Audlem Wildlife

As part of the review of the contents of AudlemOnline in preparation for the launch of a new version within a few weeks, Adrian Leighton has kindly rewritten the article on Audlem wildlife in the Tourism section.
This will appear on the new site when it comes onstream, but it is appended here for general interest.

Some snippets from the article

Birds in Audlem

Kingfishers breed regularly in the sandy banks of the River Weaver and along the Shropshire Union canal. There are Herons, Mute Swans, Little Grebes, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard, Moorhens and Coots in good numbers. Little Egrets arrived for the first time in 2015, followed by Great White Egret.

Mammals

Foxes and Badgers are common in the area. There are large numbers of old, well-established Badger setts but many dead badgers are seen by the side of roads after being hit. Hedgehogs are now rarely seen.
It is fifty years since the Red Squirrel disappeared and Grey Squirrels are everywhere as are rabbits. Hares are rarely seen. Stoats and Weasels are fairly common. Mink have significantly decreased following a mass release by animal rights campaigners a few miles away in 1997. Otters are now present along the canal and have seen in the Weaver, the canal and elsewhere including Overwater Marina. Water Voles have also begun to make a reappearance in recent years . A more recent arrival is the polecat which has been re-colonising many parts of Cheshire.

Wildlife of Turnpike Fields

In 2019, the local community acquired the Turnpike Fields as a recreation area for the village. Part of the area is designated to provide additional car parking for the village while the rest of the very varied terrain is being used, at present,as an open space for walking, with or without a dog, picnicking, and general recreation. The Fields also embrace a variety of habits, with grassland, hedgerow, stream, floating bog and a spoil mound. In additional in 2020 two ponds have been dug.
In 2019 Cheshire Wildlife Trust conducted a survey which identified the plants and grasses present and make recommendations for improving of habitats including the ponds.

You can read the full article by clicking on the link below.