In 2016 we put a report together alongside Staffordshire Ecological Record. It was the first “stocktake” of species and habitats found across the county and brought together data and expertise from dozens of individuals and organisations, providing an update on how wildlife is faring across the county in the hope that action will be taken to improve conditions.

Summer is a time of colour. By day, colourful wildlife zips and darts along the waterside in the form of hunting kingfishers and dragonflies. Butterflies flit between flower and reptiles bask on sun warmed bare earth. The activity carries on under cover of darkness too - bats sweep swiftly through the air and nightjars churr, while glow-worms adorn the night with their luminescent mating rituals.

Winter is a time of subtle beauty and hidden wild treasures to spot

Spring is usually said to start at the beginning of March, and the 21st of March is the Spring Equinox, the date on which day and night are of equal length. This season is when days get longer, and the spring sunshine brings growth and greenery. Birdsong reaches a peak, and many flowers appear, attracting insects, including bees and butterflies.

During Autumn, daylight rapidly reduces and the sun is becomes lower in the sky. The autumn equinox, when day and night are of equal length, is on 23 September. There are often spectacular sunsets in Autumn, the stars can seem brighter at night, and mist often blankets the land early in the morning. This is a time of nature's plenty, with a beautiful hedgerow harvests of blackberries, rose hips, crab apples, hazelnuts and seeds. Many of our much-loved creatures take advantage of this wild harvest to build up fat reserves for migration or hibernation.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to looking after Staffordshire's Wildlife and wild places. Our website offers lots of information about what we do and the wild spaces we're restoring. You can also join as a member, book onto an event and learn about the wildlife that lives in Staffordshire.

Local wildlife charity Staffordshire Wildlife Trust are inviting artists and photographers to submit artworks for their exhibition ‘Wild About Staffordshire – Celebrating 50 Years of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.’ The artworks will be on display from Oct-Dec 2019.