Dormouse discovery at Alton Water is good news

Golden brown with thick furry tails, these tiny creatures are known to be living in woods nearby, but this is the first time their presence has been recorded at the reservoir itself.

Last summer distinctive nibble marks on a hazelnut found at Alton Water suggested that endangered dormice had ventured into the Anglian Water nature reserve. Now researchers are proud to confirm these endangered dormice have officially moved in!

Together with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Alton Water volunteers put up monitoring nest tubes after the first signs were found. They later found dormice in three of them, with nests in a further six.

To the surprise of researchers, these tree dwelling mammals even appear to have crossed the busy A137 to reach scrub and woodland habitats around the reservoir.

Over the last century our changing habits have led to the destruction and neglect of the woodlands which these beautiful creatures used to call home.

Dormice are tree-dwelling mammals which are generally reluctant to cross open spaces so as woodlands have become more fragmented their population has suffered. This has caused a drastic decline in the dormouse population to the point where they are now 
so rare they are considered endangered.

Simone Bullion, senior conservation advisor at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust said: “This is a very exciting discovery and one that should provide considerable new habitat opportunities for dormice in this part of Suffolk.

“Future monitoring work will help secure the long term future of this very scarce species.”

The initial survey was deemed such a success that enthusiastic Alton Water volunteers are now planning to build and put up more than 50 permanent nest boxes as part of a 10-year national monitoring scheme administered by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.

This scheme will allow staff at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Anglian Water to see how far dormice have ventured into the site and how their population fares in future years.

Elusive, beautiful rodents with big black eyes, dormice have their name from the Latin dormire which means sleepy. This is no understatement; they can spend up to three quarters of their lives asleep! Dormice hibernate from October to March, spending their days in silent slumber.

So, unlike Alice in Wonderland who was lucky enough to have tea with a dormouse at the Mad Hatter’s Tea party, you are unlikely to ever see these attractive creatures in the wild.

But just because you might not see them, doesn’t mean their arrival at Alton isn’t great news.

Dormice are sometimes known as a ‘flagship’ species, which means that if woodlands near you have dormice then the habitat is also a place where many other creatures will thrive. This is promising news for many of the other animals Anglian Water aims to protect and help with its Biodiversity Action Plan

Promoting biodiversity (the variety of life on Earth) is a priority at Anglian Water and the company spends over £500,000 a year on improving its sites for wildlife. 
This latest success is further encouragement that the work being done is creating results.

At other Anglian Water reservoirs visitors may now be lucky enough to see osprey, barn owls and other rare creatures.

Simon Waters, Head Warden at Alton Water said: “It is fantastic news that we have discovered dormice here at Alton Water, particularly given all the hard work our staff and volunteers have put in recently to make this part of the site more inviting to plants and animals.

“Now we know they are here we will be able to manage the site accordingly and make sure Alton Water continues to be an inviting habitat for this nocturnal mammal.

“This may include introducing more hazel and honeysuckle, two of the plants Dormice are particularly fond of when creating their nests.”

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/features/dormouse_discovery_at_alton_water_is_good_news_1_1210112

Dormice found on Suffolk reserve for the first time

Rare discovery at RSPB nature reserve

January 2012. A sleepy surprise has been discovered at an RSPB nature reserve.

For the first time in the wildlife charity's forty-year ownership of Wolves Wood in Suffolk, signs of the rare and elusive dormouse have been found.

Mark Nowers, the warden at RSPB Wolves Wood, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news, which has come out of the blue as a survey in 2004 found no evidence of these creatures. Since then the habitat, both in size and quality, has been improved, clearly to the dormouse's liking."

Liz Cutting, the licensed dormouse-surveyor who made the discovery, said: "Dormouse can live at very low densities and are often difficult to locate. The discovery of dormice at Wolves Wood is testament that if you have a solid block of well-managed woodland with plenty of suitable habitat, dormice will respond."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/suffolk-dormice.html

The new faces of Royal Animail: New stamp collection featuring Britain's at-risk mammals is released

The new faces of Royal Animail: New stamp collection featuring Britain's at-risk mammals is released

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:02 AM on 13th April 2010

Next time you post a letter, you can send it by first class hedgehog - or polecat, if there's a rush. The little creatures star in the latest series of Royal Mail stamps, released today. The series, which highlights Britain's declining mammal population, also features dormice, bats, otters, humpback whales and sperm whales, and water voles (better known as Ratty from the Wind in the Willows).

According to the Mammal Society, many of the species are in danger after losing their habitat to farming, pollution, growth in roads and housing. The collection is the fourth in Royal Mail's Action For Species series, which has previously featured birds, insects and plants. Royal Mail head of special stamps, Julietta Edgar, said the images were designed to deliver 'an important conservation message through millions of letter boxes'.



Paul Wilkinson of The Wildlife Trusts, a group of charities which focus on habitat conservation, said: 'Many are enthused and inspired by imagery of these creatures; sleeping dormice, sleek otters and the adorable water vole.
'But some may not be aware of the work which goes on behind the scenes to ensure there is adequate and suitable habitat for them.' The Mammal Society said Britain and its coastline is home to more than 60 species of mammals and while many are thriving, others have seen their populations decline. Even the seemingly prevalent hedgehog has seen a fall in numbers.



The series of stamps has been released to coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) - a United Nations conservation initiative.



Dr Robert Bloomfield, UK co-ordinator of the IYB, said: 'These stamps illustrate that even some of the most loved UK species, which we consider common or familiar, are under threat.





'Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265474/Royal-Mail-releases-stamps-featuring-Britains-risk-mammals.html#ixzz0kyKks7xp

Rope for Wildwood rodents

Wildwood is looking for natural rope to help make the animals lives at the park more interesting.

The enclosures are made as natural as possible so that the inhabitants are comfortable and happy. The keepers change the insides of the enclosures at regular intervals so that the animals are kept amused.

This means that we need a good supply of items to put in the enclosures and we have now run out of rope.

Rodents are very good climbers and rope can be draped around the enclosure in many different ways. Natural fibre rope such as manila, sisal or hemp that hasn't been painted or treated with any chemicals is exactly what Wildwood is looking for.

"Many of the animals love the rope in their enclosures" says Christine Reed, Wildwood Keeper "but with us changing enclosures regularly we are now running short".

Perhaps you have some rope lying around that we could use? If you have please contact the Wildwood Office on 01227 712111.

Rodents are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

Wildwood's 'Wildlife Conservation Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

Rodent Facts

The rodents is the largest of the mammalian orders, with over 2,000 species in it. Familiar rodents include mice, rats and squirrels, but animals such as the porcupine, the beaver and the agouti are also rodents. All rodents have front teeth specialised for gnawing.

Forty percent of mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, porcupines, beavers, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, degus, chinchillas, prairie dogs, and groundhogs. Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and spreading disease.

Rope for Wildwood rodents

Wildwood is looking for natural rope to help make the animals lives at the park more interesting.

The enclosures are made as natural as possible so that the inhabitants are comfortable and happy. The keepers change the insides of the enclosures at regular intervals so that the animals are kept amused.

This means that we need a good supply of items to put in the enclosures and we have now run out of rope.

Rodents are very good climbers and rope can be draped around the enclosure in many different ways. Natural fibre rope such as manila, sisal or hemp that hasn't been painted or treated with any chemicals is exactly what Wildwood is looking for.

"Many of the animals love the rope in their enclosures" says Christine Reed, Wildwood Keeper "but with us changing enclosures regularly we are now running short".

Perhaps you have some rope lying around that we could use? If you have please contact the Wildwood Office on 01227 712111.

Rodents are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

Wildwood's 'Wildlife Conservation Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

Rodent Facts

The rodents is the largest of the mammalian orders, with over 2,000 species in it. Familiar rodents include mice, rats and squirrels, but animals such as the porcupine, the beaver and the agouti are also rodents. All rodents have front teeth specialised for gnawing.

Forty percent of mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, porcupines, beavers, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, degus, chinchillas, prairie dogs, and groundhogs. Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and spreading disease.

Adder Cadabra!! Wildwood’s Adders disappear for the winter

As the cold nights approach some of the UK’s native species look forward to hibernation, sleeping through the winter freeze and emerging again in the summer time. At the Wildwood Trust, two years of hard work will end this year as they wait with bated breath to see if their baby adders will be able to survive the cold.

Born at the Park in 2007, 12 adders have been hand reared by a dedicated keeper team. This is the first time that they will leave the warmth of their indoor enclosure where they have lived in for the last 25 months. “We've built them a hibernation box”, explained their keeper, Ali Bennett, “It’s full of straw and dead leaves to keep them warm and safe from the weather.”

This box has been placed inside Wildwood’s newly renovated Adder enclosure. “We've taken every precaution we can take to make them as ready as they can possibly be,” commented Paul Wirdnam Head Keeper at Wildwood Trust, “We've feed them up and given them a natural dry habitat to hibernate in, so now its fingers crossed and hope for the best.”

The new enclosure has been specially designed with a range of features that will ensure a frost free winter for the adders. Leaf litter, dead grass and logs have been used to create a natural underground kingdom of self draining tunnels that will keep the adders warm and dry whatever the weather. On top of this natural habitat the man made hibernation box has been placed so that the adders can choose where they want to spend the winter.

Adders are just one of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park as well, for more information visit the website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782 0087.

Wildwood is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782 0081.

More Facts about Adder breeding at Wildwood:

Wildwood is unique in the country in its ability to successfully breed many of the UK ’s endangered native species. These adders are the only ones in the country who have been trained from birth to be fed by tongs. This enables the keepers to keep a detailed record of how much the animal has eaten and if it will be enough to face the long cold winter ahead. It is vital that organisations like Wildwood protect and breed these reptiles to give them a successful future. Adders have slowly disappeared from the British countryside in the last fifty years leading to their inclusion in BAP – The government’s British Biodiversity Plan.

Adder Facts:
Vipera berus

Adders are the only species found inside the Arctic circle. They are also Britain's only venomous reptile.

Length: 50-65cm. Females are larger than the males.

Adders are short with large heads with a rounded nose and red-brown eyes. Males are usually a grey colour with vivid black markings, although they can also vary from silver to yellow or green in colour. Females are brown with dark red-brown markings that are less prominent than in the males. Both sexes have a zigzag pattern running along the back with a / or X-shaped marking at the rear of the head, although this zigzag pattern may be replaced by a straight brown stripe with dark spots on either side. Adders have black undersides.

Distribution
Adders are widespread throughout mainland Britain , but are absent from Ireland . They occur throughout Europe, with the exception of the Mediterranean islands, and across Russia and Asia through to N. China .

Habitat
Adders occupy a variety of habitats, including open woodland, hedgerows, moorland, sand dunes, riverbanks, bogs, heathland and mountains.

Diet
Adders use venom to immobilise prey such as lizards, amphibians, nestlings and small mammals. After striking their prey, they will leave the venom to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. This is an economical way of hunting, avoiding any damage that could be caused by struggling with prey.

Behaviour
Adders are active during the day, spending time basking until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for food. In some of the hotter countries of their range, they may emerge at dawn and dusk to avoid the intense heat. Mating takes place between April and May, with males often fighting for females. They rear up at each other and try to push the head of their opponent onto the ground. Eventually, one male will give up and search for another mate. Adders hibernate from September to March when temperatures dip below nine degrees Celsius, often using deserted rabbit or rodent burrows, or settling under logs. They sometimes hibernate communally. Males emerge 2-5 weeks before the females and shed their skin before setting off in search of females.

Reproduction
April-May. Adders have a 3 to 4 month gestation period and are one of the few snakes that are viviparous (give birth to live young). In late August females give birth to between 5 and 20 live young, although usually the number is between 6 and 10. The young remain close to their mother for a few days, before going off in search of food.

Conservation status
Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from being killed, injured or sold.

Adders are not aggressive snakes, and will only attack if harassed or threatened. Although an adder’s venom poses little danger to a healthy adult human, the bite is painful and requires immediate medical attention.

Other animals that hibernate:

Hedgehogs, dormice, frogs, toads, newts, slow worms, snakes, ladybirds and lacewings are all creatures that will hibernate in the UK and you may be lucky enough to find them in your garden!

Hedgehogs need to get their body weight up to survive the winter and you can very easily help with that, too. Leave out dog food, chopped peanuts, crunchy peanut butter, raw or cooked meat leftovers, muesli and a small amount of vegetables. Don’t leave bread and milk as it gives them diarrhoea.

Frogs and toads spend the winter in the mud at the bottom of ponds. If you have a garden pond you can really help your hibernators by floating a tennis ball in the water to prevent it from freezing over. Other amphibians hibernate in piles of leaves, long grass or logs.

Hedgehogs, Slow worms and other reptiles will snuggle down in your compost heap along with insects such as ladybirds and lacewings. They help to keep garden pests under control and stop you having to resort to pesticides.

Photos: Wildwood.

Adder Cadabra!! Wildwood’s Adders disappear for the winter

As the cold nights approach some of the UK’s native species look forward to hibernation, sleeping through the winter freeze and emerging again in the summer time. At the Wildwood Trust, two years of hard work will end this year as they wait with bated breath to see if their baby adders will be able to survive the cold.

Born at the Park in 2007, 12 adders have been hand reared by a dedicated keeper team. This is the first time that they will leave the warmth of their indoor enclosure where they have lived in for the last 25 months. “We've built them a hibernation box”, explained their keeper, Ali Bennett, “It’s full of straw and dead leaves to keep them warm and safe from the weather.”

This box has been placed inside Wildwood’s newly renovated Adder enclosure. “We've taken every precaution we can take to make them as ready as they can possibly be,” commented Paul Wirdnam Head Keeper at Wildwood Trust, “We've feed them up and given them a natural dry habitat to hibernate in, so now its fingers crossed and hope for the best.”

The new enclosure has been specially designed with a range of features that will ensure a frost free winter for the adders. Leaf litter, dead grass and logs have been used to create a natural underground kingdom of self draining tunnels that will keep the adders warm and dry whatever the weather. On top of this natural habitat the man made hibernation box has been placed so that the adders can choose where they want to spend the winter.

Adders are just one of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park as well, for more information visit the website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782 0087.

Wildwood is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782 0081.

More Facts about Adder breeding at Wildwood:

Wildwood is unique in the country in its ability to successfully breed many of the UK ’s endangered native species. These adders are the only ones in the country who have been trained from birth to be fed by tongs. This enables the keepers to keep a detailed record of how much the animal has eaten and if it will be enough to face the long cold winter ahead. It is vital that organisations like Wildwood protect and breed these reptiles to give them a successful future. Adders have slowly disappeared from the British countryside in the last fifty years leading to their inclusion in BAP – The government’s British Biodiversity Plan.

Adder Facts:
Vipera berus

Adders are the only species found inside the Arctic circle. They are also Britain's only venomous reptile.

Length: 50-65cm. Females are larger than the males.

Adders are short with large heads with a rounded nose and red-brown eyes. Males are usually a grey colour with vivid black markings, although they can also vary from silver to yellow or green in colour. Females are brown with dark red-brown markings that are less prominent than in the males. Both sexes have a zigzag pattern running along the back with a / or X-shaped marking at the rear of the head, although this zigzag pattern may be replaced by a straight brown stripe with dark spots on either side. Adders have black undersides.

Distribution
Adders are widespread throughout mainland Britain , but are absent from Ireland . They occur throughout Europe, with the exception of the Mediterranean islands, and across Russia and Asia through to N. China .

Habitat
Adders occupy a variety of habitats, including open woodland, hedgerows, moorland, sand dunes, riverbanks, bogs, heathland and mountains.

Diet
Adders use venom to immobilise prey such as lizards, amphibians, nestlings and small mammals. After striking their prey, they will leave the venom to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. This is an economical way of hunting, avoiding any damage that could be caused by struggling with prey.

Behaviour
Adders are active during the day, spending time basking until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for food. In some of the hotter countries of their range, they may emerge at dawn and dusk to avoid the intense heat. Mating takes place between April and May, with males often fighting for females. They rear up at each other and try to push the head of their opponent onto the ground. Eventually, one male will give up and search for another mate. Adders hibernate from September to March when temperatures dip below nine degrees Celsius, often using deserted rabbit or rodent burrows, or settling under logs. They sometimes hibernate communally. Males emerge 2-5 weeks before the females and shed their skin before setting off in search of females.

Reproduction
April-May. Adders have a 3 to 4 month gestation period and are one of the few snakes that are viviparous (give birth to live young). In late August females give birth to between 5 and 20 live young, although usually the number is between 6 and 10. The young remain close to their mother for a few days, before going off in search of food.

Conservation status
Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from being killed, injured or sold.

Adders are not aggressive snakes, and will only attack if harassed or threatened. Although an adder’s venom poses little danger to a healthy adult human, the bite is painful and requires immediate medical attention.

Other animals that hibernate:

Hedgehogs, dormice, frogs, toads, newts, slow worms, snakes, ladybirds and lacewings are all creatures that will hibernate in the UK and you may be lucky enough to find them in your garden!

Hedgehogs need to get their body weight up to survive the winter and you can very easily help with that, too. Leave out dog food, chopped peanuts, crunchy peanut butter, raw or cooked meat leftovers, muesli and a small amount of vegetables. Don’t leave bread and milk as it gives them diarrhoea.

Frogs and toads spend the winter in the mud at the bottom of ponds. If you have a garden pond you can really help your hibernators by floating a tennis ball in the water to prevent it from freezing over. Other amphibians hibernate in piles of leaves, long grass or logs.

Hedgehogs, Slow worms and other reptiles will snuggle down in your compost heap along with insects such as ladybirds and lacewings. They help to keep garden pests under control and stop you having to resort to pesticides.

Photos: Wildwood.

Radley silversmith sets off woodland hunts up and down the country - in aid of dormouse

Thursday 22nd October 2009

By Herald Reporter

A SILVERSMITH has been recruited by a national charity to cast 21 hazelnuts — in a bid to save the English dormouse.

John Huddlestone, 57, of St James Road, Radley, took up silver work at a night class at Abingdon and Witney College in 1978.

More than 30 years on, he teaches the craft and has been recruited by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) to cast prizes for a new campaign.

Mr Huddlestone has created one gold-plated nut — worth £100 — and 20 silver nuts — worth £75 each — which will be hidden in woodlands around England and Wales as rewards for volunteers who help record the presence of dormice by looking for half-chewed nuts on the forest floor.

The PTES hopes to recruit thousands of volunteers to scour the countryside and the nut hunters will be able to keep any of the prized hazelnuts they find.

Unlike squirrels, which eat hazelnuts haphazardly, dormice nibble a circular hole in the hazelnut’s shell to get to the kernel. The dormice then discard the empty shell, complete with a distinctive tooth mark.

Experts believe that if volunteers can record how many gnawed shells they find, it will give them a better knowledge of how many dormice, pictured below, survive in the wild.

During the last dormouse survey in 2001, one expert examined 50,000 chewed shells to determine which were created by dormice.

Records in Oxfordshire are out of date. Monitoring at the last known habitat in Oxfordshire ended in 2006 because all traces of the dormice, which are just seven centimetres long, disappeared.

Mr Huddlestone, who works as a scientist at AEA Technology at Harwell, cast the precious nuts by pouring silver and gold into a clay mould formed from real hazelnuts.

He said: “The appeal is making something beautiful with my own hallmark. The things that I make will be around for many, many years.

“It was an odd commission, but I had already cast walnuts and nectarine stones.

“I just like doing different things and this style of casting. I do a whole range of things from silver belt buckles to delicate earrings.”

Nut hunters have until March next year to find the nuts, and can register by visiting the website ptes.org

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/4697072.Nation_s_going_nuts_because_of_silversmith/

Radley silversmith sets off woodland hunts up and down the country - in aid of dormouse

Thursday 22nd October 2009

By Herald Reporter

A SILVERSMITH has been recruited by a national charity to cast 21 hazelnuts — in a bid to save the English dormouse.

John Huddlestone, 57, of St James Road, Radley, took up silver work at a night class at Abingdon and Witney College in 1978.

More than 30 years on, he teaches the craft and has been recruited by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) to cast prizes for a new campaign.

Mr Huddlestone has created one gold-plated nut — worth £100 — and 20 silver nuts — worth £75 each — which will be hidden in woodlands around England and Wales as rewards for volunteers who help record the presence of dormice by looking for half-chewed nuts on the forest floor.

The PTES hopes to recruit thousands of volunteers to scour the countryside and the nut hunters will be able to keep any of the prized hazelnuts they find.

Unlike squirrels, which eat hazelnuts haphazardly, dormice nibble a circular hole in the hazelnut’s shell to get to the kernel. The dormice then discard the empty shell, complete with a distinctive tooth mark.

Experts believe that if volunteers can record how many gnawed shells they find, it will give them a better knowledge of how many dormice, pictured below, survive in the wild.

During the last dormouse survey in 2001, one expert examined 50,000 chewed shells to determine which were created by dormice.

Records in Oxfordshire are out of date. Monitoring at the last known habitat in Oxfordshire ended in 2006 because all traces of the dormice, which are just seven centimetres long, disappeared.

Mr Huddlestone, who works as a scientist at AEA Technology at Harwell, cast the precious nuts by pouring silver and gold into a clay mould formed from real hazelnuts.

He said: “The appeal is making something beautiful with my own hallmark. The things that I make will be around for many, many years.

“It was an odd commission, but I had already cast walnuts and nectarine stones.

“I just like doing different things and this style of casting. I do a whole range of things from silver belt buckles to delicate earrings.”

Nut hunters have until March next year to find the nuts, and can register by visiting the website ptes.org

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/4697072.Nation_s_going_nuts_because_of_silversmith/