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Brown Hairstreak in Worcestershire - Bulletin 3

February 2005

Dear Brownhairstreakers,

It's the big 50!

Congratulations to Richard Southwell for the honour of recording the 50th 1km square for the Brown Hairstreak in Worcs - SO9556 near Libbery. Our colleagues in Upper Thames branch of Butterfly Conservation have recently recorded their 100th square for their Brown Hairstreaks so we still have a way to go. I reckon we have another 4 weeks max before the blackthorn is so well in flower that spotting eggs will become really difficult so let's get recording!

A quick reminder of the meeting this coming Thursday (10th February) at Three Parishes Hall, Grafton Flyford starting at 7.30 pm. John Tilt, Reserve Manager of Grafton Wood, will be giving a report on progress at the nature reserve and Trevor Bucknall and myself will be giving an update on the Brown Hairstreak. For further details contact John. We shall also be taking further orders at the meeting for blackthorn plants for people to plant out in the local area including gardens. We have already given away several hundred plants but are keen to distribute more so if you have space for a sloe bush in your garden, or know someone who has, please let us know. This is your chance to have your own breeding Brown Hairstreaks in your garden and be the envy of your neighbours!

This coming Sunday (13th) is our annual Environment Agency Action Earth event at Grafton Wood and all are very welcome to join in. We shall be doing conservation work in the wood all morning (and into the afternoon for those so inclined) and from 1.30 pm onwards we shall be completing our core egg count in the orchard on the western edge of Grafton Wood. We are hoping to top the 1000 egg mark this year so we are relying on a good turnout. We meet at Grafton Flyford church at 10 am for those wanting to join in with Action Earth and at the entrance to the orchard for those coming for the afternoon only.

Best Wishes,

Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Champion