Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch Butterfly Sightings 2017
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Newsletter Index May 2021
Wycombe Wildlife Group (WWG) newsletter index (Revised 26 May 2021) Wycombe Wildlife Group has produced a newsletter 3 times a year since the Group was formed, initially as Wycombe Urban Wildlife Group, in 1989. Copies of all the newsletters issued have been placed on this website to provide a record of the history of the Group and some of its achievements and failures in carrying out its planned objectives. This index includes reports and articles published in the newsletters containing material relating to wildlife species and their conservation, wildlife habitats and their management, as well as listing past activities such as walks, talks and visits. The list is divided into categories to make it easier to find items on particular subjects. Each item on the list shows the number of the newsletter in which it was published.By selecting the relevant issue number from the list of issued newsletters, you can view or, if necessary, download that issue. This index will be updated following the issue of each future newsletter, and amended to take account of any changes considered necessary following the receipt of comments and/or suggested changes from members. Index of WUWG/WWG newsletter items (Revised May 2021) Group activities 24 hour Wildlife Watch Marathon (Issues 5, 6 and 24) Chair Museum wildlife garden (Issue 8) Create a Hedgerow project (Issue 34) Creation of bat hibernaculum at Booker (Issue 6) Grange Farm and Terriers Farm - fauna and flora surveys (Issue 35) Hang on to hedgerows project (Issues 30-32) Hedgehog survey (Issues 5 -
Rare Plants Group 2009 Newsletter
Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire Rare Plants Group 2009 Newsletter Birthwort, Aristolochia clematitis Photo: Charles Hayward www.oxfordrareplants.org.uk INTRODUCTION It was such a relief not to have a desperately wet summer in 2009 as the last two were, and what a joy when Creeping Marshwort came popping up in sheets on Port Meadow after an absence of 18 months. Photo 1(left): 1 June 2009. Port Meadow showing the flood-water retreating and mud flats exposed. Photo: Camilla Lambrick Photo 2 (right): 1 June 2009. Southern part of Port Meadow, a former Creeping Marshwort area, now drying mud. Graham Scholey of the Environment Agency and Rebecca Tibbetts of Natural England assess the situation. Photo: Camilla Lambrick Alas Fen Violet is still in trouble at Otmoor – perhaps not dry and warm early enough for this very early species. The Fen Violet exercised us most during 2009 by way of a meeting with specialists from Plantlife and Northern Ireland, in a nation-wide discussion of radical actions notably for introduction on RSPB land. True Fox-sedge looks to be well set-up for the future now that extensive introductions by BBOWT have proved successful. Other plants seem to get on well by themselves – Birthwort (see front cover picture and report on page 4) seems to be proliferating in the ditches of a medieval nunnery just north of Oxford city. Progress continues towards the Oxfordshire Rare Plants Register; photographs are being amassed, and thanks to Ellen Lee’s masterly command of the records we now have some 4000 new records beginning to take form as eye-catching maps. -
Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch Silver-Washed Fritillary
Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch Silver-washed Fritillary Report 2006-7 Mick Campbell Many thanks to everyone who sent in sightings of Silver-washed Fritillary, in particular Chris Brown who monitored Crowsley Park Wood on a daily basis throughout the season, capturing the timing of different events, such as pairing and roosting habits of this beautiful butterfly. From the left: Silver-washed Fritillary male on bramble showing the distinctive black streaks of scent-scales near the middle of the forewing; female on buddleia; and the valezina form of the female (photos © Peter Hall, David Redhead & Tony Croft respectively) The Silver-washed Fritillary is a strong, fast flying woodland species, preferring mixed woodland with an open canopy, sunny glades and rides, with bramble as the favoured nectar source. They lay their eggs on oaks and rough-barked conifers where their foodplant of violet is present nearby. Interestingly, a report was also received from Jan Haseler in 2007 of a female appearing to oviposit on alder. Silver-washed Fritillary has been expanding its range in recent years and in the hot summer of 2006 it was particularly successful, with ‘wanderers’ turning up in 12 gardens, compared with 3 sightings in gardens during the 2007 season. First sighting Last sighting Number seen 2006 22-Jun-06 24-Aug-06 389 2007 17-Jun-07 07-Sept-07 306 As this species has a very long flight period, the peak emergence is difficult to pinpoint, but the maximum numbers are counted from about 11th July through to 10th August, with the first females being noted 2-3 weeks after the first male is sighted. -
Wildberkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire
Winter 2020 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire Wild & Oxfordshire FARMING FOR WILDLIFE The truly green revolution poised to speed nature’s recovery WHAT’S IN A NAME? The magical relationship between language and nature WINTER WILDLIFE Heroic hedges Discover the wildlife that thrives in our hedgerows Farming and wildlife HAMBLIN/2020VISION MARK Welcome 10 They are compatible! Your wild winter Ready for nature’s recovery The best of the season’s wildlife and The pandemic continues, but with talk of a ‘green where to enjoy it on your local patch recovery’ there could yet be a silver lining that puts people and the environment first. These are unprecedented times and with the RIC MELLIS RIC Agriculture and Environment Bills currently making their way back through Parliament, nature’s recovery now rests in the hands 3 Wintertime wonders of politicians. We have been fighting hard alongside other Wildlife Trusts Wildlife wows this winter to ensure that the bold promises made on securing a future for wildlife come to fruition. We continue to lobby for the best possible outcome. Thank you The Agriculture Bill could transform our countryside. BBOWT will We achieve more by working facilitate this truly green revolution at the local level, offering the as one. Your membership helps expertise and vision for a landscape rich in wildlife, for all to enjoy. In fact, fund vital conservation and we’ve already started and this autumn launched our new Land Advice campaign work that protects vulnerable birds. Discover what Service to help farmers and landowners manage their land in a more else we are achieving together nature-minded way. -
Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan
Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan Lowland Calcareous Grassland Key associated species Chalk Carpet Moth Chalkhill Blue Chiltern Gentian Duke of Burgundy Early Gentian Glow Worm Green Hairstreak Hornet Robber Fly Horseshoe Vetch Juniper Linnet Meadow Clary Pasque Flower Roman Snail Silver-spotted Skipper Snail Abida secale Stone Curlew Striped Lychnis Moth Yellow Meadow Ant This habitat includes all semi-improved grassland and unimproved grassland occurring on shallow lime-rich soils normally underlain by chalk or limestone rocks. Calcareous grassland is associated with distinct topographic features such as escarpments or dry valley slopes and ancient earth works. Lowland calcareous grassland supports a very rich flora with many nationally rare and scarce species together with a diverse invertebrate fauna such as Chalkhill Blue and Duke of Burgundy butterflies. Scrub, such as Juniper and Box, is associated with calcareous grassland and contributes to local biodiversity. 1 Current status in the UK Biological status 1.1 Calcareous grassland is a rich grassland type in terms of the diversity of plant and invertebrate species supported. Many species are confined to calcareous grassland in the UK, including those that are on the northern edge of their European range. 1.2 Lowland calcareous grasslands are defined by the UK Biodiversity Group as the first nine communities in the National Vegetation Classification CG grouping. These communities are largely restricted to the warmer and drier climate of southern and eastern areas of the UK. 1.3 The amount of calcareous grassland has undergone a significant decline over the last 50 years. Although there are no detailed figures available for the UK as a whole, local statistics demonstrate the overall decline eg 50% lost in Dorset between the mid-1950s and the early 1990s, 25% lost in Sussex between 1966 and 1980. -
The Reading Naturalist
The Reading Naturalist No. 53 Published by the Reading and District Natural History Society 2001 Price to Non Members £2.50 T H E R E A D I N G N A T U R A L I S T No 53 for the year 2000 The Journal of the Reading and District Natural History Society President Mr Rod d’Ayala Honorary General Secretary Mrs Catherine Butcher Honorary Editor Dr Malcolm Storey Editorial Sub-committee The Editor, Dr Alan Brickstock, Mrs Linda Carter, Mr Hugh H. Carter Miss June M. V. Housden, Mr David G. Notton Honorary Recorders Botany: Mrs Linda Carter, Fungi: Dr Alan Brickstock Entomology: Mr David G. Notton Invertebates other than insects: Mr Hugh H. Carter Vertebrates: Mr Hugh H. Carter CONTENTS Obituary 1 Members’ Observations 1 Excursions Meryl Beek 2 Wednesday Afternoon Walks Alan Brickstock 5 Meetings (1999-2000) Catherine Butcher 6 The Fishlock Prize 7 Membership Norman Hall 8 Presidential address: Some Mycological Ramblings Alan Brickstock 9 Natural History Services provided at the Museum of Reading David G. Notton 13 A Mutant Foxglove Malcolm Storey 16 Sehirus dubius (or should that be dubious!) Chris Raper 17 Hartslock – a Local Success Story Chris Raper 17 Recorders’ Reports Malcolm Storey 19 “RDB” and “N” status – The Jargon Explained Rod d’Ayala 19 Recorder’s Report for Botany 2000 Linda Carter 20 The New Berkshire Flora Malcolm Storey 23 Recorder’s Report for Mycology 2000 Alan Brickstock 24 Recorder’s Report for Entomology 2000 David G. Notton 27 Recorder’s Report for Invertebrates other than insects 2000 Hugh H. -
Biodiversity and Planning in Buckinghamshire
Biodiversity and Planning in Buckinghamshire Version 2. March 2014 Contents Section 1 1a About this guidance ......................................................................................................................3 WHO IS THIS Protecting and enhancing Buckinghamshire’s biodiversity ...............................3 How to use this guidance ................................................................................................3 GUIDANCE FOR? 1b Biodiversity in the planning process .......................................................................................4 This guidance should be helpful if 1c Information requirements ...........................................................................................................5 you are: Section 2 n a planning officer in either 2a Internationally and nationally designated sites ..................................................................6 policy or development 2b Legally protected species ............................................................................................................8 management; Section 3 n writing a Neighbourhood Plan; 3 Local sites and priority habitats and species ........................................................................11 3a Local Sites ..........................................................................................................................................12 n going to be submitting a 3b Irreplaceable Habitats ...................................................................................................................14 -
Rolling Farmland
LCT 17 DIPSLOPE WITH DRY VALLEYS Constituent LCAs LCA 17.1 Bledlow Ridge LCA 17.2 Bellingdon LCA XX LCT 17 DIPSLOPE WITH DRY VALLEYS KEY CHARACTERISTICS • Large scale landscape comprising alternating dry valley and ridge topography. Dry valleys have cut down into landscape, exposing the chalk, whilst elevated ridges are overlain with clay with flints. • Rolling and undulating topography, with steep slopes contrasting with flatter valley ridges. A smooth and sweeping landform. • Mixed agricultural land use, comprising rough grazing, paddock, pasture and arable farmland. Hedgerows and wooden fencing define boundaries. • Blocks of woodland are dispersed, particularly along the upper slopes of valleys and along ridgelines. • Relatively low density of settlement linearly dispersed along roads, and often spread along ridges. Comprising small villages and individual farmsteads, often with a strong historic character. • Crossed by a comprehensive network of footpaths. Roads are generally rural and quiet, with little traffic and follow linearly along the valley and ridge landform. • Extensive views up and down valleys and from the higher aspect of the ridges, contrasting with areas of woodland, with an intimate and secluded character. • The repetitive undulations of the topography and extensive farmland land cover, contributes to a uniform and simple landscape pattern. Land Use Consultants 101 LCA 17.1 BLEDLOW RIDGE DIPSLOPE WITH DRY VALLEYS LCA in Context LCA 17.1 BLEDLOW RIDGE DIPSLOPE WITH DRY VALLEYS KEY CHARACTERISTICS • A landscape comprising alternating dry valley and ridge topography, which filter out from High Wycombe, and comprise the tributaries of the Wye Valley. • Dry valleys have cut down into landscape, exposing the chalk, whilst elevated ridges remain covered by clay with flints. -
Rare Plants Group 2007 Newsletter
Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire Rare Plants Group 2007 Newsletter Fen Violet, Viola persicifolia Note the mite waiting for a pollinating insect Photo: Phil Cutt INTRODUCTION Many of “our” species did well in 2007; Green Hound’s-tongue reappeared, just, at its Cotswold site; while Pasqueflower flourished on the chalk downland. Ploughing of the Wild Celery field has produced a record showing of this mainly coastal biennial. One of the young reinforcement plants of True Fox-sedge at BBOWT’s Asham Meads reserve even flowered. However, the little newly-planted Meadow Clary plants at Ardley were dug up by rabbits, and left to die. Fen Violet kept its numbers up, thanks to the dedicated farmer, the MoD warden and energetic volunteers from the neighbouring RSPB reserve. Preliminary research indicates that Fen Violet is producing lots of seed. Most pleasing of all John Killick found a new county record while working on the Rare Plants Register (see page 8). The spring and summer floods had dramatic effects on some species – Grass Poly, a charming magenta-flowered annual of flooded field corners, had a huge showing, after having been absent last year. Creeping Marshwort seemed to survive the floods – the plants at North Hinksey were under water for weeks in July and August, but went on to flower. We found Cuckoo-flower trying to beat the floods with little plantlets along the midribs of the leaves. Viviparous plantlets on the leaves of Cuckoo-flower, Cardamine pratensis, on Binsey Green; this is a known phenomenon but we think this maybe a response to the heavy summer flooding of 2007. -
The Bucks Gardener Issue 31 & 32 the Newsletter of the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust Autumn 2011
The Bucks Gardener Issue 31 & 32 The Newsletter of the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust Autumn 2011 Forthcoming Events Bucks Gardens Trust Christmas Party 2011 unfinished Lyveden New Bield, as well as the market house at the County Museum in nearby Rothwell. Brian will take us on a visit to the two 12 noon onwards, Saturday 3 December former buildings later in the year. Buffet lunch & other excitements! There is a possibility that we may have a members slide show if there is enough All these events will be held at the Bucks County Museum, interest, contact Rosemary if you have a possible (short) on Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP. The cost of all is £10 presentation. to members and £12 to non-members, and includes tea and cakes afterwards. Spring Talks 2012 Hartwell Seminar 2012 Conceptual Gardens Look out in spring for details of next year’s Hartwell Tim Richardson Seminar, probably in August. ‘The Egyptian flavour in the 2.30pm, Saturday 14 January English Garden’: Sphinxes, Pyramids, Obelisks and other Tim Richardson writes about gardens, landscape & scarab related delights, our seminar has arisen as a result theatre; contributes to the Daily Telegraph, Country Life of Eric Throssell’s continuing inquiries into the career of & House & Garden, amongst other journals. His books Joseph Bonomi, and his achievements at Hartwell. Short include: Futurescapes: Designers for Tomorrow’s Outdoor papers sought for presentation to an enthusiastic audience. Spaces (2011), and The Arcadian Friends (2008), ands he has spoken to us twice before; on Gertrude Jekyll and on those Arcadian Friends. Tim is also the world’s first international confectionery historian; his book Sweets: The History of Temptation (2004) proved a toothsome delight. -
Chilterns Conservation Board
CONSERVATION BOARD 2011/2012 A N N U A L R E V I E W O F T H E Chilterns Conservation Board Caring for the Chilterns An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD t has been another very full year for Conservation being achieved. Developing the Cycleway has also enabled Board members and staff, with the looming threat of the Board to work more closely with many tourism Ithe proposed High Speed 2 (HS2) railway inevitably businesses which we welcome. dominating much of the workload. The Board is taking a leading role in exposing the weakness of the case for HS2 As for all in the public sector, the financial climate is and in providing evidence of the huge and irreversible challenging but the Board is, so far, coping well. We are impacts it would have on the Chilterns AONB. We have grateful for the continuing support of the local authorities great concerns about the validity of the Environmental in this area, which are of course suffering their own cuts. Impact Assessment for the railway which is being squeezed We are also delighted that over 25 parish and town councils into a very short timescale by HS2 Ltd. Engagement by have given financial support to the Board. Government and HS2 Ltd with local communities along the route in the Chilterns has not always been Our partnership with The Chiltern Society effective and the Board, along with many continues to be vital and a stimulus for others, has doubts about how seriously much constructive work to care for the local concerns will be taken. -
Species Action Plan for Green-Winged Orchid: (Orchis Morio) in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Species Action Plans Species Action Plans National Species Action Plans 8.1 Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report (DETR, 1995) originally listed 416 priority species for which national Species Action Plans would be written. At that time 116 had already been written and 300 remained. In addition, a further 1,250 species were identified as being of ‘conservation concern’. The priority list was reviewed in 1997and in 2007. After the 2007 revision the total number of BAP priority species was set at 1149. This list is available in Biodiversity Reporting and Information Group Report on the Species and Habitat Review 2007. 8.2 The four scientific criteria that were used to select the UK BAP species in the 2007 review were; • International threat • International responsibility & moderate decline in the UK • Marked decline in the UK • Other important factors – where quantitative data on decline are inadequate but there is convincing evidence of extreme threat Local Species Action Plans for Buckinghamshire 8.3 On the publication of the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes BAP in 2000 it was planned that every species present in Bucks for which there is a national SAP or Conservation Statement, would eventually have a local SAP or Conservation Statement. SAPs would also be written for species which may not be considered a national priority, but which are threatened or declining within the County, such as green- winged orchid. 8.4 The following Plans were produced for species within Buckinghamshire. y Chiltern Gentian y Green-winged Orchid y Striped Lychnis Moth As Latin names were used in the original publication of the action plans for Chiltern gentian, green-winged orchid and striped lychnis moth, they have been retained in the following part of the document.