HOME__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brown Hairstreak in Worcestershire - Bulletin 18

November 2005

Dear Brownhairstreakers,

Thanks to everyone who got in touch about the hedgerow flailing reported in the last bulletin. Not surprisingly, there has been considerable dismay amongst Brown Hairstreak champions about the incident and concern over the impact this may have on the local population. I have delayed the publication of this Bulletin to give time for DEFRA to investigate what went wrong and let us know what actions they intend. DEFRA has now visited the landowner in question and both DEFRA and the farmer "agree that the work done is completely unsuitable and inadequate as a habitat for the brown hairstreak".

As suspected, the hedgerow was flailed as a result of lack of communication between the farmer and his new contractor, who had apparently felt "he was doing the farmer a favour" by trimming back the growth as the hedgerow in question had not been trimmed for two years! Both are now fully aware that a serious mistake has been made and that "the flailing was too hard and done at the wrong time of the year". DEFRA however feel, in this instance, that a "genuine mistake has been made" and have been reassured that in future rotational trimming will take place as per the agreement. It has been made clear that if "a further breach takes place, then a severe penalty will incur" and this message has been reinforced to the landowner. Further contact will be made with the farmer next year before any trimming takes place on the remaining part of the farm and DEFRA will continue to monitor progress on a regular basis.

Obviously, nothing can undo the damage that has resulted but there are one or two positives to emerge. Firstly, the landowner in question has agreed to promote a few ash saplings to grow into standard hedgerow trees which is a positive move as far as the Brown Hairstreak is concerned. Secondly, DEFRA is contacting the three other Countryside Stewardship to make sure that they are adhering to the agreement in respect of rotational trimming and is arranging inspection visits. Each farmer is to be given a copy of Butterfly Conservation's Hedgerows for Hairstreaks leaflet.

Clearly, these kind of events do cause anger and frustration all round and DEFRA has a responsibility to make sure farmers understand that entering countryside/environmental stewardship agreements is not just a route to further payments and subsidies but brings with it obligations which, at the end of the day, are going to be enforced. I suspect that there will always be the chance of communication breakdowns between farmer and contractor as occurred here and one thing that DEFRA may need to consider is whether there should be some physical marking of hedgerows which are subject to special management in the same way as is done in many counties with respect to roadside nature reserves. Perhaps this is something that could be piloted in the Grafton Wood area. No doubt, effective monitoring on the part of DEFRA and regular communication is the way forward and hopefully lessons will have been learned from this particular case.

One lesson that this incident has demonstrated, as Peter Seal pointed out in an email, is the value of conservation organisations like Butterfly Conservation and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust owning their own land where management is directly under our control. In recent years, positive management at Grafton and other woods within the wider Forest of Feckenham has resulted in plenty of regenerating blackthorn which has proved ideal for egg-laying. We are supplementing this, where appropriate, with new blackthorn planting and this month also planted out a number of disease resistant elm trees. Conservation work will continue at Grafton Wood throughout the winter on every second Sunday, meeting at Grafton Flyford church at 10.00 am and any new (or old) volunteers will be made very welcome. Local Brown Hairstreak champions can also play their part by planting blackthorn in their gardens or other land they own and we can supply free plants for this purpose. A number of champions have already supported the conservation of the Brown Hairstreak in this way and anyone else who would like to be supplied with blackthorn plants should get in touch. Only this week, the children at Himbleton Church of England First School (not Feckenham as reported in the last Bulletin!) braved the cold to plant 15 blackthorns within the school grounds (see photo). Children from the same school have already committed themselves to an egg hunt later this winter with Becky Lashley from the Worcestershire Biodiversity Partnership. Our Hedgerows for Hairstreaks project is all about involving the local community, young and old, in helping to conserve the Brown Hairstreak butterfly and we hope that other local schools will want to follow Himbleton's example.

Another really good piece of news as far as land ownership is concerned is the forthcoming acquisition by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust of Humpy Meadows, 8.73 acres of unimproved grassland with deep ridge and furrow and thousands and thousands of anthills near Kington. The meadow is surrounded by great mixed species hedges including blackthorn and Trevor Bucknall has already confirmed the presence of Brown Hairstreak eggs there last winter. The Trust should complete the sale on 1st December. This is a key acquisition of a Special Wildlife Site (SWS) and its close proximity to another grassland SWS to the west and a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) just a few fields away, adds to its strategic importance within a landscale approach to conservation which is so important to the Brown Hairstreak and many other forms of wildlife. Congratulations to the Trust on this latest acquisition.

Just a reminder that the first egg hunt of the winter is only a few weeks away - Saturday, 17th December meeting at Grafton Flyford Church for 10.00 am. Look forward to seeing as many local champions as can make it.

Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion