& ’s Wildlife Forum Minutes April 22nd 2014, meeting at the Booth

Key actions and summary points for the CSP

Butterfly banks – good in theory, but need to get the detail right (eg native species appropriate to area) - Item 4 Food Partnership – Suggestions were made that BHCC tenanted farmland could be more usefully used - Item 5 Illegal metal detecting & firing of guns on (Benfield) council land – need council / police action - Item 7 Dogs (owners!) are a problem – danger to ground-nesting birds & disturbance to wildlife in ponds - Item 7 Concern that bikes run over native bluebells in wood () - Item 7 Swift conservation at the General Hospital - Item 7 Map from Biosphere bid project should include geological sites - Item 10

Present: Martin Robinson (MR) - Chairman, Dolly Bell (DoB), Benfield Wildlife & Conservation Group; Dave Bell (DB) Park; Phil Belden (PB) Brighton Urban Wildlife Group and South Downs National Park; Maureen Holt (MH) - notes, Colin Leeves (CL) Keep the Ridge Green; John Patmore (JP) Eco21st ; Jane Hawkins (JH) Friends of Sheepcote Valley; Nicola Yuill (NY) Stanmer Preservation Society; Stuart Derwent (SD) Friends of Park; Mike Parrott (MP) Friends of Down; Norman Watson (NW), Friends of Beacon Hill; Chris Lowe, (CLo) Friends of Queens Park + swift conservation; Paul Gorringe, (PG) Butterfly Conservation + BHCC Ranger; John Cooper (JC) Host & Geologist @ Booth Museum.

Apologies: David Larkin (DL) BHCC Countryside Manager; Christine Fitzgerald (CF) Friends of Waterhall; James Newmarch (JN) Landscape Architect; Robert Hardy; Marcus Oldfield (MO), TWEAK, Withdean & Woods; Pru Gridley (PGr) nature enthusiast; Robin Searle (RS) London Borough Council; David Alderton (DA) Wild Park.

1. Chairman’s welcome to all and introduction of group representatives including Paul Gorringe in his capacity as ‘Brighton & Hove’s Butterfly Conservation officer for the Sussex Branch’ in addition to his well known Ranger role.

2. Minutes of last meeting (11-2-14) were approved. Matters arising included: JP informing that the Map of ‘Open Spaces’ has been produced as part of the Biosphere Bid documents for Brighton & Hove. It includes a wide range of open space types, including wildlife sites and it will be useful to compare this with the BHWF map of Local Wildlife Sites. Map is held by Jane, John and Martin, at nearly 6 MB the file is too large for slow internet connections to access.

3. Applications for membership (MR) – general discussion agreed that although potential new members had all been circulated with meeting details and minutes, few of these people had yet taken up the invitation to attend. JP stressed the main criteria for membership was an interest in wildlife matters.

4. BHCC input – David Larkin was unable to attend the meeting, but had asked to raise the issue of Butterfly Banks. BHCC have created seven new ones this year and have plans for one more at Park, but would like to find sites for another seven in the coming year. http://butterfly-conservation.org/files/1.butterfly-bank-factsheet.pdf. Any suggestions welcome. JP noted - 'Butterfly Banks' are a good idea in theory as they provide five functions. They- 1. encourage awareness of local native butterfly species associated with grassland habitats. 2. provide some nectar habitats. 3. provide larva feeding habitats - usually need grasses, nettles and the less 'attractive' species. 4. provide opportunities for connectivity between other suitable habitat areas. 5. provide a monitoring location for 'standard' BCS transects to be undertaken, which allows a 'Sustainability index' to be provided. However, all too often they are merely created to show local people that something is being done, letting people enjoy experiencing nature, without the fundamental ecological principles being included. For example, the Preston Park 'butterfly bank' used NO native species! It was all nectar plants and no egg laying or larval food plants. JP was not aware of any baseline or follow-up monitoring to be arranged by BHCC and PB also queried their long term management. So there is no Sustainability Index from the butterfly banks that have been created (or these have not been seen to date). PG considered they needed to connect with local open spaces and education (Eco schools), but agreed those on urban fringe chalk were more likely to succeed. MH suggested amenity grassland habitats can be enhanced by reduced mowing to provide longer grass of more benefit for nature/butterflies. PB considered it was sensible to have chalk grassland where there is chalk grassland and create a flower rich meadow on more fertile soils. PG spoke of the great success in this area last year of silver- washed fritillaries, a butterfly found in woodland clearings and overgrown hedgerows (caterpillar feeds on dog violets and butterflies on bramble nectar) and was relieved to discover the small tortoiseshell had made a comeback after worries about parasitic wasp attacks reducing numbers.

5. The Food Partnership – sites mapping update. Formal response sent to Food Partnership on 3rd March 2014 can be seen on the ‘Library’ section of BHWF web-page: https://sites.google.com/site/bhwildlifeforum/localwildlifesites. Only 10 of the original sites are now being progressed, but Forum members had made the effort to comment on all the 1 sites originally put forward. Issue was raised about why BHCC-owned land was not offered to the Food Partnership? Some have Agricultural Tenancies, but it seemed like an ideal way to provide land for a new use which had popular support, rather than damaging wildlife sites just because they had less protection. PB agreed, adding that BHCC could do more with the tenanted farmland, which could happen through new Downland Estate Advisory Board being set up.

6. Storing Wildlife Records – (JP) iRecord is web-based software for recording wildlife, linked to sites and dates. ‘'s Wildlife Forum’ is a registered user. In theory this provides a nationally supported software system for collecting, verifying and then mapping wildlife records submitted by local people. The aim is to link BHWF member’s records together so we can manage our records as a Group. This may progress over the summer. In the meantime it is recommended that BHWF members view the post on the Discussion Forum (search for: ‘Storing Wildlife Records’) which provides notes from the training session and includes comments from our members. Main concern is to not repeat the disaster of the council’s ‘City Wildlife’ web site which was suddenly dropped without any follow up. BHWF are looking into options for rescuing the records submitted over the past five years. PG will ask who within BHCC ICT section maintained the dataset that ‘City Wildlife’ is based upon. The files (Database and WebSite) will be on a BHCC server harddrive, and should be backed up on more permanent media.

7. Local Groups updates - concerns & successes

Benfield Wildlife & Conservation Group (DoB) –The next event is the AGM on Wednesday 14th May, 7.30pm at the Oasis Church Hall on the corner of Northease Drive & Hangleton Way, with Michael Blencowe giving a talk on “Adventures in the Outside World”. All welcome. The guided summer Flower Walk takes place on Sunday the 29th June at 2pm - meet on Benfield Bridge over the bypass. Weekly scrub clearing has now finished until next September/October. Many spring butterflies have already been seen and we were surprised by a red kite passing over and an adder was photographed in the long grass on the last workday. There are still ongoing concerns with people using metal detectors digging all over the reserve including into ancient ant mounds and leaving rusting tin cans etc. behind. The gun wielding, target shooting man certainly left his marks all over this reserve as on checking, we found road signs in Badgers Way, along with fencing, gateways, a bird box and information board, all peppered with his shot. See http://benfieldlnr.tumblr.com/ . PG will try and ascertain what the legal standing on metal detecting on public land/ nature reserves is, and if any subsequent littering or damage to habitats qualifies as an offence or criminal damage? He will also endeavour to find out the new Wildlife Officer contact for Sussex Police and fill them in on activities on (including shooting) and put them in contact with Dolly.

Friends of Hangleton Park (DB) – Over the last two months members have helped the Youth Team to paint the Pagoda shelter in the Park. On one work day we laid bark chippings on the pathways of the dog walk, supplied by BHCC and brought along by Paul Gorringe, the Ranger for the day. Spring is always a surprise in the park with many of the early butterflies passing through; birds declaring their territories and frogs, toads, and slowworms appearing. Monthly work days are still continuing and our next event will be the Park Festival on 30th.August.

Friends of Beacon Hill (NW) – Several work sessions have taken place mainly concentrating on weed control around/ mulching of a hedge of native species planted a few years ago on the west side of the allotments. A litter pick was carried out in February. The reserve is now covered with cowslips and signs have been put up advising walkers of nesting skylarks and asking them politely to stick to footpaths. PB considered part of the problem was just the concept of birds nesting on the ground - which was beyond some of the public’s understanding as “birds nest in trees”! Proposals for Beacon Hub Project are to be considered by the Environment & Transport committee on 29th April.

Friends of (MP) – The sheep have left the turf in an excellent condition, but the ant hills and, unfortunately, the hawthorn re-growth stand out in stark relief. They were to be moved on to Cardboard Hill, but that is to be next September now, which is unfortunate as records show that is a better site and the grass is already two or three feet high - so no Adonis Blues again this year! The first breeding bird survey done for a while took place on 4th April and was undertaken by Graham Champion - good to see him back! Friday is to be the second, which will hopefully sort out birds that have stayed to breed from migrants just passing through.

Friends of Queens Park (CLo) – are currently taking part in a council project involving formal consultation for a period of six weeks in June to find a way forward for the site. This is welcomed by the group and will result in a Master Plan and a Management Plan by the end of 2014. There will be a 2 or 3 years pause before a funding application is likely. Aiming to improve the park for wildlife is one of the group’s recommendations. Swifts; I have produced a 10 page interim report on the story of Swift Conservation efforts at the General Hospital, Elm Grove, 2011 - 2014 which has been circulated nationally by swiftconservation.org and has received positive responses from the RSPB and others. It is a large file @ 3.8 MB, but I am happy to send by request - mailto:[email protected]

Friends of Sheepcote Valley (JH) –The good news is there are three clumps of frogspawn in the dewpond restored two years ago but the bad news is that despite the fence, big dogs are still jumping over and some people are even lifting

2 them over! Marcus who is doing a PhD, funded by SWT, has measured the pond against the highest criteria for pollution/oxygen level indicators and discovered it scores favourably (no great crested newts yet but always hopeful!!) The huge bramble invasion on the site is a constant worry but on a happier note Dave Boddington of BTO saw 19 bird species on a recent walk including whitethroats. Trees and bushes are thriving and this year there has been a carpet of wild violets. Travellers initially parked on the emergency helicopter launch pad and were moved on, but are now making a lot of mess in the upper valley.

Friends of Withdean Park (SD) – attended work mornings in February and March and were pleased to see the Green Gym from in the park again on two occasions. Eventually the City Council was prodded into a reply about the Section 106 monies from the nursing home development on the corner of London Road and Carden Avenue. Some funds have now been made available to Cityparks for the benefit of the park and possible works are being discussed. Suggestions for less frequent mowing might even save money and benefit wildflowers. Local expert, Keith Corbett, gave an interesting talk about the frogs, toads and newts in the ponds in the park and elsewhere at the recent Friends’ AGM and said how encouraged he was by what he had seen in the two ponds in Withdean Park. Sadly, problems continue with people allowing their dogs into the ponds and even encouraging them by throwing in sticks. Remonstrations on one occasion to family groups resulted in laughter from both the children and their parents. The latest occasion also included tadpoles being scooped out of the pond to be stamped on by the three children involved. At least they had the decency to run away when approached! The ninth Lilac Lark Fair is on the afternoon of Sunday 11 May.

Friends of Waterhall (CF) – The look of the conservation area is changing dramatically with coppicing of large pockets of hawthorn. This is part of the Management Plan introduced eighteen months ago. Sections that had been cleared and grown over have been reclaimed and our ranger, now holding a brush cutting licence, attacked the old bramble in preparation for the sheep arriving. The original compartments for grazing have increased by a further three so bringing us to six areas. This has been very controversial with 50% of walkers objecting strongly and at the moment not using the site for dog exercising. Green Gym completed the tree planting and Huw's Community Youth Group erected 40 dormouse boxes in the hawthorn scrub. These have been sited well away from the many new paths made through the wood. Although there was less frog and toad spawn in the pond, the hatching rate was good. Our ranger took it upon himself to fence the area to protect the tadpoles. Much to our amazement it has remained intact and without the dogs going in the water its quality has improved considerably. The pair of buzzards that had adopted the valley a couple of years ago have returned and can regularly be seen. The Arboriculture Dept: have decided the middle of the nesting season is the most appropriate time to burn the felled timber in the Dutch Elm site, although we have written pointing out that earlier burning would be just as effective in destroying the beetle before it becomes active.

Keep the Ridge Green (MH) – The petition calling for Brighton Council to reconsider their decision against allowing a fence around the pond is about to be submitted. At the last workday volunteers cleared blackthorn encroaching on the meadow, litter picked and checked the honeysuckle on outer fencing. Rosemary Dowd has found quite a few beginnings of dormouse nests and two male dormice in a torpor state in two different areas of the site, also many nesting blue tits on eggs, plus a wren’s nest. Network Gas will be digging two holes on the green in connection with gas works in the area; these will be turfed over on completion. The overdue clearance of scrub cuttings close to the pond left from inspection of flood defence work on the bunding back in February will be removed by the council contractor within two weeks - the delay has been due to the effect of soft ground on the use of heavy equipment required! The KTRG Management Plan needs to be sorted out with our ranger and an agreed sub committee.

Preston Park (JP, local resident) – 200 newts were transferred from the ‘Rotunda Pond’ to the ‘wildlife pond’ (newly named) in the north of the park. There is a danger of spreading the deadly Chytrid fungus with such transfers, as it appears there was no biosecurity carried out as part of this amphibian transfer. Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) which blew over in high winds has been trimmed and re-planted. It may become re-established as the leaves were still alive, but the Friends Group report ‘If it doesn’t survive it still makes a lovely sculpture’! More flower planting is planned, but it is likely to be mainly exotic annuals as in 2013 which have nectar-rich flowers.

Stanmer Preservation Society (NY) – The committee plan to meet their new ranger, Will Furze, this week. Will is also responsible for Rights of Way. There is presently a very good showing of bluebells and those in the woods above Marquee Brow have been much visited. But it is notable that there are new routes made by cyclists through the bluebells both here and in the open access land on the north side of the park. CF is of the opinion BHWF should be petitioning the council in an attempt to prevent wilful damage to the bluebells in the Great wood - JP reminded us that English bluebells, H. non-scripta, are only protected against removal for sale, apart from needing the landowner's permission if you wish to pick and take them away (but nobody enforces this!). PB suggested kissing gates might help protect wildlife and the purple orchids. The Nature Trail leaflet was to be reprinted and had intended to add a link for people to report sightings (they would welcome experience people have had with this, as it may prove difficult). JC offered his help with the geology aspect. The Rural Museum has now completed the move out of its old premises and is currently ‘outdoor and digital’, with small, changing displays in the Grade II listed church and bookstall, viewable on Sundays. PGr - Also the new Museum 3 at Stanmer House should be open to the public shortly. The council’s own survey shows the importance of the wildlife and nature aspects to visitors. To quote their report: The most popular reasons for visiting are for ‘enjoying nature/open space’ (77%), ‘walking/rambling’ (68%), ‘tea room’ (60%), ‘getting away from it all’ (59%) and ‘socialising with friends’ (44%). Rural Museum web site is still under development but worth keeping a watching brief for future events: http://www.stanmer.org.uk/museum.php. The Restoration Project consultation ends on 2nd May and NY has agreed to collate the BHWF thoughts so far. Have a look at Stanmer Consultation on the BHWF discussion board were thoughts are being collated.

TWEACK - Withdean and Westdene LNR (MO) – only five volunteers attended the stadium woods management day in March but four decayed steps at the start of the trail were successfully replaced so now these nice smart steps are the first thing visitors see! The AGM in March mainly centred on apportioning the BHCC environmental sustainability grant money to the design of the main & mini info-boards/ wildlife quiz booklets/ pamphlets co-ordinating an educational nature trail through the woods; the first project of its kind to be tackled by Ranger Neil Doyle. It has all taken a long time but by mid July the opening ceremony plus celebratory drinks etc. should be advertised in ‘The Post’.

8. CSP – last meeting 6th March at Brighton Town Hall, 5-7pm – MR noted the minutes of this meeting were slow in appearing on the CSP web site.

9. Planning – Planning App, BH2014/00310, Woollards Field, Lewes Road, (Construction of a 2no storey ‘Ambulance Make Ready Centre (MRC)’- No comment from the forum.

Dorothy Stringer re-application BH2014/00697- Formal objection from BHWF sent on 31st March can be read on the ‘Library’ section of our web-site. The main difference between the 2014 application and the December 2013 one is a very small reduction in the Artificial Pitch size and an ‘Extended Habitat Survey’ was included. Clearly it is not possible to undertake a survey for reptiles on 15th November and there were no comments on the Local BAP species likely to be affected. Dorothy Stringer School had failed to demonstrate ‘Best Practice’ in preparing the informal EIA for this planning application which raises concerns in view of their ‘EcoSchool’ status.

Toads Hole Valley – Hazel Mckay of Save Toads Hole Valley will be co-ordinating responses to future planning applications to develop THV and will organise a group meeting once she knows the level of interest, whilst waiting for the inspector’s final report on the local plan inquiry. Regardless of the fact, THV is not located in a sustainable location; the city council is determined to promote its development for housing and employment. Hazel would appreciate some support to formulate key issues and determine the priorities to ensure that the Campaign’s observations are well founded. The group can be contacted at: [email protected] SD pointed out that the appeal for the development of Court Farm House, King George VI Avenue, Hove, adjacent to THV, has been allowed, and planning permission has been granted: http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2014/03/04/hove-nursing-home-wins-planning-permission-on-appeal/27788

Traveller site at Horsdean – After the SDNP planning decision made in February to permit 12 new permanent pitches alongside 21 retained transit ones, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Local Communities has been considering whether to call in the application. The forum considers drinking water pollution to be an important factor should this proceed.

PGr informed that West Hove Golf Club, Badger Way, Hove, proposed improvements to WHGC involving creation of a visual & noise screen & associated landscaping submitted in January - still appears to be open for public comment.

Meadow Vale, – proposals for 100+ houses in the gap between Ovingdean and Wooding dean have been displayed at public meetings.

10. Any other business – Geology JC stated the Sussex Geodiversity Panel give advice on their website which continues to build and are to meet at Woods Mill (SWT) in the near future. JP said the map from the Biosphere bid project could be extended to include Geological Sites which don’t presently appear– JC to look into this.

The Sussex Festival of Nature will be held in Stanmer Park, Sunday 22 June, 11-5pm. This is to include the launch of the Biosphere, if approved by UNESCO on 11th June. It was suggested Richard Howarth is invited to our next meeting.

11. Date of next meetings – 24th June, 19th August 28th October.

Thanks go to John Cooper for kindly opening the Booth Museum as a venue for the BHWF meeting and being our hospitable host.

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