Our volunteers counting the enormous amount of orchids

June saw the launch of the Barrow Spring Watch in association with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England and the National Trust.  The launch was held at Barrow Dock Museum on a very dull drizzly morning.  We ran games and crafts and there was lots of wildlife to learn about, both the kids and adults that attended seemed to enjoy themselves.
During the half term break we ran a stream dipping event which seemed to coincide with the worst week of weather in June.  However three families braved the rain and had a whale of a time and met up with lots of creepy crawlies from the creek!
For the bigger kids we put on an Introduction to plants of the sand dunes and coast walk and talk and ran a number of guided walks for all sorts of groups.

We participated in Barrow's Big Clean run by the Evening Mail and Barrow Borough Council which involved a mass litter pick along the beach.  It was well attended particularly by the dignitaries from the Council, the police and our usual hardy volunteers.

Wildlife Sightings
The dragons came out in force with the emperor dragonfly stealing the show from the four spotted chaser and the common darter.
The fritillary butterflies are coming out and numerous dark green fritillaries have been recorded

Emperor Dragonfly eating a Common Darter

 We have stunning displays of orchids including common spotted, heath spotted, early marsh, northern marsh and the very beautiful bee orchid.

Bee orchid

 Natterjack toadlets have now started to emerge and can be found running for their lives on the boardwalks.

Toadlet still with its tail