Back to Spring | An Interview with Brigit Strawbridge Howard - Guest post by Chloe Eathorne

 

Chloe (left) and Brigit exploring the cemetery

As a presenter of The Wildflower Hour, a local community show for Source FM, I'm  passionate about exploring all things art, poetry, nature and mental health. In the midst of winter, with the trees bare to the winter sky and only the hardiest of wildflowers in bloom, I cast my mind back to brighter days, of the spring of 2023. In May I had the pleasure of interviewing bee advocate, wildlife gardener and naturalist Brigit Strawbridge Howard, alongside filmmaker and wildlife advocate Kevin Thomas, of Castle Beach Films, in Falmouth's Victorian Cemetery.

 

Fat-headed Mining Bee

Cornwall is full of vibrant natural spaces, and this interview delves into life in late spring in the Cornish cemetery blooming with wildflowers, as we discussed all things nature, mental health and headed on a search for the Fat-headed Bee and its Cuckoo bee. I was excited to explore the local wildlife, after reading Brigit’s book ‘Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature’ which opened my eyes to the wonderful world of bees, when beforehand I had very little knowledge of, and in fact only thought there was one type! How wrong I was! From the Nomad Bee, to the Common Carder Bumblebee to the Mining Bee and Cuckoo Bees, we discussed the many different species in the UK, which call this beautiful area home.

Cuckcoo bees lay their eggs in other bee's nests

The conversation began as we explored a beautiful large fallen Pine tree left to be reclaimed by nature. We explored the benefits of leaving dead wood, which provides valuable sources of food and shelter for insects and wildlife, as the conversation meandered into childhood memories of etching. We discussed the value of connecting with nature for our mental health and well-being, and the benefits of eco therapy.

Bridgit spoke about her journey of rediscovering her connection to nature and the ways in which we can all reconnect with nature, bringing more of it into our daily lives, from getting outside each day, and spending time observing the world around, being present. There are many ways in which we can support and protect our local wildlife and bee species from our own gardens, from allowing native wildflowers, like primrose, buddleia, and marigolds to bloom, and leaving a section of the garden untended – as some bees love long grass or making nests in compost heaps or under hedgerows.

Brigit is a patron of Caring for God's Acre, a conservation charity for Burial Grounds across the UK, with the mission of protecting and rejuvenating beautiful havens of heritage and wildlife. We spoke about the ‘Love Your Burial Ground Week’ which occurs each June, a celebratory week which has been running for many years, encouraging all to celebrate these fantastic places in any way you choose. From local history talks, volunteering work parties and even teddy bear picnics!

 

Spring in Falmouth's Victorian cemetery

Brigit, also an ambassador for Kernow Conservation, talked about the work of the community-led conservation organisation, which developed from a student group at the Penryn campus of the University of Exeter. The team are passionate about protecting, enhancing, and connecting habitats, reintroducing lost species, and monitoring Cornwall’s biodiversity. They are currently working on the reintroduction of water voles, an important ecosystem engineer, across the county.

During our exploration of the cemetery, we came across a pair of researchers checking on the recently installed jackdaw nest boxes as part of the Cornish Jackdaw project. I spoke with Lois, a researcher from the University of Exeter, who discussed the Great Tits currently inhabiting the nest boxes and was given a demonstration on how the boxes are checked.

Jackdaw Nest Box

Throughout the day, Brigit checked in on the Merlin Bird ID app, whose features allow users to record snippets of bird song and aid in identifying species matches. It was enlightening to discover the vast multitude of species of birds we heard during our exploration, including Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Blackbird and Blue Tit, which further highlighted the importance of these habitats for our local wildlife.

There are a multitude of benefits to leaving spaces like these which not only serve as a place for reflection, but also serve as haven for insects, plants, birds and wildlife, and provide an opportunity for the community to connect with nature. It’s spaces and conversations like these that remind us of the importance of practising the art of noticing, which is so often overlooked in today’s faced-paced society. The next time you’re out and about, take a moment to really notice and appreciate the vibrant world of nature and that is all around us.

 

The interview is available to listen here: https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/brigit-strawbridge-howard-interview/

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part Three

 

As explained earlier, the camera crew followed Brigit and Chloe as they chatted and explored the cemetery. We started recording when we came upon an interesting location or a subject came up in the conversation that we wanted to share with the viewer. Filming a single take without rehearsal allows for spontaneity and I would argue more authentic film.

After about a hour in the cemetery we reached the spot where I hoped we would find two of the cemetery’s rarer bee species, the Big Headed Mining Bee and its cuckoo bee, the Long Horned Nomad Bee. With no sign of these bees, the conversation moved to how much bird song we were hearing and we started recording.

Chloe has a deep interest in the beneficial effects connecting with the natural world can have for our physical and mental wellbeing. A poet and journalism student at Falmouth University she presents and producers the Wildflower Hour on our community radio channel, Source FM. An hour long show with an eclectic mix of feel good indie tunes alongside discussing all things art, poetry and mental health. See link below to listen to past episodes.

She is part of a circle of talented artists that are inspired by the Cornish landscape and the natural world. I used the word artist in its widest sense to encompass all the arts and that use traditionally and new methods creatively. Examples of the new work being produced in Cornwall can be found at the Keskorra website, see link below.

Brigit is one of those people who radiate their passion and curiosity for the natural world through her talks, writings and social media. As you probably imagine spending time with Brigit in a wonderful location for wildlife such as our cemetery was an absolute joy.

The morning past quickly as we explored and chatted and the time came to say our goodbyes. I asked Brigit to step in front of the camera for one last time and give her thoughts on her visit.

Our series of videos have focused on how the maintenance of the cemetery benefits wildlife and the benefits this can have for visitors. Feedback on social media for this approach is overwhelmingly supportive. The cemetery is also a place for remembrance and the maintenance team are now cutting paths to graves they can identify as being regularly visited. Over time the cutting and walking on these pathways will make them more easily identifiable.

 

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit:

 http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/B_Strawbridge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigitstrawbridge1/

 

To listen to episodes of The wildflower Hour visit:  https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thewildflowerhr

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewildflowerhour/

Keskorra means ‘to assemble’ in the Cornish language, to discover more visit:  https://keskorra.co.uk/

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part Two

 

The woodpile to end all woodpiles

Quite a bit of organising had occurred beforehand to arrange for everyone to be at the same place at the same time with the gear checked and batteries fully charged. However the plan for what was to follow was deliberately less detailed to allow for more spontaneity between Brigit and Chloe and allow the conversation to take its own path. Nothing was rehearsed, there were no second takes.

I guided the group around the cemetery and as we walked we all chatted together, only when we started filming did Jon recording the sound and myself with the camera fall silent – well largely so, I did add a snippet of information in the next video.

Simon Penna, the Grounds and Facilities Manager for Falmouth Town Council has an understanding of the ecological value of deadwood. In our Kimberley Park he left a dead Ash tree standing for years that became home to a variety of insects and a nest site for Blue Tits until its state of decay made it unsafe. There are still two tree trunks that have been left in the park.

This approach is still uncommon, so as I led Brigit towards a Pine tree that had fallen in a storm, I expected them to be surprised, as they approached it I switched the camera on and pressed record.   

What delights me about this video is that it revealed to me a different way of experiencing the cemetery. In fact I have to say when visiting the cemetery I usually focus on its parts and slip into cameraman/photographer mode or concentrate on its insects and wildflowers. When I do sit down for a break my mind tends to work through the changes I have seen and sort them into positives and negatives. How much is the ever expanding area being taken over by three cornered leeks becoming a problem, being one example. 

So to listen to the conversation flow from exploring the holes bored into the trunk, to childhood memories and then onto the benefits being in nature can bring to our wellbeing was for me, quite magical.

As we continued our walk we bumped into two researchers from the University of Exeter's campus at nearby Penryn checking nest boxes that had been recently been installed by the Cornish Jackdaw project. For more information see the link below.

Lois, one of the researchers, agreed to give Chloe an overview of why they were in the cemetery and to demonstrate how they checked the nest boxes without using a ladder.

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit: http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

The wildflower Hour: https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

The Cornish Jackdaw Project: https://www.wildcognitionresearch.com/cornish-jackdaw-project

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part One

Falmouth's Victorian cemetery in Spring.

It was a search to see an Ivy Bee that first led me to the older parts of Falmouth cemetery and I was not disappointed, I found both ivy and bees. This was back in 2014 and since then it has become a special place and a passion project for me.

During 2015 I began recording some of the insects in the cemetery with a focus on the solitary bee, bumblebee and solitary wasp species to be found there. The highlight was the discovery of the nationally rare cuckoo bee, Nomada hirtipes that has few records in Cornwall. Although it was the number and variety of species to be found there that equally signifies its value for wildlife.

By 2016 responsibility for the maintenance had passed to Falmouth Town Council. This prompted me to write a booklet (Nature in a sacred place: Falmouth cemetery) detailing its value with a list of species I had recorded there and my thoughts on its maintenance.

The council responded positively and this has led to an ongoing conversation with Simon Penna, the Grounds and Facilities Manager. For me this has been both an education and a pleasure to see how he and his teams have both adapted some of my ideas and innovated  their own. The result of their work can be seen in the cemetery today.

It may surprise you but all of this is not the result of a lifetime interest in bees and the natural world. For most of my life it was photography that was my passion and this led me into a career in television.

Like many people who up to attending one of Brigit’s talks or reading her book, Dancing with Bees, I only knew of honeybees and bumblebees. Filming an interview after a talk she gave at Garden Organic in 2013 opened the door on a much bigger world that is all around us yet mostly overlooked. For the first time I heard of solitary bees and that we have more than one type of bumblebee.

While I walked away from the talk more knowledgeable about bees, even more amazing things were to follow. Visiting my veg patch in my garden bees were appearing all over it and a variety of types too. Admittedly I later discovered quite a few were hoverflies, learning to tell the difference is something all beginners have to go through. Even so I was still seeing quite a few bees with three bumblebee species visiting a patch of chives in flower alone. To cap it all that summer I found four bumblebee nests. I still find watching workers returning to and leaving their nest fascinating and it gives me a real David Attenborough moment.

That autumn I moved down to Falmouth and after settling in, the following year I went out to discover Ivy Bees, found the cemetery and started a new chapter in my life. 

So ten years later when Brigit raised the possibility of visiting the cemetery this spring on Instagram I not only jumped at it, I rather cheekily asked if she would be happy to do some filming. After a phone chat we decided on filming interviews and I started to search for an interviewer. 

Chloe Eathorne as well as being a Cornish poet is also a journalism student who presents and produces The Wildflower Hour, a weekly radio show on Source FM. Having listened to her interview with sound Artist Justin Wiggan which I highly recommend (link at bottom of page) she seemed the ideal choice. Meeting with Chloe for a tea and chat we discussed ideas for the filming and the possibility of also using the audio to produce an episode of her radio programme. We settled on the idea of a relaxed walk around the cemetery with a mix of interviews and conversations between Brigit and Chloe.

On the day of filming we all met by the chapel and once everyone had been introduced, Chloe and Bridget were fitted with radio microphones. After this technicality we began our walk around the cemetery giving time to the ladies to chat and get to know each while exploring the cemetery.  Even so it cannot have been easy to relax with a cameraman (me) and sound recordist (Jon GD Brown) ever present.

Brigit is an ambassador for Caring for God’s Acre, a non-religious charity that supports groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy churchyards and burial grounds. So for the first video interview we asked her about the charity and its work. 

 

 

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit, http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

The wildflower Hour: https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

Caring for God’s Acre: https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/

Urban Buzz - New Wildflower Areas in Falmouth

Sowing seeds to create wildflower meadows marked a wonderful start to this year. Under a clear blue sky the day began in Boscawen Road next to the tennis courts. Arriving I was immediately impressed by the maze cut out in the grass. A brilliant design by Howard from Cormac and Jacqui from Falmouth Town Council and Cormac.

The brilliantly designed wildflower maze by Boscawen Road

Once volunteers had gathered we were introduced to the Urban Buzz project by Laura from the charity Buglife. She went through the methods to be used to sow the seed as well as explaining how the plants chosen would help the meadow develop as the perennials established themselves. Once Laura had added sand to the mix of seeds the sowing began. The sand helps achieve an even distribution as well as being a good indicator of the area sown to help prevent bare patches.

The maze design will allow people to walk among the flowers

Walking round the maze it was easy to imagine how wonderful it will look in the summer. It really is a wonderful design that will enable people to walk among the wildflowers. I expect to be spending quite a bit of time there recording and photographing the insects visiting the flowers. Especially as it is so close to the beach, toilets and ice-cream, field work is rarely this good.

Laura Larkin from the charity Buglife giving volunteers a talk
before sowing began on the Gyllyng street terraces

The afternoon sowing took place on the terraces above Gyllyng Street in the centre of Falmouth.  This time as well as sowing seeds, plant plugs were also planted in the selected area. Again Howard, Jacqui and the Cormac team had done extensive preparation work on the chosen areas. They had also planted trees and shrubs beneficial to pollinating insects in the terraces.

The sites had been prepared by Howard, Jacquii and the
team from Cormac

The planting attracted volunteers from both locals and students from the nearby campuses of Falmouth and Exeter universities.  With such a good level of support both areas were sown and planted with plenty of time to spare. It was a very enjoyable and successful day and I am looking forward to seeing these areas come into flower this summer.

The level of support and enthusiasm of the volunteers
ensured the planting was accomplished early

The Urban Buzz project was created by Buglife, the charity that works to safeguard and promote knowledge of invertebrates. Initially it ran in selected cities in England and Wales and in four of these it created or enhanced 138 hectares of land, that’s the equivalent of 220 football pitches.

Last year four towns in Cornwall, Falmouth, Truro, St Austell and Wadebridge joined the project. In Falmouth the areas selected for creating wildflower meadows are, parts of the fields alongside Boscawen Road, the terraces above Gyllyng Street and part of the playing fields adjacent to Dracaena Avenue.

Falmouth is one of four towns in Cornwall participating in
the charity Buglife's Urban Buzz project

You could be wondering why this is happening in urbans areas rather than in the countryside? There are a number of reasons why, the first being is that farming practices have changed dramatically over the last few decades. These changes in our countryside are reflected in declines of certain species, for example farmland birds have declined by 56% in the UK since 1970. Looking at solitary bee species a survey in 2015 found more species in Northampton than in the surrounding countryside that included three nature reserves. Mounting evidence suggests that urban areas are now an important refuge for a variety of wildlife.

Nature can flourish in towns and cities - a leaf cutter bee in
Kimberley Park

Another important consideration is that having a connection with Nature can offer both physical and mental health benefits to the local community. The science behind this is a growing area of research covering such areas as the ways our brains responds positively to engaging with nature to how chemicals released by plants can improve our immune system.

While these wildflower meadows will provide the opportunity to connect with Nature to everyone whatever their age they are especially important for children growing up in an urban environment. Hopefully these areas will stimulate their natural curiosity and help them develop an interest in wildlife and the natural world.

Access to the natural world to stimulate a child's natural
curiosity is an essential part of their childhood.
Photo: Bug Hunt held in Falmouth Cemetery 2018

I am certainly curious to see what insects will be attracted to these areas and will not be surprised to discover species so far unrecorded in the town. I am also hopeful that over time, species that are rarely seen will become more common. One species I will be looking forward is the four banded flower bee. A related species, the hairy footed flower bee is a common sight in Kimberley Park during the spring. The four banded bee flies between June and mid-August and is a rarer sight. With their flight period corresponding to the peak flowering time for the new wildflower meadows I am hoping to see an increase in their abundance over time. They are quite fast moving bees so not the easiest to film. Hats off to Charlotte Rankin who filmed this one on Cliff Road last summer.

With the seeds sown and the plants planted the clocking is ticking down towards enjoying a wonderful summer watching these areas blossom. 

Reflections on 2018

A selection of photos from 2018 - click to enlarge

There are, I am sure, good lessons to be learned from the six months of silence since the last post. While I reflect on what they might be and announce that I will try harder to post more regularly in 2019, let’s take a look at the highlights of 2018.

I will start with the wonderful news that Falmouth Town Council is partnering with the charity, Buglife in the Urban Buzz project. This will see areas of the town planted with wildflowers to help pollinator insects in the town. I am so looking forward to seeing these areas flowering for the first time this year.

Three participants in the 2018 Bug Hunt

As part of the Urban Buzz project last August there was a bug hunt organised by Buglife and the town council in the old parts of Falmouth cemetery. The event attracted families who were given sweep nets and were soon capturing a variety of interesting insects and invertebrates. There were also pooters available to try, these are a bottle with two tubes – one to suck on and the other to collect an insect and place it in the bottle. The hunt was so successful that plans are being made for another one this year.

 The two display boards placed in both parts of Falmouth's old cemetery to raise awareness  of its importance to wildlife and the local community.

A major factor in the success of conservation efforts depends upon raising awareness in the local community. In August the Town Council placed two display boards in both parts of Falmouth’s old cemetery. They inform visitors of its importance to wildlife and the fact that it contains several rare species of solitary bees. They also display information on conservation efforts both in the cemetery and the town.

Apart from being excited over the Urban Buzz project there were two personal recording highlights this year. The first was discovering a new species of bee in Falmouth, Anthophora furcata. Not only was this a new record for this part of Cornwall but it is an interesting bee in that it is one of the few species to make its nest by burrowing into dead wood.

    A male Anthophora furcata, captured and released in a
    garden near Kimberley Park.

My second find was seeing my first European Hornet in Falmouth, only saw one and only once. This is our native species and is impressively large and unlike the Asian Hornet not a threat to beekeepers and their hives. Despite its size it is usually a docile creature that often hunts at night.

 Our native hornet, a new record for Falmouth, will we see
 more of them in 2019?

Another fantastic find was shown to me by Simon Penna, Head of Maintenance for Falmouth Town Council. A number of solitary wasps were making their nests in a dead Ash tree in Kimberley Park. Now although solitary, that is the female usually makes an individual nest some species will share the entrance that then leads to their own nest. This was the case with this species, Ectemnius cephalotes and there were steady streams of female wasps bring back captured flies to the entrance. It was fascinating watching them carry the fly beneath them and manoeuvring it into the hole. Each egg that the wasp lays is provision with several paralysed flies for the larvae to feed on when it hatches. Paralysing the fly keeps it fresh for the larvae, an interesting alternative to refrigeration but please don’t try this at home.

A female Ectemnius cephalotes solitary wasp returns to her

nest with a paralysed fly for her larvae to feed on. As an

adult wasp they will feed on nectar.

Most people only encounter and would recognise social wasps, who like honey bees live in a nest with female workers and a queen. In Falmouth the two species usually seen are the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the European wasp (Vespula germanica). In October Storm Callum damaged one of the conifers in the lower part of Falmouth cemetery. One of its lower branches was almost completely torn from the tree. This caused a common wasp nest to fall from its original position to be caught lower down. Thanks to the skilful work of the cemetery manager, Matthew Brotherton and the maintenance crew not only was the branch safely removed but the still active nest also survived. This gave a rare chance to see the intricate design of the nest and watch the activity of the common wasps for several weeks until the colony came to the end of its lifecycle.

The Common Wasp nest revealed after the damage caused
to a tree by Storm Callum.

The biggest impact made by the weather this year was made by the beast from the east, an influx of cold air that saw snow falling and settling in Falmouth. The effects of this unusually cold spell in March were immediately seen on tender plants such as Alexander that were hit hard. Many queen bumblebees delayed establishing a nest and new colonies by up to four weeks and many butterfly species appeared later than normal.

  Solitary bee (Andrena fulva) on Alexander flowers. Being

  introduced by the Romans from the Mediterranean, 
  Alexander was hit hard by the unusually harsh weather.

Generally I saw a fall in the abundance of insects this spring and to a lesser extent in the summer. My hope is that it was a result of this cold spell and it is not repeated in 2019 to allow populations to recover. Certainly with local conservation efforts the prospects look very promising for this year. It is though a reminder that climate change is something we all should be concerned about. 

Falmouth Cemetery - 30 Days Wild

30 Days Wild - Falmouth Cemetery

Many of us lead busy lives, so much so that it is easy to let our connection with Nature slip away. This lack of interest in our local wildlife has many consequences, for what we cease to value can be so easy lost, sometimes forever.

30 days lost is a initiative by our Wildlife trusts to encourage people during June to get out and about to experience the natural world. Not only does this benefit our wildlife as people's connections with Nature are strengthened but it has measurable health benefits for those that participate.

Let's go wild in June.

Ashy Mining Bee - Kimberley Park, Falmouth

Nature in Falmouth - Kimberley Park

The first in a series of short videos showing wildlife, flora and fauna, in and around Falmouth.

Falmouth Cemetery: a haven for wildlife

Possibly the last population in Cornwall of the Red-girdled

Mining bee lives and nests in Falmouth cemetery.

When I discovered the old parts of Falmouth cemetery on a casual walk in 2014 I had no idea of its importance as a sanctuary for wildlife. It was clear that there had been minimal maintenance for quite some time. The County Council was responsible for the general upkeep but maintenance of the graves and monuments was the responsibility of the family. Clearly many had been left by the families to go back to Nature. As a result Falmouth had been left a legacy that contained a wide variety of wildlife.

The small copper butterfly has declined by 75% in urban

locations between 1995 - 2014. Another important

species found in the cemetery.

For the past two years I have been recording the species of wild bees to be found in the cemetery. While some species can be found elsewhere in Falmouth the scarcer ones seem limited to both living and nesting in the cemetery. Many solitary bees species only forage short distances from their nests, usually a distance of about 50-200 meters depending on the size of each species. So far I have discovered 37 species of solitary bees within the cemetery, some are rare or scare both nationally and in Cornwall.

Newly emerged Queen Red-tailed bumblebee. Raised in a nest
in Falmouth cemetery she visited nearby flowers to build her
reserves before hibernating

The key element why the old parts of the cemetery is able to support such a rich variety of wildlife are the range of wildflowers that grow in the cemetery. From early spring to late autumn they provide both nectar and pollen. The fact that the ground is largely undisturbed also benefits ground nesting species such as most bumblebees. 

The value of these parts of the cemetery to both wildlife and the local community is clearly something to be safeguarded. For this reason I have written the document you can download below. It is a guide to some of the species that can be found there together with an overview of the ecology. 

Click to Download PDF

  

While compiling my records for the old parts of the cemetery responsibility for its maintenance passed from Cornwall County Council to Falmouth Town Council. This brought about substantial changes in the way in the way the cemetery is managed. As a response I included a section on maintenance and its importance in ensuring the conservation of the wildlife in the cemetery. Having received a reply from the town council to an earlier draft I have now revised the maintenance section to reflect this.

It is my hope that this will open a debate on how best to manage the cemetery. The maintenance changes are significantly changing both the character of the old parts of the cemetery and its value to wildlife. The degree to which these are desirable are open to discussion. It is important that as many voices as possible are heard in deciding its future.

The current document should be seen as an introduction to the cemetery's biodiversity. During this year I hope to be adding more records to the list of species. I also hope to build a better picture of its butterfly species and also include hoverflies. As its flora plays such a vital part in its ecology I hope to build a seasonal list of its wildflowers. This blog will keep you up to date with my progress.

If you have any photos of wildlife in Falmouth that you would like to share you can be post them on the Falmouth Nature Facebook page or to Twitter including @FalmouthNature.

Click to visit Facebook Page