who got involved; by sharing our event online, planting trees and showing support!!! We hope to continue to leave a positive impact at Keele into the future. One way we hope to do this is by another tree planting event….. keep an eye out for updates over the rest of the academic year!! If you would like to be involved, feel free to contact Keele Wildlife Society via email: soc.wildlife@keele.ac.uk .

*See more about this fantastic event here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/december/tree-planting-climate-change/trees-planting-climate-change.php .

These are just a few ways in which you can be involved to help nature with the Wildlife Society! If you have any ideas of other ways feel free to let us know!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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!

(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

Hello,

Speakers Officer Talk - 25th February 2020

Come along to our very own Speakers' Officer, Henry Simpson's talk on his great travels across the world and his ventures to the deep!

Henry will be doing two talks one starting at 17:00 and one starting at 18:00. Taking place in CBA0.01.

Keele Green Festival - 9-20th March 2020

The Keele Green Festival is nearly here!! 

The events are up on the Green:Keele Facebook page so get the dates into your diary! Everyone is welcome!!

Between the 9th-20th March, every day will be full of sustainability-related events along the theme of Zero Carbon and Climate Justice. Events range from volunteer opportunities, workshops, talks, tours, gardening, crafting, film screening, cooking, stalls and so much more!!

Please share with your friends, colleagues and spread the word!

Which events will you be going to? 

Keele Wildlife Society will be helping to run a few of the events but particularly the Wildflower Seed Ball (Bomb) making on Friday 13th March. We will then spread these around areas where they are least likely to get cut. 

There are lots of green and environmental-related opportunities so please do get involved!

Hedgehog Friendly Campus Working Group

Taking place on the 10th March 2020, 1-2pm in CBA1.076. The Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus working group will be having a brief meeting to discuss the use of pesticides and rodenticides and the impact of those on hedgehogs. We will also be discussing plans for the Hedgehog Friendly Campus silver and gold accreditation! Lots of great opportunities to take part in!

All welcome! No prior experience needed. Please let us know if you are interested in joining the group!

Voting in the Elections

Voting is now OPEN for the full-time officer elections! This is our opportunity to achieve the Democracy and Campaigns Stripe - the more members of the Wildlife Society that vote in the elections, the better! 

Remember, for every student that votes in the elections the SU will plant a tree (and we can help them do it!)... Why not!?

Keele Wildlife Society Committee Nominations

The Committee elections are approaching!! When nominations open, please upload a photo and your manifesto. This will then give an opportunity for members to vote for next years committee!

The 2020 dates are as follows:

• Monday, 9th March at 9am - Nominations open
• Friday, 20th March at 9am - Nominations close
• Saturday, 21st March at 9am - Voting opens
• Thursday, 26th March at 9am - Voting closes
• Friday, 27th March - Results are published 

The positions that can be run for are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Coordinator, Speakers Officer and Welfare & Inclusions Officer. The roles that must be filled are President, Secretary and Treasurer.

For more details on the roles and the society, please see the Constitution available on the KeeleSU Wildlife webpage - https://keelesu.com/activities/society/keelewildlifesociety/

All members are encouraged and welcomed to run for the committee - it is a great opportunity!! If you have any questions about being on the committee - please drop any of us a message or email. 

Always happy to help!

Have a wild week!

Alana

Keele Wildlife Society President