BEDGEBURY 2020 Pinetum Biodiversity Edition Discover some of the Pinetum’s wildlife wonders Sightings of a lifetime: Big Forest Find results now in! Suggested non- £1 member donation www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk Cover image: Dr Ian Beavis of The Amelia, Tunbridge Wells, surveys for invertebrates in the sward of section 5 during Bedgebury’s 2019 Big Forest Find. To find out where section 5 is in the Pinetum take a look at the map on page 23. Editor: Katherine Jary Friends’ team: Katherine Jary, Mina McPhee, Ann Waller and Sharon Booth. Friends’ trustees: Bonita Backhouse, Keith Brookbank, Kim Fletcher, John Gordon, Jeremy Sheldon, Phil Vingoe and Keith Webber Contents Designer: Fraser Allen Editor’s letter ........................................................2 Contributing photographers: A walk on the wildlife side ..................................6 Fraser Allen, Eric Barlow, Adam Berger, Gill Brook, What makes the Pinetum special for Bryan Bullen, John Gordon, Odonata? ........................................................ 12 Judi Grey, Dominique Huxley, The importance of fungi in the Pinetum .......... 16 Dylan Laidler, Cat Micklewright, Living by the sward ...........................................22 Matt Parratt, John Smythers, Warren Stirling, Claire Ward, Bedgebury’s Florilegium tackle a new Nigel Witham and the challenge ...........................................................28 Friends’ team. Wintering finches in the Pinetum .....................32 Proof reading: Elspeth Hill, The Pinetum: health border patrol for tree John Gordon, Mina McPhee species ...............................................................36 and Ann Waller. Moorhen, Dominique Huxley 1 Editor’s letter by Katherine Jary 2019 was the Forestry Commission’s made the results of the Bedgebury Big centenary year, and, along with many Forest Find fascinating in both scale other Forestry England sites, Bedgebury and breadth. “A lifetime can be spent in a Magellanic voyage celebrated with a ‘Big Forest Find’ – a This magazine shares with you the citizen survey of forest wildlife. But highlights captured in this ‘engagement’ of around the trunk of a single tree.” Bedgebury’s Pinetum is very different citizen science, while some of Bedgebury’s E.O. Wilson, Father of Biodiversity, American biologist, naturalist and writer. from a forest! Its uniqueness, and species experts seek to explain why the the enthusiasm of Bedgebury’s staff, Pinetum is so rich in its biodiversity. The Pinetum is one of the finest and Bedgebury’s spectacular heritage volunteers, members and visitors, most comprehensive collections of landscape, its varied topography and If you’re fascinated by trees and all the good things that surround them, why not spend conifers in the world, boasting some geology, the mixed planting of conifer some quiet and reflective time in the Pinetum and see what comes to you. Record what of the rarest and most spectacular and deciduous trees and its extensive you see on the iNaturalist app under ‘Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest Find’, or drop tree species on the planet. Bedgebury natural and man-made waterways into the Visitor Centre to let the Friends’ team know what you have seen. We will record enthusiasts know that this very special make the Pinetum a rare and biodiverse your sightings and images on our ‘Species Spotted’ - a chronological website resource collection of trees is also home to an environment not found elsewhere in the packed with flora and fauna images, expert records, visitor experiences and wildlife equally interesting range of wildlife. South East. stories. www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk. Catsear, Hypochaeris radicata, John Gordon “Research gathered “It is that range of over recent years biodiversity that we has highlighted the must care for – the countless benefits to whole thing – rather people, wildlife and than just one or the environment that two stars.” Sir David Attenborough, English come from planting broadcaster and natural historian. trees and creating new woodland habitat. It’s obvious trees are good things.” Clive Anderson, English TV and radio presenter, President of the Woodland Trust. 2 3 Rare species Bedgebury’s Big Forest Find is v a recorded e B highlights n including: a I Long horned bee : t i Eucera longicornis d 3,018 e 945 85 r Observations Species Observers C The Big Forest Find Bedgebury Pinetum Apr-Oct 2019 The Big Forest Find was the largest survey of England’s forest wildlife to date. No. of iNaturalist records No. of different species recorded In total 17 Forestry England sites took part. 3,018 Expert ecologists, naturalists, volunteers Bedgebury Pinetum and visitors recorded almost 15,000 1,160 Plants Insects Fungi Birds species of wildlife, flora and fauna. Dalby Forest 392 340 120 50 939 New Forest 681 Join the new Sutton Manor project now! 646 Bedgebury Sence Valley Including Pinetum and 624 Spiders Mammals Molluscs Protozoa 20 Dog vomit Forest Find Westonbirt 12 7 2 slime mould 385 Fuligo Drinkwater Park septica 385 Kielder Forest 243 Savernake Forest forestryengland.uk/bedgebury/find 4 Read on to find out how Bedgebury embraced the Big Forest Find. 5 to see what new, old, returning or ‘just A walk on the wildlife side passing by’ species would be spotted - or whether there would be any surprises. by Dylan Laidler, Forestry England Wildlife in the Pinetum Leader of the pack It was a summer of bugs, beetles, bats The great thing about Bedgebury’s tree and wildlife wonder! Best of all for Seventeen Forestry England sites took collection is that it has plenty of space for part in the Big Forest Find and close to Bedgebury, it was the summer of the visitors to appreciate the trees in all their Big Forest Find. 1,700 observations were recorded across glory. The added benefit of this is that it them all. Thanks to the passion of all Marking 100 years since the Forestry allows native habitats to thrive. Because of those who took part at Bedgebury, we Commission was formed, the Big Forest Find over-exploitation elsewhere, these habitats were top of the leader board with over was one of many celebratory events staged have been disappearing at an alarming 3,000 observations on iNaturalist, a throughout 2019. Launched as the largest rate, especially in the South East. Luckily for clear 1,800 more than any other Forestry ever survey of England’s forest wildlife, it Bedgebury, the Pinetum will remain a safe England site. took place in Forestry England woodlands haven for wildlife to prosper. from 16th April to 31st October. Across the Our recordings show just how rich the The Big Forest Find encouraged our visitors Pinetum is for wildlife. From great spotted country, ecologists, partner organisations, to identify and record wildlife observations volunteer experts, staff and visitors came Sarah Harrington-James of Kentish Stour woodpecker chicks nesting in an oak tree in the Pinetum, starting with a series of Countryside Partnership pond-dipping with a together to celebrate the biodiversity of the and the rare (to this part of Kent) micro specialist-led events that ran from 25th young enthusiast moth, Anania funebris, to the diminutive nation’s forests. May to 2nd June. Our events were: pond to use iNaturalist to record sightings English eyebright, Euphrasia anglica, dipping; bird walks; a moth identification With so much to explore at Bedgebury we through to the end of October. there was so much to discover. set out on a journey of discovery to find out workshop; wildflower, bee and butterfly more about the rich and diverse flora and walks; a bat walk; a tree tour; a small Biological records like these are important fauna of the National Pinetum. mammal discovery walk; bug hunting; for telling us what species are rare, and aquatic wildlife discovery activities. declining or thriving, and what measures Local partnership organisations and we may need to put in place to conserve volunteers from the South East Rivers Trust, them. The records captured at Bedgebury Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, are available for national and international Kent High Weald Partnership, The Amelia research. They help us to understand in Tunbridge Wells, Forest Research and Bedgebury’s biodiversity and how we Forestry England were all involved. need to look after the habitats that exist here - both now and into the future. Record making This isn’t the first time we have enlisted As well as using the traditional method visitors and volunteers to help – we’ve of recording (with pen and paper) we Dr Ian Beavis of The Amelia, Tunbridge Wells, hosted two BioBlitz events in the past (in used a nature app called iNaturalist leads a group searching for invertebrates 2014 and 2016). In 2019 we were excited which helps users to identify plants and animals and keeps a biological record of any observations. All uploads to iNaturalist can be verified and discussed “I really enjoyed using the app to re-engage with observing wildlife, to by enthusiasts from its online global find new species and to notice things that I’d normally overlook.” community. After our events we continued Cat Micklewright 6 7 “Sighting of a lifetime!” Warren Stirling, on seeing a purple emperor butterfly Matt Parratt from Forest Research releasing Candlesnuff fungus, Xylaria hypoxylon, mammals trapped, identified and recorded Dylan Laidler A day-flying moth, Anania funebris, Claire Ward Purple emperor, Apatura iris, Warren Stirling Pinetum and its rich biodiversity. For me, it native fauna and flora. They will continue has been a fantastic opportunity to discover to use iNaturalist and collaborate with The star of the show for me had to be The prize for the least attractively-named and learn more about the place where I staff, visitors and experts – ensuring the the purple emperor butterfly, Apatura observation goes to the dog vomit slime work, unlocking a door to the Pinetum’s legacy of the Big Forest Find at Bedgebury iris. One very generously took a pit stop mold, Fuligo septica, which was recorded extraordinary natural environment. continues well into the future.