Pick up a permit

More libraries across Leicestershire are offering people the chance to pop in and pick up a short term waste permit.

The collection service, already available at Loughborough and Ashby libraries, has been extended to include Hinckley, Market Harborough and Wigston.

Rather than waiting for it in the post, residents can call the County Council to request a permit and arrange to pick it up from one of the participating libraries.

The County Council has 14 recycling and household waste sites across Leicestershire where residents are able to recycle a range of materials, including batteries and cardboard, Tetra Paks and yoghurt pots.

To make sure that trade waste is not brought to the sites, anyone using a van or a trailer over 4’ 6’’ needs a short term waste permit. As well as allowing volumes and types of waste to be monitored, this also prevents council tax-payers picking up the cost of trade waste disposal.

Ernie White, County Council Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: “This is a very convenient and simple to use service and I’m pleased we are making it available to more people.

“It is a great addition to our libraries which, on top of books and dvds, already offer free internet use and information on health and careers, plus much more.”

To apply for a short term permit and make arrangements about collection, please call the County Council on 0116 305 0001.

Residents are reminded that from 1st November to 31st March, all 14 recycling and household waste sites will be open from 8am to 6pm, seven-days-a-week.

More information is available at: www.leics.gov.uk/waste

Ladybird spotters

If you are out for a walk or simply in your garden why not join in a survey of one of our most popular insects, the ladybird.

Ladybird spotting

The Historic and Natural Environment Team are calling on all ladybird spotters to take part in their annual survey. A free information pack with an identification guide is available to help you in your ladybird spotting. The commonest ladybirds in Leicestershire and Rutland include the 2 spot, 7-spot and the 14 spot. They can be found anywhere where there are plants with aphids.

A ladybird can eat up to 100 greenfly a day. Local conservationists also want to know how widespread the harlequin ladybird is in the two counties. The Harlequin ladybird is a voracious predator that out competes native ladybirds for food and has led to our native ladybird species being under threat.  Through previous surveys volunteers have charted the spread of the harlequin in Leicestershire and Rutland and it is important that this work continues.

For a free ladybird pack visit www.leics.gov.uk/species_surveys

For books about nature, visit your local library

Spring in the meadows

Medieval remains and wildflowers are among the attractions on offer from a unique chance to visit a Charnwood meadow on Saturday, May 2nd.

Buddon Brook Meadows

Leicestershire County Council has organised a guided walk through Quorn’s privately-owned Buddon Brook Meadows, which are jointly managed by the Council and the owner, but not usually open to the public.  Ragged robin and wild garlic should be in bloom in the meadows, which are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Walkers can also keep an eye open for greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers as well as numerous butterfly species.  A key feature are the moated earthworks of a former medieval hunting lodge.
The walk starts at 10am and will last for about two hours. A local naturalist will point out the highlights.

Buddon Brook Meadows are off Chaveney Road, Quorn.

The walk is free, but booking is essential as numbers will be limited.  Book early to avoid disappointment.  No dogs please.  Wellingtons or walking boots strongly advisable.

For more details and booking please contact Andy Hayes, Community Projects Officer for LCC on 0116 305 7269 or email: ahayes@leics.gov.uk

For books about nature, visit your local library

Ashby Canal Project Marks Local Mining Heritage

Ernie White, Lead Member for Community Services will unveil a Coal Seam Marker at Conkers Waterside on Thursday, 9 April, 11.00am.  As part of the Ashby Canal Restoration Project, Leicestershire County Council is installing cast iron coal seam markers at various points on the Ashby Canal route north of Snarestone.  The Ashby Canal was built to serve the coalfields, and carried millions of tonnes of coal during its working life. Now, theses coal seam markers will show us what is under the ground. The seams have names like Stockings and Kilburn, and will give visitors a greater sense of what the canal, and indeed, the area was all about.

Ernie White, Lead Member for Community Services is delighted to see the markers in place. ”So much of the mining heritage has gone”, he said, ”so it is important to recognise both the coal mining and the canal and their influence on the landscape”.

The markers have been funded by the Coal Authority, the National Forest Company and Leicestershire County Council, and designed by specialist artist Maurice Mcguire. They will be installed at various points from Ilott Wharf, south of Measham up to Moira Furnace and Conkers Waterside.  The first marker will be ‘unveiled’ by Mr White on 9 April, at the Ashby Canal at Bath Yard Basin. The basin is at the site of the Bath Yard colliery and depot and but now sits alongside Conkers Waterside, reflecting the new role of the area centred on leisure and tourism at the heart of the National Forest. www.leics.gov.uk/land_improvement

Find books about history and coal mining at your local library!

Voyage of natural discovery

Discover Like Darwin

Local naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts are signing up to join a new programme to share  their enthusiasm for the natural world and museum collections, as part of a new project called Discover Like Darwin.  Leicestershire County Council has been inviting budding naturalists to join in the celebration of the science of natural history, local wildlife and Leicestershire’s landscape by developing a new programme of events for early summer through to the end of the year.

Ernie White, Cabinet member for Community Services, said; “This programme aims to raise awareness of the natural world through activities that inspire scientific exploration and observation of the environment and wildlife, whilst having fun!”

You can visit your local library to find books about natural history, insects, wildlife and more.

To register your interest in the ‘Discover Like Darwin’ programme, or for more information, visit www.leics.gov.uk/darwin

Harey times

The arrival of spring brings with it the now rarely seen boxing behaviour of male and female hares. You can help protect and conserve these animals by getting involved in a local wildlife survey.

Hare Survey

Leicestershire County Council’s Historic and Natural Team need volunteers to record sightings of hares in Leicestershire and Rutland.  By finding out about their size and distribution in the counties, we can find out about what is happening to their populations and if any conservation action needs to be taken to safeguard their habitats.

You don’t need to be an expert on these creatures to take part. The easy to use survey contains information about hares and rabbits, with hints on how to spot the animals.  Visit www.leics.gov.uk/hare_rabbit_survey for more info.

Don’t forget you can visit your local library for books about hares and other animals! Visit www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Fairtrade Coffee Morning at Hinckley Library

Hinckley Library hosted a coffee morning recently to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight.  Customers were invited to drop in for a free cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee and to find out about ethical trading and what the library has to offer.

The Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Cllr Jeff Bannister, was also in attendance to hand out free Fairtrade bananas (courtesy of the Heart of England Co-operative Society and the Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Forum) to Wriggly Readers who were enjoying a story session.

Hop to it!

Conservationists are calling on local schools in Leicestershire to send in records of frogspawn this spring, as part of a continuing survey of numbers of amphibians. A free survey form is now available to gather records when frogs start to spawn in spring.

Environment and Heritage Services are  asking schools to look for frogspawn, as it is easy to identify. Many schools now also have ponds, which will soon be teeming with it.  The survey will help conservationists monitor the effects of climate change, as frogspawn is usually one of the first indicators of spring to be seen so the information will help show how much earlier spring is getting. The survey simply asks people to count how many clumps of frogspawn or strings of toadspawn are laid in ponds in the spring and the date they are seen.  The form has guidance on how to identify different spawn, and other wildlife that can be recorded.  Spawn Spot Surveys can be downloaded from www.leics.gov.uk/spawnspot_survey

Amphibians are animals that live on land and in water, such as frogs and toads. As amphibians are also good indicators of the health of the environment, any changes in numbers can warn conservationists of unfavourable changes to our countryside.

Don’t forget you can visit your local library for books about amphibians! See  www.leics.gov.uk/libraries