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| 40 years of saving butterflies, moths and our environment |
| Butterfly Conservation | |
| 40 years of saving butterflies, moths and our environment |
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WORK PARTY REPORTS - Latest
Devil's Dyke - 11th March 2012Our final session of the winter finished off what we started with, another leg-aching day on the vertiginous slope of the Devils Dyke. This time we were based on the furthest part of the butterfly transect (section 3), beyond the pine trees of the July racecourse section.Eight of us tackled the job in hand, working in such glorious weather that it was surprising that only one butterfly, a Brimstone, was seen - the weather was remarkably calm, sunny and warm. Queen bumblebees were raiding the first sallow bushes to come into flower, and a wide assortment of insects were to be seen, as was a Common Lizard, dashing away from the oncoming brushcutter blades! The hot weather encouraged 3 Buzzards to soar high over head while we had lunch. The work continued a planned programme of opening up small sections of dense grass where the Dyke has been unmanaged for many years, removing the thatch of accumulated grass and exposing the chalk grassland below to full sun, with the aim of encouraging Horseshoe Vetch that is so important to Chalkhill Blue and Dingy Skipper larvae. By using the 'wandering brushcutter' approach, we aim to have a scatter of small managed patches over a large area of section 3, rather than one large area of managed grass as a block which is how we operated on section 1 in the autumn. We also thinned out scrub in the area where it was overly dense, but on much of this section the scrub is at such a low density that it is actually beneficial to leave it as mini windbreaks. The third aspect of the job was to remove some of the trees from the south side of the dyke, to let more sunlight through to the important south-facing bank of the dyke. On this occasion, we put more effort into mowing the furthest reaches of section 3, as previous work parties have focussed on the worst scrub infestation on the first part of the section, which is now getting towards the perfect mix of fine grassland, light scrub and some rank grasses which provide Dingy Skippers with shelter from the wind, larval feeding areas and adult roosting and nectaring sites. Finally, when all the scrubcutters were finally silent, we raked off all the cut grass to reduce the fertility of the turf so favouring the important plants over the more competitive grasses. As well as the one Brimstone butterfly, we also recorded a few moth species - Mottled Grey and the common plume moth Emmelina monodactyla were disturbed from the grassland, and the larvae of Square-spotted Rustic and White Satin moths were found by the more careful observers.
Hats off to Vince Lea, Louise Bacon, John Dawson, Hilary Conlan, Nick Andrews-Gauvain, Rob Smith, Richard Bigg and David Seilly for giving up the best butterfly day of the year to do this vital work. Authored by Vince Lea Langdon Lake and Meadows - 19th February 2012The regular Work Party at the Wildlife Trust Plotlands site was carried out in excellent weather conditions - for a change. Although the wind was a bit chilly, the sun shone from a clear blue sky all day. The object of today's work was to clear more of the hawthorn/bramble scrub in the hope that Cinquefoil, the larval food plant of the Grizzled Skipper, would grow in the cleared area and entice the butterfly to move in. The species is known to exist nearby.Nine members of BC, together with Nicky, and a lady who lives locally, both WLT members who regularly help with work on the site, set to work under the direction of Mick Coulson the Reserve Officer. With four brush cutters operating and the rest of the party using saws and loppers the cleared area soon began to grow. A fire was lit and the pile of cuttings fed on to it. Much needed breaks for coffee and lunch provided time for discussion of "things butterfly" helped by the sunshine and thoughts of the coming season. Rob disturbed a moth at one point and everyone gathered round with various ID suggestions. The matter was soon resolved when John Dawson arrived and with one look pronounced it to be a Shoulder Stripe. This species appears February to April and it's larval food plant is wild rose, plenty of which was among the vegetation we were cutting down. We finished soon after 3pm and Mick was well pleased with what we had achieved, lets hope that the butterflies are equally appreciative. Last year, Grizzled Skipper was recorded in this part of the site, and the habitat improves each time we visit.
Thanks are due to Rob Smith, Tony Moverley (on his last branch work party before moving away), Louise Bacon, Vince Lea, John Smart, Mark Bunch, Paul Hutton and John Dawson and of course the WLT members and staff. Authored by Richard Bigg Thrift Wood - 22nd January 2012A dry day with a cool breeze and eleven of us gathered initially in the Thrift Wood car park. But where was Richard? Fortunately George the warden was on hand to give directions.Three brushcutters set to work on the areas of the glade which were left uncut the previous year (see 2010/11 report), thereby completing the first 2 year cycle of glade maintenance. The other volunteers coppiced an area on the north side of Area 1, enlarging and opening the site up to sunlight. Previous experience at Thrift has shown the common cow-wheat, the Heath Fritillary's larval food plant, quickly colonising such areas. The mystery of our missing conservation officer was solved shortly before lunch as Richard appeared, lunch in hand, a little later than he had anticipated - delayed somewhat by a domestic crisis (aka water leaking through a ceiling light fitting). Although it's too early to see whether the new regime of glade cutting is having a beneficial effect on the Heath Fritillary population, initial results are encouraging. Last year, George's records show a maximum count of 23 (compared with a low of 11 in 2010) which ties in nicely with Richard's highest count of the flight period of 29.
Many thanks to all attending: Louise Bacon, John Dawson and Tony Moverley on the brush-cutters, Rob Smith, Norman Feltwell, Val Blamire, Vince Lea , George Fletcher, Steve Stuart and his enthusiastic son Jack and friend Brandon - and of course Richard Bigg (Branch Conservation Officer for Essex) for his heroic attendance despite his domestic troubles. Authored by Tony Moverley Foulden Common - 4th December 2011Short breaks were the order of the day at an exposed Foulden Common as a few hardy volunteers nipped over the border for this joint East Anglian venture to the 'Norfolk Brecks'. Sharon Hearle lead us from the village hall meeting place to an entrance close to where we would be working.Foulden Common is a large SSSI with a variety of grassland and wetland habitats. The part of the common where we were to work was a section of calcareous grassland noted for its large numbers of Grizzled Skippers that are measured in their hundreds, together with a smaller population of Dingy Skippers that tend to hole up in one sheltered corner of the site. 'Our' part of the site was usually grazed by cattle, although there were not present today. Cattle grazing seems to suit the Grizzled Skipper's requirements as it does not take the grass too short, as sheep normally do, and it also creates bare patches that raise the temperature for developing larvae and provide basking places for adult butterflies. Much in evidence amongst the sward was a lot of salad burnet which may be the main larval host plant at this site, also there was a small amount of creeping cinquefoil still showing. Also in evidence were carline thistle and many anthills. But the main reason for our work was to clear the hawthorn and blackthorn regrowth that the cattle do not keep in check. Fortunately 4 of our number were able to use the brushcutters and as they set to work, the others opened further an existing gap in the hedge normally used by cattle. By carrying out a small amount of pruning, we were able to utilise a sheltered area within the hedgerow to pile the brash as it was being cut, whilst taking care not to block the area normally used by the cattle for summer shade. As it meant carrying most of the brash some distance, there was no point cutting too much, so the brushcutters gradually changed tasks throughout the afternoon session so that all of the work site was tidied up. A short walk across part of the common at lunchtime revealed a large area of gorse were Green Hairstreaks were plentiful in the spring. The sheltered area to the north-east of the site that held Dingy Skipper was not touched as the sward appeared sufficiently thin and the small patches of longer vegetation appeared to offer good perching material for adult butterflies. Sharon Hearle noted that Rob Parker, the Suffolk recorder, had observed the unusual habit of Dingy Skipper basking on tree trunks at this site.
Many thanks to those who made the journey and took part in a tough day's work: Sharon Hearle, Trevor Grange (warden at Over Railway Cutting), Louise Bacon, Vince Lea, Tony Moverley, John Dawson & Rob Smith. Authored by Rob Smith (Essex Butterfly Recorder) Brampton Wood - 20th November 2011A murky foggy day greeted us as we embarked on our third work party of the winter, although after lunch this cleared to give an hour or two of sunshine which revealed that the efforts made in the Black Hairstreak glades had created some great sun traps.The job of the day centred on glades 1 and 2 towards the northern end of the main ride across the wood, these being two of the five points where the Black Hairstreak are monitored. The main glade area of both these sites was in fairly good condition, although some layering of Blackthorn and coppicing of larger trees of other species was necessary at glade 2. Site 1 just needed a strim round to make it easier to access. Additional work was done to extend the amount of suitable habitat in the general area of these glades. We created a new glade from very over-mature blackthorn adjacent to the main ride, 30 yards north-west of glade 1, which, if it attracts Black Hairstreaks, will make viewing this species much easier for the visitor who is unaware of the location of the designated glades! Between glades 1 & 2, there is an abundance of over-mature blackthorn growing under the shade of other trees. A long-term aim of the management plan is to join these glades together, which are about 100 yards apart. This should facilitate the growth and expansion of the colonies and genetic interchange among the populations. It will also ensure that if one of the glades has a bad year and Black Hairstreak goes locally extinct, it should be re-populated with the butterfly. For this, we extended glade 2 southwards, glade 1 northwards, and created a mini glade in between. There is still linkage work to do, but it is best to do this sort of work gradually. The long-term aim is join all the glades with butterfly-friendly routes through the wood, enhancing any patches of blackthorn where they occur. The next nearest glade to this area is about 300 yards west, so there is plenty to do! Ideal glade conditions seem to be mature but vigorous blackthorn in full sun but sheltered from high wind, with adjacent honeydew-trees such as field maples, and nectar plants like Dogwood and Bramble. We layer the blackthorn, which means to partially sever the over-mature trunks, and lower them to the ground; with a section of bark still connected to the rootstock the trees continue to live, but at a lower altitude, where there is more shelter. Any eggs layed on these stems thus have a chance to survive when the emerge, as the buds they feed on will be opening up. It also encourages vigorous regrowth from the rootstock which in time becomes suitable egg-laying habitat. Shade-casing trees such as aspens, hazels, hawthorns and so on are coppiced in the glades to increase sunlight reaching the area. Thanks to Louise Bacon, Vince Lea, Roger Orbell, Rob Smith, Lynne Farrell, Frank Priest, Mark Wood, Rosalyn Payne, Phil Bromley, Robin Field and Ian Shaw. George Cottam, the site warden, added enormously to our capacity to get the work done by bringing his chainsaw along. Authored by Vince Lea (Conservation Officer for Cambs) Dodd's Grove - 6th November 2011This site is a new venture on the Cambs and Essex conservation Work Party winter schedule. There is a colony of Heath Fritillary butterflies on the site which have been present since their introduction in the late eighties but the number of which have been declining for several years.The habitat is ancient woodland consisting primarily of oak, chestnut, hornbeam, and birch. The wood is owned by Southend CC who carry out some management work but specific habitat management for the Heath Fritillary has been carried out by just two or three members of the South Essex Natural History group. The Work Party was led by Don Down a member of this group and of Cambs and Essex Branch of BC. Six members of BC, including Don, were led to a ride where bracken, bramble and scrub were in danger of impeding the growth of cow wheat, the larval food plant of the butterfly. Fortunately the rain forecast earlier in the week did not materialise and the day was fairly mild. Two members set to with brush-cutters and the others attacked the sturdier growth with loppers and saws. A substantial area was cleared and raked off. After lunch, during which Don regaled us with his years of experience of the wood and butterflies of the past, we moved on to an adjacent, fairly open area, and repeated the process of brush-cutting and raking, again clearing a substantial area of scrub.
Thanks are due to Vince Lea, Louise Bacon, Tony Moverley, Rob Smith, and in no small measure to John Dawson who, although unable to join us, maintains the tools in superb condition. Authored by Richard Bigg (Conservation Officer for Essex) Devil's Dyke - 9th October 2011First conservation work of the 2011-12 winterJust five of us set off to conserve the fantastic butterfly site on the Devils Dyke, but we were joined by a sixth volunteer at mid-morning. With four of us on brushcutters for the morning and two continuing this aspect in the afternoon, we got the usual quantity of dyke cut - a 50m section of the main south-facing slope. With the small turnout, there was an inevitable reduction in the amount of scrub we could cut back, but the area chosen for work had relatively little in the way of problem scrub. It's important to keep some bushes for shelter from the wind and as perches for the Green Hairstreaks that occur on the site.Once the bank was mown short, most of us diverted efforts to the important job of raking the cut material off the bank - this reduces soil fertility and opens up the sward to create the bare patches where butterflies can bask in the sun, especially important for the Dingy Skippers. Reducing the fertility increases the growth of the most important plant on the dyke for us - Horseshoe Vetch. Being very low-growing, it cannot tolerate shade of tall vegetation, and having it's own nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots, it can grow on very poor soils where grasses struggle. The short turf, rich in Horseshoe Vetch, is perfect for the main species on the site, Chalkhill Blue. Horsehoe Vetch is used by both Chalkhill Blues and Dingy Skippers as their larval foodplant, so the more of that we can produce, the more butterflies we will see in the summer!
Thanks to Vince Lea, Louise Bacon, John Dawson, Hilary Conlan, Rob Smith and Monica O'Donnell for all their hard work on the day. The steep slope, combined with the unseasonaly warm weather, makes for quite a tiring day's work. If the warm conditions hadn't been accompanied by such strong winds, we might have seen more butterflies than the single Red Admiral that shot over at lunch, though there was also on Vapourer Moth flying about, and a couple of Lunar Underwings disturbed in the grass, and a caterpillar of the Knot Grass moth was also identified. For some, the wildlife highlight was seeing the first Redwings of the autumn, with a single flock of around 150 followed by smaller groups during the morning. |
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