The Adonis ISSUE 94 | SPRING 2021

Home , Adonis blue, Chalkhill blue, Dark green fritillary, Folkestone Warren, Heath fritillary, Kent Wildlife Trust

Kent & South East London Branch The Adonis ISSUE 94 | SPRING 2021

1 | The Adonis

Committee Members

President - Dick Vane-Wright Chair & Media - Nathan Jones - [email protected] Treasurer - Trevor Manship - [email protected] Secretary - Peter Riley - [email protected] Butterfly Recorder - Mike Easterbrook - [email protected] Micro Moth Recorder - David Shenton - [email protected] Macro Moth Recorder - Ian Hunter - [email protected] Conservation & H&S Officer - Peter Kirby - [email protected] Website & IT Officer - Ben Kirby - [email protected] Membership Secretary - Jackie Kirby - [email protected] Transect Officer - Paul Tinsley-Marshall - [email protected] Conservation Officer - Simon Ginnaw - [email protected] Project Officer - John Bangay - [email protected] WCBS Officer - Paolo Farina - [email protected]

Websites: www.kentbutterflies.org / www.kentmothgroup.wordpress.org

@BCKentBranch / @mothsinkent Butterfly Conservation Kent & SE London Branch / Kent Moth Group Kent Butterflies

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Cover photo: Heath Fritillaries, Gary Faulkner 2 | The Adonis

Contents

Silver-spotted Skipper, Bob Eade Green Hairstreak, Joe Beale Heath Fritillary, Lesley Brown

Committee Members 2 Chair’s Welcome 4 Regional Conservation Manager’s Report 6 Highlights of the 2020 Butterfly Season 8 Remembering Tony Orsborne 10 Kent Butterfly Book 11 Our August Hog 12 Butterflies of Blackheath & Greenwich Park 18 Kent’s Heath Fritillaries 23 Gardening for a Wilder Kent 29 Brilliant Butterfly Banks 30 Kent’s Magnificent Moths 33 Big City Butterflies 34 Dates for Your Diary 36

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Chair’s Welcome

Hello everyone! I hope that as you read this spring is well and truly on the way and we can begin to put a tumultuous 2020 behind us. My apologies that our newsletters took a pause last year and that sadly, under the restrictions, we were unable to hold an AGM & Branch Member’s Day, field trips or work parties.

t feels like a long time since our AGM into this butterfly’s fortunes in his at Lenham which rounded off the article. Going one better, the diminutive 2019 season, and strange to think Duke of Burgundy saw its best year on howI we used to be allowed to gather record for 25 years! This is in no small inside in crowds! We had a great part down to the work of Natural turnout - thank you to everyone who England’s Dan Tuson, who has been came along, and special thanks to our advising farmers and landowners on guest speakers Dan Tuson, May Webber nature recovery in East Kent for many and Dick Vane-Wright for their insightful years. Claire Ward’s ongoing work presentations. After many years, Dr Jim leading volunteer efforts for the Duke in Flegg’s retirement as Branch President the Denge Woods was also recognised was announced. We offer him our with a thoroughly deserved award at heartfelt thanks for all his support. the 2019 Butterfly Conservation National AGM. 2020 wasn’t without good news though and we were very fortunate to welcome The start of our National Lottery a new Branch President, with Dick Vane- Heritage Fund supported project Kent’s Wright kindly accepting our invitation to Magnificent Moths was postponed due take on the role. An eminent to the pandemic but we’re very excited entomologist and taxonomist who has that this has now been given permission been associated with the Natural to start in April. The largest and most History Museum for nearly 60 years, ambitious moth conservation project in Dick is also a prolific author and a history, we look forward to getting as Trustee of Friends of Westgate Parks in many people as possible involved over Canterbury. I hope you enjoy his the next three years. The inter-branch contribution to this edition of The project planned for London, Big City Adonis! Butterflies, was also well received by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and 2020 was also a fantastic year for two of has been given permission to start this Kent’s highest priority species. The year too! A first of its kind for BC, Big Heath Fritillary enjoyed its best year in a City Butterflies will inspire and engage decade in the Blean woodland complex urban communities with the nature on and our regional conservation manager their doorsteps. On the theme of urban Steve Wheatley takes a detailed look wildlife, Joe Beale’s article on the

4 | The Adonis butterflies of Blackheath and Greenwich field trips will be able to go ahead, but demonstrates just how impressive this of course will be subject to the biodiversity in cities can be, given the changing restriction levels. Ever chance. optimistic, we’ve published proposed dates at the end of this newsletter, but Our County Recorder Mike Easterbrook please do check our website and social has been working for several years now media for updates closer the time and on a book of the butterflies of Kent & SE you must confirm with the walk leaders London. To help with the publication before attending. costs we’re offering the chance to sponsor your favourite butterfly, so see As ever, if you have any suggestions for the details in his article and get in quick! improving our branch or would like to A huge amount of work has gone into help in some way, please do get in this book, and it wouldn’t have been touch. We’re always in need of possible without all the records you volunteers and there really are have submitted. Thank you and please opportunities for everyone, whatever keep sending us your data. your interest, ability, or availability!

Looking ahead to the summer, we’re Nathan Jones, Branch Chair very hopeful that at least some of our

Duke of Burgundy on Lady Orchid: Iain Leach

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Regional Conservation Manager’s Report

We are now half-way through the delivery of Butterfly Conservation’s ten-year Regional Action Plan for South East England (2016 to 2025). Delivering action is of course the most important element of making a plan, and I’m pleased to report that in the last five years we have made plenty of progress to protect and conserve the species we agreed and highlighted as those most in need of conservation action.

e are a relatively small Woods volunteers and the long-term organisation (compared efforts of Natural England and the W with organisations like the Woodland Trust. The delicate Straw RSPB and the Woodland Trust), but our Belle moth is also being well looked enthusiastic volunteers, and recorders after, thanks to volunteers and the continue to make a big and significant support of the White Cliffs Countryside contribution to delivering wildlife Partnership, Kent Wildlife Trust, conservation. In addition, we are National Trust and others. working closer than ever with other organisations in Kent, such as the Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Forestry England, the Woodland Trust and National Trust, and the Kent Nature Partnership. By sharing our priorities with them, we are greatly increasing the potential and scale of positive action – delivering positive change for some of Straw Belle: Bill Dykes our most special species. The Brilliant Butterflies project (in Working with others we have ensured Partnership with London Wildlife Trust) the Heath Fritillary has just enjoyed its is extending into South East London, third season of very high numbers. The delivering high-quality habitat creation Kent population is now undoubtably the work. Our Kent’s Magnificent Moths best and strongest colony in the UK. The project will launch in the spring – Duke of Burgundy colony remains boosting the conservation of some of strong and well distributed thanks in no Kent’s highest priority moths, and small part to our dedicated Denge increasing further the interest and 6 | The Adonis action for the county’s wildlife. In is at a county scale or even in their own addition, we are now developing a new street or garden. Important too, will be downland project for West Kent that the recording and surveying of these will help the Small Blue butterfly, Adonis species, so that we continue to have the Blue, and moths such as the Chalk best evidence to highlight and celebrate Carpet and the Lace Border. If all goes our positive impact. For this I thank all well, this project could potentially volunteers, members. and supporters of extend all the way along the Downs to the Kent & South East London Branch of the white cliffs. Butterfly Conservation, and I encourage others to get involved over these next I’m sure that in five years’ time we’ll be exciting five years! able to report back on lots of activity, positive results, and great examples of Steve Wheatley, conservation. Volunteers are key to this Regional Conservation Manager for success and I thank everyone who is South East England helping us to deliver action, whether it

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Highlights of the 2020 Butterfly Season

The glorious weather in Spring 2020 brought some colour to our gardens and countryside in the form of good numbers of Brimstones, Orange-tips, Peacocks and Holly Blues.

ome of these emerged quite David Harper saw around 50 at Wye in early, such as the Orange-tip seen mid-June. on 23 March at Erith Marshes by S Some of the summer butterflies Mike Robinson. Dingy Skippers were in high numbers at some sites, including emerged very early, including an Essex White Hill, Shoreham and Monica Skipper seen on 30 May at Eltham by Percival discovered a new site for Mike Robinson and a Silver-spotted Grizzled Skipper on a road verge near Skipper seen by John and Liz Pell at Farningham, though annoyingly the site Queendown Warren on the remarkably fell victim to the mad strimmers of Kent early date of 29 June. Other interesting County Council Highways. sightings included the valesina form of Silver-washed Fritillary seen at RSPB There were some early sightings of Northward Hill by Rob Budgen and a migrants, with a Swallowtail seen in Purple Emperor in the garden of Peter April at Hever by Jo Cockerill, who also and Pauline Heathcote at New Barn, found a larva later in the year. Longfield. Marbled Whites continued to Swallowtails were also spotted in late disperse to new sites, and in August a May/ early June at Capel-le-Ferne and Brown Hairstreak was found by Cliff Dungeness. There were several Large Robson in his garden at West Wickham, Tortoiseshells around, with 3 seen in the 11/2 miles from the nearest known Lydden area by Paul Holt, 1 at Erith by locality. There was also a probable Lawrence Rogers, 1 at Denge by Derek sighting of this species by Elaine Cocks Smith and 1 at South Foreland by Carol at Shortlands. Wade and Roger Newton. There was some recovery in the By June the numbers of Small and Large numbers of Common Blue, e.g. on John Whites had increased and there were Bangay’s transect at Kemsing Downs the nests of Peacock larvae on nettles. It numbers were double those of 2019, was great to see a recovery in the though still a lot lower than in 2018. numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, with Populations of Brown Argus also large numbers in some places, e.g. remained much lower than in 2018. Two

8 | The Adonis species that did do well in several places in the same area where one spent in 2020 were Wall and Small Copper. several weeks in summer 2019. There was also a late influx of Clouded The southerly winds that brought hot Yellows. weather in August also helped more migrant butterflies to reach our shores. Exciting as the news of these rare Nigel Stapley had a Swallowtail on a migrants was, probably the most buddleia in his garden at Kemsing on 10 positive sighting of the year was that of August and Alan Pavey found a the Grayling seen by Paul Holt at Camberwell Beauty at Marden on 13 Samphire Hoe on 17 August. This is the August. In September Long-tailed Blues first time it has been recorded at that were found at Pegwell Bay (Chris location and is the first record in Kent Randall), Kingsdown and Castle Hill, for over 6 years, since the small colony Folkestone (Alfie Gay) and a Queen of at Folkestone Warren disappeared. Spain Fritillary was discovered by John and Emily Neighbour at South Foreland, Mike Easterbrook, County Butterfly Recorder

Grayling at Samphire Hoe: Paul Holt

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Remembering Tony Orsborne

As some members will be aware, in spring last year a very long-standing and dedicated supporter of the Kent Branch (and Butterfly Conservation in general), Tony Orsborne, died after a long illness. The committee have passed on their condolences to Tony's widow, Vera, but we now have a chance to pay tribute to someone who did so much, alongside Vera, to promote, and raise money for, the Kent Branch. lder members will no doubt to have been given a tour of his remember visiting Tony and collection will have been amazed at the OVera's garden, at Silver Spray in size and range of it, including a Sellindge, when they opened it to raise complete (though never re-assembled) money for the Branch. In addition to the glass-fronted counter of a ticket booking beautiful garden (the planting of which office! was largely Vera's province, and which Tony's interest in transport stretched was also opened for the National back to his schooldays in Sussex. His Garden Scheme for many years) there grandfather owned a bus company and was the attraction of Tony's butterfly after school Tony used to help in the house, a poly-tunnel tucked away in a garage. He went straight from school to corner of the garden in which every year do National Service in the Royal Tony raised a colourful array of exotic Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, butterflies. These garden openings, and then became an AA patrol man, first which regularly featured in the local on a motorbike, in the days when press and on local radio, not only helped members had to be saluted, then in a publicise Butterfly Conservation, but van, ending up as a supervisor, and raised literally thousands of pounds for retiring due to ill health after some 40 the Kent Branch. years. In retirement he served for In addition to this, Tony served on the several years on the local parish council, Branch committee for many years, was taking a keen interest in the changes an avid recorder, and gave talks imposed on Sellindge by the coming of alongside Vera on butterflies, and how the high-speed rail line. His role in the to encourage them into the garden, to garden at the Silver Spray was to local horticultural societies, Women’s complement Vera's profound Institute groups, and others. He was knowledge of plants, continuing to mow also an official Environment Dept the lawns and edge the flower beds weather recorder and provided weather until his illness made this impossible. He records for the Kent Branch Butterfly was also a willing helper in the plant Reports. On top of all this, he was also nursery which Vera ran for many years, an avid collector of transport accompanying her to plant fairs all over memorabilia; anyone fortunate enough Kent.

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Butterfly Book Appeal

County Recorder Mike Easterbrook’s eagerly awaited book on the butterflies of Kent & South East London is nearing completion. Presenting data gathered over the period 2005-2020, this project is the culmination of several years of work and many thousands of records.

Mike is being supported with his To pledge your sponsorship, please venture by fellow Branch Committee get in touch with Branch Treasurer, members Peter Kirby, Peter Riley and Trevor Manship [email protected]. John Bangay. For the many talented photographers To help with publication costs we’re out there, we’re also inviting offering you the opportunity to submissions of photos of each sponsor a species. For a suggested species, taken in Kent, to feature in donation of £100, you will receive the book. We are looking for each your name or a dedication alongside stage of the life cycle, from egg to your chosen butterfly, as well as a imago. If you have a great photo that free copy of the book. (Remember, you would be happy for us to use, you could club together with a friend please email it to Mike at for a joint dedication - or a group of [email protected] friends, or make a dedication as a for consideration as soon as possible. present for someone, or ask your Photos must be in high resolution company to sponsor a species… get digital format. creative!).

Chalkhill Blue White Admiral

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Our August Hog

Dick Vane-Wright, OHSCA, Scientific Associate NHM London, & DICE Canterbury 12 | The Adonis

In August 2020 a planned visit to Lydden Down by Butterfly Conservation Kent & SE London Branch in conjunction with Oaten Hill & South Canterbury Association had to be cancelled. The main objective was to see the Silver-spotted Skipper. With much help from conservationists, this species has made a significant comeback since the 1970s1 – but it remains a local and even rare butterfly in Britain. In this article our President briefly explores the place of skippers within the classification of butterflies, offers a few thoughts on the scientific and common names of the species, and summarises its known biology and distribution in the UK.

t one time in the history of What’s in a name? classification of the butterflies, the skippers (‘Grypocera’ – with The silver-spotted skipper was given its A first ‘scientific’ name by Linnaeus in hooked antennae) were considered to be distinct from the rest of the 1758, as Papilio comma. Linnaeus’s butterflies (‘Rhopalocera’ – with account of the butterflies in the tenth clubbed antennae), even to the extent edition of his Systema Naturae is of that some considered skippers not to be course the baseline for the scientific butterflies at all, but a separate group in names of all Lepidoptera. Linnaeus their own right2(pl.6). Fast forward to the divided the butterflies and moths (Order present, in the current era of our Lepidoptera) into just three ‘genera’: classifications being increasingly Papilio, Sphinx and Phalaena (this last influenced by molecular data, the no longer in use). At the time they were skippers are now confirmed as equivalent to Suborders – and according belonging to the Papilionoidea, the to the contemporary English 4 single superfamily that includes all of entomologist Thomas Yeats , Linnaeus’s the familiar butterflies (plus a small and six subdivisions of Papilio were families relatively obscure Latin American family [sic]. Linnaeus did not utilise the term of rather moth-like lepidopterans, the ‘family’ – which today refers to a rank Hedylidae)3. Worldwide over 4000 higher than genus, not lower as Yeats species of skippers (family Hesperiidae) suggested (in many ways correctly in my are now known, divided among some view – but history has decided against 500 genera and more than a dozen his interpretation). subfamilies – of which three are Indeed, the whole history of the represented in the British fauna. application of Linnaeus’s names for the butterflies and moths is in my opinion an illogical mess (for which he cannot be Previous page photo: Nigel Kiteley blamed!). Suffice to say that the first 13 | The Adonis widely accepted division of Linnaeus’s underside. Well, there is certainly a Papilio was that introduced by his great clear V-shaped white mark at the base entomological student Fabricius, who in of cell R1 – but there is also a very large 17935 divided the butterflies (including curled white mark at the end of the a few day-flying moths that had crept discal cell! in) into two genera: Papilio and Hesperia. The latter more or less corresponded to two of Linnaeus’s subdivisions of Papilio (families in Yeats’s sense): the Plebeji rurales and the Plebeji urbicolae (literally, ‘the common people of the countryside’, and ‘the common people of the towns’). Today these can be more or less equated with the Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae, respectively – in part thanks to Swedish naturalist Johan Wilhelm Dalman, who in 1816 selected Garden Hesperides by Edward Burne-Jones Papilio comma to be the type species of (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GardenHesperides_BurneJones.jpg) Hesperia. So, in this nomenclatural What of the common name? Moses sense, our Silver-spotted is the Harris noted that the species we now quintessential skipper. call the Small Skipper flies with “a kind What are the sources of the names? of skipping motion” 6, which is perhaps Hesperia is derived from the Hesperides, the origin of Skipper. The adjectival in Greek mythology nymphs of the Silver-spotted applies well to the evening or the golden light of sunset. underside, with a dozen or more whitish Whether Fabricius was aware that some marks prominently on display (including skippers typically fly at dusk seems to the two ‘commas’). Unknown to James me doubtful. The name comma is, Petiver (who called skippers ‘hogs’), this according to Peter Marren6, more species was first reliably recorded in the directly descriptive – he notes that in UK during the latter part of the 18thC as ancient Latin and Greek the comma the Pearl Skipper, and then the August mark can be V-shaped as well as curled, Skipper – but, for some reason, and for the Silver-spotted he equates Haworth’s 1803 name, Silver-spotted, the source of ‘comma’ as the white V- has stuck7. Had he known this species, I shaped mark on the hindwing

14 | The Adonis like to imagine Petiver would have The ugliest caterpillar called it the ‘August Hog’.

Where to find?

Globally, the Silver-spotted Skipper is distributed widely across the temperate regions of North America, Europe, North Africa and the eastern Palaearctic, with as many as 30 subspecies recognised. Within the UK Hesperia comma comma has only ever been reliably reported Peter Eeles from England. Although always most often found in the south-east, formerly Peter Eeles has recently given us a it did extend rarely and discontinuously wonderful new account of the life as far north as Yorkshire and south cycle11. In late August and early Cumbria7. Today, although known from September the white, dome-shaped about 250–300 populations2, it is eggs are laid on or close to Sheep’s restricted to just a few southern Fescue grass (Festuca ovina), in which counties: Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, stage they overwinter until mid-March. Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Buckinghamshire In the UK, F. ovina appears to be its only and Oxfordshire. food plant. After hatching, individual or small groups of the pale-bodied, black- This local distribution and the flight headed larvae (once said to be “the period can be understood in terms of ugliest of all our butterflies’” the microclimatic needs of the butterfly caterpillars!13) construct a loose silken and its early stages, which are rarely tube wound together from fine grass found other than on south-facing chalk stems. Here they rest at the base, feed, or limestone grasslands with a short or continue tube-building. From time to sward maintained by cattle, sheep or time they eject their frass ‘explosively’ 8 rabbits . Climate change, bringing from the bottom of the tube – a habit increased warmth at the right stages of found in many tropical species, and its life cycle, seems to be proving often thought to be a way of reducing advantageous. Thus the habitat use of detection by parasitoids – which can use the Silver-spotted in England is now volatiles emanating from larval faeces as widening and its range increasing – a search cue. In July or August, the fully albeit slowly due to its naturally very grown fifth and final instar, about an 9–11 low rate of dispersal . inch long, usually wanders away from 15 | The Adonis the hostplant, to form the pupa within a Lydden Temple Ewell strong cocoon reinforced with grass blades11. The Lydden Temple Ewell National Nature Reserve at Lydden can be Adults emerge from mid-July over a regarded as the ‘headquarters’ of the period of weeks, and are on the wing Silver-spotted Skipper in Kent. Most of into early September. The males, which our other Kent populations also occur in appear first, can be distinguished by the the Dover/Folkestone area, with just a conspicuous, black, oblique ‘brand’ few (including some re-introductions) (androconial organ) on discal area of the elsewhere in East and Mid Kent forewing upperside. This is a very active (https://butterfly- butterfly, but it usually requires a higher conservation.org/butterflies/silver- ambient temperature than most of our spotted-skipper). native species before it will fly. This is one of the reasons why, in the past at I hope that in summer 2021 we can try least, a short sward with bare patches of again to visit Lydden in search of ‘Our earth has been so important for its August Hog’ – and that the vital survival in England12. conservation work can continue. The support of all Butterfly Conservation members and volunteers is both greatly appreciated and needed more than ever.

Lydden Temple Ewell, Kent Wildlife Trust

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References

1 Fox R, Asher J, Brereton T, Roy D & Warren M. 2006. The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. Newbury: Pisces. 2 Reuter E. 1896. Ueber die Palpen der Rhopaloceren. Acta Societatis Scientiarum Fennicæ (Helsingfors) 22(1): xvi + 578 pp, 6 pls. 3 Kawahara AY & Breinholt JW. 2014. Phylogenomics provides strong evidence for relationships of butterflies and moths. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 281(1788): 20140970. 4 Yeats TP. 1773. Institutions of Entomology. London: Horsfield. 5 Fabricius JC. 1793. Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta 3(1). Hafniae: Proft. 6 Marren P. 2019. Emperors, Admirals and Chimney Sweepers. Toller Fratrum, Dorset: Little Toller Books. 7 Simcox DJ & Emmet AM. 1989. Hesperia comma (Linnaeus). In Emmet AM & Heath J (eds), The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland 7(1): Hesperiidae– Nymphalidae: the butterflies, pp. 61–63. Colchester: Harley Books. 8 Newland DE. 2006. Discover Butterflies in Britain. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides. 9 Thomas JA, Thomas CD, Simcox DJ & Clarke RT. 1986. Ecology and declining status of the silver-spotted skipper butterfly (Hesperia comma) in Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology 23: 365–380. 10 Thomas CD & Jones TM. 1993. Partial recovery of a skipper butterfly (Hesperia comma) from population refuges: lessons for conservation in a fragmented landscape. Journal of Animal Ecology 62: 472–481. 11 Eeles P. 2019. Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies. Newbury: Pisces.

12 Davies ZG, Wilson RJ, Coles S & Thomas CD. 2006. Changing habitat associations of a thermally constrained species, the silver-spotted skipper butterfly, in response to climate warming. Journal of Animal Ecology 75: 247–256.

13 Thomas J & Webb N. 1984. Butterflies of Dorset. Dorchester: Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society.

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Butterflies of Blackheath & Greenwich

It is surprising just how many species of butterfly can occur at a fragmented London site if there is a mix of habitats available. In 2019 I wrote a paper for the London Naturalist, on the current status of butterflies at Blackheath and Greenwich Park (with notes on some nearby Charlton sites: Beale 2019). The aim was to take a snapshot of the butterfly health of the area, and act as a record of what we have to help reinforce conservation efforts. Here, I would like to use some information from that paper to introduce you to the butterflies of this area - and what is being done to help them.

lackheath and Greenwich Park most ecologically important are areas of are green spaces in a busy part lowland dry acid grassland, unimproved of South East London. They grassland and, at Blackheath, European Bcontain a range of habitats, of which the Gorse scrub. The uneven sandy ground

18 | The Adonis and mixed habitats of Vanbrugh Pits and the Council for a new management Hyde Vale (both Royal Borough of approach. I walk a Butterfly Greenwich) are amongst the best sites Conservation transect across Greenwich for butterflies. Some verges and fields Park’s One Tree Hill and this data is are left uncut for much of the year – already proving useful for identifying though management is still being areas for possible habitat work experimented with. My coverage refers following the Park’s recent substantial to both the Greenwich and Lewisham Heritage Lottery award. The transects sections of Blackheath, but is weighted will also provide a useful baseline to more strongly towards the Greenwich monitor how butterfly and moth side. The butterfly numbers are as populations respond to changes. follows: 33 species have been recorded in the area since 1800, with 28 species There have been more gains than losses known to have occurred across the area across the area. Reading Burton and between the start of 2016 and July 2019 Freed’s (2009) account, those lost (including 26 species at Vanbrugh Pits include Wall Brown, which won’t alone). These are decent totals for a surprise many readers. Nor is it London site in the face of encircling surprising that Grayling has only been urbanisation, heavy recreational recorded once (in 1947) and not pressure, habitat loss and subsequently. In common with other fragmentation, nitrogen enrichment, London sites, however, several species vandalism and mismanagement. have returned or colonised – species I would never have expected to see here I became fascinated by butterflies in this as a child. Five species not found area when I was a child. Having historically have been recorded since returned here as an adult, I still have 2010: Ringlet, Marbled White, Silver- that childlike fascination but these days washed Fritillary, White-letter I try to be more systematic in my Hairstreak and Chalkhill Blue (once). For recording, submitting my sightings to those five species, Plant’s (1987) London records centres, while observing any butterfly atlas distribution maps show changes. As well as helping us to no records for Lewisham or Greenwich understand changes in numbers and any Boroughs for 1980-1986. These species gains and losses of species, such data were apparently – at best - butterflies of act as a record of what’s at a site. This London’s outer boroughs in those days. can be referred to should there ever be any development threats or should you Of the “garden” butterflies, Small need evidence to back up a request to Tortoiseshell has had a rough time since the 1990s, but thankfully holds on and 19 | The Adonis in 2019 showed a slight increase, while other hand, there have been no counts Brimstone has thrived in recent years of Gatekeepers at Vanbrugh Pits and Orange Tip remains present in approaching or exceeding three figures modest numbers, though in higher since 2014 – apparently correlating with numbers than in previous decades. a wider decrease (UKBMS 2019). While Meadow Browns remain fairly stable, The grassland and scrub habitats are the situation for Small Heath is more arguably the most important locally, interesting. There were apparently no with acid grassland, semi-natural local records since the 1970s (Burton grassland and scattered Gorse scrub all and Freed 2009), until five records in correlating with the best butterfly the noughties across the area (GiGL counts and species totals. My first 2019), followed by some late summer Marbled White was at Vanbrugh Pits in records in 2018. There was a flurry of 2012, likely also the first Greenwich records in 2019 at Vanbrugh Pits, with record, and I remember being very peak counts of four adults – a wonderful excited about what I thought was an sight for a patch-worker who had only out-of-place downland species fluttering rarely recorded this species. This around my local patch. I witnessed charming butterfly seems to be breeding - one releasing its eggs into the undergoing something of a revival – grassy sward - in 2016 and by 2019 it hopefully not a temporary one. In 2017, had become an expected and frequent the London transect index for Small sight in the area, with new populations Heath was higher than for the preceding cropping up seemingly everywhere four years (Williams 2018), and there was a suitable grassy patch. More nationally numbers in 2018 were the widely, by 2017 the London index for highest they have been in the last this species on transect monitoring was decade of recording (UKBMS 2019). the highest since monitoring began (Williams 2018), and the UK has seen an Local rarities are always exciting for the increase of 111% in the last ten years patch-worker or transect-walker. Silver- (UKBMS 2019). Ringlet is another washed Fritillary is a spectacular grassland species that is new to the area butterfly anywhere, but especially for a but now common. New to Greenwich city patch. This ostentatious Fritillary Park in 2015, it now gives high transect only started occurring - sporadically - counts there (over 30 on one walk in in since 2010, with about half a dozen July 2019, for example). This parallels its records since then (BC 2019). Silver- impressive spread across London over washed fritillary has been increasing the last decade (Williams 2018). On the nationally, with a UK increase of 127%

20 | The Adonis since 1976 (UKBMS 2019), while in sighting nearby in 2014 and at the Pits London the 2017 collated index for this in 2018, in 2019 I witnessed this species was the highest for at least ten captivating emerald-green butterfly years (Williams 2018). The first holding territory and, very pleasingly, Greenwich Park records were two I observed a female ovipositing on Gorse. observed nectaring at thistles and I even found one during a Greenwich soaring through a sheltered clearing, Park transect walk in 2019 – the first during a transect walk in July 2018. A Park sighting since 1947! beautiful male Chalkhill Blue in amongst the Common Blues in 2013, at Hyde I am trying to help Green Hairstreaks Vale, Blackheath, was a shock - perhaps and other species with habitat a wanderer from the North Downs. management: rotating Gorse and White-letter Hairstreak is apparently a Bramble-cutting in places to encourage rare resident, with records from the fresh growth and creating sunny, Blackheath Village area (BC 2019) and sheltered scallops and bare patches. In one appeared, nectaring at Ragwort, as I recent years I have been enlisting the walked along Hyde Vale during the hot, help of Royal Borough of Greenwich dry spell in 2018 (this weather also Council with habitat management at helped reveal a previously unknown Hyde Vale and Vanbrugh Pits. With colony in nearby Charlton). There are fantastic support from the Friends of pockets of suckering Elm across the area Westcombe Woodlands and other and this elusive insect must be resident community and conservation groups, at low densities. now including Butterfly Conservation Kent and South East London branch, we It is heartening that Common Blues and tackle invasive scrub such as Holm Oaks, Small Coppers are still present in Turkey Oaks and suckering Cherry trees reasonable numbers, enlivening the which are swamping the grassland and grassland with exquisite colours. Brown reducing biodiversity. There is much to Argus has gone from strength to do after years of succession and strength since its dramatic mid- nutrient enrichment, and the many noughties rise, with double figure day other challenges this urban site faces – counts of this subtly beautiful not helped by the lack of Council funds chocolate-and-orange insect across – but there is much to fight for. At Vanbrugh Pits and Greenwich Park in Greenwich Park, the recent Heritage 2019. Another encouraging story has Lottery Award has provided an been the recent rise of the Green opportunity to increase scrub and areas Hairstreak at Vanbrugh Pits. After a of reduced mowing, and my insect

21 | The Adonis records should help inform decisions on changing too, with more people keen to changes to key areas. help biodiversity and accepting less managed green spaces. The key here is Future challenges will include how to to let people know about the wonderful approach the likely increase in droughts wildlife that lives on their doorstep and due to climate change. For example, what it needs – butterflies are great cutting selective firebreaks and ambassadors for urban biodiversity, removing arisings, rather than mowing being beautiful and noticeable. I take everything indiscriminately, can help heart from this study and I hope others butterflies and other insects to survive will too, because it shows that a dry spells whilst addressing possible fire combination of species monitoring and risk. Encouragingly, Royal Borough of determined community effort can help Greenwich Council is seeking ways to give wildlife a fighting chance, even help wildlife (and cut costs) across the against formidable odds. borough’s green spaces, including by reducing mowing. Public attitudes are Joe Beale

References

BEALE, J. 2019. An update on the status of butterflies in Blackheath and Greenwich Park. Lond. Nat. 98: 220-247 BURTON, J .F. and FREED, T.H. 2009. The Lepidoptera of Blackheath and Greenwich Park, 1800-

2009. Lond. Nat. 88: 117-184.

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION (BC) 2019. Kent and SE London Branch: Blackheath, Charlton and Greenwich datasets. Accessed 12 June-15 July 2019.

Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) CIC, 2019. www.gigl.org.uk. Accessed: 1 June-3 July 2019.

PLANT, C.W. 1987. The butterflies of the London area. London Natural History Society.

UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Official Statistics (2019). http://www.ukbms.org/official_statistics. Accessed: 2 July 2019.

WILLIAMS, L.R. 2018. London butterfly monitoring report for 2017. Lond. Nat. 97: 68-77.

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The Changing Fate of Kent’s Heath Fritillary

The Heath Fritillary is one of the nation’s rarest butterflies and is found in only four locations in the UK; The Blean in Kent, Exmoor, the Tamar and Lydford Valleys on the Cornwall-Devon border, and a complex of woodlands in South Essex. The combined total occupied area of the entire UK population covers less than one square kilometre.

a renewed effort to save the Heath Fritillary – considered to be the next butterfly most likely to be lost. Since the 1980’s there has been continuous effort to save this butterfly.

The UK distribution of the Heath Fritillary

he Heath Fritillary is one of our smaller fritillaries. It is T distinguished by its dusky wing colours and low, flitting flight. In Kent and Essex it flies in warm and sheltered woodland clearings, and rides, and it was given the nickname “the Woodman's Follower'. In the South West it occupies sheltered heathland valleys.

In the 1970s this lovely butterfly was on the brink of extinction. The imminent risk was highlighted even further by the loss of the Large Blue butterfly. The extinction of such an iconic butterfly A newly coppiced clearing in the Blean Woods complex: Steve Wheatley shocked conservationists and resulted in 23 | The Adonis

A young Martin Warren (who later Forestry England. In addition to such became Chief Executive of Butterfly high numbers, the butterfly’s Conservation) was responsible for distribution has also broken records in initiating much of this work. Since then the last two years; Heath Fritillary Butterfly Conservation has been distribution has been higher in 2019 and working with Natural England plus other 2020 than any previous year. organisations, volunteers and Blean woodland managers to ensure habitat continues to be created every year. The butterfly has been surveyed and monitored extensively throughout this time. Over the last 30 years or so there have been some population peaks (1992, 2009 & 10, 2019 & 20) and also some crashes (1988, 2007, 2016), but the data collected during this period reveals a long-term positive change.

Heath Fritillaries mobbing a female at Clowes Wood in 2020: Steve Wheatley

An added boost to the butterfly’s distribution is the discovery in 2020 of a newly colonised wood where active management has recently been Peak counts since 2008 reinstated. Twenty-four Heath Fritillaries were counted in new In 2020 the butterfly emerged in coppiced clearings at this site. This new exceptional numbers in many Blean site is around 1km from the nearest woodlands. The highest day counts Heath Frit colony. Good results and high across all Kent colonies was 2,918 – the numbers in core areas in recent years highest yet recorded. The highest have probably encouraged more numbers were recorded at the RSPB’s butterflies to disperse in search of new Blean Woods Reserve. Record numbers (less crowded) habitat opportunities. were also recorded at West Blean Thanks to the good management in this Woods (overseen by Kent Wildlife Trust) private woodland, they found it! and at Clowes Wood (managed by

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The Heath Fritillary photographed in South Blean woods: Derek Butcher

Heath Frits already pairing up at the newly colonised wood, 2020: Steve Wheatley Below: Cow-wheat abundance mapped across the Blean woodlands 2019-2020

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Equally exciting was the sharing of a methodology BC staff and volunteers blurred photograph of a Heath Fritillary surveyed and mapped more Cow-wheat in South Blean woods. Any butterfly in 2020 than ever before. Interestingly getting this far would have had to fly at we have also seen a general increase in least 2 miles, including crossing the busy Cow-wheat in recent years, even where A2. It is not thought the Heath Fritillary woodland management has not taken has yet colonised South Blean but this place. The reasons for this require more sighting proves it is possible and there is study. potential if suitable woodland management can be implemented. A Heath Fritillary colonisation could also be imminent at the Woodland Trust’s In addition to recording the butterflies newly planted Victory Wood. Cow- each year, we also survey and monitor wheat was found here in 2019 - the caterpillars’ foodplant. Martin spreading from an adjacent woodland. Warren first mapped the Cow-wheat in Wood Ants are thought to be one of the the early 1980s. Using this same key agents for dispersing and spreading Cow-wheat seeds (the seeds of Cow- wheat are almost identical in size, shape and colour to the eggs of Wood Ants; possibly the ants confuse the two or maybe they use the seed as a decoy). In 2020 the Cow-wheat at Victory Wood surveyed and found to be sufficient to support the butterfly. Individual wandering Heath Frits have been seen here in recent seasons. We could certainly see the butterfly get established here in the next few years, much to the excitement of the Woodland Trust’s staff.

Volunteer and Heath Fritillary Champion, Mike Enfield, observing Cow-wheat

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term efforts of Butterfly Conservation and our conservation partners, such as the RSPB and Kent Wildlife Trust and other woodland managers. The good work is continuing; new rides are being created at Ellenden Wood; Forestry England are developing good habitat in an area of recent catastrophic windthrow; Kent Wildlife Trust are currently undertaking more woodland A Wood Ant’s nest at Victory Wood with management in East Blean and they are newly established Cow-wheat nearby making plans to enhance South Blean Woods; ….and the RSPB is continuing The Heath Fritillary is not the only their excellent and very successful spectacular butterfly of The Blean management of Blean Woods National woodlands, and not the only species Nature Reserve. benefiting from the ongoing management. These are great woodlands to see White Admirals, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Peacocks and Purple Hairstreaks. On the last five years more than half of all the UK’s butterfly species have been recorded within this complex of woods, plus several nationally rare moths including the White-spotted Sable and the unfortunate-but-accurately named, Drab Looper.

Despite the challenges and difficulties for the human population in 2020, the butterflies are faring well, and it was a spectacular and very positive year for the Heath Fritillary, with some of the highest numbers of any year on record. The Kent Heath Fritillary population is now clearly the largest of the four UK A new wide woodland ride created at populations. This is thanks to the long- another local wood: Steve Wheatley 27 | The Adonis

RSPB’s Blean Woods National Nature Reserve: Steve Wheatley

Thank you to everyone who has helped on the conservation of the Heath Fritillary in Kent. If you would like to get involved in the annual Heath Fritillary surveys in 2021, please contact me. More help is welcome (no previous experience is necessary).

Steve Wheatley – Regional Conservation Manager for South East England [email protected]

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Gardening for a Wilder Kent

I do not need to tell Butterfly Conservation members that nature is in trouble. We are suffering loss of biodiversity at an alarming rate, in particular insects. But it is not too late. We can all do something to reverse the trend and these actions, however small, will add up to a huge difference. After all, there are 22 million gardens in the UK and together they cover an area greater than nature reserves.

I work with an award-winning team of sessions, so no one is turned away. It volunteers at Kent Wildlife Trust who is hoped that, as the year progresses, are eager to encourage people to we will be able to run live sessions make their gardens and local green from various venues. See our website spaces more nature friendly. In 2020 for full details. because of Covid 19, we were unable to visit gardens in person, so the Open Gardens volunteers have been giving wildlife We are excited to announce that later friendly gardening advice using digital in the year some of our volunteers will means. be opening their gardens and giving We noticed similar questions occur on practical tips on how to make all types regular basis and, rather than just of garden nature friendly. Each event issuing a standard list of “frequently will be focussed on one or two specific asked questions”, we arranged a topics, such as ponds or wilder lawns, series of short, friendly workshops. and experienced volunteers will be on These will initially be via Zoom. Each hand to deal with questions. The session will be restricted to a relevant Covid 19 restrictions will be maximum of 15 people to give all adhered to at each site. Booking will participants the opportunity to ask be essential and timed tickets can be questions and take part in discussions. obtained via Kent Wildlife Trust’s If the sessions are oversubscribed, we website from January onwards. will hold a waiting list for repeat

Sat 24 April: Wateringbury garden focussing on ponds, nature friendly vegetable gardening and hedgehog habitats

Sat 16 May: Doddington garden focussing on insects and birds

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Sat 5 June: Edenbridge garden focussing on wilder lawns

Sat 26 June: Gravesend garden focussing on pollinators and ponds

Sat 18 July: A repeat of the Doddington garden showing seasonal differences and focussing on insects and birds

If you would like any more information, you can get in touch with me by email: [email protected] or by phoning 07500111717.

Brilliant Butterfly Banks

London Wildlife Trust, the Natural History Museum and Butterfly Conservation are working together creating and restoring chalk grassland to come alive with butterflies and wildflowers in south Croydon and Bromley. We will be working with local residents, schools and landowners to host nature friendly events and make new homes for butterflies by creating over 40 areas of chalk grassland habitat between Downe, New Addington and Coulsdon.

t has certainly been a challenging Over the last year the project has year to deliver the project but I am engaged 1233 people directly via our pleased to report that the Brilliant activities, walks and events. Covid-19 I has directly impacted this, as the Butterflies team has responded to the summer is the most beneficial time for challenge superbly by adapting our community engagement on chalk delivery activities to suit the restrictions. grasslands. However, we have focused

30 | The Adonis on online engagement across the peak of lockdown (April to July). This included regular newsletters filled with project news, recommended reading, at home activities, top butterfly spotting tips, quizzes etc.

To date the project has worked with contractors and volunteers to restore approximately 16.8ha of chalk grassland habitat, the equivalent of 39% of our Volunteer group at Riddlesdown target, across the 6 project nature reserves (West Kent Golf Course, We are excited to report the completion Saltbox Hill, Chapel Bank, Hutchinson's Bank, Riddlesdown SSSI and Dollypers of eleven new butterfly banks across Hill). Recent work has included stump Croydon in schools, recreation grounds removal and mowing of a meadow and local nature reserves. In addition, compartment at Hutchinson’s Bank and we have four in the process of being numerous volunteer activities including completed and another twelve awaiting seed harvesting, meadow management, final approval. We have worked with butterfly transects and creating habitat landowners and local communities to features such as scrapes. design banks that suit the local environment in the most cost-effective way. For example, at Falconwood Meadow a simple scrape, that exposes low nutrient subsoil, provides the right conditions for wildflower seeding and planting to support declining butterfly and other insect populations including the Small Blue. At Milne Park in New Addington two banks were created by spreading imported chalk onto existing roadside bunds. Local volunteers will help plant the banks with chalk grassland flowers and assist with their maintenance. Three New Addington schools now have their very own butterfly bank within their school Trainee Charlie seed harvesting grounds providing an excellent

31 | The Adonis educational resource. The children will help plant, monitor and maintain the banks including recording of butterflies. I have shared images and videos of bank creation on my Twitter account @bc_bolton. We are also planning a number of creation sites in Bromley. Katy, Steph (NHM) & Omar (trainee) with malaise trap

Why is this important? It is very difficult to identify each species in the field as some insects have tiny differences between them (e.g the position of one tiny hair that can only be seen under a During (above) and after (below) Milne Park microscope). Furthermore, some of

Bank Construction these species only come out at night, making them hard to find! It would take weeks, if not months to survey the invertebrate population by sight using traditional methods. The information we gain from these eDNA surveys will help us understand what species are present on the nature reserves, and

how best to manage the reserves for We have just completed year 2 of the future! our environmental DNA or eDNA These activity strands will be progressed fieldwork. The Brilliant Butterflies team with my own role focusing on habitat have been surveying the 6 project creation planning and delivery. For nature reserves with malaise (the tent more information and volunteering like structures in the picture below) and opportunities please visit the webpage pit fall traps. These traps take a very https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/brilliant small sample of the population in which -butterflies their DNA is preserved in alcohol, which is then analysed using pioneering eDNA Steve Bolton, Project Officer extraction methods.

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Kent’s Magnificent Moths

The long-awaited Kent’s Magnificent Moths project launches this April. This 3-year project will deliver an exciting programme of events, activities, and conservation action across six key East Kent landscapes.

wo new project officers (Emma Kent was chosen because it has the Pestridge and Rebecca Levey) greatest diversity of rare and T have joined Butterfly threatened moths in the UK. Some of Conservation to lead the project. Emma these, such as the beautiful Black- is our Engagement Officer, leading on veined Moth, occur nowhere else in the the delivery of events and activities and UK. Other nationally important moths working with local community groups this project will help include Fiery and schools. Rebecca is the project’s Clearwing, Bright Wave, Straw Belle and Conservation Officer, leading the work Marsh Mallow Moth. In addition to this with volunteers, land-managers and we’ll also be celebrating the wider conservation partner organisations to diversity of moths in Kent including deliver essential habitat enhancements. spectacular species like the Elephant Hawk-moth and Garden Tiger. Plus, of Both project officers bring with them a course we will be engaging with wealth of experience and enthusiasm. butterflies too. Emma was previously delivering engagement activities in London at Butterfly Conservation is grateful to the Spitalfields City Farm and Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. Rebecca is a keen moth recorder who has worked in Kent before with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Planning for a moth project began way back in 2016 but the challenges of project development, finding funding and then the pandemic pushed things further and further back. We are so Fiery Clearwing: Mark Parsons pleased that the project will now go National Lottery Heritage Fund for ahead! choosing to fund this project, to national lottery players and the other organisations supporters who have 33 | The Adonis helped us finally get this project up-and- You can contact Emma and Rebecca running. You’ll be hearing much more from April. about this project in Kent over the coming year and the project will be [email protected] [email protected] running until 2024.

Emma Pestridge Rebecca Levey

Big City Butterflies gets the go ahead!

Exciting times ahead! Thanks to players of the National Lottery, Butterfly Conservation have secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to deliver an ambitious new project, ‘Big City Butterflies’ that will support Londoners to discover butterflies and moths, and in doing so will connect them with nature and their local green spaces. The people reached through the project will have opportunities to learn about butterflies and moths, how to seek them out, to enjoy them and to help them thrive in their neighbourhoods.

he Big City Butterflies project will capital. In London, butterflies and moths enable Butterfly Conservation to are under-recorded, and we’ll be T make some important discoveries providing training opportunities to too. We need to understand more equip a new wave of urban recorders in about how populations are faring in the the heart of the city. 34 | The Adonis

Through our development work for the number of flagship sites have been project in 2019, we identified a network selected, including Oxleas Meadows in of sites across inner London on which to Greenwich and Brockley & Ladywell focus our activities and will continue to Cemetery in Lewisham, with more sites make connections with local community added as the project progresses. and volunteer groups. We’ll be working with land managers to enhance and We can’t wait to get started and are connect London’s green spaces, so that currently in the recruitment process for they can better support butterflies and two Project Officers to lead and deliver moths. Our branch is one of four who the project. Huge thanks to all of our together cover the London area. fantastic supporters, members and volunteers for enabling us to reach this The Kent & South East London Branch point! area includes four London boroughs; Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Visit our project page on our website to Bromley. The project will draw on the find our more and if you’d like to be local knowledge and expertise of our involved please get in touch with the members, as well as our neighbouring committee! Branches Surrey & SW London, Herts & Kate Merry, Head of Volunteering & Middlesex and Cambridge & Essex. A Engagement

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2021 Dates for your Diary

OUR PROPOSED FIELD TRIPS ARE SUBJECT TO GOVERNEMENT RESTRICTIONS & FULL DETAILS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE CLOSER THE TIME. PLEASE CONFIRM EACH EVENT IS GOING AHEAD BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Field Trips

Sunday 23rd May - Abbot’s Wood (Sussex) for PB & SPB Fritillary. Peter Riley Saturday 5th June - Strawberry Banks/Coney Bank for Small & Adonis Blue. Peter Kirby Saturday 12th June - Crundale Valley for Black-veined Moth. Dan Tuson Sunday 20th June - East Blean for Heath Fritillary. Peter Riley Sunday 27th June - Burnt Oak Wood for White Admiral & SW Fritillary. Ben Kirby & on to Warehorne afterwards for White-letter Hairstreak. Alan Cooper Saturday 3rd July - Dene Park for Purple Emperor & White Admiral. Simon Ginnaw Sunday 25th July - Lullingstone for Dark Green Fritillary. Ben Kirby Sunday 1st August - Folkestone Downs for Straw Belle, Adonis & Wall. Alfie Gay Sunday 8th August - White Hill for Chalkhill Blue. Trevor Manship Sunday 15th August - Langdon Cliffs for Wall, Adonis etc. Alfie Gay Sunday 22nd August - Lydden Down for SS Skipper & Adonis. Dick Vane-Wright

Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Moth Nights

Saturday 12th June 6pm Saturday 10th July 6pm (National Moth Night) Saturday 14th August 6pm Saturday 11th September 4pm

All live at the Bird Observatory if the situation allows. Otherwise there will be a live broadcast and details will be on the observatory website.

Branch AGM & Members Day - Saturday 23 October, Lenham Community Centre

Open Gardens

Saturday 17th July 1pm-5pm White Cliff, The Front, St Margaret’s Bay, Dover, CT15 6HR. Entry £3. Sunday 1st August 11am-5pm Windmill Hill Wildlife Garden, 68 South Hill Road, Gravesend, DA12 1JZ. Entry £4.

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