Wimbledon and Putney Commons Monitoring Report Spring/Summer 2015 Contents CONTEXT 1 A. SYSTEMATIC RECORDING 3 METHODS 3 OUTCOMES 6 REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 18 B. BIOBLITZ 19 REFLECTIONS AND LESSONS LEARNT 21 C. REFERENCES 22 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Location of The Plain on Wimbledon and Putney Commons 2 Figure 2 Experimental Reptile Refuge near the Junction of Centre Path and Somerset Ride 5 Figure 3 Contrasting Cut and Uncut Areas in the Conservation Zone of The Plain, Spring 2015 6/7 Figure 4 Notable Plant Species Recorded on The Plain, Summer 2015 8 Figure 5 Meadow Brown and white Admiral Butterflies 14 Figure 6 Hairy Dragonfly and Willow Emerald Damselfly 14 Figure 7 The BioBlitz Route 15 Figure 8 Vestal and European Corn-borer moths 16 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Mowing Dates for the Conservation Area of The Plain 3 Table 2 Dates for General Observational Records of The Plain, 2015 10 Table 3 Birds of The Plain, Spring - Summer 2015 11 Table 4 Summary of Insect Recording in 2015 12/13 Table 5 Rare Beetles Living in the Vicinity of The Plain 15 LIST OF APPENDICES A1 The Wildlife and Conservation Forum and Volunteer Recorders 23 A2 Sward Height Data Spring 2015 24 A3 Floral Records for The Plain : Wimbledon and Putney Commons 2015 26 A4 The Plain Spring and Summer 2015 – John Weir’s General Reports 30 A5 a Birds on The Plain March to September 2015; 41 B Birds on The Plain - summary of frequencies 42 A6 ai Butterflies on The Plain (DW) 43 aii Butterfly long-term transect including The Plain (SR) 44 aiii New woodland butterfly transect (SR) 45 A6bi Damselflies and Dragonflies (SR) 46 bii Damselflies and Dragonflies (BB) 47 A6c Beetles 48 A6d Bees and Wasps 50 A6e Moths 54 B1a BioBlitz Report 2015 69 1b BioBlitz programme for 2015 71 B2 BioBlitz Plant Communities 73 B3 Birds Noted on the BioBlitz Walks 75 B4a Invertebrates Noted on the BioBlitz walks 76 4b BioBlitz Invertebrates Supplement B5 Mammals noted during the BioBlitz weekend and on the Pete Guest Memorial Bat Walk 77 C1a LNHS Botanising in Kingston Vale Report June 2015 78 C1b LNHS Botanising in Kingston Vale Plant Data June 2015 79 C2 Farm Bog Record – awaited from LWT Wimbledon and Putney Commons Monitoring Report Spring/Summer 2015 ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AT WIMBLEDON AND PUTNEY COMMONS SPRING – SUMMER 2015 CONTEXT In 2015, following a governance review, the election of new conservators, and a review by the new Chief Executive based on his first months in post, new formats were introduced for the in-house management and the governance structures of Wimbledon and Putney Commons. As part of this re- structuring the Natural History Sub-Committee was re-cast as a Wildlife and Conservation Forum (W&C Forum). The new Forum included representatives of the volunteer recorders as well as several Conservators and executive staff (Appendix A1). This change importantly consolidated and coordinated the links between the amateur volunteer observers and improved the flow of knowledge and information between all three major constituencies. The new Forum planned 5-6 meetings in a year but with additional opportunities to explore key issues as a group. It oversees arrangements for seasonal wildlife recording and reviews wider landscape and ecological concerns affecting Wimbledon and Putney Commons (WPC). Since employment commitments make afternoon attendance at meetings and walks very difficult for some potential members, the Forum also has initiated a Spring evening event to draw in wider participation. Occasional weekend walks led by Forum members and WPC staff are another developing part of the Forum’s work. This emphasis on participation and engagement, as well as scientific recording, is further reflected in the amended job title of the Wildlife and Conservation Officer, now described as the Conservation and Engagement Officer (C&EO). Monitoring activity in 2015 spanned the period of this structural transition. In February 2015 the Natural History Sub-Committee met with ecological and wildlife enthusiasts who have regularly recorded at WPC (the Ecological Advisory Group) to review the work undertaken at WPC in 2014 and to identify monitoring priorities for 2015. It was agreed to: Consolidate the records from The Plain initiated in 2014 using the same methodology as reported in Monitoring The Plain, Summer 2014 Review the impact, if any, of the earlier summer mowing date for The Plain (adopted in summer 2014 (Table 1)) on ground nesting song bird species and fauna and flora more generally Continue monitoring public response to the Conservation Zone (Table 1, Footnote1) of The Plain Note general environmental features such as soil conditions and weather Whenever practicable incorporate wider recording activity led by specialist groups so that a fuller picture would emerge of WPC wildlife Continue to engage and enhance public participation in wildlife observation through a weekend of focal BioBlitz activities 1 Discussions within the new W&C Forum additionally proposed: To extend the public participation activities through a programme of staff, volunteer and visiting expert-led walks and other activities To offer, through a new Volunteer Forum, opportunities to participate in ecological management under the guidance of the Conservation and Engagement Officer or his delegate. The main focus of this report is the wildlife and associated recording undertaken from March to September 2015 by assorted volunteers coordinated through the W&C Forum. This centred on the Conservation Zone of The Plain and followed the procedures adopted in 2014 (Taylor, 2014; Figure 1). Figure 1 Location of The Plain on Wimbledon and Putney Commons Additional plant records from the time of the Bioblitz are also available for Wimbledon Common where it borders Kingston Vale through the work of the London Natural History Society (LNHS). A very full insect list was achieved at the time of the Bioblitz for The Plain and its vicinity and subsequently for the adjacent heathlands through additional searching and follow-up visits by London Natural History Museum (LNHM) experts. These data are all included with this report. Damp weather at the time of the BioBlitz prevented an equivalent bat survey to 2014 and the proposed moth night-time trapping event. However, bat walks were held later in July and September and moth data have been recorded for set locations at WPC throughout 2015. Recording was also undertaken earlier in the year at Farm Bog by the London Wildlife Trust (LWT). These data, which are still awaited, will be lodged with the Conservation and Engagement Officer when received. (The information will then form Appendix C2 of this report). The data included records of Veilwort (Pallavicinia lyelli) a mat-forming, thalloid, liverwort which is becoming increasingly rare in much of Europe. The species has been in decline in Britain since the 1950s, probably due to land drainage, and is now mainly found in the south of England. It appears to thrive in association with Purple Moor Grass (Molinea caerulea) and there are just two known sites in the London area, at Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common. At Wimbledon the population is quite large and seems to be 2 stable despite the removal of some Purple Moor Grass tussocks carried out as part of restoration of Farm Bog where Veilwort grows (Turner, 2007; London Wildlife Trust, 2015). Additional Butterfly data to those presented in this report have also been sent to GiGL (Greenspace Information for Greater London) from where they may be retrieved (or by direct contact with SR, see Appendix A1). Some further Damselfly and Dragonfly data, mainly for several pond and bog locations, became available in Autumn 2015 when a new volunteer (BB) joined the W&C Forum. The W&C Forum is currently seeking to improve data sharing between WPC, GiGL and adjacent wildlife groups for the mutual benefit of all parties. For day-to-day management of the Commons it is important to have all WPC records directly lodged with the C&EO so that they can be easily and quickly retrieved and acted upon appropriately. At the same time data sharing across Greater London and with adjacent county records for Surrey is of wider scientific importance especially given changing climatic conditions and threats to open countryside through changing farm practice and relaxation of planning restrictions on urban development. It is appropriate for WPC to participate in this and supporting resources are needed for data collation, verification and data entry to external systems. Table 1 Mowing Dates for the Conservation Area of The Plain Year Date mowed Year Date Mowed 2008 September 27th 2012 August 30th 2009 September17th 2013 September 20th 2010 August 24th 2014 August 7th Experimental earlier mowing designed to promote a longer sward the following spring 2011 August 25th 2015 August 8th Repeated early mowing; larger un-mowed zone reserved since some ground nesting song-birds still present. Note: work under the HLS agreement started in 2008. 1.The principal management element is late-summer mowing of the target conservation area (9.7 ha, about 4/5ths of the total area of The Plain, 11.7ha) with 1 hectare left uncut as a refuge of longer grass-herb sward for the benefit of ground nesters and making an overwintering refuge for some insect species, small mammals and reptiles e.g. lizards. From spring roughly 1/5th of The Plain experiences a regular mowing regime to maintain its suitability for general recreational use; the remainder, the Conservation Zone, is left uncut until late summer except for three mown pathways to allow the public to traverse the area. Annually, this un-mown area is declared a restricted access zone to all users and especially to dog walkers and their dogs from 1st March to 31st July to protect breeding birds from disturbance.