Our colleagues Tina and Sue joined the toad patrol last week and were excited to be part of a successful night.
They helped 24 toads safely cross the road and make it back to their pond. Sadly, 3 didn’t make it - which really shows why these patrols matter so much at this time of year. 🐸
🦡It’s #WorldWildlifeDay
Spring has almost sprung! The first blossoms are out and the chiff chaffs are chirping. Tell us about your own wildlife sightings in the comments 🔎👀
Wow… check out the number of birds recorded on our wildlife cam at Ullenwood! 🐦🦅🦜🐤
🎥 Mike Bailey
Waking up to 2026... what species might you see coming out of hibernation in February?
Photo Credits - common toad 📷Tom Marshall, common frog 📷 Martin Mere, smooth newt 📷 Shirley Freeman, white-tailed bumblebee 📷 Tom Marshall
Check out this dung beetle diagram by Dilly Williams.
Conservation grazing helps wildlife by providing dung, which dung beetles use for food and breeding. These beetles are also eaten by tawny owls and bats, especially as moth numbers drop.
When deadwood is not just dead wood
🪵 The Dead Wood Society emphasizes the importance of dead and decaying wood for wildlife, supporting countless invertebrates and fungi.
Read the blog: https://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/blog/will-masefield/when-deadwood-not-just-dead-wood
🌳🍎 Pruning an apple tree in one of our traditional orchards.
The aim is to open up this young tree and reduce crowding by removing crossing, rubbing, and diseased branches. This boosts fruit quality and yield, and helps extend the tree’s life so it can reach veteran status, 50 plus years.
Our volunteer Paul spotted a Slavonian Grebe at Coombe Hill last month - possibly the first recorded sighting here, according to the Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records.
The bird was seen diving for around 30 minutes before flying toward the scrapes.
© Paul Clark
According to this robin... singles day is IN.
Head out for a walk, listen to the birds, or connect with nature in your own way!
Ladybirds are red
Kingfishers are blue
We have some Valentine's memes just for you
A supporter in Forest of Dean kindly shared his garden cam footage that captured pine martens 🦝.
Have you got interesting cam footage?
📹 Share it via marketing@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk with your name and the location.
🎥 Govinda Bork
Me at a party trying to find someone I know 👀🦦
In late winter and early spring, many birds of prey begin to display. On bright, dry mornings they take to the air and circle, dive or in some cases even lock talons with their mate, strengthening pair bonds and defending their territory.
Have you seen any displaying birds of prey?
It’s World Wetlands Day!
Wetlands support rich wildlife, including dragonflies and migratory birds. Our nature reserves like Coombe Hill Canal and Ashleworth also act as floodplains, reducing flooding and storing sediment and carbon, even when submerged in winter.
#WorldWetlandsDay
Wait for the cutest hop-over the stream ❤️ at the end.
A lovely visitor 🦊 at one of the nature reserves.
🎥 Fiona Wistow
Did you know about hazel tree flowers?
Here’s an exciting sign of spring: check out this close-up of a hazel tree! The tiny red “tentacles” sticking out of the buds are the female flowers, while the catkins we all know are the male flowers. Next time you pass a hazel tree, see if you can spot them!
Don’t let the nature crisis become a catastrophe
Andrew McLaughlin, GWT CEO, on why failing environmental targets and weakened protections threaten the future of nature in the UK.
www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/blog/glouces...
UK roads kill an estimated 20 tonnes of toads each year, blocking migration to breeding ponds.
During Feb–Apr, Toad Patrol volunteers escort amphibians at crossings across the UK, including in Gloucestershire with GlosToR.
In 2025: 11,911 toads, 545 frogs and 466 newts saved.
Lower Woods! 🐄💚
Thanks to our partnership with Grundon, local farmers, and dedicated volunteers, conservation grazing is helping this ancient woodland flourish.
Watch the video to find out how cattle are boosting biodiversity and supporting woodland wildlife.
youtu.be/proVdBBPAuo
✍️ New Blog! - "Hopes for a more promising year for wildlife in 2026"
Andrew McLaughlin, GWT CEO, expresses concern over worsening prospects for wildlife at the end of 2025 but remains optimistic for the future.
Read here: www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/blog/glouces...
Productive landscapes that contain plenty of trees can also reap rewards for wildlife. See how one farmer is transforming her land, working with #SevernTreescapes.
Severn Treescapes is a National Lottery Heritage Fund funded partnership with @worcswt.bsky.social and @herefordshirewt.bsky.social
Did you know about Severn Bore?
It's an amazing local phenomenon. The funnel shape of the Severn Estuary and high tides combine to produce a wave that surges up the Severn, travelling as far as Tewkesbury.
🐾 Congrats to Mum!
During a dormouse survey, volunteer Caroline spotted a male in one box & five babies in another. Installed in 2020, our boxes are finally being used in this ancient SSSI woodland.
Thanks to Caroline, our licensed surveyor for sharing this beautiful picture! 🌿
Write or update your will for free today: www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/gifts-in-wills
Barry Jackson, a long-standing supporter, talks about why he has left a gift in his will to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Please watch our short video. Find out more via the link in the comments.
The statue was crafted by the talented Simon O’Rourke.
If you go down to the woods today...you might spot our stunning pine marten statue 🐾.
This fantastic piece of art is a celebration of our successful pine marten reintroduction in the Forest of Dean.
It can be found in the Forest of Dean, along a walking trail near Coleford.
Have you seen it yet?
Join our #SevernTreescapes colleagues for a Pie & Pint evening in Ledbury on 4 Nov for farmers, landowners & managers who care about the health of the River Leadon, its tributaries & the wildlife it supports
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pie-pint-r...
@gloswildlife.bsky.social @herefordshirewt.bsky.social
Dismantling an act designed to tackle these realities - whilst polls showing that most people in the UK are in favour of climate action - would be reckless and expose nature, communities and the economy to the worst ravages of climate breakdown. (3/3)
#ClimateAction #WilderFuture
We are living in an age where the threats from climate change on people, the economy, food production, water supply, nature and natural landscapes, are becoming ever more visible. (2/3)
