CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
NEWS & FEEDBACK - Manor Yard Staff
Caroline B
Caroline K
FINANCE/ADMIN
FUNDRAISING
Ian
John
Review visit to Holtspur Bottom reserve with Branch and Town Council
members / vols who look after the adjoining LNR which is covered by the
same HLS agreement that we hold. Main issues as usual concern the
difficulties of securing the contractors to undertake the cutting and
collecting needed, and sufficient supporting grazing. This growthabundant year underlines the inadequacy of a late cut and autumn-graze
approach to creating and maintaining a short, herb rich sward.
Horseshoe vetch is abundant where planted in the two scrapes (c 20m
long) created but succession will eventually swamp those. The Chalkhill
Blues (illicitly released..) are apparently hanging on – but any prospect
more widespread habitat and strong population requires a drastic change
in management regime.
Getting further with the scrub removal intended to recover grassland will
also need a heavier handed approach if the dogwood in particular is to be
suppressed – mechanical excavation and herbicide are in mind.
Les
Mark
Although mainly on leave last week, did provide comments on the first
drfat of the State of Britain’s Moths report to Richard, submitted a
response on behalf of BC to DONG Energy on a proposed wind farm, the
landfall cables for two routes could impact on the sole good population of
Belted Beauty in England, and attended the BENHS exhibition last
Saturday (as ever an interesting and busy day).
At the BENHS I picked up the new volume of The Geometrid Moths of
Europe. This is the first book I’m aware of for Lepidoptera that uses DNA
Barcoding extensively, 95% of the species coverd having being
barcodeed. This does mean we have lost a species in Britain, Arran
Carpet has been sunk to a subspecies of Common Marbled Carpet.
Martin
Attended Forestry Stakeholder meeting which discussed the future
priorities for FC. Rather cheekily, Defra are asking what other
stakeholders will be doing to help FC in their work (ie for free!). They reiterated that woods would not be privatised but a few people said that FC
were now constrained by 20% loss of staff to do anything! I made the case
about active management for biodiversity being a greater priority than tree
planting. Interestingly, the NT said that was their priority to on their own
estate.
Wildlife Link have made a formal submission to the latest consultation that
Defra are doing and I have supplemented this with a short one from BC,
stressing our own interests and willingness to help with advice, survey and
monitoring.
The whole issue of Ash Die-back (Chalara) has been in the news and we
are preparing a list if species that might be affected for the website. At
least 16 moths feed on ash, and several butterflies feed on the honeydew,
so it could be a real problem. We are also looking at whether we should
be issuing guidance for BC members visiting sites to avoid helping
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
transmission of the spores.
We wrote a letter to NBN urging them to reconsider plans for full data
downloads facility on the Gateway as this will undermine our schemes.
The letter was signed by BSBI and RSPB. We had a quick reply and have
hastily fixed a meeting on 14 Nov before their next Board meeting. We
hope we can get them to change their mind.
Council meeting was interesting, mainly technical issues about how we
organise our restricted funds and financial reserves, as well as
governance issues. We have had some good feedback from Branches
about the 2020 vision feedback, but also some more lobbying on the need
for more Branch support!! We are looking at several options.
MEMBERSHIP
Nigel
PUBLICITY
Rachel
Sam
Tom B
Zoe
WORK ITEMS & WEEK AHEAD – Manor Yard Staff
Caroline B
Caroline K
FINANCE/ADMIN
FUNDRAISING
Ian
John
Les
Mark
Martin
In Monday to Wednesday. Monday – species team meeting. Rest of the
week progressing FBI project. Helping Sam/Nigel with any further work
on the Landscape report.
Although I kept on top of emails last week, there are a number that
require further action. This includes comment on text for State of Nature
report and a draft of a paper on the NMRS (with Richard). Also expect to
work on the larger moth IUCN statuses with Richard, and the State of
Britain’s Moths report, also with Richard. In between times, there are the
Lep. Cons. Bull. moth accounts and an article on top ten most
endangered moths, amongst other things, no doubt some will carry over
into future weeks.
Priorities
Wed - M&S telecom to discuss the future of Big Butterfly Count
Council minutes
Ash Die-back response
Plan AGM
MEMBERSHIP
Nigel
PUBLICITY
Rachel
Continuing with Duke Site Dossier and Pearl-bordered Fritillary Site
Dossier whilst working on a few other bits such as Heath Fritillary in
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
Sam
Blean report.
Landscape Conservation Review: final final edits! Education project:
meeting Kate and Catherine on Thurs
Tom B
Zoe
NEWS & FEEDBACK - Non Manor Yard Staff
Catherine
SOMM
Dominated this week. Visit from Audience Development Consultant from
Plantlife to help shape the HLF audience participation plan, tenders for
the development phase gone through, first event for the project
surprisingly successful at Killykeeghan. Our mushroom expert dropped
out at the last minute and I had to dredge through all the moths to in my
brain to rediscover Hygrocybe and lead the walk on Grassland fungi and
indicators. Despite no power and no chairs, we had a surprising number
of people from lots of different backgrounds (not that many ‘locals’) and
we all felt we had started something quite exciting. If we can manage
with snow on the mountains in the dark, the summer should be a breeze!
NIEL Challenge Fund
The micro-Leps project that the branch have gone for and the swatches
have both received Letters of Offer, which I am delighted about.
Bioblitz
Ha! After a recheck of all the data NI won the All-Ireland Bioblitz. Just
announced this week. The ‘winners’, Glengariff, are now third! Good
news in many ways as there’s a meeting this week to discuss next years
event and I really really hope we get another one in a more central
location for 2013, there’s a lot of interest. I’ve put my oar in anyway.
Fingers crossed.
Dan
Dukes:
- Met with Jay Doyle to review FE sites in South England District
(including parts of East England District in Sussex, Kent and
Chilterns) as part of FC/BC strategy. Good progress on many
sites, a few highlighted for potential future work including
Charlton, Eartham and Houghton Forests in West Sussex as part
of a landscape for Drab Looper and Dukes. To discuss with Tony.
- NE meeting looking at national climate vulnerability model for
BAP Habitats led by Simon Duffield and Sarah Taylor (part of
Hampshire Winning Ways post-NIA project). Unsurprisingly river
valleys and wetlands scored as most vulnerable, and of little
value for woodland because of poor resolution of woodland
habitats in the BAP, but also shows little vulnerability for chalk
grassland. Model being made available includes scores for
200m2 grids in habitat fragmentation and topography which may
be useful (e.g. for cross referencing with species dossiers to look
for patterns).
- Contract issued for SITA scrub management at Butser Hill to start
November.
RO:
-
Met Upper Thames volunteers and BBOWT concerned over
Bernwood Meadows project which will be fencing and grazing
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
-
-
Dave W
George
Graham
Jenny J
meadows and creating more scrubby habitat for brown and black
hairstreaks on several BBOWT sites. Volunteer concerns about
lots of hedges being ripped out in one go largely assuaged.
Provided advice to Dan Danahar and Brighton & Hove District
council staff about management at Stanmer Park, Brighton (SWF
& general management)
Also revisited Dan’s ‘Butterfly Haven’ bare ground creation
project at Dorothy Stringer School, Brighton. The early
succession habitat by bulldozing chalk in 2007 only lasted 3-4
years and is now very green and lush – turns out too much
topsoil was included in the mix, and parts of the site need to be
reset with more scraping. Good colonization by Small Blue etc
but now being both cut and grazed to try and keep it short.
Butterfly Haven 2 created nearby this year has much higher % of
bare chalk, more varied aspects and slopes, and almost no grass
seeded in (just herb seeds).
Completed the first draft of the South Shropshire Woods report with Mike
Williams. This proved to be a useful exercise in terms of identifying the
amount achieved and where to go to from here.
Attended the launch of the Meres and Mosses NIA and Landscape
Partnership Scheme where Butterfly Conservation was mentioned at
least three times in the presentations with full credit going to Stephen for
his collaborative working and his efforts in helping these schemes get off
the ground.
Jenny P
Site visits to HLS pipeline sites (Grendon Farm, Clannaborough Farm &
Moortown Farm) with new NE Adviser to discuss management for MF
under potential new agreements.
Spent a day with 9 volunteers at Higher Bumsley Farm on Exmoor,
transplanting violets from a bank into the nearby bracken slope, in
restoration efforts to encourage the HBF back onto the site.
Also spent a day with volunteers from South West Lakes Trust at
Fernworthy Reservoir, clearing scrub and transplanting Devil’s-bit into
the MF breeding area. This was supposed to be an opportunity to do
some filming with Dartmoor NPA, who are making a short film which will
be accessible on their website about the work going on at Marsh Frit and
Southern Damselfly sites. This would have been an excellent opportunity
to promote the project but we were doomed by the weather which was
really changeable, and every 5 minutes it trashed it down, so we didn’t
get the filming done as the camera was really sensitive to the wet … so
we’ll try again on the next volunteer task day.
Met Chris Marrow (ex FC area manager), and now the land agent
managing forestry around Kennick, Tottiford & Trenchford Reservoirs, to
discuss management for PBF, Grizzled & Dingy Skipper and other
butterflies. Local volunteer recorder, Stephen Hatch, also came along
and was able to share his vast local knowledge of the flight areas. Chris
is preparing the next management plan and it looks hopeful that the long
period of neglect/minimal management is about to end and more pro-
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
active management and clearing is about to get underway (he was really
impressed with the Woodland Management booklet!).
Martin
Paul
Richard
Russel
Seem to be getting on well with Dallam Estate, and they are interested in
managing over 35 Ha of limestone woodland as a woodfuel and butterfly
project. Am very keen to be involved and i’m looking to include this in my
NIA role.
End of week work (and expenses) taken up with an urgent project plan
for Wakebarrow, with a meeting next week with FC to progress this
important site work. Plus work on Friday curtailed by the Ash Dieback
survey, and I was dragooned into helping over the weekend on this huge
FC survey. None found in north Lancs.
Complicated meeting regarding grazing plans of sites in Ystradgynlais
Metapopulation focusing on the Neath Port Talbot sites and a 60ha failed
forestry block. So many people involved that new problems crop up
seemingly daily. Trying to get a common grazing licence for the graziers
as they will be issued by three different organizations to the same group
of graziers.
Still working on Environment Wales bids for Drab Looper and Brown
Hairstreak. Now waiting for letters of support and final sign off before
submitting next week.
Started to explore funding of Median Farm reserve extension – prepared
draft project outline for DB. Hoping to get lease finalized next week.
Urgent request from CCW for report on results of grazing management
at Harlech for Marsh Fritillary – Sounds like internal conflict regarding
SAC features (Marsh Fritillary isn’t included). Thanks to Ian and George
for sorting the data.
WEL Chairs meeting examining how we best influence the Government’s
massive legislative programme when even big NGO’s are experiencing
consultation overload.
Still getting positive feedback on this year’s Wales Newsletter – thanks to
those who have read it enough to think they spotted a mistake!
Sharon
Completed pre-comms meetings with contractors and FC at Bucknell
and Hazelborough Woods. We have included some scallops but the
main effort will be ride clearance due to uncertainty about whether FC
will be able to maintain scallops in the future.
Meeting with contractor to agree clearance of tree filled pits at West
Harling Heath which have been a magnet for Grizzled Skipper in the
past.
Shona
Applied to British Science Association for funding towards costs of
Recorders’ Gathering in March. Promoted BCS at Keep Scotland
Beautiful’s annual get-together in Stirling (200 attendees).
Stephen L
Launch of the Meres & Mosses Landscape Partnership Scheme and
Nature Improvement Area at Ellesmere. Did a display. Owen Patterson,
Sec of State for Environment and local MP, should have done this but he
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
had to be in London to chair a COBRA meeting on ash trees –
reasonable excuse I suppose. Chair of NE stood in for him. Certainly a
lot of energy behind all the different projects.
Very few ash trees on Prees Heath, and we did not include any in the
roadside tree planting we did a few years ago. Inspected one ash tree
using the FC’s website guide regarding what to look for – seemed
healthy to me.
Received some old moth records for the site, and will be putting together
a comprehensive moth list in the next few weeks.
The correct Shropshire Way waymarkers have now been installed, and I
have corrected their draft leaflet guide.
Tom P
Started extracting vegetation data from the New Forest Burnet archive to
help detect any changes in vegetation at the site and thus determine the
need for grazing.
Hopefully finalized SAF talk and abstract plus some work on the contents
for the SAF handbook. Further liaison with Coille Alba (previously
Scottish Native Woods) over continued funding of cotoneaster clearance
on Mull to benefit Slender Scotch Burnet and with SNH and woodland
agent over woodland grazing at Craig Dhu particularly to benefit PBF
and NBA. Otherwise good week for catching up.
Tony
Attended annual BENHS exhibition in London. Some interesting exhibits
as usual but the main value is in talking to other entomologists. Some
particularly useful discussions with Andy Page of FC regarding various
species in the New Forest.
WORK ITEMS & WEEK AHEAD - Non Manor Yard Staff:
Catherine
Important meetings for this week
Mon – WAH
Tuesday – Corp Comms meeting, Belfast
Wednesday – Office
Thursday – Belfast/BCNI committee meeting
Friday – WAH
Three main work areas:
1. SOMM
2. Corp comms
3. Records/Stock checking
Dan
Important meetings for this week
Tue & Thurs: Volunteer work parties Verdley Wood, Sussex, with South
Downs NP
Friday: Site visit to Harewood Common (Test Valley Borough Council)
with Alison Cross HWT & Kevin Harrington TVBC) – Dukes project
Three main work areas:
Dukes management planning
Site dossiers
SEWWI
Dave W
George
Forestry reports
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
Graham
Jenny J
Jenny P
Visit to the Wyre Forest to see the contractor work to date.
Important meetings for this week
Monday – Species team meeting, Manor Yard
Tuesday a.m. – meet contractor at Great Plantation, then Haldon sites re
winter management
Tuesday p.m. – Dartmoor National Park management plan workshop,
Parke
Wednesday – Exeter office
Thursday – site visits, Exmoor (probably Barle Valley)
Friday – Roborough Common – Duchy College students, scrub
management
Main work areas
1)
Meetings, site visits, and volunteer tasks, and trying to do an
admin catch-up
Martin
Important meetings for Week for Morecambe Bay Project
Mon- Toil
Tue – NIA first Tuesday meeting, Dave Wainright mini appraisal and
planning meeting
Wed – Meeting with Leighton Hall Estate to review work and Myers.
Sustainability meeting in evening to present woodland progress to group
Thurs – Myers allotment wood fuel volunteer day
Fri –.Rusland Valley HLF meeting. Middelbarrow extraction day. Evening
talk to Naturalist group about project.
Three main work areas:
1) Expenses
2) expenses
3) expenses
Paul
Richard
Russel
Important meetings for this week
1. Monday – PM: Meeting Rights of way officer at Seven Sisters
– Neath Port Talbot.
2. Thursday – PM Discuss Median Farm lease with CCW –
Llandeilo
3. Sunday – First work party of year at Hirwaun.
Three main work areas:
1. State of Wales report
2. Finish EW applications
Sharon
1. Meeting contractors and FC at Yardley, Sywell and Whitfield
2. Marking plots for contractors at Cranwich
Shona
1) Scottish Newsletter
2) Speckled Wood Survey results
3) Gen admin
Stephen L
Tom P
Important meetings for this week
CONSERVATION TEAM MEETING 2012
w/c 5th November
HAG committee meeting
Three main work areas:
1) Collating CS & PBF monitoring CS & PBF monitoring on data on
NFE and chasing final contractors
2) Collating NFB vegetation data
3) Collating data from CS survey
Tony
1. Ash feeding Lepidoptera info
2. Finalise info for wockeella project so that we can actually start
3. Preliminary work on Tytherley Woods project