Recently two tutors at Malham have found permanent positions at other FSC centres. Becky Casson moved a couple of months ago to Snowdonia to Rhyd-y-creuau. This week Corinne Cox has moved to Juniper Hall in Surrey.
We wish them both luck in their new adventures with the FSC, and they are always welcome to come visit.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
New Blue Crayfish
We have a a beautiful new adult White Claw Crayfish in our tanks. She is bright blue in colour which is very rare and thought to be a recessive genetic trait.
As part of their life cycle between May and October Crayfish need to moult their shell to grow. Overnight our crayfish has shed her exoskeleton which is left in the tank and she is an even brighter blue than normal.
The photo is from yesterday before she moulted.
As part of their life cycle between May and October Crayfish need to moult their shell to grow. Overnight our crayfish has shed her exoskeleton which is left in the tank and she is an even brighter blue than normal.
The photo is from yesterday before she moulted.
Friday, 17 August 2012
Monday, 13 August 2012
Twitter and Facebook
Did you know Malham Tarn FSC is on Facebook and is tweeting? Find out all the latest goings on direct to you from Malham Tarn.
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Bat Rescue
Over the weekend staff at the centre noticed a bat clinging onto a main wall in the daytime. If a bat has been out in daylight and not moved The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) website had useful information on how to move the bat. (Remember you need a license to handle bats, and need to use gloves as they can transmit rabies though scratches and bites.) The advice said to put a shoe box over the bat and slip cardboard between the wall and box to ease the bat into the box. Then we added something warm into the box for the bat to lie under, and a small amount of water in a bottle top.
The BCT have a helpline to call so the bat can be taken by volunteers to rehabilitate it and hopefully release back into the wild again. Our bat was taken by the East Lancashire Bat Group, and once fed up a bit should be healthy to be released again at Malham.
For more information on bats and what to do if you find an injured one look up the BCT. http://www.bats.org.uk/
The BCT have a helpline to call so the bat can be taken by volunteers to rehabilitate it and hopefully release back into the wild again. Our bat was taken by the East Lancashire Bat Group, and once fed up a bit should be healthy to be released again at Malham.
For more information on bats and what to do if you find an injured one look up the BCT. http://www.bats.org.uk/
Monday, 30 July 2012
Strawberries
Summer has not really made it as far as the Tarn, however our summer strawberries are doing well and look like a tasty treat to eat soon. Planted in old wellingtons in the courtyard they have started to ripen in the short sunny spells.
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Baby Blue Tit
Over the past week a baby Blue Tit has been loitering around the main building at the field centre. When he was first spotted it appeared that he was possibly in a poor condition and maybe was unable to fly. We think it is possible that he (or she) had left the nest too soon and was fending for himself. However for the past few days he has been fed by centre staff and can fly well.
In the past we have been able to watch Blue Tits in their nesting box with a nest box camera but this year the Blue Tits did not nest in this box.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
New freshwater invetebrates tank
Malham Tarn Field Centre has the pleasure of unveiling a brand new freshwater invertebrates tank. The new Irene Cossins Malham Tarn and Beck freshwater tank has been designed and stocked by PBA Ecology in association with the Environment Agency and Natural England. This is part of ongoing freshwater biodiversity iniatives in the area.
The FSC at Malham Tarn hosts and maintains the tank as part of Freshwater Ecology courses, and our commitment to teaching about the environment and conservation.
The FSC at Malham Tarn hosts and maintains the tank as part of Freshwater Ecology courses, and our commitment to teaching about the environment and conservation.
Summer Courses at Malham Tarn 2012
We still have availability on some of our adult courses for this summer, it is not too late to book. If you are interested in any of the below courses, please contact the office for further details.
Telephone: 01729 830331
Introduction to Freshwater Animals, 3rd-6th August
Grasses, Sedges and Rushes, 3rd-10th August
Fens and Bogs: plants & processes, 6th-10th August
Mosses and Liverworts, 20th-24th August
Lichens in the Dales, 24th-27th August
Natural History Photography for ID, 24th-27th August
Exploring the Dales, 17th-20th August
Ingleborough an Iconic Mountain, 20th-27th August
Art and the Limestone Landcape, 13th-17th August
Classic Watercolour Painting, 20th-24th August
Sculpture: an exploration, 24th-27th August
Woolcraft Weekend, 31st August-2nd September
Countryfile at Malham Cove with Belted Galloways
Adam Henson travels to the beautiful scenery at Malham Cove for BBC's Countryfile, to talk to local farmer Neil Heseltine about the Belted Galloway cows that graze the slopes of the amazing Malhamdale countryside.
Otters at Malham Tarn by Emily Alderton
Malham Tarn
is home to an array of rare and protected animals, with the arrival of the
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), in
recent years adding to the diversity of the site. I am currently conducting a study of the
seasonal diet composition of this recovering predator, which has been poorly
researched in still freshwaters. This
work will provide a better understanding of how otters use more isolated waters
like Malham Tarn, and what impacts their return may have on the fish, crayfish
and bird populations at this site.
The diet of
the otters is being assessed through analysis of their spraint (faeces), which
has been collected monthly since December 2011.
Fish and amphibian bones, and bird feathers, all pass through the
digestive system relatively intact, and can be identified. The prey species appearing most frequently in
the otters’ diet seem to be bullhead, followed by small trout and
amphibians. There is evidence that some
birds are being taken, but this is quite uncommon and may be from scavenging.
From
personal observation and sightings by visitors and staff at the field centre,
it seems that only two otters are presently living and hunting on the
tarn. These otters can often be observed
on still evenings, about an hour before nightfall, fishing in the
shallow waters between the bird hide and the inflow stream.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Geography for home educated students
FSC Malham Tarn is planning a 3-day field course from Wednesday 29th –
Friday 31st August 2012, especially for home educated students.
Topics will include river processes and tourism which will give your student a wide range of enquiry skills.
If you are interested please contact FSC Malham Tarn for more information on 01729 830331 or enquiries.mt@field-studies-council.org
Course: GCSE Geography for home educated students
Dates: 29th – 31st August 2012
Duration: 3-day residential course
Location: FSC Malham Tarn, Yorkshire
Course: GCSE Geography for home educated students
Dates: 29th – 31st August 2012
Duration: 3-day residential course
Location: FSC Malham Tarn, Yorkshire
Inspiration from the area from Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies
An article from the Yorkshire Post delves into the area behind the famous Charles Kingsley novel The Water Babies, which was written and set around Malham Tarn House and the Cove.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/community/nostalgia/boy-sweep-with-hold-on-the-imagination-1-4412956
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