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Support student life—because good vibes don’t fund themselves.

Wildlife

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 week dedicated to learning more about our wonderful wildlife. In these sessions we will further our knowledge by researching, 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!

Weekly wildlife session: Held on Mondays 5pm until 7pm in Chancellors. Confirmed room will be on our social media and email.

Our timetable and activities will be posted on our instagram and sent out to members via email. So stay connected!

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

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/

Wildlife walk - Wildlife Society: 19th October; Forest of lights; MEMBERS ONLY Come and learn some cool facts about the Keele Wildlife

There are no current meetings

Wildlife Society Calendar!

Keele Wildlife Society now has it's own calendar!

Feel free to add it to your own calendar to stay up to date with what is going on in the world of the Wildlife Society! We will fill you in with all important dates, events and socials so keep your eye out!

To add it, click this link (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=soc.wildlife%40keele.ac.uk&ctz=Europe%2FLondon) or go to the Keele Wildlife Society homepage on the SU website (https://keelesu.com/activities/society/keelewildlifesociety/) and click '+GoogleCalendar'.

Hope you find it as useful as we do!

Hedgehog Friendly Campus & Preparations for the Spring

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.

Elections!

Hello all Wildlife enthusiasts,

Thank you for your involvement with all of the recent Wildlife events at Keele! We hope you have enjoyed them as much as the committee has!

It is that time of year again where you have the chance to be a committee member with the society for the next academic year. The positions available are:

The President
The Vice-President
The Treasurer
The Secretary
Welfare and Inclusion Officer
The Speakers Officer
The Events Coordinator

The President

The principal spokesperson and representative of the society
They shall have overall responsibility for the development and growth of the society.
They shall be responsible for performing the duties of any unelected officers in their absence.

The Vice-President

They will assist the President and stand in their place if they are not available.
They shall be responsible for performing the duties of any officers in their absence

The Treasurer

Ultimately responsible for the society account and shall ensure that society funds are spent sensibly and within the society means.
They shall be responsible for keeping financial records and producing a financial report to the society Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Secretary

Responsible for taking minutes at all society meetings.
Maintaining the membership and mailing lists of the society.

Welfare and Inclusion Officer

Attending specific welfare-related training to fulfil their role.
Working with the committee to plan socials that consider all members

The Speakers Officer

Invites speakers and organises speaker events.
In charge of arranging venues and providing members with the opportunity to meet and network.

The Events Coordinator

Thinks of ideas for events, socials and walks for the society.
Use social media to regularly promote and post about upcoming events.

Nominate yourself now and help the Keele Wildlife Society continue to be a fantastic society!!!

Important dates:

Nominations

OPEN: Monday 9^th March (9am)

CLOSE: Friday 20^th March (9am)

Voting

OPEN: Saturday 21st March (9am)

CLOSE: Thursday 26th March (9am)

Results

PUBLISH: Friday 27th March

30 Days Wild - Wildlife Trust

Hi all,

This is the final newsletter from me as Secretary for Keele Wildlife Society. For this newsletter I wish to highlight a current campaign by The Wildlife Trust which you can all get involved with - just like members of the committee have been doing!

Check out The Wildlife Trust website here for more info and resources: https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/57739/petition/1

This aims to encourage people to spend time with nature; even 5 minutes while drinking a cup of tea at your front door! Also, the website has a number of ideas to inspire 'Random Acts of Kindness'. Please share with us if you have been doing any of these! And enjoy 30 days of wild!!

As mentioned recently, many of us are experiencing nature in new ways and enjoying the outdoors much more than before. This is fantastic!! In my last newsletter I highlighted this with my time spent walking around the countryside as well as the recent open letter to the society by Sophie (Society Treasurer). It is not just outside of our homes that we are noticing nature in new ways but within our own gardens. For example, this year different flowers and plants have been growing in my garden (see photos!) as a result of seeds being dropped by birds. Although this may not be appreciated by many gardeners, I am very much enjoying them and the wildlife coming to the garden are too!

As always - Keep in touch with us!

Keele Wildlife Society Secretary.

Keele Wildlife Society March Update

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

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Wildlife

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?

Weekly wildlife session: Held on Mondays 5pm until 7pm in Chancellors. Confirmed room will be on our social media and email.

Our timetable and activities will be posted on our instagram and sent out to members via email. So stay connected!

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

Connect with us!

Email: soc.wildlife@keele.ac.uk

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/

I'm Interested - Tell me more!

Join

Wildlife Student Membership£3.00
Wildlife Associate Membership£3.00

Support student life—because good vibes don’t fund themselves.

Wildlife walk - Wildlife Society: 19th October; Forest of lights; MEMBERS ONLY Come and learn some cool facts about the Keele Wildlife

There are no current meetings

Walking in nature

Hello,

As I write this edition for Keele Wildlife Society... May is coming to a close! According to the Met Office, this spring has been the sunniest since records began with over 573 hours of sunshine recorded. I hope you all have been able to enjoy the sunshine and recent warm temperatures!

Each time I take a walk or cycle I feel lucky; lucky to live in the countryside, lucky to be able to enjoy wildlife and lucky for being able to watch the season's progress. This week I have been on a 5-mile walk along the River Stour, passing through fields and areas of wildlife conservation. I was able to see and hear so much wildlife; I admit I notice more these days compared to ever before. One of the most frequent sightings was of the Enallagma Cyathigerum (Common Blue Damselfly). However, another common sighting was of rubbish including takeaway wrappers and personal protection equipment (PPE). This is a huge disappointment. The local takeaway has only just reopened and demand for PPE remains high….. What makes people decide to leave their rubbish in the countryside?

As many of us are aware, this is not a unique experience. A simple online search brings up multiple news articles from large scale fly tipping to individuals throwing rubbish from car windows. One reason for an increase in fly tipping this spring is the temporary closure of recycling centres and with many spending so much time indoors; it is unsurprising that the amount of waste we are accumulating has grown. But, we must be responsible. We must look after wildlife and the countryside. Many of us within the society are active in litter picking and may feel encouraged to do so when we see litter around our local areas. If you are litter picking to help make wildlife safe, ensure you keep yourself safe - especially when dealing with discarded PPE.

As always, send us our stories or photos of wildlife around you!

Our First Newsletter!

Keele Wildlife Society is working to become a Hedgehog Friendly Campus

Welcome to the first newsletter from Keele Wildlife Society!

I would like to begin by welcoming new members to the society and thanking everyone who has attended an event so far this semester.

The society has had a fantastic start to the new academic year with a variety of events including; a campus walk followed by lunch in the KPA, getting up close with reptiles and invertebrates as well as a fantastic talk by Professor Dawn Scott.

Professor Scott’s talk focused on ‘Adaptations of mammals to urban living’. Urbanisation is one of the biggest land use changes to occur and it is having a significant impact on the life of wildlife including foxes, badgers and hedgehogs. In order to understand these changes and the ways in which wildlife respond to the new fears and opportunities, it is necessary to understand the urban ecology. For example, within urban environments, wildlife can access new food sources; this can be from litter, bins or peoples back gardens and even inside their kitchens! This allows wildlife to have a regular food supply which can actually be more food than the animal can eat in one day. However, this ease of access to food means that wildlife such as foxes, no longer need to use their natural ability to hunt and gather food like they would in rural areas. In addition, the food humans feed to wildlife often is high carbohydrates which can lead to animals becoming overweight. Another important topic covered by Professor Scott was the rehabilitation of foxes and its impact. Although this is a way of being able to treat injured or ill Foxes in a safe environment; it can lead to them becoming socially excluded once they leave a pack. As a result, when they are released, they have to relocate themselves. In order to cause the lowest disruption, where possible, we should treat wildlife in-situ. These are just two of the key points highlighted during the recent talk by Professor Scott. More fantastic talks to come - keep an eye on emails, SU page and social media!!

I have fond memories of hedgehogs being in my garden during my childhood; providing them shelter and leaving them food at night was always a joy. But today myself and the Wildlife Society have serious concerns for the species. The population has significantly declined. In 1950 the estimated population was 36.5 million. Today this is a mere 522,000. As previously mentioned, urbanisation is impacting wildlife with road traffic accidents being the biggest cause of death for hedgehogs. What is more, urban design has limited routes for wildlife to allow habitat connection to occur. These are just a few of the issues hedgehogs face today. As a society we are looking to make a positive impact in response to this and make Keele a Hedgehog Friendly Campus - we want you to be a part of this! In order to achieve this status as a society we will increase habitats on campus, provide shelters and raise awareness to the issues facing hedgehogs. Please join the Hedgehog Friendly Group if you would like to be involved in this exciting project: https://www.greenimpact.org.uk/hedgehogfriendlycampus/login