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NEWSLETTER No. 12 -  Winter 1984/85

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Conservation Corner

Voluntary Wardens wanted

We have been asked by the NCC whether any of our members living within reasonable access to the Wyre Forest might be interested in becoming voluntary wardens there. As has been reported elsewhere, collectors have been a serious menace in the Forest this year, and the NCC feels that exttra wardening, particularly on summer weekends would be helpful. If you feel that you might be able to help please contact the branch.

National Trust Biological Survey

The National Trust are engaged in an eight year survey of all their properties to assess their wildlife value. If any members have information about any particular Trust property, I would be pleased to receive it in order to pass on to the National Trust.

ATS Butterfly Appeal

Associated Tyre Specialists are well on their way to achieving their £40,000 target towards butterfly conservation. The West Midlands branch has particular reason to be grateful to ATS as it is through their sponsorship that we have been able to mount a full scale survey into the White Letter Hairstreak. We hope all members will consider the purchase of their next set of tyres or new exhaust from ATS! This is a very practical way in which we can all support butterflies, as, for every tyre or exhaust sold, a donation is made to the Butterfly Appeal. ATS has depots throughout our region, but if anyone has difficulty in locating their nearest depot please contact the Secretary who has a full list.

Central Electricity Generating Board

An approach to the CEGB about their grass cutting regime at Berkswell sub-station by branch member Madge Payne brought forth a very encouraging response. Madge was concerned that the grass at the sub-station was normally cut in mid-July, at the height of the butterfly season, and had asked if the cut could be delayed. The CEGB, although feeling that they could not entirely neglect the cutting because of fire risks, agreed to cut only a limited area and leave the rest to September. They have also indicated their willingness for other electricity sub-stations to be looked at from the butterfly point of view and mentioned the existence of a butterfly garden at Hams Hall Power Station near Birmingham. If any members would like to visit any CEGB sites please contact Madge Payne. Certainly a very encouraging response and full marks to the CEGB.....and Madge.

Private detectives wanted

The branch has recently obtained, through the Warks Biological Records Centre, distribution maps of certain key butterfly foodplants like Kidney Vetch, Common Rockrose and Devil's bit Scabious. What we would like to do next Summer is to arrange for some of these areas to be searched at the appropriate time of the year. If you can help with this bit of detective work, please contact Madge Payne, 90 Kelsey Lane, Balsall Common, nr. Coventry. (tel. Balsall 32295).

Brimstone Project

Members will be interested to learn of this scheme being organised by the Hereford and Radnor Nature Trust, which seems to have really taken off. The Brimstone butterfly is very limited in its distribution within Herefordshire, probably as a result of a shortage of its foodplant. To help the spread of the butterfly, the Trust has been planting buckthorns in reserves, private woodlands and members' gardens, concentrating in particular on the eastern half of the county. So far more than 120 buckthorns have been planted and the Trust are appealing for details of Brimstone sightings. Any records should be sent to Martyn Dayies (11 Rowland Close, Hampton Dene, Herefordshire) who will ensure they are passed on to the Trust office and the county Biological Records Centre.

Wood White

A successful meeting was held with the Forestry Commission during the Summer to discuss ride management to suit this butterfly. The site in question is an important one as it is the nearest wood to the Wyre Forest, where the Wood White is still to be found. The butterfly disappeared from Wyre two years ago, and while this particular colony is maintained, there remains a chance that it may succeed in re-establishing itself.

Survey work

We had an excellent response from members to our appeal in the last newsletter for help in survey work. Two new "Pollard walks" have been started; one at Monk Wood by Paul Houghton and the other at the Knapp and Papermill Worcs NCT reserve by the warden, Garth Lowe. Jim Cook was quick to respond to the request from Bill Brown and has been visiting Grovely Dingle on a regular basis. Of the four sites identified by the NCC only two have been really covered this year, although a transect route has been worked out for Bredon Hill, ready hopefully for next year. The area giving us most problems at the moment is Little Daward near Ross on Wye which although potentially a very promising area is just too far away, given the present spread of members, for it to be covered adequately.

Management Tools

Thanks to a generous grant from the Nature Conservancy Council we are now the proud owner of a chainsaw as well as a growing collection of hand tools. The chainsaw is a very useful acquisition indeed, and should make light work of some of the scrub and timber removal planned for the Winter. We shall be having a training session (courtesy of John Hodson) in the use of the saw at our first work day in the Wyre Forest and hope that as many of our regular helpers as possible will be present. Use of the chainsaw at work days will be limited to those who have received appropriate training. The branch have also obtained all the necessary safety gear i.e. boots, helmet, over-trousers, etc. (with thanks to those concerned). We are now well set up to tackle most management tasks without having to borrow tools from elsewhere - all we need now are the people.

Branch Reserves:

Wyre Forest

This has generally been a good season in the reserve, although the flora suffered to some extent as a result of the drought and the absence of winter grazing. The removal of some of the streamside trees did increase the amount of sunlight in the far meadow and has generally improved the habitat for butterflies. A worry here, however, is the continuing spread of bracken and efforts will be made next Spring to keep this in check. Other management efforts over the winter will be directed at maintaining areas of open grassland and undertaking some coppicing work to encourage violet growth. Three new species have been recorded in the reserve this year: White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak and Holly Blue - taking the total to 29 species over the past two years. For further information contact Mike Williams.

Miserden

We are very pleased to have been able to reach an agreement with the owner, which will enable us to manage an extensive area of limestone grassland as a Butterfly Reserve. Again, 1984 has proved an excellent year for most species present, especially the scarcer ones. The work carried out last year on controlling scrub has already brought benefits and this task will continue over the coming months. We have also asked the owner to investigate the possibility of introducing cattle for a few weeks to a limited area this winter in an effort to control the growth of coarser grasses and we shall be monitoring this very carefully. A new species this year was a single Marsh Fritillary making 32 species for the reserve as a whole over a two year period. For further information contact Ron Hatton.

Crumpsbrook

Although not strictly a branch reserve, Joan Walker's butterfly garden at Catherton Common is worthy of such status and is a marvellous example to the rest of us, of what can be achieved by the application of organic methods and considerable hard work. Although containing no rarities, species worthy of note are Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue, which are regulars. Two interesting plants in the area of damp meadow are Adder's Tongue fern and Moonwort. Joan's garden is open to BBCS members and she is always glad to receive offers of help from people with a little time to spare. There are also plants for sale. For further information contact Joan Walker on Ludlow 890309.

Gardening for Wildlife 1984

This Summer, through our display stalls at various events, articles in local newspapers and interviews on local radio, we have tried to promote a garden butterfly survey. Our aim has been threefold:

1. To promote an awareness of butterfly conservation and the activities of BBCS - West Midlands.
2. To encourage the public to cultivate plants in their gardens which will encourage butterflies.
3. To gather information for the publication of a future BBCS pamphlet on butterfly gardening.

We have basically been asking for two pieces of information: firstly, a list of species occurring in people's gardens (something which already has had unexpected results), and secondly, and most importantly, a list of plants on which adult butterflies have been seen to feed (the more detailed information the better). Butterfly books tend to churn out the same old plants with monotonous regularity and although obviously we shall be wishing to recommend already well-known plants like Buddleia, etc., we are also keen to put forward some less well-known alternatives.
We have had a reasonable response so far from the general public but we need many more reports before we can put pen to paper, and this is where we need the help of members. With this newsletter we are enclosing a copy of our survey form which we hope as many people as possible will complete and return. We are offering a free copy of our findings to all those taking part, providing a large S.A.E. is included with the returned form.