1

The May issue of this Newsletter always seems to bridge two seasons. On the one hand, winter has changed into spring, with the promise of the summer to come, on the other the Group’s 2016/17 season ends and the 2017/18 begins. The diary section lists the last meeting of the season, incorporating the AGM, but also looks forward to a wide range of future talks to look forward to, and a selection of field meetings to get you out and about over the intervening period. In February this year Brian Gallop gave a very entertaining talk which included Victoria Falls – “the smoke that thunders“ - and on page 9 Jacquie Martin gives us her version. When the indoor meetings resume in September, we will be without the remarkable services of Lesley and Dave Smith, who have been providing our refreshments since 2006. They have been stalwarts and will be a hard act to follow, but if anyone feels able to take on the task, please contact Anne Chapman. Plan B, however, is for a rota of volunteers to help with making and serving the tea and coffee on the night – the raw materials being provided by the committee. The larger the number of volunteers on the rota, the less frequently an individual will be called on, so please consider helping us. Anne has more information in her item on page 12. Dave Smith was also one of the winners of our recent Photographic Competition (Fauna section), and his winning picture, together with those of the other sections is on page 2. Remember that you can see the photographs in full colour in the pdf version of this newsletter on the Group website (see bottom of this page for details), and if you opt to receive your copy by e-mail rather than by post, you will get the colour version anyway! If you would like to take up this option, contact myself (Brian) or Gill Saunders. On this note, do please remember to let us know if you change your e-mail address (as well of course if you change your home address). During the hiatus created by the departure of the UK from the European Union, which will require disentanglement from EU laws and regulations and adoption of our own versions, it is very important that we keep our eye on the “conservation ball” and maintain pressure on politicians, both local and national, to retain, and indeed enhance, environmental protection. A coalition of 13

organisations have formed “Greener UK” to coordinate their efforts. Members include the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust and the WWF, which is excellent news, but we can all act as individuals to lobby our elected representatives – it only takes a letter or an e-mail. The delay to Medway Council’s plans for Lodge Hill shows that public opinion counts (see page 12).

Group subscriptions are now due. Please complete the renewal form enclosed with this

Newsletter. For those receiving the issue by e-mail, a renewal form is provided as an

attachment.

A colour version of this newsletter will appear in the “News” section on the website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks.

Brian Nobbs, Editor. nobbsbrian@gmail.com. 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP.

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity:

England and Wales no. 207076; Scotland no. SC037654

MAY 2017 NEWSLETTER

SEVENOAKS LOCAL GROUP

2

Photographic Competition 2017 Results

Birds:

Reg Oakley

Red Kite,

Gigrin Farm, Wales

Fauna:

Dave Smith

“The Sergeant Major

shouted Dress Front

so that is what the

Yellow-spotted

Sidenecked Turtles

did”

Landscape:

Dave Smith

“Not the White Cliffs of

Dover but the Seven Sisters”

East Sussex”

3

Flora:

Nigel Meachem

Violet

Sevenoaks RSPB Group Photographic Competition 2017 Winners

Birds 1

st Reg Oakley Red Kite, Gigrin Farm, Wales

2nd

Nigel Meachem Hover Bird 3

rd Jean Nobbs Dunlin, Iceland

4th

Dave Smith Flying High, Southern Caracara 5

th Reg Oakley Lapwing, Sevenoaks KWT

Fauna 1

st Dave Smith The Sergeant Major ……Sidenecked Turtles did

2nd

Nigel Meachem Mating butterflies 3

rd Jean Nobbs Garden Bumblebee, Sundridge

4th

Jane Love Wasp Spider with its 'Ladder' 5

th= Jean Nobbs Cardinal Butterfly, Romania

5th= Brian Nobbs Brown Bear & Cub, Carpathians, Romania

Landscape 1

st Dave Smith Not the White Cliffs of Dover but the Seven Sisters

2nd

Nigel Meachem A cold sunset 3

rd John Waterman Reculver Towers at Dusk - Kent

4th= Jane Love

Quick way to a fortune?

4th= Jean Nobbs

Pseudocraters, Myvatn, Iceland

4th= Jean Nobbs

Snowstorm approaching Reykjavik, Iceland

Flora 1

st Nigel Meachem Violet

2nd

Nigel Meachem Bells 3

rd Dave Smith Yellow Bracket Fungus

4th

Sheila Turley Fungi clusters 5

th Jane Love Shades of Autumn

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The recovery of the Stone-curlew and other animals by Martin Harper

Martin Harper is the RSPB’s Conservation Director and issues a regular Blog, which is well

worth accessing. Below is an edited extract from his Blog of March 3rd

: Stone-curlews were once widespread in England and numbered two thousand pairs in the 1930s. However, numbers declined dramatically over the next 50 years when changes in land use resulted in catastrophic habitat loss. By 1991, only 168 pairs remained. Yet, this is a story with a happy ending. Through 30 years of hard graft, the RSPB and Natural England have forged a powerful partnership with landowners, farmers and volunteers in Wessex and the Brecks to help bring the population to its current 400 pairs. Not only has the Stone-curlew been downgraded from a species of Red Conservation Concern to Amber, but through a five year EU Life funded project we now think the Stone-curlew population is large enough to support itself, given enough safe nesting habitat. At a recent conference to mark this achievement we heard about other species recovery successes from across Europe (such as the Azores Bullfinch) and elsewhere in the UK (such as the Cirl Bunting). It was quite a day. I joined the afternoon and evening session having spent the morning being updated on our work to protect 350,000 hectares of Gola rainforest, on the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia, and even sniffed the first chocolate made by cocoa farmers on land between the forested areas. We want to support cocoa farming that is good for wildlife, prevents pressure on the rainforest and also creates sustainable livelihoods for the people living around the forest. Our ambition, of course, is to be able one day to say to our members “eat this chocolate and help save Gola rainforest”. Reflecting on the day, I was struck by the similarities of the various conservation successes which had been showcased. The ingredients of success in each of these conservation projects were common: more, bigger, connected protected areas with sustainable land use in intervening areas, coupled with targeted action and funding for threatened species, supported by committed partners from national/local government, business and local people. And, of course, all these projects all contribute to the global plan for halting the loss of biodiversity expressed through the Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi targets – targets 11 (for well managed land and sea) and 12 (for recovering threatened species). Putting a spotlight on success is important as it reminds us that, as well as documenting declines, we can improve the natural environment. Our collective experience gives hope and confidence that together we can make the world a better place for people and wildlife. What we need now is for decision-makers to stick to their ambitions to restore wildlife in a generation and come up with plans which build on the success of these projects, with resources commensurate to the scale of the challenge. And, given the uncertainties around Brexit (especially about future status of internationally important protected areas and future funding for nature friendly farming), we within civil society must continue to make the case for action. This is why we are delighted to have 41 MPs, 83 MSPs, 25 AMs (in Wales) and even 4 MEPs who are Species Champions and who are prepared to use their political voices for the protection and recovery of threatened wildlife. Together, we can turn things around.

Also, from Martin’s 10th

March Blog: In the week of the Budget, we received some very good news. Our Sherwood project (jointly run by the RSPB with Sherwood Forest Trust, Continuum Attractions and Thoresby Estate) has secured £500,000 from the Growth Fund of the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Andrew Percy MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government) was at Sherwood with the team yesterday to announce the great news as part of the launch of the UK Government's new Midlands Engine (for economic growth).

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We meet on the first Thursday of the month, at OTFORD VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL, High

Street, Otford, TN14 5PQ. The car park is adjacent to the hall, and is free after 6 pm.

Entrance fee = Group Members £2.50, non-members £3.50.

Please note that meetings will START PROMPTLY at 7.45 pm, doors are open from 7.15 pm.

DONATIONS OF RAFFLE PRIZES ALWAYS APPRECIATED!

7.45 pm Thursday 4

th

MAY

2017

AGM + Brian Nobbs – Bears and Pelicans, a Taste of Romania

NB This will be in the Club Room

An introduction to some of the wildlife to be found in this intriguing country, from the Carpathian mountains in Transylvania to the lakes and waterways of the Danube Delta.

Plus wine and cheese

Notes for your diary – further details will be in the September Newsletter:

September 7

th 2017

New England Fall - Brian Gallop

October 5

th 2017

Wildlife around Kent - Simon Ginnaw

November 2

nd 2017

Travels with a camera - Dr Brett Lewis

December 7

th 2017

New Zealand – Birds and natural history endemics - John Buckingham

January 4

th 2018

Best of the Year: A selection of Robert's finest images of nature - Robert Canis

February 1

st 2018

Natural History of the Isles of Scilly - Andrew Cleave MBE

March 1

st 2018

Red Kites and Peregrines - Keith Betton

April 5

th 2018

RSPB Reserves around the country - Brian Nobbs

May 3

rd 2018

Broadwater Warren – How to make a nature reserve - Alan Loweth

DIARY SECTION

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Our field meetings are a great opportunity to see a wide variety of birds and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. We will see over thirty different species on most walks and sometimes fifty plus. The walks are for people of all abilities and for the most part cover easy terrain at a leisurely pace, providing a chance to enjoy birds and learn more about them and their habitats, and share a common interest with others. Target birds are indicated for each trip, but of course they are not guaranteed. On most walks we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear are advised on all trips. All walks are undertaken at your own risk. It does have to be pretty bad before we give up on a walk, but if you are intending to come, please check with the leader.

Contact numbers are: Weekends: (see also box below) John Waterman on 01959 532364 or, if

you are late, ring John on 07935 206618; Weekdays: Anne McGregor 01732 454304.

Remember to take your RSPB membership card to all meetings at RSPB reserves. Length of walk: “A” = 1 mile: “B” = 2 miles: “C” = up to 4 miles

For those with satellite navigation, we have included the nearest Post Code, but please note this only gives an approximation of the meeting point, but usually to within a few hundred metres.

May Wed 17

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Conyer Creek (TQ962648) ME9 9HL

Migrants, including Cuckoo and Nightingale, plus wildfowl & waders From the A2 in Teynham take Station Road north. Turn right into Lower Road, then turn north onto Conyer Road. Park near Ship Inn in Conyer Village.

Bring lunch.

Led by Anne McGregor

May Sun 21

st

10.30 am “C” All day

St, Margaret’s at Cliffe & South Foreland (TR368445) CT15 6DX

Seabirds, migrants From A2, take A258 (Deal), turn right for St. Margaret’s, the turn right down High Street, leading into Sea Street. At roundabout, go over into Bay Road to the beach and car park. Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.30 for 8.45 am.

Led by John Waterman

June Wed 7

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Ashdown Forest (TQ468305) TN22 3JD

Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Redstart and other heathland & woodland birds From A22 at Forest Row, take B2110 Hartfield Road to Coleman’s Hatch, then Kidd’s Hill, continuing on to B2026 and car park at Old Lodge.

Bring lunch

Led by Anne McGregor

For car sharing, weekend meetings will start from the car park of Mavala UK Ltd., Unit 4, Morewood Close, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2HU. Turn off London Road into Morewood Close (by Fire Station), follow road round sharp right hand bend. Mavala is on right before Station Car park. For Arrival/Departure times see individual entry below. Participants are of course free to travel directly to the meeting location if they prefer.

If you coming to a WEEKEND field meeting, please let JOHN WATERMAN know by phone or

text [07935 206618], whether you are meeting at Mavala or travelling direct.

Similarly, if you are coming to a WEEKDAY field meeting, please let ANNE McGREGOR

know by phone [01732 454304],

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June Sun 11

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (TQ942188) TN31 7TY

Waders, wildfowl, migrants From A259 towards Hastings, turn L, after Rye Town on minor road to Rye Harbour. Meet in car park. Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.30 for 8.45 am.

Led by John Waterman

July Sun 16

th

10.00 am “C” All day

Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh Nature Reserve (TR235631) CT3 4BP

Summer visitors Take the A299 from the A2 to the A28, turn S towards Canterbury. Take Grove Ferry turn off. Meet at car park next to Grove Ferry Inn (TR235631).

Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.45 for 9 am

Led by John Waterman

July Thur 20

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Stodmarsh (TR221609) CT3 4BE

Note this is the southern entrance to the reserve, NOT the Grove Ferry entry.

Raptors, Warblers, Wildfowl From A257 east of Canterbury, take Stodmarsh Road. The reserve car park is a few hundred yards after Stodmarsh village, signposted from the main street next to the Red Lion pub. Bring lunch

Led by Anne McGregor

July Mon 31

st

7.00 pm “A” Evening

Bough Beech (TQ495492) TN14 6LD

Owls, wildfowl and whatever else is around as dusk approaches Meet on the causeway road overlooking the reservoir near the KWT reserve centre at Winkhurst Green.

Led by Anne McGregor

August Thur 10

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD

Wildfowl, summer plumaged waders, Bearded Reedling Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village.

Bring lunch.

Led by Anne McGregor

August Sun 20

th

10.00 am “C” All day

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD

Waders and raptors Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village.

Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.45 for 9 am

Led by John Waterman

September Sun 24

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Seaford Head (TV487 982) BN25 1BW

Autumn migrants From the A259 in Seaford, turn south into Dane Road, then L along the Esplanade. Meet in car park at left end of beach, near the café and tower, at base of Seaford Head.

Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.30 for 8.45 am.

Led by John Waterman

September Wed 27

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063197) TN29 9PN

Waders, wildfowl, raptors, Bittern From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd.

Opposite Boulderwall Farm turn left and meet in the car park for the ARC

pits.

Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.

Led by Anne McGregor

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October Wed 11

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (TQ942188) TN31 7TY

Waterfowl and last of the summer migrants From A259 towards Hastings, turn L, after Rye Town on minor road to Rye

Harbour. Meet in car park. Bring lunch.

Led by Anne McGregor

October Sun 22

nd

10.30 am “C” All day

Funton Creek and Sheppey (TQ887684) ME9 8SL

Waterfowl, waders From A249, turn left onto old Kingsferry Bridge/Iwade road, turn left onto Old Ferry Road, then right onto Raspberry Hill Lane towards Lower Halstead. Beside Bedlams Bottom/Funton Creek, park in the larger lay-by on the right.

Bring lunch. If starting from Mavala: 8.45 for 9 am.

Led by John Waterman

If you’ve ever fancied getting involved with some practical conservation, why not come out to one of our work parties? Try felling a tree, making a dead hedge or starting a bonfire; get some fresh air and make a difference. Send an email to tudeley.woods@rspb.org.uk or call 01892 752430 if you’d like more information.

Meet at the Reserve car park at 10:00 am. Post Code TN11 0PT. All work is conducted under

the supervision of the warden, and tools can be provided, though you may prefer to bring your own

(gloves, saw, loppers, etc.). Don’t forget to bring some lunch and a drink!

At the time of printing, due to current roadworks there is no turning directly off the A21, so

the reserve is approached from the B2017 ‘Five Oak Green Road’, turning right (from Sevenoaks

direction) into Alders Road (NB this turning is on a bend), and then right again into Dislingbury

Road, indicated by the brown RSPB sign. The reserve car park is near the end of the lane.

2017 Work Parties

Sunday Wednesday

May 7th

3rd

, 31st

June 4th

28th

July 2nd

12th

, 26th

August 27th

9th

, 23rd

September 24th

6th

, 20th

October 22nd

4th

, 18th

November 19th

1st, 15

th, 29

th

December 17th

13th

Over the last year the work carried out has Included cutting and spreading “green hay” (that is freshly cut grasses containing wild flower seeds) from an existing meadow area to an adjacent cleared patch to extend the meadow; cutting “scallops” (D shaped clearings) adjacent to some of the rides to encourage new growth of ground flora and the insects dependent upon it; clearing invasive rhododendron; removing excessive pine and birch scrub from the heathland areas, and planting gorse (raised by the volunteers from cuttings and seed taken from elsewhere on the reserve) in the heath to encourage Dartford Warblers. There is plenty to do but it is good fun, good company, and cheaper than going to a gym. We do let our hair down a bit at Christmas!

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The Smoke that Thunders – my version. Text and photographs by Jacquie Martin

I was very sorry not to be able to attend the talk by Brian Gallop as I have just come back from visiting Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Botswana. So I thought I would give you my view of the area, birds and wildlife. I flew into Victoria Falls. I had visited the actual Falls before but from the Zambian side, and at the end of the dry season when I found them a little disappointing. This time they were at their best. I could see the plume of ‘smoke’ from the plane as we approached the airport. The next day we walked all along the Zimbabwean side of the Falls and they were in full spate. It definitely made up for last time. We had been given plastic ponchos to wear if we wanted to avoid getting wet in the spray, but it was too hot to use them. The spray was very refreshing. The rest of the holiday concentrated on the ‘safari’ element of the trip. I saw 124 different types of bird, 58 of which I had not seen before. The birds ranged from the large, including Fish Eagle (see photo), Kori Bustard, Saddled-billed Stork, Pels Fishing Owl and the Southern Ground Hornbill (see photo) to the very small Malachite Kingfisher which was surprisingly common in the Okavango Delta.

We had several trips by boat so saw a large number of water birds. These included seven types of heron: Goliath, Black (see photo), Grey, Purple, Squacco, Green-backed and Rufous-bellied. We also saw five types of bee-eater: European, Little, Southern Carmine (very brightly colourful with its carmine and blue plumage), Swallow-tailed and White-throated.

Other highlights for me were the Lesser Jacana, Hammerkop and the Grey Go-away-bird with its head crest and who insists on calling ‘go-away’. Oh, yes, I did see a few mammals as well! In Zimbabwe I went to the Nakavango private game reserve. This is a fenced reserve of 2,500 hectares and is designated an Intensive Protection Zone. The anti-poaching unit works 24/7 to protect animals, especially Black Rhino. The total population of Black Rhino in the world has been reduced to 5,000 and it is an endangered species. The Reserve imported three Black Rhino from South Africa about 15 years ago. This was with a view to trying increase the numbers. They have been very successful as the rhino population in the Reserve is now 11 and they were about to send one of the first-born males (now an adult) to a game park in Botswana.

Fish Eagle

Southern Ground Hornbill

Black Heron

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From Zimbabwe we moved on to Botswana and the Chobe national park. This is a massive area, some 10,400 square kilometres. It is not fenced. The animals are free to go where they will and this can include swimming across the Chobe River to the neighbouring country of Namibia. There are no rhino in the park - they have all been moved to another better protected park in the centre of Botswana. I went on five game drives while at Chobe and saw Lion on four of these. Some sightings were quite a long way off, but there were some nearer ones (see photo). On one drive we saw an incredible number of Elephant, all on a plain near the river. More and more seemed to be coming and we estimated that there were nearly 200. As on other game drives we only saw family groups of 20 to 30 at any one time, we wondered why so many – was it an Elephant Parliament? I photographed the smallest calf, which looked as if he or she was only a few days old. (see photo).

There so many animals to see: Impala. Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Red Lechwe, Buffalo, Gnu, Hyena, Jackal, Zebra, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys and Giraffe, including two fighting by swinging their necks and hitting each other with their heads (see photo). We could hear the thump as they hit each other – and I had always thought they were such graceful and gentle animals.

On the down to earth side of things we saw a Dung Beetle pushing it’s piece of dung (see photo). It looked very hard work!

From Chobe I flew by light aircraft (maximum five passenger and you could not stand up in the plane) to the Okavango Delta. Here we travelled by canoe (which was punted) or small boat. We also did two walking safaris. This was a bit alarming as, although there was a guide front and back, they did not carry guns. They told us they were not allowed to kill animals as they were in a national game park, but they did have detonators for emergencies. These walking safaris gave the opportunity to see woodland birds, including a Woodland Kingfisher. This was also where we saw the Pels Fishing Owl. I really enjoyed the whole experience. Would anyone like to come on another safari? Jacquie Martin

African Lion

African Elephant Giraffe

Dung Beetle

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GITES IN SOUTHERN BRITTANY

Beautifully restored 18th century stone barn, converted into three spacious, comfortable gites, which may be rented separately or altogether for a larger group (up to 16 in total) Set in 4 acres of tranquil grounds and approached by a long drive, each gite has a

large open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining room with traditional exposed beams and

well-equipped bathroom / shower / separate WC. Heating, electricity and gas

included + cots, high chairs and linen on request. Laundry room, games room,

bikes, garden furniture and barbecues. Situated on the Brittany/Pays de la Loire

border, ideal for exploring Brittany’s coastline or Loire Valley. Five minutes from the

Vilaine River Valley: Excellent rambling, cycling, birdwatching, boating, golf +

nearby lake for swimming.

Contact: Anne & Dave Chapman for more details

10% donation to RSPB for bookings made by RSPB members

Tel: 01732-456459 e-mail: anneanddave.chapman@outlook.com website: www.giteslasalle.co.uk

Gite MID SEASON May, June & Sept

2017

HIGH SEASON July & August

2017

LOW SEASON April, October

2017

Poppy & Sunflower

£310 per week

£395 per week

£275 per week

Primrose £295 per week

£370 per week

£270 per week

Exclusive use of all 3

£825 per week

£995 per week

£715 per week

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CAN YOU SPARE A LITTLE OF YOUR TIME FOR RSPB?

One Saturday in March Jean Nobbs and myself attended a meeting for RSPB Local Groups at Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve and were among 20 Local Groups from the South East Region to be represented. The primary object of the day was to get together with other Local Groups and pick up ideas from each other for fund raising, getting involved in the local community, enthusing people about nature, recruiting new members and, last but not least, encouraging existing members to volunteer and give a little of their time to the aforementioned activities. The very reason we all became members of RSPB is because we all care about wildlife and feel that as an organisation the RSPB can use its resources to help protect nature for future generations. Then, following on from becoming members of RSPB, we decided to join our Local Group because we wanted to discover even more about wildlife, both locally and further afield, and meet up with like-minded people who also care about nature and conservation. Our Local Groups are run entirely by volunteers. For those who regularly attend our meetings you will be aware that we have a diverse and enthusiastic group of volunteers who run the local group but the lifeblood of any organisation is to have a fresh supply of ideas and enthusiasm to advance the effectiveness of the group. Suggestions for volunteering with the Local Group:

Helping with refreshments at our monthly meetings

Ideas for fundraising

Helping at summer events

Taking minutes at our committee meetings – ONLY three per year!!

Helping to organise outdoor field trips

Mini Bus Driving

Joining work parties at Broadwater Warren and Tudeley

All we ask is a little of your time. Becoming a Volunteer doesn’t necessarily mean coming on to the committee if that is not your ‘thing’! It doesn’t matter what skills you may have – we need you in any capacity - but if you would like to be a part of something special and make a difference, please come and talk to us about volunteering. ANNE CHAPMAN

Second chance for Nightingales

Kent holds approximately 25% of the UK’s breeding population of Nightingales, with one of the largest concentrations in the Great Chattenden and Lodge Hill Woods on the Hoo Peninsula.

Plans by Medway Council to develop Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill for housing were detailed in the January 2017 issue of the Newsletter (see the news archive on the website for that issue).

These plans have now been “called in” by the Secretary of State and a Public Inquiry will be held – currently scheduled for March 2018. This gives a breathing space, but we need to keep up the pressure, so look out for reminders to lobby councillors, MPs and other decision makers when the time comes – they need to know we care.