The Manx Wildlife Trust is the leading nature conservation charity in the Isle of Man.

It protects the fragile local wildlife by creating living landscapes, living seas and encouraging and fostering a society where nature matters. =

Autumn really has arrived and with it the trees and plants are producing plenty of colourful berries and nuts.

With the effects of global warming the dates these fruits are starting to ripen are becoming earlier.

So, this month, we would like our citizen scientists to tell us when did you see the first ripe blackberry?

What about Sloes? They should be ripening at the end of September.

Hazelnuts will be turning from green to a brown colour around about this time of year. Can you remember when have you noticed the first golden brown hazelnut?

They should ripen at the end of September to October, but have you seen any earlier than this?

What about sweet chestnuts? Have you seen any dropping from the trees now?

They should fall from the sweet chestnut trees during October.

The study of seasonal changes in plants and animals from year to year is called phenology.

Sightings are recorded about the flowering of plants, emergence of insects and migration of birds, especially their timing and relationship with weather and climate.

All this can help us understand the rate of climate change and its impact on the world.

There is also a wonderful website which you can also use to submit findings, called Natures Calendar.

Here is their summary about autumn 2019 and how it compared to other years:

’In 2019 the average first tinting of all trees and shrubs occurred in the last weeks of September to first week of October. All species were on or later than the benchmark year average in 2007 (chosen because the mean monthly temperatures during that year were similar to the 1961-90 averages).’

With more and more data being gathered this will increase our accuracy of understanding of the world.

So go on, join in with the growing band of citizen scientists and make a note of nature for us!

Our monthly articles have been about turning everyone into citizen scientist to help us find out what is happening to our wildlife.

Data from all our citizen scientists produce real benefits for nature, as well as being extremely important to how we conserve and protect our wildlife and habitats.

What is even better is that anyone can become a citizen scientist, young or old.

Please submit any sightings you see or find to the Manx Wildlife Trust.

Remember to include the date, the type of species seen, where you saw it and your name and contact details in case of queries.

Photographs are always a bonus too, and you can email them to us at [email protected]

If you have any questions, feel free to phone us on 844432.

Our records are passed to the NBN Atlas Isle of Man which anyone can access.

by Dawn Colley

Biodiversity Education Officer

www.mwt.im